Flavors of the Blood
Here we are: Xero, the latest blip on what passes for a nightlife in this dungheap metropolis. The hot spots come and go - dance halls fade into speakeasies turn into swing clubs and burger joints, which meld into coffeehouses, discos and eventually... this. The details don't matter; there are always places where the young can come to show how rebellious they are, at least until that night's money funs out. They want the taste of danger, you see while we're just looking for the taste of blood. The intersection of our interest is natural, but the irony of the situation is lost to them.
No, we are going to have to wait in line. The bouncer at the door is one of ours, you see. Hi is what we call a ghoul. Every so often he drinks some vampire blood and in exchange gets a few of the perks of being a vampire. Just a few, mind you - ghouls are most assuredly still mortal. The benefits to the arrangement are limited; ghouls don't get the full range of our powers, but in exchange they still capable of fathering children, feeling the sun on their shoulders, and accidentally drowning.
Yes, ghouling is yet another property of the Blood. There are a great many things about the Blood I haven't told you; I'm not being paid to tutor you, after all. Still curious? Well, how's this: Drink a vampire blood three times, and you're hopelessly enthralled with him. The resultant feeling of affection is called the blood bond, and if the vampire responsible for it reinforces it, the bond can last forever. After all, it's not like one can even die to escape it.
Can you imagine that, by the way? Being forced to love someone, forever? Knowing that the love you have for them - which is so strong you'll kill of die for this person - is a lie, a damnably induced lie? Hating them and loving them al the same time, and not being able to do a damned thing about it?
Yes, it does sound like I'm speaking from personal experience, doesn't it? Funny how that works. Mind your step here; management keeps forgetting that not all of the patrons can see in the dark.
