Page 13 of Discovery of the Vampire
"I can't wait to meet him."
I spent the rest of the day shadowing Lizzy as she took care of the customers that trickled in, then she introduced me to her sweetperro, Wiggles, who only grumbled at me a little bit until he sniffed at me for the required amount of time to determine I didn't mean either of them any harm. I made a mental note to bring him some treats the next time I came in. Shortly after, I was sent home for the night and told to be back in the morning a few minutes before the store opened.
All in all, it was a good day. And it was nice to pretend, at least for a little while, that this normal type of existence was my life.
* * *
I bolted upright in bed, my heart frantically trying to escape my ribcage as cold sweat trickled down my spine. The dream that had woken me crept along the edges of my consciousness like a sinister shadow, haunting me.
I struggled to catch my breath, my fingers clutching at the tangled sheets as recent memories of my last night in Mexico flooded back, vivid and raw. The screams of my family, the acrid smell of smoke, the malevolent laughter that still echoed in my nightmares. A shudder wracked my bones as I shook off the last remnants of my dream, and I quickly swiped the tears from my cheeks.
I'd watched my family burn, knowing I couldn't save them, and I would never forget the terror of that night for the rest of my life.
And now the one who murdered them was here, in this city.
Throwing off the covers, I stumbled to the window, my heart racing as I pressed my forehead against the cool glass. The narrow street below lay deserted, shrouded in an eerie silence that felt almost suffocating. Even in the stillness, I could sense the djinn's oppressive power radiating through the city like a disease, infecting everything in its path with its rot. A dark presence that wrapped around my chest until I couldn't breathe.
I backed away from the window as I fought to take air into my lungs. I never should've stayed here as long as I had. I should've kept going until there was an ocean between us and searched for help somewhere else. But I’d never been here before, and once I’d arrived and felt so much magic around me…well…I’d hoped to find someone or something who would help me defeat him so I wouldn'thaveto run anymore. So I could get closure for the deaths of my family.
I thought I’d have more time…
But now it was too late to run again. He would know I was here soon enough, if he didn't already. And I couldn't fight him alone. I wasn'testúpido. I would need help. But it was too soon. I wasn't ready.
I quickly used the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and gathered my long hair back into a low ponytail before applying my favorite red lipstick that made me feel both extremely powerful and unequivocally feminine. Then I threw on a pair of black jeans and a red blouse, my fingers fumbling with the buttons as adrenaline surged through my veins. I slipped my feet into black flats, grabbed my leather jacket and my grandmother's silver pendant—a small but potent talisman against evil that I always had on my person—and raced out the door.
I acted without thinking, going on instinct alone.
The night air was cool against my flushed skin as I hurried through the narrow cobblestone streets of the French Quarter. Music and laughter spilled from the open doors of bars and clubs as I passed, but I barely registered the sounds. My mind focused solely on my destination.
I rounded the corner, and The Purple Fang came into view, the brick exterior pulsing with the same energy that had drawn me to it the first time. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the heavy black door.
Inside, the club was a kaleidoscope of purple neon lights and writhing bodies. The bass thumped through the floor, vibrating up my spine as I scanned the room. And there, through the haze of smoke and sweat, I saw him.
Brogan.
As if sensing my presence, his piercing gaze locked with mine, and a shiver ran through me that had nothing to do with fear.
With my heart in my throat, I wove through the crowd, not questioning the reason I'd run to him.
I knew exactly why.
5
ESME
After pinning me in place with his bright green stare, Brogan had studiously ignored for the rest of his performance. I watched him for a while, knowing his shift would end soon. And as soon as he left the stage, I ducked out the back door and waited in the alley, avoiding the puddles from the rain that had fallen earlier today as I nervously paced back and forth, determined to catch him before he could slip away.
The simple truth was, I didn't want to be alone. And Brogan—whoever or whatever he was—made me feel a little bit safer when I was around him.
It wasn't a logical thing, thinking one male alone could save me from a force as powerful as the djinn who had murdered my family. My rational mind knew better, but I wasn't being logical right now. Fear and loneliness had stripped away my usual careful reasoning, leaving me feeling raw and vulnerable. I was just a woman alone in a city that was no longer the refuge it was yesterday, desperately seeking any port in the storm. And even though I'd only known him for a short time, Brogan was that person for me.
As I’d predicted, the back door of the club suddenly burst open, and out came the man I was waiting for. He looked disheveled, his shirt unbuttoned and his boots unlaced. He was clearly in a hurry to leave, and I couldn't help but feel hurt at his attempt to sneak away.
"Not hanging around tonight, Brogan?" I asked, forcing myself to sound unaffected. Amused, even.
He jumped, looking genuinely startled. "Jesus fucking Christ!" he exclaimed.
I couldn't help but laugh at the look on his face. It wasn't often that I got the upper hand with him, and I savored the moment.
