Chapter Two
Marilisa shook herhead.“No.No, I won’t let you.”
“It’s the only way to save us.”
“And what if your sister decides to do this again?”
That was a great question, because Lori was just that awful of a person.
“I won’t let her take you away from me,” Adalyn vowed.“You’re my only family.So, if you stay, I stay.”
Tears ran down her friend’s wrinkled face.“Don’t do this, baby girl.”
“I have to.You know this is the only way.”
Marilisa tenderly cupped her face.“You’ll never be the same.”
“I’ll never be the same if something happens to you.I love you.”
She was enveloped by Marilisa’s arms in a hug that was pure love.
“I love you too,” she murmured.“I’ll support whatever decision you make, including running far away from this city.”
Adalyn wouldn’t run, even though fear gripped her.It was 8:00 in the evening.That gave her four hours to come to terms that she would be at the mercy of vampires.
****
Midnight struck a fewseconds before Adalyn entered the foyer of The Crimson Den.It had taken all her strength to enter the decadent nightclub that offered a chance for humans to interact with vampires.A place to make deals and bargain for ...whatever.Sex, drugs, euphoria.It was also known as a place to bargain for money, and she, with any luck, had something of value to sell.
The large foyer was packed with ordinary humans.Men wearing leather and women dressed as scintillating as possible.With her yellow sundress and white sweater, she stuck out like a sore thumb.The sickly-sweet smell of pot hung in the air, mingling with all sorts of perfumes, colognes, and body odor.
Anxiety rolled through her.Selling herself to one man versus being raped by multiple, it was really a no-brainer.Maneuvering through the crowd, she was struck by the beautiful architecture.Red velvet drapes framed the tall, ornate gothic doors she assumed led to the club.A humongous metal chandelier hung from the arched ceiling, with LED candles mimicking the flickering of real fire.Bouncers were positioned around the perimeter, keeping a watchful eye on everything.Adalyn felt like she’d stepped into a medieval castle.
The little research she had done said she had to find the concierge and tell him or her what she offered.Pushing through the crowd, she made her way to the line.The chatter around suggested not every human was accepted into the Den.Adalyn could only hope that she wasn’t going to be kicked out before she had a chance, because she didn’t have a plan B.
Finally, after long moments, it was her turn.She approached the counter where a beautiful woman waited.Short, spikey black hair.A delicate ring in her nose.The small, telltale scarlet ring that outlined the pupils in her eyes confirmed that she was a vampire.
