Running with Shifters (completed)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Isadora

We go to a jazz club. Even though I generally despise jazz (it's one of the two kinds of music I can't stand, the other being blue grass), I don't complain for fear of Meg's wrath.

The building's a lot smaller than the others we've been in, the dance floor only about the size of my room in the Complex, with a ring of tables around it and a stage with a band playing on it in the corner. We're taking up nearly half of the tables; Lin and I at one, Meg and Eli at another, Kate and Wallace, and Romulus sitting with some girl that was here before us.

There's only three other couples in here, none of which are vampires. At first I was really confused by that fact, but now I'm just grateful. I don't think I could handle seeing another vampire just yet. I know it's been four days but when we were driving out of the airport we passed the guards and one of them was a vampire (the sun glinted off their contacts just right, making it obvious) and I nearly puked from guilt.

I look over at Lin and smile as I watch him smile at the music, his eyes closed and his chin resting on his hand. I should have known he likes jazz; he's so laid back and carefree. "Hey, Lin."

He turns his head towards me, not opening his eyes as he acknowledges me. "Do you want something to drink?"

He opens his eyes now and smiles at me, "yes, what would you like? I'll go get it."

I shake my head, "no, I'll get them, I need to stretch my legs in any case."

He looks thoughtful for a moment. "Well in that case I'll take a Coke." He hands me his credit card and I hop out of my chair.

"On it."

Meg-Elaine

"How do you think she's doing?" Eli squeezes my hand, making me come back from my tuning out the horrible music. Jazz is awful, I've always thought so, and the only person from our group that seems to be enjoying themselves (besides Romulus, who's still shamelessly flirting with that girl two tables over) is Lin.

"She seems to be handling it well. I picked somewhere that vampires are unlikely to frequent and so far I've been right. I think if we can get her back into our routine before introducing vampires again, she'll be less likely to repeat what happened at the airport."

He nods, slightly grimacing at the memory, and I squeeze his hand back. It's funny- he's completely calm when it comes to blood and violence but at the thought of someone being sick he gets all squeamish. It's strangely endearing.

We watch her hop up from her seat and walk to the bar, order two drinks and then return to her table. Trying not to laugh, I watch as she tries and fails to cover her distaste at the music while Lin nods along with the piano solo while sipping his drink.

Hearing the door open, I watch as a short haired woman in a business suit walks to the bar. Iz stiffens and I go on high alert, partly from my anti-vampire training and partly from gauging Iz's reaction.

Iz starts to hyperventilate, her face paling and her eyes getting a frenzied look, and I move to step in. And then she just... stops. A steely glint shines in her eyes and I watch her watching the vampire like a wild cat stalking prey. The vampire shifts on her bar stool uncomfortably and looks around the club before zeroing in on Iz.

Turning back to the bar, she downs her drink after pretending to check her watch, before trying to inconspicuously speed-walk to the door. Iz is hot on her trail before anyone can step in to stop her and we have no choice but to follow her.