“I’ve already explained to Erik that what he has is a viral infection,” Jurgis interrupted. “But I didn’t get into your theory about the four types of pseudo-vampirism.”
Catherine glanced around the room then looked at Jurgis and gave a long blink of her eyes. A second later the reason for her warning was apparent. The hairs on Erik’s neck stood, signaling the approach of the server. She sat three bowls of steaming chowder down and added a small wicker basket of dark, grainy bread.
“Thank you,” mumbled Erik, willing the woman to leave. He looked at Catherine and watched her gaze follow the woman back to the small wooden podium in front of the restaurant’s glass front door.
“My grandfather already told you, I’m sure, but I’m not a general practitioner. I specialize in diagnosing and treating psychiatric delusions like the one the man in Mississippi claimed to suffer from. Many years ago I discovered that all forms of vampire delusion could be put into one of four categories.”
She held up her hand and raised an index finger. “At the low end of the spectrum we have what I call the Hollywood vampires. Their idea of what a vampire should be is based on whatever kind of vampire is hot in movies and books right then. For them, the entire idea of the vampire is very seductive--romantic, even. But they’re not really operating under any real delusion. They know it’s just a fantasy.”