by Adria Wade
I had been to nightclubs before, and not once were there booths hidden by drapes. It was odd, which struck my curiosity.
“Why are the drapes covering some of the booths?!” I yelled over the EDM music that thumped through my chest.
Ellis grinned. “Some people prefer privacy when they are here.”
“Why would they need privacy?”
He waved it off, as if the subject bored him, and shrugged. “Various things. Let’s get a drink.”
He smiled down at Andie, taking her hand and leading the way to the bar. As I held onto Andie’s hand, I squeezed past the people moving about. I noticed that a lot of them stared at me and Andie, looking us up and down with desire. Some of them even made it a point to come closer to us, as if we were a prize to be won. I thought at first that it was our very revealing attire that drew the eye, but quickly ruled that out as I realized that the women were just as interested as the men were. All of them strangely had the same unique blue eyes. What did Andie get me into?
With my body tense, I kept my head bowed, refusing to look at anyone. What strange people they all were. They made me uncomfortable. By the time I reached the bar, I was full of nerves, and I wasn’t completely sure I wanted to be here; not when most of the people here looked at me as if I was a meal to be eaten.
I grabbed hold of the bar, breathing deep through my nose as I tried to at least relax a little. This was my night away from all of the craziness at home so I wanted to enjoy tonight. I looked over to my right, relieved to find that a tan blonde that sat at the bar drinking a cosmopolitan had brown eyes and not blue. She gave a smile then turned away and drank the rest of her drink, not even the slightest interested or curious about me like the rest had been. At least there was one normal person here.
Ellis had ordered Jagerbombs. Ellis handed us one and I tipped my head back, letting the drink fill my mouth. It tasted like cough syrup, but it was still so good. By the time I was done with the first, Ellis shoved another in my hand, insisting that I drink more, and because I totally agreed with him, I did just that.
I let out a breath as blood rushed to my face. It was strong. After throwing back a few more shots, I was relaxed and feeling good. I suddenly didn’t care if I was in a club filled with weirdos. I only had one thing on my mind, and that was having fun. I grabbed Andie’s arm and pulled her out of the arms of Ellis as I practically dragged through the crowd, down the stairs, and onto the dance floor.
I felt so alive, so free as I danced my heart out, feeling the tension and stress lift. With my face bright with joy, I danced a circle around Andie, and my chest shook with laughter as I played around and bumped her on the side with my hip. She shook her head and laughed.
She placed her hands on my shoulders and leaned in by my ear. “You’re such a dork. About time you loosened up.”
Ellis came up behind Andie, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close to him as she moved her body against his. She smiled as he whispered in her ear then left a kiss on her neck.
I ran my hand through my hair, feeling my body heat up as I let loose on the dance floor. I was feeling a tad bit light headed. The alcohol must have been getting to me, but I was having too much fun to care.
Andie grinned as her eyes, light and alive, filled with so much joy, shifted behind me. She grabbed me by the arms and turned me around as a guy with lust-filled eyes and a soft complexion watched me. His eyes never left mine. He had black hair with green highlights throughout his strands. Nothing too out of the ordinary for someone in this club. Some of the partygoers here had the same crazy highlighted hair as he did, consisting of purple, pink, green, gold, and red. He wore nothing but black, which gave a darker, edgier feel to him.
“He’s been staring at you this whole time. I have to admit, though, I’ve never been into the emo boys before, but I am now. He is sex on legs. Make your move while you can; he has other admirers.”
I saw her hand go up and gesture to the right of me, to the admirers, but I couldn’t look away from him. There was something about him, something in his eyes that captivated me. He was beauty and perfection all wrapped up in one, and I was drunk in lust. I could feel his energy begin to suck me in like a magnet as my mind grew fuzzy, as if I was in a trance. His eyes stayed on me for the longest time, and as his lips slowly curved into a sexy smile, he walked toward me. My heart beat faster with every step that he took, closing the distance.
He held out his hand for me to take. “Hi, I’m Silas. Romancer, great dancer, your next boyfriend.”
He had a way with words.
I smiled. “You forgot smooth talker. I’m Paige.”
“I was watching you dance. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of you.”
“Well, why don’t you dance with me instead of watching?”
I bit down on my bottom lip as my fingers ran down his stomach. With lust in my eyes, I looked him up and down, teasing him, drawing him in even more.
His seductive green eyes dilated as he looked down at my lips. He leaned down, his eyes still focused on my lips as his mouth brushed against mine. “You have no idea what you are getting yourself into.”
“I know exactly what I’m getting myself into.”
“We will see.”
He grabbed me, pulling me against him. With his hands pressed against the small of my back, he rolled his hips as our bodies moved against each other in perfect synchronization.
With sex in the air, the room had all of a sudden grown hotter. I couldn’t control my attraction to him. It was too intense to ignore. With his body rubbing against mine, I was feeding my need to be closer to him. Something had come over me the first time I looked into his eyes. As if a light switch had turned on, a rush of desire came swarming through me. I only just met him to get this close to him, but I couldn’t help myself. His allure was too strong to resist.
I turned around, pressing myself against him as I moved my hips. With his mouth at my ear, I heard his sharp intake of breath. I then saw Andie, frantic and crying, shove the drapes to the side and begin to run out of the booth when Ellis grabbed her by the arm and yanked her back in.
I gasped as my stomach dropped. “Andie!”
I shoved past the crowd on the dance floor, trying to get to her as fast as I could. Oh, God. Andie. He was hurting her! I knew there was something off with him. I should have went with my gut feeling and kept Andie away from him.
No screams came from behind the drapes as I neared the booth. I pulled the drapes back, and a scream soared through my windpipes as I jumped back from fear and total shock. Andie was in his arms, and his lips were enclosed around her shoulder as blood ran down her back. My head was spinning with so many thoughts. My mind couldn’t even begin to comprehend why he was biting her.
His eyes, so cold and devoid of emotion, bore into mine as he moved his mouth off her shoulder and threw her down in the booth. My mouth fell open and I took a step back, panicked and hyperventilating. He had long, pointy teeth. Fangs that were coated in Andie’s blood, and I knew I was next. I had to get Andie and get the hell out of there.
As he lunged forward, I screamed and swung my hand, slapping him in the face, but my hit did no good to fend him off. As his hand flew up to strike me, I moved out of harm’s way, ducking and running behind him, just escaping his wrath. My shaking hands grabbed the centerpiece from the table and turned around to strike him. Just as I was about to smash it over his head, his quick reflexes were way faster than my own as he grabbed the vase and with one effortless squeeze of his hand, the vase smashed into pieces. I brought my knee up, aiming for his groin, but he caught my leg. I gasped as he was suddenly knocked into me and I fell back on the table. Silas, with fury on his face, came up behind Ellis, grabbing him by the hair and throwing him back on the floor. As Ellis began to stand, Silas kicked him in the face, his head flying to the side as I heard his neck break.
My frantic heart slammed against my chest as I took in a breath, trying to calm myself when all I want
ed to do was scream and cry. My brain had yet to accept what I had just been through.
As Silas began to search Ellis’ pockets, I went to Andie. She was lying face down and, as much as I was afraid to touch her, I knew I had to see if she was still alive. I didn’t want to face losing another friend. My eyes flooded with tears as I looked down at my friend, lying there unmoving and helpless. As I hesitantly reached down to feel her pulse, Silas grabbed my arm and spun me around, facing him.
“You have to leave.” His voice was urgent and demanding.
He kept his hand clasped around my arm while he pulled me out of the booth, forcing me to walk. He was taking me away from Andie. I couldn’t let him. I had to get her out of here.
“No!” I tried to pry my arm out of his hold, but his grip was too strong and secure to free myself.
He paid no attention to me while he continued to drag me through the crowded club. It wasn’t until after we were outside did he let go of me. Furious and upset that he took me away from Andie when she needed me the most, I slapped him, feeling the sting from the contact on my hand.
“That’s my best friend in there!”
I turned around to walk back inside when he gripped my arm and pushed me up against the wall, his eyes ablaze with frustration and anger as he scowled.
“Do you want to die?”
“I don’t care. I’m not leaving my best friend in there!”
“Your best friend is dead. I’m not letting you go back in there. The only reason you survived was because he claimed you.” He grabbed the necklace and held it up. “You were his property. Not to be eaten by anyone but him. You were the bait swimming in an ocean filled with sharks.”
So that was what this club was. A place for vampires to lure their prey to and feed off them.
I shook my head and looked down as dread poisoned my insides. I knew Ellis wasn’t a good guy and I did nothing to stop us from going with him. I shoved the feeling aside and let her convince me that I was only being paranoid because of what I had been through last night. I went along, thinking that I could protect her if I needed to, and failed her. Now my best friend was dead.
The knife that was embedded in my heart was slowly twisting, sending waves of pain throughout my body as it slammed me in the pit of my stomach. My gut felt heavy, filled with so much misery that it hurt to even breathe. I wanted to cry. I could feel the pressure to release my sorrows build, so I swallowed the pain, refusing to let myself cry in front of Silas.
The door to the club swung open and two men, one with sandy blond hair and the other brown with the same blue eyes as Ellis, stormed out of the club.
“What do you think you’re doing? You know no humans are spared here, so hand her over now!” the brunette said.
Silas exhaled as he looked behind him then averted his gaze back to me. “Two on one; I better change for this fight.”
Confused, I shook my head. Change into what? “What?”
My eyes widened as his eyes turned blood red and a pair of small horns came out of his temples. I jumped, gasping in horror as bat like wings flew out from behind his back. They were black and green. Just like his hair. What in the hell was he? I pressed myself up against the wall even more than I already was, afraid of the creature that stood before me. I had to remind myself that he was the good guy and I wasn’t his target.
When he opened his mouth to talk, I saw a mouth full of long, pointy teeth. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
I nodded, too shocked and speechless to say anything.
A smile slipped out on his lips as excitement burned in his wicked eyes. “Time to play.”
He discreetly slipped Ellis’ car keys in my hand before turning to face them. My feet were practically glued to the ground as I stood there, too shocked and afraid of what was to come if Silas fell to his enemies.
He ran toward them in a flash; his body was nothing but a blur as he became one with the wind. The brunette was already prepared as he swung at Silas. Silas ducked, punching him in the ribs, and as he leaned forward, grunting from the blow, Silas bit into his neck.
I could feel his eyes on me before I had the courage to even look, but as my eyes hesitantly looked at the blonde, who looked at me as if he was a lion about to pounce on his prey, I spun around and made a run for it. My heart raced and adrenaline pumped through my veins as the determination to survive the night took over. I wasn’t going to die! Not tonight!
I ran through the tunnel, desperate to get to the door to shut him in. I felt a gush of wind breeze by my body, gasping as I suddenly slammed into the blond, who stood blocking the door. I winced as I fell on my back, scraping my elbows on the concrete. His face shined with victory, giving me a crooked smile as he closed in on me. My heart leapt into my throat from the shock of Silas leaping over me, his body crashing into the blond’s as he tackled him to the ground and sunk his long, sharp fingernails deep into his throat, ripping his throat out. The blond rolled onto his side, holding his throat as he struggled to breathe…struggled for his life.
I stood, feeling the sting on my elbows as I wiped away the blood from my scrapes. “What are you?”
Silas turned, facing me. His eyes were cold as ice, and burned like fire as he pinned me with a glare. “Why didn’t you run? Do you think this is a game?”
I shook my head. “Of course not. I just want-”
“Go!” he screamed, cutting me off. His voice was so deep and ferocious that I jumped, letting out a gasp from the intensity and anger that poured out of his tone.
He wasn’t himself, and I was fearful of what he would do if I pushed him any further, so without another word, I ran past him and out of the alley. When I got to the car, I exhaled, feeling my muscles tighten as tension set in. I started the car and got the hell out of there.
With tears dripping from my eyes, I squeezed the steering wheel, holding on for dear life as I sniffled. I was absolutely horrified with what I had just gone through, yet felt so overwhelmingly sad that I left Andie there to die. It hurt to leave her behind. God, it cut me so deep. She was supposed to be alive, dancing and partying the night away, not lying in a booth bleeding. I felt like the world’s most terrible friend. I didn’t protect her, and I sure as hell couldn’t save her life. I tried, but it wasn’t enough. I survived the night, but Andie did not, and after everything that I saw tonight, home was exactly where I wanted to be.
Chapter Six
The tires screeched as I made the turn into my driveway, relieved to see the lit up mansion in my sights. I jumped out of the car and ran to my home.
“Dad!” I screamed.
Before I had time to open the front door, Taylor came running out of the house with Eli and Chelsea right behind him.
With weak knees, I grabbed hold of Taylor’s arms for support and burst into tears.
“What happened?!” Taylor shook me, urging me to talk.
I couldn’t breathe. I gasped for breath as tears spilled from my eyes whilst trying to get the words out.
“You’re not going to believe me.”
He pulled me to his chest as his hand ran over my hair, trying to soothe me. His arm tightened around me, and for a moment, comfort covered me like a blanket.
“Paige, it’s okay. You’re safe. Just calm down.”
“I saw fangs.”
He pulled me away from his chest. His brows pulled together as his surprised eyes widened. “Are you sure?”
I nodded and wiped my nose with the back of my hand. “He bit her neck. She was bleeding everywhere, I swear. It was a vampire. Vampires are real, Taylor. I’m not making this up.”
Taylor, Eli, and Chelsea all shared a look. I was afraid they wouldn’t believe me and accuse me of taking drugs. I mean, who in the hell believes vampires are real, anyway? But they were, and I was desperate to make them believe.
“Please, believe me,” I begged.
“Paige, calm down. We know they’re real,” Taylor said.
“You know? How do you know?” I
asked, surprised.
Then I remembered…the impeccable strength he obtained. The bruise he put so effortlessly on my arm when he grabbed me up. His speed. When I was trying to escape from the house, he stopped me just in time. It had me wondering how he got to me so fast. I should have made it out. His nasty temper. He, however, didn’t have the blue eyes vampires had. When he lost his temper with me, I thought I saw them begin to turn orange, the same color as Eli’s eyes. I didn’t know exactly what my brother was, but I knew he was a supernatural.
I took a step back as a rush of trepidation coursed through me. Taylor noticed my sudden nervousness and reached out for me, only to stop when I held my palms up. It was all too overwhelming for me to take in. I had just been through a vampire attack, only to come home and find that Taylor and his friends were a part of their world as well…I just couldn’t deal with everything hitting me all at once.
I looked at Eli. “You don’t wear contacts.”
He shook his head. “No, I’m a hybrid. Half vampire, half werewolf.”
I shook my head as my eyes fell on Taylor. I couldn’t believe this was happening. “You’re a hybrid!”
“No. I mean, if I get bit I could turn into one.”
I frowned. “Then what are you?!” I yelled, demanding an answer. I couldn’t take the secrets. I needed to know.
“It’s a long story. Not one I’m willing to tell at the moment. Long story short, I used to be a vampire hunter. I’m still technically a human. I just have supernatural powers.”
“You hunted vampires!” Shock poured out of me as I raked my hand through my hair. “This is crazy.”
“You have no reason to fear us. We are not the bad guys. You have to trust us and tell us where you went,” Chelsea said.
Deep down, I knew I could trust them. My gut was urging me to. There was no reason to not trust them, especially Eli. Despite my resistance, I had to accept that Taylor was no longer the person I knew. Instead, he was someone who obtained supernatural powers and hunted vampires.
