by Alex Owens
“Here, here.”
“Salud.”
Glasses chinked and everyone downed their laced drinks. Everyone but me, that is.
“Drink,” said Dangerous.
I drank slowly at first, because hell, the champagne did have blood in it. But then as the blood hit my taste buds, hunger took over. I gulped until the glass was empty. Then I tilted the glass up waiting for the last drop to slide out. I licked at the sides trying to get every last molecule. Table manners were not a priority.
“Clearly, she likes it,” said China, “but shouldn’t she need more? Does she even have fangs?”
It was a good question, really. I ran my tongue over my teeth, which felt like they always had. Normal, that is.
“I don’t know,” said Bette.
Dangerous got up and strode toward me, cocksure and full of himself.
“Wait,” I said. “A friend pointed out earlier that I seem to be empathic, or tele-something, so maybe that is why I’m not normal like you all.”
I held up my hand to Dangerous, hoping to keep him away from me as long as I could. He was a vampire after all. Bette was a vampire too. And I was… like them?
I still couldn’t make myself say the V-word.
“Maybe,” said Dangerous, not convinced.
“No really. She thinks I’m like a sponge. I soak up things that others are thinking or feeling and use it somehow.”
They all looked skeptical, not that I blamed them. It sounded stupid even to me.
“And maybe I can reflect things too, like with Domino. He was pissed off and I got so mad. For no reason at all—I could have choked him.” I didn’t point out that I probably had choked him, if not with my fingers then with my talent.
The room grew silent. Dark regarded me with equal parts apprehension and wonder, like I was a loaded gun that he wanted to pick up and play with.
“Who is this friend, Clara? You must not talk to outsiders about any of this, it is much too dangerous,” Bette said.
“Her name is Cassidy. I think she’s Wiccan or a witch or something. She figured out some of my weird behavior. She can help.”
I was babbling and I knew it. Anything to prevent the fang inspection.
“No, you must not talk to her again,” Dark ordered.
“It’s okay. She gave me this,” I placed my hand upon the necklace at my throat. “She said it would help block the some of the incoming things.”
Bette came over to me, reached out to touch the necklace, but recoiled at the last moment. “Take it off, Clara. That is tourmaline and it can harm you now. Slowly, like a poison, it will weaken you.”
I felt fine, better than I had before putting it on, but I didn’t feel like I could argue with Bette. She looked almost scared of the necklace. I unhooked the clasp and held the necklace out in my hand towards her.
She shook her head. “No, put it in your purse. It is hung on silver, which is bad for us as well. It won’t burn your skin, like those silly television shows, but it does weaken us.”
China leaned forward catching my eye. “Does your friend suspect you are vampire? It’s odd that she gave you a necklace that can hurt you two different ways.”
I’d like to think that Cassidy could be trusted, that she wouldn’t intentionally try to hurt me, but the truth was, I had no way of knowing that. Maybe she had given me something to help block my receptiveness and it was just a coincidence that the silver and the stones were bad for vamps. It didn’t mean the gift was ill-conceived.
“Cassidy didn’t have the whole story, so how could she have known?” I argued. “She has helped me so far. In fact, if it wasn’t for her I would even have a clue about these weird abilities that she thinks I have.”
Maybe even, that was why I was such a half-assed vampire. My dual natures were locked in conflict. Like yin and yang.
Whatever, I was getting tired and grumpy—and thirstier still. Bette watched as I put the stones away, only relaxing once I’d shut my purse and the necklace was out of view.
She pleaded to me with her eyes. “Until I can acquire answers, please say nothing to your friend.”
I gave Bette a small nod, letting her know that for now at least, I would keep Cassidy in the dark.
“You guys are real party animals,” China said. “Can we have some fun now?”
“Shut up, China,” Dangerous said, shooting her an irritated look.
“First, we need to see if she can feed,” Dark chimed in.
“Yes,” said Bette. “A Vampire cannot survive without nourishment.”
Bette looked forlorn and it made me want to comfort her. But then I realized what she meant. If I was a vampire, then I had to suck blood. If I couldn’t suck blood, I wouldn’t survive.
I could die. Well, shit.
“But isn’t it supposed to be instinct?” I asked, hoping I didn’t sound too stupid.
Dangerous shrugged and Dark just looked smug. That bastard was gloating a big I-told-you-so at Bette.
“Teach me then,” I said, getting desperate.
I had Quinn to think of. Besides, I didn’t want to die. Or was I already dead? Anyway, it didn’t seem fair to go out like that, before I’d had a chance to get my life back on track.
Bette considered my plea, oblivious to my state of panic. “I have an idea,” she said. “This friend of yours, Cassidy is it? She thinks you can absorb the emotions of other? Like you did with Domino in the parking garage?”
“Yes,” I nodded, “probably.”
“Good, good. Let us hope she is right.” Bette gathered the attention of the others and directed her words to them. “Be as you are and let your desire to feed take focus.”
I knew what she was doing. They were going to try and use my gifts against me; they would trick my baby-vampire body into wanting to feed, and hopefully it would work.
“Morgan, go to Claire,” Dangerous commanded.
There was silence while everyone allowed the music to build the mood back up. Through the speakers, the pleading, seductive tones of a Melissa Etheridge classic began to play. What was up with that song lately? I was hearing it everywhere.
Morgan came to me and mirrored the other strippers by doing a seductive dance of dips and stretches. The swell of her hip. Those dimples at the top of her back.
I looked to Bette, hoping she’d tell me what to do. Of course, she was no help, fully taking her own instructions. She focused on her Georgia-peach stripper, who was inching closer with each dip and sway of her tanned body.
My view of China was almost entirely blocked by her petite stripper, who gyrated slightly out of time.
That left Dark and Dangerous. I didn’t want to even look at Dark, he was repugnant. And Dangerous, well…. he’d shifted his body at an angle, so that he could watch me and his lithe stripper at the same time. She was toned, tanned and moved with the confidence of someone stellar in bed.
Where the hell had that come from? Ah, that thought was his, not mine. The corner of his mouth turned up slightly, like he was enjoying himself.
I got Morgan’s attention and whispered, “do everything she does,” nodding over to Dangerous’s girl.
As instructed, she began to mirror the other girl. Morgan bent over in front of me, swishing her hips slowly. With her hands on the floor in front of her, she transitioned into the downward dog yoga pose, sliding her feet closer to mine so that when she pushed back up, her ass was very near my face.
God, I wish I could pull off that yoga pose. I shook my head. Dammit, focus!
I looked at Dangerous as he placed his palm atop the ass in his face. I did the same.
Through her legs, I could see Morgan’s breasts bouncing in cadence to the music and I wanted to touch them, to feel their weight in my hands. My desire, or his?
There was no way to tell, because Morgan turned to me, thrusting her chest in my face before I could figure it out. Her breasts were firm, but soft. Silky, even. In the center of each darkened areola was an erect nipple.
Morgan teased, brushing the nipples all around my reaching mouth. She cupped my breasts in her hands, squeezing. She pressed herself down on me harder, closing the gap between my leg and her crotch. She slid back and forth on me and I looked to see Dangerous getting a ride of his own.
He was hard and hungry, I could feel it. Yet, instead of being focused on his dancer, his eyes burned into mine. My stomach knotted and I felt heat spread up my legs. A slight stab of pain shot through my jaw, but it was quickly forgotten as I realized that Morgan had worked my skirt up around my hips.
Dangerous flicked his eyes to my panties and I found myself spreading my legs a little further apart, without breaking eye contact with him. Yes, the words “wanton slut” popped into my mind, but I flicked them away like a pesky bug.
His jaw set, Dangerous looked back to me as his dancer worked his groin. His stare was unnerving and I could feel the weight of his eyes skimming over my body. My skin prickled and the room glowed with a slight, red haze.
“Touch me, please,” Morgan purred in my ear before guiding both of my hands to her ass.
I cupped her bottom as she rolled her hips, feeling the muscles flex with each dip. She slid back and forth on my leg, the dampened fabric of her G-string warm against my bare leg. Morgan pressed one knee between my legs, titillating me with each roll of her hips. She reached around and guided my hands lower, so that my fingers pushed under the edge of her g-string.
Dangerous inhaled sharply and I tried to ignore him. Really, I did. But I just couldn’t help myself, so I gave in and looked up.
His t-shirt had been pushed up to reveal his tight abs and his stripper was on her knees working at his belt buckle. Ah, it must be one of those-kinds of clubs.
China was laying on the back bench with her stripper, her hand disappearing into the girl’s crotch. Dark had his face buried in his girl’s breasts, his pants tented with his erection. Apparently, vampires had no circulation problems despite being dead and all.
Bette was the last place I looked, probably because I didn’t want to see her with someone else. I liked her, or at least I thought I did. But seeing Bette with a naked stripper covering her like a blanket didn’t bother me like I thought it would.
That made me sad.
The room was beginning to look like a bad seventies porno. More than not wanting to see the others taking care of business, I was not at all comfortable with others watching me, especially Dark. I sighed, conflicted over what my body was craving and what my morality could bear.
At that point, I couldn’t tell which side was winning. Or what side I was rooting for.
Back to Dangerous and our little game. His stripper had opened his fly and was stroking him under the weight of his pants. Morgan glanced behind her then shifted to straddle both of my legs again. My breath hitched as she kissed me hard on the mouth.
I snuck a peek at Dangerous as Morgan’s tongue twisted up my own. He did not take his eyes off me, despite the talents of his stripper. His focus was singular, which was unnerving and arousing at the same time.
Then he did something that took the evening into I can’t believe I did that territory.
I mean really, I just don’t do things like that. It may be one of the most clichéd excuses out there, but in my case it’s true. Also, I would deny it, if I was ever asked. To the death, even.
Dangerous pushed his stripper aside, stood and straightened his clothes. I cast a glance to Bette, but she was still otherwise occupied, as was everyone else. No one noticed Dangerous heading my way. Or at least if they did, they didn’t care.
The room grew noticeably darker, as if the shadows had grown in size in an effort to help with my modesty issues. Did I do that somehow? It was certainly convenient though. With the lights dimmed, I had a hard time making out anything further than a few feet away. I couldn’t even see the others around the room. Which meant that they couldn’t see me either.
From out of the darkness, Dangerous appeared before me. Morgan flinched and skittered off my lap as he approached. My chest thumped once, hard, as every muscle in my body tensed. I licked my lips, feeling that first pang of hunger and recognizing the desire for what it was instantly. Carnal.
“I thought I could sit and watch,” Dangerous said as he picked me up, turned and sat with me on his lap, facing away from him, “but I cannot help myself.”
His stripper crawled up beside him, stroking my back. I could feel him hard underneath me and I instinctively rubbed against it. Oh, I was so going to hell for that and everything that followed.
Fire burned my throat and for the first time, I was more than just thirsty. I was consumed with an intensity that was sudden and engulfing. It hurt and it burned.
Morgan danced over me as Dangerous held on to my hips, sliding me back and forth several times before lifting me up. His stripper grasped my breast and kissed me on the back of my neck.
“Now,” Dangerous growled, lifting me up. My underwear was removed and my body lowered on to him. The burning in my throat was matched by a fire in my groin. I could feel myself swallowing him a bit at a time. Inch by inch, it was like a drug. A potent, addictive drug.
I rode him with desperate need. I could feel the pressure building as my body tightened and trembled. He clutched my hips, pulling me down further with strong, calloused hands. I felt a slight nip on my shoulder as he grazed my back with his teeth.
I wanted it all; to be screwed and sucked, and most of all, to bite something, anything with a pulse.
My vision went hazy white, then red. Static buzzed in my ears, every sound within the club closing in on me at once. My thoughts flickered like someone was flipping my switch every few seconds. I felt disconnected, dazed. And I was getting close. Very close.
“Morgan,” Dangerous said, his voice strained. “Get up.”
She pressed herself to me, breast to breast, pushing my face into her neck. Another shot of pain surged through my mouth, like I’d chewed on a faulty electrical cord. My mouth stung, but felt numb at the same time. An odd pressure spread across both of my cheek bones.
I ran my tongue over my teeth to check for canines. Nothing new there.
Dangerous pushed into me, so far that I could almost taste it. I clenched and drew myself up the length of him, then down again with force. I kissed Morgan’s neck, felt her pulse under my lips. I rocked my body while licking Morgan’s neck. The thrusts became frenzied and I felt Dangerous’s stripper lean between us.
A new song piped through the speakers and The Toadies singer crooned about showing his dark secret, telling me to make up my mind if I wanted to live forever. To be his angel. Do you wanna die, he asked. Too late, I thought.
Morgan clung to me. She smelled heavenly—exotic and metallic— it was her blood that smelled divine. I closed my eyes and inhaled sharply.
I’d died and gone to heaven. Pleasure had been just a concept before that night. I’d never known what I was missing.
Little waves of pleasure lapped at me, building in momentum. I heard myself hiss, at least I think I did, but I was far too gone to be sure. I ground myself against Dangerous, feeling him fill me up completely. I couldn’t take much more.
Every one of my senses was misfiring, my skin felt electric, all abuzz and tingly. I didn’t know what I was doing, but it needed to end. I didn’t want it to end; but still, I couldn’t take it much longer.
Morgan grabbed me hard by the hips, and that was the little push that I needed to carry me over the edge. I heard a popping sound behind me, followed by a tiny little gasp. Dangerous thrust one time more, hard into me. I clenched around him, rocked to the core.
It was only after I heard another pop, and Morgan sigh, that I realized I’d bitten her. I’d latched on to her neck, gulping the warm, tangy blood greedily as the darkness crashed and carried me away.
Chapter 15
The next little bit was foggy, like I was seeing things through the holes in an old cotton blanket. It reminded me of when I was a ch
ild and made a tent in my bed so that I could read late at night without giving myself away. But this time was not nearly so innocent. I didn’t remember much right after, but what I did remember would have my mother turning in her grave.
Sounds were muffled and I felt like I was drifting, not exactly within my own body. Focusing on one thing for more than a second was impossible. Figures passed in front of me. Voices floated through the air like spring winds. I snatched thoughts as they floated by.
I was a vampire. I was dead, or half-dead or something.
I was a single mom (almost) and I was dating (sort of) another female.
I’d just had anonymous sex with a vampire in front of a bunch of other people.
My life was over; my life was just beginning.
Oh, and I just drank human blood—warm, from another person.
Was Morgan ok?
Finally, I was able to concentrate long enough to find the one person I sought. Morgan was across from me, laid on a bench. She looked to be sleeping. A figure passed in front of me and from the blond hair, I assumed it was China.
The music overhead changed again and I could almost see the stripper in the main lounge strutting to the stage under the high-energy pulse of Paralyzer. The music gods were having a good laugh at my expense, because I felt as close to paralyzed as I’d ever been. I was definitely struck by something.
The fog thickened again and I felt myself being stood up. Dangerous separated from me and his withdrawal was disappointing on a visceral level. A shiver passed through my body as the world tilted slightly. I was full, sated—possibly to the point of being high.
That made me wonder if Morgan had been on anything, and if so, was it possible for me to get high or drunk by proxy?
My vision cleared a little and Bette was standing in front of me, touching my cheek. Her face was devoid of emotion, but her eyes sparkled. God she was beautiful, regal even. And oozing with sex appeal.