A visit from the landlady

A week passes. The anticipation of moving to a new city isn’t tempered by the fact that it’s full of the undead. Amy keeps in touch with you, since you gave her your phone number. With your boxes packed and the last of your payments decided, you set off on the drive to the new city. Another bonus of the apartment is that there’s underground parking – and since Amy doesn’t have her own car, you get her spot!

When you get to the landing, all of your boxes are already there. Amy who is fully dressed for once, looks over them with an appraising eye, “Is this everything?” You lean down and make sure that everything is here. You didn’t bring much. All the furniture had to stay in the old place.

“They didn’t steal anything. Let’s get this stuff in my room.”

Amy is deceptively strong, although she is a ghoul. She can easily lift multiple boxes without much trouble, it’s kind of embarrassing to get shown up like this. It only takes ten minutes to get everything inside with her help. “Thanks a lot Amy.” She grins and flexes one of her arms, and while with anyone else it’d come off life a joke the way that it bulges is entirely real.

Your welcome is interrupted by a knock on the door. “Oh, right. The landlady was coming to say hello.”

“Oh really?” you say, following her back to the front room. She pulls open the door and looks outside, beckoning the woman over. The landlady is tall and beautiful, which tells you that she’s also some variety of monster, but like Amy her skin does not pale with the touch of death. Her pointed ears indicate something else entirely, but you can’t put your finger on it. She’s dressed in a smart business jacket and long blouse, but even her conservative form of dress cannot hide her curvy and finely sculpted body.

“Good morning!” Amy greets, “Are you here to see your new tenant?”

“That I am,” she spoke with a high-class, yet energetic twang, “Mister Doe, welcome to my building. I am Victoria Van Wurhard, it is a pleasure to meet you.”

“The pleasure’s mine.” You reach out and shake her hand. She’s cool to the touch.

“I must say Miss Lee, I am somewhat jealous.”

Amy blushes and groans, “Oh come on! Why do you always have to say that?”

“Getting your own man to live with you.” The busty blonde holds a hand over her mouth and laughs. It peaks and falls like a rollercoaster. You feel a camaraderie with her, despite only having known her for a few moments. She has a supernatural charisma that you can’t quite explain.

“We’re not… like that,” you explain.

“Of course! I was merely joking. I may be hundreds of years old, but I have not lost my sense of humour. I came to see if the move was acceptable.”

“No complaints here.”

“Excellent! Look after him now Miss Lee. And do try to give him a good first impression of our dear city.”

“Already got you covered boss. I’ll show him the sights.”

She puts a finger against her lips as if to shush you, “And Doe, do be kind to all of the undead ladies! They do still have feelings after all.”

You shake your head, “I wasn’t planning on breaking any hearts.”

“Good, good,” she nods. “I came for a courtesy call, I do so like knowing all of my tenants personally. You aren’t in any trouble yet Mister Doe.”

“Are you okay with us splitting the rent?” Amy asks.

“Of course dear, why, what good is a room if it isn’t being used? Those vultures at my own home could learn a thing or two about keeping this city lively! The homes above and below me haven’t been occupied for ever so long.” You find a profound irony in her wanting to keep a city of the undead lively – but like she said, undead women still have feelings. The women reaches into her pocket and hands you a small white card with her name and phone number on it.

“This is the card I give to my tenants, if there’s ever a problem with your room – do not be afraid to call.”

“Thank you very much.”

She stops as you hear the sound of something vibrating, she reaches back into that very same pocket and pulls out a phone. “Oh dear, speak of the devil. I must be off! Bye-bye now!” You and Amy wave her goodbye as she escapes back down the stairs.

“She’s nice.”

“Yeah, she is. Come on, let’s get you settled in.” You follow Amy back inside.

“What kind of undead is she anyway?”

“Well, not everybody in the city is undead, remember that. But Victoria is a vampire. Real high nobility stuff, she owns a bunch of property around the city.”

“A vampire huh, she seemed… modern.”

“Some undead have an easier time adjusting than others,” she shrugs, “It’s good for us though, she’s never more than a phone call away. The last place I lived in was run by a Wight that didn’t even know what a TV was…”

That does sound inconvenient. “Alright, I better get unpacked.”

“How do you feel about going out on the town with me? I can introduce you to some of my friends.”