1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Twelve

by Alexandra Ivy

  “Shit, are you sure this is legit?” I asked. I was half convinced this was just going to be a bunch of weirdos who thought they were vampires. Which, you know, hey whatever floated their boats as long as I still got paid. We were down to crumbs in our fridge.

  Cassie leaned into me and dropped her voice. “I swear. Javier showed me the marks on his neck.”

  I scoffed. “He could have made them himself.”

  One second, we were staring at a brick wall, and in the next second, the bricks were blurred—actually blurred out like a dream sequence—and a giant form stood in front of us.

  By giant, I mean giant. He stood probably seven feet tall, a bulky mass of muscle beneath a pair of jeans and long trench coat. His boots were larger than my head, and when he smiled, fangs punched down against his lower lip.

  “Passes, ladies.” He held out his hand, and we both stared at the giant fleshy thing.

  I’d told myself earlier today this was true, that vampires existed, but now that one was standing in front of us, I realized I wasn’t prepared. No fucking way.

  My gaze lifted back up to his face, and I pointed at my own teeth. “Those are… those are real?

  Cassie hissed something at me.

  The vampire’s smile didn’t waver. “Yeah, want to touch one?”

  “Nope.” I held up my hands. “I’m good. You’re good. We’re all good. Great, good, great—oomph.” Cassie saved me from my runaway tongue with a swift elbow to the ribs.

  She smiled her flirtatious Cassie smile at the vampire while I caught my breath. From her top, she pulled our passes that she’d received from Javier and handed them over to the big man. He glanced at them, and then stepped to the side, pointing at the blurry wall of brick. “Go on and walk through, and I’ll take you to Bite.”

  Cassie took a step forward but I didn’t budge. Wait a minute. This was moving a little fast. “Uh, hey, can I ask a question first?”

  Cassie turned around and bugged her eyes out at me. “Roxy!”

  “Second question.” The vampire said.

  “What?”

  “This is your second question, but go ahead.”

  Oh, so we had a wise guy vampire guide. Figured. “This is a paid gig, right? So when does the money exchange hands?”

  The vampire looked half amused, half irritated with me. “Blood first, money second.”

  I frowned. “That doesn’t seem fair. You all have the upper hand down there. How do I know you’re not going to keep me down there as a blood slave or something—”

  Amusement fled the vampire’s face like a receding tide. “That is against the laws of our clan. For centuries we have vowed never to harm humans, or drink their blood without their consent and as long as I breathe, it’ll be that way for centuries more.”

  When he finished talking, his shoulders were heaving, fists clenched, eyes swirling. And I was trembling so hard my teeth clacked. I liked to think I was a badass, but in no way did I have bravado in front of a pissed-off vampire. I’d made a joke that had offended him, and he wasn’t going to let it slide. I swallowed, trying to calm my racing nerves, while Cassie stood nearby, her face pale as a sheet.

  “I-I’m sorry,” I said to the vampire.

  His shoulders relaxed a bit. “It’s okay. That is… not a joke to us. We do not harm humans. You have my word.”

  The way he said his last sentence, I realized that was a big deal to him, to give me his word. Words didn’t mean shit to humans anymore, but I wasn’t going to get into that with him. I nodded. “Okay, thank you.”

  He gestured behind him at the shimmering door. “Are you going to attend Bite tonight then?”

  “We just…walk through that wall?” I asked,

  Cassie looked like she was going to murder me.

  “It’s a portal,” the vampire said. “We’ve installed them several places around the city. Only the members of our clan—the Gregorie clan—can activate the portals to access the tunnels. They’ve long been sealed over to humans.”

  I glanced at Cassie, and then down at my pinched toes in my heels. I lifted my head and looked the vampire square in the eye. “Okay. Yeah. I’m ready.”

  With one last look back at Mission, I followed Cassie through the door.

  We walked down a set of damp concrete steps. Our guide—his name was Zeb, we learned—explained how the club would work. He was adamant we’d never be forced to do anything we didn’t want to do, which was a nice thing to hear, but I’d believe it when I saw it. He also explained that before we were bitten, we’d inhale somnus, which was a gaseous drug the vampires secreted from their wrists. It was also what they used to activate the portals. Zeb said the somnus would make us feel like we had a good alcohol buzz, and was necessary because without it, their saliva would turn us into vampires. So yeah, somnus and I were gonna be friends.

  Vampires couldn’t get human venereal diseases, and didn’t really understand condoms, so we the burden of birth control was on the humans. No problem, I had an IUD, but I wasn’t intending to get quite that intimate with a vampire anyway.

  Zeb also told us he was part of the Gregorie clan—named after the ruling family. I asked if there were more of these “clans” and all he said there was another in Mission, but they were not friendly to humans. When I tried to ask more questions about them, he clammed up.

  We walked down a long hallway lit only by sparse wall lights until we reached a nondescript door that only said BITE along the top.

  He turned around at the door and faced us. “Either of you change your minds?”

  “What if—?” Zeb’s gaze shifted to me, and Cassie rolled her eyes. I glared at her. “I’m just wondering if I can change my mind once I’m in there.”

  “Sure.” He grinned, all fangs and white teeth. “But I doubt you will.”

  I decided not to ask what that meant. Maybe ignorance was bliss here.

  “We’re ready,” Cassie said.

  “Feel free to dance and loosen up first.” Zeb said. “You can always turn down a vampire who approaches you. Once you meet, they will likely take you to the Feeding Room. At midnight, all humans go there to be picked by a vampire. They feed; you get the money. Any questions?”

  He looked at me pointedly. I shook my head.

  With a nod, he opened up the door and waved us inside. The base of the music hit me like a punch to the gut and a resounding boom rattled my spine. The heat was like a wall, and I could already feel sweat dripping down my neck. I took off my leather jacket and tossed it on a rack along the wall with a dozen other jackets. I was loath to part with it, because I loved that jacket, but I also didn’t want to die of heatstroke.

  Cassie and I made our way toward the dance floor, where a spotlight roamed over a mass of bodies. Everywhere I looked, I saw skin. Vampire males apparently hated shirts? Because glistening pecs were everywhere. Was that sweat or blood clinging to that man’s nipple? Actually, never mind. “Ignorance is bliss. Ignorance is bliss.” I chanted to myself.

  “What are you saying?” Cassie yelled over the music.

  “I need a drink!” I answered. Wait, did alcohol in my blood affect its…value? See, there I went with more questions.

  Cassie was already grooving to the music and about three vampire studs were checking her out. With every sway of her hips, her skirt brushed the bottom of her ass. Was she wearing underwear? Fuck, I needed a Xanax.

  I glanced off to the side of the dance floor, where there was a large area full of couches. I wasn’t sure what I pictured when Javier had told us this was a club with no inhibitions. But whatever I imagined didn’t prepare me for what I saw. The lights were dim, but I could still make out the activities going on.

  Now I understood why we were supposed to dress like sex. The walls, the couches, heck even some of the floor was covered with partially dressed bodies. I was starting to be able to pick out the vampires right away. They were generally larger than humans, with large jaws to accommodate their fangs. And there was some
thing about the way they carried themselves that was altogether not human.

  Cassie and I stared as a male vampire stuck his tongue in a human man’s mouth, and then his hand down the man’s pants. The man’s knees buckled, then his body convulsed as his head fell back and his lips parted on a moan I couldn’t hear, but could feel.

  On the couch behind them, a male vampire lay on top of a human woman, his hips churning between her legs. Even with the pounding base, I could hear her loud cries of ecstasy.

  Cassie exhaled loudly. “See? We can get vampire dick and cash. Sign me the fuck up.”

  “Pretty sure you already signed up, tiger.” I nodded to the dance floor. “Get out there.”

  She ran her tongue over her teeth, moving her body in a way I wished I could. She tossed her hair over her shoulder and shot me a sexy grin. “I love it here. It feels so free!”

  I guessed that was one way to describe it.

  I tapped her on the arm as one vampire who’d been checking her out strode toward us. “Hey, uh, I’m going to grab a drink. Go do your thing.”

  She lashed out a hand and gripped my wrist. “You okay?”

  I smiled and lied. “Yep, fine! We’ll meet up in the Feeding Room, okay?”

  She blew me a kiss, and then turned right into the bare muscled chest of a vampire who looked like he was going to devour her. Literally.

  I skittered away, the dance floor making me feel claustrophobic. I wasn’t sure where to go. I was here, so I wanted the cash. Maybe it would be better to stay out of the way, then head to the Feeding Room at midnight, get bitten, and get the fuck out. Did I really have to make a friend? As amazing as orgasms were, I was kinda cool keeping my pants on too.

  Why did this have to be a social thing? Where did I sign up for the quick feeding with zero house music and orgies? Vampires needed to know about drive-throughs.

  Near the bar was a small hallway and I ducked into the entrance, hoping to blend into the shadows. Too bad I hadn’t brought a book. I slid my back down the wall until I sat on the floor. Bending my neck forward until my hair formed a curtain to hide my face, I prepared to wait until I was shuttled into the Feeding Room at midnight. I’d make up a story to tell Cassie of course. Something that involved a sexy vampire with a big dick and talented hands. I would let my fantasy steer toward his tongue between my thighs, but I had questions about fangs and delicate skin.

  The music changed, and I closed my eyes, wondering if I could get a quick nap in. Then the light shifted, just a slight flicker that I noticed from behind the thin skin of my eyelids. I opened my eyes, not lifting my head yet or making any sort of movement, to see two giant black boots planted in front of me.

  I wasn’t stupid. Of course whoever was attached to those boots saw me, but I told myself if I didn’t move, maybe they’d go away. Move on. Go meet someone interesting who wasn’t cowering in a dark hallway.

  But then the vampire crouched, his massive legs folding so I got a glance of thick thighs and massive hands that could palm my skull.

  One of those hands extended toward me. It took everything in me not to flinch or run away. My heart was pounding out of my chest, the beat of it rivaling the music out on the dance floor. One finger touched the bottom of my chin and lifted.

  My gaze went up taking in a muscled torso and broad shoulders covered in a dark T-shirt. I squeezed my eyes shut before I got to his mouth. He had to be a vampire; he was huge. Bigger than Zeb. Bigger than the ones I saw on the dance floor.

  Wait, maybe this was a good thing he was big. Surely he’d want someone with more…blood, right? A larger person?

  “Look at me,” his deep voice rumbled.

  The command was like a hand plunging itself into my throat and tightening around my heart. I had to obey. There was no ignoring this voice.

  I opened one eye to look into the dark gaze of a vampire. His black hair was brushed back, although a few strands fell down his forehead, nearly covering one eyes. His full lips were parted slightly, just enough that I could see the tips of white fangs touching his lower lip. His chin was pronounced, cheekbones high and sharp. And those eyes were pools so dark that I nearly tipped over and fell inside.

  He didn’t say anything, and so I opened my mouth and said the first thing that entered my brain. “Okay, I’m looking at you.”

  He didn’t grin. He didn’t react at all, and that finger of his hadn’t left my chin, like he knew if he let go, I’d break his gaze. I wouldn’t. I was pretty sure I couldn’t. Did he cast a spell on me? I had thought vampires didn’t have magic, but that was before I saw them make a door out of a solid wall.

  I probably shouldn’t be back here. Would he kick me out? Shit. I needed this money, and I hoped I didn’t blow it. “Am I in trouble? I just came back here to get a breather.” Shit I was rambling, the words tumbling out of my mouth like blood from burst vein. “I’m totally prepared for the, uh, feeding and stuff. All about giving up the blood. Totally cool with it.” I held up my wrists and rotated them. “See? Clean. Good to go.” I beamed a bright smile.

  The vampire stared at me for a long time, and just when I began to tremble a bit under his heavy glare, his gaze shifted to my neck.

  My pulse was out of control now, an escalating ra pam, ra pum, ra pum in my neck. Could he see the veins? Could he smell the blood as it rushed underneath my skin?

  “Do you—” My throat went dry. “Do you need to feed?”

  His head tilted slightly, and then he reached out and wrapped his long fingers around my forearm. I held back a gasp at his grip as he studied the underside of my wrist. His thumb brushed the skin before dropping my arm. I shuddered at the brief touch.

  “First time?” he asked. I nodded as I nibbled my lip. His gaze dipped again then rose back to meet my eyes. “I don’t need to feed from you.”

  “Oh.” I didn’t know what to think about the pang of disappointment that streaked through my chest. I was terrified of this guy. He’d probably rip out an entire vein with that massive mouth. He cleared this throat, and I realized I’d been staring at his lips.

  I shook my head, wondering what was wrong with me. I relied on my wits, and here I was caught staring at this vampire’s lips, wondering what it would be like to feel them on my neck.

  The vampire rose to standing, and gestured for me to stand up. It took me a bit to scramble to my feet and I wobbled slightly on my heels. He steadied me with a hand on my elbow. “I’ll escort you through the club and set you up in a private room until it’s midnight.”

  Well, that was nice. He wasn’t giving me the option of staying here in my dark hallway, but what he suggested couldn’t be bad. Except… “I’m sorry but who are you? Do you have ID or a business card or something?”

  He stared at me like I had three heads. “Dru.”

  “Is that your name or some vampire title?”

  Again with the stare like I was fucking crazy. “My name.”

  “And—”

  “I’m head of security.”

  Head of—Oh. Oh. He was a big shot. “Nice to meet you. I’m Roxy.”

  His lips moved, like he was sounding out my name, but he didn’t make a sound. He dropped his hand on my elbow, jerked his head in an indication for me to follow him, and walked into the club. I did my best to keep up with his long strides.

  We skirted the dance floor, and I kept my head down, eyes on my feet. When a husky moan reached my ears, louder than the base of the music, I assumed we’d moved into the couch orgy portion of the club.

  The moans were plentiful, and the obscene noises coming from the couches had my head coming up, my gaze sweeping the area. Because really? Who wouldn’t stop to look at this?

  Three female vampires were topless, writhing on a couch in a mass of limbs…wait was there a fourth? I counted off the legs I saw, but got lost at five and had to start over.

  My head whipped to the side at the sound of some filthy words, and I saw Cassie on the couch, head back, legs spread, her skirt pushed up
around her waist. A male vampire flicked a nipple on her pale breast, his white fangs flashing in the eerie light of the club. A shudder ran through her entire body as his lips grazed the underside of her other breast and he made his way down, down…

  Cassie’s head fell forward, she opened her eyes, and locked gazes with me. Fuck, I was a voyeur, spying on my friend. But damn, she looked so happy, face flushed with pleasure. I shot her a thumbs up, which was geeky as hell, but the only thing my hands wanted to do. Her shoulders shook with a silent laugh, and then she winked at me just as the vampire did something between her legs that had her eyes squeezing shut again.

  Okay I needed to look away now. My friend was happy and clearly being take care of. So, yeah. She was getting hers. I was being led to a private room where I could be by myself. At least one of us was getting the full vampire club experience.

  A shadow fell over me, and I realized that I’d been planted in one place, staring at Cassie. Dru was probably not pleased. I glanced up, an apology on the tip of my tongue, only to look into the eyes of a vampire who was decidedly not Dru.

  This one wasn’t quite as big as Dru but still bigger than a human. His lips were pulled back, fangs massive in his slick grin. His hair was long, brushing the top of his shoulders. His nostrils flared as he peered down, and his gaze settled on me like a rain of icicles. My hands instinctively came up and I wrapped them around my middle, glancing around for Dru. Fuck, how did I lose the biggest damn vampire in the place?

  “Ah, pretty human,” he said, his raspy voice like a swarm of bees. “No need to hide. I see how you’re intrigued by what’s happening around you.” He took a step closer and alarm bells rang in my ears. I should step back, get away… “I can make you feel so good, better than you’ve ever felt in your life.”

  I opened my mouth but with a quick movement, he had me backed up against a wall. I couldn’t see Cassie from behind the male’s big body, and I wasn’t sure she’d hear me anyway if I yelled for help, not with the loud music.