章 124: Jeremy San Francisco — 1879 Le Club de Magie

One night, while performing at Le Club de Magie, Jeremy sees a woman in the audience. She shines like the evening star, dimming the room around her. Her eyes are the dark blue of a fathomless ocean, her hair is gold and her skin so fair, she might never have seen the light of day.

She has, but it was a long, long time ago. Jasmine is ashen, lovely and very, very old. She had been one of the first to arrive in San Francisco, emigrating from Europe in 1848. Most vampires lack the stamina to live so long. For immortals, vampires are fragile things. Not only are they at the mercy of sun, werewolves and stakes, they are still part human, some more than others. Many still long for love and pity the slain. Many feel horror at the shells of the bodies they have sucked dry and disgust with themselves. Most are alone and lonely.