Except the blonde didn't have a spot of blood or gore on her. Wait. Neither did the vamp. Shit. Either these two hadn't torn apart the frat boy, or this vampire was a lot more dangerous than he'd expected. Vampires always played in their food. The murder scene had been carnage.
This vampire wasn't new. She was just pissed, and that was going to make this a whole lot harder.
Chapter Two
DAHLIA
Heads turned as Dahlia walked across the club, making her way right to the center of the room. Men turned to gawk and women glared. Like a dream - or a nightmare - the masses were captivated and she loved it. However, none of them realized that her beauty wasn't her biggest threat.
None, except the petite Asian girl smiling at her from a table near the dance floor. She was almost as deadly, and just as beautiful. Time in the Abyss tended to have that effect. It also made them appreciate their moments in this world a little more.
Dahlia headed right to Mei. The girl's lips parted slightly in anticipation, her prominent eye-teeth barely visible, and Dahlia met her without a word. Leaning over, she kissed her lover passionately.
Mei Yun's delicate fingers reached up to brush the line of Dahlia's jaw, the touch a tender caress. Both of them could almost feel the crowd's eyes crawling over their bodies, and they loved it, but the greeting was only partly for show. The rest was simply Dahlia's way of proving how she felt. This woman was the center of her existence.
"That was an entrance," Mei whispered against her mouth.
Dahlia pressed a hand onto the arm of Mei's chair, trapping her where she sat. "Mm, I know how much you enjoy it when I show off. Besides, I thought we could start the night off right. I'm starving, and unlike you, I didn't get a snack before we came in." She ended with a quick kiss.
Mei smiled against her lips. "Tease."
Dahlia pulled away, then stole Mei's drink. "Yep. I'm thinking a young college student able to go all night."
"Mm." Mei ran a finger over the swell of her lower lip. "I want some tragically sad, overly dramatic type."
"To end his suffering with the bliss of your attention?" Dahlia teased.
From the look on Mei's face, that was exactly her plan. "Think of it as doing my civic duty. Trust me, most of them aren't so sad once I get them naked." She stood. "And after that idiot who wanted to rape me? I seriously need a reminder that not all men are assholes. We doing separates tonight?"
"I think so," Dalia decided. "It'll keep us from standing out too much."
Mei just nodded. "That works, since I keep thinking I feel something. Makes me a little paranoid."
"No one knows we exist," Dahlia assured her.
Mei stole another kiss. "Give me five minutes to make sure my mark is cool with it, then meet me on the dance floor so we can make plans."
"That's where I was going to shop for my own date, so sure," Dahlia agreed. "And so you know, the smoking section?" She shook her head. "Slim pickings."
"Second floor," Mei decided. "That's where all the most tragic and lonely ones seem to be hanging out."
With that, Mei left. Dahlia finished her friend's drink, ignoring the bland taste of it. The cherry at the bottom might be entertaining to play with, or at least a good prop to attract the type of attention she was looking for. Grabbing the stem, she brought it to her deep red lips and sucked the orb into her mouth.
The art of seduction was something she'd mastered long ago. Every nuance was accounted for, including how she swept her wavy gold hair back to see the young men writhing to the wailing music. This was some goth- or punk-type club Mei had heard about. It was supposed to be one of the hot spots for tragic youth in Dallas, but it basically looked like every other night club in America. Men in tight black pants, women dressed in not much more than skin, and people all wanting to rebel against the rules of society.
Her eyes scanned them all, seeking something of interest. She could almost smell them. Almost. The salt on their skin, the musk of their sweat, they strained to reach her senses, but they were dull. If she could just taste them, she could remember. The vitality was so close, but she knew what she was looking for. She needed someone strong enough to survive her desperate need.
So many of these people wouldn't. High, drunk, or miserable, they were more Mei's type than hers. What Dahlia wanted was life. She wanted the spark that ignited flames and burned so brightly that everyone noticed. Man or woman, it didn't matter. She just wanted someone to make her feel again, and that wasn't going to be easy.
A voluptuous redhead in a blue dress caught her eye. While watching the woman dance, Dahlia sucked at the cherry, letting her lips and tongue play with it. Oh yeah, that one would do nicely. She had the kind of body modern society called curvy, but that Dahlia had always longed for. The woman's breasts swelled out of her neckline, her hips begged for hands to grab them, and her lush thighs would be as soft as velvet. In other words, the perfect target.
Now Dahlia just had to catch her prize. Leaving the empty drink behind, the beautiful blonde made her way to the dance floor. Her partner should be there soon enough. Once she and Mei knew where they'd end up, they could plan where to meet after. Finding a conquest for the night wouldn't be hard for either of them. They could have their pick of anyone in the club. It seemed there was something about danger that drew the living in like moths to a flame.
Just as she stepped off the carpet, Dahlia caught sight of a dream - and it wasn't her redhead. Leaning against the far wall, the man was everything she'd thought was impossible to find. Deep red highlights glistened in his dark hair, making it look like it was about to be ignited. His black t-shirt hugged his body as tightly as her dress fit hers. It showed every single muscle in his massive chest. Unlike most of the lean men in the club, this one was built like a warrior. Across the crowded room, their eyes met. Those nearly black eyes of his were begging for her to notice him.
Dahlia noticed.
For the first time in decades, she became the moth instead of the flame. She could almost feel his presence begging for her attention, but she had to wait. Mei needed to know. The rule was that they never went off without telling each other, no matter how tempting the prize was - and that man was very tempting. Somehow, Dahlia managed to pull her eyes away.