Blood Doll (7 page)

“Technically, no,” he said, tugging her toward the sidewalk, “but Xanthe is a little on the possessive side. If she sees another woman that’s prettier than she is, she might lose her mind.”

“It sounds like she already has,” Lana replied with a frown. How someone could do the things this woman had done and still be considered at all sane was beyond her. “So how do I get in?”

“I wondered that myself,” Christian said, “then I had a thought.”

“Must have been a surprise,” Lana retorted, immediately ducking out from under his arm and dancing away as he took a playful swing at her.

“Smart ass.” Lana stuck her tongue out at him and giggled, and immediately found herself backed up against a lamppost with his body pressed against hers. “Don’t offer unless you’re willing to follow through.” His voice was low, nearly lost in a growl. Lana looked up at him, defiant, and stuck her tongue out at him again. His growl grew louder, and he bent, sucking her tongue into his mouth. Her eyes fell closed as he kissed her. When his hand closed around her throat, she shoved backward, knocking him into the dirty slush on the sidewalk, and landed on top of him. She bent close to his ear, tracing its cuff with her tongue before whispering into it.

“That goes both way, princess.”

Chuckling, Christian lifted her and settled her on his feet, then pulled himself out of the muddy ice. “As much fun as this is, it isn’t the least bit productive. Now, are you going to listen to what I have to say, or are you going to make me drag you back to the house and make you behave?”

“You can make me behave later,” she said, straightening her dress. “What was this thought of yours?”

“Tomorrow is Halloween. The club always has a big masquerade ball.”

“So we get to dress up?”

“Yes, but it won’t be for fun.”

“Are you kidding?” Lana squealed. She hadn’t been this excited about something silly in a long time. Perhaps it was her new confidence… or maybe just madness settling in. “Dressing up is always for fun!”

“Maybe so,” Christian replied, taking her arm and turning her toward the end of town, “but you can’t let the costume get in the way of your mission. Let’s just hope the shop has something worthwhile.”

Lana sighed as they started to run. She knew that. She knew Sarah’s life hung in the balance, but she hadn’t had a real Halloween costume in years. Of course, looking for something the night before Halloween was probably going to be a lesson in patience and frustration. Most places she knew of would have been completely picked through a week ago.

Luckily, the place Christian took her seemed to have a decent stock… of animal costumes, she realized as she wandered through the messy rows. There were plenty of palates of vampire makeup—a sight that made her break down into a fit of giggles in the aisle—and black capes. The few decent costumes she saw were all for either a size two, or a plus-sized girl.

“Sometimes being of average size really sucks,” she muttered as Christian came around the corner of the next aisle. His arms were full, and he dropped the pile at her feet so they could sort through.

“We’re a little late. The good stuff is gone,” he said, and picked out three packages. Lana eyed them suspiciously until she realized that they were all men’s sizes.

“A vampire? Really?” she asked with a smirk. “Why don’t you just go as yourself?”

He sighed at her. “What other vampire would think to dress up as a vampire?”

Lana shook her head and began to dig through the mess of things he’d pulled. There was a hippie costume, which she immediately threw over her shoulder. No way in hell. She found a penguin costume, which earned Christian a very hard glare.

“You have to be kidding,” she said with a grunt, and threw the furry mess back at him. Christian laughed, and reached into the pile to pull something from the bottom. For a moment Lana wasn’t sure what it was, then she turned the hanger around in his hand and looked at the label. “This could work.”

“I thought you might like it,” he replied, and pulled the snaps on the plastic bag open. A dress fell out—a red and black plaid number with a wide, frilled skirt and a corset-style bodice. It was cheaply made, but would serve its purpose. And it was more or less the right size.

While she inspected the dress, Christian continued to dig in the pile, returning with a pair of red lace stockings and matching gloves. He also pulled out a black parasol. “All we need is a mask to hide your face, and you’ll be perfect.”

Lana eyed him suspiciously. “This doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that you want to see me dressed up like a doll, does it?” If he’d been able, she was certain he would have blushed.

“Maybe a little.” He pushed the items into her hands. “Plus it’ll get you enough attention that if you come in as my…” he paused, as if searching for the right word, “…consort, then you’re certain to get farther. Plus, the scent of humans all around us will mask the fact that you no longer have one.”

“Good to know,” she said, feeling her excitement run a little flat. “Will this plan work?”

“I hope so,” Christian replied, and rose from the mess he’d created. “We need to find you a mask. They’re getting ready to close.”

Lana followed him up the aisle, watching as he pulled several of the silly makeup palates from the racks. Pausing at the end of the aisle, he turned sharply to the left and Lana followed, watching with a mixture of amusement and horror as he stopped before a rack of colored contact lenses.

“What are you doing?” she asked, taking a step back as she clutched at her new clothes.

“We’re going to make you a scab,” he replied, picking out a pair of solid white contacts. “If I offer you up in exchange for the watcher’s head, we’re guaranteed to get in.”

“So I’m bait?”

“Pretty much.”

“Great. Sounds like fun. Can’t wait,” she said with a snort, and turned for the register. As the girl behind the counter began to ring up her purchases, Lana looked at the total growing with each new scan. Good thing she had a credit card; otherwise there was no way this was going to work. As she pulled her wallet from her pocket, Christian reached around her to toss the contacts and a half-face Venetian-style mask on top of the pile. The total continued to climb, but Christian was there with a handful of cash, and used her stunned silence to swipe the bag from the counter and start out the door. Lana stared after him, her mouth hanging open.

“Sweet guy,” the clerk said. Lana nodded. “I wish my boyfriend would buy me an awesome costume like that.”

“Yeah,” Lana replied, distracted, and followed Christian out the door. On the sidewalk, she stalked up and grabbed his arm. “What the hell was that?”

“What?”

“You just spent nearly two hundred dollars!”

“Your point?”

“It’s my costume!”

“And it’s my idea,” he said, turning to start down the sidewalk. She grabbed him and jerked him back. “Look, the costume will probably be ruined tomorrow night. It’s the least I can do for turning you and putting you in danger.”

“Christian, I was already in danger, remember? You’re the one that’s keeping me out of most of it.”

“Maybe so, but I can’t see letting you spend money on something that I’m going to enjoy so much.” He gave her one of those sly smiles of his and curled his arm around her waist. “It’s late. We should probably go home now.”

Lana rolled her eyes. She could almost hear the ulterior motive in his voice.

“You want to go home and have me model the costume.”

Christian didn’t answer. He only grinned, and began to run.

“Well don’t get your heart set on it!” she cried after him, and sprinted down the darkened street.

Chapter Eight

Christian sat on the edge of the bed, waiting patiently while Lana dressed. As he’d purchased the costume the previous evening, he freely admitted a selfish desire to see her wearing it. Too bad she was stubborn and refused to model it for him. Good thing, though, because he probably would have shredded it trying to get to her.

As he’d explained to her, the costume would be the best distraction for the watchers and the older crowd. If she looked the part of a scab, she would likely get farther without suspicion. After all, a new vampire in Xanthe’s territory would stand out like a broken fang.

Of course, there was always the chance they would kill her once they learned her identity, but he chose not to think about that yet. Once he got her in, Christian was certain Lana would be able to take care of herself well enough to stay alive. She was tough and stubborn and determined to see her sister again.

While relegated to the bedroom to wait, Christian’s thoughts turned to an absurd idea. He picked up a notebook and pen, and scribbled a letter. Even if the foolhardy plan didn’t work, it was worth a try. Plus, there was a chance that in delivering this letter, Harlan might be seen as something more than an old lunatic who had outlived his usefulness.

Elders,

Harlan has come before you as a personal favor to me. Please accept my sincerest apologies in not presenting my case to you myself, but an emergency has arisen and time will not allow.

It has come to my attention that The Mausoleum has been participating in illegal activity for quite some time. A friend of mine, a young woman named Lana Roberts, has informed me that her twin sister, Sarah, has gone missing. Knowing what I know of The Mausoleum and Xanthe’s less than honorable actions, I have reason to believe that Sarah is being held against her will inside the club’s private chambers. I believe the young human has become addicted to vampiric blood, and is being used as a feeder by Xanthe’s co-conspirators.

I fear Sarah may not have much time left, particularly since Xanthe has a penchant for the dramatic. I humbly request your help in securing Sarah’s safety, as Lana refuses to leave Boston without her sister. Any assistance you might provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time and consideration on this matter.

Sincerely,

Christian Sterling

Christian folded the letter and placed it in an envelope. Across the front of it, he wrote the words
Distinguished Boston Elders.

“Harlan,” he called, leaning out of the bedroom door to call down the basement stairs. A moment later, Harlan appeared, grumbling about a lack of good food in the house. “I need a favor.”

“You always need something, boy.”

“I know,” Christian replied, keeping his voice low. In the bathroom, he could hear Lana muttering as she fumbled with the ties on her dress. “I need you to take this letter to the Elders. I have to take Lana into the club again, and it isn’t safe.”

“You really think they’ll listen to me?”

“I think they’ll at least consider you if once they read this,” Christian said. “Please hurry.” Harlan took the letter, then straightened his old back, and saluted Christian with a low, formal bow.

“It shall be my honor and privilege to convey this message to the Elders’ Council.”

“Thank you, Harlan,” Christian replied as the crazy old vampire disappeared through the front door. He rolled his eyes and scratched at the back of his head. “Old fool has quite the flair for the dramatic,” he muttered.

“What was that?” Lana asked, startling him. He hadn’t heard her open the door or come up behind him. Her lack of scent and new stealth skills could work to his disadvantage should he ever decide to play hide-and-seek with her.

“I sent Harlan to ask the Elders for help.” Christian took a deep breath and turned. Lana stood just behind him in stocking feet. The dress, while a cheap imitation of the real Gothic Lolita style, hugged her body and flared brilliantly around her knees. The laces pushed against her breasts, threatening to spill them from her neckline. The lace stockings slithered over her skin, and the matching gloves gave the appearance that her hands were coated in blood. She’d tied her hair up into pigtails on either side of her head. On her face she wore a layer of white crème makeup with black and gray shadows to her eyes, and a perfect, red heart drawn over her lips. With her icy eyes, she looked almost ghostlike. “Wow…” he said on a whistle.

“You don’t think it’s too much?”

He stared at her, mouth agape. Christian wasn’t sure how to answer that. At first, all he could think about shoving her back against the wall, but there was no time. On one hand, he didn’t want to stop looking at her, but on the other, he wasn’t sure he wanted to share this view with anyone else.

“You look amazing,” he said after a long pause. “I was just considering keeping you all for myself.”

“After we get Sarah out of there, we’ll negotiate,” she replied. “Do you think this will work?”

“Once you get the contacts in, you’ll be perfect.” The comment drew a smile to her lips. “Now get your shoes on. We can wait until we’re closer to the club before you put the contacts in, because they’re almost guaranteed to make you have trouble seeing.”

“Great,” she muttered, “just one more stupid thing to make this night even harder.”

“Look at it this way,” he said, taking hold of her hands, “if Harlan can convince the Elders to check the place out, we shouldn’t have a problem.”

“And if they decide to ignore him?”

“Then we’re going to have trouble.”

Lana sighed. “Just what we need…more freaking trouble.”

“It can’t be easy.”

“I know. You need to get dressed.”

“Going,” he said, though as he passed he took the opportunity to pull her into his arms and kiss her. She only allowed it for a moment before pushing him away.

“Quit…you’re going to ruin my makeup!”

“I’m going…” He sighed and continued into the bedroom where his corny costume hung on the back of the closet door. He dressed quickly and applied a thin layer of makeup to his already pale skin. The costume would be sure to garner some attention…hopefully it would be enough to keep the focus from Lana. If not, there was no telling what would happen.

“Took you long enough,” Lana said with a snort when Christian opened the door. She looked him over, then burst into a fit of laughter. He couldn’t blame her…he looked pretty ridiculous. If it weren’t for the blue hair hanging in his face, he could have passed for a young Bela Lugosi. Too bad real vampires didn’t approve of the old hack.