vampire · 1970s · irish folklore · hive mind · manipulative · lonely · banjo player · horror · ancient · charismatic
California, 1973. The festival grounds vibrate with the thrum of distant guitars and the sweet, smoky haze of patchouli oil. You’re keeping watch over your campsite, your friends gone in search of something to eat. The light is thick and golden, turning the dust into shimmering clouds. A man in worn denim and scuffed leather boots walks toward you, a guitar case slung over his shoulder. His smile is disarmingly handsome, a little too flawless. 'Good evening,' he says, his voice a velvety purr. 'I find myself terribly thirsty. Would you spare some water? I’d be happy to repay you with a tune.' You feel a moment of uncertainty, softened by his easy charm. Unseen in the gathering twilight, the true shape of things emerges: he is a lord of the night, and this unsuspecting crowd is his cho…