Forest of the Forbidden

by W. J. May

  What she really wants is to control me and the band, I thought. Along with anyone else that poses a threat. There was no way I’d let that happen. “I need to speak to the band about this. Quite frankly, it would be inconvenient for us to settle here. Really inconvenient.”

  Her eyes gleamed a purplish hue. “It would also be dangerous if you didn’t. Really dangerous.”

  “I don’t take intimidation well,” I replied sternly. I’d survived a century in Romania, where vampires were hunted and crucified by both humans and other immortals. I’d been beaten and tortured by more than the likes of Faye Dunbar and there was no way I’d allow her to push me around.

  “Then I suggest that you don’t do anything that will provoke any further threats,” she replied icily.

  “You don’t frighten me,” I said. “So if I were you, I’d forget all about me and the other members of Venom. There is no way in hell we are going to take orders from you.”

  “You’re making a big mistake,” she said, standing up.

  “Doubtful. I think we’re done here,” I said, preparing to leave.

  “Oh, you’re done, all right. Lucas, take the girl,” she ordered.

  I turned to face Lucas. “Keep your hands to yourself, Roamer.”

  Lucas hesitated for a moment, but then took a step toward us.

  “Stand down,” I hissed, baring my fangs. “Or you’ll all regret it.”

  “Slade, seriously, reconsider what we’ve talked about,” said Faye. “You’re risking the lives of your entire band if you cross me, you know.”

  “You’d better stop with the threats, Faye,” I said, backing away with the girl. “Before it’s too late.”

  “Dammit, your defiance is infuriating!” she snapped, pushing a button on the side of her desk.

  The door in the back swung open again, and this time, three men dressed in club uniforms entered the office.

  “Escort Slade and this human to the basement,” said Faye. “And make sure they don’t escape.”

  They nodded and advanced toward me.

  Swearing, I met them halfway.

  * * *

  Chapter Twelve

  Chelsey

  ––––––––

  “What?” I asked in shock.

  “Now that pisses me off,” said Liam, frowning. “He was just giving me a hard time about screwing...” his eyes darted to me. “I mean partying with fans.”

  “Well, he left the party with her last night. I believe they were heading to the hotel for a little something... something...,” said Jimmy, smirking.

  “But she never came home after something... something...” I snapped, angry that I’d been so attracted to a player like Slade. What did I expect, though? He was in a band and drop-dead gorgeous. He wasn’t a normal guy that one dated or developed real feelings for. He was just a one-night stand that would never amount to even a phone call afterwards. “So, he needs to help us find her.”

  “Oh, he will,” said Liam, still scowling. “I’ll make sure of that.”

  “You know, I’m a little surprised he left with her,” said Sean. “It’s not like him. Seriously.”

  “That chick was really hot, though,” stated Jimmy, throwing his cards down. “I’m out.”

  “Yeah, but he’s turned down hotter,” said Bradan. He looked at me. “No offense.”

  “None taken,” I replied.

  Susan stood up. “I think we should find him right now and ask what he did with her.”

  “I think we know,” chuckled Jimmy.

  She rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.”

  “I agree,” I said, not wanting to wait any longer. I just wanted to get out of the club and go home. I stood up. “Let’s go talk to your boy.”

  “Faye might get mad if we interrupt their so-called meeting,” said Bradan. He shook his head. “That guy is getting all kinds of action this week.”

  Liam, who appeared to be still sulking, stood up. “I agree with the girls, we need to find Melody, now. Plus, something doesn’t feel right, here. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I’m feeling a little anxious. Let’s go interrupt them.”

  The others stood up and we walked out of the lounge.

  “Did you see where Faye Dunbar and Slade went?” Sean asked Mason, who was still standing just outside of the lounge, guarding the doorway.

  He shook his head. “No, I’m sorry I didn’t see them.”

  “They just walked out of here less than five minutes ago,” said Liam, who towered over Mason.

  He shrugged. “Sorry, man, I don’t know where they are.”

  “If you see Slade, let him know we’re looking for him,” replied Sean.

  “Hold on a second.” Liam cocked his head and then swore. “It’s Slade. He’s in trouble.”

  “How do you know?” I asked, staring at him in shock. He hadn’t even pulled out a cell phone to check for messages.

  “Let’s just say that he has exceptionally good hearing,” said Bradan.

  “We gotta move,” said Liam, who turned and took off down the hallway. The others followed, running so fast that they seemed to have disappeared into thin air.

  Mason muttered something under his breath and pulled out his phone.

  I turned to Susan. “Did you see that?”

  Her face was pale. “I don’t know. I think that drink I had earlier is making me crazy. They kind of like...vanished, didn’t they?”

  “It almost seemed that way,” I replied, still stunned.

  “Uh, what do we do?” asked Susan.

  “Let’s go find them,” I said, pulling her arm.

  * * *

  Chapter Thirteen

  Slade

  ––––––––

  “You done!?” snarled Lucas, who’d just slammed his fist into my face for the third time.

  “Fuck you!” I growled, spitting out blood. Two of the Roamers had me pinned to the ground and the third was struggling to hold my legs.

  “He’s stubborn, I’ll give him that,” chuckled Faye.

  I glared at her. “Glad this amuses you.”

  “Would you hold him down better?” complained Lucas as I broke my right arm free and punched one of them in the jaw.

  Lucas stood up and kicked me in the ribs several times.

  “Asshole,” I growled. It hurt, but my body healed so quickly that when he finished, there was nothing more than a dull ache.

  “Slade!” screamed the blonde, who was in the corner, behind a filing cabinet.

  “Run,” I ordered, but she just stared at me, frightened.

  “Bring him into the basement. Maybe we can change his mind down there,” stated Faye.

  I spit out another wad of blood and it landed on her carpeting.

  She glared at me. “Great. I just had that installed last week, dammit. I’m going to need to replace it again.”

  Lucas kicked me in the spleen. “Good going, fool.”

  I grunted. “She can bill me.”

  Before Faye could respond, her office door was kicked in and pieces of splintered wood flew everywhere.

  I sighed in relief as Liam and my boys entered the office. When they saw what was happening inside, all hell broke loose. Within seconds, I was free and Faye’s guards were being slaughtered.

  “Stop!” hollered Faye, now staring in horror at the twist of events. It was obvious that we were much older and stronger; her men were useless in a one-on-one combat.

  “You okay?” asked Liam, dropping the lifeless shell of Lucas to the ground. His fur and lycan features began to recede, until he was kneeling next to me, naked.

  “I was until I saw you naked,” I joked, spitting out more blood.

  He stood up and waved toward his manhood. “Yeah, it’s a monster. I’d be scared too.”

  I shook my head laughed.

  “Oh, my God!” shrieked Chelsey, who was now standing in the doorway with Susan, and staring at the nightmare in the office. The terror on her face wiped t
he smile from my face. I felt an urge to comfort her, but knew she’d freak out if I made any attempt.

  “Shit,” said Liam, covering his junk with his hands.

  I looked behind me. Bradan and Jimmy were just finishing off Faye’s last two minions. Fangs were bared and blood was everywhere. It was like a grisly scene from a horror movie. I could only imagine what the human girls were feeling. This was our world, not theirs.

  “Vampires!?” screeched Susan in horror. She tried to turn and run, but behind her stood a dark-skinned security guard, blocking her way. He grabbed her by the arm.

  “Forget about her, Mason!” hollered Faye. “Get more security!”

  His eyes, now a fiery red, Mason released Susan and took off.

  “Chelsey!” sobbed the blonde, still hiding behind the filing cabinet.

  Chelsey turned and gasped. “Melody!” She ran over and pulled her into her arms. “Are you okay?”

  Melody, nodded. “Yes. I think so.”

  “You guys, come on!” choked Susan, who was also crying now. “We have to get out of here.”

  I sighed. They’d seen too much and I had to do something about it.

  “You need to make them forget,” said Liam.

  “I know,” I said, walking toward the girls. I gave them a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you.”

  “Stay away from us!” hollered Chelsey. “You... you’re all monsters.”

  The look in her eyes crushed me. It reminded me of Vanessa. “I’d never hurt you. I swear.”

  Chelsey looked behind me and screamed.

  I turned around just as some kind of winged reptilian creature lunged at me.

  * * *

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chelsey

  ––––––––

  The creature that landed on Slade reminded me of a gargoyle, with its greenish-black scales and rubber-like wings. It was like something out of a horror movie. I began to wonder if this was all a dream.

  “Oh, my God,” gasped Susan, covering her mouth in horror.

  Just when I thought the madness couldn’t get any crazier, Liam turned into a massive wolf and sprang at the reptile trying to attack Slade.

  “Let’s go!” screamed Melody, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the doorway.

  Terrified, I obeyed. We grabbed Susan and then scrambled away from Faye’s office, down the hallway, and back to the main area of the club.

  The music was as loud as ever, and everyone seemed oblivious to the horrors taking place on the top floor of Club Nightshade. Frightened beyond belief, we hurried down the staircase toward the exit when our bartender from earlier stepped directly into our path

  Are you girls okay?” he asked, looking concerned.

  “Brian.... Oh, my God,” said Susan, shaking her head vehemently. “There are monsters upstairs. We’re leaving. Now.”

  His eyebrows shot up. “What?”

  “Just like she said,” I answered. “Vampires, werewolves, and gargoyles. We’re so out of here.”

  He stared at us in amusement. “Let me guess, too many Cosmopolitans?”

  “No,” I snapped. “Look, we’re not making this up. Go look for yourself if you don’t believe us.”

  “Calm down,” he said, placing a hand on my shoulder. “You’re going to scare the other customers.”

  “They should be,” I answered, as four security guys raced across the bar and headed toward the staircase.

  “Let’s just get out of here,” said Susan, watching them go up quickly, “before the monsters start searching for us.”

  “I agree,” I said.

  As we attempted to walk around Brian, he grabbed my arm. “What’s your hurry? Why don’t you follow me to a quiet place and we can all talk about this?”

  “Brian, seriously, you have to call the police,” said Susan. “We’re not drunk and there is some scary shit going on upstairs. No lie.”

  He sighed. “Fine. Let’s just find a safe place and we’ll call the police.”

  Susan shook her head. “No. You call the police, but we’re out of here. There’s no way in hell I’m staying in this place any longer.”

  His eyes hardened. “No, you’re not going anywhere. Now, follow me.”

  “Excuse me?” I snapped, pulling away from him. “You can’t tell us what to do.”

  Before he could respond, another security guard approached. “Brian, Faye wants you upstairs. Go, now.”

  Without another word, Brian quickly obeyed and took off toward the stairs.

  Releasing a ragged sigh, I followed Susan and Melody down the hallway by the entrance until we reached the exit. Once outside, we bolted to my car. Susan sat next to me and Melody got into the back.

  “What do we do?” I asked as we locked ourselves inside.

  “I’ll call the police,” said Susan, pulling out her phone.

  “Hurry, get us out of here,” begged Melody, hunching down into the backseat. “I just want to go home.”

  “I’m so glad you’re safe,” I said as we pulled out of the parking lot. “Everyone’s been worried about you.”

  “Me too,” she replied, rubbing a hand over her face.

  “What happened?” I asked, looking at her in the rearview mirror.

  “I’m not so sure anymore,” she said, leaning her head against the back of the seat. She closed her eyes. “I just remember bits and pieces of last night. Watching the band, the party, meeting Slade. I don’t know... I almost feel like I’ve been drugged.”

  I frowned. “I wonder if someone slipped something into your drink.”

  “Maybe,” she replied. “Maybe it was Slade. We left the after-party last night. Together.”

  “Yes, I’d like to report a... violent crime,” said Susan, into the phone. “At Club Nightshade.”

  I grunted. A violent crime? Well, that was even putting it mildly.

  She glanced at me and shrugged.

  “Oh, hi Sheriff,” she said, biting her nail. “You want us to come down to the station?” She looked at me.

  I nodded.

  “Sure. We’re on our way.”

  After she hung up, Melody swore. “I can’t see the sheriff. I’m going to get into so much trouble. The cops are going to know that I had a fake I.D.”

  “Us too,” I replied. “But I think when they find out what’s happening at the club, they might be a little more lenient.”

  She snorted. “Right. Can you just drop me off at home and forget that you saw me there?”

  “Melody,” I snapped, staring back at her in disbelief. “We were at the club trying to find you. We probably just saved your life and you’re worried about getting busted because of the I.D.?”

  She didn’t say anything.

  “People were being murdered right in front of us,” said Susan, turning back to look at her. “Once they start investigating everything, the cops are going to find out that you were there anyway. I’m sorry, but they need to know everything and I’m not lying.”

  Melody groaned. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”

  “I still can’t believe it,” I said, turning past Ruth’s Diner. “The guys from ‘Venom’ are vampires and werewolves? Seriously?”

  “I guess so,” said Susan. “We all saw what was happening.”

  “Do you honestly think anyone will believe us?” asked Melody.

  “They have to,” I replied. “I just wish I would have taken a picture with my phone.”

  “There was no time,” said Susan. “I mean, it wasn’t as if we were prepared for any of that.”

  There was a loud thud on the roof of the car and we all screamed in shock.

  “What was that?!” cried Susan, moving closer to me as she stared out the side of her window as if someone was going to break it and try grabbing her.

  Shaken, I pulled over to the side of the road. “I don’t know. Maybe a bird? I hope...”

  “No fucking way,” whispered Susan in horror as the gargoyle from Club Nights
hade leaped from the top of my car to the pavement in front of us. It opened its mouth and let out a monstrous roar.

  Terrified, I threw the car in reverse, and punched it. The tires squealed in protest as we raced backwards.

  “Watch out! There’s something behind us!” screamed Melody, staring back out the window.

  Before I could blink, we slammed into whatever it was and there was a loud thud under the tires.

  “OhmyGod!” screeched Melody, as we rolled over whatever we’d hit.

  I slammed my foot on the brake and the car came to a quick halt.

  “What did we just hit?” asked Susan, her voice shaky. “What the hell was it?”

  Trembling, I looked at her. “Maybe it was that thing. It could have flown around and came at us from the back.”

  “Then who cares if we hit it,” said Melody. “We just need to get the hell out of here!”

  I caught a movement in the corner of my eye and Melody screamed as Susan’s door was ripped away from its hinges.

  “Susan!” I cried as the winged monster dragged her out of the car, kicking and screaming.

  “Help me!” she shrieked, trying to get out of the beast’s grasp.

  Crying, I jumped out of the car and raced toward them. “Leave her go, you freak!” I screamed, beating on the gargoyle’s head with my fists. The scales made my skin bleed, but I ignored it, along with the pain, and kept punching.

  “Chelsey!” screamed Susan, still frantically trying to get out of the gargoyle’s grasp. “Help me!”

  The monster screeched angrily and then backhanded me. I flew backwards and my head hit the pavement, the pain overwhelming, but all I could think about was saving Susan. I scrambled back up and then cried out in horror as the beast leaped into the sky, carrying her like a ragdoll into the darkness.

  I closed my eyes and fainted.

  * * *

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chelsey

  ––––––––

  When I finally came to, I was lying in a hospital bed, wearing a hospital gown. Confused, I tried to sit up, but the pain in my head took my breath away.