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for Matt’s resurrection. He was the sun and the moon and stars. Without him, her universe was empty.

Two women stood embracing on a staircase. One was tall with long, black hair. She held

the smaller blonde close, in a lover’s embrace. Clarissa glanced at them for only a moment

before she forced her eyes away. The smaller woman hung limply in the other’s arms. The limp

woman moaned and cried out as if she were having an orgasm. The tall woman had glanced at

them sharply over the shoulder of her lover. Angry red eyes had glowed out at them just as the doorman’s had and seemed to reflect some inner, evil light.

Clarissa walked closer to Tiffany; the panic building inside her made her edgy. She really

hated how afraid she felt. Clarissa was many things, but a coward wasn’t one of them. She

fought her natural urge to run and walked as calmly as possible behind the others. She noticed Caren’s hands were shaking. The subtle body language told her clearly that her sister was getting just as freaked out as she felt.

“Where are we going?” Caren whispered a bit too loudly.

Turning, Tiffany gave her a dirty look. “Quiet. These back rooms are where the clients

come to feed. I get paid based on how much they take.”

“How do you know how much they’ve taken?” Clarissa couldn’t help her curiosity.

“Monitors. They estimate how many fluid ounces are inside me before and after a

feeding. Only once did a client get out of hand, and the monitor alerted security to come and save me before he killed me. Lord Drago himself destroyed that vampire. That night was the only

time I ever saw him. Vampires of his status have donors who spend years trying to be the one

he’ll drink from, and they usually assume he’ll have sex with them too. He keeps his suppliers living a comfortable life. Their only job is to be walking blood banks.”

“This is sounding more and more like prostitution.” Clarissa couldn’t keep the censor

from her voice. She saw the devastated look on Tiffany’s face. “Sorry, this situation is just so exploitative.”

“This has bought me a new car and paid off the medical bills. I’ve even been able to start

a little college fund for my Lilli. Without coming here and donating, I’d be struggling. I don’t feel exploited. I don’t have sex with them. Yes, the strange intimacy reminds me very much of sex, but it’s not the same. I always feel so good after they feed. I think I’d do it for free if they stopped paying me. If they feed from you, then you’ll understand.”

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Clarissa hoped she’d never understand the strange goings on of the club. She’d never

believed in vampires or monsters, but after only a few minutes behind the scenes of this club, she was starting to. She didn’t want any of the patrons ordering a big gulp of her tonight, but she would willingly be the nightly special if she earned the healing blood. Her blood for theirs, it seemed a fair trade.

They walked back to rows of curtained stalls. Each one was lavishly decorated with

couches and plush floor pillows. Each had a unique theme. Over each cubby was a plaque of

strange writing, reminding Clarissa of ancient runes.

“This one is mine,” Tiffany told them. They went in and sat down on one of the couches.

The space had a Moroccan feel. “I don’t take drugs. Vamps wanting something fresh come in

here for my donation. Vampires can’t really get high, but if they take blood from someone who is, they get a momentary echo of the feeling from the donor. The marks over the door tell them what’s for sale. I usually see three vampires before my pint and a quarter is gone for the night. I haven’t been here for a month, so I’m good. I don’t need to see the medical staff. I hook this monitor up to my wrist.” She took several wires with pads attached. Removing the paper, she

affixed two to her chest and then she strapped a band around her wrist with what appeared to be a blood pressure monitor. She also clamped a piece of plastic over her index finger; a small box sitting on the table next to where she sat showed the oxygen level in her blood. “See, the medical staff is watching. They can monitor my blood loss with the cuff and my blood pressure. Each

client pays a charge based on the readings. I’ll feed one to three vampires tonight, and if I donate to my limit, I’ll walk out the door with two thousand dollars cash. Do you see how risking my life and this easy extra money is a big deal to me? Please sit quietly. If anyone asks, I’m training you. This will be risky—; you aren’t staff and they’ll know they can take more than they should from you, but I’ve got a panic button if things go badly.”

Panic button? Badly?
The words didn’t assure Clarissa in the least and she noticed Caren had started to go pale. She really hadn’t realized just how uncertain the outcome of this trip would be, but looking at Tiffany all hooked up and waiting for a potentially deadly customer, Clarissa had to admit this wasn’t just some creepy Goth I’ll-show-you-my-rebellion-if-you-show-me-yours crap. She’d seen at least two beings that she could whole-heartedly say weren’t human, and this wasn’t some kind of kinky sex thing according to Tiffany, so the only

conclusion she could draw was that the woman was telling her the truth. Real fear filled her.

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She’d finally accepted the truth—; she was in the middle of a den of vampires, and not the

sparkly save-the-world kind. These guys looked to be the I’ll-eat-you-up ones, waiting to take a bite out of at least one of them tonight.

Caren suddenly grabbed Clarissa’s hand, clutching it tightly. “I’m so sorry,” she

breathed.

Clarissa could see she’d finally come to the realization of just how much danger they

were in too. They sat a few moments, huddled together, while Tiffany sat casually a few feet

away giving them annoyed looks.

“Play it cool, please,” Tiffany said caustically.

The curtain moved. Both sisters stared in horror. A short man who looked to be in his

early twenties stepped inside the space. He glared distrustfully at the sisters.

“They’re cool, just ignore them. How are you tonight, Jimmy?” Tiffany smiled at the

vampire as if he were an old friend.

“Hey, sweet thing, I’ve missed you. I’m going to take a bit more than usual, is that okay

with you, darlin’?”

“Sure, just remember they’re watching you.” Tiffany sounded a bit worried.

Jimmy smiled, his eyes flared with the red light. He fell to his knees in front of Tiffany

and took her arm. “Sure I can’t feed from your neck?” He looked hopefully into her eyes, then glanced at the sisters and then back at the woman he’d come to bite.

Clarissa felt her sister’s grip tighten fearfully on her hand.

“You know I’m not that kind of girl, Jimmy. My wrist works just as good, have a bite,”

she teased, smiling. Even though she looked confident, Clarissa thought she detected a small

trace of hesitation.

“You’re so cruel, sweet thing.” He took her arm and held her wrist to his nose, inhaling

loudly. “Aww, no perfume to ruin the taste. Thank you.” He turned her wrist up. Clarissa held her breath and she felt her sister stiffen beside her.

Tiffany seemed perfectly calm as Jimmy opened his mouth, his fangs glistening in the

dim light, like knives. Clarissa wanted to close her eyes and yet she couldn’t. The sight was so unbelievable, she stared, transfixed on the gruesome scene. The vampire brought her wrist to his mouth and bit. Jerking, Caren tightened her grip painfully on Clarissa’s hands. With a low moan, Tiffany’s head rolled back against the couch and her eyes fluttered. Jimmy’s red eyes glanced at
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the frightened sisters and Clarissa saw him smiling against the bloody skin he suckled in his mouth. After a moment, he pulled away and Tiffany blinked up at him.

“As always, the most delicious nectar. Thank you, sweet thing,” he told the recovering

donor with a grin, wiping his face on a linen napkin from a pile on the table. Clarissa shook.

“Now, how about I sample one of these lovelies? I’d love to be the first.” He smiled wickedly at the sisters. His eyes flared red as if someone had ignited a fire behind them.

“To taste them, they only want one payment, under the table,” Tiffany said weakly.

Jimmy turned his attention back to her, curiosity written on his face. “They need vampire blood to heal someone very ill. Give them a few drops and they’ll let you drink. A gift in exchange for the gift of the darkest magic. You’re young, but your blood should be strong enough, right?”

“Depends what is making the friend sick. I’m not sure management would be very happy

with you right now, sweet thing.” He looked warily at them all, as if they were narcs ready to bust him.

“You won’t say anything, right? Please, Jimmy. Her husband is dying of cancer. He’s a

good man.”

Jimmy’s eyes narrowed. “Cancer is tough. You’d need more than a few drops of my

blood.” He looked over his shoulder, paranoid. “Do you have a syringe? I’m taking a pint from each of them.” He licked his lips, smiling.

The sisters sat immobilized, terrified of what he wanted, but too close to achieving their

objective to back out now. Suddenly, the curtains flew open. Two very angry security guards,

their red eyes labeling them clearly as vampires, glared at Jimmy.

“Fuck. I knew this was too good to be true. I can’t believe you set me up, sweet thing. I

thought you felt something special for me.”

“I didn’t set you up. I think we’re all fucked.” She looked at the sisters. “I’m sorry.”

The regret in her friend’s voice tore at Clarissa’s soul. They’d made a mistake coming

here. Whatever would happen next wouldn’t be good. The scratchy sound of a radio drew

Clarissa’s attention. One of the vamps grabbed Jimmy while the other unclipped his radio.

Strange words in a foreign language came over the speaker.

“Yes, My Lord,” answered the vampire. “We’re to bring them before His Lordship,” he

told his fellow guard.

The vampire holding Jimmy unceremoniously pulled him from the small room. The other

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guard gave Tiffany a deadly glare. “Come, all of you.” He glanced at the sisters.

The three women stood. “Don’t try to run. You’ll be dead before you reach an exit,”

Tiffany warned them.

Dead before you reach an exit
. The words echoed loudly in Clarissa’s mind. The worst

part of dying—she was leaving Matt to suffer his last days alone. Her daughters would be

orphans. She woodenly followed the vampire, clinging to her younger sister. Tiffany followed

behind them, her head held high, but her expression remained fearful.

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Chapter 4

They walked into the loud music and flashing lights of the club. It was very loud. Clarissa

glanced around. She could get lost in the fray and try to make it to the door, but she couldn’t leave her sister. She’d never be able to live with herself. Tiffany had taken a big risk in trying to get them the blood, she couldn’t leave her behind either, and there was no way all three of them would make it out.

As dancers glanced her way, she saw the red flare of their reflective eyes. Vampires gave

her hungry looks from every corner. The thought of them falling on her and devouring her as a group sent chills down her spine. She decided she’d face the man they called ‘Lord Drago’ and pray he’d have compassion.

The strobe effect from the lights and unnaturally fast gyrations of the dancing vampires

only heightened her fear. Five human women sat on a bench together, looking dazed. Armed

guards stood on either side of the couch. She knew they’d be no help if she cried out. Those must be the chosen few who would leave believing they’d had the time of their lives.

She bumped into a dancing leather-clad man. His green eyes suddenly flared red. He

hissed at her and she stumbled. Tiffany caught her and helped her regain her footing. The guard turned and glared at the women. He led them around a corner and up a flight of stairs. Two

massive looking metal doors waited at the top. He opened one of them and held it, ushering the women inside. The space was very dark, only a few candles in wall scones gave it light. Clarissa could make out the shape of a large chair, one that reminded her of a throne in the middle of the space. She took a few steps inside.

“How dare you betray us, donor,” accused the unseen male voice.

Caren squeaked with fear, and Clarissa put her arm around her sister.

“I’m sorry, My Lord,” Tiffany mumbled contritely. “I was only trying to help my

friends.”

“Now you’ve killed them and yourself. Is this how you wanted to help, by leading them

to death?”

“No, please no,” Tiffany cried, her voice breaking.

Out of the darkness, a man moved toward them. He seemed to belong to the shadow,

sleek and predatory. His body blended into the darkness as if it were made of the night. He wore
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black jeans and a black t-shirt that clung to him like a second skin. His body was nothing but muscle, and his face was that of an archangel. Clarissa gasped. She’d never seen such a beautiful man. His dark blond hair was a bit on the long side and slightly curly, it gave him an almost angelic appearance. His bone structure was amazing. A male model would have sold his soul to

Satan to look half as amazing. Unable to help herself, Clarissa wet her lips and sighed. If this was death, he was beautiful.

The man’s shrewd eyes snapped to hers, and for a moment, she stared into the amazing

dark brown orbs, mesmerized. She could’ve stared at this man all day, only he wasn’t a man, he was a monster who wanted to kill her. That thought pulled her out of the unnatural fixation. She shook her head as she tried to dislodge the cobwebs his handsomeness had created. The