Do Vampires Day Dream - Part 1 – Pizza Hut Buffet

Have you ever wondered what a vampire does during the day? 

Of course, we all know, vampires escape into the world under the mask of night, like shadows hiding in the darkest of darkness. Returning to their lairs, before the sunrises, to rest in a deep, dead slumber. This is true, for many vampires that haunt our world, but not all, not little Vladimir Jones.

Vladimir Jones is a pale little vampire, with dark purple rings around his eyes. I know what you’re thinking, all vampires are pale and have purple circles around their eyes. Well this is correct. Vlad, however, is paler than most and his purple circles are the purpliest they could possibly be. The reason for these rings and his overly pale complexion is simple, Vlad, is an insomniac.

So, what does a vampire like Vlad, unable to sleep, do in the light of day? Well nothing, for vampires do not allow any day light into their homes. That would be foolish and result in either very severe sunburn; think of the photos of your aunt on holiday, not your real aunt, but the one who’s just good friends with your mum; or… 

DUN DUN DURRNN!

… DEATH.

By the way, if you are thinking the name Vladimir is familiar to you; it was also the name of the original vampire who now goes by a different name; Dracula. Well, if you are wondering whether our little Vlad, was named after his Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, (you get the idea) Grandfather, then I can tell you, he was. 

And if you are now wondering if his Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, (you get the idea) Grandfather lived in a town called Transylvania? Yes, he did. 

If you think his Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, (you get the idea) Grandfather was the first vampire, who now goes by the name Dracula, who terrorised the town for centuries, then you would be wrong. 

Vlad’s actual Great, Great, Great, Great, Great (you get the idea) Grandfather was in fact, a roofer. Indeed, not the ideal job for a vampire. And the fact that he was a vampire, lived in the same town, was also called Vladimir and was alive around the same time as the famous Dracula, was just a coincidence. Now anyway, I digress, back to our Vlad.  

Our Vlad had not yet had any opportunity to terrorize any villages, or become a successful roofer for that matter. For our Vlad was only twelve years old. He lay awake all day, dreaming, daydreaming if you will, about all the things in life that he longed to do, and felt he was missing out on.

Vlad’s Daydreams

Visiting galleries and museums

Become Human

Go to school

Have a Pizza Hut Buffet

Watch a sunrise

Watch a sunset

Go to Primark  (managed to go during Christmas late night opening)

Sunbathe

Visit the beach

Eat fish and chips on a Pier

Go to Lego Land

One of the biggest things Vlad day dreamed about, as you can see by the large text, was having a Pizza Hut buffet. 

No reader, I have not gone crazy, I know vampires feed on blood, however vampires can also eat regular food. Not for any nutritious value of course, just for the enjoyment, hence the Pizza, so there!

A pizza hut buffet allows you to eat as much as you like, of any of the pizzas they bring out, at the same time! Meat Meltdown, Epic Veggie, Hot N’ Spicy Chicken, (am I making you want a pizza yet?), a simple Peperoni, and of course BBQ Americano, just to name a few.  A dream in anyone’s eyes for sure, anyone being someone who likes Pizza, if someone does not like Pizza then this would be less dream like. However, it is only available up until 3pm. Even in the winter, even in Manchester, this is not good for a vampire with a craving. 

You would expect a vampire to live in an old castle or the tallest of towers, well, Vlad does. Just a slightly different sort of tower than you might be expecting. Vlad’s father, Quentin, was like most vampires, very rich, like stinking rich. So unfathomably rich, that he owned Beetham Tower on Deansgate. For those who do not know, Beetham Tower is the humongous glass building that rises well above the rest of Manchester city centre. See below sketch for reference (might not be to scale).

Vlad was fortunate enough to live in a duplex apartment on the two top floors of this tower. There was nothing old, ancient about the apartment. The entire flat was filled with modern features, huge glass windows that stretched from floor to ceiling, and looked out at the city and the people who scurried like insects, far below. Of course, heavy black curtains hung on either side, ready to block any possible daylight that dared to try and enter the rooms. The ornaments, the oldest things in the place, collected across the many years and generations of his family. The ancient runes and sculptures an incredible contrast to the modern surroundings. 

Quentin also owned and ran the bar that was half way up the tower, Cloud 23. It was in this bar that he made most of his business exchanges. Exchanges, that did not only include selling drinks. Some were a little more “hush hush”, often involving favours, such as lending people money, in return for favours owed. It was this more “hush hush” business that was to lead Quentin to a new opportunity for his son, as he talked with a mysterious, balding figure, who wore a tweed blazer, that had tired leather elbow patches.

What Quentin did not realise, was that this very opportunity, would change little Vlad’s life forever. (No, not a trip to Pizza Hut). 

****

Vlad lay flat on his bed, struggling to focus after yet another sleepless day. His eyes were tired, heavy with thought but no rest had come. Only the consistent questions, and what ifs, that now had become his way of life.

“Guess what kid.” His father’s shout leaked through his bedroom door. Vlad poked his head out, as his father walked up the last few steps of the spiralling staircase, and on toward Vlad’s room. 

“What?” he said, trying his best to sound upbeat.

“How would you like to go to the History museum tomorrow night?” his father’s voice was jolly, clearly proud of the offer, “I sorted it so you can spend the whole night there.”

“For real?” Vlad’s smile stretched so wide across his cheeks.

“Yes, for real.” responded his father, as his son ran down the corridor and crashed into his chest, hugging him tight. “Now, there is a catch.”

Vlad loosened his grip and looked up to his father.

“You will be going with a school trip,” he continued, “and I know this may sound obvious, but you will have to control yourself. You can’t go biting the other kids, no matter the temptation.”

Vlad once more gripped his father tight, burying his face into his chest.

“No problem, thank you, thank you, thank you.” Vlad’s shouts were muffled by his father’s blazer.

Back in his room, he jumped onto his bed. For a moment he felt weightless, as his body flew upwards, before crashing down onto the soft mattress. He was ecstatic, he had never felt so happy, for the last few years he had forgotten what happy felt like. Now he had such an opportunity to not just cross one thing of his list, but two. One of which being the thing he had wanted more than anything. (No, not a Pizza Hut Buffet, you’re obsessed). 

A chance to Become Human.

You don’t think I missed that one on his list do you reader? No, of course not, I just wanted to leave it hanging for a while, (a while equaling 767 words to be exact). 

Vlad knew that if he could only get a human to bite him, then he could go out in the day, go to Primark (not just at Christmas), he could go to the beach and not die. He could tick off everything on his list, and then start a whole new list. He could, ‘DUN DUN DURRNN’, eat a Pizza Hut buffet (you knew it was coming). All he had to do was find someone willing to bite him.