(Glory St Clair 11) Real Vampires Say Read My Hips (41 page)

“Oh, yes, I get it.” I was feeling pleasantly buzzed. Some things I hadn’t forgotten. “Back in the day, you could buy anything you wanted. You know how some mortals are about vampires. Silly drones think it’s an honor to have sex with a pair of fangs in their neck.”

“It isn’t?” Flo laughed. “How do you think I became vampire myself? I was dazzled by a man who honored me that way.” She fanned her cheeks. “So handsome, and one of the best lovers I ever had.” She flushed. “Don’t you dare tell Ricardo this but that vampire made me beg to be turned.”

“You think I don’t get that?” I sighed. “That’s how I was with Jerry.” I missed him desperately just then.

“I’m getting the feeling that you don’t like this club or Red.” Flo stared at me. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

Something? There were a lot of things I wouldn’t share with Flo. But then I knew little about her life before she’d come to Austin either.

“New York wasn’t the best time in my life, pal. I’d run from Jerry, thinking I could make it on my own. When I couldn’t, I let the first vampire who came along with a good line and nice body take over.” I jumped when Flo sat beside me and squeezed my shoulders.

“I understand,
amica
. I hope he was at least rich.”

“No! He was also a bully and I let him get away with it. We both had to work to pay rent.” I leaned against her. “He worked for Red so I spent a lot of time in the club. The vampires who hung out there did whatever they wanted and things would get pretty rough.” I drained my glass. “You could get high by taking blood from a drone on drugs. It didn’t always end well for the drone. I hope Red has things more under control now.”

“She’s stayed in business a long time. So she must be doing something right.” Flo shook her head. “You sure there’s not more to it?”

“I did a stint there as a cocktail waitress until Red decided using mortal waitresses was better for business.” I decided we might as well finish off the champagne and opened the other bottle so we could refill our glasses.

“I’ll just bet she did. So the waitresses could give blood too.” Flo studied me. “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to, Glory. We can find other things to do.”

“No, I need to see Red. Because not only was my boyfriend then a bully, he did something to me that made me forget whole chunks of my New York years.” I got up and paced the floor. “I ran into him in Austin, Flo. He worked for the Energy Vampires.”

“Really? Strange. But then the vampire world is not so big, I think.” Flo watched me walk the floor. “What did he say?”

“He taunted me. Said we’d done things here when we were together that I couldn’t remember.” I sat beside her again. “It’s driving me crazy, Flo. How could Greg have erased
my
memory? And what have I forgotten? I need to know and maybe Red can help me fill in some blanks.”

“Yes, we must go.” Flo finished her drink, got up and stretched. Then she gathered up her two extra bottles. “I’m sorry this happened to you, Glory. Tomorrow night I will help you. Now I go call Ricardo and thank him.” She faked a smile. I could tell she was trying to cheer me up. “What will you do with the rest of your night? Will you call Jeremiah?”

“Yes, but I won’t tell him about my dress. Just that I found one. Let’s keep this trip to Red our secret, Flo.” I walked her to the door. “I’m sure the guys have both heard of the club and wouldn’t approve of our going there without them.”

“Fine. I like keeping a little secret from time to time.” She played with her new bracelet. “It is enough that Ricardo will notice I bought another expensive piece of jewelry and fuss at me.” Flo shook her head. “Pah. I say enjoy your money. I have always managed to find more, have I not?”

“Yes, but that was because you always moved on to a new man before.” I hugged her. “This time you plan to stick.”

“You’re right. But Ricardo makes no sense.” Flo stepped across the hall. “If I had bought one of his religious relics for him? Hah! No limit then. I say we rob a grave, then tell Ricardo we’d found old bones of saints. And look at the pretty bracelet the saint was wearing!” Flo wobbled a little, obviously feeling her champagne, before she slammed the door.

I was smiling as I put my bottles into the mini-bar fridge then called Jerry. He wanted to hear about the dress shopping and I laughed about my night and the struggles with the entourage and their “help.”

“But did you get the dress
you
wanted, Gloriana?” He sounded concerned.

“Of course. I can’t tell you the details, but it’s vintage and I love it.” I went on to thank him for the synthetic blood. Then I said good night with the excuse that I was tired and longing for a long soak in the bathtub. But I wasn’t headed for the tub. Instead I got on the elevator again and went down to the floor where Charis had her room. I needed to have it out with her again about her stealing.

I was relieved when she answered my knock.

“Checking up on me?” She was in pajamas and the TV was on pay per view. It was a movie that included nudity. I had to remind myself that she was an adult. “I’m here, as ordered.”

“Can you pause that thing so we can talk?” I sat where I didn’t have to see the threesome on the screen.

“Sure. Or you could take the stick out of your butt and watch it with me.” Charis flounced over to pick up the remote to hit pause.

“I’m not a prude, Charis. I’ve seen and done plenty of things. Though I have no idea if they match up to your experience.” I crossed my legs and waited until she was settled on her bed. She’d poured herself a drink but didn’t offer me one. Which was okay. I’d had enough for one night. Clearly she watched a lot of TV. She talked more like a twenty-first century girl now than I did.

“In Olympus I’m still considered something of a child, sheltered until I’m married. Not that I’m a virgin. We’re given sexual freedom. But we live at home with our parents and you know first-hand that marriages are arranged. Ridiculous conventions.” She made a face. “You saw that, despite your grandmother’s preferences, staying true to your mate is no big deal in Olympus. Most of us are adventurous.” She glanced at the TV to make her point.

“Yes, Hera would like it to be like the old days. But immortals don’t seem to be built for monogamy.” I knew that from dealing with vampires too.

“No kidding.” Charis leaned forward. “I knew about Earth before I came here but the way Zeus keeps everything kind of old fashioned up there didn’t really prepare me for this reality. Fast cars, so many good looking men and then all the paranormals!”

“You’re seeing those paranormals because you’re traveling in my circles, Charis. Most mortals don’t have a clue that there are werewolves, shape-shifters, and vampires living among them. We keep a low profile deliberately and what you’ve been doing since you got here is jeopardizing that way of life. That’s why I have to come down hard on you.” I tried to see it from her point of view. Okay, so she’d been pampered, spoiled, and kept in an archaic world where she was part of the pampered hierarchy. Then she’d come down here and she’d been just one of the crowd.

“I see what you’re thinking, Glory. You’re right. I hate not standing out.” Charis rattled an ice cube in her glass. “I know I have my looks but there are so many other pretty girls in Austin. I’m learning that most of them go to the University of Texas. They’re smart and know so much! I know nothing!”

“Would you like to go to school? Enroll in the university and be part of that scene?” I had no idea what kind of schooling Charis had finished. I’d seen no signs of a teaching program there but then I hadn’t been looking.

“Glory, you are so easy to read.” Charis smiled. “We have tutors and I am well-educated in a way. My last tutor was quite handsome.” She waved a hand over her face as if to cool her cheeks. “He taught me things my mother would be horrified to discover.”

I was horrified too, but figured that saying so would brand me a prude again. Instead I tried to imagine Charis as part of the University crowd. Yes, she could fit in and, with her bubbly personality and great wardrobe, would be a hit with the sorority girls. We’d have to invent a background for her that would work, but it could be done.

“Are you serious about wanting to go to the University?” I looked at her lolling on her bed, ready to open yet another bottle from the mini-bar.

“I don’t know. Do you think I’m smart enough?” She bit her lip.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course you are. But you’d have to really work if you plan to actually enroll and take classes. What would your major be?”

She grinned. “Classical studies, of course. I think I could nail anything about the ancient Greeks or Romans, don’t you?”

I had to laugh. “Wouldn’t that be cheating?” I shook my head. “But then that wouldn’t bother you, would it?” And now we were down to why I’d come here. “What’s with the stealing, Charis? I thought you were done with that.”

“I don’t know. I get bored. Tonight it was Glory this, Glory that. Oh, look at Glory in the gorgeous designer dress. The wedding will be so wonderful. Now let’s pick out earrings for Glory. I’d had it up to here with the Glory night.” Her hand was at her eyebrows. “What about me?” She slumped and let her glass fall to the comforter, ice cubes going everywhere.

“Can’t I have one night to be the center of attention, Charis?” I gathered up the ice and threw it in the bathroom sink. Then I took the glass and filled it with water, handing it to her. “Drink. You’ve had enough booze tonight. It’s making you maudlin.”

“You think this is just self-pity?” She sniffed then took a swallow. “Add some vodka to that and it would taste better.”

“No vodka. And, yes, you’re wallowing in it. Come on. I know you have legitimate gripes. But you have a rich and powerful father who’s let you run wild until now. He’s feeling so guilty about your mother that he’s willing to give you an apartment of your own here.” It was true. I’d talked to Mars about it already.

“Seriously? An apartment of my own?” She perked up.

“You think I want to go to bat for you now? After what you pulled tonight?” I sat across from the bed. “I’m sick of this, Charis. The stealing has to stop. You have a credit card now. All you had to do was whip it out to buy what you wanted.”

“Stealing gives me a rush, Glory. Sometimes I don’t even know I’m doing it until I leave the store and stick my hand in my pocket. Then, oops, there it is. A little something shiny to make me feel better.” She finished off the water. “It does, for a little while. I like getting away with taking something right from under someone’s nose. Making a fool of a mortal, if you want to know the truth. Surely you can relate.”

I realized I was looking at a woman with no moral compass whatsoever. With an absentee father and an unstable mother, she’d obviously been raising herself in Olympus. Well, now she had a sister who wasn’t going to let her get away with a damned thing. Charis was going to learn right from wrong even if it was painful for both of us.

“No, I can’t relate. I don’t steal. It’s wrong and illegal. And you have to face the consequences of your actions. Tomorrow you and Mother will go back to Matilde’s shop and pay for the Chanel anklet. You will apologize for taking it. Right to Matilde’s face. No excuses.” I took her glass away from her and shook her hand. “Do you hear me?”

“That would be embarrassing.” She tried to squirm away from me.

“That’s the point, Charis. I’m going to Mother now to make sure you do it.” I let her go. “Mother wants to get on my good side. Do you really think it would bother her if you hate her? You can be sure she’ll drag you kicking and screaming to that shop if she has to. Understand?”

“Yes.” Charis hung her head. “No need to be a bitch about it.”

“Oh, there’s every need. She’ll call you and let you know when to be ready tomorrow.” I walked to the door. “If you don’t do this, you’ll be on your way back to Olympus right after the wedding. Before the wedding if you embarrass me again. That’s a promise. Clean up your act and we can talk about that apartment and the future. That’s a promise too.” With that I left her and headed to my mother’s room. It didn’t take five minutes to tell her the plan. She was all over it. I think she saw it as progress in her campaign to get on my good side.

“Thank you, darling, for trusting me with this important task. I won’t let you down.” She hugged me until I squirmed away from her.

“It’s a start, Mother.” I looked into her eyes. “Just remember that if you want to have a relationship with me, you’ll let this wedding go on as planned. Are we clear?”

“Certainly, Gloriana. I told you. I’m ready to let you have your way now. You have chosen your man and I realize there is nothing else to be done about it.” She followed me down the hall toward the elevators. “About tomorrow night. I have no desire to go to this vampire club you mentioned.”

“Good. I don’t want Charis there either. Why don’t you pick up tickets to a Broadway play for the two of you? Use Dad’s credit card.” I pushed the up button then dug the card out of my pocket. “Just leave it in an envelope at the front desk when you’re through with it, please.”

“You could go with us. I’m sure there’s a show you’d like to see. I know you love musicals.” She took the card.

“Yes, I do.” And how freaky was it that my mother knew that? Did her spying on me know no limits? “But I need to go to the club because Flo wants it and she’s been a very good friend to me.”

“I understand.” But Mother was frowning. “If you insist, that’s what we’ll do. Are you sure it’s safe? Two women alone in a club like that?”

“We’re not just women, Mother.” I smiled as the elevator opened. “The better question would be is New York safe from us. Remember what we are.” I enjoyed the look on her face as the doors closed. Yes, I gave her a glimpse of my fangs. How could I resist?

I never thought I’d arrive at Red in a limo. We’d dropped Mother and Charis at their play, then I’d given the driver directions to the club. I’d used my phone to look it up and saw that it was still at the same address. On Google it was listed under private clubs, membership only. I knew that was Red’s way of insuring that mortals wouldn’t wander in, not unless she
wanted
them to drop by. A burly shape-shifter stood at the red lacquered door. It only took a flash of our fangs for us to be allowed inside. That was Red’s problem. She had never learned to discriminate between decent vampires and the kind of low-life blood suckers out to cause trouble.