Page 47 of Brimstone Bound
She frowned, obviously trying to place me, then she shrugged and giggled. ‘I’ve had way too much to drink,’ she confided.
I laughed lightly. ‘That makes two of us.’ I leaned my head in towards hers. ‘But I heard that the vamps like it when we’re drunk. It makes our blood taste better and gives them more of a rush.’
‘Have you been bitten before?’ she asked in a loud whisper.
I winked. ‘I’m a vampire virgin.’
The woman beamed. ‘Me too!’
‘I want tonight to be my first time.’
‘Me too!’
‘But I want it to be a good vampire.’
‘Me too!’
I was beginning to think I’d chosen the wrong person to attach myself to. I’d need more than agreement to get the information I needed. ‘You know,’ I said, ‘I want to find the sort of vampire who’s quite high up. One with a lot of power. Someone,’ I lowered my voice, ‘who’s in the inner circle.’
‘Me too!’
Damn it. ‘Where are we heading to now?’ I persisted. ‘Is it somewhere with the right kind of vamp?’
‘We’re going to Heart, silly.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Didn’t you know?’
I was about to mumble a reply, but she continued speaking. ‘All the best vamps hang out there.’ Her eyes widened. ‘And that often includes Lord Horvath.’
I exhaled. Praise be.
One of the other women turned round. She jigged up and down, although I wasn’t sure whether it was from excitement or the cold. ‘Word’s come down that Horvath has just shown up. He’s inside Heart right now.’
‘Do you think he’ll bite one of us?’ my companion asked eagerly.
I grinned at her. ‘Why wouldn’t he? We’re a tasty bunch.’
‘We have to get into Heart first. They don’t let just anyone through the door.’
All the more reason to stick close to these ladies and slide in with them.
‘Piece of cake,’ I told her, exuding all the confidence I could muster. If there was one thing I’d already learned, the vampires’ quarter wasn’t for the shy and retiring.
We rounded the corner. High above the street was a flashing, heart-shaped neon sign. Not a love heart: this was an anatomically-correct heart. I swallowed and looked at the long queue snaking outside. Maybe sneaking in was a mistake. Perhaps I should mimic what had worked at the Fairfax’s place, march to the front and demand admittance. The last thing I wanted was to wait around for hours and then be turned away.
I needn’t have worried. My group of women were glitzy enough and loud enough to attract the attention of one of the bouncers. He was more slender than a wolf, but he had even more of a dangerous edge as he sauntered over and looked us up and down.
The blonde next to me pressed the palms of her hands together in mock prayer while one of her friends offered him a saucy wink.
‘Go on, then,’ he said. ‘You guys can get in.’
There were several squeals from the group – and several groans from the other people waiting. I exhaled with relief and made sure that I kept close as we tripped past the queue and headed inside.
‘All phones and cameras have to be checked in,’ intoned a second vamp. He pointed to a desk, behind which lay a mind-boggling number of stacked lockers. It was just as well I’d not brought my crossbow; if they were this pernickety about phones, they certainly wouldn’t look kindly on lethal weapons.
I indicated to the vamp that I had nothing on me. He looked at me suspiciously, as if he were sure I was lying. Unwilling to lose ground now that I’d come this far, I gestured towards my body with what I hoped was a sexy smirk. ‘You can search me if you want.’
He grunted. ‘I’m on the job. Maybe another night.’
Trying not to look relieved, I winked at him. Then I ducked past my new women friends and pushed open the swing doors leading to the club’s interior.
