Scarlet said.
―They are from the two guys sitting in the corner,‖ the waiter stated.
The two guys who‘d let me in the Dungeon a few nights before raised their goblets to us.
―Two dudes for three girls? How obnoxious,‖ Scarlet remarked.
―It‘s okay. I have a boyfriend,‖ I said.
―But it‘s the point,‖ she charged. ―They don‘t know that.‖
―I‘ve heard if you accept a stranger‘s drink, then it‘s an invitation to your table,‖ I whispered to the girls. ―Thanks anyway,‖ I said to the bartender, declining the martini.
―I never refuse a free drink,‖ Onyx said. The two girls laughed and gladly accepted the bloody drinks.
But I wasn‘t interested in freebies. I wanted the scoop about the inner workings of the club.
―So will the club close?‖ I asked.
―We hope not!‖ Onyx began, drawing near. ―We‘ve met so many fabulous people here.‖
―And where else could we hang out and be ourselves? A coffee shop?‖
―They certainly don‘t sell AB-negative lattes.‖ Both girls laughed.
Scarlet scooted close. ―Do you know Jagger Maxwell?‖
I nodded. ―He‘s legendary. What about him?‖
―Since he opened this club a few months ago, he created a safe haven for us to be ourselves and party,‖ Scarlet said in a whisper.
―He even gave all the out-of-town members a place to crash here,‖ said Onyx.
―But now that‘s not good enough for some,‖ Scarlet added. ―So the buzz is that Jagger has another plan.‖
―He doesn‘t want us to be a secret,‖ Onyx said.
―But that will blow the whole purpose of the Dungeon,‖ Scarlet continued.
―To be visible—but only to us immortals.‖
―Jagger and his crew think that it‘s a vampire‘s true nature to lurk among the mortals.‖
―So many of us believe just the opposite. It‘s best to keep our blood pure and separate from mortals.‖
―If we reveal our true identity,‖ Scarlet warned, ―then we obviously pose as much of a threat to mortals as they do to us.‖
―Jagger is on a power trip. He wasn‘t happy enough being the leader of the Dungeon. He doesn‘t have our best interest in mind. He has his own.‖
―What do you believe? What kind of vampire are you?‖ Onyx asked with conviction.
I was taken aback. Two vampiresses, one flashing an onyx on her fang, were asking me what kind of vampire I was? I certainly couldn‘t say that I was neither kind—and in fact, not a vampire at all.
―We should remain private and pure,‖ I answered emphatically. ―In the end, will mortals really accept us as we are? I think it‘s best we remain true to ourselves so we don‘t lose our identity. We are who we are for a reason. We don‘t fit into their world, so why should we try?‖
I was talking as much about vampires as I was about myself.
The girls grinned in agreement.
We sensed someone listening to our conversation. We peered up and the two guys were standing behind us.
―See,‖ I said through a fake smile.
―Do you mind if we sit down?‖ the blond asked.
―Of course not,‖ Scarlet said.
It was then I spotted tousled dark purple hair in the chamber across from us.
―Uh…I‘m feeling dizzy,‖ I admitted, referring to the revolving floor. ―I‘ll be right back.‖
It was my chance to spy on Phoenix. I snuck out into the hall and hid in the shadows next to their lounge.
Phoenix, along with a gang of ominous-looking guys, was hovering around a stone table.
Phoenix was quite popular. When he wasn‘t slinking in the shadows, he was surrounded by club members. ―Jagger doesn‘t know the true meaning of being a vampire,‖ one said.
―It‘s time he steps down,‖ added another.
―And you are just the dude to take over,‖ the first one said to Phoenix.
―Yes,‖ they all said in unison.
―Tomorrow night, then,‖ a voice declared.
―I‘ll meet him at the crop circle. It will be done,‖ Phoenix finished.
I leaned back as far as I could into the shadows as Phoenix left the
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