Garlic in the Blood Archives

January 21, 2008

From the Comments - By LJ

Four in the morning, on the ground, shaking... BLAAAARGH... I vomited blood all over the sidewalk.

The stink of it sickened me, and my skin turned even more deathly pale. I pushed myself onto all fours, just waiting for the next inevitable gastrointestinal upheaval.

BLAAAAAAARGH... this was becoming a vicious circle.

I rose shakily to my feet, wobbled once, twice... and remained upright. Gathering what little dignity I still had, I decided to do three things:

Find someone else entirely to feed me...

Get inside before daylight...

And tonight, find that motherfucker who had shot garlic directly into his veins.

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February 21, 2008

LJ: An Unexpected Sequel

"Good morning, Mr. Drake. How may I help you this morning?"

The SPF 50 I wore reeked, but this was a lead meant to be followed. "The blood you sold me last night... it's tainted."

He looked legitimately concerned. "Tainted? How?"

"It's spiked with garlic."

Concern became horror. "My apologies, Mr. Drake! I'll replace it at once!" He reached for the bag, but I grabbed his wrist to stop him.

"I don't care about that," I whispered. "I want to know whose blood this is. I have a feeling I've been trying to find this motherfucker for a month now."

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February 22, 2008

LJ: A Surprising Trilogy

"Red... from an AB-positive alcoholic." It was that kind of night.

I swirled it in its glass for a moment, admiring its color. As I did, I felt my frustration anew at the lack of information the blood bank was able to provide.

I sniffed its bouquet... and was immediately glad I did.

I called the waiter back and asked, "Was this from an Italian?"

Confused, he said, "I don't know, sir. Shall I check?"

No need; it was a wild rationalization for the blood to smell this way. The truth was far simpler:

Someone was trying to kill me.

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February 26, 2008

LJ: Hunter Becomes Hunted

I could see it instantly; he knew that I knew.

"Mr. Drake," the blood bank owner greeted me. "What can I do for you?"

I smiled fiercely. "Give me names."

He shook his head. "Too late. Hundreds of garlic-spiked bags are in circulation. The vampire nation will fall within months."

I took a step toward him, which only made him laugh. "What are you going to do? You won't kill me, and you sure as hell won't bite me. You don't dare."

My smile never even wavered. "Who says I want to do either?" I became a blur of motion.

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April 3, 2008

LJ: True Progress

After five weeks of horrific, calculated torture, he woke up... completely undamaged.

"Wha..." he murmured through lips that had yesterday been too puffy to speak through. "What the fuck happened?"

I stepped out of the shadows and smiled; the smile became a feral grin as I saw the realization dawn on his face. "Oh, God, no," he said, struggling at the chains that still confined him. To his surprise, with a screech, they gave way under his newfound strength. "You bastard!!" he screamed.

I nodded. "You're about to get very thirsty. So, let's talk about that tainted blood, shall we?"

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April 21, 2008

LJ: The Terrible Thirst

A man rocking, shaking in the corner. A little girl, dirty and frightened. I watched intently.

He actually lasted long enough that I had to feed the girl -- I did not expect that. I thought he would break quicker.

In time, I heard a low growl coming from his throat, and saw his trembling grow all the worse. Finally he could withstand no longer, grabbed the girl, and sank his new-found fangs into her neck. She screamed, briefly.

When she was dead, I approached again, nodding satisfaction. "No hint of garlic, brother," I whispered. "Just the way it should taste."

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April 24, 2008

LJ: Sorry for Sucking

The waitress laughed, causing her voluminous curls to bounce. "No, you're doing just fine. Go ahead, ask for my number."

I smiled back. "Actually, there was something else I wanted to ask you."

"Wait... first, what's your order?"

"Porterhouse... rare as possible."

She looked surprised. "Really?"

"If it comes cold in the middle, I'll be satisfied."

She shrugged. "Okay... if you feel like dealing with the blood, that's your choice. I'll be right back with your drink."

As she bounced off, I knew I'd found the center of the conspiracy. What better place to hide from vampires than a steakhouse?

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July 7, 2008

LJ: Absolutely Corrupted

"Hello... sire."

It made me feel royal, even if he was calling me "dad". "What's on your mind?"

"I did it. I cured the Thirst."

I bolted up from my chair, nearly knocking it over. "What are you saying?"

"No more feeding four times a day... no over-powering craving filling our every waking moment... nothing controlling us, ever again. Only the sunlight stands in our way."

I warred between horrified and proud. Horrified, because such a radical change would destroy our whole way of life.

Proud, because not three months ago, he didn't even want to be one of us.

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March 27, 2009

LJ: A New Dawn

It was a delicious smell, like the smell I'd known for centuries... but subtly different.

He offered me a glass of whatever it was. I gave him a wary glance, but drank deeply of it.

I exhaled heavily, and my lips curled in a smile. It wasn't the real thing, but it did quench the Thirst. "It's good."

"It's better," he replied, and opened the shade, letting in sunlight. I instinctively flinched... but did not burn.

Had my blood still run, it would have run cold. He had done more than cure the Thirst.

Our world was about to change.

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May 5, 2009

LJ: Interview With a You-Know-What

"Come in," I said. "Can I offer you a drink? Some crimson, perhaps?"

My fellow vampire sneered. "I have no interest in your blood substitute, no matter its other effects." The ability to face the sun intact was not, it seemed, his priority. "You, my old friend, are a perversion to the purity of our race. We will destroy you... for the good of our race."

"I doubt that," I replied. "Every single vampire safehouse is burning right now. You have no place to hide come dawn." I grinned, showing my teeth. "Are you sure you don't want that drink?"

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