Dead Shifter Walking

by Kim Schubert

  Settling back down, I checked my phone in my small matching clutch, also a purchase with Jerry. Heading out to dance. Please hurry; I can’t drink!

  I laughed at Kass’s text as Jerry and Mark got into the Beast.

  “So where to?” I asked, shockingly bright.

  Jerry and Mark exchanged a look. “Oh, no,” I said, “we are not going to Flame.”

  Jerry cringed. “We aren’t excited about it either, but Lorraine, Logan’s fiancé, heard about the re-opening.”

  “There is a reason Flame went up in flames,” I grumbled from the back seat, slouching against the leather interior.

  “I couldn’t agree more,” Mark stated, sharing a looking with Jerry.

  Jerry sighed. “Will you two at least try to make the best of this please?”

  I kept my mouth shut not about to make promises I knew damn well I wouldn’t be keeping. “At least there is alcohol in a pretentious mix-species club,” I admitted with a shrug.

  “Now, was that so hard?” Jerry asked, staring holes into Mark.

  …

  Three hours later, I had lost count of how many margaritas I had consumed. Lethal tendrils of anger and death hovering around Kass and me were the only reason we weren’t engulfed by people at the small table we had been shoved to.

  “I think we should leave,” I said again, shifting uncomfortably at the table. Jerry and Mark had already given up on this hellhole and were guarding the Beast, which was actually necessary. Lorraine and her friend Wanda were on the dance floor, which really resembled more of a brawl just waiting to happen than actual dancing. My disgust for this place might have biased my opinion, since dancing was my occupation when I wasn’t killing.

  Lorraine blended into this club perfectly, a size-2 delicate woman with an Asian cast to her features, a sculpted ass, and fake boobs. I was fairly certain she was not wearing anything under the silver skin-tight fabric she called a dress. The four-inch heels did nothing but make me concerned about her future back issues.

  Wanda, on the other hand, was nothing like I expected. Plump, short, with platinum hair, and an awful tan, she was trying desperately to belong in a world that didn’t give a shit about her. I genuinely felt bad for her obvious lack of self-esteem and the fact her best friend didn’t mind dragging her into all kinds of uncomfortable situations. I was personally ready to beat some asses just because of the looks and shoves she was receiving.

  And where were the darling fiancé and husbands to these three? Oh, nowhere special, just in the uncrowded smoking area in the back, where Kass could not be. I refused to leave her. Have I mentioned they had been there the entire time? My only impression of Logan was a dark blond head of hair and shoulders of a linebacker, while I didn’t even get a glimpse of Wanda’s husband.

  I wanted to pound my head against the table again. Kass checked her phone for the hundredth time it seemed, sighing dejectedly.

  “Hopefully, it means he’s working things out with this brother,” I suggested helpfully. She gave me a thin smile.

  “I hope so,” she responded, taking another sip of her water.

  I ordered another margarita as my stomach grumbled. Kass gave me a look, apparently having heard my stomach’s complaint. “What? Some of us didn’t get dinner.”

  She smiled, rolling her eyes. “I forgot,” she said, clicking the side of her phone to check for any messages.

  I smiled and paid the waitress for my drink, noticing she needed to eat more to support her enormous boobs.

  Kass’s efforts were finally rewarded when her phone pinged at her. “They’re leaving; said they’ll meet us outside.”

  I let out a long sigh of relief. “Guess we have to get the bimbos.”

  She gave a small smile. “At least we’re leaving.”

  “Agreed,” I said, slamming my drink as we made our painful way to the dance floor to get the girls.

  My threatening aurora must have dimmed or the men here were too drunk to pick up on it, as more than a few tried to press against me in my attempt to find the girls. I had left Kass at the sidelines for this exact reason. Twisting and occasionally pushing, I finally found them both hip deep with someone who was not their fiancé or husband on their asses. Huh, call me old-fashioned, but I didn’t think that was appropriate. The tall dark-haired beauty raised his head from nuzzling Lorraine’s neck and I cursed violently—vampires. I spared a glance at the light-haired younger, shorter one on Wanda’s neck, also a vampire. Fuck me.

  I must have said that out loud. The dark-haired one raised an eyebrow, smiling slow and carnally. Wanda chose that moment to raise her head awkwardly, pulling away from the blondie behind her.

  “Hi,” she slurred, “we leaving?”

  “Yup,” I said evenly.

  The blondie pulled her back, muttering sweet nothings, I’m sure.

  “Hey,” I said to him, breaking his attention from his latest conquest, or should I say possible feeding? Oh, no, I hadn’t thought of that. We were so in deep shit. I pointed to my ring finger on my left hand, indicating a wedding ring, and then pointed to Wanda who was completely oblivious.

  His face fell dejectedly and he pulled her closer to him. “You’re married?” he asked. I glanced at the dark-haired one, who was listening intently. Lying to vampires about not being mated was high on their list of things not to do; they valued the bond between two mates second to the blood being freely given. The reason was simple enough; clans have always been governed by a mated pair. To disturb the relationship was to break apart the clan, guaranteeing masterless vampires (which was dangerous for everyone) and eternal death.

  If they both had led these boys on and lied followed by letting them feed from them, I was so in the shit. I wanted to take it outside where my hearing wasn’t so hampered by the pounding music, but that would mean running into the husband and fiancé, and I really didn’t need to complicate this situation.

  Wanda gave a halfhearted shrug, to which blondie tightened his grip, his eyes flashing amber. I sighed. “Did you feed?” I asked him.

  He nodded, not breaking eye contact with Wanda. Turning to the dark-haired one, I nodded silently, asking the same question. His face turned into stone as he pushed Lorraine away from him, nodding. I raked a hand through my red hair. Part of me wanted to walk away and say, fuck it, deal out punishment as you see it, but I knew that would only cause problems for Kass. As much as I disliked these two right now, I had to fix it.

  “Your master?” I asked, moving the girls next to me.

  “Who the fuck are you?” the light-haired one asked.

  “Olivia, Executioner of the Council,” I answered, keeping my hands loose at my sides.

  He backed up slightly; he had heard of me. Turning my attention back to the dark-haired one, I asked again. “Master?”

  His eyes roved over me, and damn if my heart didn’t flutter slightly. That was a first, I thought, trying to control it, so he wouldn’t hear it. His lip curled up slightly before reaching my eyes, and indicated I should come closer with his index finger, pushing Lorraine out from between us.

  I rolled my eyes at his dramatics, closing the short distance between our bodies. Brushing the hair from my ear, he leaned closer, whispering, “Tate.” Damn if I didn’t get goose bumps that from word. Whether it was from his breath or Tate’s name, I didn’t care to find out.

  My shoulder sagged slightly as I answered him, “I accept the punishment of their actions only to be delivered by your Master.”

  Tall and dark pulled back a genuine smile now as he sized me up and nodded. I sighed again. “Let me get them to my friend for safekeeping,” I requested formally.

  He nodded. Turning away, I grabbed both of them, roughly propelling them in front of me into the crowd, which moved very quickly; pissed off and deadly had made a return appearance.

  Kass raised an eyebrow at their treatment; not releasing either of them, I leaned towards her and whispered, “They let two vamps feed from them under the assumption t
hey were single.”

  Kass pulled back stiffly, her eyes wide as she mouthed my name. I nodded. “I took punishment.”

  She closed her eyes, shaking her head before she angrily looked at Lorraine and Wanda. “Let’s go,” she said, treating them equally as rough. Terrified by Kass’s response, they said nothing, letting her drag them away.

  I felt tall and dark behind me before he slipped his arms around my waist, dropping his lips to my ear to whisper, “Had you not called our master’s involvement, I gladly would have taken you for myself as punishment.” His emphasis on that last word made me smile, and I leaned into him, swaying gently to the music. His fangs raked temptingly against my skin. “Care to reconsider?” he asked huskily, responding to my movements.

  Turning to face him, I laced our legs together, earning me a groan of pleasure. “In a different life, I would have gladly surrendered to your punishment,” I whispered, letting my mouth graze his neck. “But since I let Tate feed from me the night before last, you should probably tell him.”

  His entire body stiffened at that information. He wheeled me around to the back, past security and upstairs to a plush black and red waiting area. What was it about black and red that all vampires loved?

  Tall and dark didn’t wait but instead, burst through the double door lined with security, not bothering to stop.

  Tate was engrossed in the female on his lap, but was conscious enough to notice our entrance. “We have a problem,” tall and dark announced.

  “Really, Blake, that’s what I pay you for,” Tate answered, not looking up.

  He shuffled at the veiled insult. “It’s not his fault. I evoked punishment by his master,” I said.

  At my voice, Tate stood, dropping his entertainment. “Olivia,” he said breathlessly.

  “Hello again,” I said to his devilish smile.

  “What was the offense?” he asked Blake, not taking his eyes off me. The fucker was enjoying this way too much.

  “Two of her female companions portrayed themselves as single and allowed me and Jackson to feed from them,” he answered stiffly.

  He laughed, throwing his head back, ignoring the woman pulling her clothing on angrily. “Oh, Olie, this is too wonderful.”

  I grumbled, crossing my arms. “In their or, really, my defense, I don’t believe they had been briefed on vampire protocol.”

  Tate just kept on smiling at me; the tinted glass window behind him would have given him a perfect view, if he had been paying attention.

  “Bullshit,” Blake coughed from behind me.

  “You disagree, Blake?” Tate asked.

  “They both were informed of what was expected once we fed from them; neither gave a fight nor disagreed with those terms,” he stated almost in a military fashion.

  I sighed, throwing my arms up. “Alright, Tate, fine; you have me dead to rights. I’ll abide by the rules set forth and my right not to be forced into anything I don’t agree too,” I stated.

  “Oh, Olie,” Tate said, sitting down and steepling his fingers, “what would the fun of that be?”

  “I am certain you will think of something,” I said, wanting to also sit, but I was in his domain in front of his people. I was already in shit; I didn’t need to disrespect him to make this worse.

  “Would you like to sit, Olie?” Tate asked politely.

  “Yes, thank you,” I said, coming around and sitting on the maroon couch.

  Leaning forward, Tate had a wicked look I didn’t like. “Olivia, you being submissive is something I will have fantasies about.”

  I raised an eyebrow, not willing to hint at anything.

  “Jackson, what would you like?” he asked the vampire behind me somewhere, his gaze holding mine.

  “I want a chance to feed from the Kitten,” he demanded.

  Tate raised an eyebrow, silently asking if I could deliver. Standing, I turned to him. “Now a good time?”

  He eyed me warily. “Where is she?”

  I smiled. “You’re looking at her.”

  Jackson scoffed. “Bullshit,” he said, echoing Blake’s earlier words.

  I sighed tiredly. “What would prove to you I am the Kitten?” I asked, crossing my arms.

  Tate answered. “Seduce him.”

  Turning, I looked at him skeptically. “That’s not a difficult challenge,” I countered, feeling I was getting off easy.

  Tate settled back. “I think you will find it is. You see, Jackson has a particular fetish for pleasantly round women, which is why he was smitten with your friend.”

  The fucker had been watching. I sighed. “Music?” I asked

  Blake hit a few buttons on a wall panel and the music from the club was blasted through the small office. Jackson still had his arms crossed defensively against his chest. “You want to stand or sit?” I asked him.

  He shrugged and again Tate chimed in, “Standing. And, Olivia, do be a dear and lose the clothing. Jackson is a newer vampire, and I would hate to ruin that lovely dress.”

  The fucker was really enjoying this. I wonder if he realized I danced half naked most of the time, so this wasn’t going to affect me at all.

  “Done,” I countered. “I will lose it before he feeds.”

  Tate nodded, motioning I should get started. I wished he were forcing me on Blake; that I could get behind. This was going to take some acting.

  But the sooner this was over, the sooner I could leave. I tuned out everything, including the awful music blasting through the club, but it had a beat, so I could work with it. Rolling my shoulders, I shook out my arms, placing my hands on Jackson’s crossed arms, giving him a small smile behind hooded lids gently pushing his arms down.

  He was compliant, and I hadn’t even broken out with the real source of my power yet, playing off his earlier emotions while dancing with Wanda. Smiling wider, I curled my hips close to his in the pattern I was playing of off.

  Running my hands over his abdomen, I slinked down, trailing my hands over his hips then to quads before turning and pushing my hips up first against his hips then trailing my hands slowly up my legs. Once my head was against his shoulder, I dropped my energy into the room as pure desire, attraction, and a painful need, washing over everything.

  Blake gripped the love seat in front of him while Tate’s fangs lengthened. I felt Jackson’s response from behind me.

  “Convinced yet?” I asked him, tipping my head back.

  “Yes,” he growled.

  “Will you unzip me?” I asked softly, pulling away, much to his dismay, as his fingers dug into my hips. I toned down the emotions I was pushing off and Jackson took one hand off my hip to unzip me in vamp-speed quickness. I would be lucky if it was still in one piece after this. The pink beauty made no sound as it hit the floor.

  Tate was staring in open admiration the amber shining behind his almost black eyes, while Blake slowly licked his bottom lip,.

  Tilting my head to the side, I felt Jackson’s fangs press against my neck before he bit down. Cringing, I pulled the rest of my emotions in: I forgot how awful new vamp bites were. Ouch! He moaned behind me drawing in more biting down harder. I schooled my features, braiding the pain into my core while biting down hard on my bottom lip.

  Someone touched my cheek and I opened my eyes to find Blake talking to Jackson. “Enough; bite your lip or tongue and close her wounds.”

  Numbly, I felt Jackson nod as his fangs left my neck; I sagged with relief when I felt his blood healing the deep puncture wounds.

  Jackson left the room, staggering; succubus blood was powerful. Blake led me back to the love seat, gently setting me down.

  “Never been bit by a newbie?” asked Tate, still smiling.

  “I have,” I cringed, rubbing my neck. “It’s just been awhile.”

  Fatigue settled over my limbs and I leaned my head against the armrest. Had feeding two of the undead depleted my reserves that quickly? No, I had fed more than that and been perfectly fine. It was something else. The tension in my temp
les made my stomach clench with fear.

  “Tate,” I whispered.

  “Yes, Olivia, do you need a rest now before your next performance?” he asked with humor in his voice.

  “It’s him,” I said equally as soft.

  It took him only a moment to realize about whom I was speaking. “I can’t move,” I whispered, terrified.

  “Olie, what do you see,” he asked, kneeling before me with his hands on my bare knees.

  “Nothing. Bite me,” I asked, my voice shaking. “Hurry,” I begged.

  Tate lowered his mouth to my knee, not attempting to draw any blood and bit down. I let the toxins overwhelm my senses and found I could move again. Pushing him away, I ran out the office, down the stairs, and flung the back door open, leaping into the alley.

  There I paused, which was enough time for Tate and Blake to catch up; turning in a semicircle, I felt the pull again behind me and took off running with everything I had.

  “What do you see, Olie?” Tate asked again, not even out of breath—damn vamp speed. I focused on the second vision, causing me to crash into garbage cans.

  “Glass roof,” I said, between my labored breaths. “It’s a gallery of some kind, blue walls,” I said, darting out into traffic to horns and screeching tires , fighting the lethargy that wanted to take over. Please let me get there in time, I repeated over and over. I didn’t want to help another soul cross over. I couldn’t stand to fail yet again.

  Down a dark industrial street, I turned abruptly, knowing we were close. “There!” I screamed, pointing to the light in the top floor of a commercial renovation building with huge glass windows on the roof. Without another word, Blake wrapped his arm around my naked waist and propelled us airborne.

  Tate landed softly on the roof next to us. I didn’t waste a moment as I pushed ahead full force into the triangle glass ceiling shielding my face with my forearms. The glass gave way, slicing my shoulders and shins as I turned on my side for the fifteen-foot drop. Rolling away from the glass, I heard the screams from down a blue hallway. Not waiting for the other two, I sprinted ahead, fighting the exhaustion that bloomed in my muscles.