Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, AB/HBO/Harris do.
Rating: M. For Mature readers.
Thank you for your feedback, I'm glad you are enjoying the plot as much as I enjoy creating it. Any suggestions on writing technique are also appreciated.
CHAPTER 8: Food for Thought
Margot stared out the window of Russell Edgington's limousine as they drove through the night toward the world's most exclusive vampire restaurant, Croqueuse. While the other passengers chatted among themselves, Margot cursed her stupidity for thinking she could outfox a group of old vampires. She fought to keep her mind from panicking; instead trying to figure out a way to get out of the mess she'd gotten into.
Next to Margot sat her escort, Franklin Mott. He held her hand gently in one hand while stroking her forearm softly as he conversed with Russell, who was seated across from them. His caresses did not comfort her but she dare not pull away. After awhile, he leaned to whisper in Margot's ear. "Relax, darling." He gently nibbled her ear lobe then ran a finger down the side of her neck. "I'm right here." Margot involuntarily stiffened at his hand touching her neck, a reaction that did not go unnoticed.
"Ah, Franklin." Talbot interrupted Franklin's thoughts. "I see I am not the only one who thinks you are a creep." Talbot smiled victoriously as he snuggled against Russell.
Franklin ignored Talbot and watched Margot as she returned to staring out the window.
The rest of the drive was mostly silent. Then Margot suddenly exclaimed "Oh!" aloud. They had reached the restaurant. The building and grounds of the restaurant were stunning. Through the wrought-iron fence, she could see the main building of the restaurant was a large, 2-story venetian-style villa, set well back at the end of a tree-lined driveway. The torch lighting cast a mysterious and romantic glow on the grounds and building.
Edgington gave the order for the limo to stop. "Given that Ms Zabell has never seen this fine establishment, we shall walk up the driveway this evening."
The two couples exited the vehicle at the gateway leading to the restaurant. As Franklin took her arm, Margot marveled at the throngs of people waiting there, hoping to get a glimpse of a celebrity en route to the restaurant. She thought she might try to disappear into the crowd but Franklin held her arm snugly locked in his own and moved her toward the driveway. They passed through the gate and proceeded up the walkway that ran alongside the driveway.
Margot allowed herself to forget about her predicament for a moment to enjoy the scenery. The building ahead of her was of beautiful stone, iron and glasswork with a barrel-tile roof. Well, not a bad place to die. As they neared the building, she noticed the beautiful fountain in the middle of the curved end of the driveway where other guests were handing their cars over to the valets and entering the building. There were candles everywhere, making the place appear like a scene from a fairytale. A vampire-infested fairytale. Margot thought to herself as she wished she was here under happier circumstances.
They arrived at the building entrance. Two smartly dressed footmen stood on either side of the tall iron grate doors. As they entered the building, she looked around the beautiful foyer they now stood in. She could hear classical music coming from the other side of another set of doors. All around her, humans and vampires moved about, dropping off their outer garments at the coat check and greeting each other while they waited to be seated. Margot did her best to not look nervous and to also see if there was any way she might get out of the building. Franklin stood silently beside her, his arm protectively around her waist.
It was soon their turn to be seated. They were led through the inner doors into a large oval-shaped dining room that had a large open area in the middle and booths along three sides of the room, raised above floor level. Margot could now see where the music was coming from; a small orchestra was as the far end of the room. Margot began to suspect there would be some kind of show and she hoped she was not a part of it.
As they proceeded toward their table, Franklin gently pulled Margot closer to him and remarked, "See the staircase to your left? There are private rooms upstairs for guests who wish to engage in other types of activities while they are here." Franklin's voice took on a mischievous tone. "Shall I see if a room is available?"
"Why, when we already have such a lovely suite awaiting us back at our hotel?" Margot responded immediately. She hadn't completely lost her wits yet. Franklin laughed and patted her side affectionately as he released his grip so she could be seated at their table.
Russell and Talbot sat next to each other in the middle of the curved booth. Margot and Franklin sat at opposite ends of the booth across the table from each other. Margot sat at the end that faced the orchestra, she would easily be able to see her dining companions as well as whatever was going on in the dining room.
A waiter brought drinks to them. As Margot sipped the drink placed before her, she raised her eyebrow upon realizing it was her favorite. Thinking of how she was, once again, drinking a cocktail while seated across from Franklin and to Russell's side, she met Russell's gaze and whispered "déjà vu."
And thought to herself, But this time, it's gonna cost you more than a drink. I'm going to make sure of that, no matter what happens tonight.
The waiter delivered menus and a wine list. She was surprised by what she saw: It was an 8-course menu but it was unlike any menu she'd ever seen. Rather, it was a list of entertainments; beneath each one was a small description of a food course.
"The human food is what you'll be eating." Talbot pointed out.
"And what will you be… eating?" Margot chose her words carefully, expecting to be ignored regardless.
"That." Talbot waved his hand impatiently over the list of entertainments.
Franklin sat across from Margot, enjoying her confusion, smiling that annoying little smile at that she despised. That's another thing on tonight's bucket list. I am going to wipe that fucking smile off his face if that's the last thing I do.
A small dish was placed before Margot, supporting a fancy tablespoon that held a small amount of food. "Ah, the amuse bouche," announced Margot, trying to sound clever. She looked at her menu and read that it was a lamb meatball in sauce. It was delicious and she savored it with the wine that had been selected for her. She looked at what had been placed before the three vampires. It was the same type of spoon, but it only held liquid. Blood, surely. Margot speculated. But, why go to a fancy restaurant to experience what they already had access to?
Russell spoke as if he knew what she was thinking. "It's all about whose blood it is, where it came from."
"And, fabulous ways it can be prepared and served" Talbot added, excitedly.
Their conversation ended when their first course was cleared and the lighting changed in the middle of the room. A young Japanese man began to move around the room, performing mime and comically greeting people as the orchestra played. After he completed his act, he moved toward the center of the room and bowed. Then, the maitre d' announced his name and his origins. The diners applauded again as the performer bowed and left. Then, servers brought the second course- tuna tartare for the humans and tartare-a-la-the guy-who-just-finished-performing for the vampires.
"Ah, I get it." Margot quietly said aloud. She picked up her menu and examined it again. The entertainers were Vitrio-free artists and athletes; the type of people who lived lives of passion and health. Their joie de vivre could be tasted in their blood. "What an interesting way to experience the arts." Margot said dryly.
The next act was a juggler. Margot's dish was an egg with crème fraiche and caviar. The vampires had a rendition of that, courtesy of the juggler.
A contortionist performed while Margot enjoyed a smoked salmon dish. She stole a glance at the vampire food and was impressed at how similar to hers it looked. The three of them seemed to be enjoying theirs as much as she enjoyed hers.
In time, the main course performed. It was a pair of acrobats performing an aerial silk routine. Margot was served a small, delicious steak with a perfectly matched wine. Talbot's eyes were focused on the male performer as he enjoyed a small part of him.
After the main course had been served, the evening began to wind down. Guests chatted at their tables or joined guests at other tables. The orchestra provided a musical backdrop. Margot actually felt relaxed enough to engage in pleasant small talk with her fellow diners. A little time passed and when the orchestra paused, guests returned to their tables. Seeing this change in events, Margot's guard went back up.
Fortunately, the servers merely delivered dessert. Margot breathed a sigh of relief. Her dessert was a slice of chocolate torte, drizzled with a bright red raspberry sauce. Red-colored sorbets were placed before Talbot and Russell. No dessert was placed before Franklin.
Margot ate her dessert with gusto. "What's wrong, Franklin, are you watching your figure?" Margot dared to tease. Franklin ignored her, instead loosening his tie slightly and focusing his attention toward the center of the room. Margot put her fork down.
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Talbot smirking at her as he watched her response to events beginning to unfold. She dare not look at Russell but she had a feeling he was watching her, too. She took a deep breath and sat there, waiting for what would happen next.
The orchestra began to play a haunting, romantic melody. Margot immediately recognized it as Felix Mendelssohn's Venetian Gondola Boat Song. She recalled Franklin's comment about the rooms upstairs. Was she going to be taken up there? Her hands gripped the edge of the table as if bracing for an attack.
The lights in the room had dimmed to match the romantic mood of the music. Margot could hear other guests in the room speaking quietly among themselves as they ate their desserts. Then, a group of about 20 people emerged from the performers entrance, dancing to the music and unfurling large swaths of black fabric. Margot recognized them as the servers, now dressed as dancers. The dancers completed a short routine then fanned out around the room as the music continued playing. Margot sat frozen as a couple of women approached their booth. A third person followed them, carrying a stool that was the same chair height as the booth seat. The women looked at Franklin and he nodded. The women smiled and positioned themselves next to him.
Margot looked at Franklin and tried to read his intent. Franklin continued to ignore her, as if he too was preparing for something about to happen. Margot's grip on the table tightened and she occasionally looked about frantically as if trying to anticipate an assault.
Another group of women and men entered the room from various directions and moved around the room slowly, smiling at guests as they moved from table to table, as if searching for someone. As some of them passed by her table, Margot stared at them intensely. These people seemed more relaxed about the situation than she was. Were they glamored? It appeared they were not, their eyes did not have that absent expression she'd seen when Franklin had glamored her friend.
As the song ended, one of the women approached their booth. She greeted Margot warmly, then Talbot and Russell. Her calm demeanor caused Margot to relax slightly. Hmm, she's gorgeous. And, she seems pretty cool about this whole thing, whatever it is, Margot noted as the woman turned to Franklin and smiled as she held her hand out to him and he kissed it.
The orchestra's pianist began to play Gnossiennes No. 1.
Margot looked at Franklin and silently willed him to return his gaze. Franklin continued to ignore her. He was completely focused on the woman standing before him. Russell and Talbot sat closely together, facing each other and lovingly spooning sorbet into each other's mouth. Margot could hear quiet sighs and light laughter coming from other parts of the room but her eyes were glued on the scene playing out before her.
Margot watched Franklin's gaze travel from the woman's face down her neck as he continued to hold her hand and stand to greet her. Margot felt a pang in her stomach. Jealousy? Franklin's gaze returned to the woman's face. The woman was looking at Franklin eagerly, and, when Franklin gently pulled her toward the stool that had been placed beside the booth, she went willingly.
And, Margot's own body began to respond in ways she had not expected. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat in an effort to minimize the sensations she was beginning to feel between her thighs.
Franklin guided the woman so that she was seated on the stool with her back to him. Once he was also seated back in the booth, the other two women that had been standing there began to wrap the cloth they'd been carrying around Franklin and the woman seated before him. As the women adjusted the cloth carefully around their necks, Margot was sure she'd figured out what was about to happen. She quickly stole a glance around the room and, sure enough, saw some vampires feeding on humans, relying on the provided cloths to protect their expensive clothes.
Talbot and Russell were still engrossed in each other. Margot returned to staring unabashedly at Franklin and his "dish." Franklin moved his hands from under the protective bib and slowly ran his hands up the woman's back. She arched her back in anticipation.
And, Margot involuntarily did the same thing. As she arched her back and drew breath in, she could feel herself becoming more excited. As Franklin's hands reached the woman's shoulders, Margot found herself wondering what the woman was feeling. Fear? Desire? Both?
Then Franklin slowly tilted the woman backward with his right hand as his left hand supported her. Margot breathing stopped as she watched how expertly he moved the woman. She watched his right hand reach down and circle around her waist. He gripped her firmly and pulled her into position.
And, Margot felt her womb moving into position… as if to receive him.
Franklin kissed the woman gently on the ear and whispered something to her. She smiled in response and relaxed completely in his arms. He lowered his left hand so that the woman's head tilted backward, elongating her neck. Margot could now see the woman's face as she laid there, face turned toward her. Margot watched, enviously, as Franklin moved his right arm from around her waist and ran his hand up her torso and around the back of her arm until he was gripping her left shoulder. Now, the woman was locked helplessly in his arms, completely under his control.
And, as Margot thought of herself being in that position, her excitement continued to grow. She no longer had any idea what Russell and Talbot were up to, nor anything else that may have been going on in the universe at that moment; the only thing on her mind right now was Franklin.
Franklin momentarily regarded the woman in his arms, and then turned his attention to finding the perfect spot on her neck. Upon finding it, he raised his head slightly and bit down into her. The woman's lips parted as her eyes closed and she moaned in ecstasy.
And, Margot fought to muffle her own moans as an orgasm coursed through her entire body.
After several moments of riding out the waves of her climax, Margot noticed the sounds of the woman softly moaning while Franklin continued to feed on her. She sat with her head tilted down as she waited for her body to recover. A few minutes passed, then she heard the rustle of fabric as Franklin moved the woman back into a seated position on the stool.
The pianist began to play "River Waltz."
Margot slowly raised her eyes and looked to see what had become of the spectacle before her. Her face felt hot and she was embarrassed to be sitting there, considering how she'd been behaving moments ago. The woman was now sitting upright on the stool, facing Franklin. The two were smiling at each other and talking quietly. Franklin hand rested gently on her shoulder, softly caressing her as they spoke. Then, he put his left hand to his mouth and bit his wrist. Margot was transfixed as he took some of his own blood and rubbed it onto the woman's neck where he'd bitten her. Margot watched in awe as the bite wound disappeared.
Then, as quickly as it had overtaken her, the fascination turned to repulsion and Margot was herself again, rising from her seat suddenly, grabbing her purse and excusing herself to go the bathroom.
Shortly after Margot left, the woman at Franklin's side stood. Franklin rose and kissed her goodbye tenderly on both cheeks. The woman departed and Franklin quickly turned to Russell. "Well?"
"Sit." Russell said as he laughed and placed his hand on Franklin's sleeve "I assure you it had the desired effect."
Margot practically ran toward the ladies room, nearly colliding with one of the women who had just been fed upon. Slowing her pace, Margot noticed the door was open to the employee lounge. There was an open door on the other side of the room.
Margot realized that her life depended on what happened in the next few minutes. Entering the room, she smiled easily as if she belonged there. The other humans in the room regarded her with no interest; they were just hanging around, waiting to get paid for the evening. As she wound her way closer to the outside door, she noticed a guard sitting slouched in a chair, mostly paying attention to the women in the room. How can I walk out that door without anyone becoming suspicious? She noticed someone fishing a cigarette out of his pocket and heading for the door. So, Margot moved her left hand along her neck, as if fingering vampire bite marks and made motions with her right hand as if fishing for a cigarette. The guard saw nothing unusual about Margot, just another blood beast in need of a cigarette after the thrill of being fed upon.
Margot thanked the gods that she'd managed to get past the guard without drawing attention. As soon as she felt her feet crunching in gravel on the walkway next to the building, she silently prayed it would lead her to the rear exit of the property.
She turned back one last time to look at the door. Nobody was there. Turning back in the direction she was walking, she completely ran into someone. Her heart stopped, fearing Franklin had caught up with her. "Whore." The person before her spoke.
Standing before her was a tall young man, perhaps in his twenties. He was looking at Margot like he had a bone to pick with her. She'd never seen this character before and she wasn't about to give him attitude. Apologizing, she stepped aside to let him pass. He continued toward the door, muttering obscenities. As soon as he disappeared through the doorway, she removed her shoes and ran. The gravel was painful beneath her feet but she was determined to make her escape.
She found herself facing a small parking lot with about 50 cars. This must be the employee lot. She sprinted toward the cars and hid among them. She knew she had to move quickly before Franklin came in pursuit of her. He would follow her scent and be upon her the moment he realized she was not returning from the loo.
Margot remembered a trick she used to play with her friends. She'd figured out how to hack into an electric car lock with her cell phone. Her program only worked for one specific car model, so she'd made sure she'd picked the most popular car so that she'd have the best chances of success. Now, years later, she would try the trick again. Powering up her cell phone, she crawled among the cars in search of the right car model, realizing that with every passing moment she risked being captured.
Inside the restaurant, at the booth, Franklin looked at Russell. "She's been gone too long. I'm going to find her."
"She's gone by now." Franklin, Russell and Talbot looked up in surprise to see Raymond taking Margot's seat at the table.
Franklin glared at Raymond as he rose from his seat and quickly moved toward the rest rooms. "You don't need her." Raymond called after Franklin.
"Well, I must say I do like that girl." Russell said. "She didn't make a scene… she knows how to act in public… well, for the most part. Smart girl. Beautiful. Could be a useful to my own team if Franklin fails to bring her to her full potential."
Talbot added "Sweet, silly girl. Too good for that psycho thug Franklin."
Franklin headed down the passageway toward the ladies' room. Noticing the door to the employee lounge was open, he quickly sized up the situation and went through the outside door. She had to be hiding in the parking lot, she would not have gone to the front where all the vampires were. Moving at vampire speed, Franklin reached the employee parking lot and sniffed the air for her scent. Definitely here. But the scent was fading. Franklin listened carefully for sounds of cars beyond the employee lot exit.
"Damn it, who stole my fucking car?" shouted one of the restaurant employees as he stared at an empty parking spot.
Franklin swore silently to himself and returned to the restaurant. As he sat down at the table, he interrupted Raymond, who was trying to order dinner. "Don't get comfortable. You have work to do. Give me your phone."
Margot drove the stolen car down the long, unlit road that lead away from the restaurant employee parking lot. She was trembling with fear but was able to think clearly. She had to get away from the restaurant and lose the car as quickly as possible. She drove toward New Orleans, driving as close into town as she dared to drive a stolen car in a heavily populated area. She parked in a convenience store parking lot and prepared to wipe her prints off the car. As she looked for something to wipe with, she noticed a duffel bag in the rear seat containing gym clothes. Not caring who noticed, she changed into the gym clothes, stuffed her dress and jewelry (she decided to keep the entire outfit, for services nearly rendered) into the bag and headed out. She stopped in the store to purchase bottled water, snacks and shoes (she wasn't about to risk ruining the heels she'd wore to dinner). She also withdrew as much cash as she could from the ATM; she didn't know how resourceful Edgington was and she was going to stay off the radar at least until the following week, after Samhain.
She left the convenience store and walked to a nearby motel. The night manager let her inside and offered to call a cab for her. As she sat there waiting, her phone rang.
"Don't do this."
"Don't do what, Franklin? I have no earthly idea what you're talking about." Margot coyly responded.
Franklin paused momentarily, and then responded "Tell me where you are, I'll come and get you myself, right now."
Margot laughed aloud, partly from the excitement of being the one in control of the situation. She mimicked something Franklin had said earlier that evening. "Relax, Darling. I'm right here. And I'm doing just fine." she said in a voice dripping with sarcasm.
The silence was longer this time before Franklin spoke. "Margot, you are putting yourself in serious danger. Tell me where you are."
Margot shot back "If you'd leave me alone, I would not be in any danger. Note to self, Franklin: Margot does not want to play games anymore."
"Good. Then come back here so I can spend the night making love to you instead of chasing you around Louisiana."
Hearing those words caused a stirring within Margot but she stuck to her resolve. "No, Franklin, you don't understand. You're not going to be my vampire friend-with-benefits. I'm not going to be your blood bitch. Delete me from your phone book. It ends here, right now.
Franklin replied calmly, "No, Margot, that's not how it will end."
Margot lost her temper. "Are you threatening me, mother fucker?"
Franklin responded, still unfazed. "I'm telling you that you will be mine. Tonight, for a moment, you accepted it.. you welcomed it. I'm suggesting that you stop fighting fate and come to me."
Margot quickly swept away thoughts of how she'd responded to watching Franklin feed earlier that evening. "No, I am not a goddamned stupid fang-banger!"
Again, silence before Franklin responded. "My patience has to an end, Margot. Do you really think you can hide from me?"
Margot couldn't think of a smart-ass response at that moment, instead, she recalled an old movie she liked and yelled "Tawanda, the amazing Amazon woman could. And so can I… Ha!"
Franklin responded "Tawanda?" but Margot had already hung up.
Franklin made another phone call, then pocketed his cell phone and left the restaurant to join Russell and Talbot for the drive back to New Orleans.
The phone rang on the motel manager's desk. He spoke briefly with the caller then hung up. He walked over to Margot and said "Weirdest thing. The cab driver I called to pick you up just called me to ask what you looked like, then he said he could not pick you up. He let slip that no cab will pick up a woman with your description right now. You need to get out of here right now, miss."
To Be Continued…
