Note: this conversation originally took place on the evening of Wednesday, December 21st — the 2016 Winter Solstice.
Janiss: We’re back for another evening of hot cocoa and immortal talk. Say hello, Nancy.
Nancy: (long sigh) Hello.
J: It’s the longest night of the year, and you’ve chosen to spend at least a little of it with me — thank you.
N: Free drinks, yes?
J: I pay for those.
N: Free for me, then. (sips) What topic have you chosen?
J: Christmas, of course.
N: Very appropriate. (gestures at all the decorations and shoppers, then at her themed cup) Continue.
J: (leans forward) Do you celebrate it?
N: (raises an eyebrow)
J: Come on, you can’t tell me you’ve never been swayed by the Christmas spirit. Not once in three centuries?
N: I most often choose to spend it alone not killing anyone.
J: Isn’t that how you spend most nights?
N: (nods) Not all that different from any other time of year.
J: What about people watching?
N: I find it inappropriate to leer at livestock while it roams and grazes. (sips)
Continue reading “An Old-Time Allegheny Christmas – Daughters of Darkness”
I put it on when I saw it — it’s always been way too big for me, but you can snuggle into it. It smells like both of them.
Secrecy. Similar to Underworld, the other Vampires I deal with accept we don’t trust one another. Because Blood Workers have various individual powers they can choose to pass on or withhold, the skill set of individual Vampires can vary. Even exposure to a power can help one of my kind to develop it if given enough time, so if you’re going to destroy a fellow Vampire using “a cool new ability,” do it quickly before your opponent figures out how to use it against you. Selene is a master strategist at this; the longer we survive, the better we become.
Protector. Of everything Selene does or can do, this is the one I relate to the most: she cares, often to the point of putting herself in personal danger to save someone else. Gaining her trust isn’t easy — she’s been screwed over too many times — but once earned, Selene will go the distance. I like to think of myself that way, but cross either of us and you should probably run.
Brooding. After six centuries: really, Selene? I did the everything-is-dark thing for a while, but after a year and a half I just couldn’t. It wasn’t me and was never me. Since purging my sire’s willfulness from my head, his memories often merge into my own and I catch myself being more sarcastic than I used to be, but the whole silent brooding over the city at night? I can’t do it, especially here in the country where the tallest structure is a water tower (cue the “Animaniacs” theme song). But hey, I can scare the living hell out of people by popping out of the shadows at them; it’s become a bit of a game for me now.
I posted a picture of my holiday meal on Thanksgiving: a warm turkey-themed mug filled to the brim with my favorite nutritional supplement. Some people thought it was animal blood or some other creature.
I’ve mentioned before that immortals require a place to rest, one with a bed of earth and deep enough to be completely interred. It doesn’t require being covered, but a sense of safety is paramount; if you’ve seen any of those movies where the fools disturbing a Vampire at rest during the day realize we’re not actually sleeping, you’ve got the right bloody idea.
Ah, modern conveniences to the rescue! Of course Vampires can see in extreme low-light conditions, but a reading light never hurts — nor does a back-lit video screen with an in-crypt high-speed wireless connection and a charging cradle. Finish a book, interact on social media, do some light shopping, or binge-watch a season on Netflix. When Vampires were cursed to spend their days confined to a crypt, I’ll bet the culprits never suspected science would supersede magic.
On the next full moon, the wolf returned. When the herd scattered, the spared sheep did not run.
According to 
Cedarcrest Sanctum 