by Megan Hawke
Desiree's tension and pleasure spiked when I turned on the shower. She heard. My number one minion was always the most excited to meet me. I had neglected her the past few days. She was getting antsy. Minions lived in fear of losing their vampires to a younger, prettier thrall. Since her thirty-second birthday was fast approaching, she'd begun to worry a bit more.
I only heard their three heartbeats, so knew Sabrina wasn't there. Since I slept naked, I stepped into the shower right away. I didn't bother with hot water. My undead body didn't care about the temperature. I took cold showers to save the hot water for others. Besides, hot showers fogged the mirror.
Most of my time in the shower was spent washing my waist length hair. I loved my hair. Long, thick, lustrous, it was everything I could want. Great hair ran in our family, Daddy's side of the family. Both of my sisters had equally great hair.
After doing my face and hair, I found a pair of faded jeans and a plain white tee. Then I hurried upstairs in bare feet. I came out through the secret entrance beside the family room fireplace. The TV hung above the fireplace mantel. Both Dane and Gabe paused in their game to look upon me with hungry eyes. I could feel their love and passion burning and smiled at them.
"Evening, boys. Having fun?"
"Good evening, Sable," Desiree called from the kitchen. She hurried over with a large mug of blood. "You curled your hair."
Dane did a double-take, but Gabe only had eyes for his game.
"Yes," I said, and leaned into Desiree for a passionate, lingering kiss. I cut my eyes to the boys as we pulled away, and she handed me the mug. They were both gawking. You'd think they'd get over it by now. I’m a vampire. I like boys and girls. How hard is that? "See something you like?"
"Yeah," they said with husky voices.
"I have time for a threesome," Desiree said, glancing at the clock. "My first client is at nine."
It was a call girl night for Desiree, as opposed to streetwalking. Mostly she walked the streets, but she had a few special clients. The beautiful African American was dressed to the nines: little black dress, dark hose, and designer heels. Her jewelry was tasteful. Nothing whorish or gaudy about her that night.
Both men became instantly aroused. Dane liked to feign disinterest most of the time, like sex wasn't primarily on his mind. Gabe was always ready to jump into bed with any willing woman. He propositioned most of the women he met. Yeah, he was a character.
"I'd love to, but can't," I said. "I have to stop the werewolf killing vamps."
"Is that where you were after you abandoned us in Deep Ellum" Dane said.
I froze. Why did I think I'd get away with that?
"And then you never called any of us last night, either," Desiree said.
"I'm sorry I left you stranded in Deep Ellum. I have no excuse." I shrugged and paused to suck down half my mug of steaming blood. Delicious. "I dropped my guard and let some thralls lure me in, and seduce me. Sorry."
"I suspected as much," Dane said. He scowled as he turned back to the video game.
"At least tell me they were all hot college babes," Gabe said with eager eyes.
I rolled my eyes and sighed.
"You're a pig." I turned back to Desiree. "Almost as soon as I woke up last night, I got a call from the police. There was another murder. A werewolf couple was killed in their home over in Uptown. And then the werewolves rioted in Deep Ellum, so I had to go help there."
"We heard," Dane said. "Black Heart saving the day made the local news."
"They were particularly impressed that you did it without killing anyone," Gabe said. "But apparently you did shoot a few wolves with silver."
"Did you learn anything?" Dane paused to look me in the eye.
"Yes. The werewolves have called for a War Council tomorrow night," I said. "Gabe, get me in. I want to speak to them."
"Are you fucking crazy!" Gabe cried, standing up. "After what happened at Jeric's Place, and then in Deep Ellum last night, you are the last person they want to see."
"They will kill you if you just prance in there," Dane said.
"I'm not going to 'just prance in'. Gabe's going to sponsor me at the meeting."
Gabe looked at me like I was crazy. "Oh, you want to get both of us killed. I see. Much better plan."
"Can you do it?" I locked eyes with Gabe, showing him my determination. He finally sighed and nodded. "Thanks." I drained my mug and headed for the refrigerator. "I met a witch named Momma Zuza at the murder scene. Anyone heard of her before?"
"Yeah. She's a witch," Gabe said.
He grinned at me when I cast a baleful look his way.
"Why?" Dane said.
"Longhouse has hired her as a consultant on the case." I emptied another pint bag of blood into the mug and placed it in the microwave. I continued as I punched in the time and started it. "We didn't get along. She tried to hex me, so I bit her."
"Fucking A!" Gabe cried.
"In front of the police?" At least Dane understood. He looked shocked. I nodded. "Oh man. Why don't you just bite a cop?"
"There's a few cops I've met that I'd like to sink my fangs into, but in a good way," I said, and laughed. "But you did hear me say it was self-defense, right?"
"Does Longhouse believe that?"
"No."
"Shit. I'll call him. See if I can smooth it over."
"Ah, fuck the damn witch. They're all full of themselves anyway," Gabe said. "That Momma Zuza is the worst. Her and her coven are always railing against werewolves and vampires."
"She has good reason," I said. "She's lost a lot to those two groups."
"I don't like her," Desiree said. "She hexed a club in Deep Ellum I was visiting once and gave us all hives for a week. She is not the forgiving type, either. If you bit her, she will come after you."
"Great." I sipped my blood. Somehow I managed to piss off the cops, the most powerful witch in Dallas, and all of the werewolves. The vamps already didn't like me, simply because I made a living staking them. "I'm succeeding beyond all my expectations."
I stepped out on the back porch and picked up a disposable aluminum turkey basting pan. It was filled with dark gray solvent, with all three of my disassembled pistols. After soaking all day they were more than ready to be cleaned. I took it to the family room.
The family room was filled with my furniture from the apartment. The house's formal living room had brand new black leather furnishings. Very nice. Very luxurious. But I still preferred the stuff I picked out way back when. I placed the basting pan of solvent on the floor beside my chair, and then set up a metal TV tray before the chair. This had been my routine for the past year.
I spread newspaper on the TV tray to soak up the solvent, then opened my cleaning kit and picked up the first piece. Even soaking all day didn't remove the hardened carbon. It still took some elbow grease and good wire brushes. We all speculated on why the vamps were killing werewolves so savagely. And why only werewolves? We had lots of ideas, but no answers. Heidi joined us, but spent most of her time teasing the boys and trying to get one or the other to go to her room.
After my weapons were pristine and reassembled, I called in an order for two large pizzas. Gabe could devour a large pizza by himself. Dane would eat most of the other one. Heidi and I rarely ate more than one piece, mostly because we were full of blood. Desiree only ate one slice because she was afraid of getting fat.
Desiree left at eight for her first of three call girl jobs that night. The pizzas arrived five minutes later. The four of us fell onto the gooey delight.
"I love delivery pizza," I said. They all moaned and nodded. "Now back to business. I think the key to everything is finding and staking the vampire that Changed the wolf-killing vamps. So, any thoughts on how we can find him?"
"Or her," Heidi said.
"What if one member of their family was Changed first? Say he was Changed accidentally and the sire doesn't realize what he did." Dane paused to chomp off another bite of pizza. "And say this particular newly
made vampire had an ax to grind with the wolves. He wakes up a Changed man. Realizes he has an opportunity here, so hunts down and Changes all of his friends. Then he uses his influence over them to strike at the werewolves."
"Possible," I said. "But without training, I doubt he'd be able to put a Compulsion on any of his vamps. A lot of vampiric powers and abilities have to be taught to use."
"He's a thrall. Maybe he witnessed compulsions being placed on other new vampires," Gabe said. "Besides, he doesn't need compulsions to control his vampires. They just have to obey him."
"A little more complicated than that," Heidi said. "But Gabe's right. If he's seen enough, trial and error will teach him the rest." Heidi smiled wickedly at me. "Remember that vamp on the cross with me? That you rescued?"
"Yes."
"He Changed himself into a vampire. He bought vamp blood on the black market, cut himself, and poured it into the wound. Voila! He's a vamp." She smiled at my shock. "It doesn't take but a drop, and one of the thirteen might've gotten his hands on a vial of vamp blood."
"That's scary, but that theory doesn't explain why they are killing werewolves with such ferocity and savagery." None of it made sense. "I wish we had captured one alive, instead of killing three of them."
"All this talk of death and killing has left me horny," Heidi said. "Anyone want to get naked and fuck?"
My phone rang. It was still on the charger by my bed, but I could hear it. Great hearing helped. I raced to the phone. I got it on the fifth ring.
"Hello! This is Sable."
"Hello, cherie," Antoinette purred. Yeah, purred. I swear the woman had the sexiest voice in the world. Hell, everything about her was sexier than everyone else.
"Oh, it's you." I glanced at the alarm clock. Five until eleven. The night was half over and I hadn't made any progress. That night was going to be a bust. A little of my frustration seeped into my words and tone. "What do you want, Antoinette. I don't have time to play games."
Antoinette scared even the oldest, most powerful vampires in Dallas. What she wanted, Antoinette got. She wanted me. I'm not sure why, but I suspected she just liked to dominate other people, especially women.
Council gave me to Antoinette. I disputed their right to do so. I didn't take orders from them, or anyone else. I killed the one and only vampire that had a claim to me. Yuri Changed me. I was his vampire to command. So I killed him. There was more to it than that, but still I killed the only vampire that had the supernatural power to command my obedience. There was no way I would surrender my independence.
"You owe me a favor. I've decided what I want."
Her words froze my heart. I swear my soul was quaking. There was nothing I could do but stand there with my mouth open. I couldn't even breathe, though I only needed air to speak.
"Did you hear me?"
"You can't be serious. Not now. Not while I'm trying to avert a war," I said. "Are you crazy?"
"Determined," she said. She laughed, and it was the laughter of angels. How could someone so evil look and sound too wonderful? "But really, I only told you that as a warning. I'm not calling in my favor tonight."
"Thank goodness."
"Tomorrow will be soon enough," she said.
Sometimes I thought all vampires had death wishes. They do the most insane things at times. Cavalier didn't begin to describe vampire attitudes, especially one as old as Antoinette.
"Sable, you disappoint me. You haven't asked what the favor is."
I didn't want to know. There was no way it could be good. Antoinette had months to come up with something to ask for that would rip me a new asshole. She wanted to hurt me. Antoinette wanted to shock me, and then she wanted to possess me.
"What?"
"I want to meet your beautiful sister, Sabrina. Bring her to my home tomorrow night. I'm having an intimate gathering, and we'd love for the Hart Sisters to join us."
My knees buckled, forcing me to sit on the bed. My heart thundered in my chest, drowning out all sound and thought for a long moment. Hand over my heart, I struggled to regain control of my wits.
"What makes you think I would ever hand my sister over to you?"
The very thought chilled me to the bones.
"I didn't say you had to give her to me. Just bring her to my little party. We'll meet. We'll socialize, and then you both can go home unharmed. I promise. No subjugation of either of you. No killing. I guarantee your safety if you cooperate."
Visions of wanton wickedness flashed before my mind's eyes. There was so much Antoinette could do within the parameters of what she promised. Sabrina was far from anything resembling an innocent, but I didn't think she was prepared for the depths of depravity a vampire of Antoinette's bent could conjure up.
"I'll send a limo to pick you up," Antoinette said. Then almost as an afterthought, "Oh yes. I almost forgot. Have you heard of a club called Primary Urges? It's on Greenville Avenue. The thirteen thralls that you claim are now vampires and killing werewolves hung out there. You could probably learn something about them there. See you tomorrow night, cherie."
"Wait! Don't hang up…ah, bitch," I said, throwing the phone on the bed. "I'm going to stake that woman!"
"Not me, right?" Heidi said, standing at the base of the stairs.
"Antoinette." Heidi's lipstick was all smeared. I opened myself up, and found Gabe feeling satisfied, and Dane rather ticked off. "You're not too far down the list." I snatched up my phone, and called Bone Daddy. "Boney! Antoinette called me. She's calling in her favor."
Bone Daddy was a former Baptist preacher, Changed into a vampire by Antoinette. Antoinette was queen of prostitution in Dallas, so she forced him to become one of her undead pimps. Despite that, Boney was my best friend outside my family. He was also the oldest and most knowledgeable vampire in Dallas still willing to speak to me and teach me. Unfortunately, since he belonged to Antoinette he couldn't be entirely trusted.
"Hello, Sable," Boney said. "Great to hear from you after two months of nothing. Nada. Zilch. But I'm doing fine, thanks for asking."
I rolled my eyes. You can't guilt trip a vampire. We feel a lot of emotions, very passionately at times, but guilt wasn't one of them. Guilt. Angst. All that good Christian stuff was vanquished from our conscious upon death.
"I'm sorry, but you're Antoinette's to command. Call me paranoid, but you have helped her against me before," I said. "I love you to death, but still."
"But still," he said, sounding so sad. That did hurt a little. "I understand."
"I'm sorry, but you have to help me. Antoinette wants Sabrina. I can't give her my sister."
"No. Antoinette wants to meet your sister. She never said you had to give her Sabrina."
"You knew! Why didn't you warn me?"
"I'm standing next to Antoinette right now. I didn't know. I heard."
That was bad. Antoinette could hear everything I said. Vampire hearing, gotta love it, right? She knew she'd rattled me. The bitch was probably giggling insanely.
"Bring Sabrina tomorrow night. She will not harm either one of you. Give Antoinette her due, and she won't bother you. Deny her, refuse to return the favor, and bad things will happen. Very bad things."
"You're not very helpful," I said through gritted teeth.
"I know. I'm sorry."
Boney really was sorry. I knew him well enough to know that. But Antoinette commanded him. She Changed him, so he had to obey her. He had no choice. Boney wasn't old enough or strong enough to break free. Not yet. I hung up without another word.
I looked at Heidi. "You heard?"
"Yes."
"You think she's playing me?" Throwing that bit about the Greenville Avenue club at the end, after asking for my sister on a silver platter, certainly confused me. She was pulling me in two directions.
"She's a vampire. Of course she's playing you." Heidi stretched. She was very beautiful. Blonde. Big silicone boobs. She noticed me staring, licked her lips, and smiled wantonly as she caressed her own boobs. "Yo
u want to finish what we started last night?"
I stared at Heidi a long second, feeling my libido suddenly spike. Yet, I had bigger issues to deal with. I had very scary issues to resolve.
Heidi wasn't helping.
"Yeah," I whispered. I shook my head. "But I don't have time. I have to figure out how to stop those vampires from killing any more wolves, and now I also have to find a way to stop Antoinette from getting what she wants."
"Antoinette will not be denied," Heidi said.
"You're no help." I went back upstairs. The boys were waiting. "It was Antoinette. Along with other things I'd rather not think about, she mentioned the killers hung out at a Greenville Avenue club called Primary Urges. Anyone ever hear of it?"
They all nodded. Was I the only one to never hear of that club?
"It's mostly a hangout for witches," Gabe said. "But some vamps and werewolves like to go there. Not many thralls, though."
"Y'all want to pay them a visit?"
"Tonight?" Dane said.
"You have something better to do?"
"I'm going!" Heidi said.
"You two go home, get dressed for clubbing, and meet us at Primary Urges at midnight."
They balked, but I ushered them out of the house. Both had clothes here, but nothing appropriate for a dance club. Dane didn't live too far away, in Mesquite, and Gabe had a new house not far from Greenville Avenue, at Plano and LBJ.
I found Heidi naked when I arrived at my closet, but she had fixed her face. I picked out white spandex pants, a red bikini top and a red leather corset to cinch my waist, while Heidi put on a black spandex micro mini with spaghetti straps. She buckled a black corset over that. I pulled on red thigh boots and Heidi wore black pumps. We looked ready for any dance club at that time. Then Heidi picked out our accessories, and really sassed us up.
"We look like Pussycat Dolls," Heidi said.
I loved them. "Are they even a band anymore?"
I thought the shoulder dusting star earrings, rhinestone choker, and oversized bracelets a little much even for me. But Heidi knew the club, so I trusted her judgment, and she insisted bling was the thing. Of course she wasn't above sexing me up just for her own amusement.