Chapter Finare
Finare
Finare worked the gears in silence as he thrust the car down South-Central Boulevarde at his usual breakneck pace. A small smile played on his lips as he recalled the way he and Ivy wheedled their way out of a bodyguard tonight.
It’d been a long while since he’d felt a headache like this one. He usually only drank alcohol when flirting with one of his paramours, but Ivy managed to drag his reckless endeavours to the surface.
Over the last week, they’d spent most nights at one of the blood bars. Voresta disapproved of taking Ivy to the clubs, and last night’s trip to Lunarian was a rarity. Voresta was allergic to fun, and Finare had come to appreciate Ivy’s zest for Noctis’s social scene.
When they weren’t out revelling, Ivy spent her time peppering him with questions. He obliged her most of the time but was quick to shut down conversations that prodded some of his tender inner wounds.
Their destination was a short drive away from Veldmoor, but he felt like enjoying the roar of the engine beneath him for a little longer, so he took the long route.
Noctis’s streets were essentially one big spiral that was intersected by side streets, with a Central Boulevarde that cut through the middle from the north to the south.
At the city’s centre was the Crux, the ring-road that housed the Portal Buildings and the Council.
It also marked the start of the Spiral Avenues, which was where Finare pointed his car to start the corkscrew journey back outward.
Each Avenue was numbered and labelled ‘East’ or ‘West’, and he worked his way through them until he arrived outside Lunarian, where he found a rare parking spot out the front.
Ivy appeared to be lost in thought, and as the car stopped it broke her out of her spell. Apparently, she didn’t notice Finare’s detour, because a quizzical look came over her face when she discovered their destination. He flashed her a mischievous grin.
“This isn’t Sabor Sanguine,” Ivy stated in a quiet voice, her lips twitching upward in a smile.
“Hey, we managed to shake off our security detail. I’m not about to let this opportunity slip through our fingers.
” Finare’s grin threatened to take over his entire face, and by the time he’d exited the car and locked the doors, he noticed an identical one on Ivy’s features.
He made his way towards Lunarian’s entrance, and they were admitted after a short wait.
They made their way to the upper level to seek out a private room.
Most clubs and bars in Noctis offered an area for Vampires to sate their hunger, and the trading of blood was a lucrative, yet dangerous profession.
Most Humans offering their lifeblood for sale were non-magical Witches and Warlocks that were cast out of the covens in Valienne, but occasionally, the magical sort would offer their most sacred commodity in exchange for a valuable sum.
Werewolves and Shapeshifters were on offer in some establishments, but they usually fetched a higher asking price.
Finare reserved those opportunities for special occasions.
Fae, who were said to be a delicacy among Vampires, were practically impossible to find.
The hostess greeted them from a small podium at the top of the stairs, and they made their selection from the Ledger.
The Ledger detailed the names of those offering their blood, how much they could give, and what fee they expected.
Finare’s choice was an individual that scarcely appeared on the Ledger, and his resulting excitement was just as rare.
The hostess led them to a private room on the mezzanine.
The dance floor below was already swelling with bodies, and the thumping dance music only worsened Finare’s headache.
The sooner he fed, the better. The private rooms at Lunarian were small and sparsely decorated—they fit a couple of leather couches, a small table and not much else.
Finare found his way to one couch, while Ivy took the other.
Finare shifted to remove a small pill box out of the front pocket of his light blue jeans. He opened it and flashed the container of little white pills, known as Lacuna, in Ivy’s direction. Ivy leaned across the table to pick one out of the container.
The consumption of Lacuna was a verbal contract that each Vampire undertook when they fed in one of the establishments.
It was a necessary evil, as it protected the creatures they fed from, and in turn, prevented the Vampires from having any messy cleanups after a meal.
Finare hadn’t explained Lacuna’s purpose to Ivy, and she hadn’t asked for more information.
Since she was usually so inquisitive, he figured that Leseldh had told her what she needed to know at her first feed.
Ivy popped the pill onto her tongue and Finare did the same with one of his own. After a short wait filled with the usual banter that was already typical of their friendship, the door opened, and two Humans walked in.
A short-haired female tottered into the room and fell onto Ivy’s couch.
She was pale, indicating someone had already fed from her, and judging by her unsteadiness, Finare wasn’t sure how much more she could safely give.
He wasn’t given the time to worry, though, when a familiar long-haired male rounded the corner and strode into the room, heading straight for him.
Out of all the offerings in Lunarian, Inias was Finare’s favourite.
It wasn’t just his intoxicating taste, but because he was utterly gorgeous.
He had perfectly straight, light brown hair that fell to his waist in silken sheets, and rich, piercing eyes that were the colour of chocolate.
He walked with a confidence that made Finare look timid by comparison.
Finare leaned back in his seat and appreciated the view as Inias sauntered towards him.
Inias sat sideways on the couch beside Finare, leaned an arm against the back and threw a sultry smile his way, which sent tingles zinging through Finare’s body.
“It’s been a while, Finare.” Inias’s curtain of hair fell forward, concealing his neck, and Finare’s eyes raked up Inias’s body to meet his intense stare.
“Indeed, it has. Have you missed me?” Finare reached out and trailed his fingers up the toned arm that leaned against the back of the couch. Inias’s eyes followed the movement intently.
“I might have.” His tone was playful, and it only made Finare’s smile widen. Finare delighted in a meal that enjoyed a good flirt. He was used to the peddlers of blood being so transactional, and it sucked the life out of an act that was already so perfunctory through politics and bureaucracy.
“Shall we make up for lost time?” Inias purred, his other hand reaching out to catch Finare’s unoccupied one.
Finare’s grin turned wicked as he interlaced his fingers with Inias’s and brought his wrist towards his mouth. Sinking his teeth into the skin, he maintained eye contact with the male as he drew his blood into his mouth and fed.
Inias tasted like warm rain, and it mingled with his moss-and-wood scent, which became more potent whenever Finare fed from him.
It threatened to send Finare into a frenzy, but he’d learnt to master his urges over the past two decades.
He pulled away when he felt the limit of what he could take from Inias make a swift approach.
With a feather-light kiss to the twin puncture wounds on Inias’s wrist, he released his hand and smiled in his direction.
Finare closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat, allowing himself to fully appreciate the rush of Inias’s blood sweeping through his system and invigorating him.
His hunger subsided, the headache quickly receded, and he felt normalcy return.
While he was still riding the high of the blood, Inias’s dulcet voice drifted to him.
“Don’t let it be so long between visits next time. ”
Finare felt the brush of lips against his forehead, and he opened his eyes to see Inias withdrawing, his curtains of hair framing his face as his fingers trailed over Finare’s chest. He retreated from the room before Finare could reply.
Finare looked over at Ivy, who wasn’t sitting on the couch, but waiting by the door, with her meal nowhere to be seen.
It made him wonder how long he’d actually spent with Inias.
Finare rose from his seat, stretching and taking a moment to assess himself.
He felt vivacious, he felt strong, and he felt ready.
He strode forward and grinned at Ivy as he approached her.
“Let’s go get some drinks, girl.” He snatched up her hand as he ventured out into the club.