Chapter 4
The Crypt in My Heart
I was a whole hour late and Jagger was giving me a hard time about it. Yes, I said Jagger. The nefarious Jagger Maxwell, aka the only vampire in Dullsville that I'm associated with besides my kids. Not that we're friends or anything, but where else can a vampire work at night and avoid mirrors and cameras? I was a bartender at The Crypt and an occasional waitress and box dancer. The later was my idea; having hot girls dance to the music in a glass box with black lights in them. He put me up on the job as soon as it became available. Once I was up there and the customers were awed by the addition to the club, all of Dullsville's sluts and attention junkies wanted in.
Jagger knew I was bringing in some serious attractions to promote The Crypt, so he wanted to promote me as a co-owner. The last time he did that, however, ended up with him trying to force turning me into a vampire himself down at The Covenant on sacred ground directly under The Crypt. I haven't given him my acceptance to the offer yet, but the pay that came with the job was what I needed to give the kids a slightly better life and better things. But the responsibility from it would pull me away from them. The kids would have to come to work with me if I took the job. But I wasn't ready for anyone else to be aware of my kids before Alexander was. However, I did have tons of ideas flowing every time I stepped into the club. I love it here. It's the only place where I don't have to worry about my problems.
As I served Virgin Blood Shots (a new drink I added for the human clients), I noticed Sebastian and Scarlett dancing, and Luke setting up the band with Billy. Once again, it was my idea for the latter. Live entertainment was always a plus. Sometimes it was Luke's band, sometimes it was outside bands, and other times we just had an awesome DJ. Life was good at The Crypt.
The place is packed and the bar was crowded. Jason came back early from his break when he noticed the crowd getting antsy. The help was graciously accepted. He was another vampire bartender here, and a good friend to Jagger. He was nice to me ever since I hooked him up with Luna, Jagger's twin sister, eight years ago. Times like this when he would help me and didn't have to, I'd split my tips with him. We weren't close, nor did we talk more than necessary, but I wanted him to know I was grateful. Even when I was at my breaking point missing Alexander, Jason was the only one who didn't treat me differently.
Once the crowd let up, I started wiping down the area and heard Luke's band playing. I looked up to see them. Luke was the lead singer/screamo. Billy was backup on vocals, screamo, and bass. Jagger's little brother, Valentine would be on drums when he wasn't on the guitar. Sebastian used to be on drums, but preferred the lead guitar/bass instead. Since Billy was back in town he must have decided to take the night off. It wasn't much a surprise when Sebastian and Luke became friends. Their personalities were similar. Then I wondered how that would play out and change once Sebastian finds out about Luke and I. Would Alexander tell him? I asked myself. The rest of the band members were some people Luke found from here and the place where he's from. Nobody else knows about Luke being a vrekener besides Billy, the twins, and I.
Shadow, no one else believes that's his real name, is also a vrekener. He's only slightly shorter than Luke and has a black and red mullet that's spiked at the top. His entire right side, from his neck to his ankles, were covered with tribal-Celtic-like tattoos. Only they weren't tattoos, they were a birthmark that develops and expands with their strengths and age. Luke had explained it to me when I asked him about his own.
Luke's mark covered the backside of him. Black swirls, sharp ends, and almost Celtic-like patterns stretched out from the center of his back. One end reaches up along his spine and spreads out across his shoulder blades. The other end reaches down and splits on his lower back, just above his buttocks, and extends to his hips, then ends curving upwards with the tips resting on the sides of his abdomen. It was sexy, and hypnotic to look at. I almost smiled when I remembered a time when I would trace the mark with light touches. It always sent him over the edge.
I had to figure out how to tell him about my meeting with Alexander without ruining our friendship. I don't even know what I'm supposed to tell him. "Sorry, Luke, but we can't fuck anymore because I'm waiting for the love of my life to take me back." That just wasn't going to work. But isn't that what I'm hoping for, Alexander to forgive me and take me back? And what about Luke? It would hurt him too. He was always there for me, even when he wasn't single. He'd always take care of my needs and rely on me to take care of his. Then again, the dude had no problems getting laid or a girlfriend for that matter. And he was always a really good friend outside of the sex part. But things had changed between us. I'd always refer to him as my fuck-buddy, when we both knew we were more like lovers. And I'd never admit it out loud but it was true, I had started to fall for him.