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Since Savy had taken the day off work, we forgot about witches, unpacked some of my things and rearranged the apartment. For a while, it felt like old times when I lived in the dorms with Savy, when my biggest worry was passing my courses. After we painted each other’s nails a bright red, Savy said goodbye, leaving me with time to worry about Sander's invitation and his temptation, the seductive letter I’d tucked away in my chair.
First, I closed my eyes tight and touched the red dress again to see if anything would happen. Nothing, no vision. I laid it neatly across the table, smoothing it out, taking the time to examine it. Shaking my head in disbelief, I was astonished. It was exactly like the one Sander sent me before. The one I’d thrown out. Imagining the old vampire had a closet full of the same dress, I gave up on a reasonable explanation.
The letter, I decided I wouldn't touch it again. Slipping on a pair of Bobby's gardening gloves, I opened it carefully before laying it on the table before me.
Dearest Lily, I apologize for Adela's behavior. You must come to my side. Then I can be your assistance. —Sander
Jumping in my seat when I heard a knock at the door, I must have been very distracted. I tucked the letter away in the cushions of my recliner again hastily. Quixon was just like clockwork. He’d been over every day this week after work. I’d told him not to give up on our, whatever it was —flirtation. However, that was before Bobby left me one wish, a hope of something I’d given up on for so long. I owed it to Crow to do all I could for him, for us, I couldn't think about other men. Problem was Quixon hadn't given up, and I'd not had the heart to let him know it was useless. A relationship between us could never happen. This time he brought flowers, lilies. Cursing myself for telling him my birth name, I still couldn't help but grin. His heart raced as it usually did when he knew he’d made me happy. Having changed out of his uniform, Quixon still smelled as if he’d been on his horse today and fired his gun, all things I would file away to pry out of him later.
I smiled into the sweet smelling bouquet that must have cost him a small fortune. I’d feel awful bad about him spending so much for nothing if I didn’t know about his illegal side job. "What's the occasion?"
Kissing me on the cheek, he announced, "I wish there wasn’t anything other than wanting to spend time with my beautiful lady."
Ignoring the 'my', I felt my smile fade as suspicion took over. Turning my back on him, I put the flowers in one of Bobby’s beautiful glasses.
I turned on the water as he went on, "I am asking you on a date, sort of, but..."
"But what's the 'but'?" Turning around, I set the vase aside and crossed my arms just as he put his around me. Looking right into his bright green eyes, I exhaled, "Just spit it out."
"We have a job." He winced, thinking I would be upset.
"Wonderful!"
"You mean that?"
"Yes!” I burst out, wrapping my arms around him, finally hugging him back. My chin resting on his shoulder, I admitted, “I still don't like it, but I'm bored shitless.” Besides, I needed the money and more importantly an excuse to stand up Sander. I really didn't want to be around at first dark and have Adela beat down my door. Or worse, Sander coming to escort me to some weird wake himself. The kind of assistance he wanted to give me was not in my plans.
After a moment of losing myself to the coolness of Quixon’s leather jacket, I felt his breath on my neck so I started to pull away.
Quixon’s grip tightened on my waist as he spotted the dress on the table. "That will be perfect."
"So where are we going?"
"To a party. Do you remember I told you about the death of the head of the old vampires?"
"Oh no, you can forget it. I can't go to Sigmund's wake!" I squirmed out of Quixon’s arms to pace. Shit, in my surprise I’d said the vampires name before he did. He didn’t act like he’d caught it so I added, “That was his name, right?”
The big bleeder wasn’t stupid even if he was a ton of muscles. If he’d put two and two together, that I'd killed Sigmund, he’d never mentioned it. Then again, we never talked about the fact I’d killed Jack, which he knew all about. So, I’d killed Jack and a few other vampires by simply biting them. So what! I didn’t mean to, but murdering vampires was obviously one of my abilities. At least telling myself it was as simple as that kept me sane this week. Also, it wasn’t so simple, it needed to be a powerful bite, one to break the skin enough to draw a mouthful of blood, not that I drank the vile stuff. Obviously, a man wouldn't die from kissing me or running his tongue across my fangs or Quixon would be as dead as a doornail.
Vampires weren’t as easy to kill as they were in the old movies. They were hard to catch, insanely strong, deceptively secretive —and that was just a start. Even if you were fast enough and strong enough to stake them, death took her sweet time. That's why I was working for Zeus, some mysterious man or woman, a vampire or other creature... whatever. Zeus knew my secret. I didn’t think the vampires in Sanguis City would take too kindly to knowing I killed four vampires pretty easily, even if three had been on accident. I figured Zeus thought I was his weapon now if he ever decided to pull the trigger. These stakeouts with Quixon were a test I didn’t plan on failing. Gaining Zeus’ trust was my first step in eliminating this puppet master. I would be no one’s secret weapon.
"We really don't have a choice, Noir. It's an order," Quixon explained as he searched the refrigerator.
"I do have a choice," I countered before I eyed my feet. "But I'm choosing not to let this Zeus character expose me, yet." If ever, I added in my head.
He sighed loudly as he gave up finding a snack, his posture changing as he went into his officer mode to give me orders. "You'll have to get close to Sigmund's brother Sander. That won't be easy. He likes his women like he likes his blood, in private. He orders takeout from a service for occasions like these.” He laughed, “Old loser can’t find a date. Bleeders, of course, he needs to keep up appearances, so you'll fit the bill."
I fought to keep my face still and my heart rate from rising as Quixon came in close again. I looked him straight in his gorgeous face.
“Noir, did you get all that?”
"You're joking." Quixon knew nothing about Sander and I, and I’d planned to keep it that way. “I'm not killing anyone."
"Kill Sander? That's impossible, even for you. Just need you to get into his room, plant a few bugs.”
Quixon moved a strand of hair behind my ear, his hand grazing the lobe before he stuck something inside.
“What the fuck?” Clawing at my ear, I realized whatever it was, was deep inside.
"Don't worry, no one will see it.”
I cupped my ear, shaking my head from side to side like I was going berserk. "I never agreed to let Zeus bug me! Get it out!"
"It's not him. It's me. I'm on the other end."
"You've bugged me?" Holy shit! I slapped his chest as hard as I could. "You’ll be able to hear everything I do? You stuck that thing in my ear... without asking me?"
"Ouch!” He rubbed his chest. “There’s no need to get violent. Yes, I'll be able to hear everything tonight. It’s for your own good."
"I’m getting dressed!" Taking my dress and big box of gifts with me, I stomped into my bedroom before I killed him. What the hell was I going to do? Collapsing on the bed in defeat, I had to think. Maybe I could kill two birds with one stone. Maybe Sander would think I came for him and Zeus would think I was being a good soldier. Hopping up, I went to the bathroom to get dressed still thinking. But what about this damn bug? Quixon couldn’t know about Sander and me. I cursed through my teeth, "Fuck me!"
"My pleasure."
My head whipped around to check the closed door. I was alone. I’d heard Quixon in my ear. "Explain?"
"I took these from the Sforce. They work both ways. You can hear me too when you are out of ear shot,” his voice rang in my head again.
I gave my reflection my meanest look. "So you’re spying on me? You couldn't ask or wait until I got dressed. Are you going to listen to me pee?"
"No,” he shouted, and I grabbed my ears.
“Can you keep it down,” I shouted back on purpose.
Quixon whispered, “I see what you mean.”
Turning on the water, I tried to ignore Quixon's loud breathing as I dressed. "What are you doing out there, running a marathon?"
"These bugs aren't perfect, yet. They’re still in testing. We don’t use them. There aren't even very many of them. Saline would kill me if she knew I took them. Don’t worry, the worm will dissolve in twenty four hours."
Worm! I squirmed at the thought of an actual worm in my ear, in my head as I comprehended it was an actual worm. I’d watched the educational video on yellow biotech at the University, proposing these bug-bugs were decades away from use.
“You'll need to put one in Sander's ear tonight, an order from Zeus, and a few more bugs around his apartment."
“So you're stealing from the Sforce for Zeus, and he or she doesn't trust me, yet.”
"No, bugging you was my idea,” Quixon said cheerfully like he’d done something good.
"Gee thanks."
“It's a way to make sure you stay safe, my way. It's nonnegotiable. I'm sorry. This isn't like our other missions. These are dangerous vampires. Sander is the dangerous vampire, and I can’t be with you. You’ll thank me when you get in a bind."
"When? I'm not going to get in a bind. I'm not talking to you." I made a noise of aggravation. Finding the panties and bra Sander had sent, I stripped down. "You can't see me, can you?"
"No, but I can hear you're naked,” Quixon purred in his most sultry voice.
"You can not!"
The red lace thong was exactly my size. Even more impressive, the bra fit perfectly. I hadn’t known Sander had paid that much attention. However, he was an authentic. You never knew with them. He could be watching me right now for all I knew. Glancing over my shoulder, I thought of sweet Bijou, I missed that damn cat.
I put my hair up, drawing it into a tight but elegant bun, similar to when I first met the dashing vampire, well the first night he wasn't in his monstrous form. Knowing him, he probably sent the red dress on purpose, thinking I could only pull off the color if my red hair was well off my neck, leaving him the view he longed for, my jugular. It still boggled my mind he’d tricked me into having dinner with him so long ago, holding Crow over my head, all so I would watch his otherkind. To this day, three years later, none of it made a lick of sense.
I didn’t need Quixon knowing where the dress came from. I didn't need Quixon knowing a damn thing about my Sander situation. If Sander thought I’d accepted his invitation, he’d talk less, so I’d have to wear the jewelry, the perfume and the shoes he sent too. Dabbing the citrus scented fragrance on my neck, between my breasts and on my wrists then lower, I then slipped into the red dress. It flowed like blood and was the color of fresh, probably turned a vampire on and made him hungry simultaneously. The jewelry consisted of a simple gold necklace with a pendant that was anything but, being a black heart caged in detailed golden two-headed serpent. Two cascading ruby earrings, looking like drops of blood were next. Lastly, in a box all by itself was a ring, simple but intricately designed at the same time with black stones to match the necklace. With it being a band, I made sure to put it on my right hand.
Knowing my own limitations and my history with Sander, I searched for a vial of vampire pheromone inhibitor, or protection for short, with no luck. Before I’d thought, I couldn’t be in a room full of vampires without some cock blocker, as Savy liked to call it. Now I knew I was more like them than I wanted to admit. Regardless of whether or not I’d do something I didn’t want while being under the influence, the hormones did affect me but by enhancing my own suppressed nature. In other words, they turned my moral upbringing on its head, making me spread my legs like butter. Screw it! Daubing on blood red lipstick, I puckered my lips and blew my reflection and my precious moral compass a kiss goodbye.
When I emerged from the bedroom, Quixon was sitting in my favorite chair. He looked me up and down. “Perfect.”
It was at that moment I finally noticed, his clothes. In jeans and a button up, he wasn’t dressed for a formal party at all. “I guess you're not going in.”
“I'm only driving you, but I’ll be listening.” He patted the side of his head with one finger.
Shit! "Where is this wake, anyway?" I didn't actually need to ask Quixon where it was being held, I did get an invitation after all. We were headed to Remus Tower, which must have been one of Sigmund's properties. Quixon explained as much as he led me out the door. Frowning, I realized it also happened to be where I wore this dress before.
Outside, I was surprised to see an elegant long black car. I wouldn’t have been able to get on the back of Quixon's motorcycle in the dress anyhow. He opened my door mocking a sophisticated air as I gave him a questioning look. Once he entered the other side, he fingered the badge around his neck. “I'm working for the Lady M’s Takeout Service tonight.” Which explained the rare mode of transportation, a gas-guzzling car. “I’ll be waiting in the parking garage.” Clipping a badge to my dress, he said, “This is temporary as well, and your bioscan is in their system for the night, so you can enter through the service entrance.”
“Zeus has my scan?”
“No, but we have them down at the force and a deal with Lady M.”
“So, you registered my scan to the escort service before I even said yes?” I’d been trying to not get mad at him, if only to keep my head on straight, but this took the cake.
Quixon exhaled noisily. “What choice do we have?”
I could scream. I had no clue who I was working for and had no say in what I was doing. And to beat all, Quixon was taking the liberty of stealing my information. What if I didn’t already know Sander? I could wind up dead, or worse, back in Central, preparing to be vampire refreshment. “Are you even sure the vampire always orders from this service, doesn’t he know the girls, won’t he be suspicious?”
“No, we sabotaged his last order with his regular service, and he dropped them, just like Zeus planned.” Quixon beamed, and I grimaced. Why was he cheering on our mysterious boss if he wasn’t in on it? He continued, “Now we have a way in. Sander doesn’t hand pick them, but he actually asked for a red head this time, and Zeus thought of you.”
“Lucky me. Why not send you?”
“Very funny.” Quixon became serious, taking my hand. “I have a plan to get you out of there, after you get into his room.”
“Okay.” I shrugged my shoulders. Quixon thinks I am pretending to be an escort, but Sander will think I came on my own accord. I took a deep breath, knowing I couldn’t keep up this act for long. “Let’s go.”
Quixon started the car, but we stayed still. “I thought you’d be a little more... upset. And a little more thankful I can get you away before a vampire wants dinner and dessert...”
“Oh, I’m plenty mad.” Pulling my arms around myself, I realized he was thinking of me having to have sex with the vampire. Of course, under normal circumstances, I would be outraged about that, if it was the case. Dumb, I was really in over my head. I’d have to play stupid, something becoming a habit around the bleeder. Straightening my dress around my lap, I asked innocently, “So, what are these escorts required to do?”
“You don’t know?” His voice trailed off.
Shaking my head, lying, I began, “How would I? We didn’t have a vampire escort service back on the reservation. Any escort service for that matter.” I glanced at my newly polished nails, thinking Savy’s timing had been excellent.
Quixon put his hands over mine with a solemn look. “I deliver you and you do whatever he wants for the whole night. If he wants a date, a feeding or a fuck, takeout obeys.”
Acting shocked, I sputtered, “What if I back out? What if we don’t go?” It was worth a shot, even if I hated to act, to lie to him.
“Noir, if there were a way.” He put the car in gear and left before I could change my mind.
