“I think we could consider a more…amicablepartnership,” he says. “If you apologize for staking my progeny…”
“I won’t apologize. He was on my territory, and he harmed one ofmy patrons,” she responds silkily, her expression stony and her eyes cold.
Suddenly, the other vampire lashes out. He grabs my wrist tightly, and pulls me down to the table. He’s incredibly strong, more than any shifter or witch I’ve ever fought. My shoulder hits the table painfully. He pins me down and bares his sharp fangs, but his eyes are still on Celine.
My heart races as I struggle against his viselike grip. Even with my magic, I couldn’t take him in this position. He’s got a hold on me, and he’s too strong. Any magic I could do would just antagonize him.
Silently, I pray to Hecate for a swift and painless death. I’ve never been bitten by a vampire before, and I’m horrified at the thought. But I’ll meet my end bravely. I swallow and shut my eyes tight, bracing for the attack.
The vampire addresses Celine with a lazy, vicious drawl. “Then a gesture would go a long way. A demonstration of your fealty.”
“She’s not on the menu,” Celine replies coolly. “Let her go immediately. If you harm her, or any of my staff, you will feel the same dagger that ended your progeny.”
His grip tightens on my wrist, sending a shooting pain up my arm. An involuntary cry escapes my lips.
In a split second, Celine has her dagger in her fist. She swings herself around the table and holds its point to the chest of the vampire. The guard immediately circle our table, but they don’t come closer. It would only take a small motion for Celine to de-animate the vampire that has me pinned the table.
“You wouldn’t,” he whispers, his voice crackling with untold years of horror and mayhem.
“Are you willing to bet on that?” she replies.
After the longest minute I’ve ever experienced, he lets me go. Celine moves her dagger from his chest, putting it back into the sheath at her ankle.
“You will regret this, progeny of Tudor Thornblade,” he hisses.
I scramble away from him as fast as I can, back to the bar. My entire body is trembling uncontrollably. The raw terror of my encounter is bad enough, but it’s the tug of bad memories that threatens to undermine me completely. I pour myself a shot of vodka and take itquickly, trying in vain to steady my nerves.
The vampire motions to his guard. They exit, and I can relax slightly.
Celine watches them go, then moves to leave as well. As she leaves, she catches my eye. I’m struck by her steady, intense gaze. She bows her head slightly to me.
Why did she do that? She could certainly have allowed that vampire to feed on me. I wouldn’t have expected anything less from her.
“Take the rest of the evening off,” she says simply. Then she exits the lounge, leaving me alone with her guard.
I exhale.
I’m going home to take averylong bath.
DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO
Amara
I have to drag myself out of bed the next morning. After my encounter with that vampire, thelastthing I want to do is go back to the Succumb club.
“Good morning,” says a curt voice from the sill of my open window. “Or should I say, good afternoon?”
I check my watch and groan. I’ve slept inwaytoo late.
“You never used to sleep in like this at Hemlock Haven,” says Merlin, flying into my studio apartment and landing on the top of my desk. I converted it into a makeshift altar, laden with crystals, candles, jars of herbs, salt, and a dark, hand-held scrying mirror.
“This gig has really ruined my circadian rhythm,” I say, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
“Hopefully it won’t be too much longer,” Merlin says, pecking at the plate of cookies I left on my altar.
“Hey, those are for Hecate!”
“She won’t miss them,” he replies, gobbling up a raisin. “Besides, she should be happy that you’re putting your life on the line, in the name of her coven. I can’t believe you ever agreed to this.”
