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lunch and
hoping the local newscaster called them for the daily dialing for dollars
game.  
    “Donors can’t die, then?”
    “We can; many do. Those who
become tired of living stop serving as donors.   They then age normally and die.   For instance, I am still the age I was
when I became a donor; if I stopped being a donor, I would age and lose my
resistance to disease and injury.   I’d return to being normal, mortal. At my age, I would fade quite
quickly.”
      “You mentioned that you bought this house
some 50 years ago.   That would have
been in the 1960s.   How old are
you?”
    Lucy smiled.   “If you ask my surname, you’ll find a
surprise, I’m sure.   Allow me to
properly introduce myself.   My name
is Lucy West, but you’ll know me better as Lucy Westenra.”
    Alex burst out
laughing.   “Yeah, right, and I’m the
Duchess of York.”  
      Lucy smiled again.   “It’s ok if you don’t believe me;
eventually you will.”
    “You’re basically asking me
to believe that the novel Dracula is based in fact.”
    Lucy shrugged. “It is.   Whether you choose to believe it or not
doesn’t change that it is based in fact.”
    “But you died in the book.
You became a vampire yourself.”
    Lucy shook her head.   “That part isn’t true.   Stoker wasn’t completely honest, nor was
Van Helsing.”   She saw Alex’s
eyebrows shoot up.   “Yes, Van
Helsing was real as well.   Stoker
was merely a ghost writer; Van Helsing was the true author.   He used the novel in an attempt to alert
others of vampires’ existence.   Parts
of my story in the novel are true and accurate.   For instance, the transfusions
happened.   Van Helsing didn’t
understand how I could be fed upon and not die.   He feared I was made vampire.   He did not, however, as you can see, cut
off my head and stuff it with garlic.”   Lucy laughed, and Alex did too a little. “And, I never fed on
children.   I did, however, fall in
love with the Count and would seek him out at night. So, I was not a helpless
victim.”
    She paused.   “Donors are given the option to become
vampires.   We very rarely choose to
transition, although some do, especially those who fall deeply in love with
those who turn them. Vampires all have a strong attraction, which I’m sure you’ll
find works to your advantage.   There
are some vampires who, either by ignorance or through malice, don’t give their
victims a choice and turn them unawares. That’s what I suspect happened with
you.   Whether it was malice or
ignorance is a toss up, although I’m going to go with the ignorance option
because Wren was caught.”
    Alex sipped her brandy and
considered her next question.   “So,
if I’m a vampire, how come I can be in daylight?”
    “That’s an easy one.   The whole night-time only sizzle in the
sun thing is a myth.   Stalking prey
in the dark is simply easier than in broad daylight, especially in rural areas
or on country estates. In a city like New Orleans or New York, it’s incredibly
easy to hunt in the light of day.   But,
it’s less lonely in a way to separate yourself from normal people, I think.
Being a night stalker allows for that sort of separation. A lot of vamps choose
to hunt at night, as it’s far easier to feed on tourists and the like.   Things haven’t changed much in that
regard, but especially for those who have relationships with donors, there are
options. As long as you are well-nourished you will tolerate sunlight just as
well as you did before.”
    Alex lit a cigarette.   “OK, say that I buy your story
here.   Why didn’t the novel talk
about donors, then?   Wouldn’t the
advantages of being a donor be seen as a great thing?”
    “Absolutely.   And that’s why Van Helsing lied in his
story to Stoker.   Times were
different then; they truly feared for me and for my soul.   The idea that I was exchanging my autonomy
for immortality was too close to selling my soul to them.   And, Van