Once Upon a Vampire by Mari Mancusi
I pulled my shades closed. As if that would help. Then I started to pick up the apartment. Useless, I know, but the only distraction I could think of. I couldn’t cut. And there was no way I could write. No way to lose myself in a fantasy, when a dark reality was lurking close by, waiting to strike.
I grabbed my clothes off the floor. The ones I’d worn the night before. As I walked them over to my washing machine, something fell out of one of the pockets. A slip of paper. I picked it up, frowning, at first not recognizing what it was. Then my eyes widened as I read the front of the card, the memory reigniting in my brain.
Rayne MacDonald, the card read.
My number one fan.
Call me if you need anything, she’d insisted. Anything at all.
Hands trembling, I dove for my purse. Pulled out my phone. Turned it back on. It rang immediately. Darla, of course. This time I answered.
“I’m fine!” I barked into the phone, not bothering with hellos. “You don’t have to worry!”
“Don’t have to worry? Hannah, you ran from the book signing like the devil himself was at your heels.”
I winced. She wasn’t wrong.
“I had a panic attack,” I explained lamely. Thankfully it wasn’t a far stretch for me and thus believable. “The walls were closing in. But I’m okay now. I’m home. I’m safe.” I drew in a breath. “Please tell the bookstore I am so sorry. That I will reschedule—any night they want me back, I’ll be there.”
Darla was silent for a moment. Then, “Are you sure you’re okay? You sound out of breath.”
“I’m fine. Really. I just…ran to the phone. I’d been charging it. It had run out of charge. That’s why I didn’t answer before.”
The lies flew from my lips before I could even acknowledge them. Ridiculous, too convenient to be true. I knew Darla probably only half believed me anyway. But she would support me all the same. She always did, I thought guiltily. Even when I didn’t deserve her to.
“Okay,” she said at last. “But I’m coming over. Once I wrap up at the store. Leave the door open in case you fall asleep.”
Shit. “Okay,” I said, not able to come up with any excuse why she shouldn’t. “Take your time though. I’m totally fine.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
I frowned a little. Was I that much of a child? That she felt she always had to take care of me? That I couldn’t deal with life on my own? Make my own decisions? Find my own way? If only she knew what I’d gone through the nights before. She might realize I could handle myself pretty well in a crisis after all.
I shook my head. Time to think of such things later. Right now I had a phone call to make.
I said goodbye to Darla, then dialed Rayne’s number. It rang three times and I was starting to worry she wouldn’t pick up. Then…
“Hello?” I could hear loud music in the background practically drowning out the voice.
I let out a breath of relief. “Rayne?” I asked. “This is Hannah.”
“Hannah…?” I could hear the doubt in her voice.
“Hannah Miller,” I added. “You know, the writer?”
“Oh my God!” she cried. “Hannah Miller! Of course! I’m so sorry! I just—well, I never thought you’d call!” Even over the loud music I could hear the excitement in her voice. “But I’m so glad you did! I have been freaking out since I met you. I can’t believe you were at the Blood Coven. How’d the research go anyway?”
“Um, about that.”
“Yeah?”
I bit my lower lip. “Can we meet somewhere? To talk?”
“Of course! I always have time for my favorite writer. When do you want to meet?”
“Is now too soon?”
“Nope. I’m at Club Fang. Can you get here?”
“I think so.”
“Awesome. Just text me when you get there. I’ll make sure we have a quiet room to talk in.”
I agreed and hung up the phone, my heart pattering in my chest all over again. Club Fang. Had I really just committed to going to Club Fang tonight? Back to the scene of the crime? I wondered if I should call her back. Tell her I wanted to meet somewhere else.
But something inside me prevented me from redialing her number. Something small and niggling at the back of my brain.
Maybe Logan would be there.
My heart skipped a beat at the thought.
And I knew I was going to go.
But what to wear? I had stuck out like a sore thumb last time I went to Club Fang and I didn’t want to do that again. I needed something cool. Something that would help me blend in with the gothy crowd. So I wouldn’t call attention to myself if Slayer, Inc. was lurking nearby.
But when I looked in my closet I saw nothing that would work. It was all yoga pants, cotton t-shirts. God, was I really this boring in real life?
But just as I was about to give up and resign myself to jeans and a black t-shirt, I saw the dress. At the very back of my closet, almost hidden from view.
It was crimson. A beautiful ball gown. With a full skirt, plunging neckline and no sleeves. Pretty much straight off the cover of Blood and Roses, the book that had started it all. The dress had been given to me as a gift from Darla the time I was signed up to go to DragonCon. She had told me that everyone there cosplayed. That I could play Maisie and it would be so much fun.
In the end, I had chickened out. I was too stressed out to go so far out of my comfort zone. To wear a costume so dramatic. Besides, who wanted to see my bare arms? The ugly silver scars and fresh scabs marring my skin. And so I had stuffed the dress in the back of my closet. And I had never looked at it again.
But now…
“Okay, Miller,” I muttered under my breath. “Let’s do this.”
Time to channel my inner Maisie. And find out what the hell was going on.
20
By the time I arrived, Club Fang was going off, with the place as packed as it had been the night I showed up with Logan—maybe even more so. As I let the valet take my car away, I wondered belatedly, if I’d even be able to get in, what with the line winding around the block. On Logan’s arm I was able to walk right up to the front of the line. But me, by myself…
No. I squared my shoulders. Lifted my chin. I could do this. I was dressed to kill and channeling my inner Maisie. And Maisie would never let some silly velvet rope stand in her way of getting to Logan.
I meant, Rayne. Getting to Rayne. Which was why I was here.
Argh.
Drawing in a breath, I sauntered up to the bouncer. Trying to look cool, calm and collected even as I was this close to eating it on the pavement with these high heels. I could feel the stares of the other patrons in line on me as I walked past them, but I kept my eyes on the prize. When I arrived at the front door, the bouncer was in the process of letting a girl with a rather elaborate nose ring inside. When he saw me, his hand froze on the rope. His mouth practically dropped open. I hid a small grin. Thank you, Darla. The dress was doing its job.
“Hey! I thought it was our turn!” the girl in line protested as the bouncer clicked the rope closed again. She set her blood red lips in a pout, giving me a look of death. But the bouncer ignored her, his eyes locked on me.
“I’m here for Rayne McDonald,” I said, trying to keep my voice from quavering with nervousness. “She’s expecting me.”
The bouncer nodded. He opened the rope for me. I gave him a sweet smile and sauntered through. As I passed the look-of-death girl, I gave her the finger. So un-Hannah like it wasn’t even funny. And yet so satisfying at the same time. Maybe I should channel Maisie more often.
The club, it turned out, was as packed inside as it was outside. Lights were flashing. Dancers were gyrating to dark, techno beats. I pushed past them, holding up my skirts to avoid being stepped on. I could feel people’s fascinated stares as I crossed the room. Maybe this outfit was a bit too much.
Okay, definitely too much. But kind of amazing at the same time.
“There yo
A voice behind me made me turn. My eyes fell on Rayne who was nodding her head appreciatively. “You look fucking amazing,” she said with a low whistle. “Seriously, when this is all over, you must let me borrow that dress.”
I snorted. “You can have it,” I told her. “It’s really not my thing.”
“I can assure you, luv. That is definitely your thing.”
I whirled around to see a tall, blond vampire step in behind me. He looked like a young Jude Law. Super cute. Rayne rolled her eyes and smacked him in his stomach.
“Down Jareth,” she scolded. “You’re mine, remember?”
The vampire grinned naughtily, then leaned over to kiss Rayne on the top of her head. “So you keep reminding me,” he teased. But the way he looked at her told me she had nothing to worry about. He was completely smitten. Must be nice. To have someone to look at you like that.
Which brought me to my reason for being here.
“Can we talk somewhere private?” I asked.
“Yes! I reserved a room in the back. Come on.” Rayne grabbed my hand and dragged me to the back of the club. Jareth trailed behind us. And suddenly I realized why his name seemed so familiar. Jareth had been the name of the Blood Coven Master that Logan went to see. Was this the same Jareth? Was he really some vampire king?
And, if so, could he help me now?
We headed to the back of the club, through the VIP entrance and into the feeding rooms. Rayne grabbed a key off the wall and walked over to room number seven, unlocking it and pulling it open.
“After you,” she said with a mock bow.
I stepped inside, suddenly feeling a little weirded out. And who could blame me? I was literally going into a bloodletting room in a vampire club with two vampires. One who may or may not be an obsessed fan. What if she had this idea that she wanted to drink my blood? Maybe she thought it would give her some insight into the plot of the next book?
I shook my head. While that was a pretty cool plot idea for a future novel, it seemed pretty unlikely in real life.
I looked around the room. It was sparse, but clean. I didn’t know what I had expected. Maybe some blood stains on the wall? But it might as well have been a hospital room. Well-lit, with a small table and two comfy looking armchairs. Rayne and Jareth squeezed into one chair, getting cozy together, while I took the other, my dress fanning out as I plopped down.
“That dress though!” Rayne said, giving a low whistle. “Where did you even find such a magnificent thing?”
“Now Rayne. I don’t think she came all this way to discuss fashion,” Jareth admonished gently.
Rayne rolled her eyes. “Okay fun police,” she groaned. Then she turned back to me. “So,” she said. “What seems to be the problem?”
I drew in a breath. Here went nothing.
“Last night,” I said, “I feel asleep at Hotel Blood Coven or whatever. But when I woke up, I was back in my old bed. Logan was gone and all that was left was this note he’d written, saying he was going to take care of everything. And that I wouldn’t be in any danger from Slayer, Inc.”
“I like how he takes all the credit for that,” Rayne muttered before Jareth hushed her.
I bit my lower lip. “Anyway, I was at my book signing tonight when I suddenly felt this…something. Something odd that I couldn’t quite put my finger one. Like there was someone in the room I couldn’t see. A sound I couldn’t quite hear. It was the weirdest feeling. I don’t think anyone else felt it.” I frowned, my heart pounding all over again as I remembered the scene. “I got out of there as fast as I could and headed home. But I still didn’t feel safe. And since I didn’t have Logan’s contact info, I tried you.” I shrugged. “That’s pretty much it.”
I caught Rayne and Jareth exchanging looks. “What?” I demanded. “Do you know something I don’t? Do you think Slayer, Inc. could be after me, after all?”
“Very unlikely,” Rayne replied. “I went to their headquarters yesterday to ask them to lay off. But they told me you weren’t a target. And I doubt anything has changed since then.”
Oh. I frowned, my head spinning in confusion at this news. I should have been relieved. But for some reason I felt even more disconcerted. I mean, was I wrong about all of this? Had it only been my own anxiety acting up back at the bookstore? My overreaching imagination conjuring up a book-worthy third act to my date with a vampire?
But no. I shook my head. I had felt it. It had been there—whatever it was. It was real.
I turned back to the vampires, realizing Jareth was speaking.
“Honestly,” he said. “What you are describing does not sound like Slayer, Inc. Most Slayer, Inc. operatives are human. You would see them coming a mile away.”
I looked at Rayne. “You’re not human,” I pointed out.
“I also would never stake you,” she shot back, not missing a beat. “You’ve got too many books to write before you head off to the great pizza place in the sky.”
“Right.” I made a face. “So, not Slayer, Inc.,” I said. “Then…who?”
Jareth leaned forward in his chair, his eyes locked on me. “Sounds to me like you’re being hunted by a vampire.”
21
A vampire.
I leaned back in my chair, my stomach swimming with unease. I mean, it wasn’t as if I hadn’t already considered this as a possibility—even back at the bookstore. But to hear it said out loud. But another vampire.
“Oh God,” I murmured.
Jareth gave me a pitying look. “I’m sorry,” he said. “You should not be involved in any of this. Logan should have never brought you here to begin with. It was a foolish vanity.”
I frowned, everything inside of me suddenly wanting to stand up for Logan. To tell Jareth he wasn’t to blame. But what good would that do? I had to focus on the more impending threat. Once that was taken care of, we could Monday morning quarterback all the rest.
I leaned forward in my chair. “Who’s after me?” I demanded.
“I’m not sure,” Jareth replied. “But I think it could be a group of…well, let’s just call them vigilantes.”
“Vampire vigilantes,” Rayne added helpfully. “Which, by the way, could totally be a thing in your next book, don’t you think?”
Jareth shot her a warning look before turning back to me. “Look,” he said. “I don’t know how much Logan told you, but the vampire he killed outside of Club Fang was a key witness in the parole hearing for the vampire Pyrus, the former leader of our Consortium.”
“And do we want him out or no?” I asked.
“No way,” Rayne replied. “He needs to rot in there forever. Especially seeing all the trouble it was for me to put him away in the first place.” She made a face. “God, he was the worst.”
“Unfortunately, not everyone agrees with Rayne,” Jareth continued. “And even in prison, Pyrus still retains quite a large base. A group of vampires who have left their old covens to form a new group that preaches the old ways, just as Pyrus once did. They’re not content to live in the shadows of humanity. They want to take over. To rule the world and make humans their blood slaves.”
“Now that sounds like a book plot,” I muttered.
“Unfortunately, it’s all too real,” Jareth replied. “And they have to be furious about Logan killing the one guy who could help spring their fearless leader from prison.”
I winced, my insides squirming. Here I had been so worried about being tracked down by rogue vampires myself, I hadn’t really considered that Logan would be their true target. He’d talked about making a deal—I’d thought it was with Slayer, Inc. The police department—basically. Not a group of vampire baddies out for blood. I had thought he would stand trial. In a courtroom. With a lawyer. But this…
What had he promised them in exchange for my freedom? Would he have sacrificed himself—made a deal with the devils—to keep me safe?
I felt sick to my stomach. I looked up at Rayne and Jareth.<
“Is Logan okay?” I blurted out. “I mean, they didn’t actually get him, right?”
“You don’t think he would have…” Rayne started, then dropped off, giving Jareth a meaningful look.
Jareth shook his head. “No. He wouldn’t do that. That would be a huge violation.”
“Violation?” I interrupted. “What violation?” My heart was pounding now. I didn’t know what they were talking about, but the looks on their faces told me it was not good.
Rayne turned to me, a worried look on her face. “Sorry,” she said. “Vampire politics are super complicated. But basically if a coven has a problem with someone from another coven, they apply to work through it publically. Through consortium meetings, maybe a trial.” She paused, then added, “They are not to take matters into their own hands. Ever.”
I swallowed hard. “But you think Logan did.”
“I specifically ordered him not to,” Jareth said. “It would have been a terrible move, even with a law-abiding coven. But this faction, well, they aren’t exactly known for rule-following.”
I nodded stiffly, even as fear spun down my spine. I didn’t know what to say. I thought back to the letter. Logan saying he’d take care of things…
“I bet he turned himself in,” Rayne piped up. “Maybe made a bargain? You know, to keep them away from Hannah?”
“If he did, then he is stupider than I thought,” Jareth growled. He pulled out his cell phone and sent a text message. I watched, waiting breathlessly, my heart in my throat. I so wanted him to look up and tell me everything was okay. That Logan was actually back at home, cooking in his kitchen, just for the fun of it. Or in the Blood Coven, strolling through the gardens.
But then Jareth’s face darkened. He jerked to his feet.
“What?” I demanded, horror coursing through me. Though, of course, I could make a pretty good guess what he was going to say.
“That fool.” Jareth swore under his breath. “That goddamned fool.” He turned to Rayne. “Take Hannah back to the Blood Coven. I need to call an emergency meeting with Lord Magnus and the Consortium leaders. This could be a big problem.”