Page 4 of Eternally Owned

“Yes, I know. And I never get drunk—I don’t like feeling out of control. Just something to take the edge off, but only the barest bit. I’m rather liking the edge in this place. I want to feel everything.”

Ilana smiled at her. “I thought you might. There is a certain thrill simply being here. It’s like nothing else in the world.”

Nissa smiled back. “I didn’t want it to be.”

“That’s why you’re here, why you’ve been accepted. They always know who can really handle this, and who can’t. I’m told they’ve never made that sort of mistake.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. They seem… all-knowing. But then, I suppose you learn an awful lot in a hundred years, in three-hundred years.”

“Yes, but it’s more than that, of course. They’re different, super-human in ways I don’t think we can even comprehend until we become one of them.” Ilana gave a small shiver.

“You want that very much, don’t you?” Nissa asked.

“Of course. Don’t you? Don’t we all, all of us humans in this place?”

“I don’t understand how anyone wouldn’t want this. I’m so ready to get started.”

“Let’s get you that drink, then. You’ll need to get yourself pulled together before he comes over to talk to you.”

Ilana turned and ordered Nissa’s scotch and a vodka for herself. Nissa lifted her drink and sipped, her gaze wandering around the room. It was frankly thrilling as hell when she spotted a vampire among the humans, and after a few minutes, impossible not to recognize them immediately. They were the most beautiful creatures she had ever seen, every single one of them, although they came in every form. But all of them had that same flawless, gleaming skin like polished marble, eyes sparkling like jewels, with the most enormous pupils. The way they moved, with absolute grace, as though their limbs were made of liquid, was like a dance in itself. And that aura of power they seemed to wear like a halo was intoxicating, even from a distance.

“Nissa?”

“What? Sorry. Were you saying something?”

“I asked if you’re done with your drink.”

“Oh, yes, sure. I’m finished.” She swallowed the last bit of amber liquid and set her empty glass on the long polished bar. “What now?”

“Do you need me to go over anything else with you? How this works?”

“We’ve already discussed it all, haven’t we?”

They had talked at length, and Nissa had read over and over again the material that had been dropped at her flat by courier—a courier, for God’s sake, in these times. She knew all about the club itself, how the vampires had taken over the old theatre fifteen years earlier when the London culture could no longer support live theatre. She knew that those who entered Midnight Playground clubs were offering themselves as servants, sexual partners without limit. She knew about the Seeking Kiss, in which they would drink from her during sex, or while dancing, or possibly at any time while she was the club. And if she were very lucky, one would offer her the Turning Kiss, the ultimate gift of eternity.

She shivered, a long shimmering undulation of desire working its way up her spine.

“I’m afraid I have a date,” Ilana went on, “so I’ll have to leave you on your own now.”

“He’s gone,” she murmured, looking for the dark, beautiful vampire who’d had his eyes on her. “But I expected you’d wander off at some point. I’ll be fine.”

She always was. But she couldn’t deny the nerves trembling in her stomach, making her neck hot and tight.

“He’ll be back for you. Or he’ll beckon you. Either way, you won’t be alone for long. Meanwhile, if you go through the doors at the back of the auditorium you’ll find a handful of small, semi-private rooms with tables and booths, for drinking, eating, talking. On the next floor up are the sex rooms. You’re welcome to watch if a curtain is open. If it’s closed, walk on. You’ll find a large, central room for more public displays, and on the top floor is the dungeon, if you’re ready for that.”

Nissa’s heart sped up, knocking in her veins like a hammer. “I’m ready for anything.”

“You’ll be all right?”

“Ilana, I am here because I wanted this. All of it. To meet them, to become one of them. And to be touched by them. To have them drink from me. I understand perfectly what I am getting myself into. I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t been well educated as to what goes on in this place. I want this. I’ve waited so long, and I’m dying to get started frankly. Trust me, there is no overload for me.”

Ilana smiled once more. “Ah, they really will love you.”

“I hope so.”

“All right, love. I’ll ring you in a few days. Don’t expect to see me again tonight.”

Nissa smiled, nodded.

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