Taste For Blood: Stir (Nephil-Vamp Series Book 1)

by Jenna Bernel

  I'd learned a lot about the rules of our kind by frequenting these seedy establishments, and that stranger in the boutique who so blatantly nuzzled my neck was the last to do so without my permission. I didn't invite this mammoth pig's attention, and I was no blood whore to be gawked at with his disgusting snout. He stopped his breathing and shifted his eyes immediately to the ceiling in embarrassment, no doubt combined with the valid fear of being reported. As a bouncer for The Basement, he was probably not used to this kind of confrontation. Maybe most girls would have ignored him. Normally, I would have too, but I was in no mood to be tolerant of seasoned Neanderthals tonight. In fact, I was tempted to rip off this vamp’s head in order to ease my temper.

  "Sorry madam, please proceed." The towering bouncer said, opening the door and still looking at the ceiling while holding his breath. I retracted my fangs, giving him a good glare before deciding to let it go. I kicked my heel up and slammed it against the steel door, leaving a dent in it, instead of his face. The red lights washed over me when I stepped into the second hall, and he quickly shut the door behind me, obviously relieved I was out of his over-gelled hair. My eyes adjusted once again onto the door bearing our mark at the end of the red-soaked hall. I walked slowly toward it, my blouse swaying from side-to-side as I dragged my fingers along the rough texture of the peeling wall, getting into the headspace for using my favorite, but most dangerous Gift.

  This Gift required a significant amount of energy, and I already felt exhausted tonight. A part of me wondered if I would have the strength to go through with it. I took a few deep breaths, letting the heat of my tingling power blanket me. I could feel my amethyst eyes shining from within, without restraint or concealment. It was then that I felt my strength and resolve again. "This is your purpose," I whispered quietly to myself, knowing I was ready to change someone's life tonight, forever.

  Chapter 2: Red Champagne

  When I opened the door painted with the ten-pointed star, its black, interlaced lines looked like the devil’s snowflake. It was fitting in a way, because you would have thought I just stepped through a portal into the nether world. You didn't have to be like me to see them now, because the danger of gathering so many of us in one space felt absolutely palpable, probably even to a human. And it didn't help that droves of scantily clothed bodies oscillated on the dance floor, every one of them baring their perfectly polished fangs, while seductively dragging them over hands, arms and necks, as they grinded with their playmates.

  The red lit room pulsated from the bass, giving the whole space the sense of a living organism with a single heartbeat, and making it very appealing to its members. I had to swallow down a smile and play it cool, but it was always exhilarating to be here. To an outsider, it would have looked like something out of a bad Russian mobster movie gone terribly wrong, but I was in my element here, and it felt comfortable to me.

  I moved through the crowd easily now, gliding across the floor with an elegant swiftness. It might have looked like I was floating. No clumsy teenager down here, just confident, “back-off bitches” Daniella. I passed through the hot, sticky bodies of the blood whore pool, most of their escorts looking at me with approval. They recognized the familiar rose water filling their senses and must have noticed my Infinity status, even if they didn't dare inhale me so crudely as the bouncer. The attention always made me feel special in a way, although I'd never show it. A part of me liked it because I certainly never got this level of attention in school. Harper pretty much demanded it from those within a twenty-foot radius of her. But now that I think of it, Harper insisted the whole damn population at Mapleton Prep bow to her feet just for gracing us with her presence.

  I managed my way through the tightly packed dance area, saving my school woes for Monday. This was my house, not Harper's, so I assertively took a seat at the glass bar that slowly turned different shades of blue, which when mixed with the red illumination, gave it the look of a pulsating vein, with one color bleeding into the next. When the bartender turned, he smiled at my familiar face. Brooks was the only employee here who wasn't regularly rotated out, like the bouncers and cocktail waitresses, probably because he had such a good rapport with The Basement members. He was also the only one who knew anyone by name, and the only one allowed to ask it, for that matter. As members moved, or turned new vamps and drained old blood whores, the scene was continually changing, but Brooks remained the same. Since its location was always different, there was something comfortable about his consistency, which like everything else in The Basement, was probably by design. I couldn't let my guard down with Brooks, as tempting as it was. I had to remember whom he worked for.

  "Daniella, I'm so happy you came out tonight. You look gorgeous," Brooks said, taking up my hand to kiss the top of it. I would have blushed if I were capable of doing so. Brooks was so friendly, for a vampire anyway.

  "Looks to be a good crowd tonight, lots of newcomers," I said assessing the room, and he nodded in agreement.

  "Thirsty?" Brooks asked with a slight smile, as if it were some inside joke, even though the whole room was in on it.

  "Very," I replied with a wink. He pulled a cobalt blue wine glass from its rack and set it in front of me. Then he popped the cork of a dark green bottle and poured me a glass of the fizzy red liquid they call Red Champagne. It is really just a fancy name for carbonated blood, the specialty here and a favorite amongst the members. Their carbonation technique has a way of bringing out all the exceptional flavor profiles that are unique to each bottle, or person, I should say. I tested it with a small sip to see if I liked the bouquet.

  "Mmm, flowery," I said to Brooks with a salute of my glass in approval, and he smiled.

  "Only the best for our loveliest Infinity. It's a new Italian vintage. I drained him myself," he said proudly, pouring himself a glass. I quickly took another sip and clanged my glass with his, toasting my approval.

  "I've known you too long for silly flattery, Brooks, but thank you?" I said, turning my swiveled stool to watch the dancers. The rhythm of the music reverberated through me as I let the effects of the Red Champagne take over. I could feel my power becoming even stronger the longer I let it imbue my veins, as my neck almost visibly pillowed, and cloudy puffs of intoxicatingly irresistible pheromones, gave me an aura impossible to ignore. I didn't always like it. It often made me feel like a target, or someone's prey to claim, but as long as I stayed confident, I was the hunter in this warped game of cat and mouse. I felt hundreds of eyes trying to find mine, wanting a signal for the next step, but I was only interested in one.

  Then, as the music slowed, and some dancers parted to go find private rooms with their blood whores, or mates for the night, or both, I saw him, Henry, the one whose face I crumpled up in my purse. He was dirty dancing with a girl with short blonde hair, and her leather skirt was riding dangerously high on her thighs as he moved his hands over them. His features were sharper and more distinguished now, but it was definitely him. The blonde he was dancing with tilted her chin up to expose her neck, enticing him to go take her to a back room, and he dipped down to kiss her warm skin, as a PG preview. I swirled my glass in slow, methodical circles and focused my energy in his direction. Henry looked up at me through his lashes, his lips still firmly planted on the blonde's neck. I gave him a tilt of my glass, flashing my fangs before I swiveled in my stool to once again face the bar.

  "Find something you like?" Brooks asked, his voice dripping with insinuation.

  "Maybe," I slowly shrugged, biting my lip ever so slightly and revealing just the tip of my right fang.

  "He might be a little young for you, just turned six months ago," Brooks warned me. He knew the blood of one as young as Henry wouldn't have the same effect for me as an older vampire would.

  "That's all right, Brooks; you know I like em' young. They're always so appreciative of their first Infinity." I looked up at him with a mocking innocence, and he smiled wide, revealing his own set of fangs.

  Then I felt hi
m. Henry accepted my invitation and was standing directly behind my right shoulder. His cool, rapid breath bathed my skin as he was barely able to contain himself with the thought of sinking his teeth into me. I had to move fast before he lost his composure, and bit me right out here in the open, an act for which he would surely be stricken down where he stood, by that mammoth pig bouncer, no less, for daring to break the rules of the 7th Circle.

  I turned my face toward him, just enough so he could see my profile. "Hello," I gave him a slow blink, the long curl of my dark lashes almost reaching my brow line.

  "Hello." Henry's voice was husky and low with desire at the thought of taking a drink of my coveted blood, sure to give him the high of his life, especially for such a young vamp. The blonde in the short skirt stumbled up next to him, almost bumping into my shoulder.

  "Are we going or what? Hey… don't I know you?" She addressed me, her eyes squinting at me as she scrutinized my familiar profile through her foggy haze.

  Shit. Her back was to me on the dance floor, but now I saw it was Audrey. Her head was slouched on Henry's shoulder, too drunk and high to even hold it up, but of course, she had to recognize me tonight.

  Eli's ex, whom I only met once or twice was now a full-on blood whore. No wonder he was upset when he spotted her on the camera. She looked like a hot mess. Dilated, yellowing eyes, fresh holes in her wrist and collarbone, she was clearly drunk off a combination of liquor and the toxin we release into their systems when we bite. It's an addictive drug and very deadly for humans. The toxin acts like heroin, and just like heroin, it hooks you first, then kills you sooner or later, but mostly sooner. Audrey looked very close to her last drain. The stupid ones think it's the same as our venom, falsely believing it'll eventually turn them into vampires and assume there's no real danger. They’re too doped up to notice they're dying, not becoming immortal.

  "Who is this whore? Doesn't your pet know not to address others when in your company?" I snapped, recalling the club rule that tries to keep young, dumb vamps from brawling over blood. Henry swallowed nervously, clearly worried he missed his chance with me, and tilted Audrey's chin up from his shoulder so she could see his eyes.

  A subtle blue shimmer found her face. "Shhhhh." Henry put his index finger to his lips as he made the sound, and Audrey nodded to his command. I internally sighed with relief.

  "Shall we?" Cutting out the usual small talk, I turned in my stool to face him now, and he nodded, too nervous to say another word and screw this up. I set my wine glass on the bar and saw Brooks's crooked smile as we walked away.

  "Bring her for a snack, if you're willing to share," I said to Henry as I walked past him, taking the lead to the hall of rooms, and I knew he would. He'd pretty much do whatever I said at this point, but I tried to keep it limited to minor requests.

  I didn't turn around. I could hear Henry's eager breathing, along with Audrey's sloppy steps behind me as we walked. I pursued the unlit corners beyond the open space of the club until I found the hall with at least a dozen doors on either side. I didn't stop until I reached the last door on the right, as Eli instructed. I heard nothing on the other side, giving me the unoccupied go-ahead, as I tentatively rotated the cold metal knob to enter. My breath hitched ever so slightly when I walked through, my excitement getting the best of me, and hoped Henry didn't notice. When I turned to face him, he was practically drooling now as his eyes focused on me.

  The room was nothing special, a dirty cement floor, a bed, and a chair. You don't need much for what goes on back here. I immediately located the second door in the room that led to the alley exit, confirming Eli's surveillance. The door's soot-covered surface sat just past the bed on the left, and I knew he was waiting for me on the other side. I sauntered over to the bed and sat down, flirtatiously patting my hand on the mattress for Henry to come join me.

  His eyes watched my hand on the bed before widening with delight at the thought of what else could happen between us tonight. He wouldn't be getting that lucky. No one ever does. A breeze brushed my face when Henry sat down next to me a second later; and Audrey practically collapsed into the chair as Henry moved in light-speed to my side, removing the support of his shoulder from her. She was so drunk, she looked like she might topple right onto the floor. I could see her underwear, her skirt was riding so high, as her head beer-bobbled from side-to-side. Henry didn't even notice Audrey anymore. In this small, faintly lit space, he was looking only at me, and when I met his eyes, he licked his lips with anticipation, raking his gaze over my entire body.

  "Is it really as great as everyone says?" He asked, no longer able to silence himself, almost like a child asking if Santa really exists.

  "Better," I replied, pressing my hand on top of his. If he still had a heartbeat, it would be racing right now. When vampires share a taste, it's a magnificent high, and unlike blood whores, the toxin doesn't have the same fatal effects for us, although I often wonder if it is equally addictive. Each time we share, the experience is always different because we are all unique, just like humans. All vampires have similar traits and gifts, but our scents and attributes vary, and some of us are Gifted. When you're Gifted, you have a power beyond that of a traditional vampire. Infinities are even more rare because you not only get high from our blood, but whatever special Gifts we possess like telepathy, telekinesis, or invisibility, they're transposed to the receiving vampire for a short time. Unless revealed by the Infinity, there is no telling what Gift you might be blessed with, even if only for an hour or two.

  I've seen many types of Gifts. Most Infinities have more than one, and the possibilities are endless. Since we tend to be private when speaking of our special talents, it's like playing the vampire lottery. In our case, everyone is desperate to participate, and who wouldn’t want to? Especially when you're guaranteed to win. Truthfully, we are greedy creatures, and the chance to possess an even greater power beyond that which we already have is an irresistible lure, and one of the reasons Infinities are so sought after.

  It took me a long time to learn about my kind, as well as the Vampire Hierarchy, and how I could use it to play my wild card in this hand of power poker. Each time I lay down my cards, it feels like the first. It was right here, in a room just like this, with a vampire that smelled of blood orange and cherries when I discovered what a taste of my blood could do. It was a greater Gift than anyone could receive; and one droplet was all it took to hit the jackpot.

  I lifted my dark, auburn hair, letting the long, shiny waves fall over my left shoulder, to expose the delicate, tawny skin of my neck. I traced my hand along my collarbone, pulling at the strap of my silky top until it fell just over my shoulder. Henry's eyes were fixed on my bare neck where it curves up to my earlobe and you would normally see the subtle pattering of a pulse. The sight of my pulse was nonexistent, but Henry was so fixated, you would have thought he was hypnotized by its steady, invisible drumming, and I immediately felt anxious and paranoid.

  This was not good. The more feelings that were stirred, the more danger I was in, so I quickly closed my eyes before I chickened out and aborted the mission. Behind my closed eyes, I was picturing Henry's face, blushing with a happy smile, wearing a baseball cap over his messy hair, looking youthful and innocent like the photograph I memorized.

  I leaned in toward him, and he took a deep, audible breath as he placed his soft, chilled lips on my skin in a gentle, polite kiss of gratitude before I heard the springing of his fangs. I truly hoped he was grateful. The small sharp blades pierced my flesh, and I gasped. It somehow always took me by surprise, like sticking your hand out toward a snake. You always flinch when it strikes. My blood burned hot, the toxin from his bite making my head feel delightfully fuzzy as a thin trail of deep red trickled from my neck down my chest, staining my blouse. When he took his first drink, Henry pulled me closer, completely enraptured in ecstasy from his high, and I put my hand to the back of his head in preparation, trying to stay focused, despite my own enlightened sensations.


  Before he could swallow another drop, he shot upright up from my exposed neck, taking in a sharp groan of gurgled breath, and clutched at his throat like he was choking. Then he grabbed his chest as if he were having a massive heart attack, and I kept my hold on his head, even though from my own high, it looked like he had two heads instead of one. Soon his eyes went as wide as golf balls, bulging from their sockets, before rolling into the back of his skull and showing me their whites.

  "It's going to be okay," I whispered as soothingly as possible when the weight of his head fell into my hand. I eased him back onto the bed as he started convulsing wildly, and Audrey let out a small scream of surprise from her chair, while looking much more sober all of a sudden. I jumped to her side in one leap, clasping my hand over her mouth as I looked into her yellowed, bloodshot eyes.

  "Shut up," I snipped sharply. The daze of my Trance took over her face and she nodded her head. Not that they’re not used to hearing screams behind these doors, I just didn't want to risk anything. With another super speed stride, I was at the exit door beside the bed. It wouldn't open willingly. They usually melted the lock shut so blood whores couldn't escape without being Tranced with a good cover story, as well as healing their puncture wounds first. I gave the door a hard shove with my hip. It practically popped off its hinges, but I wobbled from the effort, still feeling a bit fuzzy. I let out a dopey giggle in my tingly haze, thinking someone probably heard me and was wishing to partake of the feisty time we must have been having in here.

  I peeled the door open the rest of the way, and the light from the alley's industrial lamp poured into the room, fully exposing Henry's violent seizure on the bed. He was flopping so hard at this point, he was about to fall to the floor, but I had to keep moving. I gave a small wave toward the brake lights I saw waiting at the opening of the alley, and heard the squeal of tires as Eli backed up his car before stopping right in front of the broken down door. He jumped out of the car with a blow torch and tools in hand, ready to reattach the door. I bolted back into the room and picked Henry up off the bed. I gently placed him in the back seat of the car as he shook wildly in my arms.