Vampire Trouble

by Sara Humphreys

  Maya nodded her agreement. “I know what you mean.”

  “Can I get either of you something to drink?” Boris asked, raising one eyebrow. “I do keep your drink of choice on hand, just in case.”

  “No.” Shane shook his head and tilted his head in deference. He slanted a sly glance at Maya, the one that made her stomach flutter. “I have made arrangements for us this evening, and we’ve taken up enough of your time.”

  “Thank you, Lillian.” Maya extended her hand over the bar, but Lillian gave her a doubtful look.

  “A handshake? Please.” Lillian laughed and came around from behind the bar before gathering Maya up in a warm embrace. “We’re practically family now. I have been inside your head, and we dug up all kinds of information. I think we’re well past handshakes and have moved right to hugging.”

  “True.” Maya giggled and hugged her new friend tightly. She pulled back and smiled. “I mean it. Thank you, Lillian. You gave me more than information. You gave me back my parents and allowed me to feel their love again. I—I don’t know if I can ever repay you for that.”

  “No repayment required.” Lillian winked. “I know what it’s like to feel lost.”

  “Me too,” Maya whispered, glancing at Shane. “But not anymore.”

  Shane and Maya waved good-bye to their new friends and stepped out onto the sparsely populated street. Smiling, he took his hand in hers.

  “I have to give the necklace to the wolves,” Maya said, with Shane leading her down the street. She wasn’t sure where they were going, but he certainly seemed to have a destination in mind. “I think that’s the right thing to do. Besides, they’re not going to stop until they get it, Shane.”

  “Agreed.” Shane nodded but kept his sights on the street ahead as they wove their way through the growing crowd of humans. “I will call the czars tomorrow night and let them know what we’ve discovered, but right now we have something else that needs to be addressed.”

  “What’s that?” Maya asked. The fluttering of the human heartbeats swarmed around her, making her hunger surge.

  She gripped his hand tighter, holding on to him for strength, when a group of four drunken humans stumbled by and bumped into her. The physical contact had her fangs humming and begging to be released. Until this second, she hadn’t realized how much she’d missed having a live feed, and walking down Bourbon Street, the most populated street in the French Quarter, wasn’t helping.

  I know you want to satisfy your urge for a live feed. Shane’s seductive voice slid enticingly into her mind as he turned down a side street and pulled her away from the throng of humans. I know going hunting is not permitted at the moment, but we do have another option. There’s a vampire-run establishment not far from here, and it will provide you with exactly the relief you need. I even called ahead to get us the best table in the place. He cast that sexy grin in her direction. After all of your hard work and the intensity of the past week, I thought you could use a break.

  As long as it’s not a break from you. Smiling and eager with anticipation, Maya went with him willingly. Shane was absolutely right. After the craziness of the past week and all of the revelations, she was desperate for a break.

  They turned down a few side streets until they came to a small brick building on a dimly lit corner. It had an intricately designed wooden arch with images of various creatures of the night carved into it, and it framed a massive, shiny black door. Above the arch hung a painted sign that read, “Bayou Escape,” in bright red letters that looked as though they’d been written in blood.

  Shane pulled the door open and, as always, allowed Maya to go first. She had to admit it was one of his old-fashioned gestures that she appreciated. As the heavy door closed behind them, Maya noted the lighting was dim, much like the nightclubs in Manhattan, but instead of stepping right into the venue, they were standing at the beginning of a long hallway that looked like it led into a formal dining room. Based on the fluttering of heartbeats, she could tell that it was packed with humans who were eating dinner.

  Sitting at the hostess station was a human girl, and not a vampire like Maya was expecting. She had long, red hair and was dressed in a simple black dress with a single strand of pearls draped around her neck. Neither the girl nor the restaurant was what she was expecting. Maya thought Bayou Escape was going to be a nightclub like The Coven, but it was the exact opposite.

  “Good evening,” Shane said in his most gallant voice. He slipped his arm around Maya’s waist as he spoke, and she didn’t miss the look of disappointment on the hostess’s face when it was clear that Shane was taken. “I called ahead and requested a reservation for a private room in the wine cellar. The name is Quesada.”

  “Of course, Mr. Quesada.” The girl’s green eyes widened and a look of recognition flickered over her features. “Diego and Sebastian asked me to let them know when you arrived.” She picked up the phone as her voice rose with excitement. “Please have a seat,” she said with a gesture to the red velvet bench along the wall. “They’ll be up in a moment.”

  Feeling far too anxious to sit, Maya tangled her fingers with Shane’s and perused the various photographs along the wall. Two men appeared in all of the pictures, either separately or together, and in each photograph they were with someone famous. Actors, writers, and politicians from various points in time like Sophia Loren, Alfred Hitchcock, Bill Clinton, and Jennifer Lopez. Though the images clearly spanned several decades, the two men in the pictures were ageless.

  “I take it these two guys are Diego and Sebastian?” Maya asked quietly, with a glance to the hostess. “It’s kind of risky to post pictures of themselves like this, isn’t it?”

  “Not at all.” Shane pointed to the photo of Sophia Loren. “As far as anyone else is concerned those men are their uncles, to whom Diego and Sebastian happen to bear a striking resemblance.”

  Maya nodded, but the blatant display still made her uncomfortable. These two vampires seemed to be flaunting their immortality and daring the world to discover them. “I can’t imagine the Emperor would approve,” she murmured as her gaze skittered over the pictures.

  “Are you kidding?” An unfamiliar male voice boomed through the corridor. “Zhao has been coming here at least once a year since we opened the place.”

  Maya squeezed her eyes shut, embarrassment flooding her as she realized she’d been overheard. Some of her uneasiness eased back when Shane laughed, that low, sexy sound that curling around her like a blanket.

  Maya turned to face the two vampires and was surprised to see they looked more like they belonged on Wall Street than at a club in New Orleans. They were tall, blond, gorgeous, and dressed impeccably in fine gray suits, with perfectly pressed French cuff shirts and matching bright orange ties.

  “Good to see you, old friends,” Shane said as he shook hands with the two men. “Sebastian and Diego, this is my…Maya.” Shane stiffened for a moment, but his arm remained around her waist possessively. “She’s been training with me for the past several days, and as always, when it was time for a respite, your fine establishment came to mind.”

  Maya smiled politely and went along with Shane’s story about her training to be a sentry. She hadn’t expected him to introduce her as his bloodmate or to go into the nonsense with the werewolves, especially given the uneasiness that could evoke, but he could have called her his girlfriend or something. Maya wasn’t sure why, but it bothered her that he sidestepped that aspect of their relationship.

  “It’s lovely to meet you, Maya.” A tall, slim man with blond hair took her hand delicately in his and kissed it regally. “I am Sebastian, and this far less handsome fellow is my brother, Diego.”

  “Charmed.” Diego bowed with the old-fashioned flair she recognized from being around Shane. His hair was as blond as Sebastian’s, but it was longer and brushed his shoulders as he kissed her hand. “Leave it to Quesada to find the most bea
utiful youngling I’ve seen in centuries and train her to be a sentry.” He made a face and shook his head. “I can think of far more pleasant experiences than policing rowdy vampires in New York City.”

  “It’s very nice to meet you both,” Maya said, leaning into Shane’s embrace and giving him a coquettish look. “But I can assure you that my experiences with Shane have been quite pleasurable.”

  “I’m sure this evening will be no different.” Sebastian sent Shane a knowing look and then snapped his fingers at the hostess. “Maryanne, please make sure the wine-cellar staff is notified that our guests have arrived.”

  “Yes, sir,” Maryanne responded.

  “This way,” Sebastian said with a sweeping gesture. “As you can tell, the main floor of the building is a restaurant for our human clientele.”

  “Yes.” Maya’s hand fluttered to the necklace hidden beneath her sweater, hunger swamping her along with the swarm of heartbeats. “It looks like you have a booming business.”

  “True.” Sebastian winked at her over his shoulder. “But it’s nothing compared to our facility downstairs.”

  Maya linked her hand with Shane’s as they walked down the hallway behind their hosts, and she snuck a glimpse at him. His strong, masculine profile contrasted starkly with Diego and Sebastian’s more metrosexual flair. Shane was all man and sexy from head to toe. Suddenly, the idea of feasting on a human seemed far less appealing to Maya, and all she could think about was feasting on Shane.

  The wallpaper was black with a gold scrolled design, and the ornate crystal light fixtures hanging from the ceiling cast a glittering light over the hallway. The black carpet whispered beneath her sandals, and she ran one hand over the skirt of her sundress, wishing she’d worn something else. She looked past Sebastian and Diego and could easily see the lavish dining room ahead that was filled with human patrons and bustling with elegantly dressed waitstaff.

  As they got closer, Maya’s necklace began to hum against her chest and that tugging sensation filled her gut, making it glaringly clear there were more than just humans enjoying the ambience of Bayou Escape. She tightened her grip on Shane’s hand and touched her mind to his. There’s a werewolf in there, Shane. My necklace is doing that buzzing thing.

  I know. His voice was tight and edged with tension, but looking at him, no one would suspect how he was feeling. I picked up the scent, and it’s getting stronger as we get closer to the dining room.

  “It seems your restaurant has become popular with all kinds of people, Sebastian.” Shane’s voice was light and his tone was casual, but Maya knew better. “But I suppose that’s to be expected in a neutral zone like New Orleans.”

  “Yes.” Sebastian nodded. He waved to a bearded man seated toward the front of the dining room but kept his voice down. “We get all kinds in here, and my business wouldn’t have lasted this long without tolerance. I can assure you there will be no trouble in our establishment, Shane.”

  “Of course,” Shane murmured. “I’d expect nothing less.”

  Maya inched closer to the shelter of Shane’s body, and though she tried not to look, she couldn’t stop herself. She scanned the room and within seconds found herself locking gazes with the bearded man that Sebastian had gestured at. A slow smile cracked his face, and he raised his glass to Shane and Maya.

  “Who is that?” Maya asked as they stopped by the dining-room entrance. Her necklace hummed beneath her sweater with more force as her hand drifted over it. “That man with the beard?”

  “You have sharp instincts for a youngling,” Sebastian murmured. “No wonder they’re training you to be a sentry. That’s Otto. He’s one of our regulars, and before you ask, yes, he’s a werewolf. He’s a loner, and from what we hear, he doesn’t have a pack, which is one of the reasons I don’t mind having him as a guest.”

  “Besides,” Diego added, “he’s loaded, and it’s fine by us if he wants to spend his money here on whatever human girl he’s bedding at the moment.”

  “So, he’s not connected with the werewolf royalty?” Shane asked evenly.

  “Not that I’m aware of.” Sebastian’s brow furrowed and he looked at them curiously. “Why do you ask?”

  “I may not be on duty at the moment,” Shane said with a smile, “but I still represent the Presidium. You know that our relationship with the wolves is delicate, and I’m sure the czars would want me to pay my respects if a member of the royal family or their entourage was here.”

  “Of course,” Diego murmured. “Fear not, old friend. Otto is of no importance, at least not as far as politics are concerned. He’s merely a wealthy wolf with an insatiable appetite.”

  Maybe we should leave. Maya touched Shane’s mind as she squeezed his hand in hers. What if he knows who I am?

  I don’t believe he’s of any concern. Sebastian and Diego would know if Otto was connected to the royal family, and believe me, they’d tell us.

  Maya tried to relax and take Shane’s common-sense approach, but that memory of the wolf attack was still vivid. To Maya’s great relief, Sebastian turned to the right and opened a black lacquered door which, to her surprise, led into an elevator. Diego tugged open a brass gate and stepped into the tiny elevator ahead of them. When they slipped inside, Sebastian closed the gate and remained in the hall.

  “I must bid you farewell at this point, but Diego will take you the rest of the way.” Sebastian grinned and quickly flashed his fangs. “Enjoy.”

  A chill ran up Maya’s spine and relief flooded her when the door closed and Sebastian’s grinning face vanished, along with the scent of the werewolf. As the vibrating of her necklace subsided, Shane wrapped his arm around her waist, once again sensing exactly what she needed. The hum of the elevator filled the space, and she watched the cement wall whisk by through the gate before the car finally came to an abrupt halt.

  “Apologies for the bumpy landing,” Diego said with a smile. “The elevator can be quite temperamental.”

  “That’s okay.” Maya laughed. “So can I.”

  “I like to think of you as spirited,” Shane said, kissing the top of her head. “It’s what will make you a great sentry.”

  “Are you enjoying the sentry training?” Diego asked, tugging open the gate. “I’ve heard it’s quite strenuous.”

  “It’s been…interesting.” Maya lifted one shoulder and struggled with exactly how much she should reveal. “Shane is a wonderful teacher.”

  “A teacher is only as good as his student,” Shane interjected with a sly look.

  “Yes.” Diego stepped out and held the door open for them. A moment later, sexy jazz music filled the air. “Well, Quesada may be a great sentry, but Sebastian and I have cornered the market on knowing how to service our customers. I do hope you’ll enjoy your time here.”

  Maya was about to answer him but was rendered speechless when she saw what was waiting for them. With her hand linked firmly with Shane’s, she looked around in awe as the elevator door shut tightly behind them and a whole new world was revealed.

  Chapter 13

  Below the Bayou Escape restaurant was a thriving vampire jazz club, complete with a staff of human familiars who were clearly there to serve the vamps as needed. The main club space looked to be about the same size as The Coven, but instead of a DJ, there was a jazz band along the far wall. The coolest part was that the walls were covered in video screens that depicted New Orleans on a bright sunny day.

  The screens on the left depicted a massive steamboat drifting on the Mississippi River beneath a crystal clear, blue sky, while the screens on the right showed the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter. The crowning achievement was the ceiling. At least twelve feet high, it was painted to resemble a gorgeous blue sky dotted with a few drifting clouds. Even the sun was shown shining brightly, and the whole ceiling seamlessly connected with the screens on the walls.

  If Maya didn’t know bet
ter, she’d think she was standing outside on a beautiful summer day and not two stories underground.

  At the center of the club was a series of tables that looked much like the outdoor café tables Maya saw at several eateries in the French Quarter. Instead of feasting on beignets and gumbo, the vamps were partaking of the humans, who were clearly enjoying it. It was the largest gathering of vampires she had ever seen in one place, and every one of them was out and proud.

  “This is amazing,” Maya whispered as Shane’s arm slipped around her. She looked around in awe but didn’t miss the look of pride on Diego’s face. “I-It’s absolutely incredible. Everyone is…well…they’re not hiding.”

  “No.” Diego clasped his hands behind his back and surveyed the bustling club as he spoke. “Sebastian and I opened this place because we wanted our kind to have somewhere they could relax and socialize without fear of discovery.”

  “The humans that work here,” Maya said quietly. “They’re familiars?”

  “Of course.” Diego swept his arms wide as they walked toward the wrought-iron railing, stopping short of the three steps that led into the main dining area. “All of my human employees are here because they want to be. No humans are allowed to be forced or glamoured into feedings at Bayou Escape. Diego and I live in apartments down here that are directly linked to the club, so the last thing we want are any bad vibes.”

  “There are so many of them.” Maya nodded her understanding as a pretty, young human girl slipped by them and down the steps. She was dressed in a tiny red dress, but Maya noticed that the other humans weren’t all adorned in the same outfits. Some of the human men were scantily clad but others wore business suits. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

  “Thank you, Maya.” Diego smiled, and his fangs flashed briefly. “We recently opened two other clubs here in the United States, one in Miami and the other in San Francisco. Both cities are neutral zones, as you know, and if Sebastian has anything to say about it, we’ll be opening one in Geneva as well.”