Chapter 1
It’s been a week since I learned that vampires exist.
As I walk through the party, I see more evidence here. They’re not being obvious. There isn’t blood cascading down any throats. I don’t see fangs flashing in the neon lights. But if you pay attention, the tells are there.
That man’s lips are locked on that woman’s throat. They look like they’re in the throes of a passionate prelude to a wild romp in the bedroom. But she’s sitting stark still. Her eyes aren’t closed; they stare at the wall vacantly.
There is a woman who has a man pushed up against the wall. She’s flirting with him, but her eyes are fixed on his neck, watching his pulse. The man looks nervous. But even though he’s pushing against her, trying to make his way out of there, she doesn’t falter even one step back. Because she’s stronger than him, even though he has at least four inches of height on her and likely forty pounds.
But the biggest giveaway is when I watch as a man guides a woman by the wrist to the far back corner. She giggles as hepulls her in close. And one tiny yelp of surprise escapes her throat when his eyes flash brilliant, blood red. I barely catch it as his canines elongate, and he goes in for her neck.
Her body tenses for a moment. But just two seconds later, she relaxes. And she stands there, still, docile.
I’ve lived in New York City my entire life, all twenty-four years. And until last week, I would have told you that the city was inhabited only by people, pigeons, and rats.
But that’s not true anymore.
What else exists out there? Are all the fairytales and nightmares true? I’m not sure I want to know.
Unease seeps into my skin as I walk into the crowd, scanning faces. At first glance, I’m not sure how you tell a regular person from someone who sucks blood. They all look the same to me. Until they’re ready to feed. I’m in danger. Every nerve in my body is screaming it. They’re stronger than me. And every inch of them, once they’re zeroed in on a target, screams predator.
I don’t know how it works. Once you’re bitten by a vampire, are you dead? I don’t think so. Because that woman looks woozy, and not in a drunk way. Will she also turn into a vampire soon? Will she be under the vampire’s thrall?
I don’t know how the hell this all works. I just need to keep any fangs away from my neck tonight.
My eyes scan the crowd, searching for auburn hair, pale skin, and fiery green eyes.
“This your first Red party?”
My eyes slide over to a man sitting at the bar. He’s dressed in a dark red suit. His shirt is night black, and the top four buttons are undone. He scans me with intense blue eyes. Golden hair flops onto hisforehead.
“No,” I answer.
“I rarely miss them,” he says. He stands, and I realize how tall he is. He takes a step forward, and he towers over me. The predatory hunter’s look in his eyes tells me exactly what he is. “And I don’t recognize you.”
“I didn’t think regulars were common at these things,” I say. I’m making the bullshit up as I go, but I know I’m in dangerous territory. Yet I need information.
The man shrugs, cocking a smile. “There’s always the groupies chasing the nothing bliss.”
I barely suppress a shiver. People go looking for this on purpose? Being totally zoned out while a vampire feeds on them?
“Need a fix tonight?” he asks, his tone expectant. His eyes drop down the length of me, over my exposed shoulders, over the tight fit of violet fabric over my chest, over the drape of the dress on my hips. He leaves little wonder what’s going through his head.
“Not yet,” I defer, faking every confident tone in my voice. “The night is young.”
“I’ll make it worth your time,” he purrs. “You won’t find a gentler offer in here, sweetheart.”
“Who ever said anything about gentle?” The reckless words leave my lips before I can think how dangerous they are. I walk off into the crowd before he takes them as an invitation.
I’ve been to far larger parties before. This is a private venue, though being on the second floor, it’s not hard to find. A bouncer was situated outside the door, but as I watched for a solid ten minutes, he never turned anyone away, and he wasn’t checking names to a list. So, anyone dumb enough to wander in is allowed. But there’s probably only eighty or so people inhere. It only doesn’t feel like a small crowd because the space isn’t very large.
A man tugs a woman down onto his lap as he falls back into a couch. She gives an excited squeal. He traces the back of his knuckles along her jaw, his eyes fixed on her throat. She lifts her face to the ceiling, her eyes sliding closed, reveling in his touch.
He splays his hand on the side of her neck, brushing his thumb over her pulse point.
He pulls her in close, and she seems all too eager to be in his embrace.
But I catch sight of it as his eyes flash red, and sharp fangs are exposed for just a fraction of a second before his lips lock into her flesh.
