Page 10 of The Vampire’s Prey

A sigh leaves my parted lips as I sit there, letting the water turn cold. Now is the time for penance. I force myself to sit there, letting the ice pelt me until I’m shivering. Standing again, I take my sponge and scrub myself. Just like that damned spot that doesn’t ever come out, I rub and buff until my whole body is pink and raw. Every nerve is electrified. The cold water feels like needles piercing my skin. A cry chokes in my throat, but I don’t let myself cry. There’s no crying during repentance.

After several more minutes, I turn off the shower and wrap myself in a big fluffy towel, the one luxury item I let myself bring from home. It’s a quick walk from the bathroom to my bed. As I sit on the bed and braid my hair, I look up at the ceiling. “Please forgive my indiscretion. Grant me mercy and eternal life. Please do not hold my lusts of the flesh against me.” I finish up the braid and remove my towel before slipping into the bed.

The sheets are raw against my skin, but the burn helps me feel forgiven. I fall into a fitful sleep, my mind and dreams filled with the one thing I could never have.

The next evening, an insistent buzz wakes me out of my sleep. For the first time since the shower, I was finally in a deeper, more restful state. And then the buzzing of my phone has to ruin it. I roll over and squint at the screen.

“Wake up! Hello! Hello!”

“What is it, Barbara?”

I rub at my eyes, trying to force the sleep sand out. Sitting up in the bed, I try to focus on what she’s saying. Groggily, I make out the words.

“You need to come in again tonight. We are down a server.”

“On my way.”

Groaning, I get out of bed and stretch. Today is a new day, and I’m going to take full advantage. Walking over to the closet, I pull out a new uniform. This one fits me so much better. I’m grateful because I’m already struggling with one handsome man...vampire...and I’m really not trying to draw attention to myself.

Truth be told, I might have done better as a partier than a worker. At least then, I could slip in unnoticed without anyone demanding I split my focus. Then I remember the line that usually stretches around. That way there was no guarantee I’d even make it in the door. Yeah. Working is much better.

Tonight is just as packed as it was yesterday. Luckily, I’m working more as a server instead of a bartender. This will give me more freedom to move about and scope the place. I’m pretty sure I won’t find out anything else since three vampires in one location is bad enough.

I weave my way in between the bodies to deliver my drinks. It’s an act of God that none of them fall. How do normal waitresses do this? Weariness fills me all the way to the bone. My feet are already aching, and I miss the bar. At least there, I’m able to lean on things, and the floor has thick padding. I shouldn’t complain though. This is a small price to pay for the glory that is my work. Eternity is far more precious than my comfort.

As my eyes scan the crowd, I realize that I’m not actually looking for vampires in general but one vampire in particular. How long have I let myself space out? I look at the clock. Two hours wasted. I set the drinks down with a happy couple and make my way over to the bar.

“Hey Purple? Mind if I take a break?”

She smiles and nods towards one of the other waiters. “Carl just got one. He can cover for now!”

Perfect. I scope out the place before settling in. There’s a tall booth that lets me look out across the place without being obvious. Minutes go by and nothing. There is nothing weird going on at all! I pull out my phone and scan the news. No reports of dead bodies either. They just haven’t been found yet. Movement catches my eye, and I see a couple heading toward the coat room. It’s the happy couple from earlier. But with them are a few men in fine suits that I somehow missed.

Weird. Why would bouncers be taking people to get their coats? Sure they’re a little toasted, but there are literally people more drunk than they are spilling out into the streets with no one stopping them. I sit there, eyes trained on the coat room. I’m not crazy. There’s got to be something going on over there. I glance at my phone. Five minutes. It does not take people five minutes to get their coats.

The man guarding the door isn’t moving. No one is coming in or out. Interesting. With a sigh, I get up and go back to work. Luckily, the next several drink orders put me in full view. Fifteen more minutes go by and still no one. Now, I’m pretty sure that room hasn’t been out of sight; however, just like yesterday, there’s a chance I missed something. My gut tells me no. Unfortunately, I’m so busy tonight that I can’t even get close. But this is now priority number one. I will find a way into that coat check and discover its secrets.

2

Adrian

It has been a week now since I’ve seen my Rapunzle. My trip should have been a vacation. Unfortunately, her face filled my every waking moment. I can’t rest, can’t eat, every face in the crowd turns into her. I have had enough. I will have her and get her out of my system.

I push past the bouncer and completely ignore Tiberius as I make my way towards the bar. The throng of people writhing on the floor part before me. I must look more determined than I think.

“Where is she?”

Red looks up at me, a smirk slashing her face. Tonight is not the night.

“Why Adrian. How have you been? I trust your trip was a delight?”

My fangs pulse as I lean down. “Where. Is. She?”

Red has the audacity to stand up and laugh at me. She is actually standing there laughing at me.

“Care to let me in on the joke?”

“No joke. I guess when you fall, you fall hard, don’t you?”