1. Torch

The vampire club was a bit on the crowded side tonight. I had only been here once before when my friend dragged me here and I hated it. I was stupid for letting her drag me here again but there was something she enjoyed about this place and I liked seeing my friends happy. She comes here almost every week, this is where Judy liked to spend her Saturday nights. I wasn't sure if she came here for the vampires or the people whom associated with the vampires, it couldn't be for the décor. It was horrible, it looked like a cheesy vampire romp flick in here. I was sitting at the bar watching Judy have a good time with some dude on the dance floor, sipping on my vodka gimlet every now and then.

It was interesting watching the vampires dance around the place, there was such grace to their movements but also eerie because they moved in ways that humans don't. Maybe now that I was on my second drink I was starting to see the appeal of this place, there was something erotic about it. I guess that's an easy feeling to get when glancing around the room, you can literally feel the lust in the air. I chuckled to myself at the sight of Judy getting down on the dance floor. She always loved to dance and she loves men and the attention she gets from them. She was a very pretty dark blonde young woman with stunning features, she never had trouble finding a guy any place we went. I didn't get that much attention but I wasn't jealous over it, I was more of the shy type. Plus, I was a little different looking which was both good and bad.

Judy was laughing as she made her way over to me. She told the guy she was dancing with that she needed a break.

"Jax! You have got to get out on that dance floor. It's so much fun… come on! Let loose." She chuckled as she ordered a rum and coke from the bartender. I just shook my head at her.

"You know I can't dance Jude. I'm glad you're having a great time though. I can kinda see why you like this place so much, it does have some appeal." I said almost in disbelief as I made the confession. Who knew I'd turn out to like the place a little, I just wish it wasn't so cheesy.

"Yeah, well, baby… I'm so glad you came tonight. Finally you come with me on a night where HE is here." I followed her gaze to the stage toward the back of the club, not too far from where we are and saw the HE she was referring to. I let out a chuckle at the sound of her voice, it was like she was floating on a cloud and was in la la land at the sight of him. It was like seeing your friend revert back to the teenage years and staring wide-eyed at her fan-girl crush.

"What is sooo special about this HE Jude?" She turned to look at me, she had a look of wonder on her face. Poor girl was on cloud nine at the sight of this dude.

"HE is Eric and he owns this place. He's the oldest and most powerful vamp in this bar Jax. Plus, look at him… he's glorious." The way she said glorious would almost make you sick to your stomach.

"Are you sure he's not a witch with the way he has this sort of trance over you? He's bewitched you dear." I said with a laugh. "From here he looks good…" My voice caught in my throat when he looked over at me at that very moment. He is…. glorious. I had never seen a man like that in my entire life plus the vampire thing totally adds to it, makes him even more irresistible. Gives him that dark broody bad boy edge that women can't seem to resist. I thought Judy was gonna need a brown bag to keep her from hyperventilating. I guess in all the times she has been here, he maybe hasn't looked her direction before.

"Oh my god… oh my god… oh my… wow he's looking over here!" I chuckled at her acting like a school girl. Though I couldn't judge her too hard for she was my friend but I understand what it's like to have a crush. He glanced from me to her and the "oh my god's" starting to sound like one word. Though I felt a little bad for her because if she looked close enough, he was giving her a look of complete boredom. I heard that vampires had great hearing and maybe he heard her reaction and got turned off. He looked back at me and I figured what-the-hay and gave a small wave. Judy immediately grabbed my hand and shoved it downward.

"Jax! You don't wave at Eric… it's so lame!" She said in a loud whisper and gave me look that said she was dead serious.

"Why not? Why is that such a bad thing? He's looking over here, it's kinda weird… just breaking the ice someway. You gotta find someway in if ya wanna talk to him Jude." I sad matter of factly. He maybe amazingly gorgeous but why treat him as though he's some God. Looks aren't everything.

"If he's at all interested in one of us or any other girl here he would summon one of them or us to him. If you're bold enough you could go up to him and offer yourself to him." She said as she was still looking in his direction, he was back to watching the crowd for which I was grateful otherwise I might of needed that brown bag for Judy.

"Are you serious? He summons people to him? That's a little weird Jude. He may own a bar but who the hell is he to summon people to him? And see your behavior totally gives him power as far as the summoning thing goes, you put him on this pedestal and practically worship him like a God. And seriously… what is with the throne?" I said the last part with a bit of a laugh. She just looked at me in a very odd way.

"He's looking at you again Jax." I followed her pointing finger and saw that he was indeed looking at me again. Wow… still can't get over that sight. He is striking. Then he actually moved something other than pivoting his head around and outstretched an arm and motioned me to him with a couple of fingers. This must be the summons. I chuckled to myself and looked at Judy.

"Is that the summons?" I asked with a grin.

"Yeah…" She sounded a bit disappointed. "I've been coming here all this time and never gotten his attention, he even turned me down when I offered myself to him. This is only your second time here and your first time seeing him and he summons you." Wow… her ego deflated real fast.

"Well Jude, why don't you go up instead. I'm not all that interested." I said with a shrug even though I knew that probably wouldn't sit too well.

"Uh… no Jax… that would be a bad thing. He summoned you… you better get up there." She said as she started shoving me off of the bar stool I was sitting on.

"Ok ok geez… stop pushing me!" I smoothed out my dark denim fitted jeans and fitted black tank top. I started walking over to the little stage his throne was on and when I reached the bottom where the steps were I stopped and looked up at him. He was looking down at me with a curious look on his face. He again waved me up, so I stepped up the few steps and then was standing before him feeling like an idiot. This is so awkward.

"Ummm… you summoned me." I gave him a questioning look. I really wished he'd stop looking at me like that, his eyes were slowly raking over my body from head to toe. I've never been in the presence of a man that had been so blatant about it before, it was a little unnerving especially coming from a guy that was as good looking as he is.

"Yes. Sit." He tilted he head to the side indicating that he wanted me to sit in the vacant chair at his side. I obliged. He turned his head to look at me and then turned back to watching the crowd. "You have an interesting choice in friends." His voice was low and there was something commanding about it yet it was so smooth as the words rolled over his tongue. He has a beautiful voice.

"What makes you say that?" I didn't get why he would make that statement to me. If he wanted to talk about my friend Judy then he should have summoned her. I hate it when guys do that, pull a girl aside to talk to her about another girl.

"You two seem so different from each other. She throws herself at men and you… sit back at the bar. Every guy, human or vampire, that has come to you has been turned away." He never took his eyes off of the crowd as he spoke. It was really bothersome to me that he didn't have the decency to make eye contact with me as we spoke, it was just down right rude.

"So?" I said with a huff of irritation. Then he turned to look at me. His eyes were intense and at that moment I realized that there was something deeper going on. I wasn't here for chit chat and he was speaking of my friend for a reason. There was a purpose for him to be pointing out my differences from my friend. I suddenly became a little worried over my friend. I looked over to her at the bar quickly and she looked nervous. This is not good. The blonde vamp lady that was checking id's at the door was standing somewhat near her as if she was waiting for a signal.

"Every man she throws herself at is a vampire and you turn everyone away. She comes here often and I understand this is only your second time here. I'm trying to understand what working system you and your friend have." He continued to stare at me in a very unsettling way. I couldn't control the shear utter confusion that spread across my face. I really had no idea what he was talking about or what he was getting to.

"System… I don't… what are you talking about? I'm so confused. Please no more beating around the bush, what are you getting at?"

He took a deep unneeded breath and stood up. "This isn't the place for this conversation. Follow me." He started walking off the stage. I just sat there stunned, I really was confused at what was happening and I'm sure smoke would start coming out of my ears soon with as fast as my brain was working over these weird pieces to the puzzle. He stopped at the bottom of the steps when he realized I wasn't following. "That wasn't a request Ms. Jackson. Follow me." His voice was stern and he used my last name. How did he even know my name? I quickly stood up and followed him across the dance floor and down the hallway that was next to the bar. He opened a door near the end of the hall and motioned for me to enter. I entered the room and he follow closely behind me and shut the door.

"Have a seat." he held his huge hand out, motioning me to take one of the two chairs that sat at the opposite side of the desk. Looking around it is obvious that we were now in his office. I quickly took a seat and he sat in his chair on the other side of the desk. He didn't look happy but he was breathtaking, seeing him in some actual light now was so much better than the dim lights of the club. Now I one hundred percent understood the fuss that is made over him. I started breathing faster as the feeling was settling over me that something bad was most likely going to happen. I didn't like the angry look in his eyes. My heart was even beating faster as my nerves began to falter.

I placed my hand on his desk and I looked him square in the eyes. "Please tell me what is going on. You're making me nervous with all this."

He clenched his jaw and leaned forward placing his arms on his desk in front of him. "You friend sells V. I hope you know enough to know that that is a grave offense. She will not be leaving Fangtasia tonight. It is of extreme importance that you be completely honest with me." He paused and I nodded. I was in shock at what he was telling me. "Are you working with her in any way?"

"NO! Absolutely not. I would never do something like that. You have to be wrong… there's no way… she wouldn't be that stupid." I was flabbergasted and was having a hard time forming sentences.

"Apparently she is. There is no question with her, we know for a fact that she has been selling V. The only question we had is whether or not you are working with her."

I put my face in my hands, I could feel the tears forming in my eyes. My world was spinning at this very moment and I didn't know what to say or do. I knew that Judy is in a lot of trouble and I am too possibly. Depends on if he believes me or not. "I swear I am not working with anybody. I wouldn't do something like this. I didn't even know she has been selling V. I can't wrap my head around that."

The room must have been silent for at least five minutes. I assumed he was mulling it over on whether to believe me or not and think up possible punishments for Judy. I still wasn't sure that she had done anything wrong. She is my friend and I didn't want to think that she would do something like this and get herself into trouble. If she was in serious trouble, was there anything I could do to help her? My thoughts were stopped there when his voice rang in the air once again.

"You're lucky I believe you Ms. Jackson. You can leave now. I have to deal with your friend." His voice was cold an unfeeling, I don't know why that surprised me. I looked up at him and he was staring at me with a very stoic look upon his face, there was nothing there. His eyes flinched slightly at the sight of me, I'm sure I looked horrible since I was crying. I was never a heavy crier but I always had just enough tears to make myself look a mess, thankfully not enough though to make my makeup run. Why was I even thinking of that at a time like this? There has to be something I could do.

"Is there something I could do?" My voice was soft yet raspy and I barely spoke above a whisper. Since I figured that they were most likely going to drain her and kill her. He actually had an expression on his face, it was a cross between slight surprise and a pondering.

"What are you willing to do or give up to help or save your friend?"

"Anything… I owe her… I'll do anything." A few tears started streaming down my face as the memory of her saving my life came to mind.

"I thought humans were all about self preservation and here you are offering your life for hers. You don't even know the punishment and here you are willing to give anything for her. Tell me, do you think she'd do the same for you?"

"I think she would… I have to believe that she would." I wiped the tears from my cheeks.

"Why do you think you owe her this?" I didn't understand his inquisitiveness or the significance of this question but at this point I figured I should just do whatever I could, no matter what I thought of it."She saved my life years ago." I bowed my head at the painful confession and memory that surfaced again.

"How?" He actually sounded interested and the look on his face was agreeable with his voice. Maybe he was trying to decide if I was a good replacement for her. I had to think a little more highly of him if that was true. He wouldn't take just anyone, it was almost as if he was appreciating the sacrifice I was making or attempting to make.

"I was in a dark place, it was a bad time in my life and I swallowed a bunch of pills and she found me. She forced me to vomit most of it up and then rushed me to the hospital. The doctors said that if she didn't make me throw up that I would have died on the way to the hospital. I owe her my life."

"No you don't, not like this. I hope your friend knows what she had in you and what you were willing to give up. The circumstances are too far unbalanced for me to accept your offer besides, she's a drainer and dealer of V. I wouldn't have let you trade places with her under any circumstances. Leave now." He nodded his head towards the door and gave me a look, a look of slight respect. At least that's what I thought I saw and it didn't stay long on his face for me to get a second look.

I shakily got to my feet and started walking toward the office door, I reached for the doorknob and turned to look back at him. I really didn't expect my summons to turn out like this. He was just watching me without any expression on his face and that made me sad. I could be sure of what I was looking for at that moment, I just wanted something. I opened my mouth to say something but closed it just as quickly as I opened it. I didn't know what to say, I couldn't remember how to speak. I felt so numb as I walked out of his office and down the hall. Music was still blaring and people and vamps alike we still enjoying one another. I looked towards the bar and Judy was no longer there, I wondered where they had taken her. I made my way through the crowd and to the doors. I turned at look back at the dark hallway one last time and I saw Eric standing there in the shadows watching me curiously. I turned and walked out into the thick of the night. I found my car and drove home.