The city was like most: large buildings, the constant blinking of traffic lights, and the constant hum of human life. The business was done by day, but as night fell the city truly came alive. Hundreds of people moved about the docks visiting the bars, clubs, and hang outs that littered the docks. The lives of many would rise and fall at these very hotspots of activity, but this story is about only one.
She was tall with black hair flowing down to her lower back. Her skin was pale and her eyes were a dazzling blue like the shining heart of a glacier. A sleek red dress held close to her body showing off sensual curves. A string strap purse swayed at her side, and boots with 4 inch heels ran up to her knees. Her name was Mai, she was 22 years of age, and she was the undead.
She had been the student of a local community college until one faithful night that she had a run in with a creep and a date rape drug. The guy was halfway into having his way with her when He came. The next thing she had known she was in the apartment that had become her home these last few months. The would-be rapist put too much into her drink, and she OD'ed in that alleyway. Her savior had took pity on her, and brought her into his world.
Tonight was her night to take flight and show Him that she was more then a fledgling. This was her first night feeding on her own, and the instructions were simple. Find prey and feed without being caught by the human authorities. After nearly half a year of training she felt she was ready. This was the night to shine and show she wasn't a failure.
All around her was the steady beat of hundreds of hearts, filling the night like a rhythmic symphony. She smirked gently exposing the tip of one of her fangs as she surveyed the crowed around her. Ahead lay the Spider & the Fly, one of the hottest clubs in town. When she was still a mortal she would never dare come near one of these places, but now things were different. She moved past the line of gathering people and moved to the bouncer watching the door. No move was made for ID, and no explanation was given. A second was taken to catch the bouncer's eyes, and within moments she was making her way into the crowded club.
The same smirk stayed on her face as she made her way to the bar. An extension of the leg, a bending of the elbow and a pose was struck to pull the attention of those around her. She did not waste her time ordering a drink, because within moments she expected to have one brought to her. Previous nights of hunting with Him always were easy, especially claiming a subject after He had a chance to put them under. Undeath was not so hard, and she did not understand why it was so important that she did this on her own. She would have a mortal eating out of her hand within moments.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The club was only half full, and those who were on the dance floor were moving with the partner they had been with for the last hour. Mai rested her head on the bar trying not to let a whining noise escape her throat. It had been hours since she had arrived at the club, and not so much as a single person had made an offer to her. She felt humiliated, especially considering there was some drunken frat boys earlier and not a one had even looked at her. She did not bother to raise her head as the seat next to her was taken.
After a few moments she felt a gentle touch on her shoulder, and she raised her head. Next to her sat an older woman who was smiling down at her. She had curly red hair that seemed to billow down from her shoulders and had light green eyes. She was wearing long sleeved burgundy blouse with a black vest over the shirt. A black skirt showed off powerful legs covering in black stockings and ending in sleek heels. The woman shook her shoulder for a moment before asking, "Are you alright Miss?"
She smiled faintly up at the woman who was showing some sign of concern for a stranger. Sitting up in her stool she straightened herself our, smoothing out her dress and resting her back against the bar. "I'm fine madam, thanks for the concern. I guess I am just worn out from all of the dancing I've been doing tonight."
She tried her best hand at lying, having spent the whole time here glued to this very seat. She did not want to sound pathetic so she tried her best to hide her activities of the night. She gave the woman a quick look over causing a twinge of hunger in her stomach. The woman had a steady and strong heartbeat that seemed to call to her like a siren. She managed to snap herself out of her hunger daze and gave the woman another smile. "My name is Mai," she offered her hand; "I didn't see you in the club earlier. Did you just arrive?"
The older woman watched her for a few moments before offering her own smile and taking the hand giving it a firm shake. She held her hand for a moment and slowly withdrew her hand sliding her fingertips over the back of Mai's hand. "You are very observant. I did just arrive a few minutes ago. I just left another club that I frequent. It has become... dull. Excuse me, I am being rude. My name is Elaine. It is a pleasure to meet you Mai."
A shiver ran down her spine, like a tingle of energy, as the woman withdrew her hand. It took her a moment to re-gather her thoughts and focus on Elaine's words. "Another club you say? It must have been more exciting then this place. This place has a lot of moving bodies but a definite lack of exploring into new people."
Elaine's brow rose gently at the interesting usage of words, but the smile never wavered from her face. "Oh this place does have its charm. It seems to have been entertaining enough to keep your attention. Have you explored many people tonight?"
A blush splashed crimson against Mai's cheeks at the woman's words, even though she had no reason to be embarrassed. "Well... this place has had too few people that were interesting enough for me. Most have been content to just flail about and dance. You have been the first who has actually been interested in conversation."
Elaine shrugged gently, turning towards the bartender at her back. "Scotch, two ice cubes." She turned back towards Mai and offered a smile. "How about you, dear? It will be my treat, an offering in the name of conversation."
She shook her head, gulping slightly in memory of her last experience with normal human food since the change. "No, I should be fine. I like to keep my head level so I don't drink at clubs."
With a nod, Elaine turned fully towards Mai, her knee sliding against her legs for just a moment. Mai felt an odd twinge, one she had never felt before. She had avoided drinking or using her gaze to get a drink and she was only feeling the effect of hunger, or at least that is what she keeps telling herself. She had been a very straight-laced, vanilla girl before the change, so she did not understand the odd feelings she was experiencing. She tried to ignore it, planning to tell Him when she got back to the lair. It was probably just some side effect of the change like she had been warned of.
"So," said Elaine," I frequent the docks often, and this is the first time I have seen you. You sound like you are quite the party girl, so I assume you have been to clubs before. Are you new in town?"
"Oh no, I have lived in this town all my life. I just never went to a club before... I mean before recently. I have been hanging out at a ton of clubs recently." She puts on her best smile, not believing that she slipped up. She had been rehearsing this night in her head for a while and she was trying to stay by the lessons she was taught. One of the most important was to show confidence, and never show that you were a novice. She had been a shy type for years so she did not have much experience in life, but now that she was dead she was truly going to live.
"So you have been blossoming into a social butterfly and seeing the night life? By any chance have you been to the Sugar Petals? It is the club I just came from."
"Oh of course" Mai kept her face a smiling mask. Elaine had an odd way of talking, almost like she was using some kind of code. The name of the club seemed familiar, but she didn't even remember seeing that club when He had shown her about town. "I was there just a few nights ago, I had tons of fun."
The smile on Elaine's face slowly slid into a long grin, her posture slipping as she leaned towards her. "So you like those kinds of clubs do you? From the looks of you I wouldn't think you were that type. You don't seem to be the type of mouse who plays with cats."
It took some effort on her part to keep her face blank. She was confused by the woman's words, but she was also infuriated by being referred to as a mouse. He had called her a shy little mouse for those first few months and she hated it. Her anger was held in as she did not want to cause a scene. The hunger in her stomach grew inflated by her anger. She needed to feed and soon. "Oh I definitely am the type; I go at it till the first light of dawn breaks. I like to wear people down and then keep going."