Vampire World (VAMPIRE WORLD #1)

Part 12 A Hot Party

Chapter 11: A Hot Party

I got dressed, putting on the black shirt that I bought at the supermarket. Once again it was not much, but it was decent. At least I had my charming purse and my phone. But I frowned at my pitiful shoes. If I got the job, I was getting a new pair pronto.

Anyway, if he liked me…well…appearances wouldn’t matter. Yeah right. I remembered  Sally complimenting me on my prettiness, but that was back in the orphanage. I was in a much bigger, wilder, crazier place now, with a lot more beautiful vampires around.

Astonished that Mr. FreeCut was kind enough to let me borrow his car after I had wrecked it, I thanked him several times, said goodbye, and headed off to the party at April’s house.

Passing over Slice canyon, downtown loomed in the distance. But I took a sharp right and came to an iron gate leading into an exclusive estate. A heavy-set guard walked out of a station.

He gazed at me with an ugly scowl. “Show me your Carn card.”

I handed it over and he scanned it with some sort of machine. Then he stared at me angrily. “What the hell? Can’t you read? You need proof of ten thousand Carns to get in here. You've only got thirty. Get the hell out of here you cheap, blood-sucking rat.”

Although I was tempted to punch his fangs out, I really just wanted to get to the party.

“I know someone who lives inside,” I said. “I’m invited to their party.”

“Do you actually think I'd believe someone who has only thirty Carns on them? Why would you have any friends anyway?”

Growing quite irritated, I dialed Kate’s number and told her about the jerk guard.

“I’m going to have to hear from your friend,” the guard snapped.

I forcefully handed him the phone.

Moments later I passed through the gate and left the ass behind. He did not look happy.

I cruised through an impressive neighborhood of Gothic mansions, some three or four stories high. Several of the mansions had castle-like spheres rising from them, while others had elaborate decks decorated with lavish statues of beasts. The lawns were spacious and beautiful, their dead grass twinkling brightly around trees with sparkling leaves.

Turning right on Skull Street, I saw cars parked on the side of the street and all along a wide driveway that led up to a scarlet, three story house. I parked Mr. FreeCut’s car. This must be April’s house, or April’s parent’s house. But the distinction was pointless. Either way, she was quite rich.

Walking over the dead grass, I passed a statue of a three headed dog with gargantuan fangs. I called Kate to tell her I had arrived. She met me by the front door dressed in a cute outfit and strutting tall ruby heels.

“Glad you made it, Janice. Hey, I've got that cute shirt for you – the one I told you about. Follow me to April’s room.”

Inside, the party was hopping. Shrieking music with heavy bass beats had the living room floor smoking with avid vampire feet. Adding to the atmosphere, machines were sending glowing mist swirling around in the air. Following Kate, I crossed through a crowd of sexy vampires, all dressed to impress. Everyone was downing cups of blood. I stared up at the ghost-like ceiling for a moment. A humongous chandelier shaped like a skull with spikes jabbing out of it hung above me. This was one damn cool place.

We arrived in a bedroom where a glow-in-the-dark coffin that was much larger than mine was positioned in the middle of the room. Three dimensional posters of muscular vampire models littered the walls, each one showing off vivid tattoos.