"Ohh," Beauty said, pushing her fingertips against her bottom lip. "I'm sorry. If I'd known you hadn't known about vampires in the City, then I would have gone a little easier in telling you for the first time. It sounds like you may have already met Eric. Tall, blonde, frightening, with blue eyes that see right through you? That's Eric. He actually terrified me for a very, very long time. He... He did something to me that I didn't like. Never look him in the eyes, Megan. He... I don't know exactly how, but he can do things to you if you do that. Just be careful. I wouldn't want you to get hurt."

Her serious expression softened just a little, then. "And don't worry about talking too much. I'm so used to my books and my bookstore that I probably don't talk enough! We'll make an excellent pair, you and I, Megan!" And then that smile was back again -- bright and warm and inviting.

"So.... you said you'd not seen my dress in any of the other shops -- does that mean you've seen all the shops? Because if that's so, I was wondering if maybe you'd be free to help me... sort of..." Here, she shook her head. She didn't know the words to say what she was looking for, exactly. "I... just want..."

And she closed her mouth, more than aware of what the next words would have been, and more than aware of how foolish they were. She sighed.