Watcher in the Darkness, Book 3: Imprisoned

Chapter 28

I stood outside the blood bar for over an hour, but it felt closer to three. My hatred for Hlin grew by the minute, because I knew she was to blame for my new court date. To pass the time, I fantasized about tossing every person in front of me over the velvet rope. I couldn't risk more legal problems; otherwise, I might've at least shoved my way to the front.

To say Song felt stiff in my arms was an understatement. She stared straight ahead, unblinking, as the ocean breeze toyed with her hair. A person might've mistaken her for one of those Greek statues. You know, the ones with the missing limbs.

Wow, that wasn't cool. I suck.

Song fisted her remaining hand in my hoodie, her arm tight around my neck. Every vampire that passed got an evil look, with flickers of disdain for any humans with them.

The club door opened behind the bouncers, and a heavy bassline thudded through the air. "I can't do this," Song said. It was the first time she'd spoken since our arrival. "Take me back to the Sanctuary."

"Yeah, that's not going to happen." I stepped forward as a human couple two places in front of us entered the bar.

Song's ivory brow furrowed. "Everyone is staring at me," she said in a low voice.

"Uh-huh..." I wasn't paying attention. A young woman with long dark hair had stepped out of the bar. Her back was to me as she spoke to the largest of the three bouncers, a barrel-chested black vampire. He was a giant of a man, dressed in a tailored suit and mirror sunglasses. I couldn't smell the girl over the traffic exhaust, piss, and human stench, but the sight of her made my chest tighten. She turned to reenter the club, and I growled under my breath when I confirmed it wasn't Karen.

Song had no idea how close she'd come to getting dropped on her ass. "I stand out like a sore thumb," she said. "Not to mention...Of course, everyone is looking at me."

"Why would anyone be looking at you? It's not like you're naked. With that long dress on, it's not obvious you're missing a limb."

"Three limbs," she said in a dark tone.

"Whatever. Who cares?"

Song shook her head as she whispered, "I can't be here. This place goes against everything I've trained my entire life to be. We're supposed to blend in." By 'we', I assumed she meant the Watchers. She and I weren't equals. "We keep our heads down. We observe, but we don't interact unless it's to protect someone. Once upon a time, a place like this would've been a target." Song flinched when the lead bouncer's gaze shifted to her. "They're going to take one look at me and know what I am."

"Yes. They're going to take one look at you and know that you're a hungry vampire. Because that's all you are now."

Song looked at me as though I'd just punted a newborn puppy into traffic. "Why did you bring me here?"

"Because you already know the situation and what Karen looks like."

"So, you trust me?" Song sounded surprised.

I laughed without humor. "No. I brought you because it would take too long to explain everything to someone else."

"Is that the only reason?"

"No." There was no point in lying to her. Song would see right through me. "Remember the napkin Khalid used to dry his face? From it, I could tell that he lives on the north side of town."

Song tilted her head with genuine curiosity. "How?"

I shrugged as I struggled to put it into words. "He smells healthy and clean, but the human scent is almost too strong. That means he eats well, even though he has a lot of neighbors. On the north side of town, the nightclubs and restaurants all use fresh ingredients. A diet without a bunch of processed foods and preservatives gives human blood a cleaner, healthier scent. Yuppies and their spawn live right on top of each other here, but the sanitation department is on top of their game."