Chapter Seventeen
Katsumi
Sadly, when I woke up, I realized kissing Tatsou had not been a dream. He acted like his normal grumpy self in the morning and mostly ignored me. The curious and open version had drifted away like the wind. You’d think a rocking kiss like we shared would make the vampire smile, but I guess he didn’t feel the spark like I did, which surprisingly made me sad. Not like I wanted to marry the guy, but we sparked, and a part of me liked that.
“You’re not paying attention to the road,” Tatsou commented, and I shook my thoughts away. Shoot. I had drifted to the other side of the road. I’d been given a reprieve from being near Father today and wanted to go to town to get supplies for our fancy outfits. Romi approved of the green dress I had sketched for her, and Mother and Father declined my offer to make them something. Thankfully, I rarely felt the sting of their rejection to my clothes.
I pulled the sleek Mercedes back into the lane and refocused. My father had bought the sports car after refusing to let me buy another minivan. My career and wants were second to image, and now that I was a potential bargaining tool with marriage, I had to look luxurious. Cue vomit.
“Yeah, sorry.”
“After your shopping, we’re going to a club,” Tatsou announced, and the car swerved a little when my face turned to his.
“A club? I’m not dressed for a club! It’s the daytime!” I peered at my sweater, jeans, and sneakers. I would look so out of place at a club. People would probably think I was a teenager.
“It’s a vampire club,” he informed me like that made it even better.
“Why are we going to a vampire club?” I glanced at him, then shifted my attention to the road again.
He sighed before answering me. “I want to see what my kind is up to. How things have changed since I went to sleep four hundred and eighty years ago.”
Four hundred and eighty years ago. What a long nap. No wonder he was grumpy all the time. Sometimes too much sleep was a bad thing. I tried asking more questions about vampires or what to expect, but Tatsou remained quiet.
I’d managed to buy enough fabric to make several outfits and embellishments from the sale happening at the store. Hitting a sale was like hitting the lottery, and I was all smiles carrying the bags back to the car. Tatsou rattled off the location of the club, and I was surprised to see it was in a quiet section of Osaka. It had a regular storefront and was wedged between a book shop and an electronics store. There was an unremarkable brown door, and the windows covered with black curtains. They had the mystery thing going for them, but that was it. Did vampires like flashy places?
Tatsou walked up to the door and knocked. I stood behind him nervously, and briefly wondered if I could talk my way out of going inside. A man opened the door, and we were let in, but only into a ten-foot by ten-foot hall with another door. This door was bright red, with black molding around it—more gothic vampire style. Instantly my mind raced through all the styles and dresses I could make from this inspiration. Oh, maybe even a corset or brassiere.
“Who is your master?” A woman with bright brown eyes and purple-colored hair stood in front of us. She eyed me, then Tatsou. Her fangs were down but not as long as my guard’s. I wonder if fang size mattered with their kind.
“I am my own master. Let us pass.” He stared at her and growled softly. Her eyes glazed over for a few seconds and then she nodded. Two knocks on the red door and it opened. Music blared through the speakers and the low lights of the club. People were dressed in different fashions ranging from visual kei to hipster to gothic Lolita and clothing that should have stayed in a different decade. I was definitely out of place in here. Tatsou walked in and I stayed so close to his back, you’d think I was attached to him.
People writhed on the dance floor while others sat on velvet booths talking and playing with their food. When I say food, I mean humans. Fangs and bright-colored eyes were everywhere, a clear indication of a vampire. From what I could tell, vampires gave off a sensual vibe, each of the ones we passed by as we walked into the crowd eyed me like a snack. There had to be at least fifty vampires in the room, and a handful of humans mixed in the crowd. Tatsou stopped at a high-top table, and I quickly snagged a seat.
“Is your curiosity filled yet?” I whispered, knowing he could hear me over the music perfectly. He shook his head while taking in the scenery. Two girls walked over and started flirting with Tatsou, while I tried to become invisible. My anxiety terrorized my brain in the vicinity of so many who could kill me.
“You’re new here.”
“He’s handsome.” Both of the girls purred and reached a hand to touch Tatsou’s bare forearm. He grabbed them before they got close. The movement was so fast I didn’t see it until he had their hands in his grasp.
“No.” The girls gaped and tried to yank their hands away but couldn’t until he released them.
“Is there a problem here?” A handsome man with blond hair and sky-blue eyes stepped into view. His eyes glanced at me, then smirked before turning his attention to Tatsou. The girls nodded and winced as he squeezed them in a flash and let them go.
“No. I think I’ve seen enough. You are nothing but water-downed versions of our kind.” He sneered and held a hand out for me.
Yes, I was ready to leave. I jumped out of the seat and reached over to take his hand. However, before I could touch him, something grabbed me around the waist and pulled me away from him. Vampires roared and what little fangs they had dropped in bloodlust. Tatsou must have insulted them somehow, and I was collateral. I stared at him as he searched for me and found me in the arms of a different male vampire with a strong grip.
“Let her go, and I will spare your lives,” he warned, pushing the sleeves of his dress shirt up the final inch to his elbows.
“I am two hundred years old. You think you can beat me?” The blond vamp in front of him laughed. The man holding me ran a finger down my neck and I wiggled to get free. If we somehow survived this, I was going to punch Tatsou for bringing me here. This was no place for humans.
“Yes.” One word before Tatsou lifted his arm and quicker than the other vampire could respond, sliced through his neck and the decapitated head fell to the ground. Darkness shot through the room and snared vampires by the throats, holding them in place as Tatsou casually walked toward me. The vampire holding me let go and ran toward him, roaring revenge. Tatsou caught him by the throat and squeezed. The squishing of flesh, blood, and bone echoed over the music.
I wish I had something else to eat for lunch because those sushi rolls were not going to taste well coming up. I vomited all over the floor as the free vampires either ran toward Tatsou or from him. He swatted them away like confetti and lifted my hair back from my face while I orally evicted my lunch. Once I stopped, he bent down and scooped up my limp body and carried me out. No one tried to stop us, and I prayed it stayed that way. I’d seen enough gore to last a lifetime.
“I don’t know how to kill you, but you definitely deserve a kick to the dick for bringing me there.” I groaned and rested my head against his chest. He huffed and suddenly we were at the car. He placed me in the passenger side, and I tried to climb over the center console to drive but he stopped me.
“I’m driving.”
