“Go ahead and grab a drink if you want,” I said close to Jez’s ear. “I’m going to use the restroom.” I didn’t have to tell her twice. I knew I’d come back to find her with a brightly colored cocktail in each hand. She just couldn’t resist a fruity beverage.
After using the facilities and washing up, I was walking down the small hall back towards the bar when I felt someone’s eyes on me. Before I could turn to look, the lightest touch on my elbow had me startled into a defensive stance. It was just a human girl, and I relaxed until her scent hit me. It was David’s girlfriend, the one who had lied to the police.
“I’m sorry,” she shouted to be heard over the bar noise. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
Mustering the best, forced smile that I could, I replied with a lame, “That’s ok.”
“I wanted to thank you.” Her eyes were downcast, and the scent of fear and anxiety trickled from her. I was keenly aware of her heart accelerating, the blood rushing inside her, just waiting for that perfect puncture to release it. Goddamn it Arys, I thought briefly. You’ve made me a monster.
I considered playing dumb. How in the hell could she recognize me? It had been dark, and I hadn’t looked this human.
Oh, God help me. I’m such a fool. I should have killed her, too. The thought came unbidden, and I knew that it wasn’t mine. However, I had to acknowledge that the vampires’ logic kept them touted as fictional. They have to be ruthless to stay alive.
“Oh, that’s alright.” I felt more awkward staring into her beaming smile than I had sitting with Arys and Shaz earlier. I was at a loss for words. My eyes went over her head, searching for Jez’s shock of gold hair in the crowd.
“No really. I probably shouldn’t have approached you, but I didn’t want to risk losing my only chance to thank you. He made my life a living nightmare. I was ready to kill myself.”
I had to give her credit for being wise enough to avoid saying David’s name. There was obviously no use trying to convince her that she hadn’t seen something she knew damn well she had.
“Anyway,” she continued, suddenly in a rush to finish. “I can’t tell you what you’ve done for me. I don’t regret a thing about any of it. And, whoever or whatever you are is no business of mine. My lips are sealed.” Her eyes took on that wide solemn look of a child making a sincere promise.
My smile felt small and tight, but it reached my eyes. I had to appreciate her guts. I can’t say that I would have approached the person that had grown claws and fangs before eating my boyfriend. Courage was an admirable trait, though it could be stupid.
I offered her a hand. “I’m glad you’re alright.”
“I’m Amanda.” Could her smile possibly get any wider? “It’s nice to meet you.”
I didn’t like the spark in her eyes. I’d seen humans like this. My supernatural power and allure enticed her. This was often temporary but could be potentially dangerous. Fanaticism is a form of insanity.
“Likewise.” I spotted Jez who was making her way to a group of college girls shooting pool. From where I stood, I could see the electric blue cocktail in her hand. “Look Amanda, I’m sorry but I need to get going. Have a really good night, ok?”
I excused myself before the strange moment could drag on any longer. I hoped she didn’t take it the wrong way when I hightailed it across the club to Jez.
Yeah, I felt like an ass**le, but really, what could I possibly say to the girl? Thanks for not telling the cops that I ate your boyfriend? The bastard turned my stomach anyway. Besides, the scent of her blood was giving me a cramp.
“I saw that you found a pretty thing to chat up so I wanted to have some fun, too.” Jez raised her glass in greeting, downing half in one sip. “No sign of our target. Think we should move on?”
I pulled my cell phone from my pocket and found one missed call from Raoul, which likely meant that he was looking for Zoey, too.
“Yeah, we’ll go as soon as you’re….” My words broke off. Her glass was empty. “Ok then. We’ll go now.” That was fine by me. I wanted to get out of there before Amanda thought to approach me again.
“Raoul called about ten minutes ago,” I told her when we were back in the car heading down the near empty main strip. “I think he’s looking for her.”
“No voicemail?” Jez looked longingly out the window as we passed the 7/11. She was thinking about cigarettes.
“Nope.”
“Then, it couldn’t have been that important.”
Typical of the small town, those who were not out for the evening were at home in relaxed comfort or already sleeping soundly. Most of the homes we passed were dark or dimly lit. I got back on to the main drag and followed it to my end of town. Once, that section of town had been the rich part, but over the years, it melded into the other old parts of town. Main Street, no longer the main drag, is a tiny business street and older than dirt. Buildings with painted murals give it the impression of being part of an old movie backdrop.