Westcliff worked late into the night at his desk, scowling as he did so. Westcliff’s team hid out of his sight after another day of being ridiculed, degraded and punished for not living up to impossible standards. Westcliff was the kind of boss who ruled by freezing people out and sucking the life out of them. It got results and at a cost he could make others pay.
The team watched as a vampire glided through the door. Smoke started to fill the office, and the lights began to flicker. The vampire had promised a show, and the team was seeing it now.
Westcliff only noticed the music. A foreboding organ played in the distance, annoying him. He never saw the vampire enter, but felt a chill and saw the vampire sitting in the chair across from him as the lights flickered.
“Westcliff, I presume,” the vampire said, from across the table.
“It’s not Halloween, buddy, and my office is not a place to play,” Westcliff said.
“Oh, I’m not here to play with you,” the vampire said. “Just pass judgment.”
Westcliff returned to his work and ignored the vampire. After a moment, the lights went out. The vampires’ face glowed, providing the only light source.
“We have a name for people like you,” the vampire said.
“What is it?” Westcliff said, the vampire finally had his attention.
“Killjoys,” the vampire said.
“Oh no,” Westcliff said. “Is my team setting me up?”
“Your reputation precedes you. I came to see what kind of man you are.”
“Get lost, bat,” Westcliff said.
“Vampires have a keen sense of direction because of echolocation,” the vampire said, implying that he couldn’t get lost. “It’s you who seems lost. You’re feeding on others and stealing their worth.”
“Getting results?”
“But at what cost?” the vampire said, and with a lightning flash that blinded Westcliff, the vampire was gone.
By the time anyone could see again, Jason the Vampire Stand-In was on the street. That might not have scared the boss, Jason thought. He told those employees who hired him that vampire theatrics alone might not work. Still, Jason was happy with his performance. No one suspected for a minute that the vampire was just a stand-in. Jason completed the job admirably. It was time to report back to the Vampire League.