Prologue
Adonis
Let me dispel some myths—and confirm some facts—about vampires for you.
We are repelled by crosses and slink away at the sight of them. Beep! Wrong. While crosses bring us a momentary sting of pain, it only lasts for mere minutes, so you better have something else up your sleeve.
Garlic repels us. Beep! Wrong again. I actually love garlic and use it to season my meat quite frequently. This brings me straight to my next point…
Vampires don't eat. Beep! This one is a gimme, because some do and some don't. We can eat, but we don't need food to survive. The only thing we need to survive is blood.
Vampires drain their victims dry every time they feed. Beep! Wrong…on so many levels. Many of us have humans who come to us willingly, seeking the euphoria of our touch. We call this a pomme de sang . I'm not fond of the needy ones; I prefer to take what should be mine.
Vampires can be killed by wooden stakes. Beep! This one is also a gimme. Yes, if you stab me in the heart with one, I will die. However, if you carelessly stab me in the leg, I will survive…and likely eat you.
Vampires can be weakened by iron. Beep! Accurate. If you have pure iron, you can weaken us. But don't miss. It tends to piss us off.
Vampires cannot come into an establishment unless they are invited. Beep! This one is also true. We must be invited to get inside…so be careful who you allow into your safe space.