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medium build. He had a scraggly but friendly look that suggested he was just that guy around the corner. “So how old are you? You know, how long ago…?”
    “When was I turned?” the vampire finished for him. “Not that long ago, actually. It was back in nineteen ninety six; sixteen years ago, and not a long time at all as far as we keep track.”
    “Was it a painful thing, to be turned?” They passed the escalator in front of Sears and came in step behind a handful of people.
    “The bite is painful, but the time it takes for you to either turn, or die, is a lot more painful.”
    “Why is that?”
    “We can go off someplace quiet and I can give you a firsthand experience.”
    “Indulge a condemned soul.”
    The vampire shrugged. “You’re blood is on fire, as it tries to expel the viruses that are making their way to your heart. If the shock is not too great once the viruses hit the heart, the change begins instantly. If the shock is too great, the heart bursts.”
    Jelani struggled to maintain his composure as they rode the escalator to street level. If he could keep this guy talking he might be able to do something to survive this. “Sounds nice.”
    “Not much fun to experience, but I must admit it’s fun to watch. You’ve never seen someone squirm like that.”
    “Is there any vestige of humanity left in you at all? Any sliver of moral fiber?”
    “Moral fiber.” He laughed. “Moral fiber is first, overrated, and second, depends on the person. I was rather aggressive before my re-creating. Now, all that has been enhanced.”
    Despite his situation, Jelani was interested. “So whatever type of person you are is, what, intensified?”
    “That’s one way of putting it.” The blond vampire smiled and narrowed his eyes. “Whatever your most dominant traits were as a human are greatly enhanced in your re-creating.” He gave Jelani a head to toe assessment. “Take you, for instance.” They crossed through the perfume department and exited into the light rain outside where they waited at the stoplight. Chapters was right across the street.
    “From my experience with you so far, you would be extremely fast, even for one of us. You would also be very strong, and your fighting skills would be like nothing you can imagine with your limited human mind.” He scrutinized Jelani. “You know, the irony of this is that you would make an incredible Hunter. Maybe one of the best.” He shrugged. Guess we’ll never know.
    Jelani glanced at the dark sky. “I thought you all can’t be in water?”
    Blondie threw his head back and laughed as though it was the best joke he’d heard all day. The light turned green and the crowd, Jelani and his lethal shadow included, started across.
    “Ah the lore. The famous, lovely, foolish human lore. No, all of those ridiculous weaknesses we suffer in your stories are wishful thinking. Water, whether blessed by one of your religious sheepherders or not, will yield you only a wet, and most likely irritated, vampire. As for the cross,” he shook his head, his mouth half-hanging open in quiet mirth, “let’s just say that if you pull one of those things out on me, I’ll take it from your crushed hand and jam it somewhere you don’t want it to be.”
    “Thanks for the heads up.”
    “Hey, any time. You know, the truth is, I don’t dislike you. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a lengthy conversation, especially with a human.”
    “So you don’t suffer from any of the weaknesses in the stories?” The other man glanced at him, grinning.
    “Wouldn’t you like to know? Let’s just say that it depends on the particular vampire you encounter, though it really wouldn’t matter because you wouldn’t survive long enough to figure it out.”
    They entered the bookstore and Jelani turned left, heading toward the connecting Starbucks. “I need to use the restroom, if that’s all right?”
    The other man shrugged. “If you insist. Don’t worry, I’ll be right