Sunday, October 29, 2006

'tis the season...

Legend

His hands were cold; colder than the night breeze; colder, even than his eyes. But that was the normal condition for one of his race: cold.

His only heat was in his temperament and eagerness to be about his task. He wished that, like the legends, he could simply transform himself and with a flap of velvet leather wings be out, upon the night sky, unseen by those he sought. But those were legends. Reality had him trudging through the mist-thick streets, his eyes alert for movement, his senses taught.

He looked for one as alone as he: one in no company, and with no direction. One who had the inner warmth he lacked-the heat he craved. He saw a woman. She was huddled on the alley stoop of a café, wrapped in rubber slicker, hoarding to herself her own fading warmth. He approached making small intentional noises- a shoe scuff; a nose sniff. She would hear him coming and not be startled away. She looked up as he neared. They saw each other in the half reflected moonlight and each drew a sigh. Neither saw the warmth they needed.

"It's a cold night," he said.

She nodded, not wishing to spend her strength in speech.

"It seems times have been hard for you, too," he offered.

"They have." Her voice was small and far away.

"They are for all of us."

She nodded again.

"Move if you can. They won't come to you. Those times are gone. Sad times now...we've got them out numbered, and our success will be our undoing. Move if you can. You'll find one."

He started to walk off.

She called after him, "If only we could fly."

4 Comments:

At Sunday, October 29, 2006 at 6:45:00 PM EST, Blogger Jon said...

Mary, Mary, Mary...maybe more of a species? Hey, check out Stewart's blog...it's really good.
google, "house of sternberg."

 
At Sunday, October 29, 2006 at 8:23:00 PM EST, Blogger Stewart Sternberg (half of L.P. Styles) said...

I'm telling you...it is incredibly difficult to find a different handle on vampirism. Which is why we have to focus on CHARACTER, CHARACTER, CHARACTER.

I like the idea of the vampire as a flightless beast. Flight becomes a metaphor for being able to aspire to something greater. To something..human? Divine?

 
At Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 7:11:00 AM EST, Blogger Susan Miller said...

Good stuff, man. The evolution of the vampire. The tone of desperation. I like it.

I have now provided a link to your site on my page and wonder if it's appropriate to ask permission first. Blooger etiquette? Just let me know if you're not comfortable with that. I will need ask to Stu the same question.

 
At Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 6:57:00 PM EST, Blogger Jon said...

I am most pleased to have a link on your site. Unless you change your format to a Brazilian Hermaphrodite Sex site...and then I wouldn't mind that much...I don't speak Portuguese.

 

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