Vampire World by Rich Douglas

up,” she said. “There’s something really special
about you. You’re unique. If I hire you, I promise I will give you all the
support and respect you need to succeed at your job, even if you don’t remember
anything about working in the fashion industry before.”
    I
knew right away that she'd inferred from my cheap clothes that I was poor. Then
again, that was more sympathy points. Hell ya!
    She
didn’t offer me the job right away. She said she’ll call and let me know.
    After
a long day, I headed back home just as the three suns were setting in the south
sky and Garlic Moon was glowing brightly over the horizon. How beautiful!
    The
next day, my mind was cluttered with thoughts about my new friends, possible
job prospects, and those extraordinary secrets I was meant to collect. But most
of all I was thinking about the upcoming party, and that had a lot to do with
Brett.
    Mr.
FreeCut was off work for the day, which was great. I'd really missed him
lately. I told him about all the good things that had been going on, and how I
toughened up against my stalker.
    “I
told you things would turn around,” he said. “Just continue being strong and
think positive. You’ll enjoy vampire life.”
    I
didn’t tell him about the secret. But I did ask him a question that was bugging
me.
    “Who
was Dracula?”
    Mr.
FreeCut seemed surprised. “Dracula? How did you know about him? Have you been
studying up on some history behind my back?”
    “I’m
just curious.”
    He
gave a small laugh. “Many years ago, Dracula was president of Vampire World.
He’s considered to be the greatest president in our history because he helped
to overthrow a dictator and establish a democratic government.”
    “How
did he die?”
    “Well,
that’s a big mystery. He disappeared. His body was never recovered. It’s
believed that he was kidnapped and killed by some very jealous and evil
vampires from BloodFall, which is a country that borders Vampire World.”
    “Really?
So they built a grave without a body?”
    “Yes.
Dracula deserves lots of credit for what he did. We have so much freedom in our
land compared to other places. Whether his body is there or not, it doesn’t
really matter. It's what he did that counts.”
    I
wondered why my secret messenger had decided to choose the gravesite of such an
important vampire. I also wondered briefly about how Dracula had died, even
though I had more important things to think about.
    Like
an exhilarating party that night.
    And
a very steamy Brett.

A HOT PARTY

 
    I
got dressed, putting on the black shirt that I bought at the supermarket. Once
again it was not much, but it was decent. At least I had my charming purse and
my phone. But I frowned at my pitiful shoes. If I got the job, I wasgetting a new pair pronto.
    Anyway,
if he liked me…well…appearances wouldn’t matter. Y eah right . I remembered Sally complimenting me on how pretty I was,
but that was back in the orphanage. I was in a much bigger, wilder, crazier
place now, with a lot more beautiful vampires around.
    Astonished
that Mr. FreeCut was kind enough to let me borrow his car after I had wrecked
it, I thanked him several times, said goodbye, and headed off to the party at
April’s house.
    Passing
over Slice canyon, downtown loomed in the distance. But I took a sharp right
and came to an iron gate leading into an exclusive estate. A heavy-set guard
walked out of a station.
    He
gazed at me with an ugly scowl. “Show me your Carn card.”
    I
handed it over and he scanned it with some sort of machine. Then he stared at
me angrily. “What the hell? Can’t you read? You need proof of ten thousand
Carns to get in here. You've only got thirty. Get the hell out of here you
cheap, blood-sucking rat.”
    Although
I was tempted to punch his fangs out, I really just wanted to get to the party.
    “I
know someone who lives inside,” I said. “I’m invited to their party.”
    “Do
you actually think I'd believe someone who has only