Carnal Descent

Chapter Three

Tessa stretched out her naked body beneath the soft linen sheet of her king size bed at the Genoa City Athletic Club. Her eyes popped open as she realized she was alone. Turning her head, she still smelt the sweet lavender notes of the redhead that had been beside her when she had fallen asleep. Mariah had slipped out at some point in the early morning hours.

Not wanting to dwell on her empty bed, Tessa decided to get ready. She needed to head over to the Underground to discuss what had happened the night before at the abandoned house. There was no need to reveal to Lola anything that had happened afterwards, with Mariah, in the privacy of her hotel room.

Checking her wounds, which had healed completely, she jumped into the shower and washed the night off her. Tessa chose a ridiculously tight pair of jeans, her black combat boots, a black 1987 Cure "Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me" tour t-shirt, and a black motorcycle jacket that had been a gift from Lola. Looking at herself in the mirror, Tessa smiled. She didn't often feel overly self-confident in her appearance, but today, she looked hot.

Heading out, Tessa grabbed the nylon bag from the Underground. She needed to restock her blood supply, since healing had taken the three bags that Mariah had brought the night before. She found the valet slip on the desk, along with a quickly scribbled note from Mariah.

Talk later. Mariah

Tessa arrived at the Underground before the club was even open. She found Noah behind the bar stocking liquor bottles. He looked up, a concerned look flashed across his face.

"Have you seen Mariah today?" Giving her a look that most certainly meant death, Noah stepped out from behind the bar.

"I haven't seen her since I passed out last night in my hotel room." Tessa answered, not really lying, as the last time she had seen Mariah was as they had fallen asleep in each other's arms.

"She didn't come home last night, and no one has heard from her since she went back to play doctor with you." Noah's anger had now turned to fear.

"She brought the blood back, cleaned my wounds, removed some wood splinters. I haven't seen her today." Tessa didn't want to let on that she was a little worried as well. She also didn't want to let on that anything else had happened between her and Mariah.

"This isn't like her." Noah sat down on a bar stool, defeat all over his face. "She isn't answering her phone. The guards at the gate have been told to call me if she shows up, and they haven't called."

"Well, where would she normally go? What places does she frequent on a normal day?" Tessa asked.

"The ranch, Crimson Lights, Work, here..." Noah looked at Tessa, his mind working on other possible locations his sister might go. "If she is working on a story, like she is now, those places multiply exponentially."

"Okay, I have to go meet with Lola, but when I'm done, I will go look for her. I promise you, I will not let anything happen to her. She is probably just on some crazy lead for her story, so let's not freak out yet." Tessa said as she handed Noah the nylon bag. "Do you mind getting me some more blood while I meet with Lola?"

Noah nodded his head, not moving from the barstool he was perched on.

"Is Lola in the back?" Tessa started to walk to the back of the bar where the offices were before Noah even answered.

"Yes." Noah said with a chuckle.

Tessa knocked at Lola's office door, but no one responded. She could hear muffled noises coming from inside. She opened the door, checking to see if Lola might be on a call.