by Jen Pretty
I walked up to the Tesla as the doors unlocked, climbed in and turned to Randy. "I can meet him tonight at Arnie's around nine."
Randy's face lit up like a Christmas tree. "You won't regret it, Mr. Crowden is a good man. I promise."
I scoffed at Randy’s enthusiasm. Super vamp hadn't killed me yet, so that gave me hope but I wasn't ready to trust a vampire. I couldn't imagine why he would have a job for me either. I didn't exactly have a stellar education or resume.
Randy pulled away from the curb. I was lost in thought when he pulled over and stopped the car. I snapped back to the present. We were outside my apartment, so I hopped out and mumbled my thanks. He pulled up to the parking space and shut off the engine. I guess agreeing to meet Mr. Crowden wasn't enough to get Randy out of babysitting duty.
That evening I sent a text to Frankie to invite him to Arnie's too. The more, the merrier, right? Now that I knew he was some kind of super badass, I wanted him to back me up.
He agreed, but I didn’t tell him I was meeting Mr. Fang-face. Better to beg forgiveness than ask permission.
The bang on my door let me know Frankie was ready to go, so I grabbed my keys and hustled out, trailing after him. It was ten to nine when we rounded the corner and Arnie’s came in sight. A limo was parked outside. Fancy cars did not typically come to this neighbourhood, much less stop for a drink at Arnie’s, so I guess my vamp had arrived.
“Were you expecting him?” Frankie muttered.
“I said I would meet him here.”
Frankie snorted, “Am I your bodyguard tonight?”
He didn’t sound unhappy, and when he looked at me with a slight smirk on his face, I just smiled back and shrugged one shoulder.
He didn’t say anymore as we walked on. He held the door, and I stepped into a packed bar. It might have been a Friday night, but I had never seen so many people at Arnie’s. Scratch that, these were vampires.
“Seems a bit rude, actually,” I muttered, “he doesn’t need this many vampires here.”
Frankie cleared his throat and whispered, “Actually, if he offends me, he would need this many vamps here if he hoped to walk away.”
I gave him the universal ‘holy crap’ face as we were ushered to the back room with the pool tables by Mr. Cowden’s butler. That guy got around, apparently.
“Thank you for agreeing to meet me,” Mr. Crowden said tightly.
I smiled at his obvious discomfort. “No problem, what can I do for you?” Ok, I might have been a bit cocky with my super-wizard standing beside me.
The vampire’s eyes glowed brightly for a second and then simmered down. “I have a proposal for you. You see, vampires can’t identify other vampires by sight. Unless we are familiar with each other, of course. This poses a problem when trying to identify rogue trouble-makers, as you can imagine. I would require your services to track and identify these corrupt vampires. In exchange, I will pay you a decent salary and supply you with accommodation and transportation.
I scoffed, “You want me to wander around looking for vampires? Are you crazy? I’ll be toast the first night. No.”
I swear he was counting to ten again. “I will supply protection,” he paused smugly, “Obviously.”
“Oh,” I stammered, “Well, that makes a difference.” Wait, was I considering this? I shook my head “This is ridiculous, I can’t go looking for that kind of trouble, and you can’t guarantee my safety.”
“You should think about it,” Frankie whispered beside me.
I turned on him. “Are you in on this get Lark dead plan? I thought you were on my side, or at least not on team vampire.”
Arnie walked in then and handed me a drink. I noticed nobody seemed to care that Arnie was hearing some things that might make normal people question. I tucked that piece of information away to ponder later and downed my drink.
When I set my empty glass down on the side of the pool table, Frankie replied, “Lark, this is a serious problem that affects many people. Human people. You must have noticed the problem our city has with missing people.”
Of course, I had noticed. I knew better than anyone what happened when vampires got their hands-on people. Argh. Why couldn’t they just handle their own problems?
“I already have a job,” I said. Obviously, I couldn’t do this vampire hunting business.
Mr. Crowden scoffed, “Yes. I have seen your job. I’m sure a human could do that.”
“I’m a human.”
He flashed his fangs at me, “You can’t possibly be that stupid.”
“Fuck you” I turned to leave, but a bunch of vamps blocked my way. Frankie stepped between me and the vamps.
Mr. Crowden muttered “For crying out loud” under his breath. I heard him, though I think he meant for me to hear him. Then louder he said, “I’m sorry, please don’t leave.”
I spun back to glare at him. Frankie moved back to the Vampire and whispered something to him. I narrowed my eyes at the traitor warlock but when he turned back, the vampires blocking our exit scattered and we left peacefully out the front door of Arnie’s. I trailed along, unsure what had just happened, playing it over in my head to try and make the pieces of information fit. Did that vampire just imply I wasn’t human and what the heck is Arnie?
“What did you say to him?” I asked.
“I just suggested he get his head out of his ass,” Frankie chuckled “That vampire has been king of the hill for too long, maybe.”
I had no frame of reference for vampire behaviour except for the slaughter of my parents. Everyone seemed to think there were ‘not so bad’ vampires and ‘really bad’ vampires. I had to think on this some more.
Thankfully when we got back to the building, Frankie started climbing the stairs to my apartment. I had some questions for him that were long past due and cornering him in my apartment was probably the best way to get my answers. All those questions flew from my head as we rounded the last corner and my smashed open door came into view.
Frankie took the last few steps a couple at a time and made it through the door while I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact my apartment had been broken in to.
I climbed the stairs more cautiously and stepped over what remained of my front door. The place was a disaster. My cruddy couch was sliced open and overturned, clothes from my bedroom were spread on the floor, every dish was broken, and knives were stuck in my table, standing on end like terrifying soldiers. This wasn’t a burglary; this was a message.
CHAPTER SIX
Frankie emerged from my small bedroom, cell phone to his ear, speaking so quietly, if I hadn’t seen his lips moving, I would have thought he wasn’t speaking at all. He quickly pocketed his phone and started grabbing my clothes off the floor.
“Whoa, what are you doing?” I asked, snatching my undies out of his hand and then gathering some more of my more delicate items before he could.
“You can’t stay here. It’s time to go.”
“What do you mean? Who did this? Where would I even go?” I grabbed a backpack that had somehow survived the explosion from the hook by the door and started stuffing things inside. My laptop had been hidden under some towels in the closet, where I always hide it in case anyone ever broke in and the letters I had taken from Mr. Crowden were tucked inside, so I jammed it in my bag. I was having trouble getting a good panic going, probably because I had been in panic mode for most of the last week. I just copied Frankie’s movements until I had a bunch of clothes bagged up.
“Let’s go,” was all he said before he stepped over the broken front door and down the stairs. Just as he disappeared, my body kicked back into gear, and I hurried to catch up to him. Being alone in my trashed apartment-turned-death-threat didn’t seem like a great idea.
“Where are we even going?” I called. He was at the bottom of the stairs now, walking out of view. When I cleared the bottom step, Randy’s Tesla was parked on the street. Frankie was holding the door open and had tossed his armload of my clothes into t
he back seat.
I stopped dead and looked between Randy’s face in the driver’s seat and Frankie’s holding the door open. The message was clear. “I don’t want to go back to the vampire house.”
“I have to go find these people and take care of them. You have to be safe while I’m doing that.”
“I’ll be safe with you, though.”
Frankie sighed, “Not where I’m going.”
We stood in a silent standoff for a few long moments before I finally relented and got in the car.
As the car pulled away from the curb, Frankie disappeared. One moment he was standing on the sidewalk, the next he was gone. I pressed my face against the window to try and see behind us, but he was gone. Apparently, I needed Warlock 101 too.
I didn’t speak on the drive back to Mr. Crowden’s house, but that didn’t stop Randy from filling me in on the house itself, the staff and the other vampires who lived there. He lived in the house too, and though he had grown on me, I hadn’t met any other vampires and wasn’t sure how much safer I would be there, not to mention, Mr. Crowden was a bit of an ass. Staying in his house was probably not going to be pleasant.
The sun was just peeking over the horizon at the end of the street as we turned into the driveway. I had my Saturday morning yoga class in an hour, but I called up the gym and informed them I wouldn’t make it because my apartment had been broken in to. Best to keep as much truth in your lies as possible and my apartment HAD been broken in to. I was crashing and could barely keep my eyes open as Randy pulled up to the front doors of the mansion.
The butler was holding the door as I gathered my loose clothes and full backpack. Then climbed out and mounted the steps.
“Good evening, Miss. Lark,” he said as I walked through the door. I just nodded and gave him a tight smile.
Randy grabbed the extra stuff I awkwardly carried and led the way through the immense mansion to an intricately carved door. He hitched my clothes under one arm and swung the door open. This was not the room I had woken up in after my run-in with the thugs on the street. Inside was a much nicer room than I had ever been in. The walls were covered by an ornate crushed velvet wallpaper in shades of burgundy and silver which was accented by the hammered chrome bed frame and burgundy window coverings. The bed was dressed in black silk sheets, and the floor was a high gloss dark mahogany. I could easily picture the room in one of the home designer magazines I sometimes skimmed through at the store.
Randy dropped my stuff on the bed and turned to me. “This is your room. The kitchen is on the main floor, and it’s fully stocked, but if there is something you need, just let Drake know. You have your own bathroom.” Across the room, he opened the door to what appeared to be a luxurious bathroom.
“Who is Drake?” I asked, dropping my bag on the bed.
“He is the house manager. He said hi to you at the door.”
“Oh, I thought he was a butler.” I walked over to check out the bathroom. It was as fancy as I expected. Beautiful granite counters, a claw foot soaker tub and marble shower stall. It looked like it was stocked with soaps and shampoos too, thankfully.
“I guess it’s the same thing, but butler is such an outdated word. House manager sounds cooler.”
I chuckled, “I guess that’s true. Thanks, Randy,” he smiled with his lips closed. I noticed he had started doing that around me like he didn’t want me to see his fangs. I couldn’t help but feel for him. He was kind of soft and gentle, not even close to my idea of a monster.
Randy waved, walked out the door and closed it behind him. I flicked the lock, went back into the bathroom, and turned on the bathtub taps. My apartment only had a shower, so I hadn’t had a bath in a long time. I added some soap I found on the side of the tub and waited for it to fill. The water was scalding, and every time I checked, it was still really hot. I ended up adding some cold water before I could get in. I was still nervous but with the bedroom door locked and the bathroom door locked I felt almost safe enough to relax for a few minutes. I dunked under the water in the giant tub. It was probably big enough to be a hot tub. I soaked for a while but kept dozing off so got out and changed into some pyjamas before crawling under the soft, smooth sheets and falling asleep.
“Good Evening, Lark,” a deep, cultured voice intoned, pulling me from my sleep.
My eyes sprung open, and I sat up so fast the room spun. It took me a second to remember where I was, but then I was in full flight mode. I swung off the far side of the bed and backed away from the voice and the vampire it belonged to.
“What are you doing in my room?” I asked indignantly.
He sat, legs crossed, in an armchair in the corner, looking like a loose imitation of a refined gentleman. If it hadn’t been for his glowing eyes, I would have believed the farce. “This is actually my room since it is in my house, but I would like to speak with you about your job.”
“God, have you never heard of knocking? Go away. I have to get dressed.”
“Very well. I’ll meet you in the study.” He stood and left, closing the open door behind him.
I crossed the room and relocked the door. Apparently, that wouldn’t stop super vamp from coming in, but it was all I had. In the bathroom, I caught a glimpse of my hair in the mirror. My usually low maintenance hair had turned against me. It was sticking up in places and twisted around like wind knots in a wild mustang’s mane. Super. I hopped in the shower quickly and tamed the crazy with extra conditioner then got dressed and wandered out to find the study.
I passed a large dining hall with about a dozen people, scratch that, Vampires sitting around a large table eating and chatting quietly. Flashing eyes and ragged teeth. A few of them looked up as I passed the open doorway in search of the elusive study. My apartment had one benefit, you couldn’t get lost in it. This mansion was basically a maze with several different levels.
I finally bumped into Drake, the house manager, and he led me to the study.
Mr. Crowden faced away from the door, leaning back in his desk chair on an apparently silent phone call with someone. When he spun around, I saw his lips moving silently like Frankie’s had last night. It must have been some kind of super thing. Super vamp, super warlock. Whatever.
Mr. Super vamp ended his call and set his cell on the desk. “You look a little better.” He smiled. Prick.
“What do you expect; coming into my room uninvited?”
“I won’t remind you that it’s my room since we have things to discuss and no time for inconsequential semantics.” He stood and strolled around to the front of his desk, then leaned against it, facing me. I was still standing just inside the doorway, but he motioned me to take a seat in front of him.
Instead, I just narrowed my eyes and remained a safe distance from the bloodsucker. He grinned and continued.
“I would like you to start right away. Tonight, if possible.”
I snorted “I thought we discussed this and decided it was too dangerous and stupid.”
He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, “I will keep you protected. You won’t be in any danger.”
I decided to switch tactics, “I already have a job. Two actually, I teach yoga twice a week.”
He hummed for a moment then continued “You can continue to teach yoga, it’s your night job that has to go. I’m sure it won’t take them long to replace you.
“You can’t actually tell me what to do. It’s my life.”
“It’s only your life because I allow you to keep living it.”
I spun on my heel intent on escaping, but he was there a second later, blocking my exit. “You can’t just keep running away. You are the only person who can fill this position, and you will do this.”
His eyes were glowing like the headlights of a car, and I was caught. Nowhere to go, my heart pounding in my chest like a steel drum. “Just kill me and get it over with. I’ve been waiting for another one of you demons to find me for most of my life. It’s not like I can stop you.”
He scof
fed, “This is a pointless conversation. I’m not going to kill you.”
“Argh, then why are you always threatening me? Get out of my way.” I tried to push him, but he was made of stone, apparently.
“I have tried to ask nicely, but you don’t seem to respond to that either, so, tell me, how do I get you to do this? What will it take?”
“This a negotiation now?” I mumbled, stepping back from the monster turned businessman.
“Yes, what do you want? You must want something.”
Of course, I knew what I wanted. What I had been working towards for years but there was no way this vamp would ever give it to me. “I want my own yoga studio.”
“Done.”
Shit, “And a million dollars.”
“You work for me for a year, and I will transfer a million into your bank account. In the meantime, you work only for me. You may run your yoga studio during daylight as long as you are available after dark.”
Well, I sure walked into that one, didn’t I? That’s the thing about negotiations, you can end up agreeing to something accidentally, and I just agreed to work for a blood-sucking monster.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“You will start tonight. I have a team ready. They will follow you and take care of any rogue vampires you identify. You will live here since your home is no longer safe and Randy will drive you where you need to go. I’ll contact my lawyer to draw up the contracts and a realtor to set up some studio viewings. Do you have any questions?”
I sputtered for a moment trying to take in the information dump. The sound of his long fingers tapping on the desk distracted me from my task. Impatient vamp. “You have a team ready?” I ask, “Wait, what happened at my apartment? Who did that?”