"A lot. It was beautiful."
The talk of a number of kills slowed Frank for a moment, but he resumed his stride. He pointed to the doors behind her.
"Victoria, you have to go," he said. "This is really not the best night for a surprise inspection. I'm sorry, but I don't have the time."
"What happened here, Frank?"
"Nothing. Nothing happened here, okay?"
"Lie number one," Jack announced. He'd already opened the first two rooms they passed. "The mattress and sheets in this room have been replaced just recently. The door frame is way too clean, it's been scrubbed. The room across from it, it's not as bad, but there was definitely a couple in here earlier."
"Who the fuck are you?" Frank asked. "Get out of my rooms! Who do you think you are?"
Frank passed Victoria to reach for Jack, which was a mistake. Jack slapped Frank's hand away, and then gave Frank an openhanded slap of his own, right across the face. The echo reverberated through the quiet hallway, even making Victoria wince. He kicked Frank in the back of the knee, dropping him to the floor. Michael took a step forward, but Victoria stopped him just with the tone in her voice.
"Michael," she said.
He turned his head to glance at her, and she saw the apprehension. The beating she gave him last time they met circled in his mind, which took a mere four seconds of her time.
"It's admirable you want to protect your boss. It really is. But trust me, you don't want to do anything stupid."
Michael agreed, and settled on helping Frank to his feet while Jack continued his tour. He opened each door, sticking his head in for a moment, as he made his way down the hallway.
"We know something happened here," she said. "Two young ladies ran into a club I own down the street. One was covered in blood, the other in shock. We know they came from here."
"Ladies might not be the right word," Jack called. "I can think of a few other names."
Victoria ignored him. "We need to see the security footage."
"We've only got the lobby," Frank said. "We haven't had time to install any cameras back here yet."
"Lie number two," Jack said. "The rooms on this side of the hallway all have hidden cameras. At least two, maybe more. One in the headboard, and one in the top of the dresser mirror. The other side is clear. And the picture above his office has a camera hidden behind it, so there should be a pretty good shot of the hallway."
"Frank," Victoria said. "I'm getting tired of being lied to. You record what goes on inside the rooms? Didn't you say something about respecting privacy?"
"It's not what it sounds like," he said, rubbing his cheek. "We only record if they want us to. The paperwork is all proper. Some of the couples…or groups, that come in, want to be recorded. We give them a room on this side of the hall, and give them the files. We keep none of it. We're not an adult film company."
"Do you have any footage from there?" she asked, pointing out the room Jack mentioned.
"Well, yeah, but I swear to God, not on purpose. We didn't have time to erase it. You're right, okay? Something weird happened. We're still trying to figure it out."
"That's why we're here." She put an arm around him and headed toward his office. "We'll need to see the cameras, and please, feel free to fill me in at any time."
"Shit, I don't know. A lot of screaming, a lot of yelling. Kate was in the lobby. I was in my office, and by the time I got to her…." He trailed off at the memory, and Victoria could see he was truly disturbed. "You'd better just watch the tape. I saw them running out, and I guess someone called the cops. But, the owner here has my back, at least for now. It's actually good that you came here. If you can figure out what the hell happened, I'd really appreciate it."
Victoria and Jack walked into his office. It didn't take long to spot the security system. Frank had a regular computer at his desk, but against the side wall was a tiny table with another computer. The monitor displayed multiple live feeds, with the option to pull an older recording via calendar.
She took a moment to get used to the controls while Jack grabbed a chair and sidled up next to her. He kicked his feet up on the table, inches away from the keyboard. She glared at him, but he made no attempt to move.
It took some effort. Arranging camera feeds, rewinding and fast-forwarding, but she thought she had a clearer picture of what happened.
Olivia was the first one to enter the Vermilion. Kate was sitting behind her desk, working at the computer. Olivia sat in one of the lobby chairs and waited patiently. There was no audio on the footage, but Victoria could tell the two women were engaging in small talk.
"Can you see what they're saying?" Victoria asked Jack.
He leaned forward and stared at the monitor. He'd learned to read lips during his long life, but had to shake his head.
"No. Not quite clear enough."
Ten minutes passed before a man stepped into the lobby. Victoria nor Jack needed to be told that Olivia and he were total strangers. Kate introduced them, and they shared a quick hug. Another couple entered the lobby, two females, holding hands. They already knew each other. Victoria recognized one of them as the mystery woman from Tony's club. The five shared a few quick words and laughs, then Kate led Olivia and her partner to their suite. The other couple waited in the lobby, and even took the time to kiss and feel each other.
"And we have hunky vampire number one and gorgeous vampire number two," Jack said, pointing at each of them on the screen. "Do you know them?"
"No, never seen them before."
Olivia and her partner didn't waste any time. No sooner did Kate shut the door than clothes were stripped and dropped. Victoria glanced at Jack in surprise. No words were exchanged. Did they even give each other their names? Apparently they simply found each other attractive, and engaged in what the Vermilion promised.
Because of the two cameras in the suite, Victoria saw more than she expected.
The vampire forced Olivia against the dresser. She faced the camera above the mirror, and it captured their performance in every detail. Olivia knew she was being recorded, like Frank said, as her eyes searched for the lens. The vampire took position behind her and thrust into her. Olivia arched her back as her hands pressed against the mirror.
They'd only bucked their hips for a few seconds before the biting started.
He bit her on the neck, and Olivia's eyes glazed over. Victoria thought at any moment they would witness the vampire taking things too far, turning the mutual sharing into an attack. Instead, he picked up and carried her to the bed, where the camera inside the headboard provided another angle.
They locked in an embrace, with Olivia sitting on the vampire's lap. Her back was toward the headboard camera. They moved up and down in a steady rhythm, with his fangs buried in her neck the entire time.
"So," Jack said. "This is what it looks like when you have sex."
"No. It's what it looks like when they have sex. Don't lump us together."
Several more minutes passed of the couple enjoying each other. On the lobby and hallway cameras, Kate led the other couple to their suite, directly across from Olivia's.
The distraction almost made her miss it.
The vampire gripped Olivia tightly, and their rhythm became disjointed. He gripped her hair for a moment before his hands roamed across her back, to her hips, and back again. At first glance, it seemed to just be passionate sex.
"Look," she told Jack.
He laughed. "What you're seeing, Victoria, is the end result of the sexual experience. Unless they're terrible at it. You see, when a man loves a woman very much, he gets hard, and she gets wet—"
"Shut up, and look."
Olivia thrashed about, and it had nothing to do with sex. She tried to get away, but was unable to. Her partner seemed to be in the middle of a seizure. He couldn't control himself, and his fangs ripped through her neck. He grabbed her shoulders with claws instead of hands, and raked downed her back, causing the injuries Victoria and Jack had seen in pe
rson.
She finally pulled away while her partner convulsed on the bed. She didn't give him a second glance as she stumbled her way to the door. On the hallway camera, the other couple were leaving their room, concern on their faces. They hadn't gotten quite as far as Olivia and her partner, and were still half dressed. As Olivia burst into the hallway, bumping into the other couple, her partner died.
The vampire, whom she'd been having sex with seconds before, died.
There was no sunlight or fire, but the end result was the same. Olivia's partner was curled up in pain one moment, the next he was dust across the sheets. He was facing toward the headboard camera. Victoria saw the terror and agony on his face mere moments before he ceased to exist.
The three women were animated in the hallway. Olivia pushed her way to the doors, and that's when the female vampire doubled over in pain. Her human partner went to check on her, and the vampire tried to grab her with a claw. She pulled free and followed Olivia out the main doors in the lobby.
Ten seconds later, the second vampire died, turning into a pile of dust on the carpet. Frank had nearly made it to her when she passed on. Kate pushed the doors open to see Frank, and cried as he tried to console her.
Jack laughed quietly as Victoria paused the footage.
"Holy shit," he said. "They vacuumed the two of them up like they were dust-bunnies."
"Jack, this is serious," Victoria said. "Did you see that? I've never seen anything like that."
"Me neither."
She sped through the rest of the evening, but nothing else grabbed her attention. Frank spoke to the man she saw with the police outside, either the owner or a manager. He also sent Kate home, and Michael joined him to begin the cleanup. They scrubbed the floors as best they could and replaced the mattress.
Victoria rewound the footage to watch them die again.
"Shit, what the hell happened?" she asked. "Did they touch each other in the lobby?"
"No," Jack said. "They all talked, that was it. But the very nature of this place…they probably share mortals like needles. Maybe they're passing something to each other."
"But what? A disease, maybe? A virus?"
"There hasn't been a virus yet that's made a dent in vampires. You bloodsuckers can drink from an AIDS patient without a problem."
"So what, then?"
"I don't know, but we're getting ahead of ourselves. It could be the lighting in this place, for all we know."
Jack had a point, and Victoria squirmed in discomfort as she stared up at the lights. Never before in her long life did she see one of her kind simply die spontaneously. Underground mortal science labs had worked for decades trying to find a new way to kill them, but never succeeded. Was there now something out there she needed to be afraid of?
She had the sudden urge to go home, her safe haven. Her body was starting to feel the effects of staying up nearly all night. She needed rest, to clear her head.
Frank poked his head into the office.
"Is everything okay in here?" he asked. "The club's emptying out upstairs. We'll have to close up soon."
Victoria regained her composure and rose to her feet.
"Yeah, we're good. Frank, I'm going to need unrestricted access to this place, and all of your records. You do keep track of who comes and goes, who gets paired up with who?"
Jack chuckled quietly next to her.
"Who comes and goes," he said. "How accurate."
"We do," Frank said. "We don't keep track of addresses. Quite frankly, we don't care where people live. But some do pay by check. We don't take charge cards, obviously."
"Names will do. I need to see who's been in and out, mortal and vampire. And, I hate to say it, but this place is going to have to close its doors for a while."
Frank took the news as she expected. He frowned and cursed as he placed a hand on the wall.
"Are you serious? You think something here is responsible? It could have been something upstairs in the club, or out in the parking lot. Hell, what do I know? Maybe vampires just get sick sometimes. You don't know anything."
He had a point. They could be looking at an isolated incident, with no rhyme or reason, that would never happen again.
Or they could be looking at the end of vampires.
"Exactly, I don't. And until I do, this place stays closed."
"Fuck."
He rested his hands on his knees, staring at the floor. Victoria felt bad for him, sympathized. Frank had his faults, but he was simply a businessman trying to make a living.
"You're right," he said. "I know you're right, but still…fuck!"
"Don't worry there, mortal," Jack said. "This place is solid, and I want in. Some good money to be made. When Victoria solves all this shit, you'll be getting a call from me. You'd be smart to answer the phone."
Only Jack could turn a scene of death into a business opportunity.
Victoria stood up. She knew she'd be back, but still had an image to maintain. Dawn wasn't too far away. Frank expected her to return to shelter, and that's what she would do.
"I'll be in touch," Victoria said. "We've got some work to do."
Frank nodded. "I'll help however I can."
CHAPTER 12
Victoria didn't say a word as they drove away from the club. She was lost in her own thoughts, trying to absorb what they'd seen. Truth be told, she was unnerved, even a little afraid. For four centuries, she lived her life knowing that only fire and the sun could kill their kind. Apparently that was no longer the case.
For his part, Jack was quiet. No needling, no sarcasm. The pair knew each other too well. He could see Victoria was worried. Despite the fact he said nothing, she knew he was concerned for her, and appreciated him for it.
It wasn't until she turned onto her street that he finally spoke.
"So," he said. "What's the plan?"
She laughed quietly. A very simple question with a complicated answer.
"A lot of phone calls. And a lot of research. I can't let this go. This is something I have to figure out."
"I know."
"Can I count on you?"
"Whatever you need. But you have to let me be a father for a while, too." Jack leaned out the window to admire the scenery as the day began to slowly push away the night. "I have a daughter at home that I happen to miss. I won't be dropping her off at school today, and I hate that."
"Sorry everything ran so long. We do have a witch, you know. Just use a portal."
"I just might."
She didn't bother parking in the garage. She parked in front of the house, behind Jack's truck. Her shirt was nearly half off before they even walked in the door. Jack reached out and grabbed her hand before she could strip.
"Whoa, you want to take it easy there?"
"I need to sleep," she said. "I'm exhausted. Some of us still need to sleep, ya know."
"Well, wait until I'm gone. Then you can pull all the clothes off you want."
"Such a prude."
Victoria stayed her hand when her eyes fell on the basement door. There was one thing she needed to take care of before she fell unconscious in her bed.
"I'll be right back," she said. "I'm going to check on Zoey."
Jogging down the basement stairs, she expected to see a lump of teenager in the king-sized bed. Confusion set in when there was nothing. The bed was only a collection of bundled-up sheets.
She steered toward the bathroom, reaching out with her senses. No water ran. There was no familiar scent of the young girl she'd spent so much time with. The hot tub was also empty and silent.
"Zoey?" she called, hoping she'd somehow get a response. Only silence answered her.
Worry began to settle in. Victoria opened the bathroom door anyway, although she knew Zoey wasn't there. She wanted to believe her nose and ears were lying to her, and her eyes would save the day.
Victoria had a big house. Zoey was in another room. That was the only explanation that made sense. But that didn't help soothe he
r. The mansion wasn't designed to keep out the sun. That's what the basement was for.
She was calling Jack's name as she went back upstairs. It was terribly difficult to resist the temptation to run, but she somehow managed.
"Jack! Jack!"
He leaned out the kitchen, watching for her as she left the basement.
"What? What's the problem?"
"Is Zoey up here?"
"I have no idea."
"Well, would you look for her?"
"No."
He wasn't joking. Jack disappeared back into the kitchen to enjoy a glass of water at the table. Victoria paid him no mind. She made her way to the side door to the garage and threw it open.
The Jeep was missing.
Zoey had never come back after leaving with Olivia.
Her mind went blank. She didn't bother to shut the door. She wasn't even aware she was walking back to the kitchen until she was nearly there. Slowly, the questions and thoughts trickled in.
Where did Zoey go? Was she hurt? Did she drop off Olivia off at the hospital? Did she go to visit Alex? Why would she leave? What was going on?
As she turned into the kitchen, the questions changed, moving in a darker direction.
Was Zoey dead? Did the sunlight get her? Maybe Olivia was responsible for the deaths at the Vermilion, and Zoey tried to feed from her.
Jack knew something was wrong immediately. He was at her side in a second, nearly knocking over a dining chair. He grabbed her hand and guided her toward the counter. Victoria nearly lost her balance and fell.
"Victoria?" he said, his eyes never leaving hers. "What's wrong?"
"Zoey…she's gone."
The concern left his face instantly, a scowl taking its place.
"Is that all?"
"What if she's dead? What if she's hurt? We got in a fight. Maybe she ran away."
"No big deal if she did."
She wasn't listening, and paced without realizing.
"No, she wouldn't do that. She wouldn't run away. It wasn't that bad of a fight. I was going to fix it. Goddamnit, Kevin, why couldn't you just be quiet?"
Jack grabbed her by the shoulders and slapped her across the face. It didn't hurt at all, but got her attention. She clutched his arms in return, steadying herself.
Damned and Cursed (Book 7): Four Centuries Page 20
