Strange the difference a few hours makes. Just a few short hours ago, Jesper the Vampire had assaulted me and was threatening to sink his elegant fangs into my brachial artery. Now, we are laughing together on the couch as he admits to me what a quick search on the Internet had served up from my business card.
“So wait, you knew exactly who I was when I walked in?”
“Indeed. I found your web site.”
“And you just happened to find out about my being in town how?”
There it is again. That smug look that he can somehow carry on his face without seeming so…smug. Maybe that’s just how he smiles. I should know better than to trust a smiling vampire. But then again, isn’t that what I’m ultimately after?
“There is little Morena does that does not make it back to my ears.” I’m astonished he’s being so open with me, especially in regards to her. It seems almost like unfaithfulness. He’s not talking ill of her. She’s just inexperienced and I remember my earlier concern about her. Yeah, it’d be best to find ways to warn her, without undercutting whatever this “progressive” relationship he mentioned before is.
“Ah, a vampire stalker? Nice way to play against type.” I find myself unable to filter sitting with him, chatting. This is not my normal interview. I don’t normally chat with vampires.
“Only protecting my interests. And hers. Her friend Camille was concerned she wouldn’t be able to resist seeking you out.”
“And that you’d object to it. Which you did, of course.”
“I suspect if you’ve had as much dealings with vampires as you’ve suggested, I don’t have to explain the sanctity of our arrangements with mortals. But I thought it a good opportunity to test her mettle. I need to know who I can trust. And I wanted to test you too. If you were true to your advertising, you not would be easily intimidated by me.”
Intimidated, no. Attracted, yes. Damn, the fact I’m thinking this right now is bad bad bad. “So I passed your test. Did she?”
He didn’t even blink when he changed the subject. Just lazily rubbed his fingers along the top of the couch very near my shoulder. “Why isn’t it that you haven’t asked me my age? Mortals seem so fascinated by that.”
“Nice deflection. Please. I wouldn’t be very good at this if I wasn’t a decent guess of these things.” I can deflect too. I couldn’t help tossing a look at his hand. “Besides, we’ve got to leave some of the mystery for our next session.” I can apparently still flirt as well.
His smile deepens. “I’ll try not to disappoint.”
“I suspect that won’t be hard for you.”
There is a soft knock on the door. The door opens after a brief moment and Morena eases in. She pauses at the door, taking us in, then approaches. I smile at her to try and let her know it’s all ok. Then I notice Jesper is doing the same. She stuffs her hands in her pockets.
“It’s almost dawn,” she states. Then she and Jesper exchange a prolonged look.
“I no longer fear the dreams,” he says plainly.
“Will you still have them?”
He looks to me in question. I take my cue and stand. “Unknown. I’d like to run some tests in our next visit. Better to assess your current state.”
“What is there to know? I am—-.”
“Yeah, yeah. You may not realize it but I’ve classified over twenty different strains of vampire from around the world. It would help to know which one you are to help define a more complete treatment.”
He stands up and while not exceedingly tall like modern Nordic men, he still towers over me. “And what is the goal?”
“To make you a happy, healthy vampire.” I smile sweetly.
He smiles back. “Of course.” He walks me past Morena to the door, opening it for me and just before I can head through, leans against the door jam, his arm preventing me from going. “Am I not meant to walk the night in infernal, eternal damnation?” his voice low, tempting.
“Not on my watch.”
“Happy vampires. Seems sacrilegious.”
“Hey, you can have lemons or you can make lemonade.”
He laughs, letting his arm fall slowly from the doorway. I slide out. “Tomorrow evening then?” I turn to look back at him. He leisurely leans against the door jam, head to the side, arms crossed. Behind him, I see Morena standing stiffly, not wanting to watch, except doing so out of her periphery.
“Sorry. Another patient. Thursday?”
He nods. I can tell I’m already looking forward to it but I’m not sure why.
“Sweet dreams,” I whisper. Then I turn brusquely away, hurrying down the hall. I hear the door close when I’m almost to the elevator. I get in and let out a huge breath I didn’t know I’d been holding in.
Yeah, lying to myself already. Not good. Damn. Charming and attractive. Exactly not what I needed.
In 
“Life seeks balance in all things, even vampires. The Classical elements, whether you go Buddhist, Greek, or Chinese, all have the basic four: Air, Earth, Water, Fire. Air, you breath, not like mortals but you do breath. Earth, blood is loaded with earth elements like Carbon and it is, after all, what you’re made of. Water, you either drink outright or get from the blood you consume. But Fire, on the other hand. Well, vampires are extremely sensitive to fire, like the sun.”
I present the fruit, hold it out from me, not too close to him. Meyer, to be sure. Ripe and fragrant. He turns his head from me to look, puzzled. The feeling of security begins to grow. 
Both wine and water glasses are full in front of me. In fact, it’s a full spread, menu sitting, all glasses and forks and spoons. I opt for the water, nearly choke as it’s mineral water. He’s waiting for a response. I nod, hiding a cough. “Good. Thank you.”
others..ur..of my kind. To better know myself.” 
might connect back lifetime over lifetime to what I had been before.
Despite the disarray, the place isn’t that bad. The windows are mostly covered, the offices are of good size, and with this and the deli being the only occupants for the small building, no one to hear anything strange. I’m taking stock of any other updates when I hear Nick sigh.
“What?”
Vampirony 