Once freed, her hands went to her stomach. “I don’t care about me! What if...”
“The baby’s fine.”
“How...”
“I can hear two heartbeats. I think it inherited its father’s hard head. Doesn’t hurt that you got lucky, too. The guy who decked you in the stomach was just a human.”
“Yeah, lucky. Sloppy is more like it.”
“That too,” I chirped, helping her up. “Can you walk?”
“I think so.”
“Good, because we’re probably going to need to run. I only took out Marlene. The rest are downstairs.”
“Kara?”
“Her, too. Happily compelled in lala land.”
“What’s the plan now?”
“Get her and get the fuck out of here.”
“I could have thought of that.”
“Well, then, why didn’t you?” I turned and began heading further down the hall. There was a second stairwell that came down behind the main dressing room...or at least, there used to be. It was probably a safer plan than just waltzing down the front steps. Before I could take more than a step, though, Christy caught my arm.
“Don’t touch him. He’s mine.”
“Mark and I...”
“The one who punched me,” she clarified.
I nodded. “Be my guest.” There was a reason one didn’t get between a grizzly bear and her cubs.
We turned a corner and she asked, “So that guy, Kara’s boyfriend, is really your ex?”
“Yep, that’s Mark. Used to be a nice guy.”
“Up close, he and Bill look a lot...”
I stopped and glared at her. There was a thought I really didn’t need bouncing around in my brain.
“Don’t even think of finishing that sentence.”
Chapter 28
The lights flickered. The storm was right on top of us. It gave me an idea...one that was probably suicidal, but an idea nevertheless.
Marlene had made a mistake in choosing to open tonight. Her dedication to keeping the club going, no matter what, was going to cost...
Oh wait, she was already dead. Well, then it was going to cost the yahoos in her employ. With any luck, they’d be hopping around like good little minions, getting ready to open. The dressing room would be filling up with girls by now. That was good. What was one more blonde and brunette amongst the crowd?
If we were lucky, we’d be able to slip out without more than a minimal exchange of hostilities. They’d have the advantage in numbers, although the truth was I had no idea how many we were up against. Other than Marlene, I’d only seen four other vampires and a handful of human thralls. It was possible she’d been in as dire straits as she claimed...
Oh, screw it! I was just bullshitting myself. The real problem was that a part of me was hoping to avoid facing Mark.
A year or two ago, I wouldn’t have batted an eye at the concept. We’d have either been cool by now, fucked for old time’s sake, or I’d have killed him - hell, probably any two of those. Now, though, thanks to the glass of Bill-flavored humanity that I’d apparently swallowed at some point along the way, I found myself actually feeling guilty about the poor dickhead. He’d been a good man once, but now he was a monster - all thanks to me.
Still, that was neither here nor there. Time to save the pity party. I could let little Lucinda out of my subconscious later on to fret about the past. Right now, we still had a job to do, and I was intent on finishing it. I didn’t know Kara for shit, but I wouldn’t let her fall down the same rabbit hole I had. Fuck history repeating itself.
Luckily, the back stairs were just as I’d remembered them. Marlene hadn’t been too big on the concept of total renovations, which was good news for us. She’d been a creature of habit, changing with the times only so much as needed to be done.
Christy and I came out in the main storage room. The hall to the back door, alarmed and guarded even back during my time here, led off to the right. The dressing area was to the left.
“Where is it?” I quietly asked myself.
“Where’s what?”
I idly grabbed a bottle of Hennessey from a shelf and popped the cap as I tried to remember the layout from years past.
“You were looking for that?”
“Oh, this?” I took a pull. “No, it’s just been a long night. I’m trying to remember where the subbasement entrance is.”
Maybe I’d been wrong about Marlene’s dislike for renovations. It had been right here - a trapdoor down into the...oh yeah. Hadn’t Mark said something about the tunnel entrance being sealed? Well, that could make things difficult. If such were the case, we’d have to fight our way out, and sadly, I’d left my favorite handgun back in New York.
There! I spied a collection of crates stacked in one particular spot. A small groove in the floor peeked out beneath them at the edge of the door. That was it? They’d just stacked shit on top of it? Not exactly a top-notch security system. I mean, a few crates wouldn’t...
“Ugh!”
I gave them a shove and got nothing for my efforts. Okay, so they were really heavy crates. What the fuck was in them, solid concrete?
“Why’d they cover it up with those?” Christy asked, moving to stand next to me.
She’d been unconscious when Marlene had explained things. It was probably best to not bring her entirely up to speed, lest she think better of our escape route.
“I don’t know...big rats, maybe? They probably had some of the tunnel people sneaking in and stealing the liquor.”
“You’d think they’d encourage that behavior.”
Actually, they had back in the day. Christy was definitely no slouch in the brains department, which once more made me wonder what the fuck she saw in Tom. “You’d think. Sadly, I don’t think Marlene will be forthcoming with answers.”
“If we can get down there, can you get us to safety?”
“Probably...I mean, sure.”
She glanced at me sideways. “Good enough. Stand back; I can take care of this.”
“Okay, you...zap it, or whatever it is you do, and I’ll grab Kara.”
“Where...”
“In the dressing room. I can smell her.”
“Do you need my help?”
“No, I’ll be fast. Just do whatever you’re going to do quietly.”
♦ ♦ ♦
I sniffed the air again outside the dressing room door. Yeah, the girl was in there, along with a few others, all human. It was interesting, Marlene’s obsession with keeping all the girls in her employ human. Odd the traditions some coven masters set forth. Guess she didn’t want the competition. Still, it wasn’t the stupidest rule I’d ever heard of.
I checked the door. Unlocked, as expected. I likewise didn’t worry about running into any of Marlene’s goons in there. Men were strictly forbidden backstage except during emergencies.
Like when you killed Tina and Minnie?
Ah, memory lane, gotta fucking love it. But now was not the time for that shit. They were long dead and buried, forgotten by all...save, perhaps, me.
I shook my head. Fuck me! When this was over, I really needed to kick back with a pitcher of Bacardi 151 daiquiris until those memories went back to the graveyard where they belonged.
Enough dilly-dallying! I turned the handle, intent on ushering Kara out of there quickly. With any luck, the girls would think I was just part of a different shift and not bat one false eyelash at me.
I opened the door.
Several pairs of pretty young eyes turned in my direction, and then all hell broke loose as the nearest one, a stacked brunette, let out a shrill shriek.
Oh yeah. Guess I should’ve remembered I was covered head to toe in Marlene’s blood. Christ, it can never be easy, can it?
I popped the screamer in the mouth, pulling my punch at the last second. None of these girls deserved to die. Hell, none of them deserved to be disfigured just because I was dumb enough not to shower off before stepping in. They were all me
once upon a time.
Goddamnit, I was doing it again. If this kept up, I would be reduced to tears, bawling my eyes out at my lost youth. Fuck that shit!
I put on my game face, blackened my eyes, and extended my fangs. If these girls thought I looked like some horror show reject, I might as well put it to use and clear myself a path.
Pandemonium was in full force. The girls ran to the other exit, which was fortunate for me. Anyone racing in to help would have to wade through a sea of panicked thongs and teddies.
Only Kara remained at the mirrors. She stood there in matching bra and panties while calmly applying lipstick. Whatever compulsion they’d planted in her head, it was holding fast. Either she had the willpower of a slow-witted puppy or she hadn’t been overly terrified enough to try fighting it to begin with.
Mark!
Marlene was powerful enough to put her under this deep, but if Kara had convinced her stupid self that she was in love with Mark, then he could’ve done so without raising one iota of a subconscious protest in her mind.
That was also fortuitous for me. I couldn’t undo a compulsion by Marlene, but I was older than Mark...even if only by a few hours.
I grabbed her shoulder and spun her to face me.
“WAKE UP!!”
Just to be on the safe side, I planted a healthy smack on her face. Not hard enough to hurt, but more than enough to get her attention.
Her hand flew to her cheek and the glaze in her eyes cleared almost instantly. They opened wide as she took in my appearance, looking like I’d stepped from the final scene of Carrie.
“Who are you?”
“Hi, I’m Sally and you’re coming the fuck with me.” I grabbed her wrist and, without further ado, dragged her with me to the back door.
She let out a shriek in protest - what a whiner - but was unable to do anything, save follow me. “Please don’t hurt me!”
“Duly noted,” I replied, pulling the door shut behind us and snapping the knob off.
“Listen, if its money you want, I can...”
“We can compare credit reports on the second date.” I gave her a shove forward into the storage room.
Christy ran out to greet us. “I thought you said to be quiet.”
“Those who can’t do, teach.”
The startled girl turned toward her. Recognition dawned on her face, but not the relief I’d been expecting. “What are you doing here?”
“It’s okay, Kara. I’m here to take you back home to your parents. It’s going to be all right.”
The girl’s tone immediately changed to defensive. “It was already all right. I’m not going back home, and I sure as shit didn’t need your help, bitch.”
I raised a questioning eye to Christy.
“What? I never claimed she liked me.”
“Okay, you two skanks need to get the fuck out of here before my boyfriend...”
“Enough of this shit,” I snarled. I grabbed Kara once more by the wrist and dragged her with me. “I have news for you, sweetheart. Your boyfriend is dead.”
“Dead?! You killed Mark?”
“Yeah,” I turned to face her. “About thirty years ago, and if you don’t stop fucking around, he’s going to return the favor to all of us.”
Chapter 29
Christy had been good to her word. She’d not only somehow moved the crates off the trapdoor, but she’d melted a heavy padlock that had been used to lock it.
It was handy to have a witch around. I briefly considered offering her a job on my payroll before dismissing the idea. There would be time for discussing staff additions later. The sound of someone breaking down the back door of the dressing room reached my ears. They were coming.
Christy kept Kara from bolting while I pried the heavy door up, the hinges squealing in protest. I grabbed our reluctant hostage and dragged her down the ladder with me. Christy brought up the rear.
The subbasement was a large open area, more an extension of the sewer system than anything. It smelled of damp decay, and I couldn’t help but notice that the stone walls and floor were scratched all to hell.
It was best not to consider what had made those.
“Follow me.” I started toward what had once been the main tunnel access.
“Ouch!” a voice behind me hissed. Almost immediately, I had to blink as a white light filled the room. A ball of energy sprang from Christy’s fingertips. Oh yeah, almost forgot I was the only one with night vision.
“That’s better,” she said, taking a look around. “Big rats, you said?”
“Really big ones.”
“What the fuck?!” Kara shrieked, her eyes wide in the magical light.
“Newsflash, doll.” I dragged her forward with me. “Your sister-in-law-to-be is a witch, not a bitch...that one’s my job.”
“Kara!” a voice cried from up above - Mark’s. “FIGHT THEM!!”
Thankfully, I was ready for him. “IGNORE THAT ASSHOLE!!” It cost me, though. I staggered from the effort, but one consolation was that he was probably doing the same. Vamps our age weren’t up to the task of a protracted compulsion tug-o-war with a human rope. With any luck, he wouldn’t dare try again while in close pursuit of us - it would leave him vulnerable.
Gathering myself, I stepped forward to where I remembered the access grate to be and saw...nothing. Fuck!
Looking closer, I saw the vague outline of masonry work. They’d sealed it up with a cement plug. Jesus Christ, they really were scared of whatever was down here. I began to doubt the wisdom of my escape plan.
“Give it up, Lucinda!” Mark called. Behind us, several sets of feet began to descend the ladder. Shit!
“We’re trapped,” I said.
“Wanna bet?” Christy replied, turning back toward the trapdoor. A red glow enveloped her body, illuminating the room in bloody silhouettes - quite apt, considering the circumstances. It wasn’t anything new for me, other than not being the target for a change, but it definitely freaked out the girl. Kara's eyes grew even wider and she looked like she was about to scream her head off.
Pity that I beat her to it.
“No!” I cried, the old me fighting her way to the surface once more. “Blow the wall...uh, you might not hit all of them.” Goddamn, I really needed to get my head on straight.
Christy eyed me skeptically for a moment before turning and taking aim toward the wall in front of us.
“You have enough in you?” I asked.
“I guess we’ll find out.”
Kara let loose a whining cry to Mark, just as a rush of power sped from Christy’s body. It slammed into the wall like a wrecking ball. The concrete shattered, sending smoke and dust billowing in our direction.
The girl’s screams dissolved into choked coughs, which was a good thing for her sake. The concept of decking her and tossing her limp form over my shoulder had begun to creep into my mind. Unfortunately, that idea went right out the window as Christy dropped to one knee. The effort of moving the crates and, now this, had drained her already shaky batteries.
Fuck! When it rains, it pours...
Literally, it would seem. As the noise from the explosion subsided, the sound of distant rushing water hit my ears. The tunnels under Vegas were famous for their flash floods. Such was life in the desert. It was dry most of the time, but when it did rain, it came down like the wrath of God...or gods, in this case. This storm was anything but natural.
I shoved Kara forward. Looking down at Christy, I had a nanosecond to consider that not too long ago I would have gladly left her to whatever fate Mark had in store for her. Amazing what just a few months could do to a person. Hell, if push came to shove, I’d save her ass long before some other vamps...like, say, a certain redhead who had a boatload of pain coming her way the second I got back to New York.
I hauled Christy up and draped her arm over my shoulder. “You good to go?”
“Peachy,” she replied weakly.
I took a step forward, then hesitated. Multiple scents cau
ght my nose from up ahead: stagnant water, mold, decay, and something beneath it all...a pungent smell like someone had decided to fry up rotten eggs on a brimstone-fueled griddle.
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing. Probably just a...ARGH!” Red-hot pain lanced my side a second before a thunderous explosion echoed in the room around us. The fuckers were armed, what a surprise.
“Kill them all!” a voice commanded from behind us through the smoke that continued to linger in the air. It was probably the only thing saving us from being riddled with holes. Sadly, Christy’s little magic ball of light still hung in the air. Whatever cover we had wasn’t all that good.
Biting my lip against the pain...a thirty-eight caliber from the feel of it - I dragged Christy forward. Thankfully, the bullet had just grazed me. As it was, it hurt like a motherfucker, but wasn’t debilitating. My enhanced healing would deal with it soon enough.
Fortunately, the concept of possibly getting shot in all the confusion had sunk into Kara’s head and she’d taken the hint. Moving ahead of us, at least to the edge of the light, she stepped into the tunnel.
The entryway opened up into the sewers about twenty feet ahead. Once through, I leaned Christy against the wall on one side and dragged the girl to the other with me.
“They shot at us!” she whined.
“Perceptive, ain’t you?”
“They could have...”
“Hit you? Yeah, I’d suggest you remember that,” I hissed back. “Now shut up!” I bent and grabbed a couple of fist-sized hunks of concrete from the ground. I didn’t have a gun, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t be just as dangerous. Footsteps entered the tunnel behind us and I whipped a rock in the general direction, putting my vampiric strength behind it.
A scream of pain was my reward. Ah, gotta love that. I threw a few more and gunshots rang out in response along with the whine of bullets ricocheting off the walls. It was a standoff. They couldn’t hit us, but as long as they were in the tunnel, I could barely miss.
At last, I heard the retreat of footsteps.
“Give us the girl, Lucinda,” Mark called out. “I just want her. You and the witch can go. We won’t follow.”
Sunset Strip: from the Tome of Bill Series Page 14