Hours later, they walked into The Tollhouse. Michael held the door open for her, out of habit, not necessarily chivalry, watching her walk in, clad in a webbed bodysuit and boots. Leana entered, her body instantly captivated by the pulsing techno rhythms. She looked around, entranced by all the tasty, pretty people and the decadent thoughts that drift through the air like smoke. She sensed the power of her own sexuality, noticing the stares, the lustful glances from both young men and women. Gripping Michael's elbow, she yelled, "C'mon, let's go to the bar and get a drink. I know the bartender....he'll know something about Chianne." Totally out of his element, he decided it was easiest to follow her lead. They elbowed their way to the bar, and the bartender, in a flash of recognition, leaned over to plant a kiss on Leana's cheek. Michael wondered if it was like kissing a snake.
"Hey darlin', what can I get you," the bartender shouted.
"Martinis, for me and my friend. How have you been?" Leana shouted back.
"Fabulous. You know how it is, one long party. Lets see, you are an onion girl, not olives, right?" Colin, the bartender was mixing as he talked, seemingly oblivious to everyone but the tiny, odd girl who hadn't been in for a few months.
She laughed. "No that was the other uber-hot vixen. Olives for me, and and extra shot of gin for my uptight friend here." She nodded back to Michael, who shuddered quietly at the mere thought of gin, much less an extra shot.
Colin laughed and skewered 2, dropping them in. "Here you go, uber-hot vixen."
She leaned in, motioning him closer. "Colin, you do remember me, right?"
He nodded. "You were here with that one group, the ones from New York."
"I used to do doubles with Chianne." Leana looked down.
Colin blinked, then looked down, obviously at a loss of what to say. Leana took pity on him and lowered her eyes. "I heard."
Colin exhaled, totally relieved. "Have they caught the guy yet, do you know?" Michael was leaning in to catch every word. "I heard it was one of her clients."
Leana moved closer. "I was concerned it might've been someone I'd scened with too."
Colin shook his head. "I don't think so. She screened pretty carefully and if it was here, we screened as well." She motioned him close, so she could speak into his ear. "Look, Colin, I need to know what happened. I need to know who did this. Don't bullshit me; tell us who we can talk to about this. It's life or death."
Colin shrugged. "I don't know anything for sure; I only know what I hear." He looked to each side, making sure no one is overhearing, but no one was paying the least amount of attention, they were too busy scooping bites of honey off the bikini-clad girl lying on the bar, with the apple slices that were being passed around.
"What have you heard, Colin?" Leana pressed again.
"She didnt have any blood left. Do you know how hard it is to drain a body?!" Colin shuddered, and Michael smiled. Given the fact he was unaware he was talking to two Immortal vampires made for interesting irony.
Michael leaned down to shout in her ear. "He doesn't know anything more, let's keep moving."
Leana turned to look up at him, "Why don't you go mingle, Michael? You might turn up a lead that way. Besides, you're cramping my style." She eyed a young, scantily clad, male submissive. She turned away, looking for a cigarette in her purse, still watching the male. Michael wandered off, calling her every name in the book, plus a few that he thought up on his own.
Something played on the edge of her hearing, already preternatural. "Odd," she thought. "The sound system here didn't used to have that static.."
Michael wandered through, looking at all the latex, the piercings, the half-dressed bodies, all dancing, or engaged in some form of play. He stared, totally out of his element. He knew this lifestyle existed, but he'd never seen it, much less this up close and personal.
After teasing the male sub a little, Leana went in search of Michael. She found him leaning against a wall, looking distinctly out of his element. She laughed as she walked up to him. He watched her, walking up in front of him, and feels the mood of the club, and their latent dislike of each other warring. She folded her arms and stood there, looking at him.
"What?" she said.
"Just wondering what sort of crazy shit you're thinking about." Michael answered.
She pointed over his shoulder. "Look at her form. She's an amazing top." He followed her line of sight.
"What am I looking at?" he asked.
"The tall blonde, with the female sub on the horse. Watch her strike. She's got perfect aim," Leana watched, taking notes, ever interested in learning.
Michael watched the display of blatant aggressive eroticism with a mix of horrified fascination and the vaguest hint of arousal. Leana looked over at him and sees a slightly dreamy expression. Now it was his turn.
"What?" he asked.
"You can't tell me that's not hot," Leana said, laughing. Michael watched again, strangely fascinated.
"Well, no, actually I can't tell you that. I'm not sure I understand it." For the first time, Michael answered her without hostility.
"Michael, tell me something. Honestly, for once. Look at that woman and tell me she isn't in heaven right now."
"I don't know where she is. She looks like she isn't here though, that's for sure. Wait, who are we talking about? The one on the giving end or the one on the receiving?" He was truly lost for a moment.
Leana smiled. "Both, actually, but I was referring to the sub."
"Why do you think it's heaven," he asked, genuinely curious.
"When you drift into subspace, with a good top, it is...I can't even describe it. It's the best high, the best drunk, the best sex, you've ever had." Leana was trying to describe the indescribable.
"I'm sure you're intimately familiar with all of these kinds of perversions, and....more." Michael shifted his weight from foot to foot, distinctly uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was turning. Leana, completely aware of this, laughed.
"Yes, and more. Look at her..Look at her body. Every nerve in her is tingling, and begging for release." Leana moved her finger up and down, as if tracing the woman's body. Michael looked, trying to see what she saw. Leana saw her opportunity, and leaned close and stretched up to whisper in his ear. "Look at her thighs shaking..her hands are moving, asking for..she doesn't know what, but her body is craving it." He was taken aback, it all came clear. He could see it, the flush of the submissive's skin, the way her thighs were tight, and shaking, the way she strained against the horse she was tied to. Furthermore, he was shocked at the small trill that ran through his body as Leana's lips grazed his ear. Mentally he shook himself. This woman was a viper, a snake in the grass. She was out only for herself, and cared little about anyone or anything, including those that once risked injury to save her. He looked down at her, to see her looking up at him, a soft smile playing at her lips. Here, in the dark, the garish makeup made her look tiny, exotic and dangerous. Who was he kidding, he thought. She was tiny, exotic and dangerous. He noticed the gleam in her eye.
"Not on your wasted life!" Michael stated firmly.
"You afraid of little me?" she teased.
"Afraid? No. I simply don't trust you." Michael was firm in his resolution.
"You don't have to trust me, although it does help. I think you're afraid you will like some of my...perversions." Leana laughed, utterly delighted.