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Chapter Eight
Into the Devil's Eye
It had been three solid days of headhunting the Mayor's kid with the same results. I didn't like them and each time I heard the damn word, I bared my teeth.
Fangbanger.
Ever since the fangs had come out, there had been so many missing persons that I rarely opted down that road. It was no longer my forte and I noticed that most of them hadn't wanted to be found, enjoyed their undead lovers and refused to go back. I shrugged each time and dragged them back to their mommies and daddies.
And I knew this time was no different. Spoiled insolent little rich brat with a major perchance of constant geek ness to go awry and has found something that he wanted. Well, someone should have told him that it took consequences for our actions and I would be his.
I thanked the woman at the shopping till and left trying not to let out a huge sigh. I had driven over to the next city with hopes that this could be an easy grab and run case but I knew with my luck these days, this wouldn't be the problem.
What the recurring problem was; that each time I inquired about the kid, where people had last seen him, his overall attitudes and likes of hangouts; each time I had gotten two words. Fangtasia and Fangbanger.
I was told that anyone who liked vampires, wanted to sex them up or generally wanted to be around them, losing their soul could be a risk; they should check out Fangtasia. I knew it also, after driving to two cities and doing a run about, I realized that Fangtasia was the only openly vampire friendly place. I knew the honest truth but I knew what had to be done to keep my word.
I had tried to think of different ways of sneaking into a place where I was hunted, where my kind was preyed upon regularly but there was no way around it. I felt like a mouse waltzing into an owl's den, I just hoped this time around, I could run faster with high heels then not. If I was going down, I might as well go down with a little finesse, plus; a part of me hoped I could somehow impress them enough to leave me alone and tell me where the kid was. It was a silly stupid notion, but in the dire dreary times, without hope we have nothing. And there were days I mostly preferred nothing.
But when I saw a familiar sarcastic, bored face of a vampire checking people's I.D; I realized if I didn't have hope, I would go stark raving mad. Especially when she suddenly caught wind of my scent and zeroed in on me through the long billowing line and raised her eyebrow in amusement, panache and dare.
I knew I had surprised them and the child in me felt silently thrilled that I had won the first victory. She made a slight flicker with her hand to the vampire at her side and motioned me towards her. At first, when I had taken residency at the back of the line, I had been so content to wait outside all evening thinking some young fang could be enthralled by me and tell me everything I needed to know.
But again, it was a stupid thought, mainly when the line parted only slightly enough to let me by. I heard other people call me lucky and a few other choice words under their breath, none were on target; not even lucky. I wouldn't call myself lucky, I would have loved to let others ahead of me. So this is what it felt like for cows to be herded into the slaughterhouse.
"So, you have come back. What can I say? I'm so addictive." She drawled out in her dry sarcastic tone, she glanced down at my shoes and once again I was allotted the thrill of victory when I saw a dim flash of surprise in her eyes before the ice sunk back in.
I knew she was speaking in Swedish, and I refused to partake in her testing of me, I shrugged humanly. Only when around vampires was I more keenly aware of my humanity and lack of immortal grace. "Can I go in?" I asked politely in English trying not to be too insolent.
Which failed when I saw something dangerous flash in her gaze, "Oh, he'll like breaking you." I heard her mutter after she had let me pass.
My gaze flew to the throne just as I passed the threshold of the entryway and I let out a huge relieved sigh when I found it empty. But he knew I was here, just how long would I get before he grew impatient? And would I even be able to escape unscathed this time around again?
It took a long second before I broke the spell the throne had entranced on me; it wasn't so much the throne that had made me start to feel hot and achy, it was the person that had last vacated it that was making me so hungry for something very, very dangerous. I eased myself around the room finally, killing my nerves and trying to stay focused on my objective, the entire time trying to stay hidden of any speculation.
It was hard but I somehow had found out quite a bit. I found out that he was traveling in a group of fangs that shared their humans around within their own circle. None of their known humans had ever died by the fangs themselves but I knew out of ten previous humans, four caved under the madness and had taken their own lives. I've heard that story so many times before and it was one of the reasons why I disliked fangs as much as I did.
I might think myself strong but I didn't want to be tested like that. Would I survive after I was ruined? But to others, after being with a fang, I knew it was hard to ever be normal again. How could you go from a Demi-god to a mortal and not feel the crushing humanity and want to survive? I realized now that finding the kid was imperative, from what I was told, he seemed weak and I just hoped I could get him back to his mansion and superficial life so I could get my bounty before he caved under the pressure.
I felt my stomach drop suddenly and I frowned, ignoring the girl I was questioning to glance around trying to find the reason why I felt a pricking sensation all over me. And then I realized why.
He was here.
Sitting lazily, boredom rolling off of him as he stared back at me. I felt winded and suppressed the urge to gulp, I knew that would mean a victory for him and damned if I even thought about yielding to him. I must have surprised him with my audacity, I didn't really think my staring problem was that bad but it must have slightly annoyed him since I received an eyebrow raise.
"He requests an audience with you." I heard a voice slither behind me.
I clamped down on my jaw, refusing to yelp and reach for my knives. I knew they could smell gunpowder and I wasn't that suicidal to want to even bring a loaded weapon in a vampire haven. But I brought my knives and they were silver and I knew I'd have to settle on that.
"He can request all he wants, but I think I'm ready to go home." I tried and knew I failed when the fang behind me chuckled. I didn't dare tear my gaze away from his and I was somewhat shocked that I could carry a slightly obtuse conversation and still manage to be winded from his gaze. He raised his eyebrow once again and I suddenly wished he wouldn't have any eyebrows. How would he handle that? Yes, it was a petty thought but I'm not above pettiness, particularly when I'm being held against my will.
"Come." The fang demanded making a grab for my elbow.
I saw the vampire on the throne stiffen a second and then returned back to stone. Good, I thought. I didn't need him, primarily him, to fight for me. And I sure as hell refused to be one of his antiquities.
"Touch me again and I'll make sure your last word is a scream." I growled. It must have been the growl or the sudden chill to the air but I felt rather than saw the fang nod.
He got the hint because a second later he stepped around me and began walking to the throne; I knew what he wanted and I was getting tired of playing along. I followed him, making sure not to be too eager lest they think I enjoyed their acts of superficial power but not trail too far behind. This wasn't a social call for me and I knew it might have seemed so for them but their motives were quite blatant. They were curious, they wanted to know more and see if they could exploit me for their cunning games. How drawl immortally must be.
I felt the air around me get thicker the closer we came to the throne, it might have been my nerves but I could have sworn I saw interest flare and dim just as quick as it had came to be in his eyes.
I followed the fang around the stage to the edge where the red velvet curtain hid a few steps leading up to the stage. I knew what they wanted, to climb to their whim and take the empty chair a few feet away from the throne. I was at their beck and call and I was seriously starting to think this guy had a huge ego and needed to be stopped from his overzealous power trip.
I growled again and cursed each step that led me closer to death incarnate. The entire time thinking the Mayor's kid dang well better be worth it. I finally saw the eyes of the devil and he had seen me. There was no turning back now even if my sanity had already fled screaming.
