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• 

  D o m i n i c August 8, 2023 at 11:52pm

  “Oh the contrary,” Dominic was quick to quip back at her, a smile never ceasing its tug on the corner of his mouth. He watched the moment play out as the psychic made his appearance, all the way down to the short jump of his heart to the incoming pen that was ceased in the air. It was nothing less than a useful talent, one of many the vampire had every intention of exploiting when the coast was clear and the light was green with the blood mage’s final decision. A vampire, a mage, a chemist, a demon, and a prophet walked into a bar… 

  Odds are, it would have to be Sundown.

  Once he had slipped into the back room and taken a seat, Dominic did as he was prompted and slid his legs over her, keeping the majority of his weight still on the armrest. The demoness’ comment caused a brow to arch high. “Hm,” A look was given that spoke louder than whatever words they were meant to say. Still, the grin never left his features. He couldn’t have been more relaxed compared to the past nights and events looming in his thoughts. The vampire was docile, even. None of it mattered in the den he had made for himself nor his company. He relented to the spread of love and affection, giving a quiet hum here and there—if not to the sensation, then the attention that was a soft spot.

  “Do I look worried?” Dominic hummed into the crook of her neck, right behind her ear. Each kiss had found its match, in one place or another. Several more were placed along the way until he heard the familiar creak of the floorboard he knew to be in front of the counter. One more obnoxious kiss was planted on her cheek before the vampire swung himself up from the chair effortlessly, brushed his palm over his hair, and went to check out the one and only regular that had stepped into the shop that early afternoon.

  . . .

  The afternoon continued on in a similar cycle until Dahlia and their interviewee came up from the basement to meet the two in the record shop lobby. After giving Nemo a farewell, Dominic’s eyes landed on a red folder tucked under the mage’s arm. I was bound to be full of tax paperwork and an unforgiving, contractual sample of blood that signaled the vampire had won the fight over employment this time. A private smile was tucked out of sight when he made eye contact with her. 

  “Talk in the morning?” He requested. 

  “Count on it,” Dahlia answered.

  . . .

  Dominic grabbed a jacket off the hooks in the back room as they made their way back out into the street. The night was creeping in comfortably while Agnes took the lead in walking. Once they reached their parking spot, the vampire gave the bike a once-over. “Our chariot awaits,” He teased in a subtly sing-song tone. “Give it ten or twenty more years, I might call it a classic.” 

  Agnes was given a look when the helmet was handed out, but no words were exchanged as he put it on. He took a seat and waited for her, taking a mental picture of the moment before the engine roared to life. One arm went around her waist while the other hand kept a loose grip on the fender beneath his seat. Soon enough, they were off.
• 

  D o m i n i c July 18, 2023 at 5:11pm

  “My dear, we have toxic elixirs, sourly contained spirits, and objects that haven’t been touched in fifty years because the curses remain just as potent as the day they were cast. It’s more than I would trust anyone within their first month, let alone day. I thought you of all people would know this isn’t just a record shop,” Dominic teased lightly, casting a smirk back over his shoulder. The curtain opened. Agnes would hear a subtle huff from the vampire’s chest as he acknowledged the comment. 

  A sweet hum and a nod of Dahlia’s head served as a thank you in response to the demoness. “Well, if you ever find out how he works without distraction, you let me know.” The blood mage’s painted lips curved into a grin. She wouldn’t need to look in order to feel the eye roll from the vampire.

  “It might be time for me to go out and have a smoke,” He retorted to both, looking up from the floor with an arch of a brow. It was a troublesome combination to be stuck in between, should they choose to get along.

  The front door opened. All heads were likely to turn toward the silhouette who passed into the shop. In came the young prophet, full of potential and significantly less demonic presence than their last new hire. Dominic’s arms crossed and he gave Nemo a small nod of greeting. Prove me right, will you? He thought.

  Dahlia in the meanwhile was staring daggers into the man while she studied him from top to bottom as he approached the front counter. There was one shot, one chance to prove it wasn’t the vampire’s favoritism from when the MET Gala dragged them all into the basement that night. The pen flying through the air cut off said concentration when it streaked by, and the mage’s eyes darted to follow until it paused in the air. “You’re fine,” She answered, given a moment or so. “Come on, then. Follow me.”

  Agnes was followed soon thereafter as Dahlia lead Nemo down the stairs towards the basement’s depths. The wards took ahold tightly by the time they reached the door and passed through, however long it took the white-haired man to acclimate. By the time the door slammed shut and left him no pleasure in eavesdropping, Dominic passed through the curtain. “I feel a talk in my future,” He murmured under his breath absently.

  With no signs of activity in the record shop, the vampire took a seat on the chair’s armrest right beside her. “You know… For all the things in this life that I’ve done, you can still make me feel young.” Dominic commented.
• 

  D o m i n i c July 4, 2023 at 11:27pm

  A tight-lipped grin spread across the vampire’s features. After studying her expression, he arched a brow. “My dear, no more than I hear the fly buzzing on the front window. I hear what matters… If you would like to make a ride out of it, that’s fine.” It was time after work he would have inevitably spent working, in one way or another. As for what she had to share? He wouldn’t let his thoughts dwell on it for the time being.

  His arm left her side when Dominic leaned back from the counter and move to one of the open boxes behind it. The contents were new records in stock for the front of the shop. If nothing else, it was something to look busy and prove someone there was working. “I consider it a trial. He has the job, so long as Dahlia’s terms sound fair and he understands the risk involved. He won’t be working downstairs until I give the go-ahead.”

  Before he could finish his sentence, his head was already turned toward the back of the shop. Like clockwork, the back door was unlocked and opened. The footsteps and jingling of keys were heard.

  “A bit early for you, isn’it?” He questioned amusingly. 

  There was a shuffling and series of mutters heard in response on the other end. “Yeah, yeah… I moved the interview up. Besides, I need to ta-”

  Dahlia split the curtains to walk through, black sunglasses sat on the brim of her nose. Her dark brown hues looked between Dominic and Agnes. Her dark hair was a mane that had been tamed with a ponytail. Rough night out? Rough morning in? Whatever it was, the blood mage was feeling it. “Hey girlie,” She greeted. The backpack slung over her shoulder was dropped behind the counter. “Is he putting you to work now, too?”
• 

  D R A C U L A July 3, 2023 at 7:59am

  Emptiness given putrid flesh and form urges through thick urban jungle in queer posture. It walks driven ahead by nothing but servitude for its creator, nary a thought left for its own hollow shell. Not a person it was, with people to love and to be loved by, not anymore, and mayhaps had not been for a long time - not an individual with dreams, wishes and opinions, but an automaton of some sickly kind, a slipshod effigy of life in mocking imitation. And as it steps ahead from the darkness of the void, it takes no notice of the man that is suddenly thrown at its feet, not even a glance of a look down.

  Nay, it walks ahead with a singular purpose, mimicking men and women as passing on the streets earlier, draped in thick dark clothing all across and sunglasses to hide a less-than-human visage. Soon, it steps inside, whereby its gangly and ill-form is more visible in the light of the inside than in the dark of the night, despite being hidden all across with plentiful cloth. Its walk was strange, its movements slow, rigid, as if the joints of this thing did not quite move as joints should. Nevertheless, it is not slow by any means; no, rather, quite the opposite. It is within the woman’s vicinity near instantly, whereupon a hand is stretched out when she turns to face it or has already done so? Either case, gloved fingers wrap not around her person or anything of the sort to grab her.

  No, it is simply holding out a letter for her. The parchment is yellowed, crinkled and worn by time and abuse, and upon is written, in blood, five letters, spelling: A G N E S

  Will she accept this letter?
• 

  D o m i n i c June 18, 2023 at 9:55pm

  His lips met hers for as long as she would have him, warding off the frustration or worry for the time being. “We can, and we will, Love.” Dominic hummed with a sense of absolution to it. “Just… not tomorrow.” He added simply, with a half-smile at the corner of his mouth. One day at a time, that was how the normally plan-heavy vampire was forcing himself to perceive it. Not to mention, life outside themselves would still need to go on. “Now sleep.”

  -/-

  In the very early morning, the back door was clicked open and the shop lights turned on. His mornings always started with the basement, monitoring where the two mages were on their individual projects and making sure the walls hadn’t burned down in the late night hours. The recent few jobs and auctions had left their stock with several objects waiting to be tested or exorcised of hazards in one way or another. ‘Hit’ logs were checked for any new activity or familiar faces that had stopped in for work. There were no signs of Dahlia or Jovan, nor would there be until the mid-afternoon. Soon, the front doors were clicked open and the sign was flipped on. The shop lit up fully, and a shuffled playlist started off with Then Came The Last Days Of May by Blue Öyster Cult softly playing in the background. The record shop emails and social media were answered loftily until the bell was heard.

  Nina perked up from her corner spot by the counter and purred actively when Agnes approached her, bumping the bridge of her nose against the woman’s palm. Her perch for the day was a stack of cardboard boxes where the top box was dented from her resting on top.

  Dom stepped out from the back room without bothering to put on a customer service face and slipped behind the counter to his own normal perch behind it with a smile. After Agnes leaned in to kiss his cheek, he leaned into the counter and put an arm around her waist. “Good morning again, Chiot.” The quiet of the shop and an early morning visitor he could look forward to seeing… it was a trend he could get used to. Dominic listened while Agnes put out her request, deliberating quietly. Her last ‘surprise’ at the makeshift arena had left a certain taste in the vampire’s mouth.  “Dahlia and I trade out when Paradox closes, then we can walk to Sundown.” He decided. A low hum followed as he thought. “Perhaps earlier. She has an interview to hire someone today.  Someone you know, per my recommendation,” He left her with the hint and a coy smile.
• 

  D o m i n i c May 23, 2023 at 3:22am

  “You can give someone the entire world, love, but peace of mind will always be a powerful thing,” Dominic responded quietly. “Nothing is void. Love isn’t something to be taken as all or nothing… it's patience, communication, and compromise. There is no promise that it will be easy. This is why we talk.” The vampire’s eyes drifted closed near the end of his words, ones he could only repeat if it came to it.

  He fell quiet for a moment at her proposal, opting for following the sensations that her fingertips left behind. Dominic soon shifted to lay beside her. “I have to go in. You should come in with me. Get some rest, and come spend the day at the shop.”
• 

  Virgiliu Dracula March 22, 2023 at 10:58pm

  ✞The Heir to the Throne of Dracul✞
  
  What strange land this was. Towers of metal, stone, and glass, reaching for the skies as if trying to escape the mortal plain. Enough to drive Nimrod of Shinar mad with jealousy. Each light emitting from pillars of metal, reflecting against glass, drowning the night sky with their constant shimmering. It was all so unlike the dark mundane walls of his home, and yet it felt almost darker despite the everlasting light.

   

  Virgil took a step out from the shadows of a tight alleyway, his leather shoes stirring the puddles of water forming from the falling waters as they touched the pavement. His eyes moved about his environment as if he was analysing the surrounding area. There was no emotion painted on his face as his gaze moved up and down, left and right. Then he lightly cocked his head upwards, drawing a single breath - one that seemingly stayed in permanently. Then he veered to the side, facing left, his steps barely making any sound at all. Perhaps drowned out by the rain. There he’d walk in relative silence for a few minutes. Or, well, as silent as it could get. Something seemed to draw him here. Like an instinct telling the birds to fly South come winter.

   

  Suddenly, the silence was broken as a man went flying out the door not too far ahead. The voices of the people involved as clear as if they’d been standing right next to him. Nothing is a coincidence. His brow tightened ever so briefly as he looked on at the scene playing out in the distance. Fascinating how humans would so willingly poison themselves only to get an escape from their miserable existence. Ingesting things that would slowly rot their insides for “pleasure”. Virgil too had known his fair share of pain, but to go to such lengths as to ingest poison to deal with it. Perhaps that was the answer; they don’t want to deal with it so they turn to their escapes instead. This was not the first time he’d seen such a scene and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. But it fascinated him nonetheless. 

   

  He ventured closer as the drunken man stumbled away in the downpour. He knew he should feel pity, yet seeing the man wobble away into the distance stirred nothing but a hunger for understanding the reasoning behind his life choices. What could’ve driven him to such despair, and why did he let it? Questions perhaps never to be answered. Not truly, at least. Humans are unreliable after all. Either they lie to others or they lie to themselves so much that their words start sounding like the truth to themselves. Sad, in a way. It made them difficult to read, and yet simultaneously so very easy.

   

  Other than the drunken man, there had been the voice of a woman, one who spoke with a form of authority and power that spoke of something darker. Pain, perhaps. Intriguing at the very least. Enough so to stray from his path if only to get a closer look. His pace picked up ever so slightly as he approached the place from which the drunken man had come tumbling out onto the pavement. What could have driven the woman to throw the man out with such… ah, yes, inhuman strength. A risky display, indeed. To expose oneself to a mortal in such a crowded region. He knew all too well what such displays could lead to and the thought nearly made him shudder. But now, he was upon the doorstep looking at the sign outside. Sundown? Fitting. He took a few steps forward, standing in the doorway and again scanning the space with his dead gaze. 

   

  He was dressed in clothes that seemed to once have been quite nice. Standing not much taller than the average man, he wore a deep dark red satin shirt, shrouded by a tattered leather jacket bound to his waist by a satin shawl matching the colour of his shirt. The shawl, or whatever that piece of tightly bound fabric might have been, cover the edge of black jeans that too wore the scars of battle. His hair was like ebony, done up and carefully combed with shaved sides. Only a set of two light brown irises that would reflect light with a yellow tint gave warmth to his sickly pale skin. Short stubble painted his face as well, hinting that he may not have seen a resting place for a couple days. As he stood there, it was as if his very presence drowned out the sound of the rain outside. He brought a strange aura with him inside. An aura that seemed to repel the living world around him. Like a spirit that did not belong in this world. It was as if he was there and not there simultaneously. To mortal eyes, he would probably only seem a slight bit off. But to anyone touched by the other world, he seemed unlike anything. A spirit made flesh. An abomination to the natural world.
• 

  Adherent March 12, 2023 at 3:30am

  You know I won't say no to that 

  

  We goin' plotting, Ma'am.
• 

  D o m i n i c March 3, 2023 at 10:30pm

  He did as he was told, tucking the book back inside of his bag and slinging it over his shoulder. Dom ensured he stayed close while their surroundings changed. There was an internal panic of stepping into that dark unknown that lasted only a fleeting second in between their destination, similar to humans during a plane takeoff. She might feel it, if she was paying attention to the small squeeze he gave her hand or the way he froze up entirely. It came and passed when he recognized the silhouettes of the closet interiors, and all things about the place that felt familiar flooding back to his senses.

  -/-

  Dominic’s eyes had been closed for the last several minutes. His consciousness traced her fingertips as they passed through his hair, not for the sensation, but for the fact that she bothered to do so. Attentiveness was its own form of love, and one that he favored greatly. The occasional hum or exhale made the fact known. Cold skin against her own warmth had always felt oddly at home. His eyes opened to their deep red color, glancing up to her whether her eyes were closed or not. “...If you want to be sure I trust you, then show I can trust you,” His expression was smooth, as calm as ever. “There are no shortcuts, but there is patience, communication, compromise…” Dom looked down again and placed a kiss on her collarbone, nuzzling back into her grasp. “I haven’t felt certain of anything lately, but I know I love you.”
• 

  D o m i n i c February 27, 2023 at 10:53am

  “I did,” Dominic was quick to answer quietly while she unwrapped and opened the book to reveal its contents. At one chuckle or another from Agnes, his arm tightened to squeeze her gently as he shared the sentiment. “Stunning? Yes,” He answered just as casually with a grin and leaned close to place a peck on her cheek. Every small sound brought him peace and a hint of joy compared to how their night had begun. Every page flick had him sitting just a little closer beside her, no matter how many times he had opened the book for himself. For now, he wasn’t looking nor reading. He studied every detail of her expression as time passed in the book with a genuine smile spread across his lips. When she stopped at the end and their eyes met, the vampire paused momentarily before he answered.

  “I have what I need,” Dominic reassured her with a bit of a guilty half-smile. Just as quick as he’d set down the ground rules, he had already broken his own. Memory was a curious thing when time marched on. It could be a dangerous thing. He still held onto some memories tighter than others.

  He leaned forward and let his free hand rest along her cheek. He pressed a kiss against her lips. “I love you, Chiot… and I love the time I spend with you. I never want you to forget that."