The Heir
Chapter 1
Rachel crouched low and watched as her opponent's right hook flew past her face, barely missing her nose. She quickly straightened and blocked the incoming kick, spinning her body and using the momentum to deliver a roundhouse kick of her own directly into the jaw of her 6'4" opponent. The short brunette bounced on the balls of her feet, keeping her fists up in front of her face as she watched the man stumble to the other side of the boxing ring. He reached out, barely managing to grab the ropes to prevent himself from collapsing to the mat.
Rachel could hear the cheers from all around the fight club crowd, and she couldn't help but smile. It was music to her ears. The energy she absorbed from the crowd's enthusiasm was unmatched by anything else she'd ever felt before. It was the ultimate high, and she loved every second of it.
She kept her focus on her opponent, who now stood on the other end of the ring, glaring at her.
He snarled, flashing his fangs, obviously hoping to intimidate the young brunette.
But Rachel merely laughed at him… loudly, which further pissed off the large vampire. No one could intimidate Rachel Berry, ever. Of course many had tried, but they'd quickly learned their lesson.
Feeling a dark power slither through her body, Rachel dropped her fists to her sides. She kept her gaze on her injured opponent, raising an eyebrow in open challenge.
"What the hell are you doing, Rachel?!" she heard Puck scream at her from his spot just outside the ring. "Keep your guard up!"
But she just ignored him.
The bleeding fighter across from her smirked, thinking that the little girl in front of him had finally realized she was no match for his brute strength and she was going to give up the fight. Now was the time for him to teach her a lesson in not messing with a guy twice her size. He grinned, showing off his sharp fangs again. His eyes narrowed as he stalked across the ring toward her with his fist raised, ready to deliver a knockout punch.
Time seemed to slow down for the man. As he closed in on the small girl, he watched as her smirk grew into a knowing bright smile, revealing perfect white fangs. Then his eyes widened in horror as her dark brown eyes flared to an iridescent bright red… the color of blood. It was at that moment when he realized exactly who this girl was. There was only one vampire with red eyes. There was only one vampire who had the power to bring an army of men to their knees with a single gaze. (Or so the rumor was told.)
And that was the Vampire Princess. Rachel Berry.
Panic filled him as he watched the Princess take a step forward. Her attack was viper-like as her fingernails slashed across his face, leaving four long, deep souvenirs for him to remember their fight. Then she jumped, her leg moving so fast it was merely a blur. When her foot connected with his nose, the sickening crunch was heard by even the spectators on the other side of the gym. Their sympathetic groans were followed by the large vampire hitting the mat face first, with a resounding thud.
Rachel resumed a fighting stance, but her opponent was out cold. The crowd cheered as she was declared the winner.
Puck jumped into the ring and wrapped a towel over Rachel's shoulders. "Rach, why the hell did you drop your guard?!" he yelled above the noisy crowd. "You could've been hurt!"
Rachel just rolled her eyes at her friend's concern. "I had things under control," she said, sliding out of the ring and hopping down to the floor. Actually, what she'd said wasn't quite true and she knew it. The dark power still rolling through her body continued to simmer, demanding she go back and finish the large vampire in the ring who thought he was better than her. Just knocking him unconscious wasn't enough to satisfy the ache inside her.
Rachel closed her eyes and grit her teeth together, willing the dark power away. It seemed to rise to the surface a lot more quickly lately, which was not a good sign. Feeling the darkness fade slightly, she turned and began making her way toward the back of the fight club; nodding in greeting to a few regular fighters as she wound her way around free weights and exercise machines.
When Rachel was young, there hadn't been any indication that she was anything other than a pure vampire. Her powers developed at a very early age, and they grew faster and stronger than her mother, Shelby, could have predicted. As she had gotten older, she began to notice that her anger tended to bubble to the surface quicker and more often than it had before.
She was just thirteen when her brown eyes changed to red for the first time. She and her cousin, Santana, had been goofing around and fighting with their daggers. When Santana began to taunt and push Rachel a little too far, it suddenly happened. It was like a switch had been flipped and a darkness seemed to pour through Rachel's body. She reached out and grabbed Santana by the throat, lifted her off the ground and then threw her twenty feet away. She was on Santana in moments, throwing punches and wanting to inflict pain.
Thankfully Shelby had been close and saw the whole thing. And because of her power as the Vampire Queen, she was able to pull Rachel off of Santana. And that was the moment Shelby witnessed her daughter's blood red eyes for the first time. It had taken her over an hour to calm Rachel down as the young vampire continued to fight against her, trying to get to Santana again. Her anger thick and uncontrollable.
Over the next eight years, the dark power deep in Rachel's soul was constantly demanding to be released, demanding to take control. Through the years she'd been able to push it down. Each time was harder than the last, but not knowing the damage it could do if she lost her tight hold, she continued to hang on. But she knew it was inevitable that one day she would slip and the dark hunger inside her would rip free.
She and Puck had been regulars at a downtown fight club, going in a few times a week to curb her anger. One day Puck had commented that Rachel should start her own club. She was smart and motivated and she already had the cash, being royalty was definitely a perk. With a lot of thought, Rachel decided to follow his advice. And two years later, Incision was the hottest fight club in the city.
She didn't fight in the ring very often anymore due to her heightened strength. However, she frequently abused the punching bags and other weight equipment. Incision was her home away from home—the fight club she had built from the ground up. It was a much needed place where she could blow off some steam and not kill anyone.
But now as Rachel walked beside Puck through the club, she could still feel that power just under the surface. She shoved through the door of her office and over to her large oak desk. She pulled the towel off her shoulders and wiped the sweat from her face.
Puck followed her into the office and stopped, his eyebrows rose as he looked at her. "Those are some sharp ass claws you got there," he said in surprise as he pointed to her hands.
Rachel looked down at her hands and was shocked to see that her fingernails were covered in blood. Her opponent's blood. The sight of the dark red liquid seemed to stoke the darkness deep inside. "He pissed me off, okay?" she growled as she tried to clean off the blood as best as she could with the towel. "But everything's fine now."
"Yeah? Then why are your eyes still blazing like the fires of hell?" he questioned, nodding to her still-red eyes. Truth be told, those eyes have sent icy chills down Puck's spine since the first day he met Rachel Berry. They reminded him of moving lava—hypnotizing and dangerous, with the promise of pain if you got too close.
Rachel took in a few slow deep breaths, trying to calm and let go of the anger she felt pulsing through her body. It only took moments for her normal chocolate brown to return. She sighed and tossed the bloody towel into a basket against the wall, then cleaned her hands with sanitizer as she sat down in the black leather chair behind her desk and switched on the computer. Puck handed her a cold bottle of water. She nodded her thanks and drank deeply.
Puck closed the door, then plopped down on the comfortable black leather couch on the far side of the office. He gulped down an energy drink and closed his eyes, relieved that the night was over. He always hated seeing Rachel in the ring. He knew she was tough and could obviously take care of herself, but it still unnerved him.
For the next hour, Rachel tried to focus and concentrate as she worked on business matters, but her body continued to hum; an energy screaming to be let out. The fight club had been unusually busy the last few weeks and she was behind on the pile of paperwork that seemed to grow higher on her desk everyday. Her assistant, Alexa, helped however she could, but there were parts of the business only Rachel or her partner, Blaine, could do.
"Go to Delirium."
Rachel's head jerked up at Puck's voice. "What?"
Puck grinned as he emptied another energy drink. "Your body is literally vibrating, Rachel. When was the last time you fully fed? And I'm not talking about a snack here and there. I'm talking about an all-out feed and fuck."
Rachel ignored him, turning her attention back to her computer screen. "Not too long ago."
Puck scoffed. "Yeah, right. I bet the last time was when we met those hot girls in that club in Brooklyn. And that was over a week ago, Rachel. You know better than to go so long."
Rachel let out a frustrated sigh and leaned back in her seat. She hated to admit that Puck was right. Lately she had been busy with the fight club, and with her responsibilities to the Vampire Throne. Somehow feeding got pushed to the side as she dealt with issue after issue. Her mother had told her that she needed to slow down, but Rachel thrived on being busy. However, she was regretting that she had ignored her body's needs. Because now it was long past time.
Not only was blood essential to a vampire's well-being, so was sexual release. And the more dominant the vampire, the greater the need. Without a physical outlet for their high levels of endorphins, especially if heightened by stress, the delicate balance between chaos and reason broke down.
So as a natural counterbalance, all vampires were highly sexual. Rachel knew she was walking a dangerous path right now. She needed all of her energy to keep her control in check. And the match in the ring had done little to assuage the mounting pressure that was demanding release.
She tossed her pen onto her desk. "Fine. Let's go."
~~o~~
"What in the world is going on in here?!" Quinn's eyes went wide in horror as she stood in the doorway to her bedroom, watching as Brittany ransacked her closet, tossing skirts, pants, sweaters and blouses over her shoulder into the growing pile on the floor. Quinn had just gotten back to their apartment and hadn't even known Brittany was going to be home.
"We're going out! It's Friday night, and we're going to a club," Brittany said while shooting Quinn a "don't argue with me" look, knowing a night out on the town wasn't deemed a fun time in Quinn's opinion. She began bouncing. "Oh come on, Quinn. We're going to a very hip, very cool nightclub in the city. You'll love it, I promise." She pushed Quinn toward the bathroom. "Now go take a shower."
Quinn stared at her in disbelief. But Brittany slipped on her sweetest smile. Damn that smile, Quinn thought and headed into the bathroom.
Two hours later, Quinn stood in front of the mirror, eyeing the mini skirt and black corset and heels Brittany had insisted she wear, completing the look by pulling her hair into a sleek ponytail and applying smokey eyes, which made her hazel eyes look fierce.
"Quinn, you look smoking hot!"
Quinn sighed, just hoping she didn't kill herself in these high heels.
Brittany looked majestic in a gold shimmer mini and gold sparkle heels, which made her long legs look even more incredible. Santana strolled into the room wearing a gray mini that hugged every curve of her body, and black knee-high boots.
"Let's go," she ordered after she gave Brittany a lingering kiss.
After piling into the car, it wasn't long before the three friends pulled into a large parking lot. The nightclub was housed in a two-story building made of a shiny, smooth black stone, maybe granite. There was no sign, no windows, and only one glass door guarded by two very large and intimidating guards dressed all in black.
Stepping out of the car, Quinn glanced around the jammed parking lot at the vast array of vehicles squeezed into every available space. Luxury cars, limos, dusty 4x4s, rusted-out junkers, motorcycles. As diverse as the clientele, probably.
Santana, holding Brittany's hand, just gave the guards at the door a nod, some sort of silent speak for hello, Quinn assumed as she followed her two friends through the door.
Quinn was surprised as she took in the large room. It looked nothing like she assumed by just seeing the outside. Though stylish and sophisticated, it was also dark and sensual. The only light came from the twenty or so oversized chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The amber beams of light reflected off the crystals, wrapping the entire club in a warm glow. The walls were black and the floor a dark gray concrete, giving the entire room a contemporary feeling. There was an all-black, granite bar in the middle of the open space with a countertop that ran the entire length of it. Everything was meant to feel sleek and smooth.
Santana guided them in the direction of the bar. Quinn's gaze roamed around the large room, noticing a considerable dance floor occupied by people dancing sensually while music pumped throughout the entire club. The whole place screamed sex.
Actually… Upon closer inspection, she was pretty sure some of the dancers were, in fact, having sex on the dance floor.
Quickly looking away she took in the rest of the club. All around the outskirts were high-backed, black leather booths beside circular tables. There was a mezzanine overlooking the main floor, also decorated with black leather couches and tables.
Santana gave the bartender their order then snagged a booth that had just been vacated.
"Isn't this great!" Brittany beamed, her eyes roaming the crowded club. "It's no wonder it's the best vampire nightclub in the city!"
Quinn froze, her glass halfway to her mouth. "Excuse me. What did you just say?" She felt her pulse speed up, a knot tightening in her stomach. She wasn't sure if the reaction was from excitement or anger. "You brought me to a vampire nightclub?!" Her eyes darted around the room.
Santana rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me, Q, that you haven't noticed the feeding going on all around us." She took a sip of her whiskey, then flashed her pearly white fangs.
Quinn sighed, not surprised her vampire best friend had brought her to a vampire club, even though Sananta knew she had never been comfortable or interested in the lifestyle that vampires lived. It was raw and unpredictable—much like her best friend.
She turned to take a closer inspection of the room and quickly saw that Santana wasn't joking. One of the couples she had thought were just making out in a booth, were actually a male vampire cradling a young woman in his lap, feeding from her neck and fondling her breasts through the open laces of her skimpy leather bustier. The woman's face was a study in sensual bliss—her head thrown back, her eyes closed, her lips parted as if waiting for a kiss.
"I can't believe you brought me here," Quinn hissed, scandalized.
Santana scoffed. "Honestly, Quinn, would you have agreed to come if you'd known where we were going?"
"No."
Santana nodded knowingly and held up her whiskey in salute before downing the rest of the liquid. "See? Britt and I know you. And don't you even think about leaving. I brought a leash with me to attach to your corset if the idea even forms in that vanilla human mind of yours." She smirked lecherously.
"Bite me," Quinn gritted between clenched teeth.
"Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you?"
Brittany held up her hand to silence them. "Please, you guys. We have more important things to do than fight like three-year-olds. Quinn looks amazing in her corset, and I'm sure a leash won't be necessary, San… unless she finds her own vampire who wants her to wear it."
Quinn gaped at her friend. But Brittany just stared back at her with an innocent smile.
"You need to get laid, Q," Santana motioned to a waitress and held up her empty glass.
Quinn's eyes widened. "Excuse me? Why does it matter so much that I get laid tonight?"
"Come on, Q. It's been forever since you let anyone between those pale legs. And I'm sick of you being tight-ass Quinn. Besides, getting laid by a vampire guarantees an orgasm you'll be feeling for days. Or so I've been told." She winked, flashing her perfectly straight white fangs. She pulled Brittany into a fiery kiss.
Quinn rolled her eyes and turned her attention to the dance floor. With a sigh, she scanned the room. "Hosting is voluntary, right?" she asked, reassuring herself, as her eyes took in the half naked men and women around her, obviously thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Brittany nodded. "Yep. But I promise it's worth it."
"Now remember, Q," Santana said, "Don't get attached to anyone. No matter how alluring they can be, just be careful. You're human. Vampires like feeding on humans. They taste good." She grinned widely then leaned over to Brittany and kissed her cheek. "But not as good as fairies."
Brittany giggled as Quinn rolled her eyes.
"I'm going to go get another drink," she said, but her friends were too busy making out to even remember she was there. She slid out of the booth and made her way through the crowd. "I'll have a vodka tonic," she told the bartender when she finally reached the shining black granite-topped bar.
The bartender, a sexy vampire with thick dark hair and a mass of tattoos on his bare chest and arms took his sweet time looking her over.
Quinn stared at him, refusing to be intimidated by his blatant sexual appraisal.
He turned and mixed her drink, then set it down in front of her on a cocktail napkin. "On the house," he said, giving her a flirtatious wink.
She thanked him with a smile and turned, continuing to check out the room as she sipped her drink. It was actually very good.
"Where is the restroom?" she asked when the bartender came back her way again.
"Down the far hall, on the right."
"Thanks." She worked her way around the edge of the room, preferring not to interrupt several couples mid feed, and found the hall the bartender had indicated. A series of doors opened on either side of a long, narrow passageway. She made her way as quickly as possible through the clumps of people making out and practically having sex in the hallway.
She hadn't realized that vampires were such an open species. Of course Santana was always all over Brittany no matter where they were or who was around, but Quinn had assumed that was just Brittany and Santana—the endless horndogs.
The last door on the right was slightly ajar. Expecting this to be the bathroom, she pressed lightly with her fingertips. The door opened a few more inches and Quinn froze. She saw several dimmed lamps around the room providing just enough light for her to make out the profiles of two women sitting in the center of a bed.
This was definitely not the bathroom.
One of the women had long brunette hair spilling down her back. She was partially dressed in dark trousers and an unbuttoned white shirt that exposed a smooth pale torso and round breasts that could have been carved from ivory, they looked so perfect. Then there was a curvy young woman with dark red hair who was sitting on the brunette's lap, fully naked and writhed in her arms as they kissed, her legs wrapped around the brunette's hips.
Quinn knew she should leave, just back away from the door and find her way back to Brittany and Santana. But some pull in her gut kept her feet planted. Mesmerized by the scene, she felt as if all her senses were heightened.
The redhead's panting whimpers were as sharp and clear as if Quinn had been holding the woman herself. When the brunette cupped the other woman's breast and circled her erect pink nipple with her thumb, the woman's cry made Quinn's sex clench. Then she heard a dark murmur come from the brunette and saw the redhead nod vigorously. The brunette's mouth went to her neck and Quinn caught a glimpse of gleaming white incisors. A vampire! The brunette's expression was one of unbridled hunger and fierce need as she slid her fangs into the redhead's neck. The redhead bucked and cried out at the intrusion, driving her hips up and down on the brunette's lap.
Quinn found herself breathing hard and brought her hand up to cover her mouth.
"Oh, oh! Yes!" the redhead screamed, her body jerking as if electrocuted. "I'm coming. Ohhhh, I'm coming." Her hips thrashed wildly, her fingers clenching and unclenching.
The brunette's eyes slowly closed as she fed, her throat working convulsively.
Quinn gripped the door frame, her sex pounding harder than she ever thought possible. The sounds, the scents, the sight of the brunette feeding were so erotic she thought she too might come. She imagined sliding her hand down the pale, sculpted surface of the beautiful woman's body, bringing her as much pleasure as she was giving the redhead.
Then as if Quinn had called to her, the brunette's eyes shot open and locked onto Quinn's. Deep pools of chocolate trapped Quinn in place, but called to her at the same time. Heat shot through the blonde's body like she'd been tasered and a strangled moan escaped her lips. Her legs buckled as the redhead cried out again in ecstasy. It was only Quinn's death grip on the door frame that kept her upright.
The brunette's gaze held hers as she dragged her mouth away from the redhead's throat, then licked the punctures closed.
Quinn felt a tug in her lower belly. She became breathless, trapped in a vortex of incredible power that caressed the very center of her being. The brunette's gaze laid claim to her body and heat flooded her senses as she ached for those long cool fingers to touch her skin. She hungered for the vampire's touch, eager to be devoured. She saw the brunette's parted lips, the tip of her moist tongue just visible between white incisors. Quinn longed for that mouth on her. Every instinct pulled her forward, urging her to sink into the abyss of immeasurable pleasure.
Her expression must have triggered something within the beautiful brunette, because those milk chocolate eyes suddenly flamed crimson.
Quinn felt heat flare through her body. It took every ounce of her self-control not to go to the gorgeous vampire. She gripped the door frame harder, her knuckles white.
Finally, she was able to push herself back out into the hallway, breathing like she'd just finished a marathon. She had to get away from that room before her body combusted.
~~o~~
Delirium had brought Rachel pleasure on many nights when the urge to feed her hunger had become too overwhelming to ignore. Her friend, Mercedes Jones, owned the club and ran a tight ship. Nothing got past the woman. Rachel had seen her throw out an obnoxious vampire all by herself, the guards smirking the entire time.
Rachel loved this place. She would seek a beautiful woman to quench a thirst that recently never seemed truly sated, only muted until it became too demanding and she would seek another and another and another. It was a relentless need that never fully went away and thankfully the nightclub had always managed to provide what she needed.
Rachel would stand on the balcony and allow her gaze to drift over the heated bodies dancing and drinking until she found a heavenly body that piqued her interest. Then she would seduce them, feed from them, and usually bed them if she needed the extra release.
But lately she felt emotionally empty after the feedings and sex. She craved a connection that she could never seem to find. Perhaps that was why she kept putting off her needs.
Rachel now stood at the mezzanine rail, watching as the gorgeous blonde who had witnessed her feed dance to the heavy beat of the DJ's music. She noticed, to her surprise, that Santana and Brittany were dancing alongside her. Did they know her?
Blonde hair flowed over the goddess' shoulders, her face was that of an angel and her body was a gift from the gods. Her skin, lightly tanned and smooth and Rachel ached to touch her.
Rachel saw a great deal of skin, from the blonde beauty's hairline to the generous swell of her breasts where they were cuddled and lifted by the black satin of her corset; from the graceful curve of her shoulder to the tips of her slender fingers. Her snug mini skirt hugging her curves with loving care, making Rachel's body tighten.
The woman was stunning.
And Rachel certainly felt stunned. She had never reacted to the mere sight of a woman—especially a human—but the blonde goddess was not simply a regular woman… She was special. And the Princess felt an unbelievable pull towards her.
When the blonde turned her head, the light caught on her golden locks and Rachel imagined burying her hands in it, pulling the angel tight against her body.
She wanted that body.
Suddenly, heat turned to boiling rage as Rachel watched a guy with dark messy hair approach the blonde. He leaned down, whispering something in her ear. But by the way the blonde stiffened, Rachel knew the guy's attention was not appreciated.
Fury turned Rachel's vision black for a split second, and she felt her eyes flare red and her incisors lengthen in anticipation of the wounds she would inflict on any man or woman who dared to touch what she intended to claim for her own. The blonde beauty would not be touched by anyone but her.
She had never been tempted to conquer and claim so quickly. But in this case, she wanted to mark the woman so the entire world would know to keep its distance.
Then, as if she'd literally felt Rachel's touch, the blonde looked over and their eyes connected.
Heat arched between them, slicing through the crowd as if to remove all barriers separating them. Rachel wanted no barriers, she wanted her angel completely bared to her, body and mind and soul.
~~o~~
The beeping of her alarm pulled Quinn from a deep sleep. She hadn't gotten back from Delirium until after 2am and she'd immediately fallen into bed. She didn't expect to sleep—not with the loud banging of Brittany's headboard hitting the wall and the cries of pleasure from her two best friends down the hall—she needed to sort through her riotous feelings. She couldn't get the gorgeous brunette vampire out of her mind. Whenever she thought of the way the vampire had hungrily bit into the redhead's neck and the heavy haze of sex and blood in the air, she shuddered with excitement.
Last night, being at that nightclub surrounded by the unbridled aggression of the vampires, particularly as her gaze fixated on the brunette feeding from the woman, had been one of the most exhilarating moments of her life. And how sexually aroused the encounter had left her. Even now, the image of the vampire's eyes glowing dark red and the gleam of lethal incisors against those sensuous lips made Quinn's sex clench.
She couldn't deny the pull she felt toward her. The power that seemed to flow between them. She knew the brunette had felt it too when later Quinn had caught her looking from the mezzanine low balcony. That vampire fascinated her—beautiful, powerful, exquisitely tender. Quinn shifted restlessly, so agitated even her skin was hypersensitive.
The alarm beeped again, ripping her from her fantasy.
Groaning in frustration, she ran her hands through her hair then pushed out of bed.
An hour later, Quinn found herself standing outside a large building in the middle of the city. A simple sign hung by the front door, "Incision". Why would Brittany want to meet her here?
She pushed open the front door and was pleasantly surprised to see dark hardwood floors and marble surfaces. The foyer was bright and airy with beautiful bouquets of colorful flowers throughout the room and looked just like any other reception area in an upscale office building. Standing behind the counter was a large muscled man glaring down at her.
"Hi. I'm here to see Brittany Pierce."
"Sorry. Only members are allowed past these doors." His expression unwaveringly hard as he motioned toward the set of double doors behind him.
Quinn let out a sigh and looked around. What was this place anyway?
She watched as the double doors opened and a guy strolled out, a towel draped over his shoulders along with a pair of boxing gloves tied together. She noticed the skin on his arms looked vaguely like scales. Shifter.
Seriously? Why did Brittany insist on them meeting up at this… fight club? It wasn't bad enough that Brittany had taken her to a vampire nightclub now she had to meet up with her in some supernatural fight club.
"She told me to meet her here," Quinn's tone hardened as she explained to the man. "I'm friends with her. She's expecting me."
He shook his head. "If you go in, you have to fight."
Quinn could see the humorous mirth in his eyes. He had to be joking. She looked down at her slim jeans and dark red T-shirt. Did she look like she was the kind of person who pounded on people for fun?
"Sorry. I think there's been a misunderstanding." She forced a tight laugh, subconsciously taking a step back. "I'm not here to fight, I'm just here to see Brittany Pierce."
A smile ghosted his lips. "Well, then you'll have to talk to Rachel. She deals with all non-members."
Quinn rolled her eyes, frustrated. "Fine," she gritted through her teeth. "Take me to whoever this Rachel woman is and I'll just explain to her that I'm only here to see Brittany."
His heated gaze raked over her body, and a lascivious grin split his wide face from ear to ear. "Rachel likes blondes." But before Quinn could respond, he continued, "Come on. She'll decide what to do with you."
"I'm going to kill Brittany," she muttered under her breath, surprised when she heard her escort chuckle. Then remembered that since he was working in a supernatural fight club, he was more than likely some supernatural species. And the last thing she wanted to do was make him mad.
Letting out a frustrated breath, she followed Garg (short for Gargantuan, that's what she decided to call him) through the heavy oak inner doors. She paused and took in the sight.
It was like she walked into another world.
The huge open room boasted corrugated metal walls, concrete floors, and the stale stench of sweat. The lighting was dim, adding that underground feel to the club. At the front was a training area and a fully equipped gym. Half-naked, sweaty men and women, grappled on well-worn red mats and sparred in the two practice rings. Quinn's stomach clenched as the drumroll of speed bags, the slap of jump ropes, the whir of the treadmill, and the thud of gloves on flesh created a gut-churning symphony of violent sound.
She was led toward a raised boxing ring in the center of the room. There was a large group filling both the metal bleachers and the folding chairs surrounding the main attraction. They were people of every size, color and species—she could make out at least a dozen vampires, a handful of shifters of some sort, and some guy with lightly tinted green skin. She wondered how he could blend into human society, hiding skin color would be next to impossible. However, since Quinn had learned of the existence of the supernatural world, not much could shock her.
She frantically searched around for Brittany so she could sneak away from Garg, but her blonde friend was nowhere in sight.
Garg motioned toward the boxing ring. "You're in luck. Looks like Rachel's just finished a fight."
Turning her attention to where he was pointing, Quinn's gaze traveled to the far side of the ring and landed on the back of a woman wearing a pair of black shorts and a black sports bra. Her brunette hair was pulled up into a tight ponytail. She had mouth-watering shoulders and a great ass.
Quinn subconsciously licked her lips. A surprising heat began to burn low in her belly.
"Go."
She was pulled out of her trance by Garg's voice. "What?"
The man rolled his eyes. "Go talk to Rachel. I told you, she's the one who deals with non-members," he said, motioning toward the ring.
"But—"
He glowered at her and his voice dropped to a menacing growl. "Get up into the ring or I'll take you up myself and I can guarantee it ain't gonna be pretty." Definitely some sort of shifter.
Quinn gave an exasperated sigh, knowing she had no choice. Whatever. At least she'd be able to get a closer look at that ass. "Fine. I'm going. I'm going."
Stiffening her spine, Quinn climbed the small steps and slid between the ropes onto the spongy canvas mat. Her target was leaning over the ropes on the other side of the ring, talking to an excessively curvy blonde girl who was wearing short shorts and a hot pink tank top that was obviously a couple sizes too small.
Quinn immediately hated her.
"Hey, Rachel!" Garg's voice boomed over the noise of the gym. "I brought you a treat."
The moment the brunette turned, her eyes locked effortlessly onto Quinn's, like two magnets attracting.
Quinn's breath was slammed out of her lungs as she stared into warm chocolate eyes. Familiar eyes.
Her mind flashed back to the previous night. Those long fingers she had wanted to caress her skin. Those parted lips and moist tongue she had longed to devour her. That ivory body she'd craved to cover her own.
Quinn felt her body heat and quickly looked down, fighting off the urge to fall into those hypnotizing orbs. She realized too late that looking down had probably not been her best choice. Now her gaze was fixated on those black fight shorts, hanging deliciously low on the brunette's hips and showing off toned abs. Quinn couldn't hold back the moan that escaped her lips. Oh, what she would give to run her tongue over those hard muscles. She quickly pulled her gaze back up.
The woman—Rachel—began walking toward her, her movements fluid and sexy as hell, coming to a stop only a couple feet away.
Quinn couldn't stop staring. Even with her hair pulled up and no makeup, the brunette goddess was beyond gorgeous.
Rachel's full lips quirked into a faint smile. Quinn wondered if the woman remembered her from the night before. Her cheeks flamed in embarrassment as Rachel seemed to study the length of her body. A lithe and powerful predator assessing its prey. And on instinct, Quinn took a step back against the ropes.
"Excuse me, ah… R-Rachel?" She hated that she sounded weak. She was anything but weak. But this goddess staring at her was making every atom in her body sizzle. "I'm just here to meet up with my friend, Brittany Pierce. But Garg over there insisted I had to talk to you first," she explained, turning to point at the large man, who still stood outside the ring, a grin wide on his face.
Rachel kept her gaze focused on Quinn. "You're here to see Brittany?" Her husky, sensual voice could seduce a saint.
Quinn's thoughts whirled as her heart thundered in her chest. She licked her lips.
Rachel's deep chocolate eyes roved down to the beauty's mouth as she took another step closer to the blonde.
Feeling how close the vampire was to her, Quinn pressed herself back harder against the springy ropes of the ring, wincing as they bit into her skin through her thin T-shirt.
"Does Brittany's friend have a name?" Rachel's breath was minty sweet as it caressed Quinn's skin.
"Quinn."
The brunette smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Quinn is a beautiful name."
Heat roared through Quinn like a tidal wave. She closed her eyes to mentally get control of herself. "So… about Brittany—"
Suddening her footing slipped on the sweat-slicked mat and the taut ropes propelled her right into Rachel's chest.
Instinctively Rachel wrapped one arm around Quinn's waist and stepped backward, falling to the mat and pulling Quinn down on top of her.
Hazel eyes opened wide in horror as Quinn found herself laying on top of the beautiful goddess.
How did she even get in this position? Come to think of it, Rachel was a vampire—her unearthly beauty a testament—and vampires were very strong creatures. How had a little ol' human managed to knock her down?
For a long moment, neither of them moved. One of Quinn's legs was tucked between Rachel's muscular thighs. Her breasts were pressed against the vampire's chest. Her head was nestled on Rachel's shoulder with her hands flat on the mat on either side of the brunette's head.
Their breaths mingled together as their hearts seemed to pound in sync. Quinn melted into the brunette not wanting what should have been a humiliating moment to end.
"Are you hurt?" Rachel asked, concern heavy in her voice as she snaked both arms around Quinn's waist.
Quinn held her breath, daring to hope the vampire would pull her closer. She just shook her head, not trusting herself to speak.
Rachel's soft hand stroked the curve of Quinn's hip, a seemingly absent and casual caress. And yet, she appeared to be a woman very much in control of her body. A very solid, toned body. Quinn bit her bottom lip as she stared into chocolate eyes.
"I didn't really knock you down, did I?" she blurted out before even trying to filter her words.
Rachel only gave her a slow, sexy, devilish smile.
Well, Quinn wasn't going to complain. The sexy brunette could pull her on top of her any day.
Quinn cleared her throat, willing her heart to slow down. "I uh… I should probably go… go find Brittany," Quinn whispered, her original purpose for being at the fight club slowly sneaking back into her thoughts. Yet she still didn't try to get up.
"She and Santana went into my office about forty minutes ago. I don't think you'll be seeing them anytime soon." Rachel's expression told Quinn she knew exactly what Brittany and Santana were doing in her office.
Quinn rolled her eyes. Santana and Brittany were incapable of keeping their hands off each other.
Rachel stroked a finger along Quinn's jaw. Blazing heat shot straight to Quinn's core, her breath catching in her throat. But before she could react, Rachel easily pulled them both up to their feet.
"There you are, Quinn!"
They both turned toward the shout and saw Brittany and Santana standing just outside the ring.
"Where have you been?"
Quinn glared at her friends. "Where have I been?" she asked, her tone hardening. "Where have you been? I come here at the time you told me to, but you didn't meet me."
"San and I were having sex," Brittany informed her friend, straightforward and not caring about the dozens of people standing around. She linked her arm through Santana's and snuggled up to her lover, giving her a peck on the cheek.
Quinn rolled her eyes, hoping Brittany wouldn't start going into any details.
"You better not have ruined the upholstery on my couch," Rachel called over to Santana.
Feeling the vampire's body press tighter against her back, Quinn shuttered as another spike of heat flooded through her.
"Your precious couch is fine, Rach," Santana told her, a smirk growing on her face. "But you might want to get a new desk chair."
Rachel scoffed as she stepped around Quinn and over to the edge of the ring. "Are you serious? Santana, that is the third chair you and Brittany have ruined in the last two months."
Brittany beamed. "I'm just glad you haven't replaced your desk, Rachie. That's the most comfortable spot."
Groaning, Rachel slid out of the ring and over to the two women. "Why must you always have sex in my office? Isn't there somewhere else you could go?"
"Well, whiny baby Blaine already kicked us out of his office and the bathroom gets old after a while—Brittany doesn't like the brick on the wall," Santana informed her.
Brittany nodded. "I get too many scratches on my back."
"Okay stop!" Quinn exclaimed, holding her hand up. "That's already too much information. I don't need to know about that."
Santana turned to Quinn. "Well, by what I just saw of you and my cousin in the ring, I figure you two will be the ones using the wall of her office very soon."
A blush colored Quinn's cheeks as she remembered the feel of her body pressed down on the vampire, being held in strong capable arms. Feeling safe. Then part of what Santana had said registered. "Wait. Rachel is your cousin?"
"Yeah. Some days it's unfortunate," Santana said, her eyes teasing Rachel.
"Don't give me that crap," Rachel said. "I've always been your favorite cousin."
Santana rolled her eyes. "You're my only cousin. Thank the gods." She turned her attention back to Quinn. "Well, are you ready to go now? Britt's worked up quite the appetite."
Quinn nodded and watched as her friends linked pinkies and headed through the crowd toward the front doors.
Rachel stepped over to Quinn, pulling the blonde into those deep brown eyes. She slowly reached up and cupped Quinn's cheek, her thumb gently stroking over the soft skin. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Quinn."
A delicious shiver slid down Quinn's spine. "You as well, Rachel."
They stood in silence, neither one wanting to break the strong—almost tangible—connection between them.
But after several seconds, Quinn reluctantly pulled away. "I better go. Otherwise Santana will come barreling back here."
Rachel chuckled. "Of that I have no doubt."
Quinn started walking toward the doors, then glanced back over her shoulder. Rachel was standing exactly where she had been, still as a statue, her body chiseled from the finest marble.
The vampire studied her, thoughtful, and then she smiled, transforming breathtaking good looks into utter irresistibility in a heartbeat.
Quinn's breath caught in her throat. She took one last, lingering look. And then walked out the door.
~~o~~
Author's Note: Hey Everyone! It's been forever since I posted a story and I've missed it! I've missed your support and your love. I have the best readers! So here is what I have been working on the last few years. I'm a perfectionist, so I edited the chapters to death, but of course I'm still not 100% happy with them. But I wanted to send out the first chapter and see what you guys think. Please review, it helps me know what you guys like. Thanks!
