Jean-Claude,
Master Vampire of the City of St. Louis
IG: Thank
you for granting me this interview; I know how busy you are since you
have just assumed the mantle of Master of the City.
JC: Bon. How busy am I?
IG: Pardon me?
JC: You say you know how busy I am, how busy is that?
IG: Uhm, that’s just a figure of speech. I really don’t
know HOW busy you are just that you must be very busy. Right?
JC- * soft smile, coy, teasing, no fang*
IG: Oh, well, onto the questions that everyone wants to know. I understand
you alluded that you are 200 years old but in truth you are centuries
older. Why did you lie about that?
JC: The women, la belle femme, they lie about their age with impunity,
with grace to cover that which they do not want revealed. I believe
in equality of the sexes. If they may lay the varnish over their actual
age, so may the man, n’est–ce pas?
IG: So you lied out of vanity?
*Cold hard stare of the bluest sapphire eyes imaginable into the center
of my head. I am careful never to look this creature directly in the
eyes*
JC: Vanity? Non. I would not say I am vain. I know what I am and how
to use what I possess. That is not being vain- only realistic. I am
also careful... to have revealed my true age before the old master would
have prompted her to monitor me much too intimately. She did not consider
me a viable threat for I was but a child to her maturity.
IG: I see. You are one of the most mainstream of the Masters in this
country and are making strides toward transforming this city for the
undead. Is this part of your own vision for vampires or merely a means
to an end?
JC: Is it not the same? Most of us were born into a world where the
word technology did not exist much less the science itself. To survive,
to live, to prosper we have had to learn caution and adaptability. Like
your extinct creatures that could not breed or sustain themselves in
the wild as man encroached on their habitat, so the vampire has had
to adjust his life to maintain comfort and food in a safe and reliable
manner. The old ways are dead for the undead. Only our laws outlive
us.
IG: Wow. Even our politicians aren’t that eloquent and direct.
JC: Merci.
IG: Do you ever foresee a vampire running for political office?
*The master laughed at this. His laugh was like sun warmed fur caressing
my skin, like a hand stroking me in all the right places, it made me
shiver with undefined pleasure. The Master was well aware of my reaction
and smiled at me like a cat eyes a wounded bird. *
JC: Perhaps. We have our own laws to adhere to as well as yours. It
could pose a ...conflict of interests shall I say? Many of us are from
eras where monarchs ruled in absolute power, the temptation of being
such a one to a whole state or country may prove too irresistible.
IG: Why
don't the majority of vampires- especially Master vampires use last
names?
JC: Do
you know who I am?
*I know
my eyes bugged out of my head at this one. Maybe his English isn't that
fluent after all.*
IG: Yes.
JC: Tell
me.
IG: Pardon
me.
*At this
point he muttered something that sounded like 'trou de cul'- whatever
that is and looked irritated. I really didn't want to be with an unhappy
Master Vampire but I studied German.*
JC:Who
am I?
IG: You're
Jean-Claude, Master of the City.
JC: Bon.
Any more would be redundant.
* He went
still. Immobile. Invisible. For a second I felt totally alone- like
he'd left and I hadn't realized it. If he was trying to spook me, he
succeeded.*
IG: Ok. I understand that all Master vampires have an animal to call.
Yours is the wolf and also werewolf. How do you get along with the leaders
of the lycanthrope groups?
JC: First, not all Masters have an animal to be their... how do you
say? Familiar? Each of us has his or own power, a talent that is unique-
some can summon a species of beast, some cannot. My animal is the wolf,
oui. Ruthless and beautiful, capable of great ferocity or tender nurturing.
It is the ideal animal for my ... personality. At the moment I am supporting
the rise to power of a young alpha werewolf in his bid to oust that
grizzled, archaic cur and his bitch that now lead the local pack. The
other leaders I have a neutral policy with- though my relations with
the wererat king is considerably more congenial since Nickaloas’
demise.
IG: Anita Blake was instrumental in placing you in power. In the ‘in
circles’ she is now referred to as your human servant. Exactly
what does that entail?
JC: Non, I did not desire her just as a piece of tail, eh? Though yes,
my desire of ma petite press me often beyond my control. To become the
human servant of a Master vampire is the greatest gift we can bestow
upon a human. It is not often done and then the choice is of utmost
importance as a Master and his chosen will remain together through eternity.
IG: Wow.
* Note: Jean-Claude smiled broadly at this. Apparently I was quite amusing
in my witty retorts. I could see just the very tips of his fangs press
the fullness of his lower lip and couldn’t help but stare. It
was obscenely seductive. *
IG: How did Anita...er, Ms. Blake respond to this incredible gift?
JC: Ah, as usual for ma petite. She called me the ‘arrogant son
of a bitch’ and hit me in the belly and jaw. *Deep sigh* I believe
she wished to kill me then but of course she is too attracted to me
to do so. We will dance the wicked dance in time and then we will be
joined as man and woman as well as master and servant. For all time.
IG: I understand she’s stated 'she doesn’t date vampires.
She kills them.'
JC: Time will tell, monsieur. And I have all the time in the world.
IG: You operate some of the hottest and most frequented establishments
in the Riverfront nightclub scene- Guilty Pleasures,The
Laughing Corpse, The Circus of the Damned. How
did you choose a strip club as your initial investment?
JC: I thrive on sex.
IG: Well, yes, don’t we all. *Hahaha* But I mean, your strippers
are male rather than female like most human cluberotica’s and
many of them are not human. Shapeshifters. Vampires. Why the difference?
JC: For one if it were the same as all other clubs there would be no
temptation to... come ... there. No intimate pleasure that is unique.
No subtle enticement to bring one to the threshold of their need...
for something different.
* Note that as he talked Jean Claude’s voice became softer, thicker,
warm and erotic like a real good porn hotline operator. A really good
one. The best. Beyond the best. To my horror his voice was prompting
my body to react... I’m not that way, no offense if that’s
your inclination but I like girls. But his voice....*
JC: Monsieur Griswold?
IG: Huh?
*Jean Claude had that smile again, the coy sensual one that said he
knew every lewd and lascivious fantasy that had ever passed through
my mind since the onset of puberty. And that he could make them all
come true. I would have to ask Blake what her hang up was. Some things
are worth compromising the rules to have.*
IG: Yes. But you said uhm, 'thrive on sex'. That’s an unusual
way of phrasing it.
JC: I benefit from the sensation of lust in the air, the scent of an
aroused woman, the tempo of her heart as it flutters within her breast
like a caged bird trying to escape, of the rhythm of her breathing as
it deepens and quickens as her need builds with the performers action.
It is like liquid sustenance on my tongue- the taste of the ardor, the
passion, the desire that builds within each guest as she watches a strong,
virile man disrobe for her- and believes that he does so only for her,
that when that tiny thread of material constraining his manhood is finally
tossed free that he will come to her and sheath himself in her need.
That lust feeds me as abundantly as blood... Monsieur Griswold?
* Note that I think the air conditioning or ventilation in Jean Claude’s
office must have been malfunctioning. It was getting extremely hot.
I was actually getting light headed. I could feel sweat making my shirt
cling to my back as if I was outside in the sweltering Missouri summer
night instead of this richly appointed room. Oddly the Master didn’t
seem to notice it being so close in there. *
IG: So * clear my throat so I don’t sound like a goat*
so, you have male strippers to satisfy the female consumer?
JC: Consumer? I like that. * That damnable plush purr/laugh that
makes my pants stick to me as well as my shirt* Yes, I
satisfy the female consumer.
IG: Have you thought of expanding your business enterprises into the
publishing field?
JC: Looking for a new job?
IG: No. No, not at all. I write news. I meant more like a fashion magazine
or Undead Playgirl or something. Vampire GQ. You could be your own cover
model.
* Note that I hadn’t quite meant it to sound like I thought he
was physically stunning. Like I said I like girls. And we all know that
vampires- especially old powerful Masters can bespell you with glamour.
But damned if he isn’t the most masculinely beautiful male I have
ever seen. Like those classic paintings of Adonis or Eros or like Michelangelo’s
David meets Pygmalion. Perfect. The guy is perfect and he just seems
to pose rather than sit or move- its all unconscious. But vampires can
do that stuff, right? No one could naturally be so ... beautiful. *
JC: Model? Me? * Velvet orgasmic laugh* Ah, I would be the
Adonis of the Undead, oui? I will consider this venture, Monsieur Griswold.
It may have merit.
IG: Sure. Look at how you dress. I don’t know any man that could
wear those shirts and look so ... male in them. You do tend to expose
a great deal of yourself. Is that for effect?
JC: I enjoy watching the reaction of la femme. I worship the reaction
of ma petite as she licks my skin with her mind’s tongue, strips
me with her mind’s eye and takes me into her with her mind’s
lust. Her desire drips from her like...Monsieur Griswold? Monsieur?
‘Allo?
IG: What? Is it really hot in here? Maybe the air’s broke or something.
JC: Perhaps.
IG: Ah, I see the time you allotted me is almost up. Would you grant
me another interview at a later time? Sort of an update to this one?
* I had to fan myself with my notepad to relieve some of the hot flashes
assailing me. Must be what woman goes through at menopause- God bless’em.
*
JC: I would be most happy to do so. Give my regards to your... imminent
leader.
IG: My what?
JC: Ah, your secret is safe with me. Remember what my animal is to call.You
will be hearing from me.
IG: Yeah. Well, thanks Jean-Claude.
I hurried
out. Of course I had no idea what he was talking about in those last
statements. Funny thing... once I was away from him I wasn’t hot
any more. Must have been something in the air.
