Julie looks at me, then at her two companions. Geez, we’re going to the bathroom, not Borneo. JR nods. Rick doesn’t look away from Oliver. I pull away from him. “Be right back. Play nice.”
I take Julie’s cold hand, practically dragging her to the bathroom. We bypass the line, walking straight to the sinks. She waits as I grab some paper towels and wet them. I look down into the sink, then as I look up, she’s pulling off her sweater. And she has no bra on. I see every rib through her translucent skin. Of course I can’t take my eyes off her boobs. They’re small like oranges with no areola and tiny nipples. Jesus Christ, she couldn’t have been more than fourteen when she was turned. Sick.
“This is easier,” she says, turning on the water and scrubbing the sweater. The women in line look at the naked girl, rolling their eyes. I just stand with my soggy paper towels.
“So, who are those two guys? I think I’ve seen them around before.”
“That’s JR and Rick. We live together.”
“Where?”
“All over.” She turns off the faucet and goes to the dryer.
“How long have you been in Dallas?” I shout over the dryer.
“About four months, I guess. JR knows some people here.”
“Is he your boyfriend?”
The dryer stops. “Not really. We’ve had some threesomes together and stuff, but he mostly plays for the other team. Rick’s the one who turned me.”
“Oh, how long you two been together?”
She puts the shirt on. “Five years, I guess. What about you? Who’s the old guy?”
“My husband.”
“He’s old. And powerful. I think he’s more powerful than Lord Freddy even, but don’t tell JR I said that. Your guy freaked me out when he came over.”
“Don’t worry about him. He’s as harmless as a kitten.”
“Cool. So how long you two in town for?”
“Not long. You know, I have seen you guys around though. Weren’t you at the Church before?”
“Yeah, we go there a lot. Easy pickings.”
“I thought so. Yeah, you were with that pretty African American woman.”
“Serena? Yeah. She’s a bitch. I don’t know why JR keeps her around.” She slips into her damp and clingy sweater and walks out of the bathroom as I follow. “So, where are you guys staying?”
“The Dauphine. What about you?”
“This stupid farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. I hate it.”
“Is it near a town at least?”
“Venus. Which might as well be the planet. At least we go out every night, or I would have taken up sunbathing by now.”
We both scan the dancing horde for our men, and Julie spots them in the back corner. They seem to have declared a truce as Oliver and JR seem deep in conversation. Hey, hey, the gang’s all here. Two skinny Asians, a man and woman, sit at the edge of the couch making out hardcore, like rounding third base. Next to them is a bored Serena. The first thing I notice is that her lips take up a quarter of her face. Rick sits to her right watching the dance floor. Squished between Rick and JR is a vamp I presume to be Gerry. He takes up half the couch with all that muscle. The image of him writhing on Petra, his hands roving everywhere, flashes into my mind. I push it away. I have to play nice, at least until we get an address.
Rick holds out his hand to Julie, pulling her onto his lap. He plants one on her and she responds in kind. I feel like calling To Catch a Predator.
“I missed you,” Rick says.
“Vomit,” Serena says.
I second that.
Oliver takes my wrist, guiding me onto his lap as well. He slides his arm around my waist again, resting his hand on my thigh as if it was nothing. If I feel anything move, it will be the last time it does. “Beloved, may I introduce you to JR, Gerry, and Serena, and the affectionate two are Liang and Ken.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“We were discussing the nightlife. JR recommends the Lizard Lounge, is it? Quite a lot of willing donors.”
“You don’t feed from her?” Gerry asks.
“Only on special occasions,” he says, patting my thigh.
“Do you share?” Serena asks.
“Never,” Oliver answers in a predatory tone.
She actually shrinks back in fear. “Just asking.”
Change of topic time. Don’t want to alienate them just yet. “It must be nice for all of you to be together. Oliver was just complaining how he’s dying for the company of other vamps. Julie said you all live in a farmhouse together?”
“Yeah,” JR says.
“Oh, my G!” a girl cries near us. “It’s you!”
The whole group, except the necking duo, gaze over at the oncoming girls. Oh, crud. The Stick and the Twig—Denise and Pam—scurry toward us. Serena rolls her eyes and JR plasters an obviously fake smile on his face. The others just watch.
“Pamela. Denise,” Oliver says.
“We thought we might find you here,” Denise says with a huge grin. “And you found your friend.”
“Yes, we found a friend,” I say quickly. “A lot of them actually.”
“Hello, girls,” JR says. “Not at Freddy’s tonight?”
“We actually just came from there,” Denise answers.
“Shut up!” Pam says. Her eyes jut to JR. “We have a phone call to make.”
“What? Why?” Denise asks. Pam scowls at her. “Oh! Right! Will you excuse us? Urgent business and all. We’ll stop by later.” The girls totter back the way they came.
“What fucking morons,” Serena says with a sigh. “And now I’m officially bored. You guys enjoy your time with Ma and Pa Kettle over here. I’m going hunting.”
“No trouble tonight!” JR calls.
She rolls her eyes and scoffs. “I’ll see you back at the farm,” she shouts before sauntering off into the sea of bodies on the dance floor.
“I think we will follow suit,” Oliver says, standing up, which means I do as well. “I have the strongest desire to dance with my beautiful wife. Will you all please excuse us?”
Oliver takes my hand, leading me to the center of the floor. We’re surrounded by the sweaty and horny. The song is fast and pumping but Oliver grabs my waist, pulling me into his body. “What?” I ask.
“Act as if you are in love with me. We are being watched. Head on my shoulder.”
I rest my head in the crook of his neck, inhaling the Gucci cologne. I wrap my arms around his torso, as he does with mine. Some of the other dancers give us sideways glances. Whatever. This is how people should dance.
“I can’t believe we found them,” I say as quietly as I can, which still means I’m kind of shouting.
“The fates are on our side.”
“Do we have a plan? I only have the knives and Mace.”
“No, striking now would be ill advised.”
“So we do what?”
“I suppose we must try to finagle an invitation to their domicile. That way we may return on the morrow with the proper reinforcements.”
JR, who has been watching us, looks away toward his pocket. He pulls out his cell phone and listens for a few seconds, talking a moment later. He glances at us, then speaks again.
“Can you hear what he’s saying?” I ask.
“No.”
A huge smile crosses JR’s face as he looks away. He continues talking, not looking at us again until he hangs up. He turns to Rick, saying something, and Rick smiles. Gerry leans in to listen to the conversation. I’m getting paranoid. “So what’s the plan? Schmooze now, search and destroy tomorrow? What if they … you know … want to do things with us when we get there?”
Oliver doesn’t answer. The song ends, and he releases me. Guess it’s time to rejoin the serial killers on the couch. Oh, goody. When we do, JR scoots over to let us sit.
“You two look really cute together,” Julie says.
“Thank you. It’s all him,” I say.
“I hate to cut this love-fest short,” JR s
ays, “but I’m bored of this place.”
“Me too,” Rick says.
JR stands. “Just got a line on a party. We’re going. You guys want to come?”
“Do you, my darling?” Oliver asks.
“I was ready to leave an hour ago.”
“Fantastic.”
We all stand and walk upstairs out of the club. Oliver keeps his hand on my shoulder the whole time. Rick leads Julie, and the make-out duo keep their hands in each other’s pockets. When we reach the parking lot, JR stops.
“Gerry, give Rick the keys to the van. You’re going with me,” JR says.
Gerry tosses Rick the keys, which he catches one handed. “Thanks buddy. Good luck,” Rick says. He, the twosome, and the pixie all stroll away.
JR smiles at us. “So, you’ll follow us. Where are you parked?”
“Two lanes over,” I say.
“Us too. Easy to follow, then.” JR leads with the rest of us behind. A few college kids pass us, giggling or talking. It isn’t until Gerry glances back at me that the creeps roll down my spine. When JR does it as well, a red light flashes in my head. Exhaustion has dulled the logical section of my brain.
“What kind of car do you guys have?” I ask.
“Why?” Gerry asks gruffly.
“So we can follow you?”
“Red Firebird,” JR answers.
Oliver’s grip on my shoulder tightens. He read my notes. They don’t have a Firebird, and there isn’t one in the row. My stomach drops to my knees. We’re in trouble. Crud. We keep walking as I glance to Oliver. Him and his darn poker face. When we reach our car, the vamps stop. How the hell do they know it’s our car?
“Who phoned earlier?” Oliver asks.
“I think you know,” JR replies.
What the Sam Hill is going on?
“I shall not go willingly,” Oliver says.
“We didn’t think you would.”
I don’t see the men move until they’ve reached their destinations. When vamps move, they move fast. Faster than the human eye can process. I feel the breeze of quick movement, but nothing else until the moment someone grabs me. I don’t have the time to react. A preternaturally strong arm wraps around my chest. Oliver reappears a few feet from me, punching JR square in the jaw, the crack curling my toes. JR smashes to the ground. That’s when it registers that someone’s got me in a bear hug. If that’s not bad enough, cold steel presses against my temple. Oh, I really hope that’s not what I think it is.
“Hey!” Gerry says.
Before Oliver manages another punch, his eyes dart toward us. His cocked fist lowers. He snarls, pointed fangs in full view. “Lower your weapon.”
Crud. It is what I think it is. I’ve only had a gun pointed at me once, and it wasn’t a pleasant experience. It ended with me having to kill the man holding the gun. I had nightmares for weeks.
“Leave him alone, or I splatter your skank’s brains out,” Gerry says.
Oh, no. I think the last few days’ events have finally caught up with me. My body begins shaking like a jonesing heroin addict, and my knees just about give out. A whimper escapes my mouth, then another.
Oliver’s gaze moves from the giant holding me to my eyes. He looks damn near as scared as I am. “Trixie, darling, calm yourself. Everything will be alright, my dear. I promise. I swear it to you. I will never let them harm you. We can handle this. You can handle this. Do you trust me?”
I nod. And darned if the shaking doesn’t stop. How does he do that to me?
“Release her, and I shall do whatever you ask.”
JR picks himself up, setting his jaw back with another crack. I whimper. I hate that sound. “She comes with us,” JR says. “To keep you in line. Gerry, if either of them makes a move, pull the trigger. Get her in the car. You, passenger side.” Gerry all but carries me to the back of the car. I don’t struggle. “Oh, and asshole …” JR says when Oliver reaches the front. JR cocks his fist back, and with all this strength, punches Oliver in the face, then again in the stomach. Oliver drops to his knees.
“Stop it!” I cry, trying to wiggle out of Gerry’s arms.
Ignoring me, JR picks Oliver off the ground by the hair, tossing him into the car, and slams the door. Still holding the gun on me, Gerry climbs into the car, dragging me behind him. “Close the door,” he orders.
I slam it with all my might, scowling at the meathead. JR takes the wheel in front of me. “Keys, please.” Gerry roots around in my purse until he finds the keys. Sadly, he also finds the silver/garlic Mace and cell phone, both of which he tosses out the window.
My already pounding heart joins a percussion band when the car starts. I’ve been taught since I was a girl to never get into a car with a stranger, that it’s better to be shot in the parking lot. And I know what these guys are capable of. I glance at Oliver, who has turned halfway toward me. A trickle of blood runs down his chin where JR split his lip. He wipes it off, and spits out more blood on the dashboard of the Dauphine’s car. If we survive the night, Marianna’s going to be even more peeved at us.
“Oliver?” I ask with a trembling voice.
He looks back at me. “Beatrice …” He never uses my real name. Oh, God. We’re going to die. “I need you to listen to me. Everything will be all right. You trust me, correct?”
“I do.”
“Just do not do anything until I instruct you to, do you understand me? Do nothing. Tell me you understand what I am saying.”
Gerry and JR look at Oliver, then at me. “I understand,” I say.
“Then I promise you, you will survive this night.
Yeah, we have no weapons, no backup, two pissed off vampires, one with a gun, and now I’m not allowed to use my power? The odds are not in our favor.
And why didn’t he say we?
Ten
Lords and Masters
The good news is they don’t kill us on the ride over. The bad news is that our destination turns out to be an S&M club called Poison Ivy. Clothing optional.
After JR parks in the lot behind the red brick building, we all get out. JR keeps hold of Oliver’s shirt, dragging him toward the front of the building. Gerry pushes me after them with the barrel of the gun. The bouncer, a stocky Mediterranean vamp in a tailored designer suit, takes one look at JR and opens the door, revealing a neon green sign with Poison Ivy against a black backdrop. To the right are stairs, which I stumble down in near darkness. Luckily Gerry grabs me by the coat, all but choking me to hold me up. The stairs end at a black curtain with the club name written on it. That’s when a topless vamp in black vinyl chaps and nipple clamps saunters out.
Okay. That’s all I can take. Breaking point. I lose it. A hysterical laugh escapes before I can stop myself. “Holy crap!”
All four vamps look at me, and only Oliver isn’t offended. I don’t care. I just can’t stop laughing! My entire body rocks with each guffaw as tears well up in my eyes. Chaps rolls her eyes then walks up the stairs. Her bare butt wiggles with each step, and I laugh even harder. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”
“Shut up.” JR pushes Oliver through the curtain, and Gerry does the same to me.
That’s when I really bust my gut. Horrible techno-pop only popular in Germany plays on the stereos above, but that’s not what gets me. A porn where a woman in a black vinyl bustier bull whips a man with a nice heinie fills the entire far wall, but that’s not it, either. No, it’s the people—or, judging by their beautiful bodies (which I can see every inch of), I suppose they’re vamps. Males, females, and everything in between move around wearing little or no clothing. A few are in robes, but the motif seems to be leather or vinyl, with a few harnesses thrown in for good measure. Some even have piercings in places no metal should go. I’ve never seen so many penises, breasts, or chains on display. On a leather couch three feet from me, a man and woman go at it like rabbits.
I’ve never seen anyone have sex in front of me before. Heck, I’ve barely done the deed myself. I’m not exactly queen
of the sex bombs so this is … I just can’t help myself. I have a gun pointed at me, I’m probably being led to my death, and what do I do? I stop walking, point, and laugh. I laugh until I’m about to pee my pants.
The sex must not be very good because the couple stops mid-thrust to gaze over at me in disgust. “The hell is your problem?” the woman asks with an Irish accent.
“I—I—” is all I can say through the cackles.
Someone grabs my upper arm, spinning me around. Oliver glares at me, mouth set in a straight line. He jerks me away from the peeved couple, this time taking the lead to the back of the club. My laughter dissipates a little from the hard squeezing. JR and Gerry flank us with the gun still trained on me. We move past three men chained to a wall with handcuffs wearing nothing but zipped leather hoods, as their partners either whip or cut them, or in one instance does something that is still illegal in some states. Oliver grips my arm to make sure I don’t start freaking out again. I try not to look at their unmentionables, but how can I not? They’re at full salute, red, and uncircumcised, which I find odd. I’ve seen only a handful, in either pornos or on my two boyfriends, but they’ve all been circumcised. Then it hits me. I’ll bet Oliver isn’t circumcised. My eyes fly to his crotch as if I can tell through his pants. He doesn’t notice, thank goodness.
We move away from the main showroom and stop at the bar, where a bald man in leather pants and spiked dog collar cleans blood off some glasses. My laughs finally subside.
“What’s she on?” the bartender asks JR.
“My wife has never been to such a club before,” Oliver answers.
“And you’re still with her?” the bartender asks.
“She is an apt pupil,” Oliver responds.
I so don’t care if they’re talking about me. Visions of uncircumcised penises dance in my head.
“We’re here to see Freddy,” JR says impatiently.
The bartender picks up the phone under the bar. “Sir? JR’s here with some people. Should I send them up?” He waits for a reply. “Yes, sir.” He hangs up the phone. “You know the way.”
JR walks past the bar to a black door marked Private. Beyond that door is another stairwell with low lighting and dark green carpet. Oliver keeps hold of my hand, and Gerry doesn’t move the gun from my back as we walk up single file. Any giddiness or lustful thoughts fade from my mind. Oliver keeps that damn poker face, so I have no idea how afraid I should be. Have we been found out? I’ve only seen a few movies where undercover officers are discovered, and they’re either shot or given concrete shoes. Neither option holds much appeal.
To Catch a Vampire Page 15