Vampire Lane (20 page)

“Now, Krispin, you know better than that—all ancients were traditionalists originally. The real question is if I progressed with society. Yes, I progressed. I hated living in the shadows, and I wanted a normal life.”

“And now you are mated to a werewolf?”

“Yes, not that his species matters.”

“It does not, just so I have accurate records. You are unique. I do not know of many vampire, werewolf hybrid couples.”

“Well, it’s not encouraged, so it is not well known that it
can
happen.”

“So just to be clear, you are not a traditionalist.”

Sally listened to Krispin’s questions. She could tell he was digging for something. She decided to just answer his questions and see where it would go. “I lived as I was forced to live in the beginning, but I am now living as any human with minor differences.”

“Do you believe in the traditional philosophy?”

“I think we can all live as we choose, as long as we do not harm others. Traditionalists routinely kill humans, so no I do not agree with that philosophy.”

“Well, I thank you, Sally. It seems my database will be full of wonderful details. You must come back to New Orleans again soon. This time with that husband of yours.”

“Yes, I will do that.”

Sally had a bad feeling. She knew what this was about, and she would need to find Tanek. If what she suspected was happening, Krispin was a dangerous man with a dangerous plan.

Chapter 41

Natasha really wanted to get back to work, but with Sally meeting Krispin, she had to stay with Maureen. It was only 2:00 a.m. Natasha wanted so badly to get back to work. Tanek brought some work for her to do from home, but it just wasn’t the same, and now with the live bands playing at
Bite Me
, she just wanted to get out and be with people again. The alarm that Sally set went off. She knew it was time for Maureen to get more blood. She went down the stairs with another blood bag. Maureen sat up with a magazine on her makeshift bed on the floor, and she smiled up at Natasha.

“Hey Tasha, I’m not as hungry anymore. Can I please move upstairs now? It is so boring down here.”

“You know what, why don’t I take this IV out and we go out for a bit?”

“Really?” Sally said. “I would need to practice on a goat first.”

Natasha couldn’t help but make the most vile face. “Now that’s just nasty. Let’s get you a hot donor and do some dancing. We deserve it after everything that has happened.”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Maureen jumped up, and tore out the IV and ran out the room. Natasha ran after her. She caught up to her in her bedroom, rummaging through her closet and looking for something to wear. She stripped down to her bra and panties and tried on a cut mini dress. Maureen looked into the mirror and was disappointed to see it was now a size too big.

“Tasha, it’s too big. Why is it too big?” Maureen looked in her full length mirror.

“Your body is now vampire; you are now the optimum health for your body, a perfect proportion of fat and muscle.”

Maureen looked at her figure in the mirror, and then noticed her breasts. She looked under her bra and gasped. “Oh, hell no! My boobs shrunk. Tasha, help! What can I do?”

“Um, nothing. Get a padded bra and live with it.”

Natasha watched Maureen as her fangs came down. She saw them in the mirror and covered her mouth. “Tasha, help. How do I make them go back?”

“Just relax, close your eyes, and breathe.”

Maureen sat on the bed, and she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her fangs finally retracted. She opened her mouth and felt for them. “Thank you, Tasha. I do not know how to control them quite yet.”

“It comes with time. My sire thought nothing of killing humans, so he never taught me. Eventually I learned on my own.”

Maureen stood up and wrapped her arm around Natasha. “Promise we will be friends forever.”

“Of course, silly, especially now that you are a vampire. Friends till the end!”

Maureen’s face turned sullen as she hugged Natasha “Sally asked me something, and I am not sure what to do. She said I need a sire. She volunteered to take me with her to Detroit. I do not want to leave, but I need a sire.”

Natasha knew, as much she loved Maureen, she needed the direction of a good sire, and Sally would be excellent. “I would miss you, but you could go. It wouldn’t be forever.”

“Couldn’t you teach me?”

As much as Natasha would love to, she herself still had things to learn. “I can’t, Maureen. I don’t even tolerate the sun. I am a sad excuse for a vampire, not sire material. You deserve so much better, someone who will teach you the right way to do things. I wish I was that vampire, but I’m just not.” Natasha finished speaking, and she never felt so rotten in her entire life. Maureen was her best friend and she couldn’t help her.

Maureen looked sad. She wished there was a way to keep Maureen with her and get her a good sire to teach her everything she needed to know.

Natasha reached into the back of Maureen’s closet, and she pulled out a gorgeous dress with a tag still attached. It was a beautiful violet, V-neck mini dress. “Look, Maureen, I bet this will fit.”

Maureen perked up and snatched it. She slipped it over her head and zipped it up. She ran over to the full length mirror excitedly, doing twirls. “It fits! Take that, starvation diet.”

Natasha smiled, and left her to finish getting ready. She walked into her own room, and she pulled out a plain black wrap dress and pulled it on. She paired it with black, thigh high boots. Her hair was pulled up, and then she was ready to go.

“Ready Tasha?” Maureen asked, doing more twirls and sucking down a bottle of orange flavored blood.

“As ready as I will ever be. Do you want more before we leave? We will be around a lot of humans. I don’t want you to be tempted.”

“No, I’m stuffed, but I will keep a bottle in my purse for emergencies.”

“Good plan. And I just want to say we are two very hot vampires.”

Maureen giggled. “We are. I can’t wait to hear the band.”

Natasha took Maureen by the hand. She left the house then had a terrible realization. No car! It was left at the abandoned house.

“Shit!”

“Oh shit is right, we have no ride.”

Natasha was about ready to give up—maybe a night out was just not meant to happen—when a miracle of miracles happened, a car pulled up and Laya got out and smiled.

“Where are you two headed all dressed up?”

“We wanted to go to
Bite Me
to see the band, maybe do a little dancing, but I forgot I’m without a car tonight.”

“Well, let’s go then. I’m not as dressed up as you, two but who the hell cares. Get your vamp booties in the car and let’s go.”

Before Natasha would let Maureen get in the car with Laya, she pulled her aside. “I’m starting to think maybe this is a bad idea.”

“Come on, Tasha. I have you, and Tanek will be there. I know I can control myself.”

Finally, Natasha relented. “Fine, but if you feel out of control, you need to tell me. If you bite Laya, I will hurt you, best friend or not.”

Maureen nodded, and Natasha got into the back seat with her, deciding she needed to be right next to her just in case. The idea of a night sounded good at first, but now that they were on the way, Natasha had a bad feeling.

“So you want to go to see the band playing at
Bite Me
?” Laya asked.

“Yeah, Tanek finally decided to try some live music.”

“I have to say, Maureen: you were always a cutie pie, but now you are just stunning as a vampire.”

“Thanks, Laya. I also have to say, you smell delicious.”

Natasha smacked Maureen. “You can’t say that to people, it makes them scared and nervous.”

“Sorry, Laya, that perfume is nice, too.”

“Better,” Natasha added, encouraging.

A few minutes later, they arrived at the bar. Rather than deal with parking, Laya decided to Valet park. They all got out of the car and handed over the car keys. Immediately, Natasha could hear the music. It made her want to dance. It was great; she loved the atmosphere. They passed over the regular line, and were given the full VIP treatment. Being the fiancée of the owner had its perks.

Chapter 42

Sally said goodnight to Krispin. But before she could head back, she needed to tell Tanek what she thought. She found her way to the bar and got the attention of the bartender with a name tag that said Josh.

“Can I get you something?” Josh asked.

“I need to speak with Tanek; he’s on old friend.”

“Sure thing.” He reached for a phone and spoke into it then hung up. “Boss says you can go back, down that hall on the left.”

Sally thanked him and went into the direction he indicated. She found the door that she figured must be his and knocked.

“Come in, Sally.”

Sally opened the door and saw Tanek sitting at his desk with his suit jacket thrown in the corner. She sat on the empty chair. “I just had an interesting meeting with Krispin,” Sally began. “I think he may be planning something bad.”

“Oh?”

“He was asking me all kinds of questions, and then asked me about being a traditionalist. I think he’s looking for an ancient to start something big.”

“Crap!”

“I think he was behind the thing with Godfryd. I’ve seen others try the exact same thing in the past. A younger vamp trying to use an ancient to grab power.”

“I’m not sure what to do, Sally. We need to go above Krispin, but I’m not sure who to contact.”

Sally smiled. “This is where I can help. I will contact Connor. He can make a report to the council directly. Hopefully, they can do something about it.”

“Thank you, Sally. Now I know I can’t trust him. Are you going back to the house?”

“Yeah, I was on my way out.”

“Let me walk with you.”

***

Natasha and Maureen walked to the vampire section right away. Maureen was almost giddy at getting to bite someone. Laya ran off to get drinks, and then she would meet them at one of the tables. Natasha and Maureen looked at the donors available. Natasha pointed to one, and he immediately rushed over with a big smile on his face. He was a bigger guy, but Natasha thought he was a good choice. A bigger guy would be best in case Maureen got carried away. Natasha walked over to where the private rooms for feeding were lined. She found an empty one and went inside, followed by Maureen and the donor. It was a small cozy room, but it was big enough for the purpose.

“So, will I be feeding both of you at the same time?” he asked.

“No, you are for my friend, Maureen. She is new.”

“Oh, I see. I am Kelvin. It is nice to meet you, Maureen,” he said politely.

The man was so clean cut, wore a nice suit, and she could tell he had some muscle underneath. He had youthful hazel eyes. Natasha could tell Maureen really liked what she saw. “Could you take off the shirt, Kelvin? I don’t want you to get blood on your nice white shirt. Newbies can be messy. I’m sure you know how it is.”

“Yes, no problem,” he said, taking off his suit coat, tie, and then shirt. He neatly folded each item and put it on an unoccupied chair.

“Maureen, look at his neck. Now concentrate on his heart beat, now get closer until you smell blood.”

Maureen did as she was told and her fangs popped out. She hugged him and ran her nose along his neck.

“Now lick his neck, the vampire saliva helps in targeting the vein. Are you ready, Maureen?”

Maureen did not answer. She bit down and started drinking. Natasha worried Maureen seemed to be drinking much too quickly. “That’s enough, Maureen. Release him and lick the wound.”

Maureen did not let go, she kept on drinking. Natasha did not know what to do. She knew she had to get her to let him go, but did not know how. She quickly grabbed the tie from the pile of clothes. She then used it and put it around her neck and pulled. Maureen screamed and let go of Kelvin. She hissed, blood still dripping from her mouth.

“Maureen, look at me!”

Maureen looked up, but blood hunger was too strong. She was out of her mind. Natasha was panicking. She was just about to run out and get help when the curtain moved aside and Tanek and Sally stood there.

“Tanek!”

“Natasha, what is going on here?”

“I brought Maureen to get some food and to go dancing.”

Sally ignored everyone and rushed over to Maureen. Sally took her face into her hands and stared into her eyes. “Calming, time to be calm. Concentrate; you must control your impulses.”

Natasha watched Maureen instantly calm down. Her fangs retracted.

“Tasha, I’m scared,” Maureen muttered.

Natasha took Maureen and rushed her out of the room. They both ran, and then Natasha felt fresh air on her face. Natasha could see Maureen was upset. She knew she had to just get her home and forget this whole night.