I read over the four closest options. Brio on Saxon Street, FLIGHT on Herndon Avenue, 7 on Seventh Street, and Red Dragon on Bisby Lane. None of these streets made any sense to me, so I opened another browser and requested Google Maps. I plugged in each address and a little gold star pinpointed their locations on the interactive map. FLIGHT appeared to be closest to Tyler’s house, and that seemed like the most probable one to go to. That must’ve been where that vision happened. That vision—what did it mean? I was able to overpower and escape three brute vampires that were all much older than me. How was that possible?
My thoughts started looping. I didn’t want to get stuck in one of those again. But it was kind of hard not to when you had more questions than answers. I gave a long sigh, slammed the computer shut, and then put it back on the coffee table.
I was up and pacing in a whir of motion. My hunger was growing more intense, rippling waves swirling in my stomach. I couldn’t last much longer without blood. Drinking from Tyler was not an option. What if we found a different donor club but the outcome was much worse than what I’d seen in that vision? I couldn’t risk him getting hurt. He was no match for a vampire. But I had to go—I had to get blood. Somehow I had to convince him to stay home on this one. It was the only way to keep him safe. But why did I have a gut feeling that fighting those security guards would be easier than convincing Tyler to stay home?
11
Must Find Blood
HOURS WENT BY BEFORE Tyler woke up. It was nearly five o’clock at night. The sun would be setting soon, thanks to daylight savings. My hunger for blood was at a level I’d never experienced before, and it was escalating fast. I was worried, with tension building up around my neck and shoulders. I’d already caught myself staring at the vein in Tyler’s neck twice while he slept. It had been hard to look away, but I’d forced myself to do it. I stood by the fireplace, the farthest point in this room from him. What if I lost control to these blood cravings? Was Tyler in even more danger here with me? I swallowed hard, shrugged my shoulders to loosen them. Tyler was waking up, yawning, arms stretched above his head. I took a few steps his way, stopping short, keeping a safe distance between us—at least I hoped. “Good morning, uh, evening,” I said.
A smile stretched out of his yawning lips. “Hey, good morning.” He stood up, walked past me, toward a hallway on the left. “Give me a few minutes to freshen up.”
I nodded. Would a shower make me feel better? I used to love long hot showers, fruity-smelling soaps, and minty toothpastes. When there was more time, I was going to have to experiment with that. Bronx never did any of those things and tried to teach me his habits, but I’d do anything to feel human again. Vampires don’t have to act like animals. We’re not even alive like animals anyway.
Tyler returned to the living room smelling clean, fresh…tasty. He wore black boots, black denims, and a light blue dress shirt with the sleeves rolled halfway up his forearm. His hair was still soaking wet, little puddles all over his shoulders. He walked past me, taking his seat on the sofa. He was holding a damp cloth in one hand, a hairbrush in the other.
“Come here. Let’s get you cleaned up,” he said.
I rolled my eyes. “What, I don’t get to shower?”
“I didn’t think you would want to. The sun’s almost down anyway.”
I walked over to the sofa, sat down beside him. “We need to talk,” I said.
He nodded. “Yes we do.” He leaned over and with the cloth rubbed my face—above my eyes, down my cheeks, across my chin. “Look, I know you saw my premonition and I don’t want you to freak out, okay?”
“Don’t want me to freak out? Are you crazy? How could you sleep after that anyway? You have no business going with me tonight! I need to go alone!”
He moved the cloth down my neck, pressing just a little bit harder than before. “Forget it! You’re not going anywhere alone!” he said, voice level, defiant.
“Yes. I have to! I’m not putting you in danger if it can be avoided.”
He reached behind my head with his other hand, lifting my hair up. Then he pushed the cloth back there and massaged the back of my neck in tiny circular motions. “You’re freaking out,” he said, voice a little softer but still firm, steady. “Please just relax. Listen, sometimes my premonitions come to me as dreams, like the one you saw earlier with me. You were snapped out of it before I was, though. We made it back home, Abby. No one saw where we went. A clean getaway.” He smiled.
I shook my head, leaning back a little. “No way!” I said. “There’s no way in hell I’m going to put you in any kind of risk! Not one we’re aware of and can avoid!” I started fidgeting with my hair, anger coming at me in a rush. My stomach rumbled. My mouth started watering like a sprinkler system turned on. I wasn’t angry. I was hungry, really hungry. “I need to eat. Now. Let me go, I’ll be back before you notice.”
“You’re not going without me,” he argued, “not when I know where we need to go!”
“What do you mean?” I asked. His skin looked so soft and delicate. I could bite right into a vein in mere seconds. What would his blood taste like? Innocent blood was so much fresher. Would it be worth it just to have one small taste? I licked my lips, tongue sliding back and forth. No! I shook my head rapidly, then bit down hard on my bottom lip, tasting blood—my blood. Tyler really was in more danger with me.
“My God, Abby!” he gasped. I could taste the fear in his voice. “Your eyes!” He scooted sideways, backing away from me.
I knew my eyes were turning red. I knew that was what he saw. In a flash I was across the room, praying that distance would curb the hunger, keep him safe from me. “We don’t have anymore time. Tell me what club I need to go to. Please.”
Tyler’s pulse sped up. I could feel it from across the room. “The club we were at in my premonition was FLIGHT. If you don’t want trouble, then we shouldn’t go there. Even though the outcome was favorable. I’m assuming the info you needed was e-mailed?”
“Yes. Brio, 7, and Red Dragon are the next closest ones to us.”
“7 is a donor club? I’ve been there before. It’s actually a pretty cool place. Maybe we’ll get a premonition on our way there.” He grabbed his car keys off the table and stood up.
“You’re not coming!” I was beyond anger at this point. I needed to see the map one more time to locate where Seventh Street was. Then I could run there myself. Vampires could run so fast, the need for a car didn’t exist. Not only could I get there quicker, but if I went alone, Tyler would also be safer.
I crossed the room and went for the laptop, but he knelt down and grabbed it first. How could he be faster than me? He must’ve known I needed it. “You don’t want to risk fighting with me any longer, do you?” he said. “Quit wasting time, let’s go!” He turned away and hurried down the hall toward the garage.
“Fine,” I mumbled, my raging hunger forcing me to follow him.
He didn’t help me into the passenger side this time. He rushed to the driver’s side, jumped in, and started the car. He was too afraid to waste anymore time. I could sense his fear, feel it inside my body. It was thick and suffocating. It was unsettling to know that he feared me that much, but I couldn’t blame him for a second. I rubbed my hands on the tops of my thighs. Distractions, distractions. I needed to keep it together. Tyler was counting on me just as much as I was counting on him.
The drive would’ve been shorter any other time, but tonight it dragged along in slow motion. The good news was that we were pulling into a parking lot. No bad news…yet. There were several other cars parked around us. We pulled in next to a black Chevy pickup truck. I was opening the door before he cut the engine.
“Wait,” Tyler said. “We need a plan.”
I nodded, hand gripping the half-open door.
“I’ll go in first,” he said, avoiding my eyes, staring at the steering wheel. “You wait a few minutes and then come in. Don’t sit next to me.” It must have been too difficult to look at me with red ey
es. I couldn’t blame him there. I can’t stand to look at me either.
“No, I go in first!”
He gave a long sigh as if he wanted to argue, but then changed his mind. “Okay. You go in first. I’ll be a few minutes behind you. After you finish, uh, eating, you can leave first and I’ll leave a few minutes after you.”
That wasn’t going to work either. I was getting impatient with this conversation. “No, I go in first,” I argued. “You leave first! You’re not going to be in there without me!” I didn’t wait for a response. I got out of the car, slammed the door behind me, and then headed for the club with only one thing on my mind: Blood. Blood. Blood.
The sky was a starless, hazy-colored black, but the area was still lit up like a Christmas tree. Streetlamps provided some of the light, while the rest of it came from an assembly line of shops, restaurants, and businesses on the street. An old-fashioned, two-story brick structure stood eerily apart from the rest. A big black sign hung from the second balcony, the number 7 written across it in dripping red paint. It looked like it was bleeding, which was probably the point. My mouth watered as I stared at the sign. I sucked my bottom lip, and pulled my eyes away. I thought vampire secrecy was important. Um hum. Sure. I’d worry about that later. There weren’t any guards at the door so I walked in.
Inside, the area was more expansive than the outer appearance suggested. They say don’t judge a book by its cover. Tsk Tsk. There were several square-shaped wooden tables in the middle, a few big comfy booths along the walls. The concrete floors were painted black. The ceiling soared up to the second floor with big iron light fixtures hanging down, illuminating red light throughout the club. There were two bars in the back, directly across from each other. They looked identical: black marble counters, black barstools, and bottles of alcohol along the walls behind them. There were two humans sitting at the bar on the left. I headed that way and then sat down, keeping a few spaces between them and me.
The bartender was young, early twenties, about five seven, slender, with short brown hair cupping her heart-shaped face, and she was definitely a vampire. It didn’t take long for her to come over. “What can I get ya tonight?” she asked, her voice a little scratchy but in that sexy kind of way.
“A vodka soda please.”
“Sure thing.” She smiled, lips tight, no show of fangs, and then turned around and started making my drink.
I leaned over the counter while her back was facing me. “Can you please help me out? I need to get into one of the back rooms here.” I kept my voice low and calm.
She turned around, slowly glancing me up and down. “I can see that you do.”
I wasn’t sure what to say so I didn’t say anything. I just sat there waiting for her, my nerves rolling down my arms like cartwheels. She stirred my drink, threw a lime wedge on top, and then handed it me. “Here ya go. Wait here. I’ll be right back.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
She walked out of sight behind the bar. My stomach tightened. If I didn’t need blood, I’d leave right now. But leaving wasn’t an option. I slurped my drink down. It was empty too quick and I stared down at the ice in my glass.
“Come with me.” The voice was deep, authoritative. I looked up. A guy stood in front of me—tall, at least six foot, with a narrow face, thin body, and long black hair pulled back in a ponytail. He was okay looking, but definitely not my type. The bartender stood beside him, gesturing with her eyes for me to go with him.
My hunger forced me to follow the black-haired vampire. He led me over toward the other bar, which wasn’t empty anymore. Tyler was sitting there alone. His eyes flicked to me, then back down at his hands on the countertop. I followed Mr. Ponytail behind the wall of alcohol and down a short hallway. A set of doors was straight ahead, painted the color of blood. He opened one of them, motioned me inside. I walked in the room with him right behind me. The door closed behind us with a loud thud. We were in another small hallway, more like a foyer.
He grabbed me firmly by the shoulders, turning me around to face him. “You can’t come in here looking like that! You’ll give us all away! You’re lucky I was the one working and not Eddie. He would’ve kicked you out of here! I should kick you out of here!”
“I’m sorry. I’m still so new at this. Please forgive me. I’m just, I’m just so hungry,” I said.
“Ah, a new vampire. When? When were you transformed?” He let me go, stepped back.
“One month ago.”
He cocked his head to the side. “Where’s the one who made you?”
“He’s not here. He’s not with me anymore.” I didn’t want to lie and technically, I hadn’t.
“Poor baby vampire,” he said, and then gave a long sigh. “Abandoned just a month after birth. So sad.” He walked around me. I followed. There was another set of red double doors ahead. He opened one of them, ushered me inside. “You’ll find plenty of food to choose from in here, Baby Vampire.”
I stood in a large, expansive room. The ceilings were high-vaulted, but not quite as high as the other part of the lounge. Smoke veiled the air like a thick fog. Hazy red light spilled away from a few hanging light fixtures. There were a few oversized red sofas, a handful of blood donors sitting comfortably on them. White shag carpeting covered the floor, not a stain in sight.
“I’ll be back to check on you,” Mr. Ponytail said, and then he turned abruptly and left the room, shutting the door behind him.
Unable to think of anything except blood, I smelled my way over to a younger guy sitting on one of the red sofas. He was short with a round face and a small, button-shaped nose. Sandy blond hair wisped sideways across his face. His right leg was crossed over the left one. There was an Auto Week magazine in his hands, not that he could even see it in this minimal lighting. He peered above the page that supposedly held his attention to look up at me.
“Hey. How are you tonight?” I asked while sitting down next to him.
He gave a charming smile, and his eyes grew wide. He closed the magazine, setting it on his lap.
The personable part of me, the side that loves to be cordial with my donors, was gone. This insane hunger now controlled me and I quickly grabbed his head and tilted it sideways—a lot more aggressively than how I usually do it. But hey, I was freaking starving. His body twitched in my hands. That made me hungrier, excited. His neck was short, so I pressed his head down a little more, stretching his neck wider. I squeezed my face between his shoulders and chin, pushing my lips to the skin above the vein. My fangs burst out and then bit down hard. His blood spilled into my mouth—velvety, tangy, coppery, and delicious. I felt better the more I drank, so I gulped and sucked until I was satisfied.
When I finished, I sealed the wound and then laid him back onto the sofa. I looked around. There were three other donors in here chatting amongst themselves and completely oblivious of me. And I was still the only other vampire. I could easily take one more donor before leaving. But what if Tyler was in trouble? What if things weren’t this smooth out in the bar, just like it was in that vision? That vision! I stood up and flashed out of the room.
No one waited for me behind either set of double doors, so I kept moving toward the public bar area. Tyler was sitting in the same spot, smiling and talking with the female bartender that had waited on me. I swallowed hard. My throat got tight. But I forced myself to look away. I passed him and went and sat down at the other bar. The two human customers that had been here earlier were gone. That meant Tyler was the only non-donor in here. Panic seized me. My shoulders clenched together. That just double—no, triple—confirmed there was no way I’d leave this club before him. He’d better follow that pact we made—or else what, I just didn’t know yet.
Tyler finished his drink, threw cash on the bar as he stood up. He gave me a quick glance and then headed out of the club. Good boy, Tyler. I shrugged and let out a deep sigh. The female bartender was making her way back toward me, bouncing with each step, smiling. Would it look suspicious if I just l
eft? Or should I order one more drink? Or maybe now that Tyler was out of here, I could go back and take one more blood donor. Hmm, what to do, what to do…?
The bartender rounded the bar. “Can I get ya anything else?” she asked.
“Yeah, I think I’ll have one more before I go.” One more drink, not one more donor. Tempting though, wasn’t it?
She winked, grabbed a glass, and then turned around to make my drink. I scooted my seat a little closer to the bar while I waited. It didn’t take long. She twirled around in one swift motion as if she were a ballerina. “Here ya go,” she said, voice like a song. She set the drink down in front of me.
“Thanks.”
She got busy wiping some glassware with a clean rag. I took a few deep long sips, finishing the drink rather quickly, and then stood up. Some cash was stuffed in my bra so I fished it out, counted out sixty bucks, and then threw it down on the countertop. It’s vampire etiquette to tip for the time spent with the blood donor in the back room. I wasn’t sure how much my drinks were, but I hoped that money covered everything. She nodded with a half smile, grabbed the cash, and then shoved it in the pocket of her black pants.
“Thanks again. I appreciate your help,” I said.
She gave a slight nod and returned to the glassware, rag in hand.
I headed out of the club relieved, full, happy. Life was good. I was almost to the door when a hushed voice crawled along the back of my neck. “Baby Vampire, wait just a second.”
I froze. Crap, crap, crap. I was almost out of here. I swallowed hard; my back stiffened. I turned around and looked up at Mr. Ponytail, his eyes locked on to mine. He smiled, slightly, glimpse of fangs touching his lips.
“Hi again,” I said through a forced smile of my own.
“You’re leaving so soon? I hoped you were going to stay for a while tonight.” Disappointment was plain in his voice.
Crimson Groves Page 11
