Chapter 76 Vanity

Yin can only take you so far. You should come to one of my gatherings in the upper chambers.” This is getting to be too much. “Il think about it. Thanks man.” Eckhart continues to smile in that superior way of his. “Only with our help, will you stand a chance of winning their favor, when they return.” “What do you know about that?” “As your friend Essen noted, I have some knowl- edge of their ways.” “Essen ain’t my friend and... and I’ll think about it. Excuse me, I think I see someone I need to talk to. I can almost sense the cold set of his face as I turn and cut through the crowd towards the dance pit. Sound system’s booming retro Sonic Youth: Cool thing play’n with the kitty, now ya know ya sure look’n pretty. I know it’s a risk pissing Eckhart off like that but I need to get away from him, think about what he said. I know what goes on at those gatherings of his. One hundred days of Sodom style orgies is what I heard. Sometimes you can see them in the opera boxes, fucking and sucking, whipping one another. I should jump at the chance, because he’s right, they’re why the Kin come here. Every- body knows that. Suddenly, I’m not sure. In my head I see Lars the Vampire again, his lush tits spill- ing out of that gown, his eyes all green fire and alien. What if joining the Kin makes me like that. Maybe I should just get pissed and skank some warm chick. God knows there are lots of tasty ones on the floor. It is foolish of you to deny him. I look up at the chick stepping out of the pit to- wards me, go suddenly dizzy. She’s totally delish and its only after a second I recognize her. Upswept mass of jet ringlets, smoky eyes with long shadowy lashes; lips puffy and bloody red; still it seems a child’s face, scared by those lips, by the rings through her eyebrows, ears, nose. She’s teetering on spike heels, as if drunk, and her breasts shake in her jewel encrusted black bustier. One of the danc- ers. Felicia, I think’s her name. Then it comes to me. She’s Dead. Kin. The only Kin I’ve met. I don’t know I could have missed it before. Lars. Dance with me pretty boy? It’s not a request: without noticing myself do it, I step towards her, begin moving with the low beat of Bela Lugosi’s Dead. It occurs to me that she hasn’t opened her mouth to speak to me. What’s happened to you? She’s looking at me askew, plucking with crim- son nails at the netting of her black petticoats, distractedly. She’s trembling slightly—it’s only been a few months, she’s still newly Dead. My god, how could Lars look so choice. Behind her the crowd has turned to watch us. They’ve recognized her for what she is, the way I have. The closest appear paralyzed: hands snaking towards Her, frozen mid- way. Don’t you realize Eckhart represents your best, maybe your only, chance of joining the Dead? Stealing myself, I ask: “What about you? We had a deal. A pact.” God, Brett—I could just have you for a snack. I’m so hungry. Besides I’m weak, Brett, forty-ninth generation, Lucrezia says. My blood’s thin. What kind of Vampire would I make? She’s looking at me straight on now, sizing me up, for dinner maybe. She must be delirious. What she’s saying makes no sense. I’ve got so many ques- tions. Lars. Suddenly, I’m hard, hot for her. Not Lars. Felicia. I reach out and stroke her cheek. Brett, don’t. Go to Eckhart. Flatter him. He likes you. He’ll get you a strong maker. Thirtieth, maybe even twentieth generation. You don’t have to be like this. Ignoring her, “Don’t fuck’n mock me, Lars. You know Eckhart doesn’t know shit. You’re here. I want you to do me. Come on.” I’m feeling foolishly bold, grab her hips and pull her to me. Surprisingly she comes. I smell roses. Brett! Don’t! I haven’t been fed in a Iong time. Don’t you recognize me? Her body is so light, like a bird’s. I lift her to me. Kiss her. It’s easy, she’s not Lars any more, she’s my Vampire lover. “Of course I do, Lars. If you won’t keep your promise, then feed on me.