Romeo and Juliet and Vampires

“Don’t you know how to knock?” Tybalt asked as he basked in the soft glow of the lamplight. “And stop staring at me like that. This isn’t what you think.”

Juliet put her hands on her hips. “Why do I find that hard to believe?”

Tybalt smiled at her as though nothing strange were going on. “Because you’re too young, that’s why.”

“You said we wouldn’t be found down here, Tibby,” the lady whimpered.

Juliet let out a giggle. “Tibby, eh? Isn’t that sweet.”

“Be quiet, Cecilia!” he retorted into the cell.

Juliet gasped and kicked Tybalt hard in the shins, then stormed out into the tunnel, happy to hear her cousin groan in pain. Tybalt limped out of the room and stepped in front of Juliet, preventing her from leaving.

“What are you so upset about? She and I are just having ourselves a bit of interspecies fun. There’s no law against that, is there?” Tybalt enquired while he buttoned up his shirt.

“You can be such a disgusting lout!” Juliet snapped, and stomped her foot.

Tybalt laughed and patted her on the head. “And you’re still a little girl.”

“I suppose that’s why I’m down here, hiding,” Juliet said, sighing.

“From your destiny, I presume?”

Juliet nodded.

“Well, I’m afraid you will never accomplish that. You are a Capulet, through and through, warts and all,” he said, smoothing out his shoulder-length auburn locks.

“That may be, but there is one way to avoid my fate,” she said, her voice serious.

“What, starve to death? Do not even threaten something like that.” Tybalt’s face suddenly filled with concern.

“Why not? If I get caught performing the ritual, I will be sentenced to death anyway, by the orders of Prince Radu,” she replied.

“You won’t get caught,” Tybalt said. “I can tell you from experience that your natural, cunning instincts are strongest on your sixteenth birthday. You’ll know in your bones everything you need to do.” He peered over his shoulder at the practically naked young maiden in the cell. “You should trust me on this one.”

Juliet rolled her eyes. “Like that woman in there trusts you? Please, I’m much smarter than that.”

“Is that so?” Tybalt challenged her.

“You have her down here because you plan to turn her, but I bet she doesn’t know that, does she?” Juliet said through clenched teeth.

Tybalt was not in the least bit offended by Juliet’s accusation. He just grinned and said, “Guilty as charged, Cousin. But I have a feeling I’ll be able to convince her that life as a vampire is much more interesting. Don’t you agree?”