“Look, I know you’re a vampire. You’ve got the grey eyes that look like swirling mist. My boyf—uhm, friend, Kip and I have come here before. You gave him information on where to buy blood bags? Anyway, I know about all this supernatural stuff, okay? And right now, something is telling me that Ineedto be here. And I’m starting to think it’s my bond with Kip.” Now that the last sentence is out of my mouth, it begins to click. I didn’t realize I was connected those dots until I said itout loud. This has to be some part of my bond with him. Maybe since we exchanged blood, we’re now connected in some weird, supernatural way? What else could this be? “So, I’m going to guess that he’s here somewhere. And I need to see him.”
“You have thirty seconds to turn your ass around and walk out of here, otherwise I’m going to call the cops.” The bartender threatens boredly.
This is obviously not going anywhere productive. “You know what? Alright. Fine. I’ll leave. But as soon as you’re open, I’m coming back here.”
“I’ll be sure to let our bouncer know.” The bartender pushes the door towards me again, and this time I step back, letting it swing closed in my face.
I wait outside the building for the club to open. I thought about going home, but the tether or bond or whatever wouldn’t let me leave. Instead, I slid down with my ass on the sidewalk and my back resting against the brick wall of the building.
I feel the bond pulling at me, but now it’s a gentle pull, rather than a physical pull that’s trying to break me through a wall. Maybe it realizes I’m here and waiting for my chance to get inside? Is it sentient?
I spend my time searching the web for answers. I find some blogs and forums that claim to be written by real vampires, but it all sounds like bullshit to me. None of them talk about the descending fangs, or the grey eyes. The people on these websites honestly sound like they’ve watched ‘Twilight’one to many times, seeing as some of them seem to think that vampires sparkle and hunt squirrels instead of humans.
Maybe there’s some supernatural web browser that lets you go to supernaturally run websites? Or maybe it’s all hidden on the dark web. Truthfully, I feel like new vampires should be given manuals about all this shit. How are they supposed to navigate an entirely foreign world without any guidance? Poor Kip. The only vampire he can lean on is Tyson, and I don’t think he’s actually trustworthy at all.
And I know that I’m not much help. Sure, I’ve consumed a lot of vampire media, but none of it seems very accurate now that I know things about Kip. Which makes sense I guess. I mean, would real vampires want their true lore being marketed to the masses? It’s kind of like ‘Fight Club’in a way, you don’t talk about it.
The doors swing open to the club at precisely eight with a large man, who I’m assuming is the bouncer, stepping outside. People, or beings I’m guessing are vampires, slink out of the shadows and start to line up to be let in. I join the line. I should’ve been first in it, seeing as I’ve been waiting here for an hour. But I’m not going to cause a stir with a bunch of freakishly fast and strong vampires. I do not need my throat to be torn out tonight.
When I get to the front of the line, I pull out my I.D. and hold up my hand to be stamped, but the bouncer just crosses his arms and stares me down.
“You’re not on the list.”
“What list? There’s never been a list to get into this club. I’ve been here before.”
“There’s a list now, and you’re not on it. NEXT!” The bouncer shouts over my head as the person behind me shoves me out of the way to get into the club.
“Hey, wait a fucking second! You can’t just not let me in. I have valid I.D., so there’s no reason to deny me entrance.”
“We reserve the right to turn anyone away from our establishment.” The bouncer replies coolly, stamping the next patrons hand and waving them inside.
“That’s fucking bullshit and you know it. Why are you refusing me, huh? Give me a justifiable reason and I’ll go.”
“My reason is that the boss doesn’t want you here. Now go the fuck away, before I make you.”
I feel my face growing red with rage. “Bull fucking shit. You and yourbossare hiding something here, and I’m going to find out what it is.” I point my finger at the bouncer, jabbing it with every word.
Before I can process it, the bouncer, who I now realize is a vampire, reaches out and grips my point finger. He snaps it upwards, breakingthe bone.
I scream, yanking my hand back and cradling it to my chest. With tears on my face and a clogged nose, I blubber “What the fuck, man. What the fuck. You didn’t have to do that.”
“Leave, Charles Benson. I won’t ask again.” The bouncer’s voice booms menacingly, as he flashes his fangs at me.
At this point, I don’t have a choice. I’m not going to get in through the front door. And now I have a broken finger to deal with.
Chapter Twenty
Charlie
Breaking and Entering
Slinking around the corner into the alleyway, I slump down with my back against the wall, facing Blood Rose. Until five minutes ago, I was a member of the ‘never broken a bone’ club. Fucking bouncer.
Even if I wanted to, I don’t think this bond or tether or whatever it is would let me leave without investigating. Using my teeth, I tear at my shirt, ripping a strip from the bottom. My finger hangs limply from my left hand. This is gonna suck. Bracing myself, I use my good hand to straighten out my finger. The grinding of the bone is hellish as I try to set it back into place. The only saving grace is that it feels like a clean snap. There’s no blood or anything, it’s just limp. I rest the broken finger against my leg, and take the strip of my shirt to wrap it up tightly. Hopefully this will stop it from flapping around or getting jostled until I can get it properly looked at.
The tether keeps tugging at me, urging me to get into the building.
“I don’t know what to do. They won’t let me in.” I sigh. Now I sound insane, talking to myself in a dark alleyway.
