Chapter 6
Unlike other cult intake locations, the vampires stayed still.
They were exclusive. They were luxury. And technically, they didn’t do anything illegal.
They acted more like an ultra-exclusive club than a cult.
As far as I was aware, when people spent money with the vamps, they actually received something tangible in return.
Which was at odds with how most ‘pay-to-play’ cults worked.
‘Pay-to-play’ cults usually took money, lots of it, from current and aspiring members.
The money paid brought someone to a higher level, which in most cases took the form of a title change.
From novice to guardian. Or sage to knowledge keeper, or some other similarly branded title.
People thought they were buying access to a higher plane of existence, to wisdom, or moral superiority.
All of which was extremely difficult to quantify. Or prove.
With the vamps, at least, it was real.
When vamp members paid to move up a level, they received access to more rights and privileges.
More parties. More respect. More access to services, though I couldn’t remember all of the services offered.
The ultimate step, of course, was getting fangs.
Real fangs. A permanent extension to their upper canines by a vamp-approved dentist.
The fangs were only attainable by the ultra-rich. Or ultra-committed.
I shook the thought away as I drove us along the alleyway that ran from 15th to 7th Street, Todd observing our surroundings. Intently. Quietly. Without backseat driving. Which was a relief, and I didn’t want to press my luck by commenting, so I too kept quiet.
The silence also helped cover the fact that I couldn’t remember the exact location of the vamp headquarters or its entrance.
I drove us slow hoping my memory would catch up with me, letting me know when we passed the right door.
I’d only been there twice, and one of those times my memory was rather… untrustworthy.
Ah! There.
Just when I was starting to question my mental map, I saw it.
The old and misused door covered in spray paint and graffiti.
The surrounding brick coated in peeling paint of old business logos and notices above the door marking it for Deliveries Only.
No windows. No nothing. It looked like an emergency exit at the back of a warehouse.
Technically, it had been an emergency exit at the back of a warehouse.
Todd huffed as he got out of the car, but said nothing. He knew better than to question whether I brought us to the right place.
I admired the misleading spray paint over the buzzer, as we stood in front of the black and teal door. My brows raised in a question to Todd—was he ready?
He looked up at the warehouse, then down both sides of the alley, assessing. “I’ll follow your lead. But if you’re wrong, this is breaking and entering.”
Just to prove him wrong, I pressed the buzzer. There was an immediate and distinct thunk! As the deadbolt unlocked.
“Well, looks like they are letting us in, so it appears we are just entering.” I smiled as I slipped through the door, Todd following close behind. “Even if they won’t be happy that we are here.”
?
The stairs trailed down, down, at least a story underground into a dimly lit foyer. An ornate and gilded box office was built into the far wall, with two velvet upholstered doors on either side. Everything looked expensive, refined, and completely at odds with the unmarked exterior.
Definitely the right place. I just hoped the right people were working.
From the corner of the room, a rather large dog, a wolfhound, padded up to us, its tail wagging. It nosed my hand and I gave it a few absentminded pats on the head, before scratching its chin. A very very good sign.
“Well, well, well… look what the dog dragged in.” A slickly polished woman appeared in the box office. Her voice was warm, even if her words were not.
I matched her tone, still petting the dog, as I approached the box. “Still working your way up to full vamp, Jezzy?”
I sensed Todd’s confusion.
Jezebel smiled, ignoring my question, her eyes flickered up to the ceiling. A silent message that we were being watched.
“What business brings you here?” She gave an over-the-top, lingering, assessment of Todd, before biting her crimson-stained bottom lip. I had the sudden urge to step in front of him. This carnal appraisal of Todd was just one of the reasons I should have come alone.
“We’ve come to talk to Lenore. Is she in?”
“Lenore is unavailable, but I’m sure I’m more than capable of… handling your request.”
Todd huffed gruffly at Jezzy’s response. I promptly elbowed him somewhere in the abdomen. Since we both couldn’t play bad cop, I needed him to play nice. “We’ve come to ask a few questions. Are you aware of anyone from your membership going missing?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean.”
Todd took up residence beside me. Jezzy sucked in a breath, admiring more than just his height. That is until Todd flashed his FBI credentials against the glass. Jezzy’s face dropped, swinging her dagger-sharp gaze to me, before recovering her persona.
“FBI?” She tucked a coil of dark hair behind her ear, feigning innocence. “Now, why would the FBI be interested in our little club?”
Before I could take the lead, Todd’s hands were in motion, so I translated on behalf. “Five people, with ties to your club, are the focus of an active investigation. Your members may have been the last people they were in contact with.”
During my role as translator, I made note of how Todd handled the reply. No pointing fingers, he was vague enough on the details that his response was open to interpretation.
“I’m not aware of one person going missing, let alone five.”
But they weren’t missing, they were dead. Jezzy needed to know that in order for her to help us. I pulled up a photo of the victims on my phone. “Let me simplify, do you recognize them?”
“I’m afraid I can’t help you. Are they—”
“Dead? Yes—bite marks on their throats. It’s all looking very vampy.
So, I’ll ask again. Do. You. Know. Them?
” I should have warned Todd about the character I’d need to play.
Even I didn’t like the way the words were coming out of my mouth.
When Jezzy didn’t respond, I continued with my charade, “Guess, we will need to speak with Lenore after all.”
“Lenore is not in at the moment.” She pursed her lips, adjusting her dress with a V so deep cut she was almost baring her navel.
“There is a gathering tomorrow evening, she’ll be here then.
But you’ll need to be in appropriate attire.
Follow our rules. There is a dress code, we do have standards.
” She looked me up and down like I wasn’t fit to breathe the same air as the vamps.
Oh, she was good.
“If that doesn’t work out for you, call this number, and I’ll schedule you an appointment.” Jezzy slipped out a nondescript business card, I took note as she pointed to one of the numbers with her nail as she placed it in the exchange portion beneath the glass.
“Why not book us in with Lenore now?”
“I’d be happy to. Her next availability is…” Jezzy looked at a screen in front of her, “September twenty-second.” Nearly three months away.
Todd chuffed again. Technically, we could have had Lenore brought in for questioning, but that would not have done us any favors.
We needed Lenore to be open and honest with us, and we wouldn’t get that by having her brought to a location of the FBI’s choosing.
If we asked her questions on her own turf, and somewhat on her own terms, she might be a more willing participant.
“I’m sure Lenore is going to be interested to find out her members are being killed and left on display in very public locations. I’d make this a priority.”
“Ah, careful. I never said they were our members. And I’d be delighted to put you on the cancellation list.”
“You do that.” Though I had zero intention of waiting for an opening.
“Done.” She pursed her lips, again, forming a snarky aristocratic smile.
It made my blood boil. “Now, if you are attending the gathering tomorrow, know that I am only granting you access out of my good graces, and because I want to keep things exciting by adding in some new blood. When our membership gathers, they expect to be entertained.”
“What does that mean?”
I kept Todd’s words to myself.
“And that entertainment takes many forms. Read through these and bring them back tomorrow, signed.” Jezebel slid two documents, bound like scrolls beneath the glass.
I could only assume they were consent forms. “But know this is not the Coliseum, we do not tolerate aggression, violence, or weapons.”
I made note of her choice of words.
“I. Tell. You after,” I signed poorly back to Todd.
Jezzy ignored our silent exchange. “You will treat access to the gathering as an honor because it is such. Ask what questions you must, meet with Lenore, but do not judge what you do not know. Bring Mr. Frighteningly Handsome with you, and it might grant you some favors. Especially in this crowd.”
“Thank you for your time, Jez.”
“Goodbye now, can’t say it was a pleasure.” Jezebel stood up before calling, “Dog!”
The wolfhound that had kept its head within petting distance, took off, nudging its way through the velvet door, disappearing into the back.
Todd took me in, trying to comprehend what just happened, but knew we couldn’t talk. Not here. I spun around and started the climb back up the stairs, ignoring the open elevator to my right. With over ten hours in a car, and nervous, frustrated energy coursing through me, I needed to move.
Todd and I didn’t speak until we were well on our way back to the motel.
“What the HELL was that?”
Finally, I let my facade slip. “Someone who was doing us a favor.”
?
“I am not doing that.”
It was well after dark and at least our fourth read-through of the consent forms for the vampire gathering. Todd crossed his arms across his chest and leaned back.