Ron Sakamoto Entry: I Killed Maria

I had to do it.  I'm not crazy.

I hadn't seen her for a few days, but she was waiting for me at my home.  She looked different.  Void of humanity.  She tried to seduce me, and bared her fangs.  My words came out naturally, "Are you a vampire?"

"Yes," she answered.

She wanted me to join her.  She came closer.  It didn't matter what I thought, she was determined to bite into me, and feast off my blood.  I pushed her away.  Angered, she came at me.  But, somehow, Abraham Van Helsing's crucifix flew out of a drawer.  I didn't know it was there. 

Maria backed off, but her features indicated that the human was no longer there.  The physical appearance was just a shell for the creature.  She came at me again.  I grabbed a ceremonial sword i had on the wall for decoration, and instinctively, sliced off her head.

Maria Ramos Entry: A New Life

I was walking along the street when a man came up to me.

"Ms. Ramos?"

"Yes."

"Excuse me, but I remember you from the party. I also read your bylines.  There's not just one.  There is a whole nest of them.  Hundreds of them.  I can take you to see where they live."

"Sorry, mister. I'm busy."  I tried to brush him off, but then he looked at me, stared into my eyes, and I could not resist.

"Please, Ms. Ramos.  I insist."

This man led me into a cave. I cannot remember how I got there.  He told me to look through a crack, and there were hundreds of them, as he said. 

"Welcome." A deep voice said, behind me.  I turned around.  He was tall, and appeared to be dressed in Japanese samurai armour. 

"Won't you join us?" He asked.  Instinctively, I exposed my neck and offered it to him.

Maria Ramos Entry: Bit by a Dog

I was bit by a dog. It seemed friendly enough.  But I guess it was scared. I reached over to check to see if it had any identification attached, and it bit me and ran away.

I've read about those rare instances where innocent dog bites lead to blood infections, which lead to amputations, and the bite did break my skin, so I put on some antiseptic, bandaged it and went to urgent care. 

When the doctor removed my bandage, the wound, small as it was, had healed completely. There was no sign of a dog bite.  But it had been less than an hour.

Strangely enough, since the dog bite, I hear voices, specifically, a voice, as if it is calling me.  It is a commanding, yet alluring voice.  It just calls. 

Fred Jones Entry: Target: Maria Ramos

He is my master. I yearn to serve him, yet I fear him.  He won't transform me into one, yet I want to be transformed.  He has shown me immortality and strength, for the sacrifice of not being able to go out when the sun is up.  Is it really a sacrifice? It is just a matter of adjusting my waking hours.

If I do what he asks of me - commands me - I may yet be transformed. He has given me some powers.  To transform into animals, specifically, a wolf and a bat.  He has injected his genes into my blood.  Although I am not a vampire, and I cannot transform others, I can spread his genes into others - put them under his spell.

He has asked me to put the journalist, Maria Ramos under his spell.  I asked him why - He said it was none of my business - just that he met her at a party.

There she is.  I transformed into a wolf, but I will act like a dog.

She seems fearful, but I will be docile. She will think I am just a large lost dog.  She is searching for identification on me - talking to me like  I am a baby.  I slobber over her, lick her face.  She puts her hand near my mouth. I bite her, and run off.

Maria Ramos Entry: Headline: Vampire

My name is Maria Ramos.  I'm a journalist.  I write for an online newsite.  It's all going digital anyway - saves paper costs and trees.  I heard about the victim who dies from loss of blood, and the only wounds were two puncture marks in the neck. 

I don't believe for a second that this was the work of a real vampire - but someone who just thinks he's a vampire.  The Dracula complex is up there, probably second after the Napoleonic complex.

I have an advantage over other journalists on this case. My boyfriend is the lead detective looking into this killing.  Of course, he can't provide me with any confidential information, but I can do some research and feed information his way.  In a way, crime reporters can be second eyes to detectives.  The vampire angle is great.  I love Ron, but I am a journalist also.

I met Ron for lunch, bringing a free weekly community paper that caters to the alternative lifestyles in the city - and boy are there several - and unlike a small town in the mid-west, where a lot of this is hidden - in LA, all this is open information.

I asked Ron what he thought about vampires.  He reminded me that his great grandfather had supposedly encountered a vampire, but he thought of it as family legend, but since it was an old family legend, he knew a lot about vampire folklore - and no, he did not think this killing was done by a real vampire.  How about someone who thinks he's a vampire? I suggested.  He said, "Maybe."  I couldn't really get a handle on his thoughts on this case.

Anyway, I opened up the personals section and found an ad, which I read out loud, without thought, for it suprised me.  "Vampirism - for real - Group meeting for those interested in the lifestyle."  You don't see postings like taht on public internet get-together groups. 

I ended up calling, and got an address. I told Ron I was going - he protested - but I was adamant.  He insisted on going with me, for safety's sake.  And that's how yu get a cop to go with you to a "vampire" get-together.

It was all set, we were going to a gathering of vampires in the Silverlake district of Los Angeles on Friday night.  Lets see how close these vampire wannabes are to the real thing.