I remove my hand quickly. Turning into a snake inside the brothel would certainly make Alexander look at him twice!
Chapter 27
Will | London, present day
I have no trouble getting inside the brothel. More vampires turn up, and I simply join the tail end of their group and receive no more than a passing nod from Alexander. I hope he’s not seeing green skin and scales; it’s an effort to keep the snake at bay after Hester touched my arm. But I shove it down with a ‘No!’, and that seems to work. Shifting at this point in time would be very bad.
I follow the group into a large room full of milling vampires and thralls. It looks like a Gothic art gallery without paintings and has minimalist furniture and fittings. There’s a lit bar at one end with tall bottles of ruby liquid and red sofas dotted around (easier to hide the bloodstains, I’m guessing). Techno music thumps while a disco ball spins from the centre of the ceiling, splashing the black walls with silver lights.
Vampires in suits are lounging on the sofas or positioned in small groups around the walls. All of them leer at thescantily clad thralls sauntering around the room with trays of shot glasses filled with blood. They’re wearing colourful barely-there lace lingerie and matching high heels. Some of the thralls offload their glasses and manage to escape the vampires’ clutches before they’re allured. Others aren’t so lucky.
One particularly busty thrall has been accosted by the three vampires we followed over by the far window. Her tray is set aside, her pink bra unclipped and tossed. One of them eagerly samples her wares with his mouth. His friend brushes aside her long dark hair and licks languidly at her neck while another gropes her firm buttocks, then peels her pink G-string down to midthigh. He admires the view and then unzips his suit trousers and begins thrusting into her. From her audible moans over the music and the lascivious fanged grins of his friends, they’re taking turns servicing her from the front.
I hardly know where to look. The other thralls don’t react, their expressions blank. But I can tell by the furtive darting eyes taking in the scene that they’re glad it’s not them being publicly ravished. I sidle into a secluded corner and try not to stare as a few more amorous scenes take place around the room. Moans and pants are starting to compete with the throbbing dance beats.
However, despite trying to hide, I’m still noticed. Ablonde thrall sashays past with a tray of ruby shot glasses. ‘Hey, gorgeous. Want a drink?’
She juts out a pair of enormous fake boobs, barely contained in a purple lace bra, and flutters her eyelashes at me.
Shit. I’ll have to act like I’m into her (even though I’m really not) so it doesn’t look suspicious. But perhaps this is a good opportunity to get some information.
‘Sure, thanks!’ I say, taking a glass from the tray.
She smiles and tilts her head invitingly, her eyes lingering on my face, no doubt waiting for me to make a move.
I avert my eyes from her rock-hard nipples and take a sip of blood. Some of these thralls seem more up for it than others. Alexander must have bitten them beforehand to keep the punters entertained. ‘Ah, so I heard there’s going to be a thrall-to-vampire turning event tonight. Some sort of lucky dip?’
The thrall rolls her eyes in a rare act of rebellion. ‘A stupid arrangement. I volunteered to be one of the chosen five, but Master wanted to put on a show.’
‘Do you know when it’s happening?’
She shifts the tray to her other hip. ‘Soon, I think. After all the vamps have had a shot of blood to perk up their peckers.’
‘Right.’ I take another sip of pecker-nourishing liquid,and her eyes lock on my mouth. I can’t resist showing her the tips of my fangs, and her eyes darken.
‘I guess you’ll want in on that action?’ she enquires huskily.
A tall dark-haired figure appears in my periphery; and I realise, without turning my head, that Alexander is nearby, listening. I need to act like a vampire gagging for it. I really hope Hester doesn’t pick up on this.
‘Yeah, looking forward to it. I’ve got a hard-on that’s driving me crazy.’ It’s only half a lie: the sights and sounds in this place are seriously arousing.
The thrall licks her lips. ‘I can take care of that for you right now.’
She drops to her knees and thrusts her face into my bulging crotch. ‘Uhhh, that’s not a good idea,’ I choke out, struggling to force down my snake.
But Alexander steps forward and says, ‘Leave the gentleman alone, Kyra. You heard him. He wants to wait for the lucky dip. Go and make yourself useful by handing out the shots.’
The thrall rises instantly, her eyes glazed over. ‘Yes, Master,’ she says dully and wanders off with her tray.
Phew, that was close!
Alexander grins at me. ‘Sorry about that. The main event will be starting in half an hour. However, some of my guestsare obviously not as patient as you.’ He looks over to one of the sofas where there’s a writhing naked thrall being thoroughly explored by vampiric fingers and tongues. He watches for a bit, chuckles softly, then leaves to talk to another group of vampires.
Phew, that was close, but I think I got away with it. Thank God I inherited Hester’s shielding ability.
Sipping on my blood, I can’t resist looking over to the far wall to see what’s happening with the four-way. But the space is empty, yet the tray of shot glasses is still there. But then I see five pairs of curious eyes resting above the sill of the window, peering in.
The others have found a way into the back garden.
