THE BLOOD BANK part 1 of 4

THE BLOOD BANK part 1 of 4

I have not lived this long by being reckless. Other vampires wish for the old days, but I am glad they are gone. Too many diseases and not enough population to hide a blood-drained sickly body. In the old days, it was easily noticed and all too easy to raise a pitchfork carrying a bloodthirsty mob.
Now it is easier, although a blood-drained body brings a lot more attention and is more likely to be found. So, it is far wiser to build up a voluntary blood bank.

So here on Halloween, I am cruising parties looking for fresh accounts to add to my blood bank. Why drain a body today when it can feed you for years to come? Just a pint here and there and let the account holders enjoy their interest payments in return.

It is easy to repay the accounts with their dreams and desires, with the odd orgasm on the account. The euphoria that I create to accompany a mild blood drain is beyond most people’s erotic desires. Especially when nudged along by a little erotic dream bonus. I am an expert at mind nudges, just brief hints, or teases. You need not control a mind, why would you want a mindless zombie? Just a little nudge is required. How often have you done something slightly out of character? How often have friends asked you "where did that come from?" or "I never knew you were like that?" Was that free will? Or did you hear me laughing in the background?

Mind control takes energy, and it creates noise. I could be on a bus crowded with vampires, but they will not hear me nudge the driver to turn left instead of right. But I can read their minds and hear their controlling thoughts. Humans cannot hear it, to them, it is a little like a dog whistle. I also create a hormonal endorphin response as a highly effective reward for a positive reaction to a nudge. It is extremely low-level and silent. How often has smiling at a stranger made you feel good inside?

The first part of the evening was a bust. My old Venetian vampire friend Phillip was already there harvesting a mark. We have had an unwritten agreement for millennia. No marked territories, we just do not step on each other’s toes. There are large covens, but I avoid them. Oh yes, they know of me, but they also know my wrath, so again, we avoid each other. My age and knowledge are a significant help here. Knowing the secrets of Egypt’s and other long-dead dynasties gives me an edge they lack. That and the fact that I am also a day walker, I only know of a few, and we stay clear of each other. It is age-related; I do not know, and I am not giving myself up to science to find out.

At night, especially on Halloween, you just cannot wander in somewhere new without a reconnoiter. So, I saunter around outside the College Party scanning minds. I pick out a few useless minds, a few drugged ones, and a few minds I recognized, some friendly, some not. I pick up Abbey, one of my top account holders, but I drank from her last week, so she needs a rest. But I am here looking for new account holders not to harvest existing accounts. My bank is just south of a thousand accounts now. It never hurts to have a few more. Several I just keep ticking over, are happily married homemakers that enjoy an annual visit. Some account holders are too old, and I leave them to their memories and their twilight years.

Yes, I prefer female account holders, being one and loving the female form and all its benefits. Yes, I can change form and gender; it takes some effort and creates a lot of noise for other vampires. Normally it just takes some little tweaks to the target’s perception. It is easy enough to suggest they prefer brunettes to blondes or small to tall. I have a few trans, gay people, Bi men, and men on the account who are of benefit, and they enjoy the interest bonus too. It pays not to keep to too much of a modus operandi, as it is harder for potential enemies to set honey traps. Plus, you may need a quick withdrawal, especially if a coven gets territorial.

The mind sweep is coming up clean, ignoring all the guttural thoughts bouncing around inside some male and female heads. I am happy I am not exposed to any potential threats.

I am tonight, neutrally dressed in an average supermarket-brought cheerleader costume, so I can slip in or out without too much interest. Being of average build, I quietly blend into the background. Who needs camouflage when you can blandly blend in? I saunter through the side entrance into the party. Whilst continually multi-task, scanning the house and smiling at people, I get a beer and mind nudge advances away.

A fresh mind grabs my attention, a dreamer. She came with her brother, but she is waiting for her boyfriend; he is late, and she is not enjoying being here with all these college types. She is a fit swimmer and runner, clean from drugs, and has a receptive mind. She is two rooms away, but her mind is clear to me. She is Taylor Dean who left high school to work in an office in the city; she likes her job but not her boss. She is an excellent target, so I continue to search but keep a watchful mind on her.

Her brother has gone, I find him with his friends in the garden near the pool. They are watching a friend put moves on a girl, but his girlfriend is elsewhere. I find her and nudge her outside. It just takes a simple suggestion to her and her friend, “The music is loud in here.” To find her errant boyfriend and a commotion ensues.

Simple little pleasure help entertain me. The DJ changes the genre of the music, and the party livens up. It is more eighty’s and despite the younger ages it raises their games and more start dancing and partying. I am producing a bust, there are a few reluctant Bi-men that I note. One masked bat-woman is a trans-curious male who could be useful in the future. But it all comes back to little lonely Taylor, who is now meandering towards the front door.

I nudge, “Stay, the music has improved, and the party is just starting, Steve will turn up any minute, you’re thirsty.”

She moves back towards the kitchen through the thronging jocks. “Tainted Love” by soft cell now plays, and Taylor’s mind goes to the Marilyn Manson video. OoVoo how apt, she is playing it through her mind as she moves to the music.

I nudge a positive endorphin reward, “See this is ok, I like this.”

Her mind continues to play the video through her mind. But rather than Marilyn sauntering through the party, she is replaying the geek-turning goth and being in the hot tub with Marylin. Aha, I have my bait and I reinforce her image.

Abbey is a tall alpha female goth and is in the garden with her groupies. She hunted me out at a club many years ago. A few goths do that, and many fall foul of the wrong vampires. She would gladly let me suck her dry. I have explained the pitfalls of being a nightwalker. Explaining the many hierarchal levels that she would be at the bottom of and that she is better at staying off the covens’ radar. She is under my protection and is now one of my top bank accounts. She is one of the few I have a genuine relationship with. Every few weeks, we get together and I make a withdrawal and she gets me a few bonuses. Taylor would make a delightful bonus for her.

“You’re thirsty” I nudge Abbey.

“Hey guys, I need a top-up, anyone wants another brew?" Abbey asks her entourage.

“No, that’s ok Abs, I can get them, it’s cramped in there,” A male admirer offered. So I nudge his bladder.

“Ah, I need to siphon the old python first.”

“Yuk, I'll be ok,” Abbey responded and made her way indoors.

Taylor's route to the beer is being barred by some jock.

“Hey gorgeous, I’ve not seen you around here before, want to party upstairs?” So, I nudge his bladder. No luck cocaine is blocking his receptors.

So I nudge her brother, who uncharacteristically turns to check on his sister. Shouting over,” Hey dude, that’s my sis, she’s out of bounds for the likes of you.”

It surprises his friends; he is never bothered about her before, as they have all hit on her at one time or another. The Jock defers to the larger and older brother, mumbles an apology, and moves to find the bathroom. Taylor continues her way to the kitchen.

“Hey!” I nudge Taylor as she enters the kitchen to see Abbey pouring beer.

“Hey yourself geek” Abbey responds.

I nudge Abbey with a vision of Taylor the geek in the hot tub in her wet-look bikini, Marilyn Manson, and her.

“Do you want a beer? I am Abbey, but everyone calls me Abs.” Abbey said with a sudden change of heart. I nudge her further with some pleasing endorphin hormonal reward.

“Er, I’m Taylor, yes, please.” I nudge Taylor with a vision of her changing from nerd to vamp. Followed by an image of Abbey being one of the lingerie-clad rabbits on the bed at the end of the video. Whilst also nudging a little feel-good endorphin reward. Taylor blushes slightly.

“Jeez, not as in Swift?”

“Nonoo, why do people say that?” I nudge them both into a giggle. They both smile.

“So why are you on your lonesome Ms. Swift?”

To be continued