Born in the Shadows (In the Shadows Series Book 1) (10 page)

And they weren’t the plastic kind you got at Halloween; they were honest to God fangs. Christ, this must be one of those weird hardcore Goth clubs that people talked about being hidden around the city.

A couple of the younger guys at work had ended up at one a few years back. They had said the place was filled with a bunch of vampire wannabes, some going as far as wearing strange coloured contact lens and having fake fangs implanted.

It was the last place he would think to find Cordelia. The doubts about his sanity rose up to taunt him again.

You’re drunk, you think you saw her alive, going into some Goth club. Yeah that makes perfect sense.

It didn’t matter that it was insane. He was desperate and he was going to hold on to whatever small hope he could find.

He walked through the door and down a short hallway before emerging into the club proper. A rainbow of lights flashing to the beat of the techno music lit up the large space. A bar lined with black lights was set against the far wall and a dance floor took up most of the space. It was filled with bodies grinding against each other in a mass of flesh, leather and sweat.

Gabe skirted the edge of the dance floor, searching the throng of people for a glimpse of Cordelia. As he made his way through the crowd at the bar, he noticed that there wasn’t any set dress code for the place. There were men and women decked out in designer suits and dresses standing next to club kids in skimpy outfits and clashing colors. Black leather and silver studs has equal representation with glow sticks and multicoloured hairdos.

Gabe was jostled by the crowd moving around the bar and he bumped into someone hard. He turned to see it was just a kid, no more than twenty with long black hair with a severe widow’s peak. He wore heavy black eyeliner and his face appeared to be painted white. His long leather duster and the studded collar around his neck marked him as a Goth kid. He had probably been a nerdy outcast in high school and at graduation reinvented himself as some bad ass in touch with the supernatural. Gabe didn’t buy that line of bullshit for a moment. The kid looked like a stiff breeze would knock over his spindly body.

“Watch where you are going,” the Goth kid growled at him and Gabe saw that instead of normal canines the kid had fangs just like the bouncer.

“Whatever kid,” Gabe replied, brushing him off and focusing again on his search for Cordelia.

Before he could move further into the club, a strong hand clamped down on his shoulder and he found himself being spun around to face another Dracula wannabe. This one was in the same type of get up as the kid but he had enough meat on his bones to fill out the duster.

“Who did you come with tonight, human?”

Gabe felt ice fill his veins as he stared into Faux Dracula’s eyes. There was no black eyeliner and white face paint here. His eyes were an eerie red, as if his irises were carved from rubies. Fear began to curl in his belly as he continued to stare into those eyes but it was quickly quashed as everything around him became fuzzy and out of focus. All he could see was Faux Dracula.

“Who did you come with tonight, human?”

Gabe’s instincts said to tell the stranger to piss off but the seductive lilt of his voice kept Gabe rooted to the floor and compelled him to tell the stranger the truth.

“I didn’t come with anyone. I saw someone I know come in here and I followed her.”

“Does she know you are here?”

“No, I haven’t found her yet.”

“Do you belong to her?”

“I don’t belong to anyone.”

“Excellent.”

Faux Dracula pushed on his shoulder, urging Gabe to turn around. He leaned down to whisper in Gabe’s ear, his moist breath striking his neck and making his flesh crawl.

“Let’s go find somewhere more private. I’m starving.”

His words ignited fear in Gabe but his body responded to Faux Dracula’s direction and began to walk towards the back of the club. He was no longer in control of his body. Somehow he’d been forced to take the passenger seat in his mind. He tried to scream but no sound came from his mouth, the plea for help echoing impotently in his mind.

Wherever he was going, he knew it wasn’t a good place.

***

Cordelia didn’t mind that Mary had been right. She had gone outside her comfort zone and found herself actually enjoying her night at Roxy. Which threw her for a loop because this was so not her. Or at least, the her she used to be when she was human.

And maybe that was a good thing. She couldn’t go back to her old life after the change so why try to be her same old self. This was an opportunity to break out of the mediocrity that had been her human life and try something a bit more adventurous.

Though sitting in the VIP section of a nightclub didn’t exactly rate super high on the adventure scale, it was still a big step for her. And a lot of fun. They had been joined by two other Shadow Walkers, Katerina and Zeke, whom Mary had introduced as old friends of the clan.

Katerina reminded Cordelia of a fairy from one of the picture books she had as a child. She was tiny, even smaller than Anne, which made her doe eyes that were the color of topaz seem even larger. Her hair was a riot of blonde waves that reached her waist. Her nose was tiny and turned up slightly at the tip. Her mouth was a perfect Cupid’s bow and the pink gloss that she wore made her lips appear plumper. Her skin was flawless and the strapless black Versace dress she wore was an excellent contrast against her pale skin.

Cordelia had found it hard to tear her gaze away from Katerina’s entrancing beauty. Unfortunately her other option was just as captivating. Zeke was a dead ringer for Josh Dumal, who Cordy had always found gorgeous. Spiky brown hair and a five o’clock shadow that coloured his strong jaw line gave him a rugged appearance. He was dressed head to toe in Armani; a pin striped tuxedo shirt, the first two buttons undone at the collar and black pants. He wasn’t as big as Demetri but the way he carried himself indicated that he could do as much damage as Demetri could with his large muscles.

He was also quite the flirt and Cordelia found herself basking in his compliments and smiles. Mary had also been right about this. It was nice to have the attention of an attractive man. Sure, she had no intention of doing anything with Zeke and she was pretty certain it was harmless on his side but it was still nice. 

She felt damn good. She was strong, she was beautiful, she was surrounded by family and friends who had shown her a place she belonged and she was actually having fun. Everything seemed perfect. She had to remember to thank Mary for getting her to come out tonight. 

As she relaxed in the leather booth, listening to Demetri and Zeke relate the story of the time they had attended one of the first Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans, a familiar scent tickled her nose. A spicy mix of sawdust and pine rose above the general smell of alcohol, sweat and sex that permeated the club. The scent tugged at her memories but she couldn’t quite place it. She scanned the area and some internal alarm went off when she noticed a Shadow Walker in leather leading a man towards the washrooms in back.

She now knew why the scent was so familiar as memories of a handsome blond with a dazzling smile popped to the surface of her mind. 

What the hell was Gabe doing here?

He disappeared around the corner with the male as she watched, trying to think of any reason why Gabe would be at Roxy. He’d never once expressed an interest in going to a nightclub. Even if he had ended up at the club by some circumstance, Gabe had never seemed like the type to head somewhere private with another man.

She didn’t wait for a response from the others when she told them she would be right back, making a beeline for the washrooms.  It only took a few moments to catch up with them just before the washroom doors and she grabbed Gabe’s arm, bringing all of them to a halt.

The Shadow Walker spun around to glare at her and she was surprised to find herself not entranced by him as she had the other Shadow Walkers she had met. The scent of cigarillos and cheap cologne clung to him and the sickly sweetness turned her stomach. His fiery eyes made that internal alarm of hers ring even louder instead of mesmerizing her. There was nothing appealing about him at all.

He took a moment to look her over before clearly dismissing her as someone of no importance. He sneered at her, his voice a combination of annoyance and impatience. “What do you think you are doing?”

She lifted her chin in defiance and tried to mimic Mary’s authoritative tone. “Where are you taking him?”

“I’m taking him out for a nice steak dinner,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Where the hell do you think I’m taking him?”

His tone was meant to cow her into submission but it wasn’t working. She wasn’t going to let this
thing
touch Gabe.

“This one isn’t on the menu tonight.”

“He hasn’t been marked so he’s not yours. Are you challenging me for the right to his vein?”

She didn’t know what the hell he meant but she knew she had to save Gabe from him.

“Yes I am so back the hell off.”

She pulled Gabe closer to her and took a moment to look him over; making sure the male hadn’t done anything to hurt him. There were no obvious wounds but his eyes were glassy and she saw no flash of recognition when he looked at her. 

“You screwed with his mind, didn’t you? God, you’re an asshole.”

He laughed at her, flashing his fangs. “I am going to enjoy beating you to a pulp.”

Well, she wasn’t expecting that.

“Excuse me?”

That irritating laugh of his continued as he shook his head. “You have no idea what you just did, do you? You must be a fledgling. I’d actually feel bad for you if you hadn’t fucked with my dinner.”

A tremble of fear moved through her as his blood red eyes glinted in delight while he eyed her up and down. This whole saving Gabe thing had seemed a lot simpler a few minutes ago. Just go grab him and get him the hell out of here before something happened to him. Looked like the something was going to happen to her instead.

“Cordelia, what’s going on?”

She turned to see Mary coming down the hallway and sent up a silent prayer of thanks. She was grateful to have some back-up against Mr. Tall, Dark and Ratty here.

“Your fledging has challenged me for the rights to this human,” Ratty answered Mary’s question, nodding in Gabe’s direction.

“Not going to happen,” Mary said. “You want a fight then you’re dealing with me.”

Cordelia began to panic. Things just kept escalating and she had no idea why it was happening. She had come out to have a good time and now she had been challenged to a fight, somehow gotten Mary caught up in it and Gabe was standing here like a zombie with a string of drool dribbling from his lips.

Well, wasn’t this just fucking perfect?

“You are her sire then,” Ratty said. “As you know, only her sire can take her place in a challenge.”

Mary smiled at that, her fangs catching the strobe light above them. “I’m not her sire but we can call him. It might take a little while for him to arrive. He’s a bit busy, what with being a member of the High Council.”

Ratty took a step back, his ever present smile faltering as his eyes widened in surprise.

“Yes, you picked a fight with a second daughter,” Mary sneered at him. “You can’t be any older than a twelfth son. You’ll be massacred.”

“Why are we massacring him?”

Cordelia turned to see that Demetri had come to join them, Zeke and Katerina following behind him.

“Cordelia challenged this male for her friend’s vein,” Mary explained, “But what he didn’t realize was that he’d be having to face Nicky now.”

Demetri barked out a laugh as he pointed at the male. “Oh dude, you are so fucked. Seriously, man, concede the challenge now so you can keep all your limbs.”

For a moment, it seemed as if the male was sincerely considering Demetri’s suggestion as he looked around at the group but then he straightened his back and faced Mary toe to toe.

“I will not concede.”

“It’s your funeral,” Mary replied. “Katerina can accept the declaration and I can contact Nicky to meet us here.”

              The male turned to Katerina and bowed. “I, Armand, twentieth son of Aldric, declare my desire to challenge another for the vein of this human. Will you accept the declaration of challenge?”

Katerina bowed her head in response. “I accept the declaration. Cordelia, second daughter of Zopyros, you have been challenged for the vein of this human. Will you declare your sire, Nicomachus, first son of Zopyros, your replacement?”

All of this was going way too fast for Cordelia to keep up. She had no idea what this challenge was about but now she had not only dragged herself into it, she had pulled Nicky along with her.

“Just wait a minute,” she said, holding up a hand so everyone could pause for a second. “If anyone is taking my place in any challenge, I want someone to explain to me what exactly the challenge is before I agree.”

Armand laughed at her and the others glared at him before Demetri offered up an explanation.

“When two Shadow Walkers want to feed on the same unmarked human, they can challenge each other for the right to the human. There are a bunch of rules, like having a second and declaring it to the Council and who can be your substitute but it basically boils down to two Shadow Walkers fighting each other until one of them is able to stake the other.”