The next morning rolled around, and it was time for church service again.
Mike turned down Mary's invitation once more, opting to stay home alone and catch some extra shut-eye.
Knock knock~ Knock~
It hadn't been long before there was a rap at the door. Mike figured he'd just ignore it, but after a bit, the knocking didn't stop—it actually got more urgent.
"Who the heck is it, this early in the morning...?" Grumbling about his interrupted sleep, Mike dragged himself out of bed and headed to the door, seriously annoyed.
At this hour, it probably wasn't the Coopers or Grandma Connie.
And even if Grandma Connie had come back and forgotten her keys, there was a spare hidden outside—she wouldn't need to knock.
With a creak, he pulled the door open.
Outside, Serena peeked into the house. "Mike, I knew you'd be home."
In the morning light, the woman was wearing a thin red silk nightgown that seemed to glow against her pale skin.
Mike hadn't expected her to show up so eagerly. He leaned back a little, on high alert. "What's up, Serena?"
"My pipes are busted. Could you come over and help me fix them?" Serena brushed aside a few strands of wet hair. Her silk nightgown was soaked in a big patch across her chest, clinging tightly to her body.
If she were a normal person, Mike might've taken a longer look—just to enjoy the view.
But that weird smell hitting his nose made him wrinkle it in discomfort. He brushed her off: "Uh, that might not be the best idea. Why don't you head back home and wait a bit? Pastor Jeff should be back soon."
Until he figured out what her deal really was, Mike wasn't about to get too close.
After what happened with Jennifer, he knew full well how dangerous these non-humans could be.
Their thought processes? Nothing like a regular person's.
"You sure you don't want to come?" Serena's patience seemed to be wearing thin after his second refusal.
She was still smiling, but the hand gripping the doorframe was making a crunching sound.
The metal-covered frame now had finger indentations squeezed into it.
Quickly sizing up the power difference, Mike knew he didn't stand a chance in a straight fight.
"Er, let me throw on some clothes. I'll be right out." His eyelid twitched as he decided to play it safe for now.
It'd also give him a minute to grab something for protection.
"No need." Serena grabbed his arm before he could turn, smiling as she said, "It's just fixing a pipe. It won't take long."
That speed—he couldn't have dodged it even if he tried. Mike was shocked inside but kept his face neutral.
"Alright, I'll go fix your pipe. Mind letting go first?" He glanced at the small, pale hand clamped on his wrist. It was cold as ice—not the kind of temperature a living person should have.
"Sorry, I got a little ahead of myself." Serena released him and slipped back into her polite, aloof demeanor.
Pastor Jeff's house was right next door—less than a three-hundred-yard walk.
On the way, Mike flexed his wrist. Where she'd grabbed him, there was already a ring of red marks.
This is bad news. He glanced up at Serena swaying ahead of him, his mind racing for a plan.
But considering the massive gap in strength, he couldn't think of any solid countermeasures.
Maybe get help from the church?
As his thoughts wandered, they stepped into Pastor Jeff's house.
It was a pretty ordinary place, layout similar to Grandma Connie's.
"Right here. Take a look and see if you can fix it. I'll go change..." Serena led him to the kitchen, where the faucet over the sink was dripping steadily.
Once they were inside, she seemed totally confident he'd stick around—no rush in her attitude anymore.
After she left the room, Mike eyed the array of knives on the counter. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes.
He was weighing the idea of going down swinging when Serena came back, now in a red camisole top.
Gotta admit, the woman had an amazing figure—and she knew exactly what guys liked. That top on her? Pure temptation.
Too bad she's not human. Otherwise... maybe not a bad deal. Mike shook his head, pushing down those stray thoughts.
At the same time, he shifted back a step, closer to the knives.
"So, can you fix it?" Serena leaned against the doorway, asking casually.
Mike glanced at the faucet. Just a loose screw. And he had a strong suspicion she'd loosened it on purpose.
Spotting a small wrench and pliers nearby, he nodded. "Yeah, I can."
"Great. You get started. I'll grab you something to drink." With that, she sauntered off to the living room, hips swaying.
This ain't right. Staring at her back, inappropriate images kept popping into Mike's head.
Normally, that foul smell alone should've killed any interest.
But his brain just wouldn't listen to him.
Whatever. I'm not ready for a fight yet—not the right time to make a move... Better to just get outta here quick. Without a solid shot at winning, Mike wasn't about to put himself in more danger.
So he grabbed the wrench and quickly tightened things up.
Once the screw was snug, the dripping stopped.
Mike set the tools down and headed out.
In the living room, Serena was waiting with a tall glass full of red liquid.
"We're out of milk. Red wine okay?" she asked with a smile.
"No thanks." Mike turned it down flat out—he wasn't touching anything she offered.
"Faucet's fixed. I'm heading out." He sidestepped her and made for the front door.
"Wait~" Serena sipped her wine, flashing two fangs as her eyes turned blood-red. "Aren't you curious about my abilities?"
She's dropping the act. Mike's heart sank halfway. He slipped a hand into his pocket, where he'd stashed a small paring knife.
"Relax. I don't mean you any harm." Serena licked her lips, hiding the fangs again. "I'm a noble vampire. If you're willing, I can give you the Embrace and bring you into our kind."
The vampire Embrace required one to willingly offer their essence blood, which cost the vampire some power.
From that alone, it was clear Serena was really invested in Mike.
Humans turned through the Embrace didn't just get stronger bodies and near-endless life. If they were lucky, they could even awaken a unique gift.
Serena's was "Charm"—it let her amplify people's desires, especially the bedroom kind.
Pure-blooded vampires created this way could also absorb moonlight energy to grow stronger.
In the end, some might even regress to their ancestral form—turning into bats, flying free through the night.