So I'm a Vampire... Now What? - Book 2 (Original Version)

Chapter 12.4 - the Chosen Ones pt4

"I don't know these pants," I noted, more for the sake of saying something to make my situation more real. I feebly patted the pockets of the very lovely suit that Beatrice had provided for me. I knew there was nothing in the pockets, but I checked anyway. I very firmly remembered my cellphone clunking to the floor when Beatrice had peeled my pants off me, the pants which had not been these pants. But there was still that desperate need to check anyway, just in case.

I made eye contact with the taxi driver again and waved in the affirmative that yes, I did need a cab. A few seconds later, I slid into the back of the car, and as the driver turned to me, I looked him deep in the eye and glammered him.

There was that whisper of contact with his mind—

"I need to borrow your phone," I said. Sayid. His name was Sayid, and he was regretting moving to this new city in the middle of winter and what had he been thinking—

I shook his thoughts out of my brain and tried to focus as Sayid smiled warmly and gave his phone to me.

"Here you go," Sayid said. "Passcode is five-one-one-two-six-four. Where are we going?"

"The Porn Emporium on Bloor." I typed in the passcode and then paused, stupidly staring at the phone, aware that Sayid was already pulling out into traffic.

"What's the matter?" Sayid asked, concerned. "Didn't it work?"

"I don't know my friend's number," I said. "He changes numbers a lot and usually calls me." I realized something else about Claude and, for the first time, felt completely helpless. "Shit. He doesn't even use email."

"Maybe somebody else knows how to contact him?" Sayid suggested helpfully. He smiled as his thoughts shifted to a friendly young woman who worked dispatch at the cab company. "A friend from work?"

I shook Sayid's romantic thoughts out of my head. Focus!

"You're right, Sayid, my new best friend," I said, "Sammy might actually know..."

I pulled up the map and typed in the address to the pornshop. The telephone number was there on the map as well as closing hours. I dialled and listened to the phone ring.

"Porn Emporium, how can I maximize your pleasure?" Sammy breathed into the phone with her best phone-sex voice.

"Sammy, it's me, Bob," I said quickly. "I'm in a bit of trouble."

There was a moment as Sammy took a breath, then—

"Oh, I'm sorry, Bob isn't here right now. He's on vacation for the next week."

Stop the clock, adjust your perception, realize that everything has turned to shit, but keep breathing, keep calm and carry on, whatever you do, do not lose your shit.

"Someone is there with you, isn't there?' I asked.

"Yes, that's right. Usually around five."

Five of them. Damn, Sammy was good at communicating in code. I glanced out the window, trying to see where we were, then gave up on that.

"Sayid my man, I'm going to need you to floor it—"

Sayid didn't hesitate. I rocked back in my seat as he accelerated, speeding effortlessly through the heavy and suddenly cacophonous traffic. I tried to focus my attention on the phone.

"Sammy, is there Wednesday Addams looking chick there? Kinda sexy in an I'm-going-to-kill-you-if-your-name-is-Bob kind of way?"

"Wait, you know these morons?" she whispered and then spoke louder as if talking to the store. "I'm short of staff right now, so I'll be closing the store soon."