Chapter 38: The Turning of Marisol

Chapter 38

Marisol had indeed been away, as she explained to Danielle.

"We spent a month in Bridgeport, and it was awesome! There was so much going on, all the time, it really is a 24-hour city!. There were just so many bars and clubs, and the most amazing concert venue – all the big name stars do shows there."

"Oh I don't know, sounds kinda hectic; there's plenty going on in Palms for me."

"Well, yeah, but this is a whole different level, the whole place buzzes. Y'know, we were in this smart club one night when, you're not going to believe this ... Lola Belle comes in and she's in the next booth to us!"

"Wow!" "Yeah, yeah, and she was, like, just so normal, and friendly, like a real person, but, y'know, she had this aura, y'know, you could tell she was something special."

"Sounds amazing," Danielle agreed, "but who is this man, who's shown you the high-life?"

"Oh my, oh yeah, doh! Yeah, sorry. Travis, Travis Gould. We met at the Rain Room exhibition at Imagine That! and just got talking. He's so cool, we had so much in common and, well, I'd never met anyone like him. He's incredible. He's been to so many different places, the stories he can tell – the things he has seen."

"Sounds like quite a man, and quite exotic compared to the guys round here ..." Danielle prompted. "Oh yeah, I mean, like y'get all sorts in Lucky Palms and from all over but ..."

"Well, like, you know there are these vampires here?" Marisol continued, "But there all, like 'I wanna get away' or 'I wanna be myself'. Like they're always sorry for something?"

"Umm, I dunno, they keep mostly to themselves I suppose."

"Yeah, yeah, well, not Travis. He was like 'I am vampire and I am proud!' Someone so sure of themselves, so confident, well, he knew how to enjoy life and being vampire made it even better! And, that is so attractive!"

"And that is why ...?"

"Oh yeah, I wanted some of that too! So, when he said I could become vampire too ... I was like 'what are waiting for!'" Marisol laughed, remembering her eagerness that night.

"So, he didn't encourage you, or force you?"

"No! Not at all! Like any man could make me do anything I didn't want to!"

"No, no, I guess not." Danielle laughed in agreement.

"He just said, one evening, that it was possible for humans to become vampire if they wanted to and if they asked then a vampire couldn't refuse them."

"Really? As simple as that?"

"Yeah, really, that simple! That night, he bit me. It was amazing, there was a moment of pain and then I felt this incredible energy flowing through me. I was tingling all over, like my body was being renewed, waking up after a deep sleep. Though I didn't notice any change for a few days but then, suddenly, I knew. Every fibre of my being was raging with a new vitality and that was it. I was vampire too. And it is awesome!"

-- * --

Danielle's head was spinning. After leaving Marisol she was faced with yet more questions about her relationship with Clark.

Was it really as Marisol had said, that she had asked to become vampire, that this Travis hadn't seduced her into it? And Clark, was he born human and became vampire, was he turned, has he turned others? What if he wants her to become vampire?

Without really knowing where she was going Danielle headed to the Touchdown bar. A few drinks and mindless blasting of aliens, it all helped to take her mind off these questions swirling around here head.

But, eventually, even the fastest and sneakiest of alien invaders couldn't hold her attention so she returned to the bar and the ever-attentive barmaid.

"I mean ... what is it with men? Do they all have an agenda? Like, is my Clark one of the good guys or will he want to turn me into something I'm not? And what, what is so special about vampires? Like they can run faster, and live longer but, like, so what?”



Chapter D1: Arrival

Chapter 37: Meetings Around Town

Previously: Danielle Slade, great grand-daughter of Adam Slade, has decided to help her new boyfriend, Clark, come to terms with being a vampire.

In this chapter Danielle and Clark both discover something new about the vampire community ...

His sleep had been deep and restful but, as usual, he was up early. One of the strange contradictions of vampire physiology was that although their minds and bodies operated at faster speed than that of humans they actually needed less sleep than the typical human.

On this morning, Clark awoke a full hour before Danielle so as his friend continued her slumber he made his way to the lounge to think over the events of the previous night and ponder what the future might bring.

As conflicting thoughts of his dark past, the possibility of a happy future, the risks of heartbreak all tumbled through his mind Clark alternately sat and stood, walked and stared. Idly scanning the room he noticed the spine of a book on Danielle's bookshelf; "The Idaho Connection – Carl Slade". Recalling that she had mentioned a Carl in her family Clark pulled the book off the shelf to read the summary on the back cover.

"It began one lost night on a lonely country road; two people from different worlds meet in a deserted diner far from home. From that one night a bold plan emerges to shape a shared future but as they start to reap the rewards of their success old secrets threaten to destroy everything they had built together. An unsettling tale of the effects past tragedy can have on those desperate to escape what they cannot face."

Intrigued, Clark started to read. As far from his own life as the story's setting was, the way the characters avoided any reference to their own pasts as they set up their new enterprise resonated with his attempts to hide his own history from the people he had met in Lucky Palms.

Engrossed in the book he didn't notice Danielle entering the room, "Morning Clark, didn't sleep?"

Startled, Clark leapt to his feet, "Oh, no, well, I, err, don't need much sleep ... didn't want to disturb you so I came in here for a while."

Danielle recognised the book, "Is that Carl's book?"

"Oh, yes, yeah, I noticed the name on the cover, he's your ..."

"Yeah, my uncle; that's the book that made his name, it was actually short-listed for the Sim Booker prize."

"Well, only read the first few chapters, but it's very good, very ... perceptive."

Clark's gaze dropped to look down at the book he was slowly turning over and over.

Guessing what he was thinking Danielle reached out to gently touch his hands, "It's not about us, we are not those people. Sure, we have stuff in our pasts that isn't pleasant but we're dealing with it, together, from the start."

"No, I mean, yes, I mean ..." Clark smiled, defeated by grammar. "I know, I suppose ..."

Casually dropping the book onto the chair behind him, Clark turned to embrace Danielle, "... I suppose I love you Danielle Slade."

Playfully pinching his side Danielle swiftly corrected him, "hey, there's no 'suppose' about it ... is there!"

"No, I suppose, err, no of course not!" Clark readily agreed.

"Look I'll have a quick shower, then I should get back, or Viv will have the locks changed! But thank you so much, for last night, you can't begin to understand how much it means to me ..."

After Clark had left to return home, Danielle felt strangely alone, the last twenty four hours had been so intense, she needed to share her feelings with someone. More than that, she started to feel the distance she had put, both physically and emotionally, between herself and her family, and it didn't feel good.

Perhaps now, as she started out on this new relationship, it was time to re-establish the connections with the family she had left behind. She set down to write two letters, one to her dear younger brother, Damien Brandon, and one to her uncle Carl. She had no idea where Carl was, after leaving sunset Valley he and Malia had set off to explore the world and had seldom returned to the country, let alone Sunset Valley or even Riverview. They did, however, write plenty of letters from the many places they visited and did their best to include a postal address.

Since she had arrived in Lucky Palms it was quite likely that they had moved on to some new exotic location, in which case they would have let Cleo and DB know. So, detailing how much she was loving her new life in Lucky Palms, that she had met someone special, and that, one day, she hoped to see them both again, she put the two letters into a single envelope knowing that Damien Brandon would forward the letter to Carl for her.

-- * --

Over the next few days Danielle and Clark spent almost every day together and, as the sharp winter frosts set in, a lot of that time was enjoying the winter festival events that were a seasonal draw for people across the county.

One of the most popular attractions was the outdoor skating rink but, as skilled as she had become on skates, Danielle was no match for Clark. Even carrying an umbrella to protect himself from the bright winter sunlight his speed on the ice was unmatched. Whatever the problems Clark had as a vampire there was no denying that there were definitely some benefits!

As far as Danielle was concerned, the most important new aspect of their relationship was that they were both now comfortable enough to be obviously a 'couple' in public.

Sure, anyone who had cared to could have recognised the signs a while ago, but now - now 'discreet' was not part of their vocabulary.

Even in the crowds at Great Sand Park, the two of them could hardly keep their hands off each other. Of course, they could have just been trying to keep warm ...

-- * --

Considering all the places Danielle and Clark frequented; Three Palms Lounge, Club DeVille, the Winter Festival, Great Sand Park, and more, the one feature they all had in common was that they were human oriented venues. Not once had they visited a bar or club that catered specifically for vampires. Clark had not even raised the idea that they should.

For Danielle it was important that Clark be wholly comfortable with who he was; that he should be able to spend time with other vampires. From what he had told her, there were clearly issues in his past that had stopped him integrating with the local vampire community so she would have to be very careful about what she wanted to do next.

Danielle decided the time was right to take their first steps into vampire culture. Having checked with Yolanda Shaw of the Vampire Community Council, it seemed the best place to go was the Red Velvet Lounge. Situated behind the Lucky Llamas Stadium just off the main highway intersection, it wasn't a place that attracted much passing trade and was seldom busy until night time.

Calling Clark over early one evening, Danielle told him of their destination. Normally enthusiastic to try a new bar, he was noticeably quiet about visiting this particular venue. She knew he would be nervous so reassured him that the place would not be at all busy and they could leave anytime he wanted, but that if he could find a way to relax around other vampires he could be so much happier.

In the end, it didn't take much cajoling to get Clark to agree, in his heart he must have known that he would have to face other vampires if he was to have any sort of real life in Lucky Palms.

As it turned out, Yolanda's description of 'rather quiet' was something of an understatement. Apart from one other customer, who left shortly after the arrived anyway, the barmaid was the only other person there!

Which was fine in that Clark wouldn't have a lot of new people to deal with, but rather disappointing that he wouldn't be able to start socialising with other vampires.

But, at least, it looked just like any other lounge bar in Lucky Palms. Apart from a slightly unusual decorative style and the prominence of the plasma sales point, there was little indication that it was a 'vampire bar'.

The fact that it had much the same selection of games and entertainments as any typical bar certainly seemed to help Clark relax. Perhaps these vampires really were no different to anyone else. Drinks, table football, even a one-armed bandit – these were familiar things. How could anyone enjoy all the same things and not be the same as anyone else, at least in the ways that mattered?

They stayed at the Red Velvet for just a couple of hours. A few more people, including a couple of local vampires, came in but Clark wasn't yet ready to engage much with them and Danielle didn't want him to start feeling uncomfortable.

Even so, Danielle was happy that their visit had been successful.

"Thank you Dani, I've had fun, I don't think I could ever have come here without you. I think, perhaps, we could come here again, it's cool."

-- * --

A couple of days later Danielle received an unexpected phone call.

"Hey Danielle, it's Mari, how are you?"

"Mari? Oh Marisol, hi! I'm great, thanks. How are you, it's been months?”

"Good, good, never been better! And, yeah, it's been too long – I met this guy and, well, y'know! Look we really must catch up. If you're about come on over this afternoon, it'd be good to see you again."

They had only just started getting to know each when Marisol suddenly disappeared, no one knew where she had gone but there had been mention of some mysterious new man in her life. Intrigued to find out more Danielle readily agreed to head into town later that day.

Just after mid-day, Danielle pulled up outside Marisol’s elegantly simple home, from the outside nothing much appeared to have changed – no sign that she had come into a lot of money or fallen on hard times.

But as soon as Marisol answered the door it was clear something very significant had changed …

Marisol Loera was now vampire.



Chapter 38: The Turning of Marisol

Chapter 36: I Believe In You

Previously: Danielle Slade, great grand-daughter of Adam Slade, has settled in Lucky Palms and made several new friends but has discovered some unsettling stories about one of them, Clark...

In this chapter Danielle tells Clark what she has heard ...


One thing Danielle was going to have to get used to was the dramatic changes in weather Lucky Palms experienced – within what seemed only days the town had gone from balmy summer days to hard frosty winter. At least the rains seemed to be confined to the summer months so there was none of that dismal chilling drizzle that was common during winter in Riverview and Sunset Valley. And, it had to be said, the white capped mountains did look amazing!

On one such frosty day Danielle had arranged to meet Clark at a new bar in the centre of town, Club DeVille. A simple and unpretentious joint that was becoming famous as the place to chill and hang-out with friends – an ideal place for Danielle to get to spend more time with Clark.

Although unsettled by what she had heard from Zahra and Romon, Danielle just wanted to spend time with Clark, simply having fun. A few drinks.

Some inconsequential conversation about this and that; the latest band to appear at the Venue, the Grisby twins falling flat on their arses trying to show off on the ice rink, or the fact that plumbing in Lucky Palms never seemed to be designed to handle the sub-zero temperatures of the winter nights.

Both of them loved to dance and the DeVille sound system often played a banging selection of tunes. And when the faster numbers finished, they stayed on the floor for the slower song.

They had fun together; that much was obvious. Their friendship was such a natural thing but as they moved slowly within the confines the DeVille bar, close and synchronized, Danielle felt something more. Looking, for the first time, deep into Clark's eyes … those beautiful blue eyes, warm and inviting; they seemed to dissolve not only her cares and worries but her very self, to become one with Clark, one perfect soul.

"Hey, Dani?" she heard a distant voice calling out, "Earth to Dani ..."

She blinked a couple of times to release herself from her reverie to see Clark smiling broadly, "oh, sorry, umm, drifted away there ... this song, y'know."

"Well, y'must have 'drifted' to a good place, judging by that sappy grin on your face!"

"Pah!" she laughed back at him. Danielle looked around the increasingly busy bar, "I reckon it's going to get real cold out soon, so what do you say we 'drift' off back to my place?"

"For sure, sounds good ..."

Danielle did have another reason for going home; for some privacy, she needed to talk with Clark, about the things she had recently learnt, about the nature of his 'condition' and how it affected their relationship.

-- * --

She was, however, rather taken by surprise when it was Clark who made the first move.

Within moments of getting inside and hanging up their coats, he pulled Danielle close, hugging her tightly.

"Thank you so much, not just for today but for all the time we've spent together. When I first came to Lucky Palms I didn't know if I would ever fit in, but meeting you ... I'm so glad I decided to move out here."

He paused, releasing his hold on her, his eyes darting briefly to the floor before locking with Danielle's, "uhh, you know how we always have fun when we're out, and how, y'know, I really like you, well, uhh, well, I think I more than like you, I ..."

He looked away again, his hands nervously twisting together, "I don't know ..."

Danielle interrupted him, her face lit with the warmth of her smile, "I do know, I do too," and she quickly leant in and kissed Clark gently on the cheek.

"That's kinda why I invited you over, look, let's sit I have something I need to ask you." She took his hand and led him in to the lounge.

"You know, I think I liked you from the moment we met," Danielle started, "and each time we've been out I've liked you more and more, I don't think I've ever felt like this about anyone else... I've never met anyone quite like you before. And that's what I need to talk about ..."

"OK ..." Clark sounded relaxed but she could see his body stiffen ever so slightly. This probably wasn't going to be easy for him, but it had to be brought into the open if they were ever going to be more than friends.

"Y'know I was talking with Zahra and Romon the other night and telling them about that crabby old woman at the Three Palms ..."

"I told you it was nothing. Really, there's no need for you to worry about it."

"No Clark, we're friends and that means I care about you and, whatever you say, I know she upset you. So I mentioned it to them and they told me about these old prejudices about certain types of people ..." As she spoke Danielle tried to maintain eye contact with Clark and she could tell that he was feeling nervous, his face had tightened and fixed his smile in place, but this had to be done.

"Romon said that there were some old superstitions about people with your condition ..." she had got this far, but Danielle hesitated, could she use that word? That word that Clark had never used, the word that linked directly to his troubled past? No, she had to, if she was going to help him, if there was going to be some sort of future for them, she had to "... about vampires."

Clark shifted on the sofa, uncomfortable, "I don't know what ... why would you ... I thought you were my friend and you've been talking about me behind my back! These people don't know anything about me!"

Danielle tried to calm and reassure him, "I had to speak to someone Clark – I was concerned and I ... well, I have strong feelings for you and didn't want to get hurt ... if people are saying bad things about you, I couldn't believe that it was something you had done but I wanted to know why ..."

"The bottom line, Clark, is I really like you, you know that, and I can't stand by if you're getting hurt. I know there's nothing wrong with you, you are what you are, and I wouldn't want you to change. But if we are going to take this further, we need to be totally honest with each other."

Clark lowered his gaze, staring at some part of the floor as different emotions swirled within him. He knew it would be such a release to be open with Danielle, but there was the fear that once he acknowledged his secret, his past, it would be out there forever, eventually everyone would know and he wasn't sure he could cope with that.

Danielle reached out to hold his forearm, to squeeze it gently, but Clark's gaze remained lowered.

"I understand that you're nervous, afraid, but I love you and will do anything I can to help, I'm on your side Clark."

Still not looking up, Clark spoke slowly, haltingly, "I know Dani, and I think I love you too. I thought coming here it would be easier for me ... you know ... with the others. But they are all so confident and 'sorted', like there was nothing in the world to trouble them. And I ... and where I had come from it was so different ... I didn’t see how I could fit in."

"And, for all I know it was a front, I don't know who I can trust, underneath they might be just like they were back in ... back in Moonlight ..."

With his free hand brushing the moisture from his eyes, he finally turned to look at Danielle, "... and I can't go back, I just can't."

Danielle moved closer, softly rubbing his back with one hand and grasping his hand with the other.

"You're not going anywhere you don't want to, I don't care what other people think, I don't care what other people might want for you. For as long as we have each other we are stronger than all of them, we are what matters - not anyone else."

"I haven't told you everything about my own family, and there are plenty of things in my past that are ... uncomfortable. I'm not saying that it's anything like what you went through, but our pasts have brought us here, brought us together and we can deal with it and anything in the future if we believe and trust in each other. I believe in you Clark Bellamore, I want you to be happy, and to do that you can't let your past stop you being who you really are."

"Look, we don’t have to deal with all this now, if you don't want to. But I wanted to tell you that I know. That what some people might think about you only upsets me when it upsets you. I'm here for you but I do want us to be honest with each other if we are going to ... to ... to be a couple."

Clark looked directly into Danielle’s eyes, "OK, I know, and I'm sorry for not being open with you from the start and I promise I will tell you everything ... in time." He paused for a couple of seconds before a broad smile lit up his face, "A couple?" he laughed, "is that what we are - a 'couple'?"

Danielle playfully slapped his shoulder. "Yes. And don't you forget it!"

Clark settled back against Danielle, his mind still bubbling with different emotions. He was still afraid of what other people would think of him, what they might expect of him; but now he had Danielle on his side and that was an overwhelming sense of release; that he had someone he could trust and, hopefully, be truly himself with.

He turned to Danielle, "Thank you. You know, I was right, I do love you, Danielle Slade."

--* --

As another hard, frosty, winter night set in, and with Clark living on the other side of town, Danielle suggested that he stay over.

With only one bedroom, Clark said that the sofa would be good but Danielle insisted that he share her bed. "We're a couple, and that's what couples do. I'll not take no for an answer!"

After the emotional turmoil Clark had been through that evening, Danielle felt that being so physically close would finally reassure him that he was not alone any more, she was there for him. And, of course, that she was ready and willing to take their relationship further.

It had been a long day and she felt drained but Danielle tried to stay awake for as long as she could, watching Clark slowly relax and succumb to sleep.

It would be alright, he'll be alright, they'll be alright she thought as she also drifted off to sleep.

It had been a long time since Clark had last shared a bed; he had almost forgotten the comforting warmth, that sense of well-being, from having someone else so close. As he snuggled up to Danielle, at least unconsciously, Clark was at last starting to feel at peace with the world around him.




Chapter 37: Meetings Around Town

Chapter 35: Seeking Advice

Previously: Danielle Slade, great grand-daughter of Adam Slade, has arrived in Lucky Palms to escape the trauma and drama that tormented her parents. While enjoying the freedom of her new home she has made a friend who may, himself, harbour dark secrets...

In this chapter Danielle uncovers some of the mystery around her new friend, Clark ...


Danielle was really enjoying the freedom of her new life in Lucky Palms. The relaxed atmosphere and simple joie de vivre that pervaded the town was infectious. Together with the good weather and the awesome landscape, the place certainly lived up to the claims made by her old biker buddies back in Riverview.

Out here on Lakeside Drive, clearly poorer and less attractive, which in many other towns would be considered 'the wrong side of the tracks', there was a real sense of community and many pleasant hours were spent with her neighbours in the nearby park and bars.

After their first meeting just a few weeks previously, Danielle and Clark had quickly become fast friends. Clark didn't seem to enjoy being out in the hot mid-day sun that was common of a Lucky Palm summer, but they would spend hours on the phone or sharing a laugh in the many friendly clubs and bars dotted across the city.

Of their hangouts, their favourite was the Three Palms Lounge. It was an unusual mix of sophistication and simple fun. The smart décor encouraged all the visitors to dress up but then you had some of the oldest and best classic arcade machines to play on.

Much to Clark's amusement Danielle had yet to master the fruit machines of Lucky Palms as she claimed to have done in Riverview. But that was fine; they shared triumph and failure equally which made their nights there all the more entertaining.

One night, however, their good mood was interrupted by one of the older visitors to the Lounge.

Danielle was taking her turn on one of the classic pinball tables, with Clark offering helpful "advice" and playful commentary when Danielle noticed this woman glaring at Clark. As the woman turned to walk away from the machines she sneered, just loudly enough for Danielle to hear her, "Tsck! Biters, shouldn't be allowed out!"

Although he kept joking with Danielle, she could tell that Clark's mood had been affected by that woman. But why, what did she mean 'biter'?

Ending her game, Danielle had to ask her friend what had happened.

Clark tried to pass it off as nothing, "Oh, pay her no attention, just some sad old crone who doesn't like to see young people out enjoying themselves."

"No Clark," Danielle persisted, "I can tell she upset you, and what did she mean by 'biter'? What sort of word is that?"

"Honestly, it's nothing ..." but Clark could see that his new friend wasn't going to let this lie, "OK, it really is nothing really, but ... I ... I have this condition, it's why I am so pale and can't spend long in the sun. It's not a problem; I just have to take special medication ..."

"Oh," Danielle was momentarily nonplussed, unsure how to react, "I'm sorry, I didn't know."

"No, no," Clark smiled broadly and tried to reassure her, "it's not that common and most people will never have come across it. And it's not like I'm sick or anything, it's more about having to be careful about my diet. And there are even upsides too! I mean there are some things I can do better than you, like ... run faster, read quicker, stuff like that."

Danielle smiled back, feeling a little calmer, "well, I may have to put you to the test on that some day! But, what's with 'biter', it doesn't make sense?"

"It's an old word," Clark sighed, "some people use it still for people with my condition. Because we look a bit different and can do some things better than 'ordinary' people. In the old days, some places, they tried to make out we were a threat and wanted to lock us away. That's why I had to leave Moonlight ... too many people there with old views and ... and, well, I didn't want to take it anymore."

Danielle could see these old memories were upsetting her friend; the fun had suddenly gone from their evening. "Look," she suggested, "there's not much going on here now, how about we go get a bite to eat?"

So, the two of them headed off to the Blooming Cactus where the views over the city as the last rays of the sun withdrew from the city below and the cool night air moving gently around them, restored a sense of peace after the unsettling incident at the Three Palms.

--*--

A few days later, Danielle was in Sandy's, her local bar, talking with a neighbourhood friend, Zahra Diwan.

"So, Clark and I were there having fun on the pinball machines when this old biddy just started staring at us, at Clark really, and then she said something mean about 'biters'. He said it didn't but I know it really upset him, except he wouldn't really say much about it. He said it was because he has some sort of medical condition but I'm sure there's more he didn't tell me."

Zahra was, herself, shocked by Danielle's story. "Really, she used that word? I didn't think there was anyone in Lucky Palms with those sorts of attitudes these days. That really is pathetic!"

"Yeah, Clark said it was an old and bad word for his condition ..."

"Condition?" Zahra interrupted her, "is that how he described it? How much did he tell you?"

"Umm, nothing much," Danielle was getting concerned by Zahra's unexpectedly serious tone, "just that he had to be careful what he ate, that he was on meds, and, uhh, that it meant he could run really fast."

"OK, well I suppose it is a 'condition' of sorts though I'm not sure why he would want to hide it, not here in Lucky Palms anyway." Zahra, turned as the door to the bar opened and their friend Romon entered, "Look, Romon knows more about this than I do, he can explain it properly."

Zahra waved at Romon, inviting him to join them and outlined Danielle's story and questions about Clark.

"It's simple really," he started, "Clark is a vampire ..."

Danielle's hand went instantly to her mouth, "Oh my god! It didn't even occur to me, I'd heard stories but ... I didn't even believe ..."

"No," Romon continued, "and why should you. I don't think any vampires have lived in those valley towns for centuries, they tend to stick together in small communities in the central cities and, more recently, out here in the desert towns."

"Wasn’t there some old rhyme, sure I heard it from a couple of the old folks in Riverview, how did it go ... oh, something like 'Beware, beware the moonlit night; for the vampires take to flight; beware the vampire's bite; set your blood alight...'"

Romon laughed, "Ha, haven't heard that in an age! Yeah, back in the old days there were all kinds of superstitions about them. As with a lot of these things there's a small element of truth. A vampire is basically a very minor genetic mutation but it does make a significant difference in how their bodies make blood ... so, back in the day, to stay alive they would have to consume blood. But not like in a transfusion, they actually had to digest it. So, you can imagine how this scared people who didn't understand the basic biology of their 'condition' ... and the 'fangs' didn’t help either!"

"Fangs!" Danielle literally yelped, "I thought that was just unusual dentition ..."

"No, it is one of the obvious physical indications of vampirism, the skin tone, the unusually bright eyes, and the sharpened teeth. Unfortunately it fed right into the fear of difference that stunts superstitious people."

"So," Danielle asked, "is it dangerous, y'know, being a vampire ... or knowing a vampire?"

"No, certainly not these days. We've discovered that it is blood plasma that they need and that can be mass produced now so they don't need whole blood or die of 'the thirst', as they say. And he's certainly not going to be attacking you for your blood. In fact, he has several benefits as a vampire. As he told you he is capable of moving at great speed and that is not just a physical attribute, his mind also works faster than ours so he can learn new skills more quickly than you or I. He is also likely to live a lot longer than any of us, which may or may not be a good thing of course."

"Wow, I never thought leaving Riverview would be such a change! Thank you Romon, that does make me feel a bit better, but I just wish Clark could have told me this himself, I don't understand why he is so cagey about it."

"Well, he is new here, and not everywhere is as relaxed about vampires as Lucky Palms. Didn't you say he moved here to escape? Perhaps where he used to live was still plagued by those old and backward views? I think you should try to speak to Clark about it, properly ... or ..."

Zahra suddenly interjected, "Yolanda."

"Yes, have a word with Yolanda Shaw. She's head of the local Vampire Community Council and will be able to help you and Clark deal with any issues that might come up. What I've told you I have learnt from working with the local news teams and I bet there's a lot they and I don't know. Anyway, he really has nothing to fear here; he probably just needs to meet more people like himself, who know what he's been through."

Danielle was relieved to finally get some understanding of Clark's issues, but realised that she still had a lot to learn. Unsure about how she might broach the subject with Clark, he had been quite vague and almost evasive after all, Danielle decided she would first have a word with this Yolanda, who might help her help Clark.

--*--

The following day Danielle contacted the office of the Vampire Community Council to speak with Yolanda Shaw. She was slightly surprised to be passed through directly to Yolanda’s mobile.

After very briefly outlining her concerns about Clark and her desire to know more about vampires, Yolanda agreed to meet that afternoon. "I'd be delighted to meet and talk through some of your concerns, but I am very busy today – I'll be at the Solitary Novel book shop for a while, perhaps we could talk there, over a cup of coffee?"

Such a positive response was more than Daniele had expected so readily agreed to the meeting in town.

On arriving at the book shop Danielle was rather taken aback to see Yolanda sat so casually in the afternoon sunshine.

"Ahh yes, having moved out to these desert cities we had to develop some new products to make our lives easier and a good sunscreen was among the first!" Yolanda explained. "I’m surprised that your friend Clark hasn't discovered it yet – it is readily available from most of the general stores in town, or our offices in an emergency."

The two women ordered coffee and sat at one of the tables in a quiet corner of book shop café and Danielle described in more detail her worries about Clark, especially as, according to Yolanda, he had not yet connected with other vampires in Lucky Palms.

But when Danielle mentioned Moonlight Falls Yolanda's posture stiffened, it was as if her whole body tightened. "Moonlight Falls? I think that may explain a lot I'm afraid."

"Moonlight Falls was one of the first places where a vampire community became established," Yolanda continued, "it's far away from major urban centres and kind of isolated. The story is that the town was actually founded by a vampire family. Unfortunately they hadn't reckoned on the antipathy of the local population, there were some small settlements along the river and they were quite hostile to these 'strange' incomers.

"Anyway, over the years the hostility escalated and the two populations just became more and more entrenched. There is virtually no interaction between vampire and human and if you don't fight with and for your own you can be completely ostracised. Quite a few of the vampires here in Lucky Palms are from Moonlight Falls – they couldn't take the constant warring that has beset the town."

"That’s terrible," Danielle gasped, "that sounds like hell. I'm not surprised Clark wanted to escape, he's far too kind and gentle for such a place."

"Just remember, Danielle, that no one leaves such a place unscathed. He's obviously still wary of people getting too close to him. So, be open with him, show that he can trust you and I'm sure he will tell you all that he needs to in good time. And, of course, do encourage him, not pressure just gentle encouragement, to get in touch with the community council; we can do a lot to help."

Looking quickly at her watch, Yolanda realised she had another meeting in a few minutes time, "Look, I'm sorry, but I really have to go now. I hope I've been able to help you and, here, take this leaflet – it lists all the services we offer and the scheduled events we run. When you're ready, you'd be welcome, you and Clark, to come along."

As Yolanda hurried out to hail a cab, Danielle looked over the small leaflet that she had been handed and wondered what she had got herself into. As much as she loved spending time with Clark did she really want to get that involved with someone who could be so very damaged?



Chapter 36: I Believe In You