Annie Nicholas - Bait

I arrived at the refurbished boat’s mooring beside the Petofi Bridge. It stood two stories above the water, made of solid, thick iron and full of bright lights. Fresh paint and windows made it shiny but the ship’s design enhanced its age. A wonderful medley of new and old. The doorman held the door and allowed me in.

The club subdivided into three floors of revelry: the roof terrace on the deck, the restaurant by the galley, and the lounge with club in the hull. I made my way to where the concert would be held in the lounge. Its interior furnished in brown leather and dark wood in a modern style provided a warm and elegant atmosphere.

I forced my fists to unclench as I stood at the entrance. I’d find him here. Rurik. The images of those photos still haunted me. They clung to me like tar. We would start with him, their leader, and then work our way to find the others who had participated in the massacre. I took a deep breath and pulled myself under control.

Tables surrounded a stage where the band played a smooth tune. I gave my ticket to the vendor and entered the dimly lit room.

Private booths lined the walls. The lack of lighting made it difficult to see, all I could make out were dark silhouettes. But I was confident Rurik’s vision would be able to see me.

A touch to my elbow caught my attention. I smiled to myself. That didn’t take long. As I twisted toward him I pasted my best sultry smile on my face.

A gentleman with long blond hair and a casual gray suit stood next to me. He held up his glass, even though I didn’t have a clue what he said, the gesture made it clear. He wanted to buy me a drink.

Damn, I flirted with the wrong guy. I shook my head. “English?”

His eyes traveled up my body back to my face. A sugar coated smile appeared as he lifted his glass once more and pointed at me.

I shook my head again. “No thanks.” I pivoted to leave but his hand snaked around my elbow.

His hand caressed my skin until it reached my shoulder, his intentions painted on his handsome face.

I ground my teeth and glared. Apparently he wasn’t used to being refused. If shaking my head didn’t translate maybe a right hook would. Taking a deep breath, I counted to ten. I couldn’t afford getting kicked out of the club. Then again, it would get Rurik’s attention and relieve some of my pent up tension. I eyed my amorous new friend and sized him up.

Before I could decide what action to take, a set of long, pale fingers wrapped around my unwanted flirt’s wrist and removed it from my shoulder.

The man’s grin disappeared, replaced by fear.

I stared at the inhuman hand that replaced his. My heart sped up as my eyes trailed from the hand, up the arm, to the face. I hoped to see a set of icy, blue eyes but instead met black, soulless ones. “Tane.” His name was barely audible as I choked on it. I saw him last at the party, one of Dragos ’ kindred. He had stayed with Rurik to fight off Colby’s men.

A fedora covered his bald head and pointed ears. He released the man’s wrist and in a calm voice told him something. My assailant lost interest and left us.

Tane’s attention returned to me. He wore a short sleeved shirt with a buttoned up vest and matching black, pin-striped slacks. His tattoo scrawled in an intricate fashion down his neck to disappear under his collar. In the dim light, he could pass for human.

His stony expression didn’t change as he gripped my shoulder like steel. “You’re the last person I expected, Rabbit.” His voice blended with the soft jazz music. It soothed my raw nerves and allowed him to catch my gaze as I continued to stand in shock. His power snapped against my mental shields and rung them like a gong. It weakened them enough to daze me.

His arms clung around me as if supporting a drunken friend. Tane’s power made Rurik’s wane in comparison. Where Rurik needed to drug me first to control me, Tane just mentally bitch slapped me and took me by force.

We made our way back across the lounge to a secluded booth in the corner. He settled me on the bench and slid me further in. We weren’t alone in the horseshoe shaped booth. A man in his late thirties with short salt and pepper hair waited for us. He sipped a drink as he watched me with his crystal green eyes.

I sat trapped between them.

Tane grinned and flashed his fangs, like a saber toothed tiger that just caught a rabbit. He removed his hat and flipped it onto the table. “Rurik’s little rabbit. I’m so pleased.” He gestured to the other man. “This is my ... companion, Eric.” Then he gestured to me. “And this pretty morsel is Rabbit. Rurik brought her to Dragos ’ welcoming party. As a gift for our Master if I recall.”

“More like entertainment than a gift. He wasn’t supposed to keep me.” I giggled like a nut too terrified to think straight. “I mean who keeps people. Nice hat by the way.” The babble came out in an uncontrolled torrent. It left me breathless.

Tane ran a finger along the hat’s rim. “Thank you, I do make an effort to keep up with the changing styles, and Dragos always keeps what he likes.”

Eric raised his eyebrows. “Quite an end to the evening though. Parties are always more fun when they end with a brawl.”

I faintly remembered Eric as part of the group of men playing daggers. I swallowed with a dry throat. “Are you going to take me back to him?” Over my dead body, with no back up and only a tracker as help, it may come to that.

He shrugged. “No, I don’t think so. As long as you don’t attract attention. I need you to be calm and to behave now, right?”

A flash of metal slipped from Eric’s sleeve to reveal a fine, sharp blade.

My heart skipped a beat.

Tane waved his hand at the blade. “There’s no need for threats. Rabbit is going to be our new friend. I do love it when a plan changes unexpectedly for the better.” He reached over and petted Eric’s hand. “It was such a good idea of yours to use that ticket as a lure. The results are not what I expected but this truly pleases me.”

Eric beamed like a good pet.

“Leave us and enjoy the concert. Rabbit and I have business to attend.” Eric stood to depart. He came close to Tane and hesitated to glance my way before planting a quick kiss on his lips.

We both watched his departure for different reasons, Tane with his heart in his eyes, me for a possible escape route.

Before I could move, he laid his hand on my arm and turned to me with a small smile. “Don’t make this difficult. I won’t hurt you unless you make me.”

I looked from his large hand that gripped me tight to his face. “You kind of are now.” My heart would soon burst from my chest if it didn’t decelerate. If Dragos was a Nosferatu then so was Tane. They had similar traits. That meant an uber-vamp held my arm.

His clasp lessened. “I had hoped Colby would be the one to use the ticket and come to this concert. I wanted to meet him in person. Very resourceful of him to use you as bait, something tasty and sweet, instead of deadly and hard. No wonder his kills have increased.” He released my arm to lean his chin on his hand, smile still present. “I’m such a fan of his.” He spoke like he followed Colby’s career as a slayer.

I tried to control my breathing but I may as well have tried to control the weather. A trickle of sweat made its way down my back. He associated me with Colby. How? Did we have an informant on the team? The fact he knew Colby existed and what he did for a living terrified me. Where was Rurik? I could use my hero again. The irony of my needing rescue by the vampire I wanted to kill was not lost on me.

“Who?” I did my best to lie.

“Let’s not play games, Rabbit.”

“I’m not.” My palms got clammy. He implied he’d used the concert ticket as a lure to trap Colby. Who gave Colby the ticket and what did Tane want with him?