For the uninitiated: “Daughters of Darkness” is a conversation between my neophyte self and a centuries-old immortal discussing (what else?) living forever on blood in the dark. Nancy hates that I keep doing this, yet she keeps agreeing to it… go figure.
Nancy: What forsaken place have you dragged me to this time?
Janiss: It’s called “The Empty Glass…”
N: As it says on the front. I can read, Janiss. Why here?
J: Just to change it up a little, plus they’re open past midnight.
N: Lucky us. There’s no karaoke, is there? I’ve murdered for less.
J: Oooh, such a tough Vampire! No, just “open mic night.”
N: It’s awfully small and too few exits.
J: It’s intimate. Are you already plotting your escape?
N: That depends on what the next singer-songwriter is about to inflict upon us.
The bartender brings the drinks we’ll barely touch.
N: (showing interest) What’s yours?
J: Woodchuck hard cider.
N: (dabs her finger in my pint glass and touches it to her tongue) Fruity. Barely alcoholic.
J: As if that made any difference.
N: Let’s get this over with. What’s the topic?
J: Vampire bloggers…
N: You’re not still commenting on that “mother succubus” blog, are you?
J: (smiling) Juliette’s blog, yes. “Musing’s of a modern Vampire mom.”
N: She’s not a real Vampire.
J: (shrugs) You don’t know that.
N: You have to have children to be a mom.
J: You had kids and you’re a Vampire, so what?
N: I gave birth before I was turned. Dead things don’t grow inside of dead things.
J: And yet two corpses are sitting at a table in the state capital of West “By God” Virginia pretending to drink while listening to… whatever that song is.
N: It sounds vaguely like the Ramones.
J: (gasps) You’ve heard the Ramones?
N: (trying not to smirk) I saw them live in Cleveland. They were touring with Iggy Pop. Late seventies. “Blitzkrieg Bop” sounds better when they perform it in person.
J: I’ve… got nothing.
N: So back to your living dead mom…
J: I like her. She’s sweet. She’s the kind of Vampire I try to be.
N: You mean a pretend Vampire?
J: “Character is what you are in the dark.” It’s a blog and she’s a writer. She tells cool stories, like her “Vlad’s Diary” series. And she takes care of her elders, even when they’re a bit confused about things now and then.
N: They’re Vampires too?
J: Of course.
N: Look, I know it’s fun to blur the lines like Stoker and Rice playing with the whole out-and-proud bit, but we survive upon mortal human blood. No matter how entertained people are by the idea of it, blood drinkers aren’t going to suddenly become acceptable, even if the Japanese invent TruBlood. I also don’t need to remind you how outnumbered we are.
J: It’s a spycraft thing. If people are watching for someone trying to not to be seen, don’t. Juliette’s sincere, and I like her idea of a Vampire family. Confidence works. If you look like you belong, no one thinks twice about it.
N: (smiling) I can’t remember ever being so naïve, and that’s coming from someone who remembers everything.
J: I still don’t see the harm. I work the night shift —
N: Which you don’t have to.
J: — and I’m very good at drawing blood.
N: Wink-wink, nudge-nudge. So why are you dredging this up again?
Continue reading “Undead @ The Empty Glass”
Vampires aren’t evil by nature. Sure, we have a predisposition toward predator behavior, but what carnivorous creature in creation isn’t capable of killing? We’re also the most threatening to one another, but with effort and a few rules (thanks, social media!), many of us can get along fine…especially when we’re not in the same room.
Speaking of being alive, the concept of “life” has become fluid for me. I was told vampires simulate life (breath and heartbeat) so we can better lure in our victims, but I also consider the source (Ian was an ass). Although I can always feel it coming, I’m still not used to the sudden lurch of my heart stopping at sunrise.
Cedarcrest Sanctum 