by Zena Wynn
Once again Reyna mentally kicked herself for being so stupid. Her friends—bitches every one of them—had known what they were doing. She should have realized it was a setup. Reyna thought back to earlier today at lunch when she’d blindly walked into their trap...
“What are you doing tonight after work, Reyna?” Lexy asked.
“Going home to tend to her cats,” Caitlyn said.
“A lot you know. I don’t have any pets,” Reyna said. There might be felines living in her home but only a fool would mistake them for house cats.
They were at a table in the glass enclosed, rooftop atrium where they usually gathered for lunch. Office personnel who worked on different floors in the building, they’d met and become fast friends in the course of doing business for their respective bosses.
Delany airily flicked off Reyna’s response. “You might as well. With your boring lifestyle, throw a few cats into the mix and your picture could feature in Webster next to the word ‘spinster.’”
“Hey! My life is not boring. Just because I’m not a ho’ like some folks I know.” Reyna directed a pointed look at Delaney. “Or a swinger like other people I could name but won’t,” she gave an arched look at Caitlyn, “does not make me dull. I happen to like my life just the way it is.”
Lexy pointed a finger at her. “So what are your plans for tonight? It’s Friday. Surely you don’t intend to sit home.”
Since she planned on doing exactly that, Reyna remained silent. After the hectic week she’d had, all she wanted to do was go home and curl up with a bowl of ice cream and a good book. She might even watch a movie. The possibilities were endless.
At her silence, Caitlyn said, “Reyna, no. You can’t stay in tonight. You need to go out and live a little. Do something other than hole up in that warehouse you call a house.”
The others nodded in agreement. Reyna frowned. She liked staying home. Home was safe. Home was her sanctuary, where she could relax and be herself.
“I know!” Delaney snapped her fingers. “She can go to that new club, the one everyone’s talking about. I hear it’s all the rage, especially on Fridays.”
“The Gladiator? Yeah, that place is totally blazing,” Lexy agreed, a dreamy expression on her face.
“And packed,” Reyna inserted dryly. “Everybody who is somebody—or thinks they are—tries to get in. The line wraps around the block and stays that way for hours. I’d never make it to the door, let alone get inside, even if I wanted to, which I don’t.” Reyna shook her head. While she’d never been to The Gladiator, she’d heard others speak of it and seen reports of it on the news. Just the mere thought of being trapped in a building with so many vampyrs made her shudder.
“Aw, come on. It would be fun. Just standing in line would be better than sitting at home,” Delaney said.
“Says you. No way.” As far as Reyna was concerned, the conversation was over. She wasn’t going anywhere near the place. Driving past it on the way home was bad enough.
“I can get you in.”
All eyes swung toward Jacey, the quietest and newest member of their group, at the calm conviction in her voice.
“You?” Caitlyn voiced what they all were thinking.
Reyna was shocked and a bit dismayed.
“I’m pretty sure I can get Reyna in if she wants to go,” Jacey said.
“How?” Lexy demanded to know.
“You’ve been to The Gladiator?” Delaney questioned at the same time.
“It’s not important. Reyna?” Jacey dismissed them both, showing a calm sense of self-possession Reyna had never seen her display.
As Jacey stared at her, obviously waiting for a reply, the others continued to taunt Reyna, like bullies on a playground.
“Oh, she’s too chicken to go,” Delaney said with a dismissive wave of her hand in Reyna’s direction. “Let me go. I’ll enjoy the experience way more than Reyna.”
“I’m no coward,” Reyna vehemently protested. “Just because I don’t enjoy bouncing from club to club every night doesn’t make me a chicken.”
“Really? When’s the last time you went out? To a club? On a date? Out to eat? The movies or theater? Hell, how about a museum? Anywhere other than home?” Lexy asked.
Reyna opened her mouth, but nothing came out. What she did on her off time was private, not something she could share with this group, no matter how much she enjoyed their company. Besides, she couldn’t remember ever doing any of the things Lexy mentioned, unless it somehow pertained to business. How pathetic.
“I knew it,” Delaney crowed. “Reyna’s a big scaredy cat.”
“Am not. You take that back!” Reyna demanded.
“You know, I have to agree with Delaney,” Caitlyn murmured and Lexy nodded. Jacey just sat quietly and watched.
Reyna glared at them all. She didn’t have to defend her lifestyle. She had valid reasons for living the way she did.
“Uh-huh. Prove it. I dare you,” Delaney taunted.
She could feel her blood pressure rising as her temper began to boil, but tried to play it cool. Arching an eyebrow, she asked, “You dare me? What are we, still in grade school? This whole conversation is stupid.” She shook her head and then tried to change the subject. “Anyone heard the latest? They say we might all be getting a cost of living increase. I hope so. There’s also talk the cost of our benefits might increase.”
Caitlyn nudged Delany. “She’s trying to avoid the issue. She’s frightened.”
“Terrified,” Delaney agreed.
Grinning broadly, Lexy said, “If she was a horse, the whites of her eyes would be showing.”
Reyna rolled her eyes. “Whatever. I just can’t believe how childish you three are being.”
Lexy leaned forward in her seat and pointed her fork at Reyna. “Come on, Reyna, I double-dare you. Break out of your rut and get out of the house for once.”
“Who knows, you might actually meet someone nice,” Jacey said.
“And get laid, something you obviously need,” Caitlyn threw in.
Delany frowned at the others. “Can’t you see you’re wasting your breath? Women afraid of their own shadow rarely come out in public and socialize.”
So now I’m afraid of my own shadow? Oooo! She did not just say that, Reyna fumed. She heard a tapping sound and realized she was drumming her nails on the table. Reyna immediately halted the motion.
“She won’t do it. Remember how much trouble we had getting her to come to the office Christmas party. It took weeks of nagging to get her to agree,” Lexy reminded them.
The Christmas party was two years ago and they were still throwing it up in her face? Damn heifers had memories like elephants.
“Oh, that’s right. In that case, I double-dog-dare you. Prove you aren’t scared by going out tonight,” Delaney continued breezily.
Oh, hell, not a double-dog-dare. She’d never been able to resist one of those.
“Not just out, but out to The Gladiator,” Caitlyn added smugly.
“But isn’t it a vampyr club?” she asked. Of all the places they could have chosen, why that one?
“Yes. You got a problem with vampyrs?” Lexy asked. Reyna knew Lexy loved vampyrs by the way she was always gushing over them and updating their group with the latest vampyr news.
She looked around the table at the small group. They all appeared ready to pounce if she gave the wrong answer. Pushing her personal feelings aside, she cast a quick glance at the cloudless sky. Hopefully lightening wouldn’t strike her dead for the whopper of a lie she was about to tell. “Not really.” She clutched her suddenly queasy stomach.
“Then what’s the problem, unless you really are afraid?” Delaney continued to push the issue.
Reyna’s mind scrambled, trying to come up with a believable excuse. The truth was not an option. “I don’t have anything to wear,” she announced triumphantly. “A club of that caliber has to have a dress code.”
“We’re almost the same size. I have a dress you can
borrow. You’ll fit right in,” Jacey announced, once more shocking the group.
After regrouping from another astounding revelation from the youngest, quietest, and simplest dresser in the group, Lexy turned to Reyna with narrowed eyes. “No more excuses. Jacey has the dress, I have shoes, and I’m sure Caitlyn will be happy to do something with your hair.”
“And I’ll do your makeup,” Delaney volunteered.
Knowing she was defeated, with an inward sigh she gave in to the inevitable. “Fine, what are the terms?”
Her friends all high-fived each other and grinned broadly.
“You have to go to The Gladiator tonight,” Delaney said.
“And stay for at least an hour,” Caitlyn added.
“And Monday we want all the details,” Lexy finished.
Reyna turned to Jacey. “You have anything to add?” she questioned sarcastically, beginning to realize she’d been had.
Jacey’s eyes seemed to lose focus as she gazed at something only she seemed able to see. Finally she blinked, shook her head slightly, and her gaze locked onto Reyna’s. “Let yourself have fun.” She looked like she wanted to say more but held back.
Reyna forced herself to sit back in her chair and relax, even though she felt like a cat with her paw caught in a trap. Good thing she’d finished eating. Her normally healthy appetite was gone. “If I do this, you guys will leave me alone? No more pressuring me to ‘get a life,’ as you put it?”
Caitlyn, Delaney, and Lexy’s eyes all met in silent communication. They turned to Jacey and she nodded. “Yes,” they said, almost in unison.
Lexy held out her hand to Reyna.
Reyna made no move to shake it. “What? You’re not going to spit on it to seal the deal?”
“Eww!” Caitlyn said.
“That’s disgusting,” Jacey agreed.
“Not to mention juvenile,” Lexy added.
“And this isn’t?” Reyna asked.
“Reyna, honey, don’t be mad.” Jacey glanced at the other women. “You don’t have to go if you really hate the idea. It’s just that we worry about you. Other than work and us, you never have anything to talk about.”
“No other friends,” Lexy said.
“No boyfriends,” Caitlyn added.
“You don’t even mention family,” Delaney finished solemnly.
“You seem so…isolated,” Jacey said sadly.
Reyna looked at her friends, all staring at her with varying degrees of concern on their faces. This is what living a double life led to, she realized. They had good intentions, even if she didn’t like their methods. “You’re right. I’ll go and try to have fun.”
They all heaved sighs of relief.
“Come over to my place about nine and we’ll help you get ready,” Jacey instructed.
To Reyna’s dismay, Jacey had proved to be as good as her word. Hours later she’d found herself strutting to the head of the line in her borrowed outfit, ignoring the insults and curses hurled at her, praying all the while she’d be turned away at the door. Head held high, she’d marched right up to the tall, brawny, scary-looking Roman Centurion guarding the entrance and held out the coin Jacey had promised would get her inside, no questions asked.
The security guard had given her the once over, blatantly checking out all the skin Reyna displayed. His gaze had lingered a bit longer on her pulse points than she was comfortable with, but used to dealing with predators Reyna knew not to show her unease. Finally he took the coin from her and examined it.
It was Roman in nature, with a picture of Caesar on the front. It shone with the patina of old gold, and Reyna briefly wondered if the coin was real and valuable. If so, how had Jacey acquired it? It must have passed muster for the Centurion handed it back to her and the guards standing at the door let her pass.
Fun, Reyna thought as she cradled her drink to her chest, staring into it as if it held the answers to all the secrets of the universe. Sure, she was having fun…not. This place was so not her scene. There were too many people, too many bodies packed together like sardines in a can. Yes, the place was huge but she preferred wide-open spaces with room to run and be free. Like home, she thought with a sigh.
Still trying to avoid eye contact with everyone, she gave herself a pep talk. Come on, just a little longer and you’ll be home free.
Already she could fell the hot, satiny water of her Jacuzzi tub caressing her naked body. She’d light some candles, put on some soothing music, lay her head back on the bath pillow, and soak away her cares. Closing her eyes, she imagined herself holding up her leg, admiring its slim shapeliness as the suds slid down her slender body. Anything to get her mind off where she was.
Another peak at the watch showed twelve minutes remaining. Time to start making her way to the door.
Tariq Bastien left his penthouse lair by way of the private elevator coded to his voice command. “Third floor.”
“Yes, master,” the computerized voice said as the doors swooshed closed behind him.
His staff, comprised of members of his Clutch and the few humans he trusted, were more than capable of handling things and keeping everyone in line, but he preferred the hands on approach to business so he made a personal appearance in the club each night. His customers had come to expect it.
The music was loud and pumping. The place packed. As normal, business was booming. He knew the drinks, music, and atmosphere were only part of the appeal. The main lure was the Vampyr themselves. Humans loved them, loved the idea of rubbing elbows with his kind.
In the five years since their official unveiling, they were still just as much of a mystery as when they’d come out, and if he had anything to say about it, they’d remain one. As a result, he kept a close eye on the more…unruly of his kind.
They’d done a hell of a public relations’ job, making themselves seem the same as humans with the exception of a few special…enhancements, the result of their transition to earth. Sort of like Superman, with fangs. It took a while but the majority of the populace now believed they were exactly what they portrayed themselves to be instead of the powerful predators they really were.
It had helped when humans discovered a lot of the myths about them—myths they themselves perpetrated—were false. Unlike their fictional counterparts, sunlight didn’t kill them. Weaken their powers? Yes. And unlike the movies, they didn’t fall into a deathlike sleep as soon as the sun rose, but they were nocturnal, as were most of earth’s predators.
As he walked the three levels of the club he nodded to security, dressed as Roman Gladiators, whose job it was to ensure no mishaps occurred. Vampyrs didn’t solely depend on blood to survive. In fact, in large quantities Earthlings’ blood was highly addictive, providing the same buzz as opiates or narcotics in their purist form to humans.
The last thing he wanted was for some vampyr who couldn’t control himself to bleed out a human. Not on his watch, and not after all they’d done to convince humans the image of them as bloodthirsty killers was just a fable and unsubstantial as mist. For the most part it was true, except for when one of his kind first arrived on planet.
The gravity on Vampalien was much denser than Earth. After space travel in zero and artificial gravity, their blood volume was low when they first left the spaceship. For the first three days they’d drain dry any being foolhardy enough to come within clutching distance until their blood pressure gradient equalized. Unfortunately, it was during this time a lot of Vampyrs develop an unquenchable thirst for human blood, much like a cancer patient addicted to morphine.
Tariq stopped and stood at his favorite lookout spot, which allowed him an eagle’s view of the entire club. Things were quiet tonight. All the little Vampyrs were playing nice, abiding by Vampalien rules. He was about to turn and go back to his office when it hit him.
Emotions slammed into him. He filtered them through his senses: a human female, impatient, frustrated, and underneath it all, afraid. Then, almost before he’d fin
ished processing, an overwhelming sense of relief. He hunted the source. Whoever she was, she was broadcasting loudly.
For him to receive it meant only one thing—his Heart’s Blood was near.
His cock hardened at the thought. A bloodmate, for him. But which one was she? As usual, a high percentage of tonight’s clientele were female. He scanned the crowd, lowered his shields until he locked onto the direction from where the emotions emanated.
There, near the bar on the second level.
A beautiful woman in a black, figure-hugging off the shoulder dress suddenly stood, pushed away from the counter, and strode determinedly toward the exit. It was her. Tariq couldn’t let her get away.
Reyna twisted and turned as she pushed her way to the exit. She kept her gaze averted to avoid accidentally making eye contact with anyone. She was congratulating herself on her success when she plowed into a massive, rock hard body.
“Excuse me,” she muttered, scowling as she tried to maneuver her way around him. Where’d he come from? The path had been clear a second ago.
A large hand clamped possessively on her elbow, halting her. “You want to dance with me.”
Reyna shivered as the deep voice went through her, causing her nipples to peak. Damn, a vampyr. Had to be. Despite the loud music, she heard him as clearly as if he’d spoken directly into her ear, except he’d never bent down and placed his mouth to it. Since her head was level with his chest, it had to be a display of vamp powers. She shook off the hint of compulsion embedded in his command.
“Actually, I don’t. I was just leaving.” Reyna yanked her arm free and as she did, the lighted dial of her watch swung into view. She still had seven minutes. She wouldn’t put it past Delaney and Caitlyn to be waiting outside to see if she’d stuck to the terms of their agreement.
“I insist.” He grabbed her forearm and began towing her towards the lighted dance floor.
High-handed bastard, she thought, glancing over her shoulder to see the exit grow further and further away.
