Israbel- A Short History of Vampires

How do you deal with a vampire who has an existential crisis?

Well, if you think that vampires have more in common with Camus and Sartre than Stoker, then certainly. It may be funny at the first glance, but think about it for a moment: you cannot ever venture into sunlight, can feed only on humans and have to see everyone else grow old and die while you remain forever young. But, you can never see your own reflection.

Enough to drive any egocentric creature like a vampire to complete neurosis.

Thus begins the story of Israbel in the BBC Radio 7's A short History of Vampires. Israbel has remained sixteen for a hundred years or more. She has had a full life of seducing the rich and the powerful and then she meets Plinter the painter. He recognizes her for what she is and then she commissions him a painting. Israbel has not been able to see her reflection in over a hundred years.

Plinter became obsessed with her and soon found it impossible to focus on the painting, Israbel has consumed his mind.

Towards the end of the portrait Israbel told him the story of how she had become a vampire. She was a poor girl in the ghettos of pre-revolutionary Paris. She rarely had an opportunity to see her own reflection, mirrors being a rarity among the sans culotte. A man had given her a small mirror to look at herself and then threatened to cut her if she did not give in to him. Afterwards, he wanted to beat her and she ran, through the dark streets of Paris she ran for her life and came across a leopard sized cat. She felt the warmth of the cat and felt content and found herself traveling very fast and in front of the Notre Dame. She walked in to the lair of the leopard where she gave herself to it. Afterwards she woke up in the street, full of vitality and energy and discovered that she had become a vampire. She never saw her sire again.

Israbel was content to leave the portrait unfinished- as a symbol of her own state of being. She offered payment and Plinter asked to be like her. She warned him of the loneliness that comes with it but he insisted and so she agreed.

After the seduction ritual was over, and Israbel had taken his blood and given him hers, Plinter woke up in his own apartment. He was hungry for Israbel's company, eager to learn from her the ways of his new life. Would he ever find fulfillment and happiness now that he had immortal life? Would Israbel finally view him as an equal?

The twist in the end is truly remarkable and emotionally satisfying. I have to be hard pressed to find any short story where I found the ending to be so interesting. I think you should listen to the story- not read it- the radio rendition is truly phenomenal.