Page 4 of Risking Immortality

“Thank you. Is that why you pulled us over, to wish me a happy birthday?”

“Yes, actually, although you were pushing the limit back there.”

“Only a little,” I pout.

“Hm. Well, I’ll let you off this time,” she says before moving closer to me, so her mouth is just by my ear, “Only if you let me get you off later?”

My mother has taken a few steps away, seemingly interested in the ocean below us. “Are you going out tonight?”

“Maria invited me to your birthday bar crawl.”

“Then yes, I’d say there is a fine chance you will be getting me off.”

“Excellent,” she purrs and then bites my earlobe. “I’ll let you be on your way. Have a fun ride and please try to stick to the speed limit.” Her warning is soft but directed at both my mother and me. I’m not the only speed freak in the family.

We decide to turn back and head home. If it were up to me, I’d continue until we hit San Francisco, but alas, I have a birthday to get back to. The return journey is not as relaxing. All my thoughts turn to tonight’s festivities. Instead of having a fun night with my family, I’m going to be thrown in the middle of their meddling. Despite my repeated explanations that a match cannot be forced, they persist in their attempts to make it happen.

The house is a hive of activity when we pull up. Laurence and Marcus are playing with their children in the pool. Aliah, Maria and Lucille are sitting on the patio drinking, discussing which club we should go to first. Lucas and Jacob are in the kitchen cooking an early dinner for us all. My father is poring over papers laid out on the dining table. Considering they are in separate areas of the house; the Loch family makes a racket.

“Come on,” my mother urges. “Let’s go say hello.” She knows I want to go to the library and hide away amongst the books.

“Fine,” I mutter. I’ll have all the time in the world when I get home to read. Well, all the time that three hundred and sixty-five days provides. After that, my reading time will be the last thing on my mind.

Three

The limo ride to Insomnia is a loud affair. My siblings are known to go a little crazy, and tonight is no exception. Insomnia is the biggest club I own, spanning several floors. Maybe you can guess from the name that it operates until the sun rises. It’s been a few months since I have visited, mainly because Insomnia attracts hordes of humans.

The champagne is flowing and I’m happy to acquiesce. If I’m to survive tonight, I will need liquid courage. We all topped up on Red before we left the house. Red is how we refer to blood. Lucille is in fine form. Sadly, she left her husband at home to babysit. Trent is a lovely man, with whom I get along rather well. It baffles me as to why he finds Lucille attractive. Not physically, but emotionally. Her character is… well, I think he deserves better, but once again, it’s not my choice or theirs. They mated, and that’s that. He turns a blind eye to her revolving door of human bedmates. Trent loves Lucille and their son Benjamin. For him, that’s enough.

Lucas turned twenty-one last month, so this is his first official outing. I’d prefer to celebrate that than my birthday. He looks overly excited, which makes me smile. Lucas is a kind soul. I might be closest to Marcus, but Lucas is the one I think will resemble me, personality wise. He reads and writes. More often than not, when I call him, he is in his library. Lucas has yet to find a mate, but he has nearly a decade. I’m not worried.

Maybe I should be worried by the amount of alcohol he is consuming at an alarmingly fast rate. “Will you stop worrying?” Marcus laughs. “Tonight is about fun. Lucas will be fine, and so will you if you just let go a little.”

“He’s going to be ill if he doesn’t slow down.”

“So what? That’s his choice. Amelia, please try to enjoy tonight.”

“Easier said than done, Marcus, especially when you all start throwing me to the wolves.”

“Throwing you to the wolves?” Aliah laughs. “Amelia, women are not wolves.”

“Some bite.” I wink, causing everyone to laugh.

“Well, maybe that’s what you need. Anyway, yes, of course, we are going to be on the prowl, but I promise, the most important thing for all of us tonight is that you enjoy yourself and celebrate your birthday.”

“Fine, let’s party.” A loud cheer echoes through the limo. I can’t help but laugh. I love my family, even when they infuriate me.

The driver comes to a stop outside Insomnia. There is a line around the corner which makes me happy. Usually when I stop by my clubs and bars, I park around the back and discreetly enter that way. Not tonight, though. Oh, no, the Loch family have arrived in style.

I see patrons straining to get a look at the people in the obnoxiously large and flashy limousine. Our family is well known among humans. We have our hands in many things. I’m sure to them we are just entitled assholes. They aren’t privy to the centuries of work it took my parents to get us where we are today.

Lance the door man greets us enthusiastically. I like to think I treat the staff well. I know them all by name and I am aware of their personal lives. The majority of people who work in my clubs and bars are vampires. There are a few humans, too. I leave the managers to do the hiring and firing, unless I feel the need to intervene.

The club is thumping and I’m certain it’s almost to capacity. We deposit ourselves in the VIP section. There are bottles of champagne in metal buckets on the tables. Lucille is already opening one. She’s going to be trouble tonight; I can feel it.

In the distance, I see Claire, the club manager, making her way over. She is tall and slim with raven colored hair, similar to mine. Hers falls in waves though, whereas mine is pin straight. We’ve known each other for years, and when I opened Insomnia, she was the only option to run the place, in my eyes.

“Happy birthday, boss,” Claire laughs, pulling me in for an embrace.

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