Page 2 of Eternally Owned

Her heart lurched as the gate opened, and she stepped through and into another world altogether.

Immediately, the air seemed to clear of the ever-present London gloom, even to smell better, which was impossible, of course. But she was there, through the gate and walking up to the heavy iron doors, her boot heels ringing in her ears.

She was asked for her ID once more at the doors by another leather-clad bouncer, then she was ushered through, into a dark foyer lit only by red neon lights. There, an exquisite young woman in a short, tight leather dress palmed her identification card and silently helped her out of her coat, turning to take it away.

“Wait.” Nissa reached out and grabbed the girl’s shoulder. “Where are you taking my things?”

“You won’t need them here—everything you could ever need is inside. Everything, and things you’ve never imagined. Don’t worry, you’ll have your belongings back when you leave. If you do.”

The girl smiled, but Nissa understood she wasn’t joking.

She clenched her teeth. She hated to lose sight of her stunstick, even though she’d been told in advance that no weapons were allowed inside the club, but she’d been taking care of herself long enough that she felt naked without it.

Another woman approached, dressed as the first and every bit as beautiful. “I’ll take you to your sponsor.”

Nissa followed her through a pair of heavy velvet drapes that hid another iron door. On it was the dragon’s head, the insignia of the Midnight Playground, teeth bared, long tongue snaking out. The eyes were set with fiery red stones that caught bits of light, dazzling her vision for a moment. There was a cool draft of air as the curtain was pushed aside, then there was nothing but a slow, pulsing heat as the light shifted from red to gold in a sort of anteroom off the main club floor. Through another arched and curtained doorway Nissa could hear the primal beat of the music playing inside, enticing her, teasing her, an invitation to all she’d ever wanted. Her heart was racing, her palms growing damp.

Ilana was suddenly at her side in a faint cloud of perfume. She smelled like smoke and flowers and sex.

“There you are, Nissa. Excited?”

“Yes, absolutely.”

“Nervous?”

“Yes. Equally that.”

“You should be.”

Her friend was taller than she was by several inches, a willowy blonde whose narrow face was softened by a tousled head of wavy hair and enormous blue eyes. They’d met two years earlier in an online group of people who yearned to enter the vampire clubs. They’d quickly identified each other as those few who were truly serious about it, as opposed to those who played with the idea of having sex with vampires, of giving in to the Seeking Kiss, that sexual drinking of blood offered to a fortunate few. It was given only to the beautiful, the young, and those of a certain intelligence. When Ilana gained entrance a year ago, Nissa had been envious, making her feel farther from her goal than ever, yet somehow also understanding that it was actually possible. Agonizing. And now, wonderful beyond imagining.

“I still can’t quite believe I’m here,” she confided to her friend. “Ilana, thank you for making this happen.”

She shrugged. “I didn’t do much. They liked the way you answered your profile questions. And your pictures, of course. They wouldn’t have chosen you simply on my recommendation. All a sponsor can do is vouch for how seriously you take this, how much you want it. And you want it as much as anyone I’ve ever met, even the humans here at the club. You’re meant for this, Nissa.” Ilana gave a small frown. “Probably more than I am myself.”

She stood back, her blue gaze taking Nissa in from head to toe. It was a bit intimidating—Ilana was always a bit intimidating. She was elegant, cool, a little detached, almost as if she were a vampire already. But she hadn’t taken the Turning Kiss yet, or it hadn’t been offered to her. Nissa had never asked. It was far too personal a question, and the stakes too high, especially with them both facing their thirtieth birthdays. That was something those who had sworn to be one ofthemsomeday never spoke of.

“Do I look all right, Ilana?”

Nissa ran her hands over the short, tight silver skirt barely grazing the tops of her thighs, where her high black boots nearly met the hem, her black latex shirt with the buckles running from elbow to wrist. She’d spent a week’s wages on it from her job as a barmaid. Didn’t matter. All that mattered was that she was here, that she looked good enough, that she be invited to stay. And eventually, to become one of them.

“You look great. Adore the boots, and the whole outfit. Well done. And your hair is perfect, long and loose, just as they like it.” Ilana reached out, touching the tips of Nissa’s hair, twisting it between her fingers. “Black as midnight, smooth as silk.” Ilana smiled at her. “They’re going to fucking love you. They’re going to eat you up.”

A shiver ran through Nissa’s body, a small frisson of energy that seemed to light up her skin. She felt as if she were hyperaware of everything around her, of her own heartbeat, even the aura of excitement emanating from Ilana that matched her own, despite her friend’s outer composure. And the beginnings of a faint, warm pulse between her thighs at what was to come, what she was about to see.

“All right, Nissa, we’ve been over the rules,” Ilana said. “You know the vampires are without disease, and they certainly can’t get you pregnant, so there’s no need for protection, is there? But other than that, anything and everything can and will happen in the club. You can watch whatever you like, if it’s done publicly, but don’t approach any group without being invited, or any individual unless they’re human.”

“How will I know for certain?”

“You’ll know. It’s unmistakable.” Nissa nodded.

“And if you’re offered a Kiss, the Seeking Kiss,” Ilana went on, laying a hand on her arm and catching and holding her gaze, “don’t turn it down unless you intend never to come back.”

“I won’t. I am as serious about this as you are, Ilana, you know that.”

Ilana gave her a wry smile. “Some people find they’ve bitten off more than they can chew when faced with the reality of a vampire coming at their neck.”

“That won’t happen to me.”

---