The Transition

"Margaret are you sure this is a good idea?" Todd asked, setting a perfectly folded white napkin next to a large round dinner plate on the dining room table.
"I'm not even sure I'm doing this right," he admitted, looking at the four places he had set. Did the napkin go on the left or right side?
"It's been so long since we have eaten dinner at a table," Margaret agreed, stepping out of the kitchen to check on Todd's work.
"That looks fine to me," she said with a slight shrug. "I doubt our guests will be looking too closely at their table settings anyway. Margaret smirked and winked at Todd. He shook his head slightly and gave the table another once over.
"They're a nice couple, Margaret. I think they deserve better than this." She glared at him.
"We've been through this, Todd. I made my decision. No one in the neighborhood likes them. Sarah is a gossip and Jason is a slob. They have no value to this neighborhood. To the world. They are the perfect couple to have for dinner.
  There was a twinkle in Margaret's eye as she said this.
"Can you fetch four glasses for me? They're in the cupboard next to the icebox."
"Why do we keep these things around?" Todd wanted to know as he walked into the kitchen.
"To keep up appearances," Margaret's voice rang out from the other room. "The last thing we need is people getting suspicious."
"And they won't get suspicious after this?" Todd exclaimed, almost dropping one of the glasses. Margaret burst into the room, her arms folded, eyes wild.
"Todd will you stop this silliness? When they leave they will look completely unharmed. Now put those glasses on the table, will you?"
 Todd sighed and made his way back into the dining room. Margaret followed him smoothing down her skirt.
"Should we turn the phonograph on?" she asked, stepping into the living room.
"I hardly think it matters," Todd said, lacking enthusiasm. Margaret glared.
"Well I am going to enjoy this even if you don't. Besides, this is not about us it's about her. She deserves this. Can you imagine the day she has had? Losing everyone and everything she loves. What kind of birthday is that?"
"Yes and then we came along and made it worse."
 Margaret turned on Todd and glared at him fiercely.
"We saved her life, Todd. Without us she would be dead."
"Yes, of course you're right," Todd caved, taking a step back.
"Have you checked on her lately? How is she doing?"
"I looked in on her a few minutes ago," Todd told her. "She is getting hungrier. It needs to happen soon."
  As if on cue, the doorbell rang. Margaret looked at Todd and put on a winning smile.
"Look sharp, Todd. Dinner is here."


  The girl lay on the floor of this dark room writhing at the pain in her stomach. She had never felt a hunger like this before. In fact everything she felt right now was new. Just hours ago she had been laying on another floor in her own house as flames rose up all around her. She had listened in agony to the cries of her friends and family as they burned. No one was sure how the fire had started but it spread quicker than they could run. The girl had accepted her fate, definitely the worst thing that could have happened on her twenty first birthday. The last thing she remembered was the pale face of a woman looking at her through the smoke. Then all was darkness.
  A short while later she woke up in this darkened room, nothing in it but a glass full of dark red liquid. She did not know what it was but the smell was overwhelming and she was inexplicably drawn to it. Without much thought, she crawled over to it and drained the glass. Ever since then she had been suffering painful contortions and cramps and felt a powerful hunger for more of this mystery liquid.
  She had tried to open the door but it was locked. There were voices somewhere else in the house and she hoped soon they would approach her and tell her it was time to come out.
  Finally, when she was beginning to think she could handle this no longer, she heard soft footsteps come down the hall and stop in front of the door. She perked up as the doorknob turned and light came into the room.
  "How do you feel?" said the man standing in front of her.
  "Terrible," she croaked out. "Is there more of that red juice?"
   Todd nodded.
  "Yes there is much more. Come on. It's time."
  He looked very serious. The girl rose to her feet whimpering slightly. She followed him down the hall into a brightly lit dining room where sat a man and a woman on opposite sides of a table. They were awake but their eyes held far away looks. A woman sat at the head of the table and smiled at her.
 "Welcome, sweetheart. Are you hungry?"
  The girl nodded. This woman was the one who saved her from the fire.
 "Good. It's time to finish your transition now. This nice couple has offered to be your first meal."
 The girl wrinkled her eyebrow.
 "You want some more of that sweet red juice, no?" the pale woman asked with a smirk. The girl's eyes opened wide and everything came together in her mind.
   This woman had saved her life by feeding her blood. That's what was in the glass in her dark room. She ran her tongue over her teeth and noticed two of them were significantly sharper than before. The lady was smiling at her approvingly. The man looked as if he pitied her.
"I'm a...a...'' she stuttered, not able to form the word.
"Yes you are, my darling. Or rather you will be once you take a bite of these two."
"But they will struggle and run away."
The lady shook her head.
"I have compelled them to sit still and quietly. They will offer no resistance."
 The girl stood rooted to her spot, not sure how to take all of this in. She did not want to hurt the man and lady sitting compelled at the table. But she was so hungry.
 "It is quite alright, darling," the lady said. "I know you are hungry."
She motioned to the man who had come to retrieve her from the room.
"Todd tell her not to be scared."
  The man sighed quietly and nodded.
"She is right. This is necessary for you to transition. Go ahead, Darby. Take a bite."