"Well," he says slowly, appearing to think it over, "most things you'd see in the movies isn't true. I don't turn into a bat. And garlic doesn't bother me. Neither do crosses or any of that sort of thing. I mean, why would it? I wasn't a Christian when I was alive."

He takes a sip from the bottle and licks his lips thoughtfully.

"Some here consider me an animated corpse. I must admit I find that rather offensive. I've even had people refuse me service here for that reason."

His groin turns rakeish.

"Some insist that it has nothing to do with me being a vampire. They just think I'm a bastard."