But somewhere, just off the glittering neon-mad Strip, there's a dark bas.e.m.e.nt where men do terrible things.

The Land of Eternal Youth. Disneyland. Movie stars and "A" lists. Gangs fighting for survival on the mean streets. The ghosts of memory, and dark halls where Valentino once walked. The "big break," and people who will sell their bodies, souls and minds to get through one more day of that hard, golden suns.h.i.+ne.

I think a Vampire King would find Los Angeles a wonderland. He would know that such a beautiful beast has a huge dark belly. And in that darkness, surrounded by pallid forms who fall at his feet in wors.h.i.+p, even a Vampire King might become a star.