CHAPTER FIVE

It had been a week since the previous incident, and this time, Avery made a point to rush straight home to avoid any repeat encounters with rogue vampires. She was determined not to fall into another dangerous situation like before, where she had barely managed to survive.

Avery was well aware that not all vampires could resist the overwhelming urge to satisfy their thirst for blood. The experience with the mercenaries had left her questioning her initial assumption that they were novices. Their controlled demeanor and restraint in the face of her bleeding had made her doubt their level of experience. They hadn't attempted to pierce her skin with their canines or quench their dried throats with fresh, warm blood.

Having apologized to Jeffery for her behavior during their previous encounter, Avery was relieved that he understood the difficult situation she had faced. He graciously accepted her apology, and their relationship had regained a sense of understanding.

That particular day, Avery found herself exhausted, her head resting on the counter. It was only a matter of minutes before she was awakened by Kate, a fellow colleague.

"Wakey, wakey, sleepyhead. The drinks won't serve themselves to the customers," Kate chimed in, chuckling, before she headed off with a tray of wine glasses.

Avery sighed, mustering the strength to walk over to a table where three men sat, their eyes fixed on her with a lustful gaze.

"What can I get for you, gentlemen?" she asked, her face bearing a noticeable frown upon noticing their lustful stares.

These types of men were precisely why Avery had decided to avoid dating altogether. She held a strong disdain for the opposite gender, perceiving them as individuals who saw women merely as playthings. Her past experience with a man she had met on a dating site had turned sour. He had initially portrayed himself as a teacher, engaging in weeks of conversation before they decided to meet. They had gone out for lunch and she had accepted an invitation to his place to watch a movie. It was during this encounter that he had attempted to harass her and coerce her into engaging in sexual activities.

Fueled by anger, she had stormed out of his place, vowing to put an end to such encounters. Men, in her view, were often cruel and reckless, driven solely by their own satisfaction without regard for others' feelings.

"We would like four Beacon cheeseburgers and two Clam chowders, accompanied by four bottles of Pepsi," one of the men replied, momentarily snapping Avery out of her thoughts.

"Alright. Is there anything else I can assist you with?" she asked, swiftly jotting down their order in her notebook.

"No, just bring us a beautiful lady as well," one of them remarked with a smirk, prompting Avery to roll her eyes in frustration before walking away to the counter.

As she observed Jeffery, her coworker, staring intently at the men with a deep frown, she cautioned him against taking any rash actions that could jeopardize his job.

"Don't even think about it unless you want to lose your job," she warned him firmly, causing him to avert his gaze and acknowledge her advice.

"But they..." he began to protest, only to be interrupted by Avery.

"You shouldn't concern yourself with them. Doing anything foolish will only result in your termination," she advised, continuing on her way without further hesitation.

In no time, Avery found herself carrying a tray towards the men's table. However, just as she reached their vicinity, she accidentally dropped the tray, her displeasure evident on her face as their lustful gazes persisted.

"What's your name, beauty?" one of them asked, leaning forward. Despite his advances, Avery remained silent, refusing to dignify his question with a response.

"Is there anything else I can assist you with?" she inquired, her frown deepening in response to their laughter and lewd remarks.

"Nah, just go think about it," the man who had initially spoken smirked, satisfied with his suggestive comment.

Momentarily diverting her attention from the men, Avery's gaze was captured by a television screen in the room. A woman holding a microphone was conducting a broadcast. However, her frown deepened further as she recognized the young man standing beside the woman.

Rohan Ericson, a CEO and a vampire prince at the noble level, appeared on the screen. His striking handsomeness had made him the object of desire for many, but Avery held no interest in him or any other vampires. She harbored a strong animosity towards vampires in general, particularly the royal ones who exuded an air of superiority. Rumors had circulated about the arrogance and pride of the princess, Albert's sister.

Her attention was abruptly diverted from the television by the jingling sound of the door. Turning her head, Avery was taken aback.

As if the humiliation and near-death experience inflicted upon her by the rogue vampires on that rainy night were not enough, they had now decided to pay a visit to the bar. One by one, they entered, their disguises failing to deceive Avery as she recognized them instantly.

Lowering her head to avoid detection, she hurried towards the counter. She needed to find a hiding spot, desperate to prevent them from spotting her and calling her over. How did they even know where she worked?

"Hey, can someone come take our order?" a familiar feminine voice from the previous night called out. Thankfully, there were more than eight waitresses present in the room. Avery quickened her pace towards the counter.

"Hey, you, the waitress," one of them, a male with curly black hair donning blue jeans shorts and a white tank top, called out, pointing at Avery.

Her heart skipped a beat as she covered part of her face with her hair and lowered her head, attempting to shield herself further.

Avery reluctantly approached their table, her heart racing, as the female vampire seized her hand, halting her movements. Her heart raced even faster as the female vampire questioned why Avery was hiding her face from them, suggesting that it was due to their non-human nature.

"It's not that," Avery responded, her heart pounding. All eyes were fixated on them, including those of Jeffery and the other waitresses, frozen in place as they observed the unfolding scene.

"You find us vile and disgusting simply because we are not human, don't you?" the female vampire pressed, causing Avery to gulp nervously as she scanned the room.

"No, it's not..."

"Fine then, if you claim you don't, prove it," the female vampire suggested, releasing Avery's hand. "Look at me. I want to see your face."