CHAPTER SIX

Avery slowly raised her head, delicately moving the strands of hair away from her face. Her gaze locked directly onto the lady, who responded with a warm, friendly smile.

"Good, there's nothing to be scared of," the lady assured her, squinting her eyes before waving her away.

Relieved, Avery sighed as she walked past the other customers and returned to the counter. She was grateful that they hadn't caused any trouble, although she doubted they had simply come to eat.

"What's happening over there?" Jeffrey asked suspiciously, giving her a questioning look. His gaze shifted back to the guests, but he quickly averted his eyes when he noticed the lady smirking at him.

"Nothing is going on," Avery reassured him with a forced smile, walking past him and into the kitchen after informing him about the drinks ordered by the guests.

Carrying the new orders on a tray in her left hand, she made her way to the guests' table, attempting to maintain a smile. Her legs moved steadily as she approached them.

Arriving at the table, she placed the order down and said, "Here," to them, consciously avoiding looking directly at the woman seated beside her.

An uncomfortable feeling churned in Avery's stomach as she felt the woman's piercing gaze upon her. She involuntarily gulped, slowly turning her gaze toward the lady.

"We're not going to bite, jeez!" the woman exclaimed, rolling her eyes and reaching for a glass.

Avery nodded, trying to appear composed. "Is there anything else you would like?" she asked, looking at each of them in turn.

"No, that will be all," the person who placed the order replied with a smile, which somewhat helped calm her nerves.

She nodded again, preparing to leave when she heard his voice calling out to her.

"Our bill?" he asked, and she turned to him with a smile, not wanting to upset them.

According to the restaurant policy, customers were expected to pay the bill after their meal. Her boss, who cared more about money than customer satisfaction, might use any excuse to extract more money from them. Although she wasn't certain, it seemed better to comply and give these individuals what they wanted rather than risk any harm.

"That will be $40, sir," she replied, and he nodded before leaning back in his seat. He remained there for a few moments, then pulled out some notes and handed them to her.

"Here," he replied, anticipating her potential objections. "The rest is for you as a tip," he added, dismissing her concerns.

Avery wasn't sure if she could trust them, uncertain if accepting the money was the right thing to do, even with his reassurances. Nevertheless, she forced a smile, turned around, and walked toward another table. She had no intention of using the tip; she would keep it, unsure if she had been lured by them.

***

In a grand banquet hall, an elongated table stretched far enough to accommodate forty people. The table was adorned with a long tablecloth featuring golden stripes, filled with an assortment of food, desserts, and drinks.

This room served as a banquet hall, and currently, only eight individuals were seated around the table. They comprised of four pale men and a woman, collectively known as the vampire council, responsible for making decisions for the entire vampire coven.

On the left side of the hall sat the human authorities— the president, a military general, and a lawyer. Their faces displayed a mix of complexity and tension, evident in their demeanor.

A group of armed military guards stood behind them as they engaged in discussions. Although the two factions occupied the same table, the tension in the air was palpable. This marked the second occasion the human leader had been invited by the vampire council. Despite having previously worked together, the human leader remained cautious, mindful that these vampires fed on humans like him.

"How brave of you to bring weapons to our home," one of the council members remarked, sporting a smile on his face.

"It appears that they don't trust us, Lord Cassius," the woman among them responded. "We've already signed a treaty, haven't we?" she inquired, her eyes meeting the president's, who surprisingly appeared unafraid compared to his companions.

"How can I trust you if you can't keep your subjects in check?" the president asked, provoking a glare from the woman. He responded with a smirk, undeterred.

"There's no need for fighting," one of the vampires interjected, smiling. "President Waller, you can keep your men. After all, we are here to celebrate and not create enemies amongst ourselves," he suggested.

President Waller nodded. "Thank you, Lord Ericson," he replied, reaching for a glass and taking a sip.

"You must be wondering why you've been invited," Lord Ericson began, gazing at his blood-filled glass before shifting his attention back to the president. "We are running out of blood to sustain ourselves. As you know, it is our sole means of survival, and we have only a few blood bags remaining," he explained, glancing at the approaching servants carrying trays of food.

Raising his hand, he motioned for the servants to halt. "You may all leave," he ordered, and they bowed before retreating. Once the servants had departed, he fixed his gaze on the president. "You haven't held up your end of the bargain, President Waller," he stated firmly.

The president, maintaining a stern expression, observed all of them before placing his glass back on the table. "You will receive your blood bags if you ensure your vampires adhere to the rules of the treaty," he declared, casting a quick glance at each council member.

Lord Ericson, though smiling, betrayed his anger with a protruding vein on his forehead. He couldn't believe he was sitting before a human, enduring insults. If the president were a regular human with no backing or high position, Lord Ericson would have decapitated him with a single swipe of his claws long ago.

Gritting his teeth, he forced a smile. "Of course," he replied, ignoring the disapproving looks he received from the other council members.

"That's even quicker than I expected," President Waller noted, observing the vampires seated beside him, who appeared intimidated by their presence.

Suddenly, a guard approached the president, leaning in and whispering into his ear, though audible to the council members.

The president sighed, then turned his gaze back to the vampires. "You will receive your blood bags, and business will proceed as usual. Thank you for the meal," he assured, shifting his chair as he and his entourage stood up.

The council members also rose from their seats, wearing smiles except for the displeased woman and the first man who had spoken earlier. These two made no effort to conceal their dissatisfaction.

"Thank you, council, for the meal, but I must take my leave," the president stated, looking directly at Lord Ericson.

"Of course," the vampire replied through clenched teeth, his hand clenched tightly behind him. His knuckles turned white as his fingers dug into his palm.

His eyes darkened as soon as the president and his escorts left the dining hall, even the council member were of no exception as they all felt insulted.