I sit and watch her work for a few more hours, Sarah alongside her. Sipping my whiskey, I catch sight of another man seated at the bar watching them work. And another. And another. I guess they are quite the draw—my feisty goth-girl Elina, with her long, curly, brown hair that nearly reaches her waist, her short leather skirt wrapped around her full squeezablehips, and her black corset with gemstone blood drops holding the most beautiful breasts I have ever held in my hands. She is curvy and soft in the perfect places, and I can’t wait for my next opportunity to feel her skin. Nestled in her cleavage is my pendant, which can even protect her from me. Beside her, Sarah wears a similar outfit of a slightly longer leather skirt and black corset, except she is taller and slimmer than Elina, so her outfit fits differently. She has recently added Elina’s blood-drop choker to her throat, since the pendant has replaced it as a part of Elina’s everyday outfits. Sarah has fiery red hair that curls out and away from her face and across her shoulders.
Looking closer at each man, I notice a man paying particular attention to Sarah. I decide to approach him and see if he’s a friend of hers. I would like to connect with some people fromTesoro’s life. It will make it easier for us.
“Hi, I’m Bash. Do you know the girls?” I point with my whiskey glass as I take the empty barstool next to him. Both Sarah and Elina’s eyes widen almost comically. The vampire sitting next to me does the same.Ok, then.
“Hey, man. I’m Ethan Grady. I, uh, I’m Sarah’s boyfriend. Or fiancé. I don’t know, it's kind of weird right now. I was gone for a while but I came back, and I don’t know exactly what’s happening. And can vampires even get married? Oh, dear god—I’m rambling about marriage to Sebastien Malvani.”
I smile broadly at him, fangs on display but obvious mirth on my face.
“Hey, Ethan. I’m just Bash. Don’t worry about the rest. I’m Elina’s...You know what? I also don’t know what I am, so we have that in common. Hopefully, I’m something, I guess. I figured we could get to know each other, since it seems our girls are two halves of a whole.”
“Yeah, they’ve been friends since practically diapers, Ithink. I’ve never known Sarah without Lina. I’m glad she finally told her I was staying with her. Sarah was afraid of how Lina would react, but they worked it out like they always do. Though, considering who is sitting next to me, I understand why Lina was suddenly so accepting of human/vamp relationships.” He laughs and sips his drink. I think he’s drinking tequila. We can drink alcohol but not really mixed with anything except blood, so if we want to drink, we have to adjust to the taste. I don’t make it a habit to feed in public from the bar blood warmers, I prefer to drink at home.
This insight into Elina’s previous dislike of human-vampire relationships offers some perspective on why I feel like I am battling the tide on her affections. Her feelings for me seem to ebb and flow depending on how long it is between spending time with her. Maybe befriending Sarah and Ethan will be the catalyst to get her more committed to this, so we can begin something real here.
I hear the soft click-clack of heels behind me before a hand lands on my shoulder.
“Oh, hey. I haven’t seen you in a while.”
I sit up, all amusement leaving my body instantly. Amelie.Shit.
“Hello, Amelie.” I try to avoid looking at her. Shame colors my demeanor.
“Hey, I’m Ethan.” The vamp next to me extends his hand to her for her to shake.
“Hey, Ethan. Nice to meet you. I’m Amelie. You’re Sarah’s boyfriend, right?” Elina watches us, a curious tilt to her head.
“That’s right.” He puffs his chest out proudly and I long for the day I can do that for my relationship with Elina.
“Hey, Amelie. Ethan. Bash.” Elina gives us each a short nod. “Amelie, you have an order for me or something?” She hasmade her way over, I guess she decided on her course of action with Amelie talking to me.
“No, I was coming to see Bash. I haven’t seen him in a while.” She leans casually, a bit possessively, against my arm. Leaning in, she whispers, “Hey, baby, wanna repeat?”
Clearing my throat, I lean away from her which means I am halfway on top of Ethan’s lap. He’s watching all of this calmly while obviously trying to figure out what dynamic is at play here. Elina narrows her eyes at Amelie.
As soon as she opens her mouth to say something to Amelie I jump in. “Amelie, thanks for stopping by. We have no further business together.”
She looks at me suspiciously then at Elina.
“You got to be kidding me. Seriously, Elina?”
“Seriouslywhat, Amelie? You let him fuck and feed one time, 2 months ago. You haven’t even noticed he’s been in the bar multiple nights a week since. It’s not like you have a claim on him,” Sarah chimes in. This is quickly getting out of hand. I have to do something but I can’t figure out what.
“You saw him for the first time while his cum was still running down my leg, you bitch,” Amelie spits in Elina’s direction. Her mouth drops open at the vulgar outburst.
Her words hit me like a knife to the chest. Elina still doesn’t say anything—she only narrows her eyes at Amelie, cold and calculating. Amelie flinches a little under the hard gaze.
“Amelie, that is enough.” I say. She swings her gaze to me. “We both knew what it was then and you know what it is now. Nothing. Do not ever speak to Elina like that again.”
At that exact moment, before anyone else can do anything, Rian comes through the bar door. She is slight, and weighs, maybe, 120 pounds, but her face is determined.
“Get back to the floor, Amelie. If you’re going to make a habit of giving away for free what I sell to vamps, you have todeal with the consequences. Back to work. Elina, if you can’t control things at the bar, your boyfriend has to stay home.” Turning around she storms back out.
Boyfriend.The sound of those words makes me giddy and I don’t want to burst that bubble of happiness by looking over at Elina.
I’m nervous, and I swing my eyes to Elina. She doesn’t look angry or jealous. She’s just watching me, the way she has been this entire time.
“Well, she knows how to break up a party,” Ethan remarks, I assume, in an attempt to lighten the mood. Sarah giggles. Elina does not.
