vampires of san francisco 07 - suckers lost and found

by mcbrayer, jessica

  The limos are well stocked with champagne and we make use of it. But, all of us are in a serious mood as we drive through the city and then countryside. Aidan seems preoccupied and stares out the window. Hannah and I exchange looks. It’s the ‘I need to tell you something’ look.

  We have rented a villa from a nice vampire couple for the whole group and had to change our plans since we are three days late. They understood since we had to change our plans to accommodate the King. When we arrive we find everything is ready for us and our hosts are very gracious. While everyone else makes their way to their rooms and unpacks, I ask Hannah to go with me to check out the pool. We all have a ton of luggage from the cruise, but Hannah and Diel win in the baggage department because of the twins.

  While Diel takes care of the luggage and juggles Fiona, Hannah steps in close to talk to me without anyone hearing. Finn immediately grabs my hair and I start cooing at him ignoring the tugs, stronger than normal for his age. They are going to have their hands full with this one.

  “Girlfriend, I’ve been following threads on that board I was telling you about. One thing led to another and I was on Tumblr and found a picture of two fighters. I think one of them might be Manda. If it is she is still alive but in really bad shape. The photo was date-stamped two days ago.” She shows me the photo on her phone. My hand flies to my mouth to stifle a cry. Manda looks terrible and my heart is breaking for her.

  “We can’t tell Aidan yet. He would be wild trying to track her and we still have no clue about where to look. Let me talk to Julian. He has connections here, besides his absolutely brilliant hacker skills,” I say as I try to extricate my hair from Finn’s little fingers.

  “Diel’s coming. I hate to keep this from him but this situation needs a feminine touch not brute strength. Will talk to you soon,” she says as she hikes up Finn on her tiny waist and goes to meet her man, err, demon.

  I search for Julian and find him typing away on his laptop. He’s taking advantage of the wi-fi connections at the villa. I sit down beside him and quietly tell him what Hannah has found out. He continues typing like we are having an everyday chat.

  “I’ll need to see the picture and I’ll need the link to the message board. I do have a contact at Tumblr and might be able to track it. I’ll keep you posted. Do not tell Aidan.” I hope Aidan never finds out how we shut him out. It would hurt him, but telling him before we know where she is would hurt him worse.

  Everyone had decided to meet out by the pool and have some wine under the stars. The main villa, where everyone but Sebastian and I will be sleeping, is painted a rich terra cotta and has purple and sage trim. The field behind the house is full of sunflowers, their heavy heads tucked in for the night. The family slowly trickles in from having unpacked or changed. The villa is perfect, a short drive from Florence.

  “Andrew, what did you think of the King?” Julian asks.

  “He was rather handsome, but slippery wasn’t he? My Miss Lily can get into trouble where-ever she goes,” Andrew says.

  “I’ll second that,” Liam agrees.

  “She’s worth it,” Sebastian says with a smile.

  “Thank you, Bast,” I say as I slather on the hand sanitizer. Sophie, my therapist, and I are working on my germaphobe tendencies but I haven’t quite kicked it yet. Besides retail therapy isn’t always available and I haven’t been able to see Sophie for over a month. May have to schedule a phone session.

  “What do we need to do to get ready for the wedding?” Helena asks changing the subject.

  “We need to check on the flowers and get Lily’s and our dresses pressed,” Hannah says. “We should probably get the tuxes pressed too.”

  “Do I finally get to see your dress, cherie?” Sebastian asks.

  “Not with Ganja Girl on duty,” Hannah says.

  Hannah used to partake from “herbally enhanced” people. She has given herself the alias Ganja Girl. Since she got pregnant and is nursing she has sworn off the enhanced blood.

  “Ganja Girl is officially on duty, Sebastian. Don’t mess with her. She has a tendency to show fang when she’s pissed,” I say and laugh.

  Everyone laughs at Hannah. She just grins and snuggles into Diel. The babies are sleeping in Julian’s and Helena’s arms. Sebastian takes my hand. Hades raises his head and gives our hands a lick full of his drool. Sebastian and I wipe our hands off on some tissues. It comes with the territory when you know a Hell Hound who’se special talent is making love matches.

  “You could wear rags, I’m just glad this day is finally coming,” he says.

  “I’ve seen the dress,” Aidan says with a sly grin.

  “Aidan! No fair using your magick to peek!” I yell at him.

  “Who said a djinn played fair?” he exclaims.

  “You could say that again,” Sebastian mumbles.

  “I just had a little look, I promise. You will be devastating in it,” Aidan says.

  “Aidan, you are shameless. Speaking of always being in trouble, I would say that fits you as well, dear,” Helena says to me.

  “That makes my life more fun though, Helena,” Aidan grins.

  Julian shakes his head and laughs. Liam and Andrew say goodnight to everyone and leave for their room. Soon all sorts of noises are coming from their direction.

  “Ugh! No sound-proofing out here in the country,” I complain.

  “You should talk, Miss Thing,” Hannah says. “You could keep a small nation awake.”

  “Hence the reason we have a separate unattached house, Hannah,” Sebastian says.

  “And we all thank you for that,” Hannah quips.

  Everyone laughs except Aidan. He is more serious than usual.

  “We should talk about our plans for the day after the wedding. We need to get one good clue as to where to start searching for Manda,” Sebastian says.

  “I’m really anxious to know what that bastard Basilio has up his sleeve. I want to do some searching tonight and I need to replenish my energy. I heard about some vamp clubs here in town and I am going to check them out.”

  “Do you want someone to go with you?” Sebastian asks. “I’d be happy to go with you.”

  “No, you enjoy yourselves. I can take care of myself tonight. I will be back in the morning or by the time Lilith wakes up. Ciao,” he says and winks before he pops out.

  “That’s our signal to go to bed too,” Helena says. “Come on, Jules. I will take the dresses and tuxes in to the dry cleaners to be pressed in the morning, Lily. I don’t want to leave it to anyone else. I want all the details attended to by me or Hannah. We shouldn’t wait until you get up, it will be too late.”

  “Thanks, ‘Lena. Hannah and I will come with you to pick them up,” I say.

  “It’s a date. Goodnight, children,” she says with a smile.

  She sashays away into the night with Julian right behind her.

  “We better hit the road too. The babies need to try to sleep in their basinets once in a while. I bought earplugs on the boat so I could tune the boys out. I am going to have to put them to use here too, I see,” Hannah laughs.

  “Goodnight, ma petite,” Sebastian says. “Goodnight, Diel.”

  He gives her a kiss on the cheek and I hug her and Diel. All of a sudden Sebastian and I are left to ourselves, under the stunning night sky with glasses of excellent Italian wine. It is very romantic and peaceful after the last three days. Sebastian takes my hand and kisses it. I snuggle beside him on the old bench we are sitting on. We sit holding hands in silence for a while.

  “You know, ma petite, this is the nicest moment we have had in a month. The cruise was wonderful, but that boat was too small for everyone, even though it was quite large, and our hearts were focused on Manda. Right now, at this moment, all there is to do is enjoy each other.”

  “Mmmm… and I’m loving it, Bast. Imagine our own home with a veranda out back so we can sit outside some nights and look up at the stars and remember this night in Italy.”

  Sebast
ian sighs.

  “I can’t wait to share an eternity of moments like that with you, Lily.” He leans over and looks into my eyes. “I can’t wait to start our lives together officially.”

  “Me either, Sebastian. Let’s go to bed, lover.”

  Before we can move, Aidan pops back in.

  “Sebastian, if you’re up to it, I can use your help. The vamp bar is packed and they have all sorts of shit going down. I can’t be everywhere at once to scope it out and get intel if there is any to get.”

  “Do you want me to come too?” I ask.

  “If you’re game. The place is huge. It’s underground and cavernous.”

  “Let me put some jeans on in case I have to kick butt.” Sebastian chuckles in the background as I blur to our cottage. I quickly change into some stretchy jeans and a corseted top that will still work for the club vibe and surprisingly I can move well in it. I slip into some heels that can also double as a weapon. A stiletto to the eye, groin or shin is very effective.

  “I would whistle but I’m too nervous. Just be careful in that outfit. Let’s go,” Aidan says while he takes Sebastian and my hands.

  We pop into an alley and I can’t see an entrance anywhere. Aidan points to the sewer grate.

  “Oh you can’t be fucking serious. This outfit cost me a fortune. I will personally take down every vamp in there if I get dirty. Come on,” I say behind my back at the boys as I head to the grate and pop it open. Then I jump down.

  Soon Aidan and Bast are beside me. The interior is fairly clean but the smell can’t be ignored. Sewer to the max.

  “It’s just around this bend,” Aidan says as we make our way through the tunnel. Up ahead I see a brick with fangs carved into it. Aidan pushes it and the brick recedes into the wall.

  Soon the whole wall is shifting and swinging inward revealing an entrance. Techno music blasts and strobes of light flash. An epileptic’s worst nightmare. I already hate it. A huge vamp takes a look at us and then stamps our hands with fangs after we pay the cover charge. One hundred euros each.

  Bast takes my hand as we walk, taking everything in. The inside looks like a catacomb. With small alcoves that hold tables for people to sit at. The main dance floor is right in front of us and I can see a VIP section with another dance floor that is much less crowded. I’ve just made it my personal mission to get into the VIP section. Sebastian sees me eyeing the area.

  “Ma petite. Maybe you should let me try to get into VIP. I can use the ‘I own a nightclub’ card. I don’t want you back with those vamps. They are heavy hitters. You can just tell by looking at them.”

  “Let’s just see who gets in first,” I say and wink at him while walking away. Aidan lets out a snort.

  “You shouldn’t have challenged her,” Aidan says. I ignore them both and head for the edge of the dance floor in front of the VIP section.

  I start doing a slow, seductive, sensual dance. Making sure I rub my hands up and down my body. I notice out the corner of my eye that I have caught the attention of a few of the male vamps in VIP. I’m approached by a male vamp on the main dance floor and I give him an evil glare and he backs up with his hands in the air in defeat. I go back to dancing and notice a hot vamp chuckle and motion one of the bouncers of the VIP section over to his table. They have a brief conversation and then the bouncer approaches me. He pulls back the red rope and I enter. I have no idea where Sebastian is but I grin internally at how easy it was. The bouncer guides me over to the hot vamp’s table.

  “My name is Cristian, will you please join me?” he asks putting his hand out to help me up the platform. He is very suave. Black hair that is cut short on the sides and a little longer and messy on top. His chiseled chin had a slight coat of stubble and he had stunning grey eyes. Yeah, he is a looker. At least this is going to be enjoyable.

  As Cristian takes my hand I see Bast out of the corner of my eye making his way through VIP and heading for a table. He is glaring at me and I give him a wink.

  I sit next to Cristian in the round booth. He draws me next to him and I give him my sultry look. It works. He bends his head so his lips touch my ear.

  “You are very beautiful. What’s your name?”

  “Lilith, but you can call me Lily.”

  “I think I prefer Lilith. The first vampire. It’s a name full of mystery, seduction and power. It fits you.”

  “But you don’t even know me,” I whisper back, a little startled by his blunt answer.

  “I watched you dance, Lilith. I watched you send that little vamp on his way. It says a lot about who you are.” If he only knew my soon-to-be-husband he would have understood how little that vamp could measure up. I’m firmly on team Bast. Gorgeous, smart and sexy as Hell.

  “Well, I know nothing of you Cristian, why don’t you tell me about yourself?”

  “Only if you answer all my questions too. I want to know more about you.”

  “Deal.” I give him a fangy smile and can actually feel the lust come off him and the anger radiate from Sebastian’s end of the room. I’ll spend the rest of the night reassuring Sebastian if I can just get a little info about Manda. Not sure if this guy knows anything but my spidey senses are buzzing.

  “So, Cristian, do you live around here?” I hear a growl come from Bast. I’m surprised he’s let me out of sight for this long. If I don’t hurry he will be staking his claim.

  “Yes and no.” I pout at him and he runs his thumb across my lower lip and chuckles. “Let me explain. I have a home here but spend most of my time at my home in Venice.”

  “I just came from Venice. Beautiful city.”

  “Yes it is. Where are you from, Lilith?”

  “The states.”

  “If my memory serves me correctly the states are very large and there are fifty of them. Could you be more specific?” He is smiling at me, realizing I can play the coy game as well as he can.

  “California. San Francisco to be specific.”

  “Ahh, a very beautiful city, on the water as well.”

  “I think it’s beautiful. What do you do with yourself, Cristian?” It’s rude to ask a vampire what they do for a living because of, well, the whole ‘living’ part.

  “I own a few companies that manufacture ship parts and manage my investments. Very boring things. What do you do with yourself, Lilith?”

  “I used to try and save mankind one person at a time but I got fired. So now I am doing some traveling and am trying to figure out what I want to do for the rest of my life.”

  “And may it be a long one. We should toast to that. What’s your pleasure? I believe they have A negative on tap for the right customers and I am lucky enough to be one of them. Would you like a glass?”

  “Ooh yes. Very nice. I love foreign blood and such a delicate blood type. What a treat, thank you.”

  Cristian waves a server over and whispers in his ear. The server looks at me and then nods. He’s soon back, dressed like the other servers in leather pants and a t-shirt with fangs on it. They sure carry a theme here. He hands me a martini glass filled with a very fresh and generous amount of blood. I’ve never been to an all vamp club before to experience something like this.

  “Put it on my tab, Daniele.”

  “Si, Signor.” Daniele, our server, bows and walks away quickly.

  “I’m beginning to think you are more important than you let on, Cristian.”

  “Let’s toast, Lilith. To eternity…” he says raising a similar glass.

  “To eternity, Cristian.” We clink glasses and he watches while I take a large drink of the blood. It’s delicious and I murmur my appreciation.

  One second I am taking another drink and the next the room is spinning. My drink is spiked with something. Something strong. I start to teeter back and forth or at least it feels like that. Cristian grabs ahold of me and puts his arm around my shoulders.

  Fucker roofied me. Oh, Hannah was going to kick his ass.

  I desperately try to make eye contact with Sebastian.
He is busy talking to another gentleman, though. I try to steady myself and look for Aidan. He looks at me at the same time thank the Goddess. His eyes enlarge with alarm and fury.

  “Cristian, what did you put in my drink. I would have gone with you willingly.”

  “Oh it’s a little cocktail they supply us with in the VIP section. What I want from you is probably more than you would willingly give me, Lilith. You see I like to play with my partners. It makes it easier if you are compliant.”

  “You asshole,” is what I try to say but by then my words are slurring together. Cristian laughs anyways like he understood what I was saying.

  “I like to play with the high spirited ones the most. No one is here with you, Lilith, and you are a foreigner in my country. Think how fast I could make you disappear. That’s part of what I do for a living and honestly it’s the part I love the best. Making people disappear.” He squeezes my shoulders.

  “The great thing about this little cocktail is that you can understand and feel everything that is happening. You’ll just be incapacitated. You won’t be able to fight me as I slowly break you.”

  “I think the lady is ready to go home,” Aidan growls out.

  “If she takes your hand then you can have her. If she stays next to me then she’s all mine,” Cristian says. His tone is steely. He is not used to being interrupted it seems.

  Aidan holds his hand out to me and I try with everything in me to take it but my body won’t cooperate. I make a strangled sound that is more like a whimper. That’s all Aidan needs to swoop in and pick me up. Cristian is immediately on his feet and wraps a hand around Aidan’s arm. I feel the heat come off Aidan and then Cristian yelps. Sebastian has finally gathered something is wrong and he is tearing through the bodyguards that have come out of the woodwork to surround us.

  As soon as Bast reaches us, Aidan calls a spinning wind around the room. It knocks down everyone and wrecks the room. He’s put up some kind of bubble around us so we don’t get hurt. He grabs our server and Sebastian and transmanifests us out of there.

  Our cover completely blown. But we might have found the clue we’ve been looking for.