by Kate Hill
The Elixir Maidens 1: Ruby
Kate Hill
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2006 by Kate Hill
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ISBN (10) 1-59596-289-1
ISBN (13) 978-1-59596-289-8
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Chapter One
The Elixir Maidens, a well known drag queen band reminiscent of the girl groups of the 1950s and 60s, buzzed around a hotel room in the New York vampire haven called Burgundy Peak. Known all over the immortal community as one of the safest, most entertaining places to work and play in, Burgundy Peak was owned by the husband of the Maidens’ good friend Mel. With their latest gig in Las Vegas over, the group longed to visit the East again. Playing at a small club with a great reputation was just the sort of break they needed after a year of hustle and bustle.
If we get the gig, of course, thought Ruby, staring at his reflection in the vanity table mirror. Strange that he was more nervous auditioning at Burgundy Peak than performing in a major concert hall. Actually, his anxiety was understandable, considering the club’s owner.
“Damn. My hands are shaking so much I can’t get this eyeliner on straight,” Ruby muttered, for the third time wiping away a streak of black marking the porcelain flesh beneath one of his slanted brown eyes.
His band mate, Crimson, curled his lip while adjusting his falsies beneath his red beaded dress. “Just cool it, Ru. You’re getting your shorts in a twist over a stinking audition? Besides, we’re pretty much guaranteed this gig because of Mel. Not that we need any help. We’re the best. Don’t ever forget that.”
“Honey, I know we’re the best. And it ain’t Mel I’m worried about,” Ruby continued. “Her husband, not Mel, runs Burgundy Peak, and everyone knows that man’s reputation. I mean, this is Zigor. The Zigor. He’s a killer in every sense of the word.”
“Not to mention the most gorgeous piece of vampflesh this side of the Mississippi,” said Scarlet, the third member of their group, his enviably high -- naturally high -- voice sounding a bit strange since he was carefully applying bright red gloss to his chiseled lips.
“It’s not like we’re desperate for this gig.” Crimson grunted, tugging at his crotch. “Fuck, this tape is killing me. Why the hell did the airline have to lose the suitcase with my gaffs?”
A smile tugged at Ruby’s lips. He and Crimson strongly preferred to restrain their male anatomy with an undergarment far more comfortable than tape, so for hours Crimson had been complaining about his missing luggage.
“Oh, poor baby,” Scarlet teased, batting his lashes in Crimson’s direction. “After the show I can help you peel it off. I swear I’ll be really gentle.”
Crimson snorted. “Save it, hot stuff.”
“Pity a creature as lovely as you only likes girls.” Scarlet shook his head, then turned to Ruby. “Whatever possessed us to let a straight guy into our group?”
“He’s an absolutely awesome musician,” Ruby said, tossing the eyeliner on the vanity. “Forget it. I can’t do it.”
With a loud sigh, Crimson grasped the eyeliner in one hand and Ruby’s chin in the other. “Shut up and hold still. You’re acting like a fucking amateur.”
Ruby bit back a retort, if only to get his eyeliner applied properly.
A sharp tap on the door was followed by a stern male voice. “The Master will see you now.”
Ruby recognized the voice and the exotic, virile scent as belonging to Onan, the club’s chief of security. Onan was another delightfully handsome hunk of man. Unfortunately what he possessed in looks he lacked in personality. It had been literally ages since Ruby had met a person with such a sour disposition. As much as Ruby appreciated good looks, he considered charm far more impressive.
“On our way,” Scarlet called, then glanced at his companions. “This is it, ladies.”
“Let’s go,” Crimson said, his usually masculine tone now sounding distinctly feminine. In either gender, his rich voice was sexy enough to melt an iceberg.
Moments later, The Elixir Maidens found themselves in the club section of Burgundy Peak bumping and grinding their way through a medley of disco tunes. The club wouldn’t open for another hour, so their audience consisted of Mel, Zigor, and several members of the staff who had paused in their work, almost instantly swept away in the Maidens’ performance.
Throughout the show, Ruby couldn’t keep from glancing in Zigor’s direction. Mel had certainly hooked herself up with a stud. The man oozed sex appeal out of every pore, yet he had the look of a cobra about to strike. If Ruby was the squeamish type he’d have shuddered.
When the music ended, Mel and the staff broke into applause. The Maidens even garnered several cat calls. Zigor merely stood, walked to the back of the club, and disappeared through a door.
Crimson held his hands open, his large gray eyes blinking in confusion. “Are we hired or what?”
“I, for one, no longer care if we are hired,” Scarlet said in his softest, most deadly voice. “I have had more than enough of the Master.”
Ruby grasped Scarlet’s arm before he could stalk off. “Hold it. I’m going to talk to Mel.”
“What for? I --”
They paused in conversation as Mel approached, a smile on her lips. “You guys were great.”
“Of course we were,” Crimson said. “So you can tell the Master that no matter what he thinks --”
“He wants you to start on Friday. Have your agent contact him to make the arrangements.”
Ruby wrinkled his nose. “But he just walked off. Didn’t say a thing.”
“With Zigor that can be good,” Mel said, then hugged each of them. “It’s so great to see you guys again. We have a lot to catch up on. It’s going to be terrific having you here for the holidays.”
For several moments they talked with Mel before excusing themselves to change out of their costumes.
Back in the room, Ruby peeled off his slinky red dress and pulled on baggy jeans, black spike-heeled boots, and a tank top that accentuated his slender waist made even slimmer by the D cups he preferred. He brushed his long auburn hair until it gleamed.
“Oh man, I’m glad that’s over,” Crimson grunted, tearing off his dress, wig, and padded bra. He straddled the chair in front of the vanity mirror and began swiping off his make-up in his typical rough manner that nearly made Ruby cringe. If the man didn’t learn how to pat instead of scrub, his pretty complexion wasn’t going to last another two centuries. “Shit, I gotta get laid.”
“Crimson, baby, that’s a little detail we just don’t need to hear,” Scarlet said.
Ruby smirked. “Of course. It’s been like a whole two days since you’ve lured some poor girl into your bed.”
“I make them happy.”
“Says you,” Scarlet muttered.
“If you weren’t the wrong shape, baby, I’d show you how happy I mak
e ’em.”
Scarlet held up a slender hand. “Please. I gave up horny, self-centered bastards centuries ago.”
Ruby slung his duffel bag over his shoulder and opened the door just as Onan was about to knock. Though fairly tall, especially with his boots on, Ruby still had to tilt his head to meet Onan’s dark brown gaze.
“Master Zigor wishes you to have the keys to these rooms.” Onan extended a large hand adorned with several gold rings, three keys resting in his palm. “They are among Burgundy Peak’s finest suites. You may move in immediately.”
“Great.” Ruby took the keys, tossed one to Crimson, the other to Scarlet, then turned back to Onan. “Anything else we can do for you?”
“No,” Onan stated, his expression unreadable. He turned and walked silently down the hall.
A grin tugging at his lips, Ruby shook his head. “Guys, I have a lunch date with a friend. Talk to you later. Crimson, try to stay out of trouble.”
“I’m already in trouble,” came the strained reply followed by the sound of tape ripping away from flesh, then a string of curses foul enough to make Ruby blush even after fifteen hundred years of living.
* * *
Ruby sat across the table from his friend Darcie in a restaurant that was too well-lit for his taste. Still, it was nothing compared to the horrific brightness of Las Vegas, and he was accustomed to meeting his mortal companions on their territory. Though he and Darcie had known each other for a couple of years, he had yet to reveal the truth about his vampirism to her. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust her, but like most of his kind, he was often overly-cautious and for very good reason. The last thing any vampire wanted was to return to the days when common people chopped off their heads and drove stakes through their hearts. It was bad enough small pockets of vampire hunters still dedicated their lives to tracking down the “undead.” Ruby nearly laughed aloud at such a silly contradiction.
Turning his attention to Darcie who was going on about her latest boyfriend, Ruby took a sip of his drink. He reached for another nacho from the plate he and Darcie were sharing until the waitress brought their meals.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” Darcie said, reaching into her handbag and pulling out an envelope that she handed to Ruby.
“What’s this?” Ruby opened the envelope and stared at a black and red ticket.
“It’s for Sir Hagen’s show two weeks from now. I really wanted to go, but my sister and her boyfriend set a fast wedding date and it’s on the same day as the show. I thought you might be able to use it. It’s on a Sunday at seven pm and I know you don’t work until midnight.”
A grin flirted with Ruby’s lips. “Sir Hagen? Come on, Darcie, you know how I feel about those phony baloney magicians. Illusionists, or whatever the hell the frauds like to call themselves now.”
“This guy is different, Ruby. I’ve seen him twice already, once in Vegas and another time in LA. He’s amazing.”
Sighing, Ruby raised his eyes to heaven. “Uh huh. Honey, in my line of work do you know how many amazing things I see?”
“If you don’t go for the illusions, then at least get a look at him in the flesh. The man absolutely shits sex appeal.”
“Appetizing.” Ruby smirked and took another bite of nacho.
“That’s a front row ticket. I can’t believe I have to give it up.” Darcie covered her face with her hands, feigning hysteria. She lifted her gaze back to Ruby, her eyes glistening with good humor. “Come on. Take the ticket. I really want you to see him.”
“Okay. How much do I owe you for it, even though he and his parlor tricks should probably pay his audience for sitting through an hour of that crap.”
“Nada. I got it for free from somebody else.”
“Wow, it seems they literally can’t even give Sir Hagen’s tickets away.”
“Come on, you know how popular he is. What exactly do you have against magicians, anyway?”
How could he answer that? Certainly not by admitting he was a truly magical creature.
“You can’t deny he’s cute.”
Shrugging, Ruby said, “He’s not hard on the eyes.”
Actually, from glimpses of Sir Hagen on television and in magazines, Ruby had to admit he was rather handsome in an unconventional way.
“Why did your sister and Harry decide to get married so fast?” Ruby asked, changing the subject.
“Give you one guess.”
“I gather she didn’t want to shop for her gown in the maternity section?”
“They’ve been talking about settling down for the past ten years or so.”
Ruby didn’t miss the hint of sarcasm in Darcie’s voice. They paused in conversation as the waitress arrived with their food.
* * *
After saying goodbye to Darcie, Ruby spent the remainder of the night moving from his hotel room to the suite at Burgundy Peak. Fairly spacious and impeccably clean, the suite was created for vampiric comfort. Soft lights. Black and dark purple décor, and a black tile bathroom with a shower that could comfortably accommodate two with room to play.
By the time he’d settled in, it was just past sunrise and sleep beckoned. He undressed, washed up, and slipped into his favorite black satin pajamas. Smiling with pleasure, he climbed between the crisp sheets and used the remote control to turn on the television. While switching through channels, he paused upon seeing Sir Hagen speaking with a hostess on one of the morning talk shows. It couldn’t hurt to familiarize himself with the man a little more before he saw his show.
The magician spoke in quiet tones, his voice touched by a smooth British accent. He talked about growing up in London, the only child of an English businesswoman and a Chinese jewelry designer. His parents died in a plane crash when he was sixteen. It was then he came into the care of an incredibly talented yet little known magician known as Methuselah, which is where he honed his skills.
“Sounds like he made the whole story up,” Ruby scoffed, though he had to admit Sir Hagen was rather compelling with his hypnotic voice and strange yet attractive appearance. His slimness accentuated the almost harsh lines of his face with its sharp cheekbones and chiseled lips. Almond-shaped eyes the color of molasses stared intently from beneath sleek, arched eyebrows. Long, brown hair hung thick and straight down his back and over shoulders that were surprisingly broad.
“And the rumor that none of your assistants and workers are sworn to secrecy regarding your illusions is true?” asked the interviewer. Ruby noted with disgust that she was gazing at him with a stupid half-smile, apparently as taken with the magician as the rest of the world seemed to be.
A slight grin curved Sir Hagen’s lips and he replied, “Why should they be sworn to secrecy? I have nothing to hide. In my show what you see is what you get.”
The reviewer chuckled and faced the camera. “Whether you believe he’s a superior illusionist or a genuine wizard is up to you. You can catch his performance from now until December 22nd at --”
Ruby switched off the television and tossed aside the remote.
“Genuine wizard,” he muttered, curling up on his side and closing his eyes. For some inexplicable reason, Sir Hagen’s exotic face and smooth voice drifted through his mind as he tumbled into sleep.
Chapter Two
Two weeks later
Ruby sat in the front row of the hall, awaiting the start of Sir Hagen’s show. Trying to block out the buzz of conversation, he wondered what he was doing in a packed concert hall during his down time when almost every evening he faced his own crowd with the Maidens. Of course he could have given his ticket away. Scarlet had strongly indicated he would gladly take the opportunity to ogle the “gorgeous mortal magician” from the front row, but for some reason Ruby decided he wanted to see the show after all. Since watching Sir Hagen’s interview on that morning talk show he hadn’t been able to get the man out of his mind. It was annoying, really, being attracted to another performer like a mortal teenager suffering through a crush.
Glancing around
the hall, he noted it wasn’t one of the city’s larger performance centers, though Ruby didn’t doubt Sir Hagen could fill a vast stadium. Still, he was known for choosing smaller rooms for his shows. Something about feeling “closer” to his audience or some shit like that.
The lights dimmed and everyone fell silent as low strains of eerie music echoed through the room. In spite of himself, Ruby felt his heart beat a little faster when Sir Hagen took the stage, his entrance admittedly intriguing.
He stood on what looked to be a marble step about twenty feet above the stage, one other step below it. As he descended, the step he left behind drifted in front of him, as if by magic.
Ruby used his vampiric vision in an attempt to see any hidden wires that mortals might not notice, but there were none. It seemed as if the steps were truly hovering in midair. When Sir Hagen reached the floor, the steps drifted to the back of the stage and settled onto the ground.
Sir Hagen welcomed the crowd and launched into his act interspersed with friendly chatter. His show included some fascinating spectacles, including levitating a haul-away filled with cars and parting a wall of flames just as Moses had supposedly parted the sea.
Ruby gazed at the magician, noting that he was more gorgeous in person than on television, perhaps because during a performance one could experience his full charm. Far taller than Ruby had imagined, he carried himself with the grace of a dancer. Though almost too thin, he was well proportioned with broad shoulders and chest, slender hips and incredibly long legs. He wore a pearl gray shirt and matching trousers, a platinum dagger pin at his throat. His long, dark hair hung in a tail down his back. Those startling dark eyes glittered in the stage lights and several times seemed to fix on Ruby, sending a little thrill of desire coursing through him.
In spite of Ruby’s determination not to like him, Sir Hagen’s pleasant manner and subtle sense of humor won him over. During the performance, Ruby couldn’t help detecting strong psychic energy. At first he thought it must have been another vampire in the audience, then about halfway through the show, he realized the truth.