Page 32 of Bite Me
“Thank you, Eddie. That’s all.”
“Okay. Thanks for trusting me.”
“I’m just being smart, asking the most competent people for input.”
I blushed at the compliment. How could I not? Nodding like a bobblehead, I backed out of his office before I could make a complete fool of myself.
I came home late and exhausted, but that didn’t stop me from paging through the vampire book again. The paleness of Russel’s eyes and his obvious tiredness bothered me, but the only chapter that mentioned eyes in the title was about hypnosis.
Vampire eye and thrall as a means of seduction
How powerful sexual arousal vampire venom can cause depends on many factors. Individuals react differently to the venom from the same vampire. Some researchers speak about different levels of compatibility and mention even hormonal cycles and testosterone levels. How much and where on the body the vampire injects the venom affects the speed, intensity, and longevity of the effect. However, there exists zero scientific proof that vampire eyes have hypnotic potential.
The myth aboutthrall—a vampire’s power to induce a hypnotic state and make a human follow their orders—exists in multiple cultures under different names. The likely root of this ideation is the noticeable change in the hues of vampiric irises. The eye can go from pale silver (for myths about starving vampires, see the chapterBloodlust) to warm copper during the feeding. Let’s imagine a human holding eye contact with a vampire while being bitten. The arousing effect of the venom arrives while the hues in the eye of the vampire are changing. The conclusion that the physical effect the prey is experiencing is connected to the vampire’s eyes doesn’t seem far-fetched.
I flipped to the table of contents and found the chapter on bloodlust. The first paragraph was enough for me to understand what was going on. Russel was hungry.
Uncontrollable aggression caused by bloodlust in a starving vampire is a figment of human imagination. Starvation is accompanied by apathy and general weakness that make it increasingly difficult for a vampire to find prey and feed. Depending on age, a vampire begins to feel uncomfortable hunger ten to fifteen days after feeding. Starvation symptoms arise after three weeks: lethargy, muscle pain, headaches, disrupted sleep, and even depression. The most obvious sign is the loss of color in their eyes; the golden hues recede, replaced by silver and gray tones. Vampires have been known to starve for months without enduring permanent physical harm but suffering significantly during. A starving vampire eventually enters a catatonic state, which is terminal without medical intervention.
Vampires cease experiencing hunger toward the end of their lives. On average, they are aged one hundred fifteen to one hundred twenty when they feed less often until they eventually stop searching for prey. Such passing is peaceful compared to involuntary starvation at a younger age.
8
AN ASSHOLE
RUSSEL
“No, it doesn’t surprise me one bit.”
My mother sniffed at the glass delicately and took a slow sip. Her wide-brimmed hat cast a dark shade over her face, but her eyes gleamed copper. She never went more than a few days between meals. Was she still having the last boy toy stay at her condo? What was his name? Giulio or Giorgio or something like that.
The first interview with Helen and Pierce was out, and the reactions were as expected—everything from outrage to an outpouring of support, but the majority were neutral to positive. Since it was the most recent big news in society, my mother had to dissect it during our semi-regular Sunday outing to a wine bar.
“I keep telling you,” she said, “monogamy is a human invention, and not a very smart one at that.”
“I know several monogamous couples where one of the partners is a vampire,” I countered. “They are rare, but they do exist.”
“Yes, and I bet if you knew themwell, you’d realize they all have some kind of deal going on, just like Helen Snyder and Pierce Black.”
“I met them in person. They seem to love each other.”
My mother made a scoffing sound. “Oh please, darling. They capitalize on their relationship. And good for them! Why humanity still insists on archaic nonsense like marriage is beyond me.”
“And how is Giorgio?”
“Who?” She blinked at me and gulped more wine.
“Your latest juice box.”
She curled her lip. “You sound bitter, Russel. It’s unattractive.Ginohas moved out.”
“You kicked him out already?”
“He was with me for merely three months, but I paid for two semesters of graduate school for him. And it wasn’t like I dropped him on the street. He’s sharing an apartment with a friend of his. I’m convinced he doesn’t regret his choices.”
Yes, most of my mother’s lovers were less than half my age. By now, I was used to it.
“I met a lovely, delectable man at your sister’s fundraiser last week. He’s spending the weekend.”
