It was odd to think that he could call things normal, but normality had begun to sink into Cedric Costello’s bones. When an action is repeated over and over again it becomes a habit. Habits are part and parcel of normality – no matter how good or bad they may be.
Cedric’s ‘habits’ weren’t particularly ‘good’. Although they left him feeling alleviated and satisfied, they weren’t exactly habits that he wanted the world to know about. Given the recent news and the revelation of vampire-kind to humanity, Cedric begun to keep a lower profile than usual. He ventured further in order to find his victims. He never gave his real name. He never went back to a house, always hired a hotel room. These days, he was better off hiring a motel room; somewhere cheap and cheerful, somewhere without security cameras or anyone interested in becoming star witnesses.
As a businessman, however, Cedric was forced to have a public face, too. But like many other man of importance in this world, he could keep his seedy underbelly hidden from the naïve and unsuspecting public. On the surface he was suave and charming, all smiles and welcoming and warmth. He was a veritable Dorian Gray, able to keep his semi-youthful good looks and immortality so long as he didn’t turn around and confront his sins. Cedric had no interest in pandering to guilt. The world was better off without fadebeasts. He was doing it a service by getting rid of his one night stands.
The pianist hadn’t yet ventured out for the night; his attire was black and grey, understated and yet imbued with a particular kind of gravitas. There was no mistaking him as the boss. Less often these days did he spend time at the piano, preferring instead to greet the regulars, to laugh and inquire as to their wellbeing. This was a destination, not just another ‘place’. Cedric was strict about making his bar somewhere people wanted to come back to; somewhere worthy of spreading word.
He stood just inside the door, hands pushed casually into the pockets of his pants as he welcomed a new couple. It was a busy night; the women wore cocktail dresses and the men wore suits. Though no smoking was allowed inside, there was still a haziness to the atmosphere, adding to the theme. A small jazz band had been hired for the night, the music upbeat as the stage in the centre of the room slowly rotated. Cedric led the pair to a table, before ambling back toward the entrance, glancing at his clock. Soon, it would be time to go out and prowl.
Cedric’s ‘habits’ weren’t particularly ‘good’. Although they left him feeling alleviated and satisfied, they weren’t exactly habits that he wanted the world to know about. Given the recent news and the revelation of vampire-kind to humanity, Cedric begun to keep a lower profile than usual. He ventured further in order to find his victims. He never gave his real name. He never went back to a house, always hired a hotel room. These days, he was better off hiring a motel room; somewhere cheap and cheerful, somewhere without security cameras or anyone interested in becoming star witnesses.
As a businessman, however, Cedric was forced to have a public face, too. But like many other man of importance in this world, he could keep his seedy underbelly hidden from the naïve and unsuspecting public. On the surface he was suave and charming, all smiles and welcoming and warmth. He was a veritable Dorian Gray, able to keep his semi-youthful good looks and immortality so long as he didn’t turn around and confront his sins. Cedric had no interest in pandering to guilt. The world was better off without fadebeasts. He was doing it a service by getting rid of his one night stands.
The pianist hadn’t yet ventured out for the night; his attire was black and grey, understated and yet imbued with a particular kind of gravitas. There was no mistaking him as the boss. Less often these days did he spend time at the piano, preferring instead to greet the regulars, to laugh and inquire as to their wellbeing. This was a destination, not just another ‘place’. Cedric was strict about making his bar somewhere people wanted to come back to; somewhere worthy of spreading word.
He stood just inside the door, hands pushed casually into the pockets of his pants as he welcomed a new couple. It was a busy night; the women wore cocktail dresses and the men wore suits. Though no smoking was allowed inside, there was still a haziness to the atmosphere, adding to the theme. A small jazz band had been hired for the night, the music upbeat as the stage in the centre of the room slowly rotated. Cedric led the pair to a table, before ambling back toward the entrance, glancing at his clock. Soon, it would be time to go out and prowl.
