A Different Desire

I had moved to Paris France in 1899 eager for the excitement of the city. Twenty years passed. The city had changed in that time I however, did not. I am an endless being, I am ever young, ever fresh, ever a creature of the night. I was lonely desiring companionship, I’d been alone for so long. It is the lot of my kind. Vampires are solitary by nature. Why must it be so? I do not want that, I wanted a family; someone to depend on me and someone to depend on. I never would have guessed where I would find the first member of my soon to be coven. 1

The night was young yet, the city streets were quite, no respectable gentlemen such as I would be walking about the area of Paris at this hour. The reek of garbage filled the air, rats moved in the shadows. I walked down the alley ways of buildings that were falling down and boarded up, but some poor souls still called them home. I knew full well I was asking for trouble but whatever man attacked me would most likely not see the next dawn. Soon the Inevitable happened and my thirst was quenched.2

I left the body lay where it fell and decided it was time to return to my residence in the hotel: La Maison Du Cygne Noir that was when I heard the scream. 3

It was a male’s cries that pierced the night. I followed the sound to a rundown building a window was broken, through which I saw a sight that that; if they understood what they saw, would have sent a mortal running in terror. 4

The room through the window was bare of furniture save a bed and chair that looked as though they could crumble into dust at any moment, it smelled of mold and mildew and the faded white wallpaper with a once bright red rose floral print was hanging off the walls. My vampire scenes took this in a matter of seconds and then focused on the two figures in the room. 5

In the center of the room a man and a woman stood, only the light from a single candle illuminating their forms. The man with his back towards me, was shirtless; his hat, coat, vest and dress shirt where discarded in a pile in a corner, along with the woman’s dress. The whore with which he had bought for the night had her face buried in his neck. Upon first glance it appeared she was kissing him the soft moans issuing from his lips could have easily been moans of pleasure, I however knew better, for above the smell of must and damp was that of blood.6

I watched from the shadows as the little vampiress fed. She was unaware of me. Her attention focused on one thing in that state, the red liquor streaming past her lips. By the time I had reached the building the boy had lost the strength to struggle and as the girl drained him he ceased to fight at all; like so many others before him, as they neared the final steps of their dace with death. His heart beat grew faint so that even I had to strain to hear it. Even though I could barely hear the beet I knew the instant it stopped because for the briefest moment the world was completely still.7

She let the body drop to the floor it was then that I first got to see her. Her skin and face were smudged with dirt and grime yet, I could see her beauty. Underneath the mask of filth her skin was a creamy pail pinkish white. Her eyes were large and round their irises a deep dark brown with specks of gold round the edges and a quickly fading red tint, her nose had a slight turn up at the end, and her lips were full and swollen from the boy’s kisses and stained with his blood. The girl’s hair hung in a disheveled chocolate brown halo around her face and down her back. She wore only a once while girdle now discolored with fresh and dried blood its left strap hung down off her shoulder; torn black garters covered from the tops of her black three inch heeled shoes to her mid-thighs, showing off the skin on the inside of her legs. I barely had the chance to take her in before the scarlet vanished from her eyes along with the lust and they snapped up to meet mine. She barred her fangs hissing like a cat before she snatched up her green dress and disappeared into a self-created mist and was gone. 8

I returned to the La Maison Du Cygne Noir just as the sun peeked over the horizon. I got into bed my mind memorizing those big brown eyes, sweet nose and rich colored hair; determined to find her. The girl did not draw me to her as a man is attracted to a woman. It was something in those brown pools that called to me. Something there told me she was suffering, lonely and needed someone to heal that hurt; why not I? The sun was too close to rising for any vampire to make very far. I knew where to look for her and as the sun set the next night I began my search. 9

As midnight neared I reached the brothel. I entered the three-story building into the dance hall of Le Plaisir De L'Aphrodite. Everything was red from the red painted walls and the red silk drapes separating the hall from other areas, to the red covered settees; not that any mortal man could see through all the smoke. As richly dressed men longed on the couches or sat at booths scantily dressed girls flaunted around the room offering their costumers champagne. I however, paid them no attention, bushing past two girls that came towards me. I walked to a plum elderly woman with a little too much color on her cheeks, and lipstick that rivaled the blood on the vampiress’ the previous night. She wore her pepper gray hair in a messy bun atop her head. 10

“Madam Charlotte”.11

“Anthony my boy! I had thought you had forsaken the joys of the flesh”. She laughed.12

“Oui, Madam I have. I am not here for the joys of the flesh I’m looking for the—Madam is there somewhere we could talk in privet?” I stammered when I saw a few of the girls eying me with curiosity.13

I was lead into an office, a sharp contrast from the sparkle and glamor of the room outside. Charlotte sat behind her plan desk. Fixing me with a quizzical look.14

“I came here in search of a girl”.15

“Well you’ve come to the right place for —“16

“This girl Charlotte!” I snapped pulling a paper from my pocket.17

“I see your sketching has improved.” She said looking at the charcoal drawing of the vampiress. “Danielle is one of the newer courtesans in my employ she is quite an asset to us and even for you it will cost to spend the night with her.” 18

“I do not intend to employ her services Charlotte. I intend to take her away from here”.19

“What? Anthony you can’t be serous I need her I cannot allow you to do this”.20

“Madam, do you honestly believe you could stop me.” I smiled showing my fangs. 21

“No,” she sighed. “Follow me”.22

She took me to one of the rooms meant to entrance the imagination and arouse the body. I sat on the bed and waited for Danielle.23

She entered but, didn’t look at me her back against the door her eyes on the floor. She was dressed in a rather reveling green dress showing off her legs and breasts. Her hair was up and adorned with strings of pearls. 24

“Look at me Danielle.” I asked softly.25

Her eyes slowly lifted to meet mine. There was fear in them. 26

“Why do you fear me child I will not harm you.”27

“Yes, you will…” She whimpered.28

“No, I won’t” I cooed29

Her eyes flashed. “All men have Monsieur! Unless I sink these,” She showed her fangs, “Into them first. And with you what good will that do me you have some of your own!”30

I couldn’t help laughing. “You assume Mademoiselle that I intent to have my way with you”.31

“You come to a whorehouse and do not seek pleasure?”32

“Non, my dear I came to make you an offer.”33

“An offer Monsieur, to what be your mistress?”34

“I was thinking along the lines of a daughter and companion”. 35

“What?! Why?”36

“Need you ask Danielle? We are creatures of the night doomed to spend eternity alone without friendship. I’ve been lonely for so long and your eyes tell me you’ve been the same. I have a home in the city and the money to move away if we chose. I can provide for you. I ask nothing of you but, friendship.”37

“Such a simple thing for so much how could I refuse?” She smiled her eyes brimming with tears. 38

We left the brothel Danni clinging to me fearing someone would stop her but, none did. Once we were out the door her arm left mine as she ran down the street spinning and laughing with joy.39

“Danni, my dear the La Maison Du Cygne Noir is that way.” I said pointing over my shoulder. She laughed as she twirled back to me. Taking my arm we walked away from Le Plaisir De L'Aphrodite without a backward glance.