Getting back into the workforce was both a blessing and a curse.
On one hand, productivity shortened the hours. Mackenzie found herself excited to be in a new environment, eager to reacquaint herself with a life where her survival wasn’t always at the forefront of her mind. It took some getting used to after so many months of living on another schedule. Waking up early and actively spending daylight hours took a toll on her body that she’d long forgotten about.
There was also the curse of being a blood thief and sharing the weakness vampires had. The cooler temperatures kept her skin covered. The sunglasses kept the brightness from stinging her eyes. It would take a while to get used to, and therein lay the cursed part of her new job. Though Lincoln was far from a fastidious boss, Mackenzie’s hours were never quite the same each day. As someone who’d previously worked in the tech industry in the Silicon Valley, it didn’t perturb her per say, but it presented her with a few complications.
Keeping herself properly fed was a struggle. No longer did she have full days to luxuriate in preparing meals and doing grocery shopping, spending hours on intricate healthy recipes. No longer was she free to come and go at leisure at any hour of the day, looking for her next victim—her next dosage. It was this that troubled her the most, as she began to feel its effects within days. An increase in activity coupled with less time to keep her body healthy were beginning to affect her mood and her mental faculties.
It was a Friday night when she decided to give the Necropolis a try. It’d been weeks since she’d heard of it, and only now did she appreciate the practicality such a place could offer. A long day at the office hardly paved the way for a long night of hunting, and with Mark out of town indefinitely, there was no other way to get fresh blood. The shops offered blood packs at a cheaper rate these days, but anything medicalised was an instant turn off. Given the options of fighting for blood in the sewers or paying a donor at a club, the choice seemed evident.
Uncertain what to expect, the blood thief took her time getting ready. A long bath, a short nap, a quick meal, and half a bottle of red wine was necessary to get herself in the right mindset. It’d been years since she’d last been to a nightclub, but her closet had a decent supply of outfits that surely fit the bill. Opting for a monochrome attire that wouldn’t draw much attention to her tall frame, Mackenzie left her apartment with purpose.
By half eleven, she arrived at The Necropolis, ID and a roll of bills tucked into the lining of her jacket. The wait to get in wasn’t long, though once inside she realised it was far more crowded than she’s anticipated given the short line at the door. Overwhelmed by the smells and sounds, Mackenzie sought the safety of the bar. She lured many gazes as she went, and wasn’t shy to look back. She hoped there’d be someone amongst the crowd to give her what she’d come for.
On one hand, productivity shortened the hours. Mackenzie found herself excited to be in a new environment, eager to reacquaint herself with a life where her survival wasn’t always at the forefront of her mind. It took some getting used to after so many months of living on another schedule. Waking up early and actively spending daylight hours took a toll on her body that she’d long forgotten about.
There was also the curse of being a blood thief and sharing the weakness vampires had. The cooler temperatures kept her skin covered. The sunglasses kept the brightness from stinging her eyes. It would take a while to get used to, and therein lay the cursed part of her new job. Though Lincoln was far from a fastidious boss, Mackenzie’s hours were never quite the same each day. As someone who’d previously worked in the tech industry in the Silicon Valley, it didn’t perturb her per say, but it presented her with a few complications.
Keeping herself properly fed was a struggle. No longer did she have full days to luxuriate in preparing meals and doing grocery shopping, spending hours on intricate healthy recipes. No longer was she free to come and go at leisure at any hour of the day, looking for her next victim—her next dosage. It was this that troubled her the most, as she began to feel its effects within days. An increase in activity coupled with less time to keep her body healthy were beginning to affect her mood and her mental faculties.
It was a Friday night when she decided to give the Necropolis a try. It’d been weeks since she’d heard of it, and only now did she appreciate the practicality such a place could offer. A long day at the office hardly paved the way for a long night of hunting, and with Mark out of town indefinitely, there was no other way to get fresh blood. The shops offered blood packs at a cheaper rate these days, but anything medicalised was an instant turn off. Given the options of fighting for blood in the sewers or paying a donor at a club, the choice seemed evident.
Uncertain what to expect, the blood thief took her time getting ready. A long bath, a short nap, a quick meal, and half a bottle of red wine was necessary to get herself in the right mindset. It’d been years since she’d last been to a nightclub, but her closet had a decent supply of outfits that surely fit the bill. Opting for a monochrome attire that wouldn’t draw much attention to her tall frame, Mackenzie left her apartment with purpose.
By half eleven, she arrived at The Necropolis, ID and a roll of bills tucked into the lining of her jacket. The wait to get in wasn’t long, though once inside she realised it was far more crowded than she’s anticipated given the short line at the door. Overwhelmed by the smells and sounds, Mackenzie sought the safety of the bar. She lured many gazes as she went, and wasn’t shy to look back. She hoped there’d be someone amongst the crowd to give her what she’d come for.
[ Wearing ]
