Page 3 of Every Bite You Take
CHAPTER 2
DAMIEN
When I’d signed up for this gig on a cruise ship a few months ago, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but so far, so good. I slept during the day when I was essentially dead to the world—and technically at all other times as well since I’d been turned into a vampire—and performed as a musical entertainer at night. As part of the band Luna Blue Shadows, I played guitar and sang backup vocals of rock cover songs of crowd pleasers throughout the decades. At least this cruise line specifically catered to supernaturals like me, giving us more freedom to roam without having to worry about human Karens lashing out at anyone who wasn’t a carbon copy of them.
The shielded windows and blood options were a plus, making it easier to function here as a vampire. Although I’d learned how to find the more supernaturally friendly establishments through a worldwide network, I still didn’t want to let myself get so depleted that I’d be tempted to hunt.
I played a few songs on my acoustic guitar to start my night. It was my most beloved possession, one I’d kept back from my human life when I was a lost teenager, finding an outlet through music. I’d carried it with me after I was turned in my mid-twenties and played in clubs in New Orleans before moving up to Nashville.
Floundering. Both as a human and a vampire. It had been a full decade now and I still wasn’t used to my new life as the undead, saddled with the constant awareness of blood and hunger.
The notification on my phone buzzed. Time for me to head upstairs to prepare for the evening’s performance. With the new set of passengers embarking today, we’d start with a set of fan favorites to set an upbeat mood.
Heading over to my mini-fridge, I took a gulp from a blood bag and shoved it into my pocket. I typically had a full meal after my set at the crew bar, but I liked to have a bag on me—especially when I was around humans. Not that we’d have many on this ship, but there were always some fang-or-fur bangers on every cruise who came for a good time.
Once the sun fully set, I stepped out on the promenade deck for some fresh air after being cooped up inside all day. The scent of the salty ocean floated up while the lights of Seattle receded in the distance. In the opposite direction, I spotted a familiar face—a feline shifter with a sultry voice who sang in the piano lounge. She had earbuds in as she walked.
“Hey, Bria,” I greeted her. “Getting your steps in?”
“Indeed.” She paused both her quick stride and whatever she was listening to on her phone. “I got a new dress and it’s extra slinky.”
I nodded. “You look fantastic, as always,” I complimented her. She could be vain about her looks. We’d had a brief fling when I’d joined the crew a few months ago, but it quickly fizzled out. We didn’t connect beyond a physical level. That seemed a common bane for vampires—longing for connection while avoiding it. Why get close to anyone when you’d outlive them?
I finished a lap and headed to the Nocturnal Lounge, hearing the echo of drums enhanced by enchanted crystals in the walls. Caleb Steele, our drummer and a gargoyle shifter, pounded away on his drum set. He appeared in gargoyle form, a mass of gray skin and bulging muscles, something he wouldn’t have been able to do in public. But on this ship, we were encouraged to express our true nature as supernaturals and not hide among humans. It helped passengers to relax and be themselves.
“Hey, Steele.” I gave him a chin nod and headed over to my guitar on the small stage.
He grunted a greeting back at me, true to his stoic form, and returned to sound check.
A few minutes later, Van Tyrian, our lead singer, sauntered in. “Greetings, lads.” A jaguar shifter, Van sauntered just about everywhere he went—never in a hurry as he moved. His long blond hair stood out against his black clothing. He had a heavy metal vibe with Chris Cornell’s velvety voice and Jim Morrison’s sex appeal. The ladies loved him—and he loved them back.
When our bassist, a selkie shifter named Angus Moore, arrived for practice fifteen minutes later, Caleb grumbled, “Late as usual. Did you get lost swimming in circles again?”
Angus tossed his blue-white hair over his shoulder and shot daggers from his silvery eyes. “Stuff a stone in it, rock head. Some of us have a life outside of brooding in the shadows.”
Tension between the two of them had grown in the last few weeks, putting Van and me in the middle to try to defuse it. Life in a band. And for this one, we were stuck on a floating ship together with minimal opportunities to escape.
Van sighed dramatically. “Boys, boys. Let’s save the playground insults for recess, shall we?”
“We have a show to perform tonight,” I added, clapping my hands together. “Let’s get to it.”
We practiced to ensure our set was solid, then took a short break before the lounge opened to guests. Seats were set in a semi-circle in the bar area with polished wood and framed photos of entertaining legends over the years. We returned to the stage while the crowd milled in. The scent of different types of supernaturals reached me—shifters, fae, witches, vampires, and even some humans. I was glad I’d packed that blood bag inside my pocket.
“Welcome onboard the Moonlight Siren,” Van greeted them. “Do we have any classic rock fans here tonight?”
Many yesses and hollers of agreement followed.
“Good. Because we’re gonna give you a taste of the fun we’ll have all week.”
We launched into the Rolling Stones “Symphony for the Devil.” I strummed my guitar while Van strutted around at the front of the stage, no doubt taking stock of the women in attendance.
All was going well. It was just a typical night untilshewalked in.
She had striking amethyst hair that caught the overhead lights and stood out against her black top. Something about her mesmerized me. What was it? Her energy? I’d never experienced anything like that before—my world seemed to tilt off balance before being righted again.
From that moment, I couldn’t keep my eyes off this woman. She went to the bar with Piper, a witch who worked art auctions and interacted with guests to ensure they’d have a fantastic cruise.
The woman caught my eye. For a pounding second, everything around me faded—the sound of my playing sounded distorted, as if we were in the ocean.
