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The rhythm of the drums was deafening. Skeletons were just passing Daniel. He had hooked into Armand so as not to lose him in the crowd. Although it was freezing cold, he smelled the sweat of the people around him. As a young vampire, it wasn't easy for Daniel to keep control. His teeth showed more than once. More than once he hissed at someone. But vampires on the Jeisterzoch (=ghost parade) in Kölle were nothing unusual. Hardly anyone looked in his direction when he showed his fangs.
Why shouldn't he and Armand be themselves? That was the idea. Armand also seemed to be enjoying himself. He swayed to the quirky rhythm of the music and smiled to himself. “Armand, the theater kid,” Daniel thought mockingly to himself. Nevertheless, he was pleased to see his maker so relaxed.
It wasn't late yet, at least not for vampires, as the ghost parade neared its end. Armand and Daniel walked hand in hand through the streets. They saw many same-sex couples strolling closely together through the narrow streets of the old town.
What San Francisco is to the US: Cologne is to Germany.
“I've booked us a table in the brewery,” Armand said. Daniel chuckled briefly. “Well, I'm curious about that.”
A short time later, the two were sitting in a rustic brewery. The walls were wood-paneled, the rough tables without any decoration. Daniel studied the menu, although they both already knew what they wanted to order. Daniel called for the waiter.
“Flons,” Daniel ordered. “Warm, for both of us.”
The waiter stared at him. “Watt?” he asked.
Daniel pointed to the menu.
“Oh Flönz ming ste.”
Daniel nodded. He sincerely hoped he had ordered the right thing.
“My goodness, they're unfriendly here,” Daniel said, turning to Armand.
He just smiled at him. “Maybe you shouldn't call the man a waiter. That's a Köbes. You've just outed yourself as an ignorant tourist.”
Daniel raised his eyebrows. “That bad?” he asked mockingly.
Shortly afterwards, they both stared at their plates. “Are you sure this won't kill us?” Daniel asked as he poked his fork into the mushy mass on the plate in front of him.
“Well, you really wanted to go to Cologne and try the food here,” Armand replied.
Daniel looked up at him. “Don't give me that innocent face, Armand. You thought it was a good idea too. I think you should try the food first. As the older of the two of us.”
Now Armand crossed his arms. “Well, as the elder, and your maker, I think you should go first. Or are you chickening out, Daniel Molloy?”
Daniel then took a courageous bite of the fried mass of blood. And the taste in his mouth exploded. He hadn't eaten any solid food since his transformation. Everything tasted bland. But this fried black pudding? A revelation. Daniel put on his game face: “It's terrible, Armand. You're absolutely right. As your fledgling, I can't ask you to eat something so disgusting.”
With that, Daniel reached for Armand's plate. But his maker was quicker. He narrowed his eyes. And pushed Daniel's hand away. He grabbed a fork and tasted it. “Wow...” was the only thing he said before he polished off all the sausage on his plate.
Later in the hotel, Daniel lay in his still open coffin.
“My stomach is rumbling. Why is my stomach rumbling? I'm already dead,” he moaned.
“Maybe you shouldn't have eaten three portions of Flönz. And then two more tourists.”
“And where's the fun in that? We're on vacation.”
Armand pushed Daniel's coffin lid shut. “Tomorrow is another day. Then you can carry on partying, eating and drinking blood.”
While the sun slowly rose and Daniel fell into his comatose vampire sleep, Armand lay down on the bed and switched on the television. After just three minutes, he too fell asleep.