7: Asking Her Out

“Oh, Calderon?”

“Macey, hello,” he waved awkwardly when Macey has noticed his presence almost as immediate as he has successfully stepped inside the large, wide, and silent library.

“Who are you with?”

“No one,” he smiled and then walked near the counter where Macey stands behind. “Just came here to find a novel or any interesting read, you see. Somewhere out here must hold treasure and greatness.”

“Sure. Feel free to roam and take the most, please.”

Calderon nodded. “I forgot to say this yesterday, but this is such a pretty library you manage. Nearly as pretty as you, but you are incomparable and prettier, of course.”

Calderon's eyes have stopped on the news section under the shelf in his front. Just newspapers in the past years, monthly magazine issues, from different eras and generations. And he has reckoned those times in the past when only rich men could afford presses and printed materials.

The world has changed in centuries. A lot.

“Are you flirting with me, Calderon?”

“Yes. What else? I honestly feel great when you were around, Macey. Can I ask you for dinner tonight?”

“No, you can't ask me for dinner, but you can ask me to eat dinner with you.”

“Right, proper sentence wording is vital,” Calderon chuckled embarrassingly.

He has fought his urge to add yet another playful remark in fear of startling Macey and scaring the girl out. But if he did speak, he would have said that he could also mean asking Macey and her blood for dinner.

“Macey, I'll go ahead and scan the shelves now.”

Calderon has to muster all his willpower and pull himself away from Macey to divert his attention from looking at the girl's inviting neck and thinking to take in the girl's scent until he feels satiated.

He had to scold himself for even having the thought of latching his fangs on the exposed skin before his eyes, drinking on Macey to taste her blood, and leaving the girl without her memories — just like all his victims have suffered.

No, she was his Macey. He couldn't do such a devious thing to Macey.

Not when he could still remember how he has almost lost control and killed the same girl one millennium ago

Macey's blood was the tastiest he has ever drunk. If he wasn't able to contain himself after the realization that Macey has lost consciousness, he would have killed her before

And now, Calderon has grown afraid to do such a mistake again. Macey has trusted him and risked her life, in exchange, he broke it and almost drained Macey's body.

Even Calderon didn't trust himself enough. If now, Macey would willingly lend herself, he didn't think he would ever try to do it again. Never.

~

“You love paranormal books?” Calderon has felt the girl's presence a few meters back, and he smiled when Macey's soft voice has finally echoed in his ears.

“Yes. Kind of? I guess you can say that I am.” Calderon has nodded excitedly, thrilled that Macey, the librarian, has left her seat to check on him, a simple invader.

“Cool, I rarely see students marvel through that corner of this library. There are only a few and I could even count them using my ten fingers,” Macey has let out a bitter giggle. “I bet paranormal stories weren't the trend these days. People tend to be more realistic now. Nobody believes in ghosts and creatures aside from scared kids.”

“I don't think so. Fantasy stories with vampires and werewolves as characters are gaining attention.”

“Really?”

“As what I've observed online.”

“Oh... do they hate libraries now that everything could be searched through the internet?”

“Sadly, yes,” Calderon replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

Sensing the sudden sadness in Macey's face, he cleared his throat and then added to divert the topic. “Anyway, I'm more into history these days, though.”

Macey grinned. “Can I have this seat?”

“Sure,” Calderon has motioned the girl to take the chair in his front. “It's not like someone has to take that when I'm alone, right?”

“Thanks,” Macey's smile has widened.

“Macey, do you believe in supernatural creatures? Monsters? Werewolves?” He has cleared his throat, contemplating whether to resume his intentions... but she did proceed to her last example anyway. “Vampires?”

“I don't? Or just slightly?” Macey shrugged as she takes one book from Calderon's stack and unfolds it to have a look. “How about you?”

“I... do.”

“Hmm?” If there was one thing Calderon was sure of, it would be; he has clicked on Macey's interest once more. The girl's eyes were glimmering in the dim lights of the corner they sit in, but he could see its shine.

“Ye... yes—”

“Why do you think so?”

“They wouldn't want to be seen by many. They could be wandering around the wild or even this city. We wouldn't know.”

“But if they exist, the authorities must have seen or captured one by now, right? They could have informed us to be careful. Calderon, we are living in the present where there are many done, ongoing, and upcoming advancements. It wouldn't be hard to hold one captive to raise awareness.”

“Or not.”

“You have such a stand, Calderon.”

“Macey, I think out of the box.”

“All right,” Macey has crossed her arms above her chest. She leaned her back on her wooden seat and crossed her legs, too. The book she has held previously was now laying above the table.

Calderon gulped. How did Macey manage to look intimidating by simply flashing a challenging smile and crossing her arms?

“You've mentioned that you are into history, too. Didn't you, Calderon?”

“I... did. Yes, I did.”

“Then, you know full well how it has unfolded, right? Those creatures should have appeared in books if your case was right.”

Calderon has swallowed a gulp. He stilled her eyes and looked straight into Macey's. No, he couldn't lose, he couldn't just back out.

If one would be smarter in this battle, it should be him. If one would be the most knowledgeable, it's him.

He knew the truth of this world. He knew how humans are nasty, how they are selfish and secretive.

All he has to do now is prove Macey, to at least convince the girl and stand with his point.

Because he was right. He is even one of those creatures Macey was proving unreal...

“Don't you think the government and allied units have control with all existing information?” He cooed, raising his brows before he proceeds to copy Macey's seat. “If they don't, let's say, exist, then how were humans even able to disclose exact information about them?”

“They were supernatural beings, Calderon. Fictional. So, of course, there would be detailed descriptions and precise information.”

“You would not be sure, like ever. I do believe that the history we read on books now is all flawed, manipulated, lacking.”

“They have denied the rights to tell people about the fact. They didn't want their people to panic and live in fear. They would rather keep the truth and haunt those creatures down in shadows if they knew one exists.”

“You have a point. But, unless I see one, I wouldn't believe them,” Macey's cheeks have puffed as she smiles toothily. Pleased. She was overwhelmed by Calderon's wit. “What do you think would possibly be the most probable to exist?”

“Vampires?”

“You speak like you were the most certain. You were that into fiction?”

“Yes. And I'm into the reality, too.”

“You're interesting if I say the least,” smiled Macey, nodding, saying it more to herself than Calderon. “I have hesitated to accept your invite and be your guest because you were strange. You might be a weirdo, a psychopath, and I will never know.”

“Don't I look too hot to be a psychopath? Come on now.”

“Subtract that trait of being conceited, my interest has soared after hearing you smart mouth me and talk like a knowledgeable man.”

“If being handsome with brains and smarts still wouldn't get your tiniest bit of interest, then Macey, I don't know anymore. I might just choose to suffer an absolute death on the spot if I don't get your attention.”

“Calderon, that's overdramatic.”

“But I could be serious,” Calderon winked.

And he was. Calderon meant what he has said.

If he couldn't get Macey's trust after a millennium of constant hoping for an uncertain possibility, he would rather just die and wait for the next lifetime, for the right timing until they meet again.

“Then, I'll go out with you. You'll have to wait until my job is over though,” smiled Macey.