How arrogant vampires bathe in luxury"Could you hang up the phone, wait a few minutes and call back?" Then either Owen will answer or I'll redirect the call right away and he'll never know we've spoken. "Certainly. I look forward to meeting you in person."Ten minutes later the phone rang again. I ignored the call and let Owen answer. We needed normalcy and teasing. We needed something other than threat, fear, and dead bodies.Later, when I heard Owen's warm welcome voice, I slowly got up, not wanting to lose my balance and fall. I was pleasantly surprised that I feel good for the most part. It's time for a long-overdue retaliation prank.I looked around the bar and spotted a gorgeous guy in a green sweater that matched his light eyes perfectly. The guy was sitting at a table next to the bar. Owen was mixing the drink, keeping his eyes on Mr. Big Exotic. Perfect.I walked in, leaned against the bar next to the bookstore, and pretended not to notice his date. “Hey Owen, have you left
Russell followed us down the corridor and up the stone steps to the first floor. Clive turned in the opposite direction from the front door.We ended up in a two-story library that would have put the Beauty and the Beast library to shame. I stopped, just stopped. I could not get past the huge number of books. His library must be four times the size of my bookstore. I wanted nothing more than the time and freedom to climb ladders and inspect the shelves.Clive turned around. Seeing the look on my face, he shook his head, a grin curling up the corner of his mouth. “Russell, I need to bring you up to date. Sam, you can explore the library, but first I need to give you a proper introduction.""Oh, we've dated." I glanced at the man standing next to Clive. “He brought me here.""Yes, I know." Clive walked over to the dark mahogany table. “I mean, I would like you to get to know each other better. Sam, Russell is my second in command, my right hand."Russell winced at these words. “Russell
At night clubClick.Aside from a drunken pixie who regularly burst into song, preferring the tunes of 1950s shows, the evening was thankfully uneventful. I plucked up my courage, but waited until Owen was almost done before dragging him into the kitchen, where Dave was making shrimp pad thai."Go away! Dave roared."“We'll be quiet and not disturb you,” I whispered, pushing Owen towards the door to my apartment. "I need your help." He was waiting for an explanation."Clive," I pointed vaguely at the bar, not knowing why. “Tonight we should go to some nightclub south of the Market to talk to the wolves from the Bodega Bay pack."He nodded. "Okay, and..." I spread my hands, pointing to my clothes."I don't have nightclub clothes." Dave snorted. Owen moved, blocking Dave from my view."Understand. You take advantage of Owen for his unsurpassed fashion sense, but refuse to give him any sexy vampire
Past Information"William. It never crossed my mind." I threw up my hands."Great. Who do you think it is?"“If I knew, I would deal with him right now,” he snorted in annoyance." I asked William. He is incapable of lying to me. Nobody went in or out, but the wolf is still dead."“Looks like whoever controlled it pulled the plug out of the socket.""Yes it is." I was sick of the thought of death. "Where?""Crypt. The wolves have just registered." Clive parked a block away from a nightclub that had a line stretching all the way to the corner. "Are you cold?" Clive held my door open as I climbed out. I shook my head."Fine. Are you wearing the bracelet Coco gave you?" Pulling up the sleeve of my jacket, I showed off the forged copper cuff. “Never leave the house without it.""Nodding," he made his way to the door of the nightclub. The bouncer moved the people in line so that Clive and I could slip into the establishment. Once inside, Clive immediately turned right down a short corridor
I could dance all night“I told my people to stay away from this pack." I had a feeling that at least one of his pack ignored this order.“I don't know anything about this Randy, except that he's been with Marcus since he was little, younger than kids usually go through a transformation. Maybe the guy is a tough nut to crack. Don't know. Marcus' son Mick was dead, so... That's probably why Randy became Alpha. A guy in his twenties.” He shook his head. “Marcus must have driven out all the dominants left in the pack after Alexander's death. Otherwise, I don't know how a kid like that could take control of the pack.” He glanced at the dance floor. "So, are we done with the questions?"Clive and I looked at each other and nodded. Hollis grinned, pinning me with his gaze. "Do you want to dance?"Hollis jumped up onto the bench, crossed the table, and a second later was down beside me. Jumping up, I put a chair between us. His face is impassive, his eyes twinkling with pent-up humor. "Didn
In which she learns the fastest way to piss off a witch"I mean, okay." A scarred book nerd in shapeless clothes couldn't be anyone's fantasy.And that would suit me just fine. I was content with a quiet life, books and booze, periodically dreaming of a vampire, but now everything has changed. The safe, predictable life I thought I'd lead was turned upside down. I was terrified, yet I didn't feel much sadness as I watched that old life disappear."I'm sorry, Sam. I need to sort out some business. If you hear that I destroyed the whole nocturne, it probably won't be true." Clive changed gears, steering the car up a steep hill. He checked for traffic in both directions before he passed the intersection and climbed the next hill."Everything is fine." In any case, it will take several hours for my breathing to return to normal." Actually, no. I apologize for stopping by.” He reached out and squeezed mine for a moment. “Some of my kind need to be beaten to a pulp.""What's happening?""To
Disciplined the Vampire When no one rushed to the bar to hit me, Owen explained: "I'm a witch. All the witches who come here use white magic, earth magic. We do no harm with our spells." “Black witches use blood and death in their magic. Animal sacrifices, even humans, are used to increase the power of their spells. This is costly to their souls. Every time they practice black magic, they defile their souls. That's why it's called black magic; the practitioner's soul bears the imprint of his work." "Can you see people's souls?" “Their auras, yes. The aura is the manifestation of the soul. When you do evil, your soul becomes more sooty or black. We see the evil surrounding black witches. We stay away from them, and they from us." Owen switched to filling cups of snacks and looked around the room, feeling uneasy about the topic. I lowered my voice even more. "Do you see my aura?" Owen smiled, for the first time since I brought up the subject. “Werewolves are almost impossible to r
Clive is intimidatingly powerful for other vampires.Clive told Russell that he wouldn't give up something because of the fanaticism that mosquitoes were buzzing in his ears. Was all this rage really because of me? My stomach was cramped. Owen squeezed my knee.I didn't mean how it sounded. Vampires look down on all of us. I can only imagine how some of them would have reacted to Clive willingly touching a wolf. Owen stopped on the street a block from the store. He pulled the car into the parking lot and turned to me.“I heard there's a commotion among the vampires, so it might have absolutely nothing to do with you. I believe that some high-ranking vampire is visiting here now.And his retinue. It could be a power game to take San Francisco from Clive, or it could be a tribute visit. Based on the little vampire gossip I've heard over the years, Clive is intimidatingly powerful for other vampires."I looked out the window, remembering. I used to think of Clive as scary too. Then I spe
The both of us ventured to Coco's quaint and welcoming shop, a place filled with the comforting aroma of incense and the soft tinkling of wind chimes. It was a sanctuary of serenity amid the chaos of our enigmatic quest, a place where we could share our deepest concerns and seek solace in each other's presence. Coco greeted us with a warm smile as we entered her shop, sensing the gravity of our visit. We settled into the cozy nook by the window, surrounded by shelves adorned with mystical trinkets and ancient books. With a blend of unease, I began to recount the unsettling visions that had plagued me – the spectral girl, the waterlogged bodies, and the nightmarish river. Coco listened attentively, her eyes filled with empathy and understanding, as if she could feel the weight of my experiences.
Amidst the disorienting maelstrom of her vision, as Sam was inexorably drawn closer to the enigmatic river's depths, she glimpsed a figure emerging from the shadows. It was the same ethereal girl, the one she had encountered before in her unsettling dreams and visions. Her presence was as eerie as ever, a haunting specter in the nightmarish tableau. The girl's features remained elusive, obscured by an otherworldly aura, and her eyes held a depth of knowledge that seemed to transcend time and reality. She watched Sam with an inscrutable expression, her presence both disconcerting and strangely familiar. As Sam's journey down the dark river continued, more macabre elements of her vision began to manifest. The waterlogged bodies that had previously appeared in the waters of her bookstore bar now floated eerily around her, their lifeless forms suspend
Further into workout time at the bookstore bar, I stood behind the counter, gazing out of the window as the last traces of daylight faded into the evening. The tranquil atmosphere of my shop was shattered once again when I heard a scream. I rushed to the window, my heart pounding, and my worst fears were confirmed. There, in the dim twilight, I saw the silhouette of a lifeless body floating in the water. Dread washed over me as I realized that Randy wasn’t the one behind the rape and killings. He must have been sent if bodies keep appearing Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized that whoever was after me wouldn’t quit torturing innocent women. Anguish and rage coursed through me, but amidst the turmoil of emotions, I knew one thing for certain – I had to find the person responsible for this sinister chain of events. My mind raced as I tried to connect the dots, searching for any clues or patterns that would lead me to the elusive enemy. I retraced the moments leadin
As I waited anxiously on the couch, I knew I didn’t have to worry about forgetting anything. Clive always had everything meticulously prepared for me, down to my underwear. The thought of his thoughtfulness brought a small smile to my face, even in the midst of my fear. When I heard a knock on the door, my heart leaped into my throat. The uncertainty of whether it was Gulther or Clive sent shivers down my spine. I hesitated, frozen in fear, until my phone buzzed with a text from Clive. Relief washed over me as I read his message, confirming his presence at my door. I rushed to the door and swung it open, my heart pounding. Seeing Clive’s familiar face filled me with a mix of emotions—relief, gratitude, and a deep sense of trust. I hugged him tightly, feeling safe in his embrac
The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across Clive’s face as he lay beside me. I watched him sleep for a moment, his chest rising and falling with each peaceful breath. The world outside felt distant and unimportant in this fleeting moment of tranquility. My fingers traced the contours of his face, memorizing every detail—the strong jawline, the delicate curve of his lips, and those piercing, crimson eyes that had captured my heart. I marveled at the way love had brought together two beings from opposite sides of the supernatural divide. As I leaned in and gently kissed his forehead, Clive stirred, his eyes fluttering open to meet mine. A soft smile graced his lips, and he pulled me closer, our bodies entwined in the warmth of the sheets. In that embrace, we forgot about the complexities of our respective worlds—his as a vampire and mine as a werewolf. All that mattered was us, here and now. But, as it often happens, the peace was abr
"Sam, I can't even begin to imagine what you've been going through," Clive said softly, his words filled with empathy. "But I want you to know that I'm here for you, no matter what." His unwavering support was a source of comfort, and I found myself opening up to him about my fears, my doubts, and the unsettling suggestion of black magic that Coco had introduced. Clive listened intently, his presence on the other end of the line a lifeline in a sea of uncertainty. After discussing the nightmarish vision and Coco's insights, Clive made a suggestion that surprised me. "Why don't I come over, Sam?" he proposed. "It might be easier to talk in person, and we can explore this black magic idea together." I agreed to his suggestion, feeling a mixture of relief and anticipation. Hav
In the nightmarish vision that held me captive, the boundaries of reality and unreality blurred further, leaving me ensnared in a grotesque and surreal landscape. The relentless figures, their forms twisted and nightmarish, closed in around me like vengeful spirits hungry for my torment. Every attempt to move, to escape the paralysis that bound me, proved futile. The weight on my chest was an invisible vice, crushing the breath from my lungs, and my limbs remained immobilized, as if shackled by unseen chains. Panic coursed through me, and I could feel the cold sweat on my brow as I struggled to regain control over my body. The whispers grew louder and more insistent, their words now forming a sinister narrative that echoed through the twisted void. They spoke of ancient curses and malevolent entities, painting a chilling picture of the supernatural forces that held sway over this nightmarish realm. The erratic flickering of the neon lights above cast eerie, dancing shad
Coco's story had cast a shadow over our conversation, leaving a lingering sense of unease in its wake. Her eyes held a mix of compassion and concern as she leaned closer, her voice lowered to a hushed tone. "Sam," she began gently, "I know it might sound unconventional, but considering what you've been through, have you ever thought about exploring the possibility of using black magic to find answers or to protect yourself?" Her suggestion hung in the air, a palpable shift in the conversation's tone. I hesitated, my thoughts a tumultuous whirlwind of doubt and uncertainty. The idea of delving into the arcane and the unknown was both alluring and terrifying. Coco, ever the persuasive friend, began to share stories of individuals who had turned to such practices as a last resort, finding
In the days that followed the unsettling events and revelations, my life settled into a somber rhythm, marked by a cautious return to a semblance of normalcy. Before I resumed working at my bar, there was a period of introspection and support from my friends. Each morning, as the sun cast its gentle rays upon my apartment, I would awaken to the gentle sounds of the city outside my window. The memories of my recent ordeal still haunted my dreams, leaving me with restless nights and moments of reflection in the quiet hours before dawn. My days were often spent in solitude, grappling with the myriad emotions and unanswered questions that swirled within me. The city outside buzzed with its usual activity, yet I felt detached from the bustling world beyond my doorstep. The weight of the pendant's mystery and the looming threat of unseen adversaries cast a shadow over my every thought. Throughout this period, Clive, Dave, and Dr. Underfoot remained unwavering pillars of supp