"Ruby. Ride with Marko." David called over the wind as he mounted his Triumph. The scowl on his face was deep enough to leave permanent marks. Ruby frowned; this was exactly what she was afraid of. Being the reason a best friendship… no, a partnership was torn apart.
Dwayne caught her eye and gave her a reassuring smile. Everything would work out. Marko and David had probably fought before. Never over something as big as this, but they'd obviously survived all these years as friends. Ruby only hoped their friendship and loyalty would out win this.
Marko helped her up on the back of his bike and squeezed her hands before the Lost Boys headed out into the darkness towards the glitz and neon of the Boardwalk.
David led them up around on Beach Street, then up through the parking lot, out onto the back end of the Boardwalk. David slithered from his bike, not speaking and clearly not looking at any of the boys. It was automatically assumed the Boys would follow him. Paul and Dwayne strode off after their leader, Marko and Ruby straggling behind.
"You had a fight with David." Ruby whispered, her mouth close to Marko's ear. He didn't nod or respond, just took her hand. "Marko…"
"Not now Ruby. Please." Marko looked away, out towards the crowds of people.
Ruby frowned. "Marko."
"I promise, later. Right now this is serious. You need to focus."
"It's just a kill, Marko."
Marko stopped. "You don't understand Ruby. This is the last stop before you change completely. No way back. You'll really be one of us…"
"I already am." Ruby scowled. "I was pretty much dead and David brought me back."
Marko shook his head. "No, well yes… no. Hell, I don't know what I mean."
"Obviously."
"Ruby." Marko grabbed her arm as she started to take off. "This is just so important. Killing… it may seem to get easy. But it hurts. It drives the humanity left in you right out. The years go by and you forget that it was hard to take a life. Because it's the way you survive. But then days will hit you and it will come crushing back on you, and you can't breathe, and you just wish you could die."
Ruby looked at Marko. Gone was the carefree boy, the mischievous grin, the shy smile replaced with an older, hurting, and hopeless man. Trapped in a suit of youthful good looks.
"Marko…"
"Really, I'm not trying to scare you sweetheart. It's the last thing I want to do. And yeah, it's really no way to live trapped between being human and vampire. I just want to give you the facts, the reality. Like I never got." Marko softly stroked her cheek. "I'm telling you because I love you."
"I love you too." Ruby bit her lip, holding back tears. Marko's child-like grin spread across his face and he was leaning into kiss her…
"Marko!" David's eyes barely hid his beast. "What are you doing?"
"David, he was just telling me some things…" Ruby stepped between them. David scowled darkly.
"Marko, if she doesn't do this, then she won't be around forever to be with you. Do you want to be alone for eternity?" Marko faltered. "I didn't think so. Now come on. Ruby, with me." David grabbed her wrist and started back towards Paul and Dwayne. Marko and Ruby's eyes met, Ruby's eyes scared and Marko's sorrowful. Nothing could change the path now.
Dwayne and Paul were chatting up some girls. Well, really more like Paul was flirting and making stupid jokes that the girls nervously giggled at and Dwayne stood there looking like mighty fine eye candy. David marched over, Ruby in tow and Marko straggling behind.
"D, this is… uh… you said you're name's Carla?"
"Yes." The dark-haired girl nodded, her eyes still glued to Dwayne.
"Yeah, ok this is Carla and her friend Sarah. David, this is Carla and Sarah."
"I got it." David's voice was low.
"Nice to meet you, David." Sarah stuck out a hand to the Lost Boys' leader. David looked at it for a moment, then shook with his own gloved hand. Ruby, now freed, took a step back closer to Marko, who was slouching around the edge of the group like a castoff.
"Carla was kind enough to inform us there's a beach party over off East Cliff Drive." Dwayne literally purred the words. You could see the skin rise in goose bumps on Carla's arms. Of course, he was looking right back at her.
"Very nice." David nodded thoughtfully. "Will you two be attending?"
"We're headed there now." Sarah raised a brow, clearly ignoring Paul's attempts to 'get to know her better'.
"Really." David looked at Dwayne and Paul. "Who's throwing this party?"
"Chet Williamsen. Do you know him?" Sarah replied.
"Ohhhhh Chet…" Paul shook his head and clicked his tongue.
"What about him?" Carla stopped staring dreamily at Dwayne. For a second.
"You've not heard about his parties?" David leaned against the railing Paul was sitting on. "He always invites especially fine looking women, like yourselves, out to these parties."
The girls shared looks. "So?"
"But, he only invites two, maybe three girls. And at least 15, maybe 20 guys. Sometimes more. And he slips these drugs into drinks he makes for the girls." Dwayne took the conversation over. His deep voice was almost like a drug itself, calmly inducing trust and belief from these girls.
"And?" Sarah pressed.
"It's really awful." David put his hands in the pockets of his trench coat.
"What?" Carla pressed now.
"What do you think happens when there's two girls and 15 guys?" Paul scowled.
"Oh my god." Sarah looked at Carla, both girls looking white as bed sheets.
"Yep. And sometimes they beat the girls, scare them so bad they're too afraid to talk, then more girls become victims." Dwayne shook his head, looking angry, sad, and vengeful all at the same time.
"So, we'd really wish you wouldn't go, ladies." David gave them his most charming look.
Watching this, Ruby realized when the Boys worked together, they could sell you a bridge. In Brooklyn. And several cars. And maybe New York City its self.
Sarah and Carla whispered a bit to each other, then looked back at David. "Chet seems so nice in school though." Sarah attempted a defend.
"Ah, but looks can be terribly deceiving." Dwayne purred, and this time Ruby saw the hairs on the back of Carla's neck stand. Whatever his powers, persuasion was definitely one of them.
"That's so awful! I heard Christine went to one of his parties, and she moved away not long after that!" Carla spoke in a scared whisper.
"See. Probably one of his victims." Again Paul was shaking his head sadly. Ruby realized he was about to burst out laughing and it was the only way he could cover himself.
"You know what." David's face brightened in a practiced sort of way. "I think my friends and I will go over to that party and have a little chat with Chet and his buddies, perhaps let them know that this won't be tolerated. Giving guys like us bad names. We'd certainly never harm beautiful women in such a horrendous way."
"At least never leave them alive to tell about it." Marko whispered in Ruby's ear. She hid a giggle with a cough. David shot a glare at Marko, then returned to his charmer mode.
"Really? I mean, Chet's a big guy, and captain of the football team. And I'm sure a lot of his friends are on the football team as well…" Sarah spoke, taking about three steps away from Paul who recovered and faked regaining his balance instead of attempting to cop a feel.
"My friends and I can handle him." Dwayne leaned in towards Carla and purred the words, a rumble deep from his chest. Carla practically swooned on her feet.
"Oh I bet you can." She breathed.
"That's settled then." David pushed off the railing. "And for being so helpful, ladies, let us buy you dinner?"
Ruby swallowed. Did that mean human food or the girls being dinner?
"No, that's ok." Sarah shot a warning look at Paul, who had caught up and was half beside, half behind her. Ruby thought she saw him pinch Sarah's butt.
"Paul." David snapped his fingers. Paul glared at David in a what! look then grumbled a bit before pulling out a wad of bills. "Really, we insist. You've given us valuable information and have probably saved dozens of girls from suffering great indignities."
"And losing their virginities to jocks." Dwayne's comment was lost on the wind to everyone but the Lost Boys.
"Thank you, David. We're really grateful, for you telling us about this and saving us from going to the party." Carla was talking to David but eating Dwayne with her eyes.
"It was our pleasure." David smiled, a snake oil salesman in a black trench coat. Paul was holding two 20 dollar bills just out of Sarah's reach, trying to get her to kiss him. Sarah had just snagged the bills when Paul snagged a kiss, failing though to ram his tongue in her mouth. "PAUL!" David growled.
"Screw you!" Sarah slapped him. Paul could only grin, then attempt to look sorry knowing that David would severely kick his ass if he blew this for the gang.
"I'm so sorry about Paul." David apologized. "It's why we have to belt him into his jeans every night."
"Ewww!" both girls cried in unison.
"Anyway, ladies, please, enjoy dinner on us. Perhaps sometime we will meet again? Maybe even have you…out for dinner?" Dwayne gracefully saved. Ruby thought he'd make an excellent football receiver.
"I'd love that." Carla gushed. Sarah elbowed her.
"I'm sure we'll see you around. In fact, I think I've seen you guys before out on the Boardwalk." Sarah grabbed her friend by the arm. "Thanks for this!" Something in Sarah had been triggered, perhaps an internal warning and off she went, dragging Carla by the arm.
Dwayne wriggled his fingers in goodbye. "So gullible."
"So damn delicious." Paul sighed, licking his lips.
"Shut up Paul." David elbowed his friend. "You nearly blew it. In fact, you probably set off that girl's conscious."
"Doesn't matter. We have a party to attend to, D!"
"You guys ever thought about going into selling life insurance?" Ruby laughed. David, Dwayne, and Paul looked at each other.
"Paul was a telemarketer once." Dwayne smirked.
"Shut UP, Dwayne." David chuckled now, and even Marko grinned nervously.
"What was he selling?" Ruby ventured.
"Walk-in freezers in Alaska." David was laughing now, Dwayne joining him. Paul was scowling darkly, arms crossed defensively.
"He actually sold one to every general store in Anchorage." Marko grinned at his best bud. Paul's chest puffed out in pride.
"Some other time I'll tell you how I sold beach front property in Arizona, Ruby. But right now I'm hungry!"
"Let's go crash a party." A feral grin painted David's face.