Raven Mask (Camren) Book 2

Chapter 14

"It is a pleasure seeing you again, Camila," Vanessa said, taking a seat in one of the armchairs in Lauren's parlor.

I looked at her then, briefly. What was I supposed to say? I wasn't exactly up on vampire etiquette. For some reason "ditto" didn't seem like the polite response.

I widened my eyes at Lauren just a touch, letting her know she needed to jump in before I stuck my foot in it.

Lauren asked her, "You said you had information on a stray in this territory?"

Vanessa leaned back in her seat, crossing her legs and clasping her hands in her lap. "Yes. Well, strays, to be precise."

"Tell me," Lauren said, and I was glad she'd diverted Vanessa's attention. I pulled my feet under me, listening.

"One of my patrons at the club divulged information regarding a rumor of a new and ambitious vampire in town. You should be on your guard."

Vanessa idly rolled her thumb across the arm of the chair. The dress she wore was midnight velvet, similar to the cloak she had been wearing, but where the cloak added an air of mystery, the dress clung to her skin, showing off her curves. She noticed me and smiled beautifully, flashing only a little bit of fang. I looked away again, trying to keep my curiosity to myself. Dinah shouldn't have told me Vanessa was a pro-domme. I was having a hard time keeping my mind from wandering.

Lauren nodded solemnly, a lot calmer than I would have been. "As I had suspected. How did your patron hear of this rumor?"

"I am not certain. You know as well as I that most of my patrons are vamp-sluts. They'll straddle the first pair of fangs they see." She actually laughed.

"Vamp-slut," I mumbled. "That's a new one."

"Not really," Dinah said. "There's death-banger, fang-whore, blood-bitch, coffin-thumper, coffin-bunker, fang-fucker—"

"I get it. Are there any nice, politically correct terms?"

"A willing donor," Vanessa said coyly.

"A fang-cushion?" Dinah added.

"Apparently not. Forget I asked."

"Only the pitiful ones get the bad nicknames," Dinah said.

"Pitiful?"

"Vamp-addicts," she explained, "bite-junkies. You wouldn't miss one if you saw one."

"No," Vanessa said softly, "they're not easy to miss."

I glanced from Vanessa to Dinah.

Dinah said, in all seriousness, "They resemble a pin cushion without the pins."

"That's lovely," I said sarcastically, then asked Vanessa, "So one of your patrons told you about a new vamp in town?"

"Correct."

I looked at Lauren. Vanessa had started staring again. "What do we do?"

"We seek out the truth. If there is a new vampire in my territory, without my permission..."

"They're in a shit-load of trouble." Dinah's words were more blunt than Lauren's would've been, but they worked.

"Precisely."

"It goes without saying you have my aid," Vanessa said, her eyes on me.

"Good," Lauren said. "For we shall need it."

"Why do you think I offered? I will see what further information I might obtain using my skills."

Though I was curious, I didn't ask what those skills were. Point for me.

Vanessa stood in a swish of velvet and declared, "The sun will rise soon."

Lauren rose gracefully to her feet. "I will have a room prepared for your stay." She looked at Dinah, who, as if knowing what to do, nodded and left the room. I resisted the urge to grab the arm of her shirt and say, "Don't leave me."

It took me a moment to realize Vanessa and Lauren were staring at me. With the attention of two devastatingly beautiful vampires on me, I forced myself to sigh.