Deviation Actions
Literature Text
She tentatively opened the door a crack. A gasp escaped her lungs as she beheld the pale man standing in her doorway. Or was it a man? His skin was strangely pale and he wore an air of unearthly ambience.
It was when he opened his mouth to speak that she caught a glimpse of the glistening fangs.
Claire shrieked and slammed the door, instinctively snapping all three locks shut. “Go away! I don’t want your kind here!” She glanced around for a weapon, should she need to protect herself. She remembered an old piece of lore and she yanked the crucifix off the wall, rushed to the kitchen to pour a glass of water and dropped the crucifix in it. That’s how it’s done, right?
The demon’s voice was muffled through her (hopefully strong enough) wooden door. “So, uh, I guess I’ll leave it here then?”
“Leave what here?” Her voice rose in an uncontrollable crescendo. She peered through the peephole of her door, and indeed he was holding something. She couldn’t make out what it was, but any sort of danger had to be eradicated immediately. I’ll be a hero, she told herself. Just open the door - her hands shook as she undid the locks, one by one. She took a deep breath, threw the door open and thrust the crucifix forward. She hadn’t realized she had closed her eyes until she felt the need to open them. The vampire was still standing there, a look of surprise and not at all of horror or pain shaping his features. That was supposed to work! Maybe the water would. She shoved her fingers into her glass of makeshift holy water and flicked it at him. He remained as stoic and unamused as ever.
“I don’t have time for this,” he reached for her and grabbed the glass. “Sorry, but I have a job to do.”
Her screaming didn’t stop until she felt something heavy pressed against her chest. Pushing back all her fear of what terror or hex could possibly await, she opened her eyes a crack and looked at the object. It was a parcel. A package with her name and address on it. She was about to ask how he had her name and address when the realization hit her. She took in the bag slung over the creature's shoulder, the parcel in her hands and the pen and clipboard he was holding for her.
“Oh,” she said. “Oh, oh my, I, uh...” she sheepishly took the pen. “I’m sorry. Really. I didn’t realize postmen came at night.”
He sighed. “Well, when your skin is ultra sensitive to UV rays, you don’t really have a choice.”
“Vampires do postal service?” She politely handed the pen and board back and he put them under his arm.
His expression told her that wasn’t the most sensitive question to ask. “Do humans?”
“Um,” she faltered. “I know it’s probably very rude to ask, but why didn’t the crucifix work? Isn’t it supposed to like, repel your kind or something?”
Despite wincing at the ‘your kind’ remark, he replied. “Why would it? Could a piece of wood really have that much power? I’m not a spirit. Just a different species than you.”
“Right, that makes sense. Then I guess stakes are ineffective too?”
“A stake through the heart would kill just about anyone," he scoffed.
Claire nodded: she hadn’t actually thought of that. “Sorry for all the trouble. I’m just very antsy about strange men knocking on my door at night.”
The postvampire shrugged before walking off her porch. “No biggie.”
Claire closed the door and returned to her human business, and Edmund sighed. “Humans.”
it was gonna also be the entry for a contest but it didn't fit any themes so I'll just post it by itself.
and here's some other vampire stuff that didn't make it in:
“Don’t you need to ask permission before entering a house?”
He stared at her. “Yeah, cause it’s freaking polite.”
“I’ll have you know I only drink ungulate blood, three times a day. What makes you humans think your blood is so damn special?”
“Why only blood?”
“We vampires require a lot of iron to survive. Blood contains the most and as long as you don’t drink too much, your host can survive. This leads to many feedings rather than just one, as meat-eating does. Don’t give me that look. We farm just as well as you do. And since you’re wondering, we’re nocturnal because our prey is not. Bite, saliva enters the bloodstream and temporarily paralyzes, drink your fill, and you're done. No killing involved.” He sniffed.
He rolled his eyes. “We were given that bad name from a small group of vampires who had acquired a taste for human blood in the 1600’s. Since then, humans have feared us, ran us out of our own towns, and tried to kill us. Fortunately, our endurance is somewhat better than yours, and we survived. Human-eaters are about just as common in our species as it is in yours.”
“Vampires have traditionally had skirmishes with werewolves, yes. We’re both territorial creatures, you see, and often sharing the same prey led to many run-ins.” His face grew sombre for a moment before lighting back up. “But that’s all in the past. This is a new day and age, and with such a high percentage of population living in cities now, territories are confined to properties and are much easier to defend and manage. Plus the government gets involved if fights DO happen, so, you know. Less incentive to battle over a piece of land.”
why yes I do think about monster people way too much, why do you ask
The little gems in the author's note that didn't quite make it into the story are also terrific. Love it!! 