“You know where to go to see all of this?” Amp asked. “I mean, do you have friends there?”
“I am 523 years old, Amp. I have few friends, but I have connections everywhere. Wherever we need to go, in any city in the world, doors will open for us, you can be certain of that. Someday you’ll understand the reasons why. In the meantime, we will enjoy this trip, and hopefully you will learn something about yourself.”
The two hour flight was uneventful, and after the girls were checked into the Fairmont atop Nob Hill, they were ready to explore the night life of San Francisco.
“Where to first?” Amp asked as they walked through the lobby of the luxury hotel.
“All three cable car lines meet in front of the Fairmont, so pretty much we can go anywhere we want. Let’s ride around a bit, check out the sights, and then there’s a couple clubs we need to visit.”
A few hours later, Amp felt like she was an expert on cable cars, and well on her way to claiming San Francisco her favorite city ever. The two went through Chinatown; past fisherman’s wharf, saw the beautiful homes on Nob Hill, and eventually mixed with the revelers downtown.
“We have to come back when we have lots of time to sightsee,” Amp told Nikka, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “This place is incredible.”
“I know, right,” Nikka answered, pleased. They were walking hand-in-hand down 3rd street, passing the Museum of Modern Art. “It’s one of the greatest cities in the world.”
“I’ve never felt this way about a place before,” Amp said.
“Let’s go through here,” Nikka directed, turning into an alley, the lighting dim. They continued for another two blocks, Nikka leading Amp to a doorway with one blue light burning above. Amp was mystified, but Nikka seemed to know where she was, and what she was doing. She knocked loudly on the door, waited, and knocked again. Finally, the door opened, a tall, slender man dressed in a gray suit, a white shirt, and a bright red tie stood before them.
“May I help you?” he asked, looking down his nose at the two juvenile females.
Vampire, Amp knew, her senses kicking in.
“I’m a member,” Nikka said. “0823.”
“One moment, please.” The door shut, leaving the girls standing in the alley.
“What’s going on?” Amp asked.
“This is The Bridge. It’s a private club; they have to be careful who gets in. Almost all of the vampire community’s social activities are ultra-private, and they work hard to keep their secrecy intact. Not only do they want to keep the humans in the dark, but they also don’t want any of the riff-raff from certain segments of the vampire community hanging around. It’s worked for centuries, so I’m not about to knock it. This club has been here for more than 200 years.”
The door reopened, the man staring hard at Nikka before formally bowing to the waist. “Pardon me, Lady Nicola, I should have recognized you. It’s been far too long since you’ve graced our establishment. Please, let me find you a table.” Leading the girls, the man entered the club, nodding at the security man who hovered off to one side. The trio entered the main bar of the club, and Amp looked around with wide eyes. Not in Kansas anymore, Toto, she thought to herself.
The club was magnificent, all wood and leather, and million dollar art adorning the walls. Each room they passed was decorated with crystal chandeliers, several with billiard tables, slot machines, and one with a baccarat table in use. The girls were underdressed, which didn’t seem to faze Nikka in the least. Amp thought she should ask her about the Nicola thing later. Must be from another era in her friend’s life. Whatever it was, the man was certainly deferring to her.
There were maybe 100 people in the club when they entered, many turning to watch the girls walk to a table. Amp sensed that the majority was vampire, but she thought there were several humans mixed in, probably mates or blood donors.
As they were seated, it seemed to Amp that there were more stares in their direction, and a noticeable buzz in the air.
“Are they staring because we aren’t wearing evening clothes?” she asked Nikka.
“Maybe that’s it,” Nikka chuckled. “I think they just aren’t used to strangers. Relax; I think the bands about to play. I want you to have a good time tonight. Meet some people, dance and have fun. These are your people, Amp, enjoy them…experience them. Come on, I’ll dance the first one with you, then you’re on your own.”
They didn’t make it through the first dance before two men cut in, each taking one of the girls. It was the first of many dances for Amp, the girl hardly getting off the dance floor before being asked by somebody else to dance. She found herself enjoying the night, the mixing with others of her race a treat. All of the men Amp danced with were gentlemen, and nobody seemed to mind that she was not dressed in evening wear. She found herself listening and laughing with her partners, being a vampire among other vampires.
The band finally took a break, and Amp made her way back to the table, Nikka talking to a young, beautiful man in a black tuxedo.
“Amp, this is Christopher Taylor. Chris, my friend Anne Marie. Chris is an old friend who lives here in the Bay area.”
“My absolute pleasure, Anne Marie,” the man said, taking her hand, and bending to kiss it.
Oh my god, Amp almost squealed.
He kissed my hand, like they do in old movies. “Are you enjoying our city?”
“Your city is magnificent,” Amp answered. “I can’t wait to come back when we can see everything. It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to.”
“When you return, please let me be your guide. It would be such a pleasure to show you all of San Francisco.”
My heart is fluttering, Amp thought.
“Excuse me, Lady Nicola, but my master requests a few moments of your time, if that is convenient? Your friend, also.”
Looking up, a wide smile split Nikka’s face. A vampire in his mid thirties was standing rigidly beside the table. His black hair was combed straight back from a classic Italian face, his swarthy complexion and oversized nose giving him a distinguished, if not handsome look. He was not a big man, about five feet ten, but he carried himself with complete assurance.
“Agostino, my old friend, how have you been?” Rising, she embraced the man.
“Good, good,” he said, returning the embrace, although a bit uncomfortably.
“How is your master?” Nikka asked. “I was so hoping to see him this trip, it’s been so long. Too long, I think. I’m so glad he’s in the club tonight.”
“Actually, and don’t you tell him I told you this, somebody called him, and told him you had entered. He had me bring him immediately. He’s waiting upstairs in the red room. I’ll escort you both there, if that’s acceptable.”
“Of course, Agostino. Chris, it was good seeing you, next time we’ll get together, I promise.”
The two girls followed Agostino back out of the main room, finding the stairs, and climbing to the second floor. Several people nodded at them as they made their way down a long hallway, Agostino stopping at a door.
“Go right in, Nicola. He’s waiting for you.”
He was gone, disappearing down the hallway without a word. Nikka knew Agostino would not be far, had not been away from his master’s side for centuries.
Opening the door, she stepped inside the lavishly furnished room, Amp following. The red walls complimented the black leather furniture perfectly. The floor was dark hardwood, and red velvet drapes covered the windows.
A man was standing by the bar, a huge cigar in one hand, a goblet of some drink in the other. Amp saw he had been turned in his late twenties, but he was old fashioned looking in the manner he dressed and carried himself. He was handsome, six feet, with dark wavy hair, a face that could be in movies, and a trim, fit body tucked neatly into a beautiful tuxedo. She watched as Nikka approached the man, then gasped as her friend kneeled on one knee and lowered her head until her forehead touched the floor.
“Lord Rinaldo, I am ho
nored that you’ve asked for me.”
“It is I who is honored, My Lady, that you’ve graced our fair city with your presence. Rise, child, and let me look at my old friend.”
Nikka stood, the two staring at each other until Rinaldo reached out and embraced Nikka, holding her as an old friend, or a lover, might hold one dear to them.
“It’s been too long, Nicola, too long. How have you been?”
“Good, really quite good, my Lord. Oh, I’m sorry, this is my friend Anne Marie. Anne Marie has never been to San Francisco, so we took a few days to visit.”
“Anne Marie, my city is much more beautiful with your presence. I am pleased that you are here.”
Not sure of how to address the obviously important Lord, Amp simply bowed slightly, and smiled. “Thank you, Lord Rinaldo. I love the city, and can’t wait to come back for a longer stay.”
“I insist that when you return, you will reserve one night to spend with me at my estate. It would be my honor to entertain the two of you.”
“Thank you,” Amp replied, on unfamiliar ground.
Amp was offered a seat on the couch, and for the rest of the time in the red room, she kept her mouth shut and listened to Nikka and Rinaldo catch up, eventually zoning out of their business. It was obvious that the two had known each other for many years, and each spoke with the familiarity that comes from shared experiences. Amp was in awe of her friends contacts, and realized that the stares when they had arrived wasn’t because of the way they were dressed. It must have been because Nikka is a well-known vampire. There’s more to this story than she’s letting on, Amp thought. Someday I hope she lets me in on the rest of it.
When Nikka rose to leave, she bent and kissed the hand of Rinaldo, a gesture that confused Amp. She had a dozen questions for her friend tonight. As she was turning to follow Nikka out, Rinaldo surprised both of the girls.
“Anne Marie, could I have a personal moment with you?”
Amp looked at Nikka, the taller girl smiling, and walking through the door, closing it quietly behind her.
“Come over here, dear,” the vampire said, gesturing to the chair next to him. “Nicola tells me you haven’t been around our kind often. What’s your impression after an evening with the crowd down stairs?”
“My Lord, I spent more than a hundred years with my sire, and his other child, traveling around, keeping to ourselves. If they had survived, I’d still be doing that, never knowing that I was missing out on reaching the potential I am capable of. I loved my friends, and I miss them, but Nikka has introduced me to another world; one I am ready to embrace. The people downstairs are perfect ladies and gentlemen, and we’ve had a wonderful evening. It won’t be the last time I visit, as well as visiting New Orleans and New York. I want to learn, I want to live my existence as Nikka does; proud of her race. I was so alone before, the feeling was crushing the life out of me. Nikka has given me my life back. ”
“You couldn’t have a more perfect friend than my Nicola,” Rinaldo said. “Listen, learn, and stay close to her, child. She loves you, which is not something I relate with Nicola. She’s been alone for a long time, and now…I’ve never seen her this happy…this animated. You bring joy to my friend, and for that, I am always in your debt. Good luck with your mission, Anne Marie. As long as Nicola and you stay together, I find it hard to believe that anyone will defeat you. I don’t often make this offer, Anne Marie, but if you ever need me, call.” With that, he handed across a card with only a phone number on it.
This time when saying goodbye, Amp bent and kissed the Lord’s hand, imitating her friend’s action. It felt like the right thing, and Rinaldo accepted it that way.
Walking out of the club, Nikka was silent, Amp determined to wait her out. Deciding to walk back to the hotel, Nikka reached for Amp’s hand, the girls each lost in their thoughts. Finally, Nikka broke the silence.
“What did you think about Rinaldo?” she asked.
“I thought he was wonderful, a gentleman, and obviously an old friend of yours. He treated me with respect, and offered his friendship. Who is he, Nikka?”
“Lord Rinaldo is the oldest vampire in North America, the wealthiest, the most important. He was here centuries before any Columbus. When you think of power, the name Rinaldo is on the top line. Nothing major is attempted in this part of the world without his approval.”
“Oh my god,” Amp whispered. “How do you know him?”
“Another life, Amp…another life. Someday I’ll explain it to you, when the time is right. There’s good and bad in our race. Tonight you saw the good. Someday I’ll show you some of the bad. I have a multitude of acquaintances there, also. For now, just realize that you’re making powerful friends. Eventually you might have to call in their help. For now, I have a strong feeling that Amp and Nikka and Robert can accomplish anything we put our minds to. Now let’s get some sleep. We’re out of here tomorrow, but I promise, we’ll come back for a longer stay. This is just a taste of things, honey. There’s a great big world out there, and I want to show you every inch of it.”
------
A week later, Robert was lying on the carpet in front of the flowered couch in the living room of their rental house. His laptop was open, resting on his stomach, his head on a throw pillow. He rose as Amp and Nikka came in the front door laughing, Amp dropping a bag from Wal-Mart on the loveseat.
“There ya go, killer. Two pairs of jeans, a dozen black t-shirts, and socks and undies. You wanted thongs, right?”
“Boxers,” he growled, closing the laptop and jumping to his feet. “I told you boxers, Anne Marie.”
Nikka slid down onto a wing chair, holding her gut, she was laughing so hard. Robert and Amp had developed a love-hate relationship similar to siblings, and Nikka got a kick out of their constant bickering.
Tearing into the package, he was relieved to see six pairs of colored boxers in a plastic package.
“Dickhead,” he said to Amp, grinning. “I’d look real sweet in a thong.”
“Ooh, we gotta try that sometime,” Amp laughed. “Have a lingerie show, starring our very own Master Sergeant Bobby Juby. Bet we could sell a ton of tickets for that.”
“If you’re finished with your adolescent humor, I have a couple things to tell you.”
“I’m on pins and needles,” Amp chuckled, sitting on the floor. She leaned her back against the puke green love seat that didn’t match the couch. The furniture was a designer’s nightmare, but it was all in decent shape, and more than served the purpose.
“All right then. Our weapons will be here tomorrow night. I’ll pick them up in the city. I want to go over them, make sure we’re not getting any shit stuff. Anne Marie, I’ll need cash for this, all of what I told you. As soon as we get the weapons up here, we need to start practicing. Nikka, we need a place far enough away that we can shoot shotguns to our hearts content without anyone hearing us. Can you find something, maybe an island or abandoned farm or something?”
“I’m on it,” Nikka said. “There should be plenty of locations around this part of the country.”
“I’ve got the money,” Amp said. “Red backpack in the kitchen, exactly what you told me.”
Robert hesitated, not sure how to approach the rest of what he had on his mind. He wasn’t sure if vampires had a strict code of secrecy; if they governed themselves on certain etiquette when dealing with humans. He didn’t want to look the fool, and certainly would do anything to keep them from being upset with him.
“I’m not sure about how to ask this, so I’ll just do it. I think if we contact the guy I have in mind for the surveillance mission, and he agrees to talk about it, we need to let him in on the whole thing…about us, about them, and everything in between. If he can’t handle it, we erase him, and he goes on his way. The thing is, I think it’s incredibly irresponsible and dangerous to send a human in to spy on a coven of vampires who have a history of killing first, and asking questions later. If he’s man enough to take the job after knowing a
ll the dangers out there, then he’s the guy we need.”
“I agree,” Nikka said immediately, surprising Robert, putting a smile on his face.
“What you guys said,” Amp agreed in her own way. “Be kind of fun explaining to him that vampires are real…and we’re them.”
“Set something up,” Nikka decided. “Let us know what you want from us. We’re all in.”
------
For the next week Amp and Nikka shot more rounds from their new shotguns than they thought possible. Nikka had found a piece of deserted forest with a small field in the middle, miles away from civilization. They had attracted no attention, and practiced to their hearts content. If anyone had heard the commotion they were making late at night, they didn’t have the urge to investigate.
Kill Wilson (Petersburg Vampires) Page 12