Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
“Welcome! Welcome! Please come on!” she greeted with over-the-top enthusiasm.
“H-hi,” Luke stammered, his eyes straying from the dark-haired young woman to the restaurant filled with empty tables. The servers stood in the back chatting with some of the kitchen staff, looking a mix of panicked and bored. “Um…you’re…open, right?”
“Yes, yes. We’re open and happy to serve you. Will it be only you dining or maybe you’re meeting a bigger party?”
Luke’s heart squeezed at the hopeful note in her voice. “I’m meeting someone. My date. He should be here soon.”
The door whooshed open as he finished speaking, and Matteo rushed in, windblown and somewhat out of breath. “I’m here!” he wheezed. “I’m—whoa…” His eyes caught on the empty restaurant.
“Wonderful,” the hostess continued, seeming to ignore their wide-eyed gazes as she snatched up a pair of black leather-bound menus. “If you’ll follow me, we can offer you…any table you wish.” She paused for a minute, looking around. “My personal favorite is the table by the window. You’re away from any kind of draft from the front door, and you get a splendid view of the street.”
Luke bit the inside of his cheek. That spot also gave the illusion of lots of people in the restaurant. Not that Luke could blame her. He glanced at Matteo, who eagerly nodded.
“Sounds great to me,” Matteo agreed.
The hostess left them at a cozy table covered with a heavy white linen tablecloth and shining water glasses. She’d barely finished wishing them a good meal while the server approached to provide water, a basket of fresh bread and soft butter, and a list of the evening’s specials. It might be eerie to be the only diners in a restaurant, but it guaranteed them fast service.
“Have you been here before?” Luke whispered the moment they were left alone, his mouth blocked by the open menu so the staff couldn’t read his lips.
“Yes!” Matteo replied in a harsh whisper. “My parents treated me to dinner here at the start of the semester. The food is excellent. There should be an hour’s wait for a table right now. This is so weird.”
Luke regarded the adorable Italian restaurant with its watercolors of Tuscan hills and vineyards next to the exposed red brick walls. There was a rich scent of oregano and cheese hanging in the air. The place looked clean and elegant. No, the place looked fucking expensive, but he wasn’t worried about that. He’d saved up more than enough to pay for the somewhat extravagant date with Matteo.
It was just that the restaurant was suspiciously quiet, but there was no overt sign of the demons or demonic magic, so he let his worries slip away. He chitchatted with Matteo as he reviewed the menu. They debated their preferences and whether to order something to share. By the time the server returned to take their order, a few more people had trickled into the restaurant, allowing Luke to relax. While it was nice to know they had the attention of their server, it was also unnerving to know that they had his full and undivided attention.
Unfortunately, things didn’t stay quiet.
In the center of every table was a small candle flickering in a hurricane glass, adding a little more romance and ambiance to the restaurant. Luke loved it. Anything to make this moment with Matteo a bit more special. Except he noticed that the new customers were remarking on their candles suddenly going out. Luke didn’t pay any attention until all three tables that were occupied in the restaurant went out.
“Check that out,” Matteo whispered. He reached across the table and covered Luke’s hand with his own, squeezing his fingers. It took Luke an extra second to tear his eyes away from where their hands were entwined to see that the candles at all the other tables were flickering out.
All but theirs.
They stared at their candle, holding their breath, waiting for the flame to poof out. But it never did.
“Okay. That’s weird,” Matteo murmured.
“Yeah, really weird.”
He watched as the hostess swept through the room with a lighter with a long nozzle made especially for lighting candles. She hastened through the restaurant, lighting each of the candles. She paused at their table, a puzzled expression on her face.
“Did you relight yours?”
Matteo shook his head. “It never went out.”
“Weird.” She smiled brightly at them and tilted her head. “Is it a full moon?”
“I don’t think so,” Luke replied.
“Maybe Mercury is in retrograde,” Matteo joked.
She giggled. “Maybe so.”
Yet, before she could return to the hostess stand, the candles flickered out again. This time it was faster, as if an invisible hand swept through the room, snuffing them with magic. And still, their candle was the only one that remained lit.
The hostess attempted to light the candles a second time, but as she turned her back, they all went out at the same time. Except for theirs.