The children were bleeding. The five year old was on the rug right in front of the TV. The three year old was right next to him. The dog was crying under the sofa. She couldn't move. It looked like she was screaming, but no sound. Then a figure comes sublimating down through the ceiling. Moves right through it as if it was the surface of a pond. There he is... Less than one heartbeat later, a young man in black jeans and a black hoodie with long dark wavy hair is there, right in front of her... and his eyes look into hers as if he'd like to see her burning like a giant torch.... She moves... just a fraction.. just a bit, but she moved.. and he backhands her across the jaw and sends her flying.
Then he kneels down. Gently picks up the five year old. Runs his hand under the throat and neck. Feels a pulse. Bites into the 'V' between his own thumb and forefinger and as the blood begins to flow gives the five year old 'drink'... But only a bit... Just a bit.. This is not a transformation.. The 'life eater' Jonathon does not do such things to children. But if he can, he will restore them. The little boy begins to whimper. Jonathon finds the wound under his bloody Iron Man pajama top, up near the center of his chest and presses down on the edges, till the bullet pops out.. Then another small drink. He rubs some of the blood over the wound. It 'heals.' He repeats this with the three year old until she too is restored. He picks them up and , places them on the sofa and turns toward the 'mother. She, he does not restore. She he 'culls.' A vampire doesn't need to swallow. They just siphon it all in, like gas from a car. In seconds it's over. He lets her fall and watches as she ignites into the cold blue flame. Victims 'burn' fast, till only a greasy residue remains. Then he tenderly picks up the two children and sublimates back up the way he came.. through the ceiling... through the roof and out over the dense, dark Jersey Pine Barrens. Our vampire likes these woods. They soothe him... but sometimes he finds things... Tonight he found two innocent children... and his blood will protect them during the cold windy flight back to the city... In a sense their lives have just begun.... And the dog?... Oh, don't worry about the dog. Folks love dogs in the Pines. He'll shimmy out through the dog door (weighted to deter critters) and run around till somebody finds him. Retrievers are gold 'round these parts.
Two hours later they were back, safe in the townhouse, bathed and snug in cozy beds. He told Edith, the 'witchy woman' housekeeper, all about it. She was a Piney herself. Bad things happen in dark corners of the Pines. She knew. Sarah, his consort, and the others were still 'out.' Dawn comes late this time of year. Vampires like that. Why wouldn't they? And an old city like Philadelphia has so many shadows to explore.
Billy, the mortal who curates this account, took out his laptop, as Jonathon telepathically told him what to record. Edith brought in chilled vodka. Vampires can tolerate clear, or nearly clear liquids. Vodka is a particular favorite. Soon the tall clock in the entrance hall chimed four. Billy said - I'm going up.. Jonathon just nodded... It was obvious he wanted to tell the others... Edith lowered the lights downstairs and went up too. She left the vampire sitting in the den bathed in the black and white flickering light from some old silent film emanating out from the flat-screen above the mantle.
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Nighty night.
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