Vampire Books Fans, Fangs and Writers discussion
What kind of vampire would you write about?
Interesting. What is that from?I know all about such gaps. They are the bane of my novel-writing existence. I have over 500 pages of my novel written, and the first draft is not finished. I know that's two long, especially for YA, but--did I already say this here earlier?--I'm not worried because it's easier to cut unnecessary parts and trim the prose than pad if it's too short. The more time I take, the better it gets, because I get to be a better writer all the time. A lot of the chapters I'm going back over now were last updated two years ago.
Just something I made up. Feel free (anyone) to finish it...
Sandrine wrote: "responding to messages 102-106 Ardy, Robin, Francis: Your comments totally resonate with me. I began writing my vampire novel a very long time ago, when Anne Rice was well established. She totall..."I would be very interested in reading your novel when it comes out, Sandrine. My situation is very similar - that I wrote the first draft of my book back when Anne Rice's novels were very popular and literary agents compared it to hers as far as tone and the spiritual/philosophical elements. I rewrote it to some degree years later and published it in 2010. A second edition and the next book in the series were published with a small publisher in 2011. It has been difficult finding an audience for the series because the YA paranormal romance type vampires seem to be the in thing right now, since the success of the Twilight books.
In any case, I'm always looking for other vampire novels like the kind you talked about - ones in which the vampire is neither a "vegetarian" romance hero nor a personification of evil, but also ones that try to bring something new to the myth, so don't give up. The vampire mythos is eternal, as you said, and different readers like different takes on the topic.
In my upcoming book, my vampires are the villain type. I never bought into the empathetic vampire because of their need for blood and living detached from humans (meaning they're only out at night, they stick together, etc). I find the notion of the sensitive vampire bizarre and completely detached from it's myth and monstrous creature status. I also have my vampires generally avoid the sunlight, read and twist minds, turn to mist and be very strong. The vampires of True Blood and Christopher Pike's "The Last Vampire" influenced the creation of my vampires.
Megan wrote: "In my upcoming book, my vampires are the villain type. I never bought into the empathetic vampire because of their need for blood and living detached from humans (meaning they're only out at night,..."I understand your POV to a degree - that a being who solely sees another as a meal would have difficulty being friendly with or sensitive to the food source. For me, though, the idea that blood is the thing vampires are really feeding on never completely made sense. After all, there are several natural creatures who feed specifically on blood - mosquito, leech, vampire bat - and they don't gain immortality from it. Also, humans, unless vegetarian or following Kosher food laws, also consume blood in meat - the juice of the juicy steak being blood, after all, and they don't obtain immortality or any special powers from it either. Following from that, it would seem something else would have to be feeding and making the vampire into an immortal creature, while drinking blood would only be the way to bring another to death in a slow and intimate way. So it is possible to conceive of a vampire, or one who starts out as human anyway, as being empathetic to humans, if the story suggests it's something other than blood he/she is feeding on, and the story can remain attached to the original myth without the vampire being a purely evil being who simply feeds on blood. The idea that it isn't blood that feeds or gives immortality to a vampire also can allow a better explanation of why there is a sexual aspect in what vampires do, as normally one wouldn't consider a being who kills and feeds on his "date" as sexy. :)
I see hunger for blood as an essential part of being a vampire, but I don't really connect it with the immortality.In practice, blood doesn't make an effective food source. You would have to drink huge amounts.
It is the tension between wanting to be human and needing to feed on humans that I find particularly interesting about vampires. Both my novels explore this theme.
Anyone here read Butcher's Dresden Files series? The way he differentiates his vampires into three different courts, each representing a different kind of vampire 'race' I found very interesting.
Stephen R. Donaldson, in Reave the Just and other Tales, invented a vampire who feeds on the life of humans rather than their blood (he's misunderstood by those around, and only kills those who are about to die). Donaldson does a good job, as he's a very good author.Reave the Just and Other Tales. My vampires have strong urges for both blood and violence. Those who didn't want to be vampires, especially the new vampires and those who are in the process of becoming one, have a hard time with those urges. It can take time for one of my humans to turn into a vampire, especially if they are unwilling. For instance, one of my vampire characters gives just a small taste of her blood to a human, and he feels those urges for a short time, but only once in a while afterward. But fangs start growing in with time, and when the vampire feeds him more of her blood later, the urges rush in strong and he barely escapes drinking from his own mother. I'm still figuring it out as I go along, but because my vamps are demonically driven, I'm thinking the more blood they drink and the more they turn others, etc., the more deeply enmeshed the they become. Which brings to mind the question of whether vampires are a type of demon, demon-animated corpses, or something else. My characters don't agree on what they are and how to deal with them, which makes for some interesting conflicts and speculations among them.
Krisi wrote: "Sandrine wrote: "responding to messages 102-106 Ardy, Robin, Francis: Your comments totally resonate with me. I began writing my vampire novel a very long time ago, when Anne Rice was well establi..."Thank you Krisi; I would be interested in reading your work as well. We seem to be in the minority these days in the way we view vampires. What is/are the titles of your work?
Megan wrote: "In my upcoming book, my vampires are the villain type. I never bought into the empathetic vampire because of their need for blood and living detached from humans (meaning they're only out at night,..."Megan wrote: "In my upcoming book, my vampires are the villain type. I never bought into the empathetic vampire because of their need for blood and living detached from humans (meaning they're only out at night,..."
Krisi wrote: "Megan wrote: "In my upcoming book, my vampires are the villain type. I never bought into the empathetic vampire because of their need for blood and living detached from humans (meaning they're only..."
I totally agree with your comments Krisi. The question of exactly where the vampire's immortality comes from is intriguing; not by blood alone. I have worked that out in a way that makes sense to me.
As for the conflict between vampire and human--as Francis indicated in his comment that is really at the center; how and why and when that relationship plays out makes for very interesting reading.
Megan wrote: "In my upcoming book, my vampires are the villain type. I never bought into the empathetic vampire because of their need for blood and living detached from humans (meaning they're only out at night,..."It is too hard for me to accept vampires as totally villan, or pure evil or demonic. For people to want to read about them there must be some element of empathy; some vulnerability, some connection between the reader and the vampire. I am interested in vampires who are neither all good, nor all evil; the grey area in between; I love that vampires can be part of the paranormal realm, as long as they don't get lost among so many other creatures that they become meaningless.
For me the vampire's physicality and abilities are a result of their evolution as a species.Their eyes have adapted to low light conditions, and tend to be able to perceive infra-red, or heat signatures, as their prey tends to be exclusively mammals, higher mammals make the hunt more satisfying.
Pale skins due to lack of exposure to sunlight, and as a result of shying away from it, sees them developed a severe case of photophobia. While sunlight won't cause them to explode into flame, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight will cause them to smoke gently, and if left long enough, will start to burn.
Articles of faith are meaningless and powerless because they are biological rather than demonically empowered.
To avoid detection they feed irregularly, either exsanguinating a victim or 'keeping some on tap' enslaving them to their will. Continual 'sips' will not turn a human into a vampire, that happens if there is a prolonged period between 'sips'. The vampire virus resides and is transferred in their saliva, and so a bite leaves an infection, but subsequent 'sips' leave neutralising antibodies to keep the 'goblet', or human they 'sip' from, human.
I'm dividing the vampires into 'Mancers' and 'Ducers'
Mancers have vast telepathic mental powers which they use to manipulate others, whereas Ducers, don't feed off blood, but emotion, deriving their sustenance from lust, fear, anger and such strong feelings.
Sandrine wrote: "Megan wrote: "In my upcoming book, my vampires are the villain type. I never bought into the empathetic vampire because of their need for blood and living detached from humans (meaning they're only..."I agree, what makes monsters monstrous, in my view, is not that they are supremely evil, but that they have a certain vulnerable redemptive quality to them, but are compelled to do what people consider 'evil' for various complicated personal reasons.
Hi, Woolfie, I like how you draw on scientific knowledge and/or speculation. I wish I were more scientifically knowledgeable or were close to someone who was. It would improve my stories. I think it's interesting that you see your vampires as purely biological rather than supernatural. I'm leaning toward both for my stories. I guess I've made it clear that mine are turned by drinking a vampire's blood, but I haven't worked out how my vampires came into being in the first place. By the way, I just noticed the spelling of your username has "wool" in it. As in wolf in sheep's clothing? One of my vampires would like that. He has an affinity for wolves and wolf-like dogs and also likes to pretend to be a good religious type human so that he can enjoy betraying the people whose trust he wins.
I like making mine other than supremely evil as well. Another thing is I don't make them so powerful that they cannot be defeated by my protagonists. It is hard but not impossible.
Hey there Robin, I very much doubt that adding a scientific element would improve on your probably very readable stories:) My thinking was basically to have these real-life diseased humans, become the basis of myth and superstition due to ignorance, fear, and of course, encouraged by the vampire's affinity for manipulating minds. Facially, I like my vamps pale and fanged, but they can wear illusory appearances called 'masks' which make them look perfectly normal.
I wish I had the subtlety to notice that, but I didn't! 'Woolfie' has more to do with my preference for werewolves over 'fangers' and an ex-girlfriend with spelling issues! So long as you're trying to emulate the 'genius' of Twishite, I'd very much love to read your stories. I haven't written anything significant as of yet, more into roleplaying my characters as a means of easing into the 'transhuman' world of urbanised supernaturals I'm trying to create.
Oh, shoot me, now. Look at this:www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/10/abi.... If the link doesn't work: it is an 18 who has signed a six figure book deal for writing basically twilight fan fiction. I've heard that 50 shades started out as twi fan fiction.
It has become the thing that will not die.
Enjoy this cartoon video on youtube "So you want to write a novel:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9fc-crEFDw
In other areas of my life: I've been considering tapping into CreateSpace to maybe help get published. But then I received a brochure in the mail that I believe I sent for from BookBaby, which I did not know was affiliated with CDBaby, a company I really like. Anyway,--it looks pretty good. They seem to rather "hold your hand" through the process, which is almost what I do need; prices for services (book covers, distribution, account management.)seem pretty reasonable. Anyone have any experience with them? I think I need an editor first...and I don't have alpha/beta readers. Nor would I know how to acquire them....this all becomes rather tedious. But it has to be.
Well I'm sure some of us here would he more than happy to volunteer our services:p I'm an editor myself, but of only over 6 months experience, I edit comics:p and I love it, but I'd love to read your stuff, heck the more books the better in my view.
I'm an editor, too. Have my own new freelance business. Will be recovering my website soon. I am taking classes to increase my editing skills, so it might take me a while, though. When do you want it ready, and how many words/pages is it?
Happy to be an alpha/beta reader - depending on other commitments, of course.
Readers of an edited first and second draft I'm assuming.
The question of science vs. myth is one that comes up a lot in vampire lore. Personally, I try to keep my vampires within some realm of reality, while still maintaining their evil nature. I like the demonic theory of the vampire, but that doesn't explain to me why they don't cast reflections or turn into dust when killed. In my works, vampires do cast reflections, but are able to hide their reflections from humans, thus creating that particular myth. Actually haven't worked this in yet, but I'm going to. As for "dusting", my solution to this was to have the decomposition catch up with them. If a vampire is killed within a few days or weeks of being turned, they simply rot a little, within a few years, they become skeletal, sometimes with bits of skin or organs left behind, and it's only the oldest ones, those who have lived hundreds of years, that turn to dust. My vampires are purely evil, but that doesn't mean you can't relate to them, or even sympathize with them. In the second book in my series there is a vampire who is probably one of the most evil characters I have ever created, but there are times when the reader will almost like him. He has a heart, though it's a sick and twisted one. I also explore the whole "sympathy for the devil" thing in my Christian fantasy novel. There is a character who is, in essence, Satan himself, but he explains himself and his actions so well that the main character assigned to fight him almost joins him.
Robin Layne wrote: "What are alpha and beta readers?"They are the testers like the video gameers. They are pre-eidotrs per say. There job is locate the flaws and detail them.
Ardy, that "Satan" character sounds like you've done a great job of creation. I have fun with the psychological aspects of my villains and vampires. They can be very different from one another and sometimes hate each other. I haven't invented a lot of these individuals yet, but so far haven't "met" any that like sticking to their own kind. There may be some in my still-developing world that do, but so far I have concentrated on ones that deal with humans as other than just food for various reasons. Carletta is impulsive and a lousy liar, sloppy in some of her habits of getting rid of bodies, partly because the demon that drives her sometimes takes full control and doesn't cover its tracks. Another of my vamps, Luke, hates Carletta over this trait because he is so good at hiding things from people himself and because it's his job to keep humans from realizing vampires exist.
Luke is my favorite of my vampires, although I won't be introducing him until the second book. Characterizing him at the outset was as easy as falling off a rock. Don't ask my why. Things just came to me. It seemed appropriate his birthday would be in winter. Then I "discovered" it was Christmas day. I'd read that in some of the old lore you were automatically a vampire if you were born on such a high holiday--assumed to be evil because of your audacity to choose to be born on such a day. The idea of a self-fulfilled prophesy popped up, and it all flowed from there. The ego, the realization and disappointment, the resentment and the secret dedication to evil. A young man willing to do anything to become what he'd heard someone say he already was. I find him almost as sympathetic as he is interesting. And if he can get someone to honestly pity him, he's halfway to winning them to his side. He's a creature demon-like in his desire to lure and destroy souls--proud of himself above most vampires who only want blood.
The best tool that worked for me in characterizing Luke was letting him keep a journal. It worked so well he even messed ME up for a while. He became my evil twin, the one who freely carried and exaggerated my doubts. Now if only the novel in which he makes his debut will come together, I'll have it made.
Woolfie wrote: "For me the vampire's physicality and abilities are a result of their evolution as a species.Their eyes have adapted to low light conditions, and tend to be able to perceive infra-red, or heat sign..."
Reply to message 130 I like your concept of the vampire. The question of the virus being in the saliva concerns me: can it be transferred via kissing or will it remain viable say on some inanimate object, perhaps a wine glass if the vampire drinks wine. I like the devision of your vampires, the categories.
Woolfie wrote: "Sandrine wrote: "Megan wrote: "In my upcoming book, my vampires are the villain type. I never bought into the empathetic vampire because of their need for blood and living detached from humans (mea..."
Hi, Kristen, welcome! I personally think there is still room for the traditional vampire. Though I'm not sure tradition is as stable as it may seem. If you go by Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, that is one kind of tradition that is well-known, but it quickly evolved over time. I would be interested in knowing what happens to your college student. No doubt it is a night course? I have to get a laugh out of your typo, if it doesn't offend you: wooden stacks? (bring that teacher to the hardware store for some real conflict!)
Sandrine wrote: "Woolfie wrote: "Sandrine wrote: "Megan wrote: "In my upcoming book, my vampires are the villain type. I never bought into the empathetic vampire because of their need for blood and living detached ..."Woolfie wrote: "Readers of an edited first and second draft I'm assuming."
Sandrine wrote: "Woolfie wrote: "Sandrine wrote: "Megan wrote: "In my upcoming book, my vampires are the villain type. I never bought into the empathetic vampire because of their need for blood and living detached ..."
Woolfie wrote: "Sandrine wrote: "Megan wrote: "In my upcoming book, my vampires are the villain type. I never bought into the empathetic vampire because of their need for blood and living detached from humans (mea..."
Woolfie wrote: "Sandrine wrote: "Megan wrote: "In my upcoming book, my vampires are the villain type. I never bought into the empathetic vampire because of their need for blood and living detached from humans (mea..."
Woolfie wrote: "For me the vampire's physicality and abilities are a result of their evolution as a species.
Their eyes have adapted to low light conditions, and tend to be able to perceive infra-red, or heat sign..."
Woolfie wrote: "Sandrine wrote: "Megan wrote: "In my upcoming book, my vampires are the villain type. I never bought into the empathetic vampire because of their need for blood and living detached from humans (mea..."
Woolfie wrote: "For me the vampire's physicality and abilities are a result of their evolution as a species.
Their eyes have adapted to low light conditions, and tend to be able to perceive infra-red, or heat sign..."
Trying to reply to message 131, et al: YES!!! to your comment Woolfie about the evil/good nature of vampires. And yes to the definition of the alpha/betas. I would love to have someone critique my work. It is the hardest thing. Not taking the criticism, but the finding of people whose opinion would matter.
Sandrine wrote: "Woolfie wrote: "Sandrine wrote: "Megan wrote: "In my upcoming book, my vampires are the villain type. I never bought into the empathetic vampire because of their need for blood and living detached ..."Hm, this is the second time I've seen a post like this, where all I can see is part of a quote from earlier. Did your message get truncated, Sandrine? I wonder what you were going to say.
Comment to Kristen; welcome to the conversation. My book is essentially about one vampire; I wanted to get into the head of such a creature as seen by himself and others; a very intimate one to one experience and how his existence impacts those around him.
When I attempt to reply it seems my messages get cut off, or drag every comment previously posted along with it...hmmm
Hi, Sandrine,This time your that I couldn't read before message shows up.
I am honored that you would consider me a good person to critique your story. You have only just met me; I hope first impressions will prove me worthy of your trust. I haven't read tons of vampire stories, so I probably couldn't tell you what about them is and isn't original, but I can tell you if I find it a good story.
Now I've read your latest comment. Sounds like some pretty heavy stuff, getting into the head of a vampire. I have to know a certain amount of the inner workings of mine even when they aren't the viewpoint characters, because I have to know what they do and why. But for me, it's hard to be within the head of a vampire for very long. I remember being really creeped out watching "Interview with the Vampire" and not wanting to see it again. I got used to it; maybe that was desensitization and not a good thing for me. This was before I read the book. How do we spend a lot of time inside a vampire's head and still retain our own sense of humanity? That's a subject worth discussion on another thread, I think.
Sandrine wrote: "Woolfie wrote: "For me the vampire's physicality and abilities are a result of their evolution as a species.Their eyes have adapted to low light conditions, and tend to be able to perceive infra-r..."
Welcome Kristen, nothing wrong with a good old 'Daraculian' vampire, be nice to see a return to the classical nosferatu.
Well, to be honest I thought I mad a mistake at first! You're right if the virus is in the saliva then something as drinking from a same cup as a Vampire could see someone infected, and a potential parody that it is, it flies in the face of the sort of vampire I want to create.
Say then that the dormant form of the virus exists in the saliva, that it is perfectly harmless, and is protected from the body's immune system. It is when it enters the bloodstream, usually via a bite, that it begins its gradual transformation of the victim's physiology. Like vaccines, someone does not automatically become a vampire after the first bite, rather there needs to be a series of 3 to 4 'booster' bites. A vampire can either exsanguinate or sip from a human once, without any ill effects.
Because the two fang holes on a human neck are possibly one of the most clichéd tell tale marks of a vampire's presence, I thought that perhaps the tip of the vampires tongue contained secretary cells that secreted not saliva, but some kind of healing agent, so that after they 'sip' their 'drinks' a quick lick begins the healing process, removing any evidence of the bite.
Sandrine, did you try replying to just one message that one time, or did you click more than one? Not sure how you could click more than one, but just wondering what happened.
Again, when I attempt to reply a post from elsewhere entirely pops up. I will just have to reference the message numbers and comment without hitting reply.
Your posts are looking fine now to me, but commenting by number sounds like a good idea. Did you know that vampire bats have a painkiller in their saliva? That's why they can get enough blood from an animal without being detected and flicked off. My vampires have that in their saliva. They still leave bite marks but under the right circumstances can keep humans from realizing that is what they are. And they can make the blood clot by pressing on the spot after they bite.
Natural painkillers? I only knew that both the leech and the vampire bat, both of whom share a fondness for blood with our vamps have natural anticoagulant agents in their saliva, which prevents, or slows down clotting encouraging blood flow. The underpinning idea I was using as the foundation for my approach to vampires, and the supernatural in general is that human society has advanced so much to the point that almost any mystery can be exposed, with forensics, camera footage, Intelsat capture, the internet, and the like, the grey areas and blind spots where supernaturals, or as I refer to them, transhumans reside, is becoming smaller. Transhumans have evolved disguising their unnatural traits in plain sight so that the norms, or normal people are none the wiser.
In my novel, the vampires are creatures of wizardry, and their fangs are laced with spells that encourage healing of the bite marks.Also, my vampires are born, the vampiric spells passing down through the generations, with various types of half-vampire being possible.
My narrator, Hrana, is the mother of the vampire race.
My novel is free on Amazon until Sunday 16th.
Kings of Infinite Space: The Quest for Alina Meridon
When the empire attacks over the mountains, the allies of the Crimson Goddess stand firm and gods, wizards and armies prepare for battle, but the ultimate outcome depends on the enigmatic Dancer and her creation, the warrior-vampire Hrana.
Francis wrote: "Just something I made up. Feel free (anyone) to finish it..."Well, that is very generous of you, to let somebody else finish your noval. I'm not an author, just love the reading part of someone else's work.
Generous? Nah. I want to know what happened next... Is it true that they met in August at the premiere of Voltaire's Tragedy of Zara? That would certainly be ironic, given Voltaire's musing on vampires in later years. Who can say for sure... It seems that vampires were all the rage at that time.
Just to be clear:Kings of Infinite Space is a complete novel and has nothing to do with the little sci-fi thriller / historical romance cross-over I wrote above, which was just me playing with absurdities (British sense of humour).
I'm actually very guarded about what I'm writing. I especially don't like talking to my wife about it because she thinks vampires are weird / horrible / just nonsense and thinks I have more important things to be doing (she's right, but...)
Sigh. Foolish mortals...
Francis wrote: "Generous? Nah. I want to know what happened next... Is itwant som true that they met in August at the premiere of Voltaire's Tragedy of Zara? That would certainly be ironic, given Oh! Ok,It's that you just can't come with an ending, so you want another author to come up with the ending. I can't help you on that, but would, if I could.
Francis wrote: "Just to be clear. Well, I have to say, that I'm really glad for people like you. I love reading about vampires, even a witch thrown in, now & then, doesn't hurt either.Really wish I could write a noval, but my artistic side, comes out in other ways. Neighter of my children, write, but have so much artistic talent, it's just unreal. Wish you a lot of luck on your noval.
It's strange, really. I can write (very) short silly things quite easily, but to write a novel is a different thing entirely. I think I actually need to get upset about something, enough to really obsess about it (at the expense of other real life activities...).With Kings of Infinite Space the obsession was concepts of religion and faith, wisdom and power, right and wrong. The recurring theme is sacrifice, and in some ways the novel is my gift to Iphigenia. But it's mixed up with twenty years' worth of dreams and fantasies.
The novel I'm working on at the moment is very different, with a different obsession. Can you imagine what it would have been like to live as an un-aging twenty year old woman for the last five hundred years, with an aversion to food and a need for blood?
I wish I could help you out, but as I've said, I'm not a writer, just a reader. Writing is an art, but my artistic talent leans in another direction. Good luck,though!!!
Thank you. I'm not really looking for help at the moment, I'm just trying to say that the important thing is to have something you really want to tell the world. I'm astonished that there are authors able to create one or more new unique novels every year. I have huge respect for authors who will immerse themselves in a different culture for months or even years in pursuit of authenticity.
Francis I really wish, I could wright, but God didn't give me that gift. I've always been a care giver, & now there's only me, to take care of. Its OK, I don't mind being alone,though. In fact, I like it very much. Of course, I do have 2dogs & a cat, so something is always going on with them. Then I read a lot, to keep my mind ocuppied.And I read about vampires,nothing wrong with me.
Yes, Like Stephenie Myere, that wrote the Twilight Saga. Charlaine Harris,& her Sookie Stackhouse novals, that I'm reading now. Do You ever get ideas from your dreams? I have always had dreams, that tell me about things that are going to happen. Not everything, just enough for me to know. When aur children were young, I would tell thier friends that I'm a witch. It was fun. Really wish I could help, but, mind's not wired like that.
I don't remember my dreams except on rare occasions, and I've never had any that felt prophetic. My wife and mother-in-law are both receptive to prophetic dreams, however.I haven't read or watched Stephanie Meyer. I watched the first season of True Blood, but haven't read any of the books (yet - I may do at some point).
Blessed be!
Vampire Books Fans, Fangs and Writers
Books mentioned in this topic
On the Soul of a Vampire (other topics)Pro Luce Habere Volumes 1 and 2 Combined Edition (other topics)
Kings of Infinite Space: The Quest for Alina Meridon (other topics)
Reave the Just and Other Tales (other topics)
The Last Werewolf (other topics)
More...
It's all very well to talk about word counts or "just write it!" but until I have a clear idea of the logic in those gaps there's no point writing anything. I haven't written anything in two weeks.
Actually, I wrote a short story that was peripheral to the novel but that doesn't help me finish it...
Mmm.... Historical romance with vampires... How about this?
Pierre's spaceship dived down through the clouds, its mining lasers razing across the streets of Paris, sheets of fire and smoke scoring across parks and through buildings, ancient palaces and glassy modern hotels, finally settling on the Eiffel Tower. Pierre cursed the metal tower, bane of his existence. He hadn't got any sleep since the humans built it. As far as he knew, the coffin he shared with his wife was still under the north-west foot.
Pierre thought back to when he first met her. It was 1732...