Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between

by J. A. Saare

“Oh, right.” My cheeks flushed. “I can do that, sure.”

  I released the breath I’d been holding when I made it to the safety of my room and told myself to get a grip, retrieving my clothing. I silently left the room, peering to the right. Disco was flipping through my copy of Jane Eyre, seemingly lost in the pages.

  Pulling my hair into a clip, I quickly jumped inside the shower. When I was finished, I flung back the curtain and reached for the towel, only to discover that I’d forgotten it. I eyeballed the insignificant hand towel and made peace with the fact it was my only hope.

  My clothes protested and clung to my sopping wet curves, sticking versus sliding on. I ran my hands down my body to make sure everything was in place, picked up my dirty clothing, and pulled on the door to escape the sweltering room.

  Disco was exactly as I’d left him, sitting in my recliner, engrossed in the woes of Ms. Eyre. I snagged my shit kickers, pulled them on, and reached up to remove the hair clip when Disco’s voice stopped me.

  “Leave it up.”

  “Excuse me?”

  He peered up and said, “Leave it up. It looks nice off your shoulders.” His eyes locked onto my throat.

  “Sorry, I’ve filled my quota of requests for the day.” I released the clip and let my hair fall around my shoulders in soft brown waves, smoothing stray strands into place.

  My mark was visible enough without drawing more attention to it.

  I met Disco’s eyes and the golden embers were burning from within. He placed the book on the table and rose in one fluid motion. My insides melted and delicious warmth flowed through me. It was going to be one hell of a night.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Marcus Delmar was moderately attractive. His black hair was short, the color striking against his dark blue eyes. He was only about four inches taller than me, but had shoulders as broad as barn. He wore clothes that emphasized his build, the dark navy sweater and slacks snug, as if specifically tailored for him.

  Chris Devey was a blond version of Marcus. His hair was cut in the same manner, short and neat. His honey brown eyes were wary as he monitored us cautiously. He went all out casual in jeans and a black T-shirt, biceps expanding as he flexed his muscles.

  Lorence Smith looked totally out of place. He was the only one of the four to wear a business suit, creamy white and pinstriped, perfectly ironed and pressed. His coffee hued skin was smooth and creamy. His hair neatly trimmed. He smelled amazing, even from across the room. If he was nervous, it didn’t show. He remained utterly still and impassive, only speaking when spoken to.

  Dexter Martin reminded me of someone from Baywatch. He was tanned, athletic, and possessed All-American boy good looks. His honey blond hair was long on the top, coming around his forehead in a purposely-sloppy display. He was dressed in a nice polo and khaki’s, cementing the illusion in my head. His ice blue stare darted over to me time and again.

  He’d been staring since I’d entered the room with Disco’s entourage.

  We entered the Razor through the back, climbing a flight of stairs into an area situated above the club. The private room was decadent and lavish. Expensive red velvet cushioned chairs and couches filled the space, the Venetian glass floor lamps emitting a serene glow. A large hand-knotted rug was the central feature on the dark wood floor. Lights from the club shone through the one-way glass, giving everyone a glimpse of the happenings below.

  Even though the area was large, it was crowded. There were liquid dieters all around, including ones that had lost family members to whoever was behind this insanity. Oddly enough, other than Cash and Jacob, none of the missing vampires shared a connection. I was painfully aware of the power in the room, and it emitted from two sources—Disco and Joseph.

  Joseph had one hell of an intimidating posse, far larger than Disco’s. There were twelve of them, minus Baxter, of course. He also had an ace in the hole—the necromancer I sensed the minute they approached the building.

  Sonja was my age, if not slightly younger, and my polar opposite. Her hair was collected at the top of her head, multicolored strands of blonde, pink, purple, and blue spilling around her face. I was certain she wore contact lenses. Her violet colored irises were too bright to be natural. She dressed in leather, pants clinging to her hips, her vest lifting her breasts up and out. I noted she was bitten as I was, directly where everyone could see.

  I’d wanted to sit on the sofa, but Disco kept me at his side. Goose was on my left, and Paine stood to Disco’s right. Behind us was the family, all at the ready. The tension inside the room grew.

  Everyone wanted someone to blame.

  “Time is running out,” Joseph snarled heatedly. “You promised you would handle this, Disco. Since Jacob was the first to go missing, I agreed, but now I want to take control of the situation.”

  Disco’s anger simmered just below the surface. It was evident he didn’t take kindly to someone insinuating he was incapable of finishing what he started. “You won’t find any new information. Ethan has been diligent in his efforts, and so far, we have nothing. We have to flush out the person responsible, and the only way to do that is to cut off all the blood supplies and leave one channel open.”

  “And how will you choose the dealer that puts his head on the plate?” Dexter asked in a voice as boyishly appealing as his looks.

  “Flip a coin?” Joseph narrowed his eyes at Dexter. “All of you peddlers deserve to burn. After this fiasco, no one from my house, or any other I’m tied to, will ever share their blood. Soon, you will have to seek other avenues to keep yourselves thriving. We are the ones who actually need blood to survive. Not parasites seeking a high, like you.”

  “You are not the only resource, Joseph, but I’ll take it under advisement.” Dexter’s smile didn’t waver. “I propose that Lorence be the one to facilitate our plan. So far, he’s been the one with the least to lose, since he’s been keeping all of his information to himself.”

  “It’s called client confidentiality.” Lorence’s voice was smooth as butter. He was an educated man, you could hear years of study in every syllable. “I have shared all of my knowledge with you, have I not?”

  “Sure you did,” Dexter goaded. “After we threatened you with the consequences.”

  “Boys,” Paine interrupted them. “We’ll decide who gets the red ribbon after the important people in the room have the opportunity to talk. Don’t make me throw you out of my club.”

  I gawked at Paine. So the Razor was his. No wonder Disco brought me here that first night. I bet all of them had sat at the window and observed the entire conversation.

  “Of course.” Dexter’s smile returned, but it was forced. He took a step back, and as his jaw clenched, I imagined he was biting his tongue.

  “Ethan can lead Sonja to the location where he intercepted Baxter, and she can establish a connection to speak directly with him. Flushing people out using these”—Joseph motioned toward Dexter—”leeches might work. But when time is of importance, a name or face would benefit us more.”

  “She won’t gain anything more useful,” Disco said.

  “Of course she will. You want to give her that opportunity, don’t you?”

  A strange sensation tingled across my skin, and I drew a shaky breath to calm myself. My nerves were rattled from the close proximity to Disco, as well as being surrounded by so many of his kind. They gave off their own strange hum, which had the capability to become overwhelming.

  As the silence stretched, I peered up at Disco. He was frowning, lips drawn into a tight line. I glanced at Joseph, who wore a knowing smile. Sonja had closed the distance between them, her hand on his arm.

  “What is going on?” I whispered when Goose grasped my hand. He didn’t respond immediately, but when he did, my blood iced over.

  “Sneaky bastards,” he murmured. “They’re using some sort of power to glamour Joseph’s words.”

  “How does that work?” I had to read Goose’s journals soon. Being ignorant wasn’t what I was
being paid for.

  “I’m not sure. Joseph is the energy source, and he’s using his bond with Sonja to do it.” Goose kept his voice quiet and hushed. “We have to break the contact. I need you to go after Sonja.”

  “No problem.” It would work one of two ways. Either I got a piece of the bitch, or the ensuing scuffle would break everyone out of the funk she’d started.

  Goose released my hand and stepped forward, his body blocking mine from view. I stayed on his ass until his body jerked and a hand clamped around his throat. Whipping to the right, I came face to face with Rainbow Brite and grabbed a fist full of her brightly colored hair. One good yank was all I needed. The contact severed and I thrust her to the ground, the leather pants on her hips chafing against the wood.

  Voices chimed in the room, furious and disbelieving.

  Shrieking, Sonja jumped to her feet and rushed me. Her hands grasped my shoulders and I balled my fist, rotated at the hip, and delivered a devastating uppercut to her chin. Her jaw snapped back and her feet lifted off the ground before she crashed to the floor. I stood stock still, mouth gaping in shock and disbelief. The vampire blood I’d ingested had increased my strength. She would pay a hefty price when she came around.

  Joseph lifted her lifeless body in his arms, green eyes shimmering at me. The mamma jamma next to him stepped forward, intent on crushing me in arms the size of jumbo jets. I thrust my right foot back, getting into a position to defend myself.

  Suddenly, Paine appeared. He grasped the bigger vampire’s forearm and forced him around. “Do you want to know how you go, you fat ass piece of shit? Because I know. I know everything… Paul.”

  Paul shook his head, mouth hanging open. I didn’t know vampires were so uptight about death, or so terrified. Paine let go of Paul, reached for me, and pulled me against him. I was caught off guard by the contact. Disco indicated Paine didn’t touch anyone unless it was necessary. He guided me back to Disco’s side. Goose was rubbing the dark indentions on his throat, and I patted his arm consolingly.

  “You should know better Joseph,” Disco grated in anger. “Is this what we’ve come to?”

  “I could say the same to you,” Joseph snarled, cradling Sonja to his chest. “We are tired of waiting, and I gave you the opportunity to do this your way. Now it’s our turn.”

  “You can’t taint the blood supply. It would kill too many people and raise too many red flags. Can’t you see that? If people die with our blood inside their bodies, the human laboratories will pick it up. It’s a risk we cannot take.”

  “Who cares if it kills off a few humans?” Joseph scoffed. “They are nothing to us. Human science won’t be able to decipher anything; they’ll cast the anomaly aside. It wouldn’t be the first time our blood has unwittingly found its way into human hospitals.”

  “I refuse to partake in this,” Dexter snapped. “I will not knowingly endanger the lives of anyone I deal to. If that’s your plan, forget it.”

  “That is not our plan.” Disco shook his head. “We have information from all of you, and more importantly, we have Rhiannon.”

  Joseph’s eyes narrowed. “Am I supposed to be impressed that you obtained a new familiar?”

  “I didn’t tell any of you because she was not yet marked, but now that she is beholden to our family, there is no need for secrecy.” Disco’s extended his hand and I laced my fingers through his. The connection was immediate. A comforting energy surged between us, filling a void that I wasn’t aware existed. “Rhiannon can confer with the twice-dead. It was she, not Ethan, who communicated with Baxter.”

  Joseph’s face changed as his green eyes homed on me.

  Green eyes—just like Baxter’s.

  “Brothers,” I whispered.

  “I want to see.” Joseph handed Sonja’s limp body to Paul. He closed the distance between us with vampire speed.

  “No, you don’t.” I stepped back. I knew what it was like to see a sibling suffer. Nothing good would come from sharing what I had seen.

  “Don’t tell me what I do and do not want.” He extended his hand, palm up, as Baxter had done.

  I closed my eyes and drew an unsteady breath, attempting something I’d achieved only once before. I thought aloud in my mind, hoping Disco would hear. Nothing happened so I glanced at him, squeezing his hand. I shouted the words in my brain, and replayed that sense of fear and despair Baxter exuded. I wouldn’t share that knowledge with his brother.

  Disco spoke for me. “She wishes to spare you pain in your loss.”

  “I have the right to know!” Joseph yelled. He didn’t wait for permission. He grasped my hand and green eyes filled my vision as his brother’s face flashed through my mind.

  I felt the cold concrete, the slice of the blade inside my flesh as it sunk to bone, the terror I would forever be punished in hell for what I was—a demon, a blood drinker, a monster. Just as swiftly, the images changed to twin beds, music on the record player, pain-filled cries in the next room.

  I attempted to break free, terror overcoming everything else. I was aware of Goose, Paine, and Disco, all yelling in anger.

  “I apologize, piccola.” Joseph’s hoarsely spoken words had no meaning in my broken mind. “Allow me to undo the harm I have wrought.”

  Cool hands pressed against my cheekbones and my skin warmed as the sun shone upon my face and shoulders. I smelled the salt from the ocean, heard the waves as they crashed into the surf, and felt the gritty sand between my toes. A breeze ruffled my hair, and I turned toward the sound of someone speaking my name, breathing in the hot salty air.

  My Mother’s voice was full of laughter as she ran across the beach with my Father chasing after. She was lovely, ebony hair hanging down her back and around her shoulders as she spun around, opening her arms. My Father lifted her into the air, spinning in a circle, the water and sky met behind them, forming a snapshot in my mind.

  The image melded into another sunny day. A young boy with a baseball glove, raven hair hanging loosely around his face, old clothes covered in dirt and grass stains. He was laughing, running across the field, green eyes shining. He reached into the glove, holding it aloft and grinning proudly.

  “Rhiannon.” Disco’s voice penetrated the vision, and it dissipated. I was once again inside the dark, dimly-lit room above the club.

  I cleared my throat and struggled to orient myself. Joseph had returned to his group, and I was standing once again between Goose and Disco.

  “Don’t you ever fucking do that again,” I wheezed at Joseph.

  “I’m sorry.” He sounded genuinely regretful, words laced with pain. “One of my abilities is to meld the memories of two individuals together, just as my brother did.”

  “Adrian,” Disco said. “No longer do we shield our talents. If you see anything coming, say so.”

  “It’s about damned time.” Adrian exhaled, sounding relived.

  “Joseph, we agreed to meet without benefit of talents or persuasions, and you broke both of those terms. As the oldest families in the city, there is no reason for us to fight amongst ourselves.” Disco sounded tired, his silky baritone heavy and solemn. “I propose Dexter provide the blood while we monitor his progress. But we will not taint the supply. Murder does not beget murder.”

  “And if that doesn’t work? How long are we expected to wait?”

  “I don’t see why we can’t work together,” Paine butted in. “That would be the logical thing.”

  “I offered.” Disco looked at Joseph. “But only if we work together.”

  “I’d like a moment with you, Gabriel.” Joseph sounded equally exhausted. “Would everyone excuse us?”

  You could cut the tension with a knife. Everyone waited apprehensively for Disco to speak.

  “You heard the man.”

  Paine motioned toward the exit. “Downstairs everyone, let’s go.”

  Joseph’s people went first. Rainbow Brite was finally coming around. Her head shifted in Paul’s arms, and she groaned. I was sure she w
as going to have one hell of a headache. Marcus, Chris, Lorence, and Dexter went next, carefully avoiding one another as they clomped down the stairs. I waited until Goose started down before I followed.

  Everyone pressed against the walls as Paine strode past. He unlocked the door beneath the stairs and stepped through, allowing the music from the club to fill the hallway. Sonja was on her feet and she walked through with Paul holding her steady. Jonny and Sirah went next, followed by Peter, Landon, and Corey. Nala and Adrian hung back, lounging against the wall.

  Paine waited until everyone went through then allowed the door to close. We were in the far corner of the club. The music was deafening.

  “Stay with her,” Paine told Adrian, motioning at me.

  “You got it.” Adrian nodded, taking Nala’s hand. “Come on, Rhiannon. We’ll wait at the bar.”

  Paine moved and Adrian led the way, shoving past the bodies in our path. The walls were painted blue, like the rest of the club, the only light source coming from the open area at the end. Adrian walked around the left of the dance floor. The place was packed with vampires, a few people spread out among them.

  We walked under the cast iron stairs that led to the DJ booth and underneath the booth itself. There were several empty seats at the edge of the bar, and Adrian took a seat with Nala at his side. Goose slid into a swiveling chair next to them and I did the same.

  “What would you like, Rhiannon?” Nala yelled over the music.

  “That’s okay.” I shook my head. “I’m fine.”

  She gave a smile and returned her attention to the dance floor. She was wiggling in her seat, and I knew without asking she wanted to pull Adrian out there with her. It was a shame to let her outfit go to waste. She looked ethereal in a black skirt and billowing aqua shirt that matched her eyes.

  “Why don’t you two go dance?” I hollered over the noise.

  She didn’t yell, but her voice lifted an octave. “We’re supposed to wait with you.”

  “What’s going to happen? Go on!”

  She turned to Adrian, yelled something, and his face went blank, as if he were concentrating on something important. He nodded at Nala and she smiled, bounding from her seat. He instructed Ethan to stay put and followed the path she made to the floor. He pulled her close and caressed her back as they started to dance.