Friday, May 20, 2022

LH Short Story: Vampire Daughter

Lost Humanity Short Story

This story is provided for free by H.S. Kallinger as part of the Lost Humanity universe.
Timing: after World of Lost Souls.
Content Warnings: discussions of domestic violence and stalking


Vampire Daughter


“Dad, why do vampires make contracts with pets?” Eva looked down at her tablet, scrolling through the arrangement she'd just made with her new pet.

“That one's older than I am,” I answered, trying to remember everything. “Originally, they served as a kind of prenuptial agreement, only obviously not marriage-related. They would list everything the pet owned and if they got to keep whatever the vampire gave them. But it was also because there were pets suing vampires—and vice versa—over breach of verbal contracts. Pets saying that the vampire didn't provide full shelter costs or vampires saying that pets were feeding other vampires, robbing them of what they were essentially paying for, that sort of thing.”

“But why do we do it with all pets, then? None of yours ever complained.”

“I'm really picky about pets. Not all vampires are. Also, when it ends badly, it's a lot like a bad breakup. You can't predict the other person's behavior,” I explained. “But do you really think I was going to tell you about those? You were a kid.”

“What? Dad! Did you have a bad end with a pet?” Eva tossed herself down on the couch and stared at me. “Or someone you dated? Did you date people I didn't know about?”

“Uh, yes, yes, and yes?” I answered, leaning away from the intensity in her gaze. She was such a young vampire that she tended to be volatile in her reactions. I couldn't even predict if she would be angry, sad, or understanding that I withheld adult information from her child self.

“I'm not a child now. Tell me.” Her eyes narrowed. Angry. She was angry. That wasn't fair. But I knew that she couldn't help it, either. It wasn't long enough ago that I was her age for me to have forgotten how easy it was to overreact to everything.

“I guess the dating thing is what's pissing you off? Yeah, okay, well, I've dated Himura Katsuo off and on since... Uh, remember when you got to meet Uncle Tony's other kids and grandkids for the first time? Yeah, it was right before that. Garret... got upset over it. He didn't know he would, and he had said he was fine with it, but he reacted really badly. Between that and how much work it was juggling Vati, Mom and Garret in the first place, I just never put the time and energy into Katsuo that he deserved. So he dumped me.”

“Oh, wow, I'm sorry,” Eva put her hand on my arm and I shook my head, trying to laugh it off.

“I saw it coming a mile away. I always kept him at arm's length, so it didn't hurt... a lot. But it affected things we did together for vampire territory stuff, and that led to... consequences that are not your business. I still would rather you stayed out of vampire politics.”

“I hate that, you know,” Eva sulked. “I know why, but I don't agree. I think the whole vampire justice system is even shittier than the human one, but from what I've heard, it's not as bad as it was when you changed, let alone before you met Vati. I feel like a freeloader. Other vampires who don't get involved choose not to get involved, and they do it in ignorance. I not only know but am choosing it under duress, and I still benefit from the privileges of being the Master's daughter, the Commander's daughter, the Captain of the Guard's niece... I'm still complicit in the system because of those benefits and my knowledge of them. I should face the same consequences as anyone else in it.”

“Ultimately, that is your choice,” I answered, my own guilt rising up to heat my face. “You're not exiled. I know you participate in San Francisco when you're down there.”

“You—”

“I'm not just the Commander, you know. I'm a territorial spouse, and I have my own spies, thank you very much. I know what happens down there, just like Paula knows what happens up here.”

“Paula's as much Master as Emidio,” Eva said, and I nodded.

“She prefers Mistress, but I knew that before you ever met them,” I reminded her, letting her evade the subject, hoping that we could avoid the rest of my yeses. “Hell, I'm still not wrong on that comparison with how much power Lukas shares with me. Lukas didn't want to have a Commander position here. It's what he was with his last master, and it ended badly for him.”

“Is it true that you're half-rogue?” Eva asked.

“What? No! Where the hell did you hear that?”

“Maybe don't send the slaves you free down to San Francisco if you don't want me knowing about it?” She gave me a look that came one hundred percent from Sarah. Pursed lips, eyebrows up, and hell, even her voice took on the same quality as her mother's. I sighed in irritation.

“I don't have the time or energy for a rehab program like Paula runs,” I muttered.

“But slaves aren't against our territory rules, and freeing them is. So, you regularly commit a crime that everyone knows you aren't going to be held responsible for. Like a rogue.”

“Vati's last master was also his... ex. They were together for two hundred years. When they overthrew their master, they were supposed to rule together, but his ex betrayed him and took the power for himself. After I found out how strong Vati was, I wondered how that was possible. Like, I know he loved him, but ultimately, what stopped him from attacking and demanding what they'd agreed to at any point? It turns out his ex was immensely strong. Like, could fight Vati and Uncle Tony together and win, and they're two of the strongest vampires without gifts in the world.

“So, he kept Vati in line, charged him with any territorial crime he committed just like anyone else. No mercy. Vati won't do that to me. So, yes, I take advantage of it. The idea got planted in my head by Uncle Tony when I refused to feed on a slave after a territorial battle, and he told the handler to get her away from me if he didn't want to lose her. It was... like that set up the permission I needed to do just that. Yes, I free every slave I find out about. When I became a territory doctor, I didn't plan to. I wanted the chance to treat them. But no one trusted me with them and didn't call, so I decided that I was free to do what I wanted.”

“That's kind of amazing, Dad,” Eva said, grinning at me. “Do you actually beat up their owners, too?”

“That's not 'amazing.' That's shitty, and yes, I do if they're there. I yeeted one right into the fucking bay.”

“Dad. How many times do I have to tell you not to say yeet?”

“What? I use it correctly!” I stuck my tongue out at her and she rolled her eyes.

“That word is so old!”

“It was 'so old' two years after white people got their hands on it,” I pointed out. “I picked it up from some combination of Chris, Rory and the internet. The number of 'Peter Parker teaches Thor to yeet' memes was ridiculous.”

“But it was Gen Z Peter, so it was cool for him. And Thor, who's always cool, even when fighting depression. He was still worthy.” Eva flipped around and leaned her back against me. “Now tell me about the bad pet endings.”

“There was only one,” I said, disappointed that I'd failed to stop this conversation in its tracks. “Her name was Jessica.”

“Wait, Jessica was a bad pet end?” Eva asked, twisting around.

“Not the Jessica you met. A different one,” I clarified. “The Jessica you met ended our contract because she moved back to the East Coast to nanny for her brother. Anyway, this Jessica got really clingy and stalker-y. She started out cool, but the no sex thing became a problem for her. At first, I didn't realize how inappropriate she was getting, and by the time I did, she'd gotten lowkey dangerous. I terminated our contract after she got pushy for sex, and she started tracking me down at clubs, the bookstore, the VU, and eventually the hospital. I had to have security remove her and get a restraining order after that.”

“Whoa.”

“Yeah. Um, she violated it.”

“What?”

“She didn't get past the first gate, but she showed up at the house. This was when you were a senior in high school. She was screaming and cutting herself with a knife. Thankfully, all of you guys were at school at the time, so the police came and got her, and you never had to know about it.”

“What if she'd gone after one of us?” Eva asked.

“If I'd thought that was a possibility...” I trailed off. The things I would do to someone who would hurt my children were not something I was willing to admit to to Eva. “Just trust me that I didn't. She was obsessed with me, and she knew me well enough to know that touching one of my kids would guarantee I would never forgive her for anything, ever. She wanted me to forgive her. She kept promising to do anything if I'd just take her back. At the end, she was screaming that if I wouldn't, then she'd just die.”

“Gross,” Eva said, wrinkling her nose. “That's the kind of crap abusive assholes pull.”

“All of it was,” I said softly, trying to ignore that I knew what it felt like to want to die when separated from someone I loved. I wondered how I would have reacted if Lukas had dumped me when I got down to Florida instead of welcoming me back. I wouldn't have told him that I had nothing to live for after that. I would have accepted it and then gone off to die quietly, I think. Or maybe I would have just gone back to Ohio and lived out the rest of my life as a zombie who'd had a taste of a life in full color and would never have it again. What would Sarah have done if he'd taken her and not me? I was the one who fucked everything up, after all...

“Dad!” Eva pulled me from my reverie, and I shook my head. “Were you having a flashback?”

“No?” I checked my head to make sure it was just a daydream. “Did I lose time?”

“No, I just had to say your name, like, five times,” Eva said, shaking her head. “Where were you?”

“Just thinking,” I said. I turned so I could hug her, and she hugged me back.

“It wasn't a happy thought,” she pointed out.

“No. I won't be flying with that one.”

“What were you thinking?” she persisted.

“About how unbearable my life would have been without all of you,” I answered. That seemed a safe answer.

“How did you get there from an abusive ex pet? Scheiße. Pets can be the abusive ones?”

“I was remembering being a pet and falling in love,” I answered, telling my body it was close enough to the truth. “And yes. They absolutely can be.”

“That isn't love,” Eva said, frowning.

“It's not showing love. It's not respecting love. It's being a terrible person, but that doesn't mean that the abuser is absent the feeling of love. I'm not even talking about Jessica. She might have loved me, but it seemed more like obsession. That can start out as love, though, and... degrade. You can't tell another person how they feel, and honestly, pretending that abusers can't love? That's really dangerous. Victims can tell that their abuser feels love for them, so it can lead to them justifying the abuse,” I had to stop. This was too close to home.

“'Kay, I see what you're saying. Basically, you don't deny another person's experiences, but they don't justify shitty behavior?”

“Yes, exactly. And it also makes it harder for the victim in separating—someone else loving you don't mean you owe them anything. You are not responsible for someone else's feelings, you got that?”

“I know, Dad.” Eva looked thoughtful. “All right, maybe I didn't think of that.”

“But also, being in love with someone doesn't give you the right to hurt them, even in socially acceptable ways. Like all the romcoms that glorify stalking or our persistence predator natures where one person just keeps violating the other's boundaries to 'prove' their love. Which also comes back to the first lesson—no one owes you anything just because you fell in love with them, or made yourself a better person 'for them.' Any of that.” And now I couldn't handle the conversation at all. I knew all of this. Lukas hadn't hurt me in years. He had genuinely become a better person, and he promised that it was for himself as much as us. But this whole topic hurt.

“Or how often girls beat the crap out of their crushes in anime?” Eva said. “I remember when I thought that was funny.”

“Having been the boy with the girl who casually hits him whenever she's mad, I never thought it was funny,” I said. I remembered talking about what a tsundere Lukas was and repressed a sigh.

“Hey, you've got your political face on, Dad. Was it Mom? It was Mom, wasn't it?” Eva asked.

“Not just Mom,” I evaded when I realized Eva had probably seen Sarah hit me. “My first high school girlfriend was worse about it. But yeah, before we changed, Mom... she didn't really think about it. She'd just always been like that. Because she was always smaller than her male partners and never actually hurt anyone, she didn't make the connection.”

“I get it, actually,” Eva said. “It's immature, I think, and some people don't realize it before it becomes a habit. And like you said, it used to be socially acceptable. In, like, middle school, it was common? But then by high school, we were starting to see memes and articles that explained why it wasn't okay, and you folks didn't have that, yeah?”

“I love you and your generation so much,” I said before I hugged her until she squeaked.

“Nice to know someone does,” Eva said when I let her breathe again.

“At least they're aware of how old you are,” I grumbled. “I was in my late thirties hearing about how my generation was supposed to be your age. We were all adults, our support of vampires and social justice had saved the damn economy and slowed the collapse of the environment, with the financial and political support of old vampires who didn't want to live through awful parts of history again behind us to stop us from destroying ourselves. But we were still infantilized by the press and our parents' generation, dismissed as basement dwelling gamers who wanted a free ride through life.”

“The media is always on its bullshit,” Eva said. “So, for all of that, let me thank your generation for saving us from... you? Your parents? Your older siblings? All of the above? Ye. So, anyway, did you end up needing your contract to prove anything?”

“Yeah, no, having the contract meant that she couldn't even pretend to get legal against me. I filed the cancellation the night I did it—thank you, internet—so she couldn't pretend I was in breach of it, either. That's why they're important, though. Probably ninety-nine percent of pets you have, you'll never need to worry about it. It provides a safety net, gives you this sense of officialness, all that. Yeah, there are vampires who still don't use them. You talked about privilege, well, we're wealthy. I've never had to think about not being able to afford committing to a contract or needing legal advice in creating one, since your Vati helped me with all of them.”

“Vati? Not Garret? He helped with mine.”

“Garret wasn't a lawyer when I met Frieda, Chris, Rory or Aria. Vati has to know a lot about legal documents with his work as an art dealer, and that bleeds into the ones he deals with as Master, et cetera. I didn't realize you had Garret help you.”

“Asking the Master to do it is too intimidating, even as his daughter,” Eva said. “Besides. I'm not supposed to be involved with vampire stuff with you guys for that.”

“Garret's the official Emissary and my official consort. He's in the upper hierarchy.”

“I dunno. It was just easier to ask him,” Eva said. “He's still not the Master.”

“I can see that.”

“Can I attend a petitioner meeting?” Eva asked.

“You're a member of the community. Of course you can. Want to sit in for me so I don't have to?” I teased.

“Bet.” Eva smirked. I shook my head.

“I'm sure you would,” I said. “Like I said. I'm not stopping you. I just really would rather you lived as normal a life as possible.”

“Then you shouldn't have married into money,” she said, making a ridiculous face at me.

“And give up my free ride and unlimited gaming?” I joked, making Eva laugh.

“For real, for real,” she said, laughing. “A-a-a-nd for real, what would I be giving up? Gabby said that she chose to go full vampire citizen because you told her she would be giving up a safety net if she didn't.”

“Being a loophole,” I answered. “You'd give up being a loophole where you get to be a regular citizen while getting that safety net through nepotism. Fine. You win. You're right. It's unethical. I'll support you if you choose to join the community in full. I'm being ludicrous. You're already one down in Emidio's territory, even if he does protect the hell out of you—yes, your freedom of choice is blunted down there, too, sorry.”

“Argh! You suck!” She threw herself back against the couch and lightly kicked at my leg.

“Fine, fine. We're being overprotective jerks. And you're right—it's not fair to you, and it may actually hurt you in the long run. Shit. You win!” I turned and grabbed her hands, pulling her up into a sitting position. She was grinning. “But if anyone starts bullying you over who your dads are, please, please use us. Not as a first resort or in a spoiled rich kid way, but if it is more than obnoxious, if you are unable to make it stop on your own, and/or it violates the rules, sick us, or better yet, Uncle Tony on them. They will regret all their life choices at that point and no risk of being accused of being a princess.”

“But don't Young Adult protagonist it and do it all on my own?”

“Right. We went through that when you were in second, third grade. You have resources, allies. Use them.”

“So, does this mean I'm all grown up as a vampire? I've got a pet, I'm gonna do vampire adulting stuff?” Eva grinned so wide it looked like it hurt.

“Sure. Congratulations. Now get a job.”

“Pfft. I'm two years old. Do you know what people say when I have to put that down on my applications?” Eva asked.

“I can't believe you found your first pet at only two years old.”

“Weren't you ten months?”

“Well, yeah.”

“I transitioned just as fast as you did.”

“I know. You've made a point of saying that it proves you were right all along about being meant to be a vampire.” I rolled my eyes.

“I had five vampire parents. Five. Six if you count Vincent, but he's really always been more of a big brother type.”

“And yet, Mia has no desire to become a vampire,” I pointed out.

“True, true, 'cause we're hella different. But I mean that I've always wanted to be one. Always. I don't remember a time in my life where I didn't think of living out a human life and get depressed. I never wanted to get pregnant and have kids. Nothing I really want to do requires me to be human.”

“You wanted to be an EMT once upon a time,” I said.

“Bet I could if I wanted to now. Bein' a vampire doesn't prevent you from training, and I could join the VU. But I don't wanna. I just... I thought your job was cool when I was a kid. I liked telling people my dad saved people. You were always my hero—you still are. Shut up and stop making that face. But I'm not into healthcare and all that. I realized that in sixth grade biology. Then you complained about being puked on by patients, and fuck that. Gross.”

“So, do you have any ideas of what you do want to do?” I asked as soon as I stopped laughing.

“I'm going back to acting,” she said. “I can figure it out from there.”

“What was that about not marrying into money?”

“Hey, I never said that's what I wanted. I said that's where you lost the 'normal life' thing.”

“You could have gone to college.”

“Why? The only reason I can think of is to get Kimi-chan to stop calling me a neet.”

“You could have figured it out while you were there.”

“Wa-a-a-a-ste of money,” she sang.

“Says the girl who had a luxury nest.”

“All of you refused to nest me!” Eva said, throwing her hands up. She cringed. “And now I know why and want to thank you profusely. I also get why it was a hard pass on changing me and why you couldn't explain that when I was little.”

“Yeah. Gross.”

“For real.”

“I'm teasing, by the way. Your nest was fine. I'd much rather you were with Sandy. Not that I have any idea how Samiya runs a nest, but Mason is the only one of her scions I know, and they were in love.”

“She didn't really have the time for it. She offered, and I don't think it would have bothered me being thirsty around her and Mason and Abessa, but it was nice enough of her to change me so it didn't need to be some rando I picked up at a club or something.”

“I had a list of twenty vampires willing to change you. It never would have been a rando,” I said, mildly offended.

“And I had people down in the neighborhood in the city who would've too. I'm teasing,” she said.

“Samiya still put her plans on hold to watch over you, you know,” I pointed out.

“Ye. She turned into a big sister right away.”

“Well, she's my flock sister, so I know how that is.”

“Does she boss you around, too?”

“Uh, she doesn't need to? I never really thought of it that way, but I've always done whatever she tells me or asks me to. She's a council member. It's my job to carry out any orders she has for me.” I spaced out for a moment as I mulled that over. “And any advice she offered was always welcome.”

“Mm. I guess it is all good advice. Ellie always needed my help, so I've always been the big sister even then.”

“She's Lukas's pet, not your sister,” I protested.

“If you say so. She was a mess. She's doing better now, 'cause I'm a good big sister.”

“Oh, it was totally you, mmhmm.”

“Of course it was.” Eva giggled and then looked serious. “My pet isn't a mess. She's got plans. She's the same age as I am, and I think her life is more together than mine.”

“Ah, you pick up a pet who just needed a financial sponsor?”

“And a friend. She's an actress, too.”

“Oh, lovely. Theatre kids.”

“Dad!” Eva hopped off the couch, laughing. “We're going to move in together.”

“What?” I looked up in surprise. Eva had moved back home after nesting. “Hold up. You're not old enough to live with humans on your own.”

“I'm not?”

“No.”

“Not even in one of the condos on the street?”

“No. It's too risky. You can move her into one of those, but you can't move in with her. If you want to move out, may I suggest moving in with Bonnie and Wendy? Or into a vampire apartment complex if you want to be sans parental or familial roommates, but safe to be out of your nest is not safe to live with humans on your own.

Verdammt noch mal,” she swore in German.

“Sorry. I hope that wasn't in the contract.”

“It wasn't. We were just talking about it after Garret left,” Eva said.

“I was thinking Garret would have warned you if you'd mentioned it.”

“Welp, I guess you're stuck with me.”

“No, I'm pretty sure I just decided to shove you off onto Bonnie.”

“She's two houses down. That's still stuck with me,” Eva teased as she danced over to the front door. “Thanks, Dad. Love you.”

“Love you, too.” I waved as she left and then returned to the video game I was playing while waiting for anyone else to get home. Eva had been welcome company. I still enjoyed the calm nights.

 

 

 

 

 

 




Thursday, February 24, 2022

This is Fine

This is Fine


our fingers are blue

digging through the snow

I can still kinda taste you

from ten minutes ago

maybe we were hasty

there's moonlight somewhere

the cold feels like safety

if we can just get out of here


the house is burning down

the fire's breathing on me

we have to turn around

You tell me to get low

I tell you to let go

you shouldn't have come here with me


who knew snow could burn?

I wish I was under you again

there's always more to learn

I should have told you who I am

You can fit through the hole

we've done it; just go; be free

that was always my goal

but you won't leave me


the house is burning down

the fire's breathing on you

we have to turn around

You tell me to get low

I tell you to let go

I don't know how to get through to you


you're sorry

you're sorry

you didn't mean for it to end like this

I'm sorry

I'm sorry

I need to take just one more kiss


Our lives, your soul

the pretense today

your hand, so cold

which way? which way?


all that is in your hands

it's lies

it's love

it's all the above

so let's jump through the fire

jump through the fire

jump through the fire


and run forever

live forever

with me

Sunday, January 23, 2022

LH Short Story: Aria

 Lost Humanity Short Story

This story is provided for free by H.S. Kallinger as part of the Lost Humanity universe.

Timing: After World of Lost Souls

Aria


I had had a rough night, so I decided that Aria was going to be on the menu. I needed her hyper-chipper personality. It was only a ten second run before I was in front of her condo from the house. I took a breath to let out all the stress and irritation that was weighing me down and used my key to let myself in, looking forward to her rainbows.

Hey, did you see that study that came out?” Aria chirped at me when I walked in the door. She spun in her computer chair to look at me. Her impeccably maintained rainbow hair had a fresh coat of color on it, and I could smell the sweet purple scent that everyone was trained to call grape, even though we all knew no grape ever smelled like that. Vegan hair dye was so much nicer than the natural colored stuff.

Hello to you, too. A-a-and you're gonna have to be more specific.”

The one about vampire donors!”

Again...”

Really? There was more than one?” Her bright blue eyes grew wide.

I've read three this month alone,” I confirmed. “One on the effects of synth on staving off VDIIHA, which compared it to whole blood, one on synth cycling that found it doesn't seem to have negative effects when kept to two week intervals, and one on perceptions of intimacy regarding feeding across various cultures.”

Dang, all that, and you still missed the one on the medical benefits of long-term donation?”

They found benefits?” I asked, thinking of the old question of why anyone should risk vampire drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia—what did humans get out of it? VDIIHA was used in the 'vampires are parasites' argument. I locked the door and leaned against the blue wall next to it. I could see the yellow kitchen through the doorway, and the blue, indigo, and violet stairs leading upstairs from where I stood. The rest of the staircase completed the rainbow, with some of the colors taking two stairs to stretch it out far enough. I always felt instantly happier being in her space.

Yeah, so, did you know that no one has ever developed leukemia who's a regular vampire donor?”

Or it's that no vampires want to feed on someone with leukemia regularly,” I mused, remembering how bad it tasted.

No, no, no. It has no benefits to people who have active leukemia, but once it's in remission, donors who donate at least four times a year don't ever relapse. Acute and chronic. And no one's ever been diagnosed after becoming a donor!”

Really?”

Yeah. Although, no other cancers seem affected. Oh! And it reduces the risk of heart attack by, like, eighty percent! Or, I guess it said that only 20% of donors suffered heart attacks in the literature and none related to feeding? So, it definitely reduces risk. Not cardiac arrest, though; just heart attacks. It's your fault I know the difference.” She grinned broadly, and I could tell she was proud that she knew. I smiled back. I was proud of her, too.

I knew that it was incredibly rare for someone to have a heart attack while donating, but it didn't occur to me that it could be preventative.”

That's what one of the doctors in the article said! They went lookin' to find out how often donors had heart attacks overall, and discovered it's really rare. Again, they have to donate frequently—to the point of addiction. They also found the same donors have more robust immune systems. So, this does a body good!” She thumped her chest after pointing at me in emphasis.

That's... kinda great to know. Send me a link, will you?”

Will do! Now you need to explain why you haven't answered my texts in the last three nights. I've been highkey worried! I checked the house, and no one knew where you were. Three nights!”

Can we not? I already heard this from my wife, my husband, my partner, my best friend, four kids, and Bonnie and Nicky tonight.” I frowned and considered leaving. I came here to get away from this exact drama.

How'd I know you weren't just lying in a ditch somewhere?”

No one has worried about me lying in a ditch since I moved in with Lukas.”

Have you lied in a ditch?” she yelled.

The past participle of lie is lay or lain,” I evaded.

You have, haven't you?” she exclaimed, her face a mask of horror. I sighed.

I suppose so.”

Oh my god, there have been ditches?”

Pretty much anywhere that there are roads.”

But people aren't supposed to lay in them!”

Lie.”

Where's the lie?”

People shouldn't lie in ditches,” I corrected.

Stop correcting my grammar! And stop making me worry that you're lying in a ditch somewhere!”

I'm going home,” I said, grumpy, and turned to leave. Normally, she laughed at all my jokes. That was what I needed right now, not this shit.

Zack Michael Henderson, you get over here and bite me right now!” she called out as she jumped to her feet so she could stomp one. “Also hug me. Hug me a lot.”

Will you drop it?” I asked as I walked over to hug her. She nodded against my shoulder as she squeezed with all her strength. After a few breaths, I felt better. “I'm okay. I just got really busy with a security issue that ended up being a lot more complicated than I thought. I didn't end up in any ditches. I'm totally unharmed. It was just a lot of stressful work. My phone died the first night, and I didn't have time to charge it. And don't you dare ask how I'd respond to Lukas saying that, because it's the truth, and I'm very sorry that I worried you.”

It didn't occur to me to ask about Lukas. I take it your polycule did?”

Yes,” I groaned. “It's a huge issue for me, so I really feel awful that I did it to anyone. I came over here because I wanted to be cheered up, though. I needed your rainbows, not your lecture.”

But I was scared,” she whispered. Sometimes I forgot she could whisper. She looked up at me with watering eyes, and I sighed and kissed her forehead. She smiled, but it didn't really reach her eyes. I let her go and walked over to the plush, purple couch. There was a My Little Pony blanket thrown over the back. The throw pillows were black, though, and I moved one off to the side from the middle.

Don't you go falling in love with me,” I muttered in German. She had followed after me to plop down in my lap.

Too late,” she said.

Since when do you speak German?” I demanded. She reached over to grab her phone and show me two different language apps.

I already speak Italian from the neighborhood I grew up in, and then I learned Spanish in middle and high school—partly because there was a boy I grew up with who spoke it, so I knew a bunch already—so I started learning German as soon as I heard you speaking it the first time,” she answered, the bounce gradually returning to her speech.

Shit, you learned it way faster than me.”

It's not that hard,” she said, smiling up at me brightly. “See? Mastered it in this one, but this one's harder. I'm also watching a ton of t.v. and movies in German and did an online tutoring program.”

'Too late,'” I repeated as what she said sunk in. I stared at the wall across the room.

Dude, I caught feels at Nine Rings,” she said. “It's okay, you know? I'm legit chill with what we got. I get that it's one-sided and all. No need to 'let me down' or whatever. It's why Sarah hated me. She could tell, y'know? I didn't know how obtuse you were back then. You're hardly the first vampire I'd ever fed. It wasn't just that your bite's ahh-mazing, but it was you. I wouldn't have gone home with just anyone like that, y'know? Even though I was hella desperate to get away from my roommates.”

I'm not sure she actually knows that.”

She does. She asked; I told her.” Aria twisted to look up at me. “It was when she bit me. I told her I wasn't gonna chase you or nothin', and she asked me to tell her if that changed before I did anything, and I promised.”

Did you tell Lukas, too?” I was confused about how I felt about that information. Sarah hadn't ever mentioned it to me.

Yeah,” she said. “He thanked me for telling him.”

Garret?” I asked, wondering how far this information had spread.

No? Should I? Since you're not married, I didn't think it mattered as much? Are you upset?”

I don't know. I need to tell you the whole drama-fest that was my first pet. But first, I'm going to eat, because that's what I came over here to do.”

Sounds good to me!” She rested her head on my shoulder, giving me easy access to her neck as soon as I unbuckled and removed her collar. She was exactly what I needed. I sighed and held onto her as she came down and wondered just how complicated this was going to get. I didn't return her feelings, despite my own fear of falling for her. I had learned from Frieda. Aria was one of my closest friends, and if she could handle the love being platonic on my end, then I was fine with this. I loved her too much to fall in love with her. It was a strange thought, but it was the truth. I just hoped that she could some day focus that amazing heart of hers on someone worthy of it.

Someone far better for her than me.






You and I

You and I


running from the light

looking for an oasis

holding out for night

clinging to darkened places


then one moves


body sheltered me

your shadow: my salvation

look away from me

I'll move away; be patient


then you moved


you chased the light

you set me free

until the night

washed over me

you didn't leave

you didn't scream

you helped me breathe

you let me dream


what are you?


I'm quite a lot to

take in, I know, but you stayed

and I just want you

to know I grew in your shade


why aren't you

afraid of me?


your eyes don't leave mine

I've never seen eyes like yours

brighter than moon shine

cold bright pulls me to your shore


there I am lost


I stand before you

you look up to hold my gaze

you reach for me, too

the rest all becomes a haze


there you are lost


I'm sorry

Monday, November 15, 2021

Patreon Plans


Hello! I hope everyone is doing well and looking forward to my next work. I've talked about A Demon to Save Me and how much I want to share with you--and it's time. I'm experimenting with a new format this time, prior to release.

I'm going to launch a Patreon next month. I've been mulling this over for the last several months, and it's the fastest way I can get my stories to you. This way, people who want to get in early, before the official book releases, can do so, and fans who want to support me while I work can do so! It's only $2/month to read along with the chapters as they're released, though there are higher tiers for people who want more or who just want to give me more support as a creator.
Don't worry. If you're not interested in the Patreon, you'll still be able to buy the book at the same time as everyone else (I have no official launch date at this time).
_____________________________
Here's a preview of the welcome message you'll receive when signing up:
Do you like reading? Do you enjoy character driven sci-fi and fantasy genres? Then you're in the right place!
Hi! I'm H.S. Kallinger, author of the Lost Humanity series, which finished publication in 2019. When it completed, I was full of mixed feelings. I was excited to start new projects, but I was also sad that I was leaving what had become my favorite universe. In January of 2020, I wondered... why did I have to?
While I ultimately decided that the Lost Humanity universe was done, the multiverse was very much not. So, this Patreon is here to introduce you to my new universe (in the same multiverse): Found Humanity. As dark as Lost Humanity was, Found Humanity is light. There are similarities, but there are even more opposites.
I plan to serialize the first novel, A Demon to Save Me here, and, if successful, I may continue doing so for the sequels. There's no cliffhanger ending, and while I hope you are excited to keep reading Gabby's story at the end of the book, A Demon to Save Me still works to stand alone.
Here's the current blurb:
Gabriel Belmont's life has been in a downward spiral and his future looks bleak when he accidentally summons a demon. He refuses to make a contract, but something ignites within him, spurring him on to fix his life. Two years later, he has everything he wanted, and his life is on track. But it's a fragile thing. A cascade of events threatens to destroy it all. He has to find it in him to not only save the people he loves, but also the demon who saved him in the first place.
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I hope you're all as excited for this as I am to bring it to you!

Tier preview:



This post was originally shared to the H.S. Kallinger page on Facebook.

Monday, October 25, 2021

The Void

The Void


an empty sky

this separation

a life gone by

an imitation

wax wings don't fly

no transportation

a longing sigh

last exhalation


when I reach out to feel

the empty space

a memory of nothing real

floods down my face


and I'm calling, calling out

I've been falling, falling down

just a voiceless, faceless shout

that the void rejects

the void reflects

the void won't pull me away


the stars shine on

a constellation

the line's been drawn

just a creation

that future's gone

infatuation

can't face the dawn

the confrontation


and I reach out to feel

the empty space

proof that this was never real

floods down my face


the void is calling, calling out

I'm crawling, crawling now

just a faceless, empty doubt

that the void accepts

the void projects

the void will take me away

the void can't save me anyway


and I'm calling, calling out

I've been falling, falling down

just an empty, faithless shout

that the void rejects

the void deflects

the void won't pull me away

the void won't save me today


(it was all fake anyway)

Saturday, October 2, 2021

Image Story: Social Media Crush

 Lost Humanity Image Story


This story is provided for free by H.S. Kallinger as part of the Lost Humanity universe.

Timing: During Bridges with an update during Predators and a final one during Castles. Each update has a warning before it begins. This is a comedic short.

This story is told through social media formatting (Facebook, specifically). CW: language 

Note: Alt text is taken as direct copy/paste from original text, so the comments say "3y" instead of "1 y" because the images were originally created four years ago and most screenshots taken two years later.

Social Media Crush


Zack Henderson apOrgdctoabner 16,o c20Sh17i  ·  WITHOUT prompting, ask your boyfriend or husband these questions and write EXACTLY what they say. The outcome can be hilarious. •What is something I say a lot? "Can you call my phone?" •How tall am I? "Six feet. You will not get a more accurate measurement." (that's not accurate enough? Do you like 'seventy-two inches' better?) "No. You simply multiplied six by twelve. You did not actually measure yourself." •What is my favorite thing to do? "Interact with music." I asked what that meant, and he said, "All things with music--listening or participating. This is your favorite thing." •What do I do when you're not around? "Human things." •If I became famous, what would it be for? "Something likely related to your medical field."  •What makes you proud of me? "Your tenacity, kindness and strength." •What is my favorite Food? "Steak." •What is my favorite restaurant? "Cattlemen's." •Where is my favorite place? "The center of the couch." (thanks, dear, that doesn't make me sound lazy at all) "The bookstore? Why are you asking me all these questions?" •If I could live anywhere, where would I live?

"Wherever your family is." •What do I do to annoy you? "That is a long list. How much space do you have for whatever it is for which you are transcribing every word I say? Your mouth involves a significant number of those things. If I give a particularly long answer, are you going to keep typing? Everything I say? Why are you doing this? Your refusal to answer me is annoying right now." •What is my favorite movie? "The Fifth Element."  •Who is my celebrity crush? "How do you define a 'crush?' Male or female? Is this something you have specifically told me? Because I do not recall discussing it. Will you stop typing and give me criteria?" (I don't know--it just says 'crush' -- I'd say that's someone I would date given the chance) "Is [redacted] enough of a celebrity?" I'm not typing the rest of what he just said. 😢 Bonnie Pedraza OMG I can hear him saying all of that so clearly πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚  · Reply · 3y Sarah Henderson So could I--since I was in the room 🀣
Amanda Huff Lmao! Poor Lukas!  · Reply · 3y Zack Henderson Poor Lukas? What about me? Do you know how fast I had to type when he was throwing out the answer to how I annoy him? Also, I transcribed it all in English and didn't mention that over half of that was German! He was going back and forth during the annoying part. Bust as most of my friends don't speak German, I thought I'd be nice and stick to English.  · Reply · 3y Bonnie Pedraza Gracias. When it's mixed with english, Facebook doesn't auto-translate. Thankfully, his posts are all in straight german or straight english so it's no big deal  · Reply · 3y Zack Henderson De nada.  · Reply · 3y Lukas Ritter She clearly recognizes the struggle of living with someone so mouthy.



Update Timing: Beginning half of Predators (original post was one year before the comments)



Garret Lambert who's redacted?  · Reply · 3y Zack Henderson The point of redacted is that we do not talk about redacted.  · Reply · 3y Garret Lambert no, that's fight club  · Reply · 3y Garret Lambert who's redacted?  · Reply · 3y Zack Henderson I plead the fifth.  · Reply · 3y Garret Lambert how's it incriminating?  · Reply · 3y Zack Henderson It just is. So it's redacted.

Garret Lambert awww but I want to know  · Reply · 3y Zack Henderson I have a few different celebrity crushes. He was just teasing me.  · Reply · 3y Garret Lambert with who?  · Reply · 3y Zack Henderson JFC, you're tenacious.  · Reply · 3y Garret Lambert i've nowt to do and i'm bored  · Reply · 3y Zack Henderson You could... go fuck yourself?  · Reply · 3y Garret Lambert aye, but that's more fun with someone else

Garret Lambert you bored, too?  · Reply · 3y Zack Henderson I PLEAD THE FIFTH 😳😳😳😳😳😧😨  · Reply · 3y Garret Lambert  [Gif from the Princess Bride of Inigo Montoya saying "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. · Reply · 3y Zack Henderson [Gif from the Princess Bride of Humperdink brandishing his sword as though to attack]

Zack Henderson  [Gif of Princess Bride Humperdink running away with "NOPE" written along the bottom] · Reply · 3y Garret Lambert [Gif of Princess Bride Dread Pirate Roberts saying "That does put a damper on our relationship"]  · Reply · 3y Zack Henderson [Partial Gif of Princess Bride Westley's face]

Zack Henderson  [Gif from the Princess Bride of Westley asking "Who are you? Are we friends?] · Reply · 3y Garret Lambert [Gif from the Princess Bride of Inigo Montoya saying "Let me explain." · Reply · 3y Garret Lambert [Top of another Inigo Montoya gif]

Garret Lambert  [Gif from the Princess Bride of Inigo Montoya saying "Hello"] · Reply · 3y Garret Lambert [Gif from Supernatural of Dean Winchester in a crown saying "I'm the Princess"]  · Reply · 3y Zack Henderson [Gif from the Princess Bride cut off]

Zack Henderson  [GIF from the Princess Bride of Westley saying "As you wish."] · Reply · 3y Zack Henderson Shit. I forgot that Cary Elwes was really fucking hot  · Reply · 3y Garret Lambert reminds me a bit o Lukas there  · Reply · 3y · Zack Henderson Maybe I am bored... [indistinguishable gif begins]

Zack Henderson Maybe I am bored... [gif of butterfly knife tricks]  · Reply · 3y · Garret Lambert [Photo of a thin, pale, shirtless young redheaded man dancing, his long hair covering his face and much of his body, wearing black pants stopped at the thigh]  · Reply · 3y Zack Henderson WHY DID FACEBOOK TRY TO HIDE THAT
(Note: The gif above was of a person doing butterfly knife tricks, and at the end, the blade is shown to have the words "SEND NUDES" written on it)

Zack Henderson I mean  · Reply · 3y Zack Henderson It's just a picture  · Reply · 3y Garret Lambert no clue. i'd not think that a get flagged  · Reply · 3y Lukas Ritter  [GIF from the Princess Bride of Inigo Montoya saying, "You seem a decent fellow. I hate to kill you." · Reply · 3y Garret Lambert [GIF from the Princess Bride is cropped]

Garret Lambert  [GIF from the Princess Bride of Dread Pirate Roberts saying "You seem a decent fellow. I hate to die."] · Reply · 3y Zack Henderson [GIF from the Princess Bride of Westley looking around and saying "It's not that bad."]  · Reply · 3y Lukas Ritter [GIF from the Princess Bride is cropped]

Zack Henderson  [GIF from the Princess Bride continues with Buttercup staring at Westley incredulously] · Reply · 3y Lukas Ritter [GIF from the Princess Bride Impressive Clergyman saying "Mawage"]  · Reply · 3y Zack Henderson [GIF from the Princess Bride, same scene, cropped]

Zack Henderson  [GIF from the Princess Bride Impressive Clergyman saying "Mawage is what bwings us togeder today"] · Reply · 3y Garret Lambert [GIF from the Princess Bride Fezzik saying "That's wonderful"]  · Reply · 3y Lukas Ritter [GIF from the Princess Bride cropped]

Lukas Ritter  [GIF from the Princess Bride of Westley saying "Learn to live with disappointment" · Reply · 3y Garret Lambert  [GIF from the Princess Bride of Dread Pirate Roberts/Westley rolling down a steep hill calling "As you wish!"] · Reply · 3y Zack Henderson [GIF from the Princess Bride cropped]

Zack Henderson  [GIF from the Princess Bride of Wesley saying "Life is pain. Anyone who says differently is selling something.] · Reply · 3y Lukas Ritter Get off the computer and come watch the movie with me.  · Reply · 3y Zack Henderson   · Reply · 3y [GIF from the Princess Bride of Westley saying "As you wish"]

Garret Lambert [GIF from the Princess Bride of Miracle Max and his Wife calling "Bye bye, boys! Have fun storming the castle!"  · Reply · 3y Sarah Henderson Ooooh, so this is why we're watching!  · Reply · 3y Bonnie Pedraza ded  · Reply · 3y Amanda Huff Omg! Can I come visit and watch with you guys?



The following update takes place during Castles:



Garret Lambert I was redacted?!  · Reply · 1y Zack Henderson Why do you sound surprised? Of course you were.  · Reply · 1y Garret Lambert I'm no celebrity tho  · Reply · 1y Zack Henderson "Enough of one."  · Reply · 1y Garret Lambert ?  · Reply · 1y

Zack Henderson  [GIF from the Princess Bride of Westley saying, "Truly, you have a dizzying intellect."] · Reply · 1y Zack Henderson Sigh. FINE. One of the things I refused to repeat was that he used the computer after me after we talked following Sarah's test, and my search history was your modeling pictures.  · Reply · 1y

Garret Lambert [GIF from the Princess Bride of Vizzini saying "It's a very prestigious line of work."]  · Reply · 1y Zack Henderson  [GIF from the Princess Bride of the Grandson asking, "Is this a kissing book?"] · Reply · 1y Garret Lambert  [GIF from the Princess Bride of Mircale Max asking, "You got money?"]

Zack Henderson  [GIF from the Princess Bride of Inigo Montoya saying, "...kay." · Reply · 1y Jamie Adams I can't breathe. I don't know how I missed this two years in a row.  · Reply · 1y Bonnie Pedraza IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW  · Reply · 1y Lukas Ritter I feel quite differently about this conversation now.  · Reply · 1y

Zack Henderson In a good way? Oh, hey, guess we're going to watch the Princess Bride again!  · Reply · 1y Garret Lambert And I'm here this time and all!  · Reply · 1y Vincent Everhart Wow. That was a ride.  · Reply · 1y







I hope you enjoyed this departure from the standard short story format! I may have a few more for the future!