Page 89 of Poison Sun
As we walk the ten minutes to the White Horse Tavern—the second oldest bar in the city—my thoughts drift to that time in London, back in the eighteenth century, soon after I was turned. I was out with a human woman I’d come to care about during that time in my life. A woman who reminded me of the humanity I’d recently lost.
We were… enjoying ourselves in a back alley when a ruthless vampire from a rival clan found us. With her life and mine at stake, and without the fighting skills I have now, I seized a moment of distraction to push two unfortunate street-dwellers into the path of the oncoming vampire.
Their screams echoed in the night as I fled with her under the cover of darkness.
It wasn’t my hand that directly killed them. But I still caused their deaths.
I want Eliza to survive this. Really, I do.
But in the games of supernaturals, there are always pawns.
Pawns, unfortunately, don’t always survive.
I’m yanked out of the memories when we arrive at the tavern. It’s a Thursday night, which always brings an interesting crowd. Men who have been coming to this place for decades, young professionals wanting to get a head start on their weekend, and the occasional NYU student looking for a different scene than the college bars near the school.
“It’s time,” I tell Eliza. “Remember—after tonight, you’ll be taken care of for the rest of your life. You can do this.”
She takes a deep breath, and without a moment’s hesitation, makes her way into the bar.
Maria and I, cloaked in the shadows, position ourselves outside the tavern’s view. From this vantage point, we have a clear line of sight through the windows. We won’t be able to see Viktor and Eliza until they leave, but there’s only one way out of this bar.
With the lustberry in Eliza’s system, it shouldn’t be long until Viktor’s ready to go back with her.
Maria shifts beside me, her eyes on the door. “She knows what to do,” she says, more to herself than to me.
“Yes. She does.”
Minutes stretch into an eternity. Then, finally, the door swings open, and laughter spills into the night. It’s them. Eliza and Viktor, clinging to each other, looking every bit the enamored couple.
Eliza’s playing her part flawlessly, her laughter light and flirtatious, her body language inviting.
As expected with the lustberry, Viktor’s focused on her. He leans in, and their lips meet in a kiss that seems to draw the night to a standstill. With the combination of the intoxicating berry, Eliza’s beauty, and the jewels she’s wearing sparkling in the moonlight, he’s completely and utterly enchanted.
They break apart, and she takes Viktor’s hand, leading him down the street with a nearly supernatural confidence.
Maria and I follow at a safe distance, blending into the shadows like phantoms of the night. We’re heading north, to one of the high-rise hotels in Manhattan’s trendy Meatpacking District. It overlooks the water, with prime views of a pier called Little Island that’s covered with manmade hills, trees, and paths that’s become popular with tourists since its completion a few years ago.
Eliza’s laughter floats back to us as she and Viktor stop in front of the hotel.
“This is where I’m staying,” she tells him, her voice carrying the perfect blend of innocence and allure. “Do you want to come up for a drink? The view from my room is amazing.”
He leans in for a deep kiss, eventually pulling back and gazing into her big, hopeful eyes. “I’d love nothing more than to have a drink with you.”
As they enter the building, Maria and I exchange a look before slipping inside behind them. It’s an easy task, given that we’re also guests at this hotel.
Not only are we guests—we’re the ones who purchased the room they’re heading to, along with the room next to it, with the connecting door. Which means Eliza isn’t the only one with a key.
All we have to do is wait for them to get inside the elevator. Then, we head to the stairs, making our way up to their floor.
Maria enters the room next to theirs.
I pause in front of their door, listening.
Sure enough, I can make out Eliza’s moans coming from inside.
Viktor sure didn’t waste a moment before getting to business with that… drink.
Unwilling to waste one more second, I slip the keycard into the reader and enter the room.
