Sara Humphreys - Vampire Trouble

“I must bid you farewell at this point, but Diego will take you the rest of the way.” Sebastian grinned and quickly flashed his fangs. “Enjoy.”

A chill ran up Maya’s spine and relief flooded her when the door closed and Sebastian’s grinning face vanished, along with the scent of the werewolf. As the vibrating of her necklace subsided, Shane wrapped his arm around her waist, once again sensing exactly what she needed. The hum of the elevator filled the space, and she watched the cement wall whisk by through the gate before the car finally came to an abrupt halt.

“Apologies for the bumpy landing,” Diego said with a smile. “The elevator can be quite temperamental .”

“That’s okay.” Maya laughed. “So can I.”

“I like to think of you as spirited,” Shane said, kissing the top of her head. “It’s what will make you a great sentry.”

“Are you enjoying the sentry training?” Diego asked, tugging open the gate. “I’ve heard it’s quite strenuous.”

“It’s been…interesting.” Maya lifted one shoulder and struggled with exactly how much she should reveal. “Shane is a wonderful teacher.”

“A teacher is only as good as his student,” Shane interjected with a sly look.

“Yes.” Diego stepped out and held the door open for them. A moment later, sexy jazz music filled the air. “Well, Quesada may be a great sentry, but Sebastian and I have cornered the market on knowing how to service our customers. I do hope you’ll enjoy your time here.”

Maya was about to answer him but was rendered speechless when she saw what was waiting for them. With her hand linked firmly with Shane’s, she looked around in awe as the elevator door shut tightly behind them and a whole new world was revealed.

Below the Bayou Escape restaurant was a thriving vampire jazz club, complete with a staff of human familiars who were clearly there to serve the vamps as needed. The main club space looked to be about the same size as The Coven, but instead of a DJ, there was a jazz band along the far wall. The coolest part was that the walls were covered in video screens that depicted New Orleans on a bright sunny day.

The screens on the left depicted a massive steamboat drifting on the Mississippi River beneath a crystal clear, blue sky, while the screens on the right showed the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter. The crowning achievement was the ceiling. At least twelve feet high, it was painted to resemble a gorgeous blue sky dotted with a few drifting clouds. Even the sun was shown shining brightly, and the whole ceiling seamlessly connected with the screens on the walls.

If Maya didn’t know better, she’d think she was standing outside on a beautiful summer day and not two stories underground.

At the center of the club was a series of tables that looked much like the outdoor café tables Maya saw at several eateries in the French Quarter. Instead of feasting on beignets and gumbo, the vamps were partaking of the humans, who were clearly enjoying it. It was the largest gathering of vampires she had ever seen in one place, and every one of them was out and proud.

“This is amazing,” Maya whispered as Shane’s arm slipped around her. She looked around in awe but didn’t miss the look of pride on Diego’s face. “I-It’s absolutely incredible. Everyone is…well…they’re not hiding.”

“No.” Diego clasped his hands behind his back and surveyed the bustling club as he spoke. “Sebastian and I opened this place because we wanted our kind to have somewhere they could relax and socialize without fear of discovery.”

“The humans that work here,” Maya said quietly. “They’re familiars?”

“Of course.” Diego swept his arms wide as they walked toward the wrought-iron railing, stopping short of the three steps that led into the main dining area. “All of my human employees are here because they want to be. No humans are allowed to be forced or glamoured into feedings at Bayou Escape. Diego and I live in apartments down here that are directly linked to the club, so the last thing we want are any bad vibes.”

“There are so many of them.” Maya nodded her understanding as a pretty, young human girl slipped by them and down the steps. She was dressed in a tiny red dress, but Maya noticed that the other humans weren’t all adorned in the same outfits. Some of the human men were scantily clad but others wore business suits. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

“Thank you, Maya.” Diego smiled, and his fangs flashed briefly. “We recently opened two other clubs here in the United States, one in Miami and the other in San Francisco. Both cities are neutral zones, as you know, and if Sebastian has anything to say about it, we’ll be opening one in Geneva as well.”

Maya tensed at the mention of Geneva because it brought the summit, the werewolves, and everything else back to the forefront of her mind. She grimaced and flicked her gaze to Shane who, based on the look of concern on his face, had noticed her sudden change in demeanor.

“How are things in New York?” Diego asked quietly. “Any word on the birth of this immortal child? The whole event is…strange.”

“Oh really?” Maya tensed and her defenses went up at the way he spoke about Olivia and the baby. “What exactly are you trying to say?”

“Apologies.” Diego’s expression went from curious to concerned in a split second as he clasped his hands in front of himself and bowed his head. “Sometimes I forget myself. Olivia is your maker, is she not?”

“Yes.” Maya wrestled with her urge to punch Diego in the mouth. “She is. Which means that her daughter will be a part of my family too.”

“I meant no disrespect.” Diego flicked his gaze to Shane briefly before looking at Maya again. “But you can’t tell me that you’re surprised by the community’s reaction to this whole bloodmate revelation, can you? I mean, honestly, daywalking vampires and immortal children are not exactly a common occurrence. I’m sure that you can understand why some vampires might be nervous.”

“I don’t see why it’s anybody else’s business,” Maya said all too sweetly. “Olivia and Doug having the ability to daywalk. That is about them—not us or anyone else.” She glanced briefly at Shane. “It’s nobody’s business but theirs.”

“Of course, youngling. Diego was merely expressing a natural curiosity,” Shane said evenly. His arm tightened around Maya’s waist, and his fingers brushed her hip in gentle, reassuring strokes. “I’m sure that once Olivia and Doug introduce their child to our community, everyone’s nerves will be calmed.”

“Perhaps.” Diego let out a sigh. “The truth is, unless there is some kind of outbreak of bloodmates, the only daywalking most vampires will ever be able to do is in one of our clubs. Be honest, this is as close to a sunny day as any of us will see. Am I right?”

“Your club is second to none,” Shane said as he shot a glance in Maya’s direction. “Isn’t it, Maya?”

“It is the first all-vampire club I’ve been in, but I can’t imagine one that would be any more perfect.” Maya smiled sweetly at Diego and kept her tone even. As nice a host as Diego might be, she didn’t like the tone he took when he spoke about Olivia and Doug being bloodmates, but she knew it was best to keep her feelings to herself. “Perhaps you should speak with the czars about opening a club in New York.”

“Oh no.” Diego made a face and shook his head. “We will only operate our clubs in neutral zones because they’re really the only places where the clubs are needed. Our clubs provide a safe haven for vampires in cities where no single government is in power. Besides, Sebastian and I quite like being the go-to club for the vamp set. There’s a certain exclusivity that we enjoy.”