Fate of a Blood Moon (The Hades Blood Moon #2)

Chapter 16

Jase

T ony called the club before we hopped on our bikes, confirming that Luciana Morales had indeed signed into a private room tonight and luckily for us, she was still there. Tony led the way to the club on his motorcycle, and I stayed close behind on mine. During the trip, I kept scanning the cars in case my brother gathered his wits quicker than expected to hunt me down.

Fortunately, we arrived undetected at a small club called the Ruby Rose. It was a blood-sharing club run exclusively by the Five-Point Order. I hadn’t heard of it before, but Tony gave me the rundown as we walked to our bikes. This club was more like a blood bank than a den of sin like Blood and Envy. There was no sex, no debauchery of any kind. There was just music, some wine, and monitored feedings.

It was an old brick building that once housed a sugar mill a hundred years ago. The Order purchased the land after the treaty and converted it into a haven for vampires who wanted to feed on humans but not kill them. A concept that had been growing in popularity since the Devil’s Uprising. We approached the large glass entrance that bore a stained-glass rose emblem over the archway. A doorman stepped forward to meet us, his black sports jacket fitted snugly over his broad frame and a small, jeweled rose and pentagram pin gleaming on the lapel. His red hair glowed under the lamps, and his pale skin seemed almost translucent.

As we approached, his sharp green eyes observed us. “Good evening, gentlemen,” he beamed. “Do you have an appointment?”

His cheerful tone irked me, and I thought about shoving past the man and walking in. Before I could, Tony moved past me, mimicking that same repulsive grin. “Are you Freddie McIntire?” Tony asked.

“The one and only,” Freddie replied.

“We spoke on the phone tonight. I’m Tony Manetti.”

Freddie nodded, and his face lit up. “Yes, of course. We have you on the schedule for eleven twenty. Lucy’s finishing up with her eleven o’clock.” Freddie looked at me, his green eyes scanning me over. “Vampires have a different vetting process that requires you to speak with Rebecca. I’ll need to see both of your IDs. After you check in, she'll give you a quick tour before your appointment.”

This was going to take too damn long. I smiled anyway and handed over my license to Freddie.

“Alright,” the man said. “Give me five minutes to get you checked in.”

Freddie pulled out a radio before going inside the building. He began speaking, and when I tried to listen with my enhanced hearing, I realized I couldn’t.

“Soundproof magic,” Tony explained, seeing my frustration pour from me. “Keeps the secrets safe from nefarious eavesdroppers … like yourself.”

I smirked at him and crossed my arms. “I gotta warn you. I’ve seen Lucy like this. You haven’t. Are you sure you’re ready to see your friend as a vampire? I mean, you haven’t seen her in four months.”

Tony winced as he inhaled sharply through his nose, shoving his hands in his jacket pockets. “From what my sources have told me, she’s the same. Well, except instead of struggling to lift a crate of beer glasses, she can bench press an entire car now.”

I huffed out a laugh. “Lucy lost her humanity. Don’t be so na?ve as to think she’s the same.”

Tony glared at me. “I get that you’ve lived a life full of bloodshed and violence, but what if this entire theory about vampires not having a connection to their souls is bullshit? We know vampires’ souls go to Purgatory until they’re gone for good. But what if pieces of that soul stick around, letting vampires hold on to their humanity? I don’t know. Maybe it’s all bullshit. Or it all comes from that demon blood Valentina passed down from Kylan.” Tony flashed me a side smirk. “You’re not an asshole for not having a soul because it’s not the soul that makes you a decent human being.” He tapped my forehead with the tip of his finger. I debated biting it off. “It comes from inside there.”

Tony looked over at the entrance, and then turned back to me.

He has more to say.

“You need to feed on humans to survive,” he continued, “and watch everyone you have ever cared for die while you live on. I get it—I understand why you’d use the power of a vampire to shut it all off. Vampires like Lucy, though, would welcome every moment of grief, sorrow, and joy to avoid becoming a monster.”

I blinked, surprised by Tony’s thoughts. Love and desire weren’t entirely foreign to me. I had felt those brighter emotions before. The demon part of me wanted only to kill, destroy, and feed. However, the other side I buried long ago wanted to rip free and smother the darkness.

Freddie came back outside before I could open my mouth and ask questions I didn’t know how to ask.

“Alright, Mr. Manetti. I’ve cleared you to meet Ms. Morales in her private room. When you enter, head up the stairs and down the hall to the check-in desk. Rebecca will get you inside and escort you there after your tour.”

Tony smiled and extended his hand to Freddie. “Thanks, man.”

Freddie grinned and shook his hand eagerly before turning to me. “Behave yourselves in there. The Five-Point doesn’t tolerate violence in places like this. If you touch anyone without permission, we won’t just kick you out, if you catch my drift.”

I curled my lip at him and raised a particular finger in the air. “Scout’s honor.”

Tony sneered at me. “Come on. Let’s go.”

We walked past Freddie and up the black granite staircase leading to the Ruby Rose.

At the end of the hallway, a woman with warm brown skin and a beautiful smile sat at a mahogany table. Her gold-plated name tag read, “Rebecca.”

“Mr. Manetti. Come on, guys. Follow me,” she said cheerfully as she rose to lead us to a pair of stainless-steel double doors with a keypad and card reader.

She produced a black card with a five-point star emboldened on the surface and tapped it on the reader. She then pressed a few keys away from our eyes. There was a hiss of metal locks, and the door swung open easily.

Rebecca rounded on us. “Now, there are rules in this establishment that have to be followed. The first rule is absolutely no unsanctioned feedings. The vampires already have assigned volunteers, and any interference will result in immediate execution. No excuses; you’re dead. We staff several wolves and witches to deter any unacceptable behaviors. Second rule: if you fight, we’ll kill you. You have an issue with a vampire; you take it outside and away from here. The establishment refuses to allow any violence that could harm humans or get us shut down. The same punishment applies here—last, no inappropriate behavior.”

Her dark eyes landed on me pointedly, as if I’d already been singled out for a warning.

“We’re aware that a vampire bite can be euphoric, but that’s no excuse to engage in sexual activity. This place isn’t for that. We’ll bar you from this club forever, and our witches will ensure you never return. Are you clear on the rules, gentlemen?”

I offered her my best smile. “Crystal clear.”

Tony gave me a side-eyed glance before nodding. “We’ll behave.”

We stepped over the threshold into the club, and my mouth parted in shock. I’d expected something clinical, like sterile white walls, shitty music, and communal wine for guests. Instead, I walked straight into the 1920s.

Golden glass lamps bathed the main room in a warm, dusk-like glow. A low, sultry saxophone solo drifted from the overhead speakers. Green velvet and mahogany couches formed intimate clusters around the space, each table adorned with vases of red roses that made my senses sting. There was a lively buzz of laughter as guests lounged on the couches, sipping wine and picking at plates of food.

On the left-hand side was a bar with rows of liquor bottles across the glass shelves. Near the back were several numbered doors. Some had a red rose attached to the handles, while others were bare. I looked around and noted a few staff members stationed around the room and next to the doors. A sniff in the air told me they were all werewolves. One of them kept glancing in our direction, mainly focused on me.

The best choice to subdue a vampire if they get out of line.

The club was so unlike anything I had ever seen before. Most places I frequented were dark dens of blood, lust, and pain. Even the other Five-Point licensed businesses weren’t this laid back.

“Well, this is different,” I said to Tony as we crossed the room. The patrons’ eyes glanced over at us as we passed and then back to their conversations, disinterested.

“The main rooms serve as meeting places for vampires and their suppliers, and witches use them to monitor the security cameras,” Rebecca said, pointing to a black glass bulb on the ceiling and in every corner of the room. “They use magic to detect abnormal behaviors from either group and deal with them accordingly.”

Way too many fucking rules. A place like this would drive me crazy.

Rebecca stopped before a dark red-brown door with a red rose woven through the bronze handle. She flicked her pointer and middle fingers over the handle, and the rose wilted and fell to the floor.

“Enchanted locks to keep wandering folks out of private sessions. When the pair is done, the rose will wilt and fall. I’m the only witch who bypasses the Rose Lock spell in case of emergencies—or other circumstances. From the looks of it, your companion was close to finishing her session, anyway. Just give her a few minutes, and wait until her client steps out of the room.”

Once Rebecca left us to wait and rounded the corner, I placed my hand on the doorknob, but Tony grabbed my arm.

“Wait, I need to go first. Lucy might panic if she sees you right away, and we can’t risk a brawl with an innocent human in the crossfire. Not to mention—” He pointed over his shoulder at the werewolves.

I sighed and stepped back, gesturing to the door. “Have at it, then.”

Tony’s hand shook a little as he grabbed the handle, pushing it against the door. It creaked as it swung inside a wide-open suite. The room’s design mirrored the main area, but it catered to a private, one-on-one experience. The low lights cast a warm orange-gold glow over the dark-green walls. A couch was in the middle of the room, and Lucy and a human man were sitting on it, a few pillows propping up her client.

From the looks of it, she wasn’t done.

Lucy leaned over the man’s throat, her dark hair gleaming in the light. Carefully, she wrapped her arms around the man in a close embrace as she fed, her sleeves rolled up, exposing her tattoos.

Andrei told me that shortly after Lucy joined the clan, she expressed relief that her tattoos remained after I’d turned her. Anything new would heal too quickly for the ink to take, but those marks stayed. She saw them as a physical reminder of the humanity taken from her.

The man was in his thirties, with thinning brown hair and a lean build. His eyes were closed, and he was enjoying the euphoric effects of a vampire bite.

After a few seconds, Lucy pulled her head away from the man’s throat. He opened his eyes and winced, putting a hand over the puncture wounds.

“Oh my God. I’m so sorry. Did I hurt you there?” Lucy asked frantically. She didn’t notice our presence as she reached for a warm cloth beside the couch and pressed it against the man’s neck. “I’m sorry. I don’t enjoy doing this. Are you okay?”

“No, I’m fine, thank you,” he said, looking up to meet her eyes. “I actually enjoy the pain, as odd as that sounds.”

Lucy smiled while Tony’s eyes filled with anguish. He then cleared his throat, drawing the pair’s gaze to him. I quickly ducked out of sight and waited.

“Lucy,” he called. “Sorry to interrupt, but we need to talk.”

“Tony,” she breathed before jumping to her feet. “How did you know I was here?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Tony looked at the man, who stared nervously at him. “You can leave now.”

The tone suggested no argument. He nodded, rising gradually to avoid feeling faint and falling over. He grabbed his coat and looked at Lucy one last time. “Thank you, Miss Lucy. See you next month.”

The man brushed past us and disappeared into the main room.

I peered around the doorframe as Tony stepped into the room. Lucy looked at him, her mouth open in shock. Within a breath, the two embraced, crushing each other, as if they were afraid something would rip them apart again. Another nagging pull in my chest flared. I rubbed my sternum as I went into the room and shut the door behind me.

“Well, isn’t that touching?” I said coldly. The two jumped apart, and Lucy hissed at me, showing me the fangs that she hadn’t retracted yet.

“Demons like you don’t get to enjoy places like this,” she growled. “Get the fuck out of here.”

Her dark eyes shifted crimson, but Tony stepped in front of her.

“Lucy … wait. He’s here because of me. Actually, because of Rachel.” We both watched as her eyes grew wide. “Yeah, we need to talk.”

Lucy turned back to me, her eyes boring into mine, as if her stare alone would burn a hole through them.

Since I’d turned her, we’d done our best to avoid talking or being in the same room. She’d spent most of her time outside the mansion but was still part of the family, still moving through the halls of the home and making friends within the clan. Not that I was afraid she’d stake me from behind; I just knew that I’d done something pretty fucked up to her, and I gave her the space she needed.

With me coming into the one place she felt truly safe, I was stepping on dangerous ground. Right then, I realized it was going to take a hell of a lot of convincing to get her to trust me.

Lucy turned to Tony, and her eyes finally softened. “What do you mean … Rachel?”

Tony shifted on his heel and nodded. “I’ll let the demon explain this one, but you might want to sit down.”

Lucy’s eyes widened, but she nodded, moving back to the couch. Once she settled on the cushions, she leaned forward, placing her elbows on the tops of her thighs, and crossing her forearms. Her furious gaze lifted to meet mine. “What the hell is going on?”

“This going to sound fucking insane to you, and frankly, it took me a long time to accept it. So, try to keep an open mind.” I exhaled slowly, trying to find the right words to explain this shitty mess. “Months ago, I was hell-bent on catching Rachel and using her for my own agenda,” I explained. “I wanted her blood to awaken and take revenge on her mother. I had even planned to kill her after I did as more punishment for the woman who destroyed my family. She was my means to an end. But something changed. Something that solidified my thoughts about her over the four years I followed her.”

“Four—” She paused, her fangs out again. “Four years?”

Fuck, I never mentioned that.

I waved my hand. “Again, means to an end. The wolves got a little creative in my brother’s club and blew the damn thing up tonight. I don’t think it’ll take long for them to notice my absence.”

Lucy’s mouth dropped in shock before she pressed her lips into a thin line. She leaned against the back of the couch, and Tony touched her shoulder gently. Lucy nodded at me to proceed.

“Valentina told me the reason I couldn’t harm Rachel, even that night in the church, and why I feel compelled now to find her.”

I ran my hand through my hair.

“Apparently, the divine magics had a plan for me from the moment she was born. Our souls latched on to each other, and she somehow pulled my soul back from entering Purgatory when Valentina turned me. At least, most of my essence stayed behind, sealing a fate under that blood moon I never thought possible.”

Lucy’s jaw dropped. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Rachel and I …” God, why does saying it out loud make me so uneasy? “… are fated mates. The pull to be near her was created when the Hades Blood Moon crossed the sky two hundred years ago. The bond took full effect during that same Blood Moon at the church in Boston when she fed on my blood.”

She placed her palm over her mouth and shook her head.

“Look, I don’t know if what Valentina said was the truth, but I need answers, and I can’t let Andrei capture Rachel and lock her away forever. What he plans to do to save our souls from Hell could kill her.”

She shook her head. “Andrei wouldn’t do that.”

“Yes, he would,” I said. “Andrei made a deal with Black Onyx. In exchange for retrieving a power source to kill the Devil, he gets to lock Rachel away in his lair for all of eternity if she survives the spell. We got wind of it once he found her living somewhere in Venice. He’s had a tracker on her this entire time.”

Lucy fell silent, her hand pressed against her heart like it was pounding against her ribs. The gesture was so human, and another uncomfortable emotion tried to make its way into my head. “But Andrei doesn’t know where she is … exactly , right?”

“Some mansion outside of Venice. He never showed me where, though. We haven’t exactly gained each other’s trust. He just needed to gather resources to make his move. Of course, with the destruction of his club, this may delay him.”

Lucy cleared her through. “Um … but I might know where she’s at … exactly.”

Of course, she does.

“Care to share?” I asked, while Tony folded his arms tightly across his chest, giving her a heated look.

“Oh, come on, Tony. I’m her best friend, for God’s sake. She didn’t want to put you in harm’s way, so I promised her I’d keep it a secret. I’d delete the call log as soon as we’d hang up. I had her saved in my phone with a different name.”

“Lucy,” Tony said, “especially now that you know where she is, we need you to come with us. Andrei will figure out what’s happened and slaughter everyone, including you, if not to manipulate you into something you know deep down is wrong. We have to protect her from him. And we have to do it now.”

Lucy glared at me, hatred still burning in her eyes. I stared back. She must have seen something because she sighed and grabbed her purse from the coat rack near the door. “You know I’d do anything for Rachel. So, consider yourself lucky, Jase. But it doesn’t mean I like you.”