Always the Vampire

Two square-jawed, buff males, late twenties to mid-thirties in human years. I didn’t get a fix on how long they’d been vampires, but it hadn’t been long as the vampire flies. How did I guess they weren’t ancient vamps? Their dark slacks were classic, but the tropical-print shirts screamed 1980s. They looked like extras from Magnum, P.I.

Broad in the shoulders, narrow in the hips, their bearing military, they strode ever closer. Eyes friendly, but the tip of their fangs flashing in their smiles.

I think Rhianna and Tiffany drooled at the sight of those white fangs. I went on high alert.

“Evening, ladies,” the slightly shorter, surfer-blond vamp shouted over the music. “I hope we’re not intruding.”

“Not if you ask us to dance,” Carole crooned.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Call me overprotective, but I scooted back my chair in case I needed to move fast.

Rhianna waved an elegant hand. “Don’t be a drag. It’s a great idea.”

“Uh, Rhianna, these guys are vampires.”

“I know.” She grinned. “Vampires are almost as good as gays on the dance floor.”

“Better,” Tiffany added with a secret smile.

The taller, black-haired vamp bowed toward Tiffany but speared me with his gaze.

“Aren’t you the Princess Vampire?”

“Who wants to know?” I countered, waiting for the amulet in my pocket to somehow signal danger—maybe to become burning hot and vibrate like it had at the comedy club last month—but it did zip. If not for the lump in my capris, I wouldn’t have known I had the medallion on me.

“My name is Ken, and this is David. We were in the Atlanta nest, and rumor has it you had something to do with the nest breaking up.”

Every muscle tensed as I braced for a brawl. “And if I did?”

“Then we want to buy you a drink.”

I blinked. “You do? You’re not angry?”

“Hell, no, Princess. Begging your pardon, ma’am.”

“It’s Cesca.”

“This is the first time we’ve been out of Atlanta in decades. The first time we’ve had a vacation since we were Turned, and we’re making the most of it.”

Blond David nodded. “That’s right. We’re free, ma’am. We owe you.”

“Good,” Jessica said. “Then you can buy a round of Blushing Brides.”

“Someone’s getting married?” David ventured.

“Not you, Princess,” Ken said, eyes rounding.

“Not me, and it’s Cesca.”

“This is Maggie’s bachelorette party,” Sherry sang, saluting Maggie with her empty glass. “She needs to dance.”

“We all need to dance,” Rhianna decreed. “So, Ken, David. Can you handle nine girls who want to have fun?”

David winked. “Come on, bridal party, let’s boogie.”





The vampires danced, flirted, even sang a half an hour of karaoke with Susan, Evelyn, and Carole. They never crossed the line, and believe me, I watched for the smallest sign of a predatory glint in their eyes. I also used the amulet in my pocket to project a shower of protection over every employee and patron in the club, but I suspected the ladies’ mermaid charms would have stayed silent anyway.

Seemed these vacationing vampires just wanted to have fun, too.

Which was the second thing to strike me as odd about them, and the itchy feeling wouldn’t subside.

True, except for Jo-Jo the Jester, my experience with other vampires was limited. I hadn’t spent much time with those I’d lived with in King Normand’s court, but they couldn’t have spelled fun with a dictionary and a tutor. As for my Daytona Beach vampire acquaintances, they tended to be a quieter, surlier bunch than Ken and David were proving to be.

These guys were gentlemen. Polite, charming, solicitous gentlemen. They even ordered water and encouraged the ladies to hydrate each time they returned to the table—especially after we’d all done a line dance to what seemed like an extra-long version of the Sister Sledge “We Are Family” song.

Yes, I said we all. The ladies got me to lighten up and take to the floor with them. To continue refusing would’ve looked snobbish or suspicious, so I unbent. I even danced solo with Ken to a song from Dirty Dancing. And, okay, I rather did have the time of my life. Ken had those movie dance moves down.

We left the club before midnight, Ken and David insisting they walk us to our cars. That put me on alert again, but they behaved. They thanked us for the evening, mentioned perhaps meeting the next night to dance, but didn’t push. Just waved us off as we wheeled out of the parking lot.

When I’d personally insured that every last sleepy lady was locked in her room, it was time to call Saber and ask the question burning in my gut.

Why the hell hadn’t Ken and David shown a single sign of Void infection?





NINE




“Can you run a check on two vampires for me?”

I snuggled against the queen-bed headboard and braced for Saber to explode. He surprised me by merely sucking in a breath.

“Trouble?”

“No, and I don’t think there will be.”

He expelled a gusty sigh. “Names?”