Jenna McSweeney marveled at Karnstein Manor as Tatiana led her through the gate. The vampire girl had invited the breeder werehyena over to the manor to bond with her, since they were both going to be Selena's mates. Jenna was a bit nervous about walking into the haven of an entire vampire clan, but she did want to bond more with Tatiana. The manor loomed over Jenna like a gargoyle ready to pounce, its gothic Tudor-style architecture casting a dark shadow over her and Tatiana.
"Would it be rude to say that it looks creepy?" Jenna asked as she stared up at the towering manor.
"Not at all," Tatiana laughed, placing a reassuring (albeit chilly) hand on Jenna's shoulder. "We're vampires, you know. Creepy's kinda what we're aiming for. Don't worry about it, though. Nothing too freaky happens here, unless you're scared of lesbian orgies."
Jenna chuckled. "I think I'd actually enjoy one of those. Do you think your clan will like me, Tats?"
"We're one of the friendlier, more outgoing vampire clans," Tatiana answered. "Sure, Lenora can be a bit suspicious of strangers, but she'll be totally fine with you once I vouch for you. As for Liesel, she's always delighted to make new friends."
Jenna let out a relieved sigh as her shoulders untensed slightly. "That's good to know."
"Oh, look!" Tatiana said, pointing at the manor's gardens. "There's Liesel now. Hi, Liesel!"
Kneeling in the flowerbed was a vampire with flowing platinum hair that cascaded down to her ankles. She was barefoot and dressed in overalls and a pale yellow embroidered peasant top, a floppy sun hat on her head. An amulet identical to Tatiana's hung around her neck. She set down her trowel and waved back at Tatiana. "Groovy to see you, Tats! Ooh, looks like you brought a friend! Far out! Nice to meet you!"
Jenna reflexively gawked at the pale, platinum-haired hippie waving at her. "That's Liesel von Karnstein?!"
Tatiana raised an eyebrow quizzically. "Yeah. What of it?"
Jenna blushed beet red. "I was just expecting someone more... well, vampire-like. You know, a goth. You definitely look the part, Tats, and so does the manor."
Tatiana chuckled. "Yeah, that's how vampire culture generally goes. Liesel does things her own way, though. She's from the Sixties, and she'd never abandon her hippie sensibilities for a Victorian Gothic look. Just wait 'til you see her sleeping chamber. It looks like a New Age shop mixed with a Woodstock museum. She actually painted her coffin in psychedelic colors like a hippie van!"
"That's right," Liesel smiled brightly as she skipped over to Jenna. She extended her pearly hand for Jenna to shake. "Hi, I'm Liesel von Karnstein. I'm the seer for this clan."
"I'm Jenna McSweeney," Jenna said, shaking hands with the hippie vampire. She felt so vulnerable in her human form, but suddenly shifting into a werehyena seemed like it would be pretty rude, so she resisted the urge. "I just joined Selena Lyall's werehyena pack. I'm her mate. I'm sorta sharing her with Tats, so she invited me to meet her clan and enjoy some bonding time."
Liesel scrunched up her face and studied Jenna's face. "Your aura has a lot going on. It's vibrating with nervous energy, confusion, and... hope, I think?"
"I guess it's normal to be nervous when you're meeting a family of vampires for the first time," Jenna said, blushing. "My survival instincts are constantly trying to convince me that someone'll turn me into an iron-rich snack."
Liesel smiled soothingly. "Well, you can just tell those nervous vibes that I'm against drinking human blood. I'm one of those softie vampires that only feed from animals. You see, I came from a family of vampire hunters called the Vordenburgs. I saw all the harm that feeding on humans can cause. So, I vowed to never do that after Carmilla invited me into her clan. The other von Karnsteins are really good at feeding from humans without hurting them, but I can't bring myself to try that. I just get sick over the thought of... of losing control."
"Don't worry about that, Liesel," Jenna smiled. "I can already tell you're the kindest vampire I've ever met."
Tatiana chuckled. "She's the second vampire you've ever met, Jenna."
Jenna snickered. "Heh, point."
"So, what're you confused about?" Liesel asked Jenna. "Your aura's beyond off balance."
"I guess I'm still trying to feel out what vampires are really like," Jenna shrugged. "Every book, movie, and TV series has a different take on you guys. Dracula, Buffy, and Twilight might as well all be about completely separate, unrelated creatures. Tatiana's fashion sense and the design of the manor had me thinking you'd be an entire family of goths who treat every day like it's Halloween, but you're so bright and cheery."
"That's the thing about vampires," Liesel said, giggling musically. "Our overall culture's pretty strongly rooted in Nineteenth-Century romanticism and the gothic movement, but we have an instinctive love of self-expression that takes some of us off in a radically different direction. My aura digs the hippie look from my original time period, so why should I give it up? Matriarch Carmilla's certainly never asked me to."
"I see," Jenna said thoughtfully. "I think it's really cool. A hippie vampire's unique."
"Thanks," Liesel grinned. "And what are you so hopeful about? Sorry, am I prying too much?"
"So, it's okay," said Jenna. "It's just that I'm in a polyamorous relationship for the first time, and I really want it to work out."
"Don't worry," Tatiana said, sliding her arm around Jenna's waist. "I have a really good feeling about you, and I know Selena feels the same. Yeah, I was jealous of you and Selena at first, but now I'm honestly excited to fuck you." Tatiana's cheeks blushed blue with venom when she realized Liesel was still listening.
"Don't be embarrassed, Tats," Liesel said. "If there are two kinds of people who aren't prudish, it's hippies and vampires, and I'm both!"
Tatiana turned to Jenna. "Well, wanna come inside and meet the rest of the clan?"
"Sure," Jenna nodded.
"Have fun!" Liesel called as she knelt back down in the soil of the flowerbed. "Bet you anything my girlfriend Claudia thinks you're groovy! Oh, and watch out for Dracona! She gets really, really horny over werehyenas!"
"Bye, Liesel!" Tatiana called back as she walked Jenna to the front door. "Enjoy communing with nature and such!" She then opened the manor's door and turned to Jenna. "Ready to step into our inner sanctum?"
The breeder werehyena took a deep breath. "Okay, Tats. I'm ready."