The club was pumping as we entered, lots of regulars to be seen. I spotted Jett and Shane, off to the side animatedly talking. Shane seemed to have made an impression on Jett, which was surprising. One is meek and mild, the other tough as nails, but somehow they got along. Shane could do that to you though, he somehow knew exactly how much innocence and guile to play to reel you in. I guess his fish at the moment was vampire, not human. Playing it up to the second in command to Michel was not a bad move, politically. I had hopes Shane would live a long and happy second life, it looks like he did too.
Erika was missing, as was Michel, but I could sense both in Michel's office. I had no intention of interrupting, business being the way it was right now, I knew I'd only be a distraction. I couldn't even send him a thought to say hello, surrounded by so many memories. Nero had saved my life in this bar. So, Amisi and I just took a seat quietly over by the bar and let Doug ply us with alcohol. Always a good place to start a Friday night.
“Good to see you, Luce,” Doug said as he slid my drink across the bar top to me and likewise did the same for Amisi. Doug is a man, or vampire, of little words, but I like him. I know he'd have my back if the need arose. I've seen him fight, like most of Michel's line he knew how to hold his own in a battle, but what you saw on any ordinary night was just a bartender with a pleasant smile and a few kind words. His greeting tonight would be genuine though. Doug was my guy, through and through.
I smiled and waved him off to his paying customers. I'd just taken a sip of my drink and turned to talk to Amisi, when a couple of human guys approached. One on either side of us, so I was guessing they were tag teaming it tonight. It's not that I have stopped noticing other guys, now that I'm with Michel. I still do, you can't help it, especially if they're dressed to impress like these two were and flashing handsome smiles and come hither looks. But really, one vampire is quite a handful, I couldn't even contemplate adding anything else to the mix. And why would I? I mean, come on, Michel is gorgeous and he is all mine. Humans just don't have a chance any more, I'm afraid.
Still, I thought I'd humour them, it might just get me out of my blue funk. I did notice, though, a few of the vamps coming in for a closer look and it wasn't for the scenery, they were definitely not liking the Master's Nosferatin being disturbed by mere mortals. I took pity on the guys and smiled back.
Big mistake.
Blonde and handsome slid into the seat next to me and devoted his whole world to dazzling with those pearly whites, while rugged and brunette did just the same to Amisi. We were trapped, both men deciding to set up home at the bar and win us over. The vamps began to circle.
“So, do you come here often?” Jeez, where have I heard that one before?
“Is that the best you can do?” I said willing myself to concentrate. I hadn't meant to encourage him. Of course, he had planned it all. Maybe I'm just out of practice on the whole picking up someone in a bar routine.
“It got a response from you, so it must have worked. Still, I see your point, I'll just have to try a little harder.” He rolled his R's like they do down in Gore, it's kind of nice, quaint even. “How about this? What's a pretty girl like you doing in a place like this?”
OK, pathetic, but it did help to make me focus. Sometimes, even a brief moment out of reality can be a balm. My world had been so Dark lately, talking to a human, albeit a bad one-liner human, was kind of refreshing.
“I kind of like it here. It think it has a nice feel to it, don't you?”
He looked around as though seeing it for the first time and nodded slowly. “I see your point, I hadn't really noticed it before, you kind of stole the view as soon as I walked in.” He flashed that smile again.
“Now that was pretty pathetic,” I said, taking another sip from my drink.
“Damn. You're one tough customer, I'll have to pull out the big guns.” He tapped his chin in mock thought. “Got it!” He straightened himself up, put on a faux sober face then looked me in the eye. “Do you have a map? Because I keep getting lost in your eyes.”
If it weren't for the dozen or so vamps on hot approach I would have laughed out loud, but this had gone on long enough. “Look, you're entertaining, but I'm waiting for someone. The guy who owns the bar actually. So, maybe you should try your beautifully cheesy pick up lines on another girl. They really shouldn't be wasted.” I forced a smiled, hoping he wouldn't be offended and would just walk off.
“That would be Michel Durand.” He was all serious now, his voice low and quiet so only I could hear. And it's not that humans don't know who Michel is, hell Michel even has groupies, but it was the way this guy said it, that had my head spinning.
“Yes. It would. He's my boyfriend.” I said it slowly, unsure if admitting it would be helpful here or not, but feeling perhaps the line needed to be drawn in the sand anyway.
“Then I'm in the right place and talking to the right girl.” He picked up my drink and sniffed it, shrugged and downed the rest of the glass. Looking me back in the eyes, I noticed his had a strange glow to them, the blue taking on a hint of pink, like the sunset on a hot summer's day. Sky-blue-pink my childhood friend used to call it. This guy had sky-blue-pink eyes.
“Lucinda Monk, you're going to want to call off the hounds, let them know everything is OK and for them to go back to their blood bags.”
I froze. “Why?” It wasn't the best comeback, but I couldn't think straight. In fact, the room had started spinning and all clear thought had slipped away.
“Because my friend here will hurt your girl, that's why.”
I glanced over my shoulder and saw Amisi's face was very grim. The brunette looked relaxed and was talking away as though they were having a great conversation, but it was all one sided. Amisi's eyes shot down to her lap then quickly back up to mine. I looked where she had and I could see something protruding under her blouse. I followed the shape to its origin and wasn't surprised to see it started by brunette.
“What is he holding against her?” My voice was even and low. This could not be happening, right in Michel's bar, right in front of Michel's vamps. Of course, they may not like a human chatting me up, but they'd never think for an instant that a human could get the slip on me or Amisi. They're human, not even worth considering as a threat. But right now I felt threatened.
“That doesn't matter, Lucinda, call the vamps off or your friend will be sporting the latest fashion accessory from Muggers-R-Us.”
I glanced at his eyes and knew he meant it. This was no idle threat. To have entered into Michel's club and come against us in such a fashion, could only mean one thing. These guys were professionals, they knew who the vamps were, they knew who I was, they knew how to play the game.
I looked over at one of Michel's vampires and caught his eye. “It's OK.” I mouthed. “Stand down.” And followed it up with one of my pissed-off glares, the ones I usually reserve for Michel's vamps when I'm about to blast them with a nice dollop of Light. The vampire in question cringed and quickly ordered his cohorts to retreat.
The human next to me waited until they had all slithered back into the shadows and then winked. “Atta girl. I knew you'd do the right thing. You've just got goodie-two-shoes written all over you.”
I ground my teeth together. I'd sure as hell like to show him exactly how wrong he was on that score.
“Right,” he said, clapping his hands and rubbing them against each other. “You and I are going to walk out the door together. Fred here will keep your girl entertained for a bit longer. Don't worry, he's as gentle as a lamb, aren't you, Fred?” Fred, if that was his real name - and who calls their kids Fred now days? - just grunted, not exactly reassuring the gentle as a lamb persona at all.
“They'll follow,” I said not moving from my spot. “I don't normally walk out of here with humans.”
“Then glaze one to keep the others occupied.”
My breath left me in a rush. Yes, I could glaze vampires, but there was no way anyone should know about it. Especially a fr
iggin' human. What the fuck?
He just laughed at the expression on my face and leaned in to whisper in my ear. I could smell his expensive cologne, not unappealing under normal circumstances. But this was not normal.
“We know all about you, Lucinda, so come on, let's boogie. I'm really starting to lose my patience.”
At that Amisi let out a little whimper and I shot her another glance. The guy had his arm about her chair back, gripping her shoulder. At a quick look it would have just seemed like he was leaning in to say something quiet in her ear, but his other hand, hidden from anyone else but me, was clearly pushing home whatever was under her shirt. And I was picking it was sharp.
A tear spilled out from her eye and trailed down her cheek. And didn't that just do it for me. It may have been clear, but all I could see was red. Blood red. Images of Nero dying, to save me, flooded through my already numb mind, making logical thought an impossibility.
She shook her head at me as I abruptly stood up. “Don't do it, Luce. Don't go with him.”
Doug sensed something was up at that stage. I'm not surprised, even with a bar packed to the brim, he kept an eye on me. As he was the vampire to approach first, he got the glaze. A simple command - I almost didn't realise I had done it, through the fog enveloping my mind - that all was OK and he was to make sure none of Michel's vampires followed me. He nodded, like any good glazed vampire does and proceeded to round up the vamps in the room, allowing cheesy-one-liner to walk me out the front doors unhindered.
A quick robot-like glaze to the vampire bouncing on the front steps and we were free.
Or at least, he was. I was betting it was going to be a long time before I could get free. How could I? Amisi was being held hostage in the bar, what else could I do but walk willingly with one-liner away from the safety of Sensations.
I didn't even send a thought out to Michel.
Almost in a mechanical stupor, I just simply walked away.
We walked a fair distance from the bar without saying a word. I was using every Nosferatin skill I had to lower my heart rate and slow my breathing, trying my best to ascertain if there were any other threats nearby. It was all but useless, I couldn't really think straight.
There weren't any other supernatural threats in the vicinity, at least I didn't think so. So I concentrated on the man next to me. What the hell did he want with me? I flicked a glance his way and took in his relaxed demeanour, thick blonde, spiky short hair, sky-blue-pink round eyes, with thick blonde lashes which swept down his cheeks when he blinked. He had a strong jaw line and square facial features, with a wide neck and broad shoulders. I was sure he could hold his own against any human that came his way, but a Nosferatin? I doubted he'd have much of chance against me normally despite his powerful human presence, but I wasn't firing on all cylinders right now. He hadn't even disarmed me, I still had two silver stakes, a silver knife and a Svante sword sheathed down my back.
Still, do I try? Amisi was no doubt back at the bar under constant knife threat even as we walked along the street lamp lit pavement, further and further away from Sensations. And of course, this guy knew that, that's why he hadn't even bothered to disarm me yet. He knew I wouldn't risk Amisi. Not when she had a knife already piercing her skin, even she couldn't magic her way out of that one. A knife at close quarters like that was impossibly stiff odds and the brunette, Fred, didn't seem like the sort to lack quick reflexes. Any move she made could be fatal, as could any I made now.
Shit. What now? We just kept walking, the blonde next to me kept whistling and I felt like an utterly useless piece of crap. Being in positions of complete impotence does not make me happy. I had to take control of this situation, but physical attack was not the answer.
“So, what is this all about? What do you want with me?”
He flicked me a glance and smiled, flashing those impossibly white teeth. “It's not what I want, Lucinda. It's not what anyone else but they want. They ask, they receive. It's just a shame your boyfriend didn't cotton on to that sooner.”
“That doesn't tell me much. Who are they and what has it got to do with Michel?”
He stopped walking, we were outside the BNZ Bank, my workplace, of all places. I tried not to look at it too longingly. Oh, to be back in familiar coin counting territory.
“All will be revealed in good time. Or not.”
I heard a soft footfall then and spun round to face the noise. Another male human, just as well presented, just as strong as my unwanted companion, but he wasn't trying to attack me. No, his job was pure distraction, because as soon as I turned toward him and away from the blonde, I felt a sharp sting on the side of my neck. Not unlike the sharp piercing prick of a vampire bite, but this was just one spot, very fine, very small. But rather than a sucking sensation, I felt like something was being pumped in.
By the time I got my hand up to the spot, Blondie had removed the object of sharpness and the sensation of something entering my bloodstream had disappeared. Only to be replaced with a slight blurring to the scene before me, a sudden onset of nausea and then the whole world went black.
Chapter 3
Not a Victim
I woke slowly to the hum of an engine and a pain pulsing through my head. I groaned and rubbed my temples, feeling both light headed and cotton wool padded inside. Nothing seemed to be working. My eyes blinked in the surroundings, taking nothing in, my ears only produced a thudding noise, in time with the pulsing in my head. And my hands, other than rubbing my temples, felt like they belonged to someone else. Actually, my whole body felt like it belonged to someone else, I was just along for the ride.
Slowly the room around me coalesced and I was able to comprehend my location. On a plane, a private jet it looked like, sitting in a well padded caramel coloured leather armchair with a blanket over my legs and half way up my body. The blanket was cream mohair, so soft and delicate. I ran my fingers along it and realised I was able to feel a lot more than a few minutes ago. Sensation was coming back to me, which was a relief, but memories of how I got here were not.
That thought woke me up completely and was immediately followed with others. Who were the people on board with me, where were we going and where had we been? And then, the most frightening, who the hell am I? I started to feel clammy and hot, but a deep seated coldness began to churn in the centre of my stomach. Something was so very wrong about this situation, so very wrong indeed. But, I had no idea what it was, or what I should be feeling. That alone was enough to terrify me though. I suddenly felt very alone and very, very scared.
My eyes flicked around the cabin of the plane. Everything was top notch. These people had money to either hire a jet like this or maybe even own it. It had half a dozen comfortable caramel coloured leather armchairs, like the one I was seated in, polished mahogany tables and a side dresser, covered in bottles of top shelf liquor. A 50 inch plasma TV screen, which was showing a movie of some sort. And about half a dozen vampires littering the space.
I knew this, I'm not sure how, but I knew they were vampires without a doubt and I also felt very much at home with that thought. Instinctively I knew Vampires exist and that I am part of their world. This was such a basic idea it actually calmed me. The fact that not all vampires are created equal was also thrumming in my head, but the familiarity of vampires overcame that fear completely. Still, a sense of wariness stole over me. Vampires could be lethal, I had to watch my back.
One of the vampires turned then and looked at me. He was tall, although sitting in an armchair, his strong long legs were stretched out in front of him, taking up the small space of open carpet in the cabin. His broad shoulders and muscled arms made him appear bigger than all the rest and that was saying something, they were all pretty big on the muscle front. He had unruly shoulder length blonde hair, but it didn't look windblown or bed tousled, it looked a little staged, but it also made him seem carefree and handsome. That, and his piercing azure coloured eyes.
He was gorgeous, with golden brown colour
ed skin as though he had been tanning it at a beach resort. Of course, I knew that was not possible, vampires can't survive the sun. How I knew this I couldn't say, but I just knew it as a fact.
He smiled and it lit up his face, his long body unfurling as he came over to crouch down next to me. I didn't pull away in fear, I didn't brace myself for an attack, I just didn't feel anything.
“Who are you?” My voice was steady and my throat not dry. So, I hadn't been out for that long then.
“How's my girl?” His accent was American, mine wasn't. He reached up and brushed a strand of my hair behind my ear. A movement so familiar and laced with care, I wondered if I was meant to know this man intimately. I tried to rack my brain for any memories of him, but came up blank. In fact, when I tried to think of something from the past, anything at all, it was all blank.
“I don't know you.” I wanted to say more than that, like I don't know where we've been, where we're going, who I am, what's happening, but I chose to push those thoughts aside because I could feel they would only lead to hysteria. I was on the edge of a cliff already, I needed to stay in control of my emotions or all would be lost.
He smiled sadly. “It's all right, Lucinda, you don't need to remember, I can do that for both of us.”
I shook my head at him, I couldn't form any more words. He looked so sad, so heartbroken, but also so sincere. I must know this man, he must know me. I wanted to reach up and brush his face, to reassure him, but I felt nothing for him, other than what pity I felt at the look on his face right now. I kept my hands clasped in my lap.
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