Page 82 of My Road Trip with a Vampire: Season One
A silver-haired vampire hisses when I bump into her. I recoil, and she smiles down at me.
“Pretty little thing,” she coos, her nostrils flaring. “But you didn’t come alone, did you?”
“No.”
“Hmm. Cute. But not worth the trouble I’d catch fromhim.”
I’m more than happy to escape when I see how sharp her fangs are. I move through the overwhelming crowd, working to keep my breath steady and my heart rate even. The music is too loud, making my head pound with every step. I want to find a quiet space where there aren’t so many curious eyes on me.
I pass a room with clear walls. There’s a tall male vampire with two women bent over a table, splayed out for the spectators gathered around. I keep moving until I pass a row of doors—private rooms, I assume. They all haveDo Not Disturbsigns hanging from the handles.
At the furthest end of the club, the crowd clears out. There's a set of tall double doors up ahead. At least no one is swarming around them. I push them open, and the room is pitch black inside.
“Hey!” I turn my head in the direction of a human woman moving toward the bar. She's carrying a tray of crimson red drinks. “Did you sign your papers?”
“I signed them earlier,” I say with a forced smile.Act like you know what you’re doing, Bea.A vampire orders a drink for his companion, and thankfully the server rushes off. I haven't signed any papers, but I need a place to hide.
I move into the dark room. The air in here feels nice, like being outside on a cool summer night. I tilt my chin and notice lights twinkling like stars in the ceiling. They hardly throw any light, but I can make out the faintest outline of treetops near the high ceiling.
I inhale deeply as I walk. Grass brushes my ankles, and I can hear a trickling stream up ahead. The room is a tiny oasis built into the club. Vampires must come here to rest and relax. It’s wonderful as long as I step slowly and make sure I don’t fall over anything.
A shriek pierces the air, setting my nerves on edge. My heart hammers against my ears. I spin around, trying to search for the door, but it’s too dark. I suck in a deep breath to scream, but a cold hand claps over my mouth.
“If you scream, the hunters will all come after you,” a low voice rasps in my ear. I wriggle against the thick-muscled arm braced across my chest, but it’s no use. Even if he wasn’t a vampire, the dude is twice my size. “Calm down.”
I stop struggling.
“Good. I can smell Dennis on you from a mile away. I know he won’t like his pet playing in here.” My vulgar response is muffled by his hand, but he chuckles. “I’ll help you escape if you tell me why you’re here.”
He lifts his hand, and there’s a rush of cool air when he leans his ear to my mouth.
“I obviously didn’t know what this place was,” I whisper as quietly as possible. I'm guessing it's some sort of hunting room for the vampires to play in. Everything is crafted to look and feel like a natural predator-prey situation. I can't say that I like which category I fit in.
“I know that already, Beatrice.”
I gasp when he uses my name.
“Shh.” He moves around me to press a finger to my lips. “Why did the two of you come here? To Wyoming. Whisper it in my ear.”
Like I’d tell him.
But I start saying words before I can stop myself. I have no control over what’s coming out of my mouth.
“Dennis wants information about something. He thinks it will help us with a future assignment.”
“Then why is Dennis asking Marzanna how he can get rid of you?”
The question snaps me from my trance.
“You compelled me, you motherfucker!”
Hissing sounds from the trees. The branches shake and twigs snap. There’s no time to think rationally. My body screams for me to run.
I scramble but stumble back into the vampire’s chest.
He growls and picks me up, racing back to the door. He sets me down with too much force, and I trip over my feet when I land. I touch my forehead, feeling woozy from the compulsion and the adrenaline rush.
I look back as the double doors slam shut. The vampire is gone, and I didn't get a chance to see his face. I'm not willing to go back in there to find him, but I have questions.
