3. Chapter 3
Vampiresreallydomake me uneasy. Yes, I may technically work for them, considering they run the city and the entirety of the West, but to see them feeding on someone out in the open, without a care in the world doesn”t sit right with me. I knew there were clubs like this, I just never expected to end up in one. I”m really going to need to have a word with Ginny tomorrow after she”s sobered up.
As I”m lost in my own thoughts, Ginny taps my hand and points off into the distance. I attempt to follow her finger, but I”m not sure where she”s pointing. Looking back at her with questioning eyes, I shake my head and she leans forwards, dragging me closer to her.
”Bathroom.” She shouts down my ear and I give her a nod.
She steps out from between the table and seats, and I notice the woman and the guy in the other booth have both disappeared to who knows where.
She”s probably dragged him outside into a dark alley to drain him.
My thoughts run wild as I think of possible scenarios. Drinking the last of my beverage, I consider grabbing us both another while Ginny is in the bathroom.
A figure steps in front of me as I”m about to stand and I look up. I can”t quite see the man”s features with the light behind him, but he looks tall from where I”m sitting. Shifting across to sit in front of me, he drops down in the seating opposite me. My eyes follow his movements, causing me to raise an eyebrow as I look him up and down. He”s wearing a dark t-shirt with a well-worn leather jacket over the top of it. His messy, dark blond hair looks greasy and is slicked back. Ew, is grease the new hair gel? His amber eyes never move from observing me.
”Sorry, that seat is taken. My friend is just in the restroom,” I shout across to him, but he just shrugs at me. ”Fine, if you want the booth, we”ll move.”
I grab mine and Ginny”s jackets and slide to the edge of the seat. I”m about to stand again but another figure stops me, getting up in my space and the only thing I can do is move back. A hand on my shoulder shoves me back down on the seat.
”Going somewhere, princess?” The man who speaks looks just as greasy and disheveled as his companion.
”Like I just told your friend, if you want the booth, we can move.” I try to rise, but he stops me.
The guy flops down into the booth next to me, his body close to mine, and I can”t seem to keep my distance from him. I want to slide away, but his hand moves down to my bare leg. His fingers grasp my thigh, nails digging into my skin, and I let out a yelp at the sting of pain. My hand claws at the top of his, trying to pull his fingers off me, but he just holds on tighter.
”Where do you think you”re going, princess?” His voice sends shivers through my entire body, setting my nerves on edge, and I want to run. I need to run.
”Please, I have to go. I need to find my friend.”
”Awww, stay awhile, princess. We don”t bite, not unless you ask nicely.” He leans closer to me and I lean away, but he pulls me back toward him.
”Get off me.” A laugh across the table has my eyes whipping over to his friend. He”s smirking now, his eyes glowing as he licks his lips.
The guy next to me leans closer, his nose pushing into my neck as he holds me by my leg. His tongue darts out and licks my neck. Without thinking, I grab him by the hair and pull him away, slamming my fist into his groin. He lets out a grunt and loosens his grip on me. With all the strength I can muster, I shove him hard and he falls sideways off the seat.
Jumping up, Iduck out of the booth, leaving both jackets on the seat. A hand wraps around my wrist and pulls me to an abrupt stop. I turn and see the guy from the other side holding tight to my arm. He pulls me close to him, his lips brushing against my ear, and I shiver with fear.
”Don”t run too far, princess. This hunt must end.” He lets go of my arm and I”m off.
Heading in the direction of the restroom, I shove through the people in my way. Some of them snarl at me, but I don”t care right now. I need to find Ginny. Bursting into the bathroom, I startle a few of the occupants with my actions.
”Ginny! Ginny! Where are you?” I shout. It”s quieter in the bathroom. If she”s in here, she”ll hear me.
”Demi?” Her voice calls back from inside the stall to the left.
I head in that direction and start banging on the door. When she opens it, she looks a little disheveled, but otherwise okay.
”We need to go, Ginny. We have to get out of here.”
I grab her hand, not even giving her time to flush the toilet before I drag her out of the stall and toward the exit of the bathroom. Her hand slams against the door before I can get it open.
”Demi, stop! You need to calm down. What”s going on?”
”Look, there were some really creepy guys out there. We just need to go, okay?” My voice is trembling as I speak.
I don”t know exactly what it was about them, but my instincts are telling me I should get out of here. I need Ginny to come with me and stop asking me questions. We have to get going, and we need to get going now.
”Please, Ginny,” I beg, ”can we just go? I don”t want to be here anymore.” I squeeze her hand, my breathing coming out in harsh pants.
”Okay, Demi. I need you to breathe.” She pulls my face up to look at her for a brief second before she looks down at my hands. ”We can come back in the day for our jackets, okay?”
I”m shaking so hard now, I can”t answer. My breathing is labored and I struggle to get it under control, and my chest feels like I have an elephant sitting on it. I give her a small nod, and she smiles at me. Opening the door, she pulls me into the corridor, but instead of heading for the main area, she drags me the other way toward the emergency exit sign.
When we reach the end, she pushes down on the panic bar and the door swings open. The cold air rushes through the opening, making us both shiver. As we get outside, she lets the door shut behind us. The weight on my chest lifts suddenly, and I feel so much better already.