The loud, dark nightclub was teeming with the nocturnal freaks. Nikolas was enjoying it more than I was.
Unfortunately, this seedy place was the norm for vampires like us who wanted to stay out of the spotlight. Anonymous was everyone's name here, and that's the way I wanted to keep it. No doubt mainstream had its privileges, but I'd been there before and couldn't deal with the constant anxiety and probing questions. Here, I could observe, unseen, just as I liked it. Humanity's carelessness and farce were entertainment to us. Tragedy ensued, but we outlived it anyway. Why not laugh about it? In the end, it's our playground.
I digress. Nikolas brought me back to the present when he whooped at a naked Asian girl with blue hair who was gyrating wildly on the stage. Even for a centuries old creature, he could pass for a frat boy in jeans and a polo shirt, holding a beer. He had purposely mussed his long blonde hair and when he was relaxed, he looked to be about 22.
I was dressed similarly in ratty jeans and a t shirt, trying to pull off the college guy look. Many young ladies were eyeing us, most of them under the influence of some type of drug induced trance. It would be simple to feed tonight, if we wished. They wouldn't remember a thing and they'd write off the headaches and fatigue as part of an already expected hangover. They'd never even miss that pint of blood.
That realization registered with me vaguely, as my mind was still reeling from Ra's unexpected visit the night before. I had only a few days left to leave for Odessa. I know Nikolas had shared the details of the visit with me, but he had hypnotically pulled them from my mind. I wasn't allowed to know what was going on right now, but I could remember a faint blur of our conversation. I was holding onto a sense of apprehension that I couldn't shake loose from my mind or my gut.
I tried my best to relax and appreciate the female specimens before us. There were a few attractive men here, as well, that I wouldn't mind feeding from. Many centuries of sex with women had bored me occasionally and every now and then I craved intimacy with another man. I wished sometimes that Nikolas would think of me that way but it hadn't happened yet. I doubt it ever would. Either way our bond would be indestructible.
One thing I had learned over the years was that sex and intimacy were interchangeable and in constant metamorphosis. Or maybe I was just an old, ancient whore. The thought amused me.
A woman caught my eye. She was not a performer, but didn't quite blend in with the typical clientele. She held herself differently, with more confidence. She was young, maybe 19. Her black dress was short and sleek, but it looked finely made. Her hair was long and a deep, dark brown. She sat at the bar, seeming aloof to the characters around her.
She did not notice my gaze. She seemed to be surveying the people, the situation. My first thought was that she was an authority figure. That didn't seem right, though. I watched as she discreetly eyed a young black man who seemed to be just as high as everyone else. The group of guys were drinking and tipping the dancers, obviously enjoying themselves. This man was looking a little ill, though. As she watched, he rose from his seat and headed toward a side exit, obviously needing some fresh air.
I looked back to find my mystery woman, but she was not there. Surprised, I turned my eye back to the exit, seeing her as she quickly slipped out the door behind him. She was very fast, like a cat. I made my way quickly to the exit behind them and slid into the alleyway, into the brisk night air. I stood rock still and completely soundless. I listened intently.
