Thrall

Chapter Two

Marilisa shook her head. “No. No, I won’t let you.”

“It’s the only way to save us.”

“And what if your sister decides to do this again?”

That was a great question, because Lori was just that awful of a person.

“I won’t let her take you away from me,” Adalyn vowed. “You’re my only family. So, if you stay, I stay.”

Tears ran down her friend’s wrinkled face. “Don’t do this, baby girl.”

“I have to. You know this is the only way.”

Marilisa tenderly cupped her face. “You’ll never be the same.”

“I’ll never be the same if something happens to you. I love you.”

She was enveloped by Marilisa’s arms in a hug that was pure love.

“I love you too,” she murmured. “I’ll support whatever decision you make, including running far away from this city.”

Adalyn wouldn’t run, even though fear gripped her. It was 8:00 in the evening. That gave her four hours to come to terms that she would be at the mercy of vampires.

****

Midnight struck a few seconds before Adalyn entered the foyer of The Crimson Den.

It had taken all her strength to enter the decadent nightclub that offered a chance for humans to interact with vampires.

A place to make deals and bargain for ..

. whatever. Sex, drugs, euphoria. It was also known as a place to bargain for money, and she, with any luck, had something of value to sell.

The large foyer was packed with ordinary humans.

Men wearing leather and women dressed as scintillating as possible.

With her yellow sundress and white sweater, she stuck out like a sore thumb.

The sickly-sweet smell of pot hung in the air, mingling with all sorts of perfumes, colognes, and body odor.

Anxiety rolled through her. Selling herself to one man versus being raped by multiple, it was really a no-brainer.

Maneuvering through the crowd, she was struck by the beautiful architecture.

Red velvet drapes framed the tall, ornate gothic doors she assumed led to the club.

A humongous metal chandelier hung from the arched ceiling, with LED candles mimicking the flickering of real fire.

Bouncers were positioned around the perimeter, keeping a watchful eye on everything.

Adalyn felt like she’d stepped into a medieval castle.

The little research she had done said she had to find the concierge and tell him or her what she offered.

Pushing through the crowd, she made her way to the line.

The chatter around suggested not every human was accepted into the Den.

Adalyn could only hope that she wasn’t going to be kicked out before she had a chance, because she didn’t have a plan B.

Finally, after long moments, it was her turn. She approached the counter where a beautiful woman waited. Short, spikey black hair. A delicate ring in her nose. The small, telltale scarlet ring that outlined the pupils in her eyes confirmed that she was a vampire.

“I can smell your innocence from here.” She smiled, revealing sharpened incisors. “What’s a Snow White like you doing in a place like this?”

“Um, I’m here to... I was told...” Adalyn took a deep breath. “I was told I could make a lot of money if I...”

She didn’t want to say the word sold, but it was the only verb of which she could think.

“If you sold your innocence?” the vampire helped.

Adalyn nodded, swallowing down her nausea.

“Are you looking to be a thrall or a nightingale?”

That confused her. “What’s a nightingale?”

“A nightingale is only visiting for the evening.”

“Yes. That. A nightingale.”

“Do you prefer a male or female?”

This was a question she hadn’t considered. “I ... I suppose it doesn’t really matter.”

She was beyond caring at that point.

“Finger, please.”

Blood typing. Adalyn knew this was part of the process and held out her hand. The vampire took it and brought up a little lancing device to prick her finger. The vampire took the drop of blood and placed it on a card.

“Oh,” she purred, looking up. “Did you know you have rare blood?”

Adalyn blinked. “No.”

“Only about one percent in the world is AB negative.” She licked her canine as if imagining she was savoring her blood. “Patrons will pay dearly for a taste of your blood.”

“Oh, okay,” Adalyn said, thinking that was good. Maybe she would get the entire amount she needed.

The vampire smiled. “Let’s get your paperwork finalized. All I need to know is what price you’re asking.”

Moment of truth. “F-fifty thousand.”

The vampire’s eyebrow raised. “Your blood, and the fact that you’re a virgin, could easily net you a million.”

She only wanted what she needed. It was hard enough knowing she was selling herself. “Just fifty thousand. Please.”

The vamp shrugged. “All right.”

A moment later, she handed Adalyn a tablet. The word contract was at the top.

“This is a standard agreement protecting both parties,” the woman said.

“The vampire who buys your company for the night agrees to not harm you, unless you wish to be harmed. He or She will drink from you but not drain you to death. If he or she violates that term, rest assured he or she forfeits his or her own life.”

Vampires were powerful, and their brand of justice was swift and decisive. There were no maximum-security penitentiaries. No appeals court. In fact, there was only one crime they were severely punished for, and that was killing an innocent human. Of course, their definition of innocence varied.

“If you renege on this covenant, you will not only forfeit the payment, you will be fined the same amount. Understood?”

“Yes,” Adalyn whispered. Before she could overthink, she pressed her thumbprint to the document.

The vampire took the tablet back and then nodded to one of the bouncers.

The man stepped forward, no doubt another vampire, and gestured for her to follow him.

Her palms grew damp as she followed him up a set of stairs she hadn’t seen because they blended into the peripheral darkness.

Up, up, up. To a third floor and down a hallway that had nooks.

The noise of the nightclub filtered up, a pulse pounding beat that mimicked her thundering heartbeat.

When they got to the fourth recessed room, the vampire stopped and gestured for her to enter. A human sized cage waited for her.

“What is that?” she asked, although she knew the answer.

“A bird cage, for a nightingale.”

“Oh,” she said. “Why do I have to get in there?”

“You’re to be displayed for potential buyers.”

“Oh,” she said again. She didn’t know what else to say. Still, she hesitated.

“If you don’t get in, you’re in breach of your contract.”

This was it. The moment she’d been dreading.

Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and entered the cage.

The vampire closed the gate and then a moment later, it lifted.

The rocking motion caused her to grab the bars as she was hoisted unceremoniously into open space, and she wasn’t the only one dangling by steel cables.

There were other people in other cages, male and female, looking just as nervous as she felt.

The position allowed her to look down into the club where people danced to a synthesized techno beat.

The building was rectangle shaped, reminding her of a Spanish courtyard.

Along the perimeter of the mezzanine were alcoves, where people sat and drank.

The third and fourth floor had the same alcoves, but only the top floor had red drapes that offered a modicum of privacy.

The mosaic designs etched into each arched keystone mimicked the grandeur of medieval cathedrals.

The club was a sensory overload. Lights, sounds, and movement all blended together in a dizzying display of wildness.

This was the first time she’d ever been in a club or a bar, and the frenetic energy reverberating through The Crimson Den fascinated her.

Every single person dancing like there was no tomorrow.

The world might end but they were chill.

It was an abandonment that she envied. Her entire life, she’d been painfully withdrawn.

Still was, to some degree. Leaving the wrecked home where she’d grown up had been the first instance of rebellion, and it had threatened her one and only friend.

In the back of her mind, she knew this was her fault, and she wasn’t na?ve enough to believe this would end Lori’s torture.

Why didn’t Marilisa want to escape with her? They could be long gone by the time those brutes returned.

Pushing those thoughts aside, she resumed her perusal and realized there was a dais that resided across from where she dangled, where luxurious crimson throne chairs resided.

Even from her spot she could tell the men and women who sat in them were vampires.

Some had people kneeling at their feet, dressed in black leather with a collar and chain attached.

Others were naked. There was diversity among the vampires.

White, black, Asian, probably other ethnicities she wasn’t aware of.

Some had flowing hair and dressed in old-fashioned clothing, as if stuck in the era they’d been born in.

Then, her gaze collided with a laser sharp focus centered on her, although the man from whom the stare came from was too far away to see what color his eyes were.

Dark hair, shorn on the side and longer on top.

A close-cropped beard and mustache that couldn’t hide his square, angular jawline.

Handsome wasn’t the right word to describe him.

Magnetic. Captivating. He had a presence that made all the others fade in comparison.

Every time she looked away, she couldn’t help but glance back.

He continued to watch her, and then he raised a hand.

Immediately, a man answered his summons, leaning over to listen.

Was this vampire interested in her? Was he inquiring how much to buy her?

She had no idea what to think or how to feel.

How would she think about herself tomorrow morning?

That was a question for future Adalyn.

Suddenly, her cage started to move, sliding back into the recessed nook where the same big bouncer waited. He unlocked the cage and held up his hand, helping her step out.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“You’ve been acquired.”

“That’s a pleasant way of saying bought,” she muttered.

“So it is,” he replied. “This way.”

Heading in the opposite direction from where they entered, she had to double step to keep up.

“Can you tell me who bought me?”

Apparently, he was finished talking because he didn’t answer.

Didn’t even glance her way. They came to a set of stairs and he led her down one level, where another set of ornate gothic doors waited.

He knocked and they slowly opened, revealing two men dressed like something out of the French Revolution, who stood statue-still until she entered.

Then they exited and closed the door behind them.

Adalyn finally found out why the place was called The Crimson Den. The color red was floor to ceiling. Chairs, decoration, couch. It looked like blood coated the room, which was probably the idea.

And there stood her vampire.

Well, not her vampire.

Just the vampire who bought her for the night.

“Come here, little bird.”

A slight brogue punctuated the words, and she hazarded a guess he was originally from Scotland. Following his command, she slowly walked forward, tipping her head back to stare at him. This close, even in the low lighting, she realized his eyes were pale green.

“You’re very beautiful.”

Adalyn never gave her looks much thought.

Maybe she was pretty, or maybe it was all in the eyes of the beholder.

If she was a different type of person, she could’ve played up any positive features in order to claw her way out of poverty, but she’d been painfully shy.

Especially since Lori was the only person to stick around, and she made sure Adalyn did not feel beautiful.

“Thank you.” She didn’t know what else to say. Her mind completely blank.

He gave a ghost of a smile. “You’re uncomfortable with compliments.”

“I’ve always thought compliments were insincere praise. You know, like someone says this is delicious when you’ve burned the pan. Or you are the office expert even if you don’t know what you’re doing.” She took a deep breath. “But I appreciate your words.”

“Most women would preen and demand more money. Or think I’ll fall madly in love with them.”

“I’m not sure if there was a question in there, but I don’t want more money and I’m not expecting anything else.”

He cocked his head. “You’re a strange woman.”

“I’m realistic.”

Another minute went by as he studied her. She wondered what he was looking for.

“My name is Gareth.”

“I’m Adalyn.”

“I’d say it’s a beautiful name, but I don’t want you to think I’m giving you an insincere compliment.”

Her cheeks grew warm. “Thank you.”

He chuckled, the rich tones in his voice rolling over her like a dark melody. When he held out his hand to her, she stared at it for a moment before slowly grasping it. Then he tugged, and she half fell into his embrace.

“You don’t have to be nervous.”

“You’re not the one losing your virginity tonight.”

Again, he chuckled. His hand cupped her chin, tilting it up, and closed the gap between their mouths.

His lips were warm, almost silken as they moved over hers.

The bristles of his mustache ticklish against her skin.

He didn’t rush her or hurt her. Just took his time, savoring her as if she was a fine wine.

When he pulled back, her eyelids were slow to rise.

“I have a feeling that was your first kiss.”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Good.”

Then he kissed her again, and this time, it ignited her world.