IX. Vampyre Ghost- iii.

The supernatural moment in time, locality, immediate surroundings and philosophies of those in the tea parlor recorded in a single glance, Prim opened his eyes. The serpentine curtains were still now and the scattering of rose petal runes set in place. High heels click-clacked. A saucer and cup of mid-afternoon heartsease was placed near his right hand. His antiquarian tastes were evident by the the leather binding of the book at his left hand. Lean and hard, for he neither smoked nor drank liquors, estimated age was impossible to guess. Enjoying that others present were whispering that his manner of casual discussion gave them the impression he had lived wherever and at whenever time and was possibly thousands of years old, Prim gave a wry smile knowing also that the server found it quite odd that no one appeared to be sitting opposite him. Reaching into his watch pocket, he provided enough gratuities for two patrons. High heels click-clacked away. He returned his attention to the brilliant game of chess. Such crude, inornate pieces are beneath the touch of an immortal. Reading the eyes and further discerning the intention of their thought, Prim reached across the chess-table and countered his first move with queen's pawn to queen's four.

IX. Vampyre Ghost- ii.

The woven themes of guitar, violin and cello and the rhythmic bass of the rondo were warm and soothing. Prim gently closed his eyes and referenced his legendary photographic memory while awaiting the next chess move. Whether dance clubs, vintage and Goth clothiers, tarot, hookah or the well-known author destinations of booksellers, each doorway of the avenue lead to haunts of adventure and those expressing their uniqueness by remarkable speech that stimulated and expanded the intellect. The remaining walls of the tea parlor were lined from top to bottom with shelves of classic books that were not for sale, for this was also a popular haven where the un-intelligentsia, who sought the truth of their individual paths and held no faith in unproven utopias or the disruption of established paradigms, would gather at round tables encircling aisles of competitive chess squares. Discussions of literature reached beyond the often errant reconstructionism of the moderns elucidating the deeper meanings of authors through a thorough knowledge of period history, biographies and understandings of set symbolism juxtaposed to personal creations through the understanding of their intended usage and precise selection of the proper shades of colour of diction. Prim's beloved Belmont Avenue in Chicago was a magical and inclusive place that welcomed those wise. The doorway's curtains slithered without motion of entry and the rose petal runes rearranged themselves without circulation stirred by any visible personage.

IX. Vampyre Ghost- i.

So you think you know alot about vampyres? Ever watchful, shadows darted outside along Belmont Avenue while a natural proclivity of frost began forming around the windows transmogrifying into otherworldly angles of unnamable geometry that shaped themselves to the hypnotic rhythms of eldritch melodies beyond the pallid visage and sable shoulder length tresses. Beneath the sill adorned with lace of hearts and doves and a scattering of rose petal runes, tall bookshelves archived arcane sheet music performed in continuum by a classical quartet. Daguerreotypes of rival players that had also gathered there were arranged atop the lintel and along the uprights of the doorway protected by serpentine curtains. The familiar sanguine lips slowly revealed their quite clever fangs. Knowing well that neither of them was an opponent, for they savored each other's victories, Gordon Prim replied with queen's knight to queen's bishop three.