Friends! How flattering. Louis smiles in his particular way that only shows the upper parts of his teeth. His fangs are safely retracted, but he made it a habit anyway.

"Suppose it's better than just livin' out their dark fantasies. Can't have bodies cloggin' up our storm drains, can we?"

It's a dark joke because one stormy week in New Orleans, it was true. He chastised his daughter about what the papers called "the floaters" without fully comprehending the scope of her anger and hunger.

"I can get you somethin' to write with. Maybe you'll write the next Great American Novel. I'd like to read it."