A FAMILY ONCE MORE

Jonathon and Luna never went back to the complex. She made her first 'cull' a mercenary bitch trying to rip apart a family, just because the husband was a bit gullible. Actualy, she did it for the children, for she understood what it was like growing up in a truncated situation. Her peeling wasn't so bad. She laughed. Jonathon helped her, as she stood under the shower of the hotel room and came clean. True, Doctor Franklin was not too pleased. He wanted to get his hands on her first. Thought he'd use guilt and loyalty to keep her home with him. The Bureau really wanted a vampire. That would be quite a coup. Now all was not lost, for the wayward daughter had a few chips in her. They slipped them in from time to time to see if she had any 'witchy' things worth observing. She never knew a thing. You've heard of alien abductions? Well these were 'abductions' by a fat, old man and his black suited minions. And since she had them deep within her at the time of her vampiric creation, they were integral to her whole and the body would not reject them. So although she was no longer 'home,' those by the hearth knew every move she made. For the time being, they were content to watch. Papa lead his band out to freedom too. The people at the complex even made a little reception for them. Aroma candles all around, decorations, the mermaid hag played songs on her harp (they had it in her chamber). Some in attendance even shed tears. Franklin shook hands all around, telling each they had a friend in the Bureau. And then they left, snaking through the wee, small hours, heading back toward the museum. Zeke didn't know what he was going to do with them all. He and the other three 'familiar' night guards quickly cleared out a couple more basement storage rooms and let 'em all bed down. It's not like this would be for long. They still had treasure. They still had accounts and money. God knows the old familiars were still there, just waiting to spring into action. Papa probably had a polished-up, sharp-tongued, real estate  woman already out there lookin' for some kinda joint. But that was then. This was now. Sarah was eager to get back with her vampire hubby. She did sense that something was going on. But, she put it out of her mind. It was heart warming to see the young ones. The cherubs flew throughout the galleries of the museum looking at this and that, transfixed by the strange exhibits and diaramas. The guards smiled and chuckled just watching them. Older ones, the elves, I mean, stayed together, holding hands and whispering into each others' beautiful ears. All were safe. All were free. Peace reigned in the vampiric world of Philadelphia, as Jonathon and his concubine made plans to join the rest.......

AND ONLY THE MOON LOOKED DOWN

Jonathon and his new bride breathed in the chill air. This night was her first time ever out of the compund. She was born there, the daughter of a witch. Not merely a follower of the Wiccan religion, but a true power, a beacon of enchantment. They found her on the streets one night about twentyeight years ago. She was heavy with child. the Anti-Enchantment-Bureau had been observing her for years. But they were afraid to come too close, for a fire-starter this one was. And none were eager to be singed. Yet even a witch faces challenges. The stress of pregnancy did her in. She could not focus. She could not concentrate the light. And in her weakness they descended upon her, spiriting her off to the underground establishment. Doctor Franklin worked his tricks on her. A spark applied here. A chord from the Armonica aimed there. He took notes, lots of notes. But they could find nothing. There seemed to be no physical explanation for the wonders she achieved. So they left her alone, never again to see the sun. The child, a girl as you know, was taken from her. Oh, she saw her passing in the corridors and here and there. Sometimes a hug. Other times a tear. But the girl did well without the witch. Well, I don't know why they continued calling her a witch. The powers never came back. She never worked a miracle again. When she got sick, when she got cancer, the best scientists and physicians (naturally part of the Bureau) could do nothing for her, so she died and was fed to the sharks in another part of the complex. Still, the girl-child thrived. A bright one, she was. Paid attention to everything. Remembered everything. Took it all in. Wrote it all down. They schooled her well, they did. Learned her languages, Spanish, French, Russian, lately a bit of Mandarin too, I'm told. And needless to say, the sciences were not neglected.. She did become a medical doctor. That part was no lie. But she heard tales of her mother. She heard about the powers. And she hungered for them. When Jonathon came in she studied him, focusing on every movement and nuance. She knew. She understood. This was the way. This was the one. Her mother would live again. The power would live in her. And an eightteen year old (in appearance anyway) Andalisian aristocrat would do it. So she befriended him. She 'loved' him. And he gave her the night-gift. She had it now. They stood together on the roof of a former naval observatory, gazing at the moon. Jonathon told her it  was larger than usual. Over thirty thousand miles closer to its sister world it was. And 'the rabbit in the moon' as subjects of The Middle Kingdom called it. was big, sharp and easy to behold. He looked at her. He watched her hair blow in the wind. Like a statue she was. Like a 'Marianne.' Like an emblem of France.And he did love her...after a fashion. She comforted him in his loneliness. So now she was as he was. So now they were together. He kissed her, but her eyes were on the great, wide world......What is  your name? - he whispered, What do they call you?.....At first she was silent. He squeezed her. He hugged her. In truth, I'd guess she didn't want to tell him. Kept it private for so long. Maybe it was a mental issue with her. I don't know. Spirits don't know everything. You know they got locks on some of these doors in the Akoshic Record they do. And I can't slip through all of 'em....So she looks up at the swollen, ivory, moon and she quietly answers - Luna.......He smiles.....She says - I'm told it was a favorite of my mother's. You know she was a great witch and could do many things.......Just at that moment two shooting stars streaked across the firmament. Jonathon chuckled and said - Did you do that?.....Perhaps I did - she whispered. Perhaps I did...........Then he took her by the hand and lead her down the stairs. They ran out into the city, there to eat their fill..........

THERES A MOON OUT TONIGHT...AND TOMORROW AS WELL

Everything went as planned. The higher ups at the Bureau wanted their own home grown vampire and they were about to get one. Jonathon and the young doctorix made love, human love (as vampires are still quite capable of doing), plus the more esoteric, life-eater version. He opened her neck. She moaned. His breath pleasured her. She contorted her throat and arched her back. It was a reflex. And he went in deeper. He could taste her salt and drew out the fluid in great, rich draughts. Her eyelids fluttered. She grabbed his hips and held on tight. And then she felt the cold, dark shiver of oblivion. Her life force, her blood, was within him. And he raked his nails across his own throat  and prepared her to take it back. The blood welled up. He raised her head. Her lips found the cut and she began to swallow. Was this blood? Was it sommething  different? Even the scientists of the Bureau didn't know. And old ones like Papa didn't care. But the circle was complete and she was quickened into a state of being both miraculous and dark. Suddenly it was over. She had the 'gift.' It was within her. She exhaled and relaxed. They went back to the more traditional form of love-making. And all the while, the men from the Bureau watched it all upon their screen.........While in another seclued enclosure, Papa allowed the cherubs to approach him. They fluttered about his body like moths. He held out his arms. He smiled. It tickled, as their tiny, sharp-tipped tongues broke the skin and lapped up tiny drinks. This is how they bond with one another. 'Through the blood, ye shall know them,'is an old vampire proverb. And it is also quite true. The four beautiful elves approached him too. And he hugged each to his chest in their turn, allowing them to draw off a bit of his essence. Baylah stood off to the side softly clapping her hands and singing some sort of hymn. Sarah just leaned against a wall and watched.  And Doctor Franklin, who went back into the chamber to be with them, made circles with his little scooter, as he chuckled and joined Baylah in her song. Papa even motioned to him and called him over. The threehundred and four year old conumdrum pointed to his sweatsuit covered chest and said - Me?.....Papa nodded. Franklin got  off that scooter real fast and did his best old man hobble dance over there. What Luck! He never even hoped  for anything like this. Then the twentyeight thousand year old, sleek, salt and pepper haired gentleman lifted him off his feet, and placed his puckered lips against one of the recent cherub wounds, so he could suck off the last few drops. The whispy haired old wizard chortled with delight.. It seemed everyone within the complex was engaged in rather unusual activities. The mermaid hag in her tank, sang songs to charm the whales (if there were whales). Feral creatures, such as the resident Big-Foot and Jersey Devil, howled at the unseen moon. Tomorrow night would be the young doctorix' First Night (this one did not count for she did not awaken to it in the vampire state). And a special one it would be. The full moon will make its closest approach to Earth in decades. It will appear to be very much larger. The silvery light will splash down like magic. And it is magic. Creatures of the deep will feel it. Land dwellers, such as yourselves will sense something too..In far off Persia, this is the time of The New Year...Well, perhaps those noble poets are right. Expect changes, for the midnight world will assume a new form. And the magic will fill yet another vessel. Maybe she'll tell us her name?......

THIS IS NOT A POST-----this is wilkravitz

It's daytime, human lunchtime. No vampires are around. I'm not sure where they are, but no one is channeling anything through me right now. I think they're all over at that Anti-Enchantment-Bureau compound. I don't know. But Annie is still here. And she wakes up a lot during the day. It doesn't matter to her. We're in a museum. Few of the galleries have exterior windows. If she's careful and avoids certain places (mostly near the entrance) what does she have to worry about? But the facility is 'open for business' during the day, so she does have to spruce up a bit, tone down her act and pass as human. That she can do. It's not hard to pass as a brat these days. In fact, that's what they notice first. They say - Look at that shitty little bitch. And nobody wants to get too close to her anyway.....I think she's playing with the hercules beetles. The live ones, I mean. They have a group of them in a lab upstairs. I don't know what you'd call them. They're so big. What are they, a herd? Zeke's not here. He's night shift. I stay away from most of the day people. Why complicate things? So I'm alone now and I got the keyboard all to myself. No major drama streaming in from the undead. And Little Bastard Annie is busy tormenting some other life form. So let me tap out a few things about myself. First, I'm 6'2" tall (true.. that's not 'internet height' that's.real height). And I weigh about 205 pounds. My hair is buzzed almost to the bone cause some of it ran away from home and it looks better and more stylish this way.  They say short hair looks thicker. When I get it shaved to the bone it's gonna look real thick.I'll post a pic when I learn how.
What can I say. Not a fast learner. I guess I look OK, kinda like a studious, though fit grad student. But a really, really slow grad student. Cause I'm cruisin' 'round passed fifty. I must like writin' them term papers a whole lot. Still, I do look young for my age, like they got this big vat of aloe vera gel at the mall and for twenty bucks a pop they'll lift you up on a winch and plop you down in it. The naked part bothers me a little, but I don't care. I been goin' to this mall since I was a kid, so they know me... So far, I'm holding my own. I like the Jersey Shore (the real one, not the live-action cartoon) all kinds of dogs, just so they don't slip no tongue in my mouth. Some a them get funny that way. I like the idea of cooking, but hate actually doing it because you have to clean up all that crap after and telekenysis almost never works. So neighborhood diner/restaurant fare comprises the major part of my diet. I do try to avoid trans-fatty-acids, but they taste so God damn good! You know what I mean? I always load up at the salad bar (yes, I know what gloopy junk to stay away from.). And if there's like one or two dead bugs in the ice cubes, I don't care. But I do have my limits, 'specially if they big bugs.  I like casual, GAP style clothes (they still around?), but can work a suit when I have to. And that includes the slim 'Mad Men' type. Used to enjoy video poker at Atlantic City, but one day I just discovered that I didn't have the patience for it any more. True, it happened just like that. I wasn't even thinking about it. It just happened...That's when I started blogging... Speaking of the shore, I burn easily too, so I have to be careful. My chin beard is white, yellow and orange...Why, you got a problem with that? And lately I'm a little jumpy where tsunamis are concerned. They play a recurring part in my dreams. I think they mean you're gonna pee the bed or something. That's what a fortune cookie said.. We got some Chinese buffets 'round my way too. But morning bike rides on picturebook boardwalks or through magazine-like residential streets tend to banish tsunami phobia a little, replacing it with a vague, though growing castration complex. I got a get a more comfy seat. And since most of the Jaws movies were over about thirty years ago, shark phobia is startin' to receed a little too. But, you know most attacks take place in three feet of water? That IS true. Oh, yeah, I remember. I was gonna tell you about.... Oh, shit! Annie's comin' back. Next time. Next time. I'll tell you next time. Look at her. She's squeezin' a live rat and carrying a big jar of Ragu (extra chunky) spaghetti sauce. And who the hell do you think is gonna have to clean up that crap!?. Lemme go find a roll a toilet paper...........

I know some a you saw this before. But  this time I made it truer......and if Jimmy Fallon can stick in re-runs all the time, so can I.....

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Now don't be a bunch a lazy slobs. press that SHARE button and it's not like it would kill you to leave us a COMMENT or two. you want people to see YOUR links, don't you? Look,I gotta stop and go to sleep now, 'cause they're gonna dunk me in the aloe vera tank tomorrow....

MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG

The ventilation system sucked out the miraculous vapor. But that was hardly necessary, for it melted back into the universe in and of itself. Papa stood there. A still sleepy Baylah wandered about smiling and petting the newly reconstituted life-eaters. Sarah spoke. She said - Why did you do this?....Papa wan't going to answer at first. Why should he be required to explain himself. He was reformed now. He had made ammends. That nobody, vampire bitch was whole again. Shouldn't it be enough? But her eyes bore into him. He swallowed and whispered - Because I was angry..... And although he never said it, she picked up the feeling that he was sorry.  And the elves joined hands to dance. Ah, such joyous, innocent creatures they are. The door opened. Doctor Franklin rolled in on his electric scooter. I don't know. Maybe he could have used a booster shot of Jonathon's blood, or perhaps he simply enjoyed controlling the nifty, little contraption. That's not the important thing. He smiled to all assembled there and came to a stop. Then he said - Is everybody happy?....They all just looked at him. Sarah and the little ones had not seen him before. They were unconscious to this world when brought in. So she said - who are you, sir? You seem familiar. Yet I cannot place you.......The old reprobate chuckled and smiled. He clapped his hands. One of the black suited minions quickly trotted in, snapped a hundred dollar bill out of his wallet and held it taut at both ends, right before her face. She stared at it, initially unable to understand his purpose. And then the 'light' went on and she knew........You're Benjamin Franklin? - she said......He nodded and chuckled some more......Albion, the elf prince abandoned the dance and went over to him. He sniffed the Doctor's face, licked his cheek and said - He is that venerable gentleman. I knew him long ago and this is the man.....Franklin held out his hand and the slim, 'young' immortal shook it. A suddenly alert Baylah came over and said - It's true. I know the face...,.....Another minion came in bearing two, brand new, carefully folded emerald green, Eagles' sweatsuits. He offered them to Papa and Baylah. The naked vampires casually pulled them on. Three minutes later the entire party, cherubs and all were gathered in another room, seated round a long conference table. Refreshments were brought in (fragrant aroma candles) and distributed to the life-eaters. Sarah was offered a 'cullable' victim, but she declined. and so they began to discuss things. Papa went along with this affrontery simply because he was curious. Let the old human ask his questions. Papa told him lies......Yet little did he know that the old human knew them as lies and relied not on the spoken word alone.....So they proceeded in this manner for a while. The cherubs flitting about like putti in an old Venetian palazzo. That was their trademark. They did it wherever they went. Indeed, actual cherubs (vampire babies and toddlers, I mean) inspired the painted and sculpted Renacemiento variety. Art imitates life, or after-life. I so easily become confused......But behind a locked door, in a quiet, shadowed place, the young doctorix was not confused. And she took in the everlasting gift from a temporarily beguiled Jonathon, while some within the complex witnessed with delight.....

WHO WROTE THE BOOK OF LOVE?

They watched. They all watched. Doctor Franklin and some of the gentlemen from the Anti-Enchantment-Bureau crowded in front of the screen. Papa was in the chamber. He was there with Baylah, holding her in his arms. And he hung suspended, occupying a spot in the ether approximately twelve feet above the petrified bodies of Sarah and the little ones. A mist eminated out from his body. Minute points of light sparkled within it. This seemingly living vapor settled upon every surface. It coated the elves and cherubs and dripped throughout the drapes and folds of Sarah's garment. And from somewhere far away, strange chords resonated up from the supposedly sleeping Great Armonica. They were in union, Papa and this unusual machine. The surfaces of the sleeping life-eaters glistened. Stone became smoother, taking on the appearance of skin. And in a series of tiny, baby steps the frozen ones were brought back. Baylah appeared to be sleepwalking. Yet her brows were knit together in deepest concentration. One of the agents left to check on the Armonica. Everyone else stayed just where they were. None dared move. Then it happened. Just a little movement, but you could see it. There, over to the left, toward the corner. One of the cherubs quivvered, much as a baby waking up from a nap. And then it began to spread. Others twitched, stretched and grimaced. Life was returning to the life-eaters. Sarah suddenly opened her eyes. She screamed. She sat up, quicly scrambling to her feet. Her breasts heaved, sucking in the superfluous oxygen. She looked around her and went to the little ones, helping them get up and find their bearings. Some of the cherubs cried. They were scared. She comforted them and they quickly began to flit about the chamber taking its measure. The elves, being more sensitive and astute, looked directly into the camera. Their large eyes filled the screen. And on the other side of that image, the people gathered 'round the flat-screen receiver started to cheer and clap. Doctor Franklin actually cried......Sarah looked up. Her eyes met Papa's. I could not tell what she thought. But he floated down to her, setting a groggy Baylah upon shaky feet.....And in another part of this underground compound, Jonathon bit into his companion. Was it her doing? Was it his? Were other hands at work? What difference would any of that make? A new vampirina was being born at the exact time another still new vampirina was waking up......How were they to reconcile this arrangement? One castle, one queen. But Jonathon/Tomas came from a time and place when castles had women's quarters, when castles had harems.  And a new form of courtly love spread out and settled upon our Philadelphia universe.....What was originally a 'line' was now a triangle. Can you follow, or is the study of romantic geometry a bit  too complicated for you?......

ZEBULON, THE SEER

What is that date the pagans make so much of? Oh, yes, I remember, the twentyfirst day of the last month of a year labeled twothousand and twelve. What a joke. All to end before anything  truly worthwhile is even realized. The babbling of carnival tricksters. If I was wont to share the truth with you (and maybe I am) I would tell you that change is coming, but end? No. Look to the life-eaters. Look to the true and noble (what an affectation that other spelling was) life-eaters. They will clear the path. They will devour the wicked. That is their purpose. And it has been sinnce The Beginning of the Chain. May no man know its source. Imagine, a world without hate mongers. A world without murderers. A world without hunger...of any kind.......The one we have all come to call 'Papa' is not perfect. Yet he is the vessel. It all comes forth from  him. Who knows? Maybe he will grow into the role......The Petrified One is made free. The one named for Sarah regains her true skin. Her eyes once more open to the world. Her soul, clear and Blessed. Yet at the same time, other interests gnaw through other walls. And a riival will be born..... Jonathon/Tomas is alert now. He sees the clothes. He sees the raiment of the one called Papa. And he makes a decision. He will do this thing. The Burden will be divided. A new helpmate will be born. He takes her in his arms. She smiles.... He kisses her. He says - Tell me your name......He whispers - I do not know your name.......He feels her heat. He feels her breath. He tastes her very life.... But all she gives him is a smile.......... Chose sides, my children. chose well. For all of you will figure in the outsome..................