Spirit Sorceress: Spirit Sorceress: Book 1 (8 page)

I felt a little thirsty as I stepped out of the
shower.  I wasn’t dying for blood, it was easy to ignore, but it told me
even though I was more powerful than the usual baby vamp, I still had to eat
like one.  I was sure by tomorrow the thirst would be back to a need, just
like when I woke up two days ago.

I dried off, and did my hair, and then went into my
closet.  I decided on a dark blue tube dress, and a pair of black heels,
and then looked in the mirror.  I looked… really good in it, but had never
worn something so revealing in all my life.  It was tight, and hugged all
my curves.  I’d seen women in more revealing dresses though, it only
showed some of my cleavage, and the hem was past my middle thigh.

I wasn’t usually shy, but it was only my second day in the
city, and the first time I was to go to a club.  I wasn’t used to
it.  I decided screw it, it should be fun.  Besides, I was sure
there’d be women in micro dresses there tonight, which in comparison meant I
was dressed like a nun.

I walked out toward the door when I heard a knock, and it
was Lisa.  She looked gorgeous in a slinky and barely there red dress, and
high heeled open toed sandals.  She frowned at me though.

“What?” I asked, did I put the damn thing on wrong?

Lisa asked, “No makeup?”

Right, because I always wore makeup when I hunted rabbits in
my fox form.  She’d made me buy some at the mall, but honestly I had no
clue how to put it on.  I thought I looked damn good without anyway.

I guess she read my mind because her eyes softened, “I can
help…”

I sighed and turned around, and she followed me to the
bathroom.

“This won’t take long, just hold still,” Lisa advised.

Twenty minutes and one poked eye later, I said, “I don’t
look any different.”

She shook her head, “You don’t need much, you have a
gorgeous face, and perfect skin.  Just a bit to enhance what’s already
there.”

I nodded, I wasn’t sure if I could do it as well, but I’d
have to give it a try next time, “We’re ready then?”

Then I realized I wasn’t being very grateful, so I added in
a softer tone of voice, “Thanks Lisa, it does look good.”

She smiled and took my arm and we headed for the club.

There was a fairly large line outside the light gray
building, with a huge sign proclaiming it Echo.  Of course, the coven
didn’t wait in line, and Lisa led me around to the employee entrance of the
place.  The building was tall, and it was all one floor.  When I got
inside the ceiling was a good twenty, maybe twenty-five feet up.  The
lighting was dim and I’d have had trouble seeing the details of the place, if I
were human that is, it looked like midday to me.

The walls were black, with multi-colored dim lighting in
strips.  The tables were tall, small, and round.  The bar stools
around them were made of wood, and had red seats.  The dance floor was in
the middle, and seemed to be surrounded by tables all around, there were also
spotlights moving and flashing over the people dancing.

The only places really well-lit in the club were the bars,
there were three of them.  They were oceans of light so people could
always find their next drink.  I could see just fine in a dark corner
where a vampire was feeding and I smirked at the idea.  Then I jumped with
an embarrassing screech when I felt an arm go around my waist rather familiarly
and squeezed my side.

“Hi ladies, fancy meeting you two here,” Eustice said, his voice
filled with humor.

I glared at him for startling me like that, but I supposed
it was my fault for not paying attention.  There were so many humans in
here, and about fifteen vampires.  I should have recognized his soul
moving our way, but the chaos of the place made me miss it.

Lisa leaned forward from his other arm and gave me a look,
as if to say I told you so.  I hoped not, I really didn’t like Eustice
that way, and didn’t want to deal with that kind of drama.  I had enough
to deal with right now.

“Yes, fancy that,” I drawled as I removed his hand, “this
place is packed.”

Eustice shook his head, denying my words, “I’m working on
it.  We lost some of our… regulars recently.  It is a nice crowd
though.  You both have a fun night, just wanted to say hi.”

I couldn’t imagine packing in even more bodies in the room,
but since it was my first time at a night club I had to take his word for it.

Lisa pulled my hand, “Come on, let’s dance.”

I grinned and followed her on the floor.  At first, I
had no idea what I was doing and just tried to relax and mirror Lisa. 
Then as my eyes wandered I cheated a bit, and read some souls to learn more
moves.  It was still hard, knowing and doing are two entirely different
things.  Still, it did help.  I was a vampire now and had hardly
lacked dexterity when I was just a sorceress, and I caught on quickly. 
Before I knew it, I was having fun and just let my body move.

The hardest part was just to let go and relax, that’s when
it finally clicked.

That’s when I felt it, spirit magic brushed up against my
own spirit shield.  Spirit magic that wasn’t mine.  I narrowed down
the direction it was coming from and headed that way, wondering if it was
another spirit sorcerer, it had to be.  The feeling started to fade, and I
realized they weren’t in the club.  I reached out as far as I could with
my own magic, and didn’t connect, yet I could still feel his.

I had no idea how I knew that, but it was a spirit sorcerer.

Then the feeling faded and I was filled with
disappointment.  It would be nice to see another of my kind, maybe talk
things out, things that no one else could really understand.

Lisa touched my shoulder, “What happened, something wrong?”

I shook my head, “It turned out to be nothing, let’s dance.”

I took her hand and headed back toward the dance floor, if
there was another spirit sorcerer in the city, I was sure I’d run into him
another time.  No need to ruin my night over it, dancing was the first fun
I’d had since James had turned me. 

As the night went on I wondered what it would be like to
work in a place like this.  I was sure I could waitress, or even
bartend.  I didn’t know much about it, but it wouldn’t be hard to read a
soul to get a list of drinks and how to make them in my head.

After that, it would just be practice.

The first time a man bumped into me and just started dancing
with me I was taken off guard, but I have to admit, it was kind of fun.  I
wasn’t interested in anything more, I had too much going on already, plus,
after finding out who my soul mate was earlier, the last thing I wanted to do
was settle right now.  Still, a little flirty dancing was exhilarating.

After about six songs, we went to the bar and got some
drinks.  Lisa said something about iced tea, and a long island of some
kind I think.  It didn’t make much sense.  Whatever it was, it was
really good, so I had a second glass.

The night got kind of hazy after that…

Ugh, light, bad.  I reached over to the night table and
pulled on my sunglasses, and then squint glared at my curtains, which obviously
weren’t thick enough.  I looked down, and saw I was wearing the sexy black
panties and matching bra that I’d had under my dress last night.  Then I
felt a presence next to me and turned my head in alarm.

At first I was relieved, it was just Lisa.  But then I
noticed she was in her under things too.

“What the hell happened last night?” I asked dazedly.

Lisa looked at me smolderingly, and her voice was sultry,
“You were fantastic last night lover.”

I gaped at her like a fish and was completely speechless, and
finally she giggled.

“Sorry, that was just too easy, you should’ve seen your
face.  Kidding, we were both a little drunk.  Okay, I was a little
drunk, you were three sheets to the wind.  You can’t hold your liquor
girl, so watch that.  Anyway, after getting you in bed I kind of passed
out next to you.”

“Without your dress?”

She shrugged, “I don’t remember that part, maybe I took it
off in my sleep, it was uncomfortable.”

“Umm, did I do anything… bad?”

She grinned, “Like dance on a table, or tease all the guys?”

She was enjoying this way too much.

I glared, “Yes, like that.”

Lisa snickered, “No, nothing like that.  You were a
little wild and flirty on the dancefloor, but no more than anyone else.”

I pictured the way some of the woman around us had been
grinding on men on the dance floor last night, from both the front and back,
and wondered if what she said should make me feel in any way relieved.

Oh damn…  what the hell did I do last night?

I considered reading my own soul to find out.  It was
like a black box on a plane, it never forgot anything and couldn’t be tampered
with, unlike the physical mind.  Maybe later, I wasn’t sure if I truly
wanted to know anyway. 

I groaned.

Lisa giggled at me, again, “Poor Miku.  I need to get
to work, just think of the rumors when I do the walk of shame from your
apartment to mine.”

I glared at her as she hopped up.  I knew damn well she
didn’t swing my way, no more than I swung hers.  There wouldn’t be
anything wrong with that of course, it just wasn’t either of us.  If I’d
been thinking straight when I woke up she couldn’t have fooled me like that
earlier.

I did smile as she put on her dress and left, after all, I
was almost positive she was a friend.  An evil friend that liked to tease
me a little too much, but still a friend.

I groaned and rolled out of bed, and went into the
shower.  After putting on a dressy casual skirt and blouse, with two inch
heeled sandals, I went downstairs to hunt down breakfast.

That’s when I realized I wasn’t thirsty at all, which was a
little disturbing, I wondered who I drank from last night.  Later, I’d
look later if my feeble mind didn’t recall it.  It was a plan anyway.

As I devoured breakfast I felt Melody come in the
room.  I could hardly miss her, she was a beacon of power.  It would
be like ignoring a nuclear reaction.  It was strange to realize none of
the other vampires could feel that, just another sorcerer or sorceress.  I
hadn’t expected her to cross the room right to me and sit down.  I looked
up quizzically and she was studying me.

“Melody,” I nodded respectfully, “Do you need something?”

She nodded back, “I want to talk to you, privately.”

I went to stand but she waved me back down, “Finish your
breakfast, I’ll be right back, I could use more coffee.”

My mind raced as I tried to figure out what she could
possibly want, while I continued to shove food into my mouth.  Being a
vampire wasn’t so bad, my hangover was pretty much gone already, and the last
remnants were fading as I ate.

Melody sat back down, “So how was the club last night.”

“From what I remember, I had a great time.”

Melody grinned, “Have you decided what you want to do?”

I shook my head.  I wasn’t sure if I was being contrary
just because I couldn’t do it, but I thought it would be neat to be a guard, or
maybe chase down rogues.  I knew I couldn’t do that though, and there was
no point in whining about it.

“I’m leaning toward bartender, if I don’t see something more
interesting today on the third floor.  Not to change the subject, but do
you know of any other spirit sorcerers?  I think I felt one last night.”

She nodded, “Yes, it actually relates to what I wanted to
tell you about.  I’m glad you are in the city, the forest was no place for
you to stay.”

I felt defensive suddenly, I liked my forest, “What’s wrong
with it?”

She shrugged, “It’s meant for the young of your kind, until
you can truly wield your spirit magic the way it’s meant to be wielded.  I
don’t understand exactly, but from what your mother told me wielding the elemental
power of spirit is dangerous.  Too dangerous for you until you could
shift, and had enough self-discipline to wield it the true way.”

I thought about that for a second, and it made sense. 
If I had anchored to the spiritual plane as a child, I might have just followed
that sense of peace to my death.  I had lacked discipline, and
perspective.  Since I’d been too young to handle it, I could only use my
magic out there in the forest, where the human souls wouldn’t drag my mind into
chaos without that anchor.

Suddenly I felt a lot better about being here in the city, I
truly didn’t belong in the forest anymore.  Not that I wouldn’t go for a
visit, if only to change and hunt on occasion in my true form, and enjoy a
little peace from time to time.

I replied, “I do understand.  Thanks.”

I finished up my last few bites, and got up to return my
tray and plates.  I wanted to think positively as I followed Melody to the
elevator, which we took up to the third floor.  Seemed earth sorcerers
don’t like using stairs.  Point was, I had a bad feeling about what she
had to tell me, and why shouldn’t I, I’d gotten a lot of crap, along with a lot
of crappy news the last three days.

Barely over a hundred, and I was already turning into a
cynic.

She led me through the desks on the third floor, and I paid
more attention to the people around me this time.  I saw Daniel and gave
him a nod, I also picked out Ethel who was ignoring me so hard it was obvious
she was snubbing me.  There were just ten other people down here.

Then we were passed, and Melody took me into a conference
room and closed the door.  I could immediately tell it was soundproofed,
even for vampire hearing.

We took a seat across from each other, “What’s up?” I asked
cautiously.

Melody sighed, “Normally I wouldn’t get involved, but I owe
your mother this much.  You said your father died in an accident, and your
mother just left you and followed him.  Were you being honest, is that
what you believe?”