A Vampire’s Lair
Henri and the elevator had a partnership, as far as it concerned the residents of 113 East 66th Street, with four dwellings on its three bottom floors, and one penthouse belonging to a Mr. Everitt.
The occupants only knew of Everitt because of his misdelivered items in their mailboxes. Henri hand-delivered Everitt’s packages, as well as guests to his penthouse. Residents laughed that a bloodsucking vampire lived among them. New faces came and went, but rode down on the elevator, and not up.
To the basement they went to wait with the rats. If residents heard screaming, they turned their music up.
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It’s my first time writing about a vampire. I couldn’t resist. My other option was a saucy meetup, which I was not in the mood to write. I know my fellow Fictioneers won’t let me down. I hope to read about many meetups this week.
My thanks and gratitude, as always, to Rochelle Wishoff-Fields who hosts this group and provided this week’s most excellent prompt.
For more amazing stories from the Fictioneers, click here.
Genre: Urban Fantasy (100 words)
Copyright – Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Has your son been helping you again Amy? either that or his influence is spreading to his mother. Great story so many questions to answer as any good 100 word story should have. Enjoyed reading this one Amy well done.
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My son has been on hiatus! But, he says he definitely coming back. Ha ha! I tell him you said so. He’s always a good influence on me. Thanks, Michael.
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My pleasure Amy it was a good yarn.
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Elevators will never be the same
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Oh sorry about that, Jim. You must be careful out there.
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Very. They are called Lifts in the UK
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Lifts…it sounds so elegant! I love that!
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Good! You should consider writing longer pieces Amy (if you are not already) I love your writing style and the energy packed into these short tales
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Thanks for that encouragement. I’m trying to write some longer pieces, and for the first time, I have a ton of ideas! Thanks for the kind words. I really appreciate it.
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Go for it!
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I assume Henri delivers the packages during the day, otherwise he too would succumb to the Vampire’s deathly and bloody wishes 😦
Fangs for this one Amy,
it is right up my street 😉
Andro xxxx
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Oooh, I got Fangs!! Thanks, Andro. I’m so honored. 🙂 Yes, Henri delivers only during the day. He’s an intuitive sort. – Amy xoxo
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That is good to know 😉 🙂
Have a delicious weekend
and be good, just like me 🙂
Andro xxxx
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Thanks, Andro. You too, have a great weekend. Stay out of trouble now. xoxo
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Trouble used to be my middle
name but now I am as good as
gold 😉 lol
Andro xxxx
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I think the person that lives in the apartment below mine is either a vampire or a serial killer, which when you stop to think it’s almost the same. I dread sharing the elevator with him. Doggy barks when he passes by his door. Not a good sign.
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Oh Leo, this must have hit close to home, then. Oh no about your neighbor. I hope you don’t have to go many flights. Then there’s less of chance of something happening, except with a vampire, of course. Then time is of no consequence. They make time go slow and fast. Ha Ha. You can walk away from him faster than anyone!!
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The neighbors either live in a really bad neighborhood or their powers of denial are amazing. This creepy kind of building is my kind of story. 🙂
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I think they’re too afraid to leave. The vampire will know where they are no matter where they go. The vampire always knows. Ooh, that’s a big compliment for me that I wrote your kind of story. Thank you. 🙂
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Sounds like the Hotel California… Nicely crafted! 😀
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Thanks! Ha ha. Hotel California. Yes, they can never leave…
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I could see them being afraid, like a modern day version of the villagers living in the shadow of Dracula’s castle. Do you think they’re ever storm the penthouse? Probably not.
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Storm the penthouse. Now that has quite a different ring to it. I’m thinking not…unless Buffy moves in.
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what i love about your stories is how your imagination takes us places. from alternate worlds to the old basement…there’s always something awesome lurking there. another great story, Amy! 🙂
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Ah, thanks K.Z! I’m glad I could take to the dark basement. Ha ha…you know what I mean.
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You have to expand on that. (Using vampire mind control trick) I command you. This reminded me of my apartment on Avenue B in Manhattan. Not that we had a vampire in the building. I don’t think we did. But screaming could occasionally be heard.
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Mark, oh, well maybe you did have a vampire lurking about. My story takes place in New York City you see, so it could follow that you, indeed, had a vampire in your building, although I certainly would not wish that upon you. Sorry about the screaming. I’m now expanding on my story…your mind control must be working.
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My mind control trick finally worked on someone?! Okay…go to your wallet. Take out all your money. Get an envelope and a stamp. Copy down this address…
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Ha ha. Not so fast! My money wouldn’t be enough to do you any good anyway.
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I remember that Everitt boy. A bit weird as I recall. Then he went and moved to the city. His mother says he never calls, he never rights. But sometimes, just before the sun comes up, she says she thinks she can hear him messing about in the attic.
See what you did there, Amy? You sparked my imagination. You and your vampire! Awesome.
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I just loved your little backstory there. I’m so happy to spark your imagination. What a nice compliment! Thanks, Honie.
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Awww, I wanted the saucy meet-up!! 😉
Nice job on building the intrigue in so few words Amy, very creepy.
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Ha ha…well 300 words in and my saucy meetup was a mess! And then, it got ugly and not any saucier. So, you see, I thought it best to simply leave it. Thanks, Jon. Glad to creep you out.
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What I’m wondering now is what was in those packages! And, yes, Henri must have done daytime deliveries only. Creepy, Amy.
janet
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Hmm…books perhaps, or bloody organs. Yes, daytime deliveries only. Henri is not stupid. Thanks, Janet.
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You’d think the vampire could do something about the damn rats.
This week’s pic seems to have brought out the creepy and disturbing in a lot of people.
I think I’ll just take the stairs.
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Ha ha. Those are appetizers, Guap. I’m sure there are always plenty in supply.
I bet! It just says creepy, doesn’t it? I wouldn’t live in a place with this kind of elevator.
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That pretty much sounds like New York, Amy: no one wants to get involved. Hey, I’ve lived in my building almost 31 years. It’s been a revolving door of tenants since Day One. It never occurred to me that there might be a vampire on the premises, but maybe I’m just real lucky to live in a walk-up.
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Wow! Thirty-one years. That’s an amazing amount of time. I imagine you’ve seen many come and go…and perhaps by way of a vampire. Ha! You never know. If I were a vampire, I’d want to live somewhere where they are lots of people who keep to themselves, so New York would be perfect. My vampire can be perfectly anonymous. I’m happy you have a walk-up. Whew! Thank goodness for that!
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Now I know why I don’t like elevators. Oh, and rats? You can keep them, I almost would rather have the vampire! Great story Amy, I like it when you try different things, it always comes out wonderfully well.
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I’m with you. Those big rats with their red glowing eyes. No, no…vampire take me away! Thanks, Jackie. That’s very nice of you to say. I have fun trying new things.
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Louder volume solves most any problem related to screaming 🙂
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I know, lets just get louder and louder…that solves all problems. Ha ha. At least with music, it’s not such a bad thing! 🙂
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Yes, I confess to being a vampire lover. I know it is only supposed to be those of the “Twilight Saga” era that is into them but I go as far back as the afternoon soap called “Dark Shadows” (they did a Johnny Depp remake movie a couple of years ago). Any time you decide to write about vampires I’ll be all over it.
I had a weird thing happen with the elevator yesterday. I pushed the button to go up and when the door opened the indicator said it was going down. The up button was still highlighted to go up when the elevator arrived again it indicated it was going down. The 3rd time it indicated it was going up. I’m not sure I would have gotten on that elevator had I read this beforehand. How did the elevator go down 2 times without coming back up?
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Oh my, Michelle, I didn’t know you had a lust/love of vampires!! Well, ok. Perhaps, I will try to write a story just for you. Vampires are fun, although I wouldn’t want to meet one personally. But I would much rather be a vampire than a werewolf. You? That is really strange about your elevator. It sounds possessed. That would be an interesting story, too. Your elevator sounds confused, likes its buttons have been pushed one too many times. It’s saying I’ve had enough! I’m glad you read my story today then. 🙂
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I love the sense of denial the neighbours have. They know something is going on, they may even suspect the horrible truth, but it’s easier just to ignore it.
Brilliant story!
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I envision them being too afraid to move out for fear that the vampire might hunt them down. Denial is easy to hide behind. Thank you so much!
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i wonder what’s keeping the residents from leaving. low rent perhaps? anyway, turning up the volume of the stereo in our apartment building in brooklyn won’t do. once the neighbors hear it, it’s stolen and gone.
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I actually thought that they might all be afraid to leave because the vampire will find them all. In this case, it’s easier to live with the enemy. Ha ha. That’s another perspective all together. I hadn’t considered their stuff would be stolen.
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Now that’s an eerie story! Well, I hope at least it’s rent-controlled.
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Thanks, Perry. Yeah, they got to get something out of this. Maybe Everitt bakes cookies for them at Christmas. 😉
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Dear Amy,
I think I’d be checking out another apartment building. It makes me wonder what kind of kickbacks Henri gets. Yikes. Creeeeepy
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I think they’re paralyzed by fear. They’re afraid to move. I think the last guy who tried to move didn’t make it. Henri is alive…that’s one kickback. Ha ha. Thank you.
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The most chilling thing about your story for me was when the occupants turn up their music when they hear screams. Good one, Amy.
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Thanks, Karen. Thanks for the feedback. Perhaps that’s the most chilling thing because it is likely it would happen that way…that’s if there was a vampire in your building. Ha ha.
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Amy, good story and Yikes, Vampires creep me out. I remember watching “Dark Shadows” in college and it was scary too. Good writing! Nan
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Thanks so much, Nan. I’m glad you enjoyed it! I’ve never seen “Dark Shadows.” I must watch this one now.
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Great story, Amy. Years spent reading vampire yarns have immunised me to their horror, but this was creepy!
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Hi, Mari! Great to see you on my blog. Thanks for stopping over. I enjoyed your Twitter flash post. That’s how I think of it. It was quite amusing, but I could also relate some of the things you mentioned to writing 100-word fiction, and that some bits are left unanswered for the reader. Some people don’t like that, happens whether I like it or not. Thanks. I’m glad I could creep out an expert.
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Interesting building filled with curious characters. I wonder what Mr. E looks like? Your writing makes me want you to create more for this scene. Spot in Amy!
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On not in
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No worries…I figured it out! 🙂
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Thanks, Audra. I certainly never would have come up with this idea if it were not for this prompt. It always brings out a an idea in me I probably wouldn’t have otherwise. I think vampires have been done so much, but I could extend this one, too. Thanks for your interest!
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Oh, this was marvelous! You created an entire world for my imagination to play in! (Seriously, this is a good setting for a bigger story or stories)
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Thanks, Helena! I think this setting could be interesting for a bigger drama. Helena, darling, thanks so much for stopping by.
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Good one Amy. I’m not sure I’ve read you doing ‘vampire’ before. Well done.
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Thanks, Sandra. You are correct. This would be a first for me. I’ve always thought it’s been done so much, but I’ve always enjoyed vampire stories, I thought why not?
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Neightbors turning a blind eye to feeding habits of the penthoues lord.. very true.. but I guess scream and stench is hard to cope with in the long run.
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I think something would have to give in this situation before long. I guess that could be my conflict. Will someone speak up? Maybe the new tenant? It’s not a place I’d want to live, Bjorn.
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Fabulously mysterious, Amy. I have a fondness for vampires and the folk around them. Great story!
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Thanks, Tom. I, too, have a fondness for vampires. What’s not to love, huh? Thanks so much!
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I love the line about the neighbours turning their music up – it rings true in the real world as well as the fantastical one.
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Very true. Sometimes there’s a crossover between the two worlds. Ha ha. Thanks!
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I’m wondering what sort of music the neighbours turn up – any suggestions, Amy? (I was thinking Barry Manilow) 😉
Great story – I’ve never tried to write a vampire story and now you’ve got me thinking (which is always a good thing) 😀
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Ha ha. Dianne, the one Barry Manilow song that comes to mind is…I write the songs that make the whole world sing…that could be kind of eerie.
Ooh, you should try. It’s great fun! I’m not a vampire expert, but have always enjoyed them. 😀
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I think for now on I am taking the stairs. Elevators suddenly seem dangerous and unpredictable!
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Good call, Stephen. These elevators in particular look a little creepy to me. Thanks.
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Not sure if it was the cumulative effect of the other stories that had problem elevators – but your story made it clear getting on the elevator requires a bit of trust!
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Trust or ignorance!
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Hmmph, some neighbors!
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I’ll say! Not people who have your back.
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Amy, Amy, Amy!!!
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Ted, Ted, Ted!!!
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Now that’s a story with a bite. Looks like Henri does a great job of delivering takeaway food to Mr Everitt
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That very well could be! Thanks a lot. I love your comment.
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Down not up was a surprise. No building to visit. Nice one.
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Oh good to surprise you. Thanks, Patrick.
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Good story. Actually, the screaming and ignoring really goes on today. People don’t want to get involved. It doesn’t have to be a vampire. Where is Van Helsing when you need him. Well done. 🙂
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True, Patricia. It could be why they stay, too. They don’t know what to believe, and as you say, the screaming and ignoring happens anyway. Thanks so much. 🙂
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Yikes!Very creepy Amy but I love creepy and vampires-been a Dracula fan for ever and ever!Oops-my fangs are showing 😉
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Oh, I see those fangs popping out! Thanks, Arytree. 🙂
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He!he!
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Not the apartment building for me. …. Glad to be back!
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Frank, it’s great to see you! How did the move go? Are you settled in? I imagine that will take some time. I’ve missed your posts.
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We’re settling. The main lower is close … the lower level is still chaotic.
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I have to move my dad this weekend and I am not look forward to it, Frank!
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Good luck … hopefully the more the merrier.
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PS: Thanks for visiting during my absence.
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Of course! You’re welcome.
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Very chilling. A great departure for you. And the residents jus carry on smiling and turning up the music..? Hmmm.
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I know, right? Perhaps, they are afraid of you know who…Mr. Everitt.
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