Kamet Schwarzdrakken, In Coffeehouse, Vampire

Mostly, though, it’s not so bad. People just assume the hierarchy marks are rebellion. Tattoos. I don’t sizzle in the sunlight, and even when I do laugh, people don’t want to see fangs. They see sharp teeth, then are mildly uncomfortable.

I mean, look, I’ve never burst into flame going into a church, and holy water and crosses are about as harmful to me as a brand-new pair of shoes. If it’s really holy water, I might blister. I don’t cry blood. Sometimes, at night, people give me a second glance.

But everyone knows there’s no such thing as vampires.