Me:I don’t think that will help Charlie’s mental health. He hates Alexander enough already. But we should definitely tell him when his papa has been slain. It will make his decade.
There’s a silence in the mental ether from my flatmates. Then Sadie says,Yeah. Shit’s about to get real. I knew we should have gone back to the studio to get weapons.
We didn’t have time,I remind her.We’ll just have to make do. We’ve got six pairs of fangs between us.
Floss grips my arm, and we walk in silence, trying not to think of how we’re going to be using our fangs in the near future.
Finally, after following the vampires through brightly lit streets full of theatres, restaurants, and shops, we come to a darker alleyway on the outskirts of Covent Garden. They pause outside a red brick building. By the way they conferand then grin at one another, we’ve reached the brothel.
Elliott:This is it, guys. We should hang back a bit.
We stop outside a conveniently placed restaurant and pretend to confer on the menu in the window but take sneak peeks at the vampires, who are now knocking on a tall black door.
Sadie says what I’m thinking:This place is fucking huge!
Alexander’s brothel is located in a renovated Victorian warehouse, three storeys high, which takes up the entire block. It’s on the doorstep of the theatre district and surrounded by a vibrant nightlife. So it’s a great location to accommodate well-to-do vampires with deep pockets. But how the hell is Alexander going to get away with running a brothel of this size in such a prime Zone 1 location? Then again, he’s had plenty of time to do his homework and make connections with the right people. Hell, judging from all the blood experimentation notes in his journals, he could’ve been planning this for over a century.
As if he’s been summoned by my thoughts, the door opens, and a tall sharp-featured man greets the vampires. His dark hair is slicked back, and he’s wearing a tuxedo. I stare at him curiously.
Me:Is that Alexander?
I’ve never actually seen the guy, but it matches the description Floss has given me.
Floss (gasping softly and ducking her head):Shit shit, yes, it’s him.
Me:Shh, no one speak.
We all study the menu intently, and I shield the entire coven so he can’t detect us. Will nods at me to let me know his own shields are up. Luckily, a small truck trundles down the street, blocking Alexander’s view of us. When I risk a glance, the door to the building is shut again.
Elliott:Damn, Alexander’s greeting vampires on the door. I was going to try to get in and scope out the place. But he knows me by sight. So that won’t work.
Sadie:Oh, so that was your plan, was it? What was I going to do?
Elliott (smiling at her):Stay here and look pretty while your big strong vampire takes one for the team.
Sadie:Fuck that. I’m not staying here while you risk getting yourself killed before our wedding. And I’m stronger than you!
Damian (chuckling):Awww. You two are so cute when you fight.
Sadie pokes her tongue out at him.
Will:Why don’t I go in? He doesn’t know me, and I can shield my thoughts.
Sadie (quickly):That would work. Thanks, Will.
Everyone mutters their agreement.
But I don’t like the idea of Will being in there alone witha bunch of bloodthirsty vampires.
Me:Can you try to find a back door?
Will:Like Elliott said, it’s safer if you stay put.
I grip his arm and squeeze it.
Me:And as Sadie said, I’m not staying here while you risk getting yourself killed.
A green shimmer ripples across Will’s face, and his eyes darken, narrowing into black slits.OK, fine. But maybe don’t touch me when we’re in there. I’m liable to change without warning.
