Dom and I decided to go where the monsters hang out. There are a few known spots in Indy and since it was still daylight we headed for the obvious choice, Mr. Dans. When we pulled up we spotted three vamps right off. Two females and one male. The male was around six feet even and built like a brick shit house, all muscle. His face was flat and his eyes were close together, not much to look at, but his complexion was a nice caramel color. His lady friends were pretty enough. One looked as if she was a supermodel at one time, all legs and skinny as hell. She wore her long blond hair in a ponytail, her stance was serious, almost challenging, her blue eyes piercing. The other one looked happy go lucky, all smiles and flirty, she was shorter than the other female and she looked to be Creole. She had the attitude of a seasoned vamp, no cares in the world. I was betting she was the ring leader.
We got out of the car and approached them. The male stepped up first, he was the muscle. But me being me, I was not intimidated. I could take him down in no time flat. But Dom being Dom, he stepped right up in front of me.
“Hey, how’s it going?”
“Pretty good. Do I know you?” His voice sounded like he chewed on rocks.
“Not at all, but I would like to ask you a few questions.”
Dom was trying hard to play nice.
“Look, man, you might want to move along.” He flashed his fangs.
“Hold on there sparky.” I flashed my blade.
“Now you I know, or I’ve heard of.” This from happy go lucky in the back.
She stepped up and placed her hand on the muscle, he moved back, a little. “Yes, I’ve heard of you, Ms. Sari.”
“Just Sari, no Ms. needed.” I pulled my blade from its holder, kept it close to my side.
“I have no problem answering a few questions, violence is not needed here.” Her voice was like silk, she could seduce a victim just by talking to them. She was definitely seasoned.
“First, cut the voice trick, it won’t work on me. Second, who are you and your merry band of bandits?”
She laughed, her light brown eyes dancing, I wasn’t sure if I should be insulted or join in.
“I am Nola, and this is Jasper and Marie.” She pointed to herself then her friends.
“Well since you know me there is no need to introduce myself, this is Dom.” I gestured to him. “And he is having a hard time not putting his blade in your friends’ heart, so you might want to tell him to back up a couple clicks.”
She put her hand on his chest and pushed him back. “Jasper you are being disrespectful, they just want to chat.”
“Yeah Jasper, we just want to chat.” I winked at him, I know petty, sue me.
I kept my eye on Nola and Marie, I knew that Dom had Jasper in his crosshairs, we were covered, I hoped.
“Have you heard of a vampire named Milton.”
Her reaction was quick, a look of disgust, then it vanished.
“Milton, umm.” She tapped her fingers on her chin as if she was thinking about it. “We have established a good thing here Nola, no violence, but I won’t be lied to.”
I could tell she didn’t like me. “Yes, I know Milton. What do you want with him?”
One thing about vamps, even if they hated each other they were loyal. “I just have a few questions for him.”
“You are full of questions little one. You do not want to tangle with Milton, he is, shall we say, vicious.” She did the voice thing again.
I shook my head at her, she really didn’t want to dance with me, I’m a lousy partner. “Don’t let the small size fool you Ma. If you see him tell him Sari’s looking for him.” We started to walk away.
“He may find that as a challenge little one.”
“He can take it how he wants to, I don’t care. Just tell him.”
Dom and I got in the Rover and I put my blade away, he did the same. “Why does everyone refer to my size?”
Dom laughed at me. I guess this was a day for jokes and no one bothered to tell me.
We went back to my place, I just couldn’t bring myself to say our place, and changed clothes. We were going to a club downtown called Fangs, yes really that’s the name. It’s a known vamp spot and maybe Milton hung out there. I changed into a pair of black slacks that were loose fitting in the legs so I could access my blades and a red tank top blouse with a pair of red high heeled sandals. They were going to be a bitch to run in, but I could still fight in them, it helped that the heels were silver.
As I was strapping my small sword to my back, Dom came in the room. He looked so good I wanted to stay home and roll around with him, naked. He had on some navy-blue slacks, a white button-down shirt, and some black dress shoes. His shirt was unbuttoned to where you could see his cross and that hard chest. Goodness gracious, my little Black and Italian mixed man.
“Damn Sari, you look good enough to eat.”
I think I actually blushed. “I was thinking something on those same lines about you.” I finished strapping my sword on. “What are you packing handsome?”
“My arm blades, boot knives, some mixtures.”
“Yeah me too, plus the mini back here.” I pointed to the sword.
“How are we going to get in, don’t they pat people down at clubs here?”
“Yes, they do, but I have my own way of getting in.”
He shook his head at me. “Only you.”
He came over to me and gave me a hug, kissing me on my cheek. “No wonder I fell in love with you.”
Him saying that gave me butterflies. To think that this man, someone who knows who I am and what I do, could fall for me. Bad attitude, monster killing, spoiled a little, Sari. I guess there was someone out there for everybody.
“I love you too. Let’s rock and roll."
We arrived at the club and of course parking was a bitch, even for a Thursday night. We found a spot near the street, which wasn’t too bad especially if we had to make a fast exit. We walked to the door, looking like your average couple, right. The usual doorman was standing front and center, yay me. He’s a vamp that I saved a few years back, so he thinks he owes me. He spotted me and smiled, fangs and all.
“Hey Sari, came to have some fun?”
“Something like that. I’m actually looking for someone. A master named Milton.”
He pulled me to the side, Dom followed. He looked at Dom and was about to stop him.
“He’s with me, Biggs.”
“Oh ok, sorry man.”
“No worries.” Dom was so smooth.
“Look, Sari, Milton is bad news. He’s messing around in some bad shit man.” He tried to whisper, but his voice was too big, hence the name.
“I’ve heard, that’s why I’m looking for him.”
“Not to doubt your abilities Ma, but he’s a true Master, with a capital M. You might want to pass on this one.”
“Can’t Biggs. It’s my job, plus I have back up.” I touched Dom’s chest.
“Alright, if you say so. He’s not here right now, but he does come from time to time.”
“If you spot him, come and find me. I have no idea what he looks like.”
“If he comes you will know, he’ll be the worst vamp in the room. People flock to him without him having to do a thing.”
“Good looking out Biggs.” I patted him on the arm.
We went straight to the bar and ordered drinks, a long island iced tea for me and a gin and tonic for Dom. The music was sexy, all bass and drums. You could feel the power in the room, too many vamps in one place will have that effect.
Humans don’t really know what they’re feeling, it’s just a pull they cannot deny. I looked at the dance floor, people bumping and grinding on each other, on vamps, very seductive. Dom and I nursed our drinks, scooping out the place. We both felt it at the same time, a pull, full on power. We turned our heads to the left at the same time and saw Milton. He was big, had to be close to seven feet tall. I couldn’t place his nationality at first, he seemed like a mixture of everything. He wore all black, pants, shirt, leather trench. The power around him was breathtaking. Milton’s entourage was normal sized for a Master Vamp. He had his muscle, which was ridiculous because he was the biggest thing in the room, and his ladies, at least four of them. Dom and I were defiantly outnumbered.
He slowly turned in our direction, pulled down his glasses and winked at me, his eyes were amber, holy shit. Dom tensed immediately, his hands fisting at his sides. All I could do was look, I wasn’t compelled, I just couldn’t believe the power he was putting off. Milton went to a back booth and sat down, his escorts sat at another table. That was all the invitation I needed. I started to walk towards him, but Dom pulled me back. I gave him a questioning look, he simply shook his head.
“What’s the deal, Dom?”
“This doesn’t feel right Sari.”
“We came here to talk to him. I realize we are outnumbered, no fighting just talking.”
“If things get dicey we skip out.”
“Agreed.”
We went over to Milton and sat down, both of us across from him.
“I heard you were looking for me.” His voice was big and hard. The bass in it could drown out the drums in the club.
“Yes, I had some questions for you Milton.” My voice stayed steady, yay me.
“I presume this is about Gilbert Manor.” He smiled.
“It is. What are you guys working on Milton?”
“Aww little one. I do not tell my secrets.”
“I’m only going to tell you once. If what you two are concocting hurts humans in any way I will eliminate you.”
“Threats already in our relationship,” He shook his head, “What a pity.”
“I’m not threatening you in the least. My job is to keep humans safe, that’s what I’m going to do. And for the record, we do not have a relationship.”
He looked at me like he had a secret. “I understand Sari. I’m sure we will meet again.”
I suppose he was dismissing me. That was fine, Dom and I didn’t stand a chance against Milton and his gang.
“I look forward to it.” I lied.
Dom and I got up from the table, watching our backs. You can’t take a vampire’s threats lightly, it may not come today or tomorrow for that matter, but it’s coming.
We decided to leave the club, we had gotten what we came for. We felt the heaviness as soon as we hit the parking lot. Four vamps came out of nowhere. Two females and two males still outnumbered, but none of them were masters. The first male went at Dom fast, he had his blade out faster, the vamp went poof. Nice and clean. The second one was a beast, he hit Dom from the back and knocked him down flat, straddled him and went to work. I went to assist and was pulled from behind. She was about my size, but strong as hell, hyped up blood for sure. I headbutted her from the back and turned quickly. I dropped low and went for her knees. She dropped with me and blocked the blow. I took a hit straight in the face, I swear I saw stars. I rolled and got back on my feet. I had just enough time to pull the mini from my back. You could hear the sound of metal against metal throughout the entire parking lot. The vamp came straight for me. I sliced her twice on the arm, but she kept coming. I twirled around her, hit the back of her head with the butt of the sword. I needed some room to maneuver. She staggered but didn’t drop. I scissor kicked her in the stomach, that made her fall to her knees. I took her head off.
I looked over at Dom just in time to see his vamp turn to dust, what a pity I loved to see that man fight. Then I fell to my knees. Something was on the back of my neck. The second female vamp. She was small but strong. Not hyped up blood strong, but strong enough. I grabbed a hand full of shirt and pulled her off me. She fell in front of me. I looked at her, she was a kid, maybe twelve when she was changed. I couldn’t believe it.
I pulled my cross out. “Look, kid, I’m giving you a pass. Leave now and I won’t kill you.” Please don’t make me kill you.
“Fuck you!” What a dirty little mouth she had.
“Last chance.” I stood slowly, pulled my boot knife out.
She held her hands up as if she were surrendering. She backed away quickly. I turned to Dom and she was on my back again. I felt her fangs near my neck at the same time I saw Dom throw his blade. Someone was screaming really loud. I figured out later it was me.
“Dom, what the fuck!” I yelled at him.
“She was about to bite you, Sari.”
“She was a kid.”
“She was a vamp, and we need to get out of here before more show up.”
He pulled me to the car and jumped in the driver’s seat. I was quite the whole way home. I didn’t know what to say to him. In my mind, we could have given her a pass, but Dom didn’t see it that way. I walked into the condo and slammed the door, taking my jacket and weapons off as I went.
“What’s the problem, Sari?”
“Dom, you might want to give me some space.”
“No Sari, we discuss this now.”
I turned on him. “Really, now Dom.” I pulled out one of my kitchen chairs, sat down. “Fine, why the hell did you kill her? I was giving her a chance to walk away.”
“Did you not feel her fangs on your neck? What the hell did you expect me to do let her bite you?” He was the hunter now, not my Dom. And that was fine because I was Sari, warrior fucking supreme.
“You could have gotten her off Dom, let her walk away.”
“Why would I do that, she was a vamp, Sari. A bad vamp that attacks people. We kill those or did you forget?”
“No I didn’t forget, but we are supposed to have feelings, Dom, otherwise we’re
just like them.”
“So I’m a fucking monster now?”
“Are you.”
He walked away from me. Paced the floor. I could tell he was trying to get his words together.
“Look, Sari.” He crouched down in front of me. “We kill the bad guy’s period. She could be nine or ninety-seven, if she attacks people, we kill her. Period.” He looked at me as if I were new at this, it was pissing me off.
“Dom, don’t tell me my job. I’ve been hunting longer than you and on my own. I know what we do. All I’m saying is, she was a kid.”
“Feeling sorry for her almost cost you your life. Do you have any idea what that would do to me, any idea? Sari please.” He got up.
Damn it, damn it, damn it!!! “Dom, look I’m sorry, really, but I cannot help the fact that I have compassion for some of them. I do not have a death wish, seriously. I just think we could have handled that differently.”
He turned back around. “Let’s just agree to disagree Sari.”
“Fine.”
“Just please, don’t ever ask me to choose between one of them and you. You will win every time.” He walked back into the bathroom and closed the door.
I heard the shower turn on. How can I stay mad at him when he says things like that.