Chapter 5 #2
“This is opening night,” Zander said. “We start things off with a bang. We’ll need twenty to thirty high-level masochists for this night who will go home when the planes that bring most everyone up return.
We keep one plane on the premises for emergencies, but it’s expensive to keep the hangar heated, so it’s a small plane in a small hangar.
Other than the extras we bring in for opening night, and for balls that happen during the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas, sometimes New Year’s if it works out, everyone who goes will be there the entire three months.
If you want to apply for one or more balls but not the entire stint, there are forms to do so. ”
“Some jobs are only available for those who’ve completed a season already,” Spence said, stepping back onto the stage and walking to stand beside Zander.
“And while Lucien is correct that it’s a hard life for the flock who choose to go,” Zander said, “you have to know I’ll see you as people, even if the vampire guests do not.
Everyone in this room has oathed to me. If not directly, to one of my top people, in my name.
I claim every one of you as mine, and you’re under my protection.
If a vampire brings more harm to you than is allowed, you’ll be recompensed.
Vampires are invited to pay a million-plus dollars to attend, and I only allow those in whom I trust not to cause more harm than is allowed.
My predecessor averaged around two incidents per year.
So far, in the seven years I’ve been here, we’ve had three total, and those vampires are no longer allowed back. ”
“Make no mistake,” Spence said. “The final month will feel like the last miles of a marathon. This is an endurance test. You’ll be well fed, and we have a variety of things to do in your downtime besides sleep, but you’ll feel not only the effects of feeding so many vampires daily, and of changing daily, but also the lack of sunshine.
We have special full-spectrum lightbulbs in the common areas, and we’ll arrange expeditions outside when the aurora borealis is active.
We have a full gym, a sauna, and two running tracks.
Once a week we have organized fights with the losers fucked on stage by the vampire who bids the most in an auction to do so.
Many of the shifter types need that outlet of physical fighting. ”
Zander’s eyes found Emmy’s for the briefest second before he looked away, but she felt it in her spine. In her gut. Goosebumps raised all over.
“The deadline to apply is ten days from now,” Zander said, “but if you qualify for elite positions you should turn your application in as soon as possible, as we’ll begin the interview process for those with acting experience, those who wish to participate in the girlfriend experience, and those who consider themselves extreme masochists next week.
Before you apply for anything, consider your limits.
Understand that this is not a vacation. You will be worked hard, and you will be used and consumed. You will also be well paid.”
“To be clear,” Spence said. “We will rent slaves from both the Senatus and Concilio to fill out our field should we not have enough qualified applicants. The slaves are actually cheaper than paying you, but we prefer willing participants. There will also be some slaves present because some of our guests prefer them, but you’ll mostly be kept away from them. ”
“I believe Spencer’s point was that we aren’t requesting you apply.
We’re giving you the opportunity to do so.
Flock will also come from Vegas, New Orleans, Birmingham, and Florida.
Forty-five paying vampires, and around fifty daywalkers to feed them, including the townspeople.
On top of this, we’ll have security, cooks, cleaning staff, and other jobs manned by both vampires and daywalkers.
The townspeople will help feed the vampire support staff and vampire guards.
You’ll be feeding our guests, along with those of us running the show. ”
He paused. “Questions?”
Someone asked how often they’d be fed, and whether there were quantity restrictions, someone else asked what kind of cold-weather gear would be needed to view the aurora.
Another asked what kind of acting experience was required, and two people inquired about pay for doing only the balls, and how long they’d be gone during Thanksgiving and Christmas.
It seemed they flew another dozen flock members in for the balls, and then they returned home hours later.
Zander answered with clarity and finality, then stepped off the stage and disappeared through the same door he’d come through, but Emmy felt the heat of his gaze long after he left, and Emmy’s skin prickled with awareness, her pulse hammering in a way that had nothing to do with fear.
Felix leaned in and whispered, “So. You gonna go?”
Emmy exhaled slowly. “Fuck yes, I’m going. Constant sex, and if I get extra pay for acting then I’ll make more money in three months than in a year of being coterie food. It’s kind of a no-brainer.”
“You think that now, Your Highness, but Spence wasn’t wrong about that last month.”
She ignored the title and nodded in acknowledgement, but said, “Dragons are strong as fuck. Kinda like I’ve discovered hares are.”
“As an extreme masochist, I sometimes shift the moment I reach the safety of my room. Something tells me you aren’t going to go that route.”
She shook her head. “No. What’s the worst someone’s done to you?”
His gaze clouded over and she scented pain and terror, but he kept his posture relaxed and merely shrugged. “It’s kinda like Fight Club. You don’t talk about it unless you’re there.”
She looked at the now-empty stage and flashed back to how she’d felt when she’d first realized the sexy-as-fuck vampire was Zander, whom she’d known her whole life as Uncle Abbott, her father’s best friend, the vampire who snuck her cookies and answered her endless questions.
He’d represented safety to her, but that man on stage? That wasn’t Uncle Abbott. She’d seen the Master of Alaska, ancient and powerful and completely fucking untouchable.
What had she done to make him dislike her? She’d always thought she was one of his favorite people, when she was young. Was he disappointed in who she’d grown up to be? So disgusted by her actions and choices, he couldn’t bear to be in the same room with her?
But she had a four-point-zero GPA at the moment, and she hadn’t been in trouble on campus a single time. What would it take to convince him she wasn’t the brat with a princess complex who’d fucked her way around the world?
And why did it matter?