Chapter Two

Like Annabelle would of said it was a crazy family: the man being a witch and by his first marriage getting a kid which drank blood and from a second marriage a human. He didn't get much luck of either of them developing any talents to magic, they were just like their mothers. He didn't want any talk of Night World to protect his younger son, he had no idea about it. He took Annabelle hoping she'll resist the temptation, he needed desperately a pianist, as his lovely son drank too much blood out of the previous one. He knew it was a bad idea to have a mixed staff, but he couldn't do anything, if he wanted the club and the theatre being not for one kind.

A week later in the 'club of deepness' Leo was talking to his brother, Yuri.

"I can't believe what you're saying!"

"Believe me brother, I am truly bored."

"Bored! Bored! You were made in charge of the whole club and you're bored. This supposed to be a Friday night, the night with most customers."

"Get a rest brother, if at least Ash was here."

"Ash! All you think is your trouble makers - friends," Leo didn't know of Night World, but he could guess the people who were trouble, they all looked just a bit changed version of his brother, "I'm going to get a drink and you better get excited about today's night or like usual you'll find a way to amuse yourself and the police will be asking questions of a murder," to which Yuri laughed with all his heart, he though himself lucky to have such a naïve brother who brought a bit of happiness to his miserable life.

Leo went away, hoping that his brother would be able to control himself, he wouldn't be here if it weren't for his promise to keep an eye on Yuri to his father. He looked to get a seat along the bar stand and found one just on the end.

"The usual," he sat himself down.

Next to him a girl in white was sitting, she had red hair, it was the one he saw at the theatre, playing for the performance. She was wearing white top and pants and a red scarf on top. She was sitting without a movement, staring at her drink, in front of her.

"Hello," a girl blinked.

"I said…"

"Oh, hi did you say anything."

"Only a hello twice," she had beautiful unnatural eyes in an orange colour.

"I'm sorry I guess I wasn't paying attention," on the background some recorded music was playing, the band hasn't started yet, no wander it was only eight.

"Can't wait to hear the real life music, not this junk."

"Me too," with what she smiled.

"It would get pretty crowded in two hours."

"I guess so."

"Hi brother, I wanted to tell you I'm not staying long, I need to go and amuse myself. You," Yuri pointed to the barman, "get me a drink. Dear me, it's Annabelle and I though you'd run away from me." Leo was surprised to see his brother know the beautiful creature he met. The girl met the open stare of his brother and didn't look away like most people.

"I need a job," she stated in a normal voice.

"Well then you should get ready, the band starts playing in ten minutes," to what she stood and left.

"I can't believe this."

"Here we go again."

"Why can't you not boss around with people."

"Calm down, or my head will explode."

"Then we'll both get something good from it."

"I'm interested what will I get, oh at least someone interesting came," he left his brother standing in astonishment.

The group started to play the music, Night World people approved. The low sounds carried around the club for Night World people it was a way to live. Humans couldn't understand, but were pulled to it by some kind of invisible force, coming to it like insects to light and burning their wings.

Yuri came towards a girl totally dressed in black, with dark eye shadows and black lipstick on her lips, her eyes were dark eyes and hair were the darkest part of, her skin was pale against all her gear. She was talking to a boy about what music each of them liked. Yuri knew every friend of hers, so he assumed they just met.

"Hello, darling, care to dance," Yuri asked the girl ignoring her partner totally.

"Sure, Yura, if you don't mind," she asked the lad who she was talking to earlier. Yuri could see that now he wouldn't be able to speak even if he wanted to, it was good to know people were afraid of you. The boy nodded.

Yuri and Nika, the girls name, went alongside to the dancing floor. The humans were mismemorised with music, they actually didn't dance much. Most of the floor was filled with Night people.

"Did you have to scare that poor lad out of his wits, to get me to dance with you. You know I would of danced with you anyway."

Yuri wasn't really pleased with himself, "did I change?"

"Not completely, only eyes. You know we all have outstanding ones compared to vermin, but you made yours as in a transformation, not human."

"Well what's done, is done. At least he'll think it was some light effect and I won't have to kill him."

"Surely you don't, he's my toy."

"Toy? And what of my father's rules don't play around with human customers. You know it might lead to not being allowed in the club."

"Does he have to know?" she asked in a sweet way, "I can always say I met him on the streets and saw him again here, and I have more urgent news to discuss with you."

"What is it?"

"There's a new gang of vampire hunters being organised. We are in trouble."

"How does it have to do anything to do with us?"

"Well I think this is the only mixed club, it's easy to guess by looking at a few customers. And I think sooner or later they'll get that story of the pianist and link it to us."

"They can't. Police said it was natural."

"Natural? It was caused by not having not enough white blood cells. Police will buy that it was natural, but hunters?"

"You got a point. I let others know and put guards looking for them."

"Guards?"

"That's what I wanted to talk about. There is a throne to a Night World vampire sociality in Romania sooner or later being free. Next supposed to be my dad, but he's not a vampire and doesn't have a potential, then it's me and my brother."

"Your brother is not a vampire."

"They can always make him one."

"Interesting."

"Not really, so anyway they put guards to protect me or rather will put them."

"So no more our secret games!" she blinked with her long eyelashes.

"We'll have to settle down with a few victims at school and no deaths, I'm afraid."

"But wait, you're saying you are a vampire prince, then if hunters get you - they'll be pleased."

"How much time does your connections tell you we have till they discover this place?"

"A month at the most, a week at the least - I think."

"Vampires have to be told."

"I think your father as well."

"No! He'll ban the allowance of vampires in here."

"So is it our little secret…again?"

"Sure," he said thinking, "go and play with your toy."

"See you later this night."

"Hmm…"

"You know we're having a hunt."

"Do you think we should be more careful with vampire hunters around and all?"

"I love danger and we could always hunt on the other part of the city, it will draw them away and buy us time," and she left the dance floor. The music was turned back to the recorded one, as the band break.

"Excuse me."

"Yes, what do you want," Nika was impatient with the red girl.

"Are you a friend of Yuri?"

"Yes."

"I think I should warn you."

"Of what," Nika sounded as if she couldn't care less.

"The boy you were speaking earlier, be careful, he's not what he seems." Nika looked at the girl, orange eyes, so she must be one of them.

"Explain."

"Well he was asking us in the band about some kind of death last week, of a pianist? And all kind of questions about the place. I think he knows something about our world."

"Don't be daft," Nika began and stopped, the boy saw Yuri's eyes, he asked questions and now he was speaking on a telephone, she could hear it although it was outside of the building. He was a vampire hunter, he knew for sure who she and Yuri was, but also she knew his face.

"He's not careful then, to show his face."

"He might be a contact. I haven't spoken to you and I am gone now." the girl left.

Strekoza: Sorry for not rechecking it - too long and an annoying sister on my back.