by C. M. Sipes
“You okay?” Vittoria asked her in a whisper. The others had gone back to discussing where they had left off.
Emma shook herself slightly before responding, “I’m good.”
“Are you sure?” Vittoria asked, dipping her head to catch Emma’s eye.
She looked at Vittoria strangely. “Yeah I’m fine, Vi. Thanks.”
Vittoria nodded, accepting her answer but not believing a word of it. Emma had seen his eyes. She could tell she was questioning whether she had actually witnessed that change or if she had imagined it. Vittoria sighed internally, wondering if the others had witnessed anything at all.
Their positions at the table didn’t allow for a very accurate view of the event that transpired, unless they had turned around fully to watch. They may have in the beginning, but then eventually turned back around—or so she assumed. Their relaxed postures and muscles told her that they hadn’t witnessed anything.
Emma on the other hand…she had a perfect view of where they had stood.
Vittoria shook herself from the concern, returning her attention back to their presentation. She mainly listened to their points and ideas, interjecting every now and then. Emma remained fairly quiet as well, causing Vittoria to glance at her every few minutes to make sure she hadn’t injured herself yet from thinking too hard. She eventually looked at her phone, checking the time. They had been here for almost two hours, and she was beginning to grow bored.
“Well, as fun and exciting as this has been—I should be going,” Vittoria said to the group. “What’re your schedules like?”
“I had an early morning class today, but I have Dr. Bison’s night class tomorrow night,” Jason said, his eyes turning to look at Emma, no doubt concerned as well.
“Same,” Maria replied.
“Me too,” Sarah added. “What about you guys? You taking Bison?”
Vittoria looked at Emma who nodded. “Same here, guys,” Vittoria added for the both of them. “I’ll see you guys then. Enjoy your evenings.”
Vittoria waved goodbye, lightly patting Emma’s back before departing. She needed to feed and catch up on some sleep before nightfall.
* * *
It had been a few weeks since the devourer incident at the library. Vittoria had spent every night since then roaming the city and looking for other bloodlusters and devourers. She had found nothing. She currently sat on the roof of a tall building, her eyes scanning the streets below, looking for anything out of the ordinary. She sighed, beginning to think that Demetri had only told her about something brewing to get her to speak to Marcella and come back to the coven. She also began to think that the devourer had only been a coincidence. After all, it wasn’t the first time she had come across fanatics. She always managed to run into one or two every city she visited.
She took a swig from the blood bag in her hand, finishing the last remnants of her meal.
“This is stupid. Three weeks and not a damn thing,” Vittoria said aloud, tossing the bag to the side.
She checked her phone. She had two texts from Emma, mainly just asking what she was up to. It was only ten p.m. and she was already bored watching the city. Her thoughts turned to Emma instead. Ever since the incident at the library, Emma had become—well, almost suspicious of her. It wasn’t every day you saw a friend cavorting with a strange man with glowing yellow eyes. Vittoria smiled; the girl was extremely intelligent and clever. She made an extra effort to act more normal than would usually be required, just to keep down Emma’s suspicions of her. Vittoria didn’t assume that Emma believed she was a supernatural being—but one could never be too cautious. Especially since Emma had witnessed something supernatural, of which Vittoria was sure, due to Emma’s abnormal behavior.
She disappeared into the swarm of bats, flying down the side of the building and through the city, keeping an eye on things as she went. She neared her apartment quickly, not seeing anything other than a few of Marcella’s minions—no doubt attempting to do the same thing she had been. She swooped low, skimming the ground of a back alleyway before landing and returning to normal. Vittoria rolled her shoulders, her neck cracking slightly as she exited the alleyway, hanging a left, and walking up the sidewalk. Her apartment was located just on the outskirts of the University District in Seattle, overlooking the Lake Washington Ship Canal. She was also just a leap away from Capitol Hill, an area she enjoyed frequenting for her coffee fixes more so than anything else. She started to fish her keys out of her pocket, stopping when it felt like someone was watching her. She turned around, scanning the area, her eyes carefully roaming over the parked cars. She sniffed the air, grinning when a familiar scent hit her nose. Chuckling to herself, she turned and continued to her apartment building, entering, and heading up the stairs to the fifth floor.
She decided she needed a little bit of fun, and nightclubbing was going to be the way to accomplish that. She entered her apartment, passing through the living room and heading to the bedroom. She undressed on the way, discarding her jeans and t-shirt with a toss to the side. She opened her closet, scanning her options. She didn’t know how long her stalker was going to wait to see if she was leaving her home, so she quickly grabbed a tight pair of black straight-legged jeans and a loose black tank top. She changed, purposely messing her hair up some on the way before checking to make sure her makeup wasn’t running at all. The night wasn’t chilly so she didn’t bother to grab a jacket before she tucked her I.D. and some money into her bra, put on her boots, and exited the apartment. Vittoria glanced out of the window in the hallway, seeing the figure peeking out from behind a parked car.
She suppressed the urge to laugh as she ran back down the stairs, quickly exiting the building before making a left and walking up the street. Vittoria only lived a few blocks from the nightclub she frequented.
She heard her stalkers footsteps following her, loudly hitting the pavement as they went. She decided a talk would be needed about subtlety if it were to continue. At least to make it more interesting for her…it would only be proper. A grin crept onto her face as she hung a right, nearing the back entrance to the club. Her shadow was still following her, and judging by the sound and position of the footsteps, they were sticking to the shadows. Vittoria smirked, impressed, for the most part. Were she human, she would be unable to spot them if she turned around. She decided to keep walking, not wanting to spoil this little game they had started.
“Marcus,” Vittoria greeted the bouncer as she approached. Six foot four of solid muscle blocked the door.
“Vittoria. Been a few weeks,” he replied. His voice was low and gruff as he spoke. “You know someone is following you, right?”
Vittoria grinned. “Of course Marcus, but please don’t look. You’ll spoil all of my fun.”
He returned her smile, his bright white teeth contrasting against the darkness of his skin.
“I do need to speak to you though, briefly.”
His eyebrow arched in curiosity.
“Why will Aerona not speak to Marcella?” Vittoria asked.
“I thought you were staying out of your coven’s matters?”
“I am attempting to. Demetri followed me the other night and explained the…situation…he believes is brewing.”
“Something is up. Devourers and bloodlusters have been popping up all over the city. Their numbers are increasing. But it’s been quiet for a few weeks now.” Marcus shrugged. “So who knows, they may have moved on to somewhere else or it’s just a random influx. It’s happened in the past. But, I’m not one of Aerona’s warriors, so I’m not out tracking them.”
“Just a guard dog, huh,” Vittoria commented with a smirk.
Marcus let out a loud laugh. “Exactly. But from what I know, Aerona refused to speak to Marcella because you wouldn’t be present. You signed the treaty as well, so it wouldn’t be right to engage in a formal meeting without you.”
“Which would explain Marcella’s frustration,” Vittoria replied with a sigh. Demetri had been correct after
all.
“Yeah. Her hands are tied until she can get you to be present,” Marcus added with a soft smile. “Listen Vi, Aerona respects you. I know you fought in the Blood War against us—it was a dark time for a lot of us, on both sides—but you helped negotiate a peace between the species. I think that without you there, Marcella and Aerona might tear each other apart. Their relationship was always tense,” Marcus explained.
She nodded after a moment. “I’ll think about what you’ve said. Thank you, Marcus. Let me know if you notice any bloodlusters and devourers together in the area.” Vittoria touched his shoulder, ready to move past him and into the nightclub. “Oh, and Marcus?”
He turned to look at her, his eyes briefly flickering to her follower.
“Please let my shadow in. I have plans.” Vittoria flashed a grin before turning around, leaving Marcus outside laughing heartily.
The music blared loudly from the speakers, and she could feel the vibrations of the bass ripple through the air. She grinned to herself, walking confidently into her hunting ground. She hung a left, heading up the stairs. She reached the upper level and walked around the top section, positioning herself at the opposite side of the entrance to get a better view of her follower.
Vittoria didn’t have to wait long. After she stood there for a minute, Emma walked inside. She looked around, scanning the floor for Vittoria.
Vittoria smiled to herself; the girl looked out of her element. Vittoria gave her a once over, eyeing her clothing choice—clearly not expecting to have to come to a nightclub. Emma wore a pair of jeans, vans, a loose white t-shirt with the Obey logo on it, and her light brown hair thrown up in a messy bun. Vittoria chuckled to herself as Emma entered the throng, pushing through the crowd and looking for her. She watched her for another moment before Emma finally turned around and realized there was an upper level. She pushed back through the crowd, quickly reaching the stairs, and began to walk up.
Vittoria moved from her position and walked around the upper level, keeping her eyes trained on Emma. Emma’s body swayed to one side as she came up the stairs, and Vittoria instantly knew she would make a right once she reached the top. She snorted as Emma did as expected, continuing in the opposite direction of Vittoria. Vittoria raced forward, reaching Emma quickly and smirking, as she was still oblivious to her presence. Luckily for her, everyone who was on the upper level was too engrossed in their own conversations or each other to notice her.
“Are you enjoying the view?” Vittoria asked from behind Emma, immediately smirking as Emma squealed and turned around to face her.
She stuttered, tripping over her words as they came out in unintelligible babbles.
“Are you alright, dear?” Vittoria asked, her smirk growing wider. “You’re babbling incoherently.”
“Vittoria. Um—hi,” she managed to splutter out.
“For someone who has spent the night staking out my apartment, and then following me to a nightclub…” Vittoria paused, moving closer to Emma, “you never thought of what to say if I caught you.”
She watched as a blush crept up Emma’s cheeks, officially embarrassed. Vittoria smiled, nudging Emma’s shoulder playfully.
“Don’t feel bad. You actually weren’t that awful at following me. We need to make some improvements though. If it’s going to be a habit,” Vittoria said, grinning as Emma ducked her head and slapped a hand to her forehead.
“I’m an idiot,” Emma muttered, sheepishly looking back at Vittoria.
“So,” Vittoria began, coming to stand next to the other girl. Vittoria rested her elbows on the railing and looked out onto the dancing throng. “Why were you following me and staking out my apartment?”
“It’s stupid,” she replied with a sigh.
“Well, you stalked me. I deserve an answer.”
“I didn’t stalk,” she defended. “I followed you. You aren’t prey.”
Vittoria’s eyebrows rose in amusement. “Indeed I am not. But still, indulge me, dear.”
She sighed, resting her head in her hands. “You’ll think I’m an idiot.”
“Darling, you followed me and staked out my apartment,” Vittoria reminded her.
She rolled her eyes. “Alright. A few weeks back, when that guy came to the library…”
Vittoria nodded, urging her to continue, although she already knew where this was going.
“His eyes changed color. I saw them glow yellow. Like you see in the werewolf movies,” Emma rambled, “that was exactly like in the movies. The glowing eyes! I’m sure if he smiled there would have been fangs or something.”
“Emma, I’m not going to tell you that you are insane or anything,” Vittoria began, “but how could someone have glowing eyes? I’m sure the lighting was just strange or something and you mistook it for something that can’t be. His eyes were hazel and sometimes when light hits a certain way they can appear yellow.”
“No. Vi, they glowed,” she defended.
“Alright. Let’s say they did, in fact, glow. Why would you follow me?”
“Because you knew him. I know you know something was up with that guy and I thought that maybe…” she trailed off.
“I was some yellow glowing eyed thing too?” Vittoria replied, a smirk adorning her face. “Emma, don’t be silly. Things like that, they don’t exist in real life, only in movies. Also, I didn’t know him.”
She sighed. “I know what I saw.”
“Alright well, do you see me with any yellow glowing eyed things?” Vittoria asked, gesturing to the crowd in the club.
“Not at the moment,” Emma replied. “But there could be, they could just be hiding.
Vittoria laughed, taking Emma’s hand and pulling her toward the stairs.
“Where are we going?” Emma asked as Vittoria led her down to the crowd.
“You followed me to a nightclub. We’re going to dance,” Vittoria replied, yelling over the music as she pulled her out onto the dance floor.
Vittoria turned around, pulling Emma to her. Vittoria began to dance, moving her body in time with the beat of the music. Emma stared at her and then looked at everyone else in the club, becoming self-conscious. The vampire bumped her hip against Emma’s in an effort to get her to dance. Emma smirked before rolling her eyes and began to follow suit, dancing in front of Vittoria and laughing. Emma waved her hands and danced in a ridiculous fashion, no doubt attempting to get a laugh out of her. The tactic worked, causing her to chuckle as she watched Emma move wildly.
They danced for a few hours and Emma didn’t bother to ask her again about the man with the glowing eyes. Vittoria was thankful for that. The last time a mortal had become involved in supernatural affairs, it had ended badly. Humans and supernatural beings were not meant to be dabbling in the dark together. Humans didn’t understand their world, their laws, or their beliefs.
“Are you alright?” Emma asked, drawing Vittoria from her thoughts as they exited the club.
“I’m fine. I was just thinking about school work,” Vittoria lied easily, offering her a smile for reassurance.
“Do you want to walk around a bit?” Emma asked, tugging her arm and pulling Vittoria in the opposite direction of her apartment.
“It doesn’t seem like I have much of a choice, does it?” Vittoria asked with a smile as they walked. “Did you have fun?”
“I did. It definitely wasn’t what I was expecting though,” Emma replied with a laugh.
“I wasn’t expecting it either.” Vittoria smiled. They rounded a corner and walked. This section of the city wasn’t busy; no cars frequented the road at the late hour.
Vittoria turned her head to the side and stopped.
“What’s wrong?” Emma asked, confusion etching her face.
“Shh,” Vittoria shushed, listening intently.
She heard the faint flap of wings and her eyes widened.
“Run,” Vittoria said, pushing Emma. “Run!” she yelled, grabbing Emma’s hand in an attempt to get her to move.
She was too slow though, and soon Vittoria watched as a swarm of bats swooped down at them. She roughly pushed Emma to the ground before grabbing one of the bats in mid-flight and squeezed it. The others shrieked in pain and she released it, forcing them to regroup. They began to form a solid mass and Vittoria swallowed thickly as red eyes met her own.
Emma stood slowly. Vittoria could hear her ragged breathing, the wild beating of her heart, and she could smell the fear radiating off her, as Emma looked at the figure in front of them.
“Marcella,” Vittoria stated in greeting, standing straight and positioning herself in front of Emma to offer her as much protection as she could. Vittoria felt Emma tense behind her as she realized she knew the woman.
Vittoria’s eyes flickered to the rooftops, watching Marcella’s minions take defensive positions—not against them, though. She assumed that they were still keeping an eye out for bloodlusters.
“Vittoria,” Marcella breathed, her voice cracking slightly.
“What do you want?” Vittoria asked, staring into Marcella’s red eyes.
“I think you know,” she replied with a soft smile.
“And you believe swarming in the sight of a mortal is a way to get me on board?” Vittoria asked, gesturing to Emma behind her. Vittoria felt Emma begin to back away and she reached back, grabbing her hand. “Do not run now,” Vittoria told Emma, her head turning slightly to see her through her peripheral vision.
“The girl is with you. I thought she knew,” Marcella stated with a shrug. “This would not be the first time you had revealed yourself.”
She still looked the same as she had all those years ago. She wore a tasteful black pantsuit with heels, and her lipstick was the color of blood. Her brown hair cascaded in loose curls over her shoulders, the red tints shimmering in the soft light of the streetlamps.
Her red eyes lingered on Emma, no doubt assessing her. “Your smell,” Marcella whispered as she stared intently at Emma. “She smells...”