Blood Cursed (Rogue Angel) by Alex Archer

right, you are a big fan of vampires,” she said innocently. “I almost forgot about the little club you are in that dresses up like vampires and plays.” She rolled her eyes.
    “Play? We don’t play, Annja, we reenact. And you bet I’m a vamp fan. I’m heading to Club Dread next month for the annual Halloween ball. I’ve got my Dracula cape and had the dentist make a new set of custom fangs for me. Annja, you’ve dug up one of the chewing dead? Why aren’t we filming this for the show?”
    “It’s not a vampire, Doug.”
    Why wasn’t she filming it for the show? It was exactly the kind of sensational fiction they produced. Annja knew the answer. Because right now she wasn’t too sure how the angry townsfolk would react to a film crew.
    “It’s just a skull with a brick in its mouth. In medieval times the people were superstitious and—”
    “And that’s what Chasing History’s Monsters is all about, Annja! Chasing. History’s. Monsters! Seriously? Are you trying to keep this one from me?”
    Yes, well, she had hoped to. Why had she opened her big mouth now?
    “I need to fly out there and get a good look at the thing. Film it. You have a video camera with you, don’t you?”
    “Just the one on my digital. Nothing good enough for television filming— Doug, don’t come out here. It’s a dangerous situation right now.”
    “Dangerous? Oh, Annja, you are only stirring the fires. How can a dirty old skull be dangerous? Unless—have people been bitten?”
    “No, no one has been bitten. Please, calm yourself. It’s not the skull, it’s the locals, or rather Gypsies, who are upset that the skull might belong to a real vampire that might rise from the grave to torment them.”
    “Really? Rampaging villagers? Oh, dude! And you’re not filming? Annja, you’re killing me. Right here.” He pounded his chest. “Like a stake through the heart. Footage of torch-toting villagers is exactly what the show needs.”
    “No torches.” Yet. “And Chasing History’s Monsters has done vampires to death, Doug.”
    “And yet, the suckers keep rising for another bite. Ha! I have to book a flight right now. You’re in the Czech Republic, right?” He bowed his head, and Annja heard the clatter of keyboard keys. “Yes, I have you on my Find a Friend app. Ah, Chrastava. Where the heck is that?”
    She could’ve kicked herself. A television crew was the last thing she needed on-site when they had no idea what to expect day to day from the Romani. On the other hand, when had she balked at taking a film crew through treacherous situations?
    When said crew consisted of one vampire-crazy producer. She felt sure if Doug didn’t find what he was looking for some supersonic Photoshop skills would kick in.
    A glance to Luke found him leaning against the table where he’d set up the microscope, arms crossed over his chest, shaking his head.
    “Eavesdropper.”
    Luke shrugged. “I don’t see what’s wrong with having a film crew to record our information. It might prove beneficial. I haven’t yet mastered the camera with the iPad, or rather, I haven’t taken the time to learn. I’d love to have another means of documenting my work.”
    “That’s why you wondered where my film crew was when I first arrived.” She figured out his misplaced enthusiasm just now.
    Luke had the decency to look guilty.
    “Yes, but you don’t know Doug Morrell—”
    “Got it!” Doug made the thumbs-up gesture on the computer screen. “My flight leaves in four hours. I should be there by midnight. Where are you staying?”
    Reluctantly, Annja gave Doug the address for her hotel, and warned him not to wake her when he arrived after midnight. By morning, she’d be prepared for his macabre enthusiasm for the undead. She hoped.
    “See you later, Doug.” She closed the laptop and apologized to Luke, though she suspected it wasn’t necessary. “He’s my producer. Always looking for an interesting idea. I suppose you’re right. Any