Page 88 of Those That Don't Exist
AURORA
The streets are heaving with people. It’s the early hours but the clubs would be serving for another hour or so. Party goers in various stages of inebriation walk the streets as they hop from bar to bar.
I’d slowed my pace so I wouldn’t draw attention. Although a little wrinkled, the outfit I still wore at least blended in enough I didn’t look out of place.
I also pulled on my magic to give myself luscious blonde ringlets and a deeper tan to my skin. It would give me enough disguise that if any members of the pack were around, they wouldn’t recognise me.
I didn’t know what most of them looked like so I flinched anytime a guy got too close or looked at me for longer than a passing glance. The paranoia quickly gets to me, so I duck down another path towards one of the clubs.
It’s a side entrance, and thankfully not busy. There’s only one group in front of me and they’re being loud and rowdy as the bouncer demands their ID’s. I manage to slip inside unchecked, sticking to the shadows surrounding the doorway.
Once inside I breathe a deep sigh, allowing myself a moment to recollect my thoughts. It’s darker in here, easier to hide. More focused, I make my way to the edge of the dancefloor.
I need to get home. I would be safe there and could plan what in the hell I was going to do next.
I already knew I would be coming clean to Bree and Claire. I’d held this secret from them for too long and they would be able to help. If the pack was indeed after me they would ensure I was never alone.
Maybe I could try to bargain with Adicious. Being what they needed must give me some negotiating power. I would be able to stay in the city after graduating, attend their meetings if needed. From what they’d done to Ty I wouldn’t be joining them, but maybe a figurehead position would be enough for them to leave me mostly alone.
Ty…
It's pathetic but I have no control over the way my heart already beats with a longing to be in his vicinity again.
I’ll get over it. He won’t risk staying in the city. Once he knows I’m gone I’m sure he’ll realise I played him right back and will be on the next boat out of here.
I’ve been slowly drawn into the middle of the dancing crowd. I need to make my way across to the other side anyway, as I plan to use the other entrance to leave, so I start purposefully shifting my way through the sweaty bodies.
A hand lands on my waist causing me to spin into the hard chest of a man who towers over me. For a second I think either Ty or a member of the pack has caught me, but a quick inhale tells me he’s fully human. I might not be able to distinguish blood type yet but I can tell he doesn’t have magic in his veins.
I relax against him, which he seems to take as me accepting his rather forward advance. His other hand lands on my other hip and he dips his head.
“Want to dance?” he shouts too loud into my more sensitive hearing. Considering his hands are already on me I’m surprised the line isn’t something vulgar, or some totally cheesy pickup line. I go to pull back out of his hold as I shake my head and he thankfully lets go. I duck through the crowd thanking the gods he doesn’t follow.
I almost make it to the other side of the space and out of the crowd when another guy steps into my path. This time I’m not so lucky.
“I hope you’re not leaving,” new guy says without bending towards my ear. Either he’s not human or assumes I’m not. A quick inhale confirms he has a little Fae in his blood. “You’ve not given me a dance yet,” he continues. My eyes roll.
“No thanks.” I raise my own voice to ensure he hears but instead of letting me pass he grabs my wrist, pulling me back to the dancefloor.
“Come on, the night is young,” he slurs as he pulls me against his chest. I inhale, ready to push him off me when more of his scent hits my nostrils. It's sweet, rich and so delicious my mouth immediately waters.
Panic rises in me, a burning taking hold in my throat. In the seconds I’ve been distracted, he steps closer, aligning our bodies further. I daren’t shove him away. If I put my hands on him I fear what I might do. He’s utterly mouthwatering, my fangs are already extended.
Somehow my arms wind their way up his body and around his neck. My left thumb combs down the side of his throat, I can feel his pulse underneath the pad. I can’t stop staring at the delicate skin on his neck.
The male clearly has no idea what has him in their grasp. He continues to grind us to the music, pressing even closer. With our slight height difference my mouth is right next to his jaw, I could tilt my head down and sink myself into the veins sittinginches from my fangs. Fuzzy images of doing this at the gala sweep across my mind.
Maybe I should take advantage of this situation. Now I’m on my own, I don’t know where my next blood meal is coming from. I don’t know how to get the blood packets. I know the pack steals them but I have no idea how to break into a hospital. The monster in my head preens as I make the decision to drink from this man.
I release my mind further, allowing the predator to take over. I’m still aware enough that I know I shouldn’t do this here, in case it goes wrong. His triumphant smile feeds my hunger as I start dancing with him in earnest, plotting to make him succumb to me so I can get him outside, alone.
CHAPTER 33
TY
There’s so many people it's hard to single out any one scent but I’m a determined mother fucker. Striding down the main strip of bars I catch something, pausing so suddenly the person behind me doesn’t see me stop and crashes into me.
I growl at the drunken idiot, shoving them on their merry way as I inhale again. It’s a whisper of her, deep and earthy. I follow it down a side alley where there’s a back entrance to one of the clubs.Why would she go in there? To hide?
