City Of Blood

Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Lights twinkle from each side of the path leading up to the Mayor's mansion. Everywhere I look, there are vampires making their way towards it, all dressed in their best. Luckily, the dress I've picked out seems to blend in with the rest of women. I'm glad I used the amount of money Bram and the others dropped into my account as the benchmark for how much I should be spending on a dress. At least I won't stand out.

The silk slides against my skin, reminding me I can't walk too fast for fear of ripping it. I hope I won't have to do any kind of running in it. If someone wants to arrest me, then I won't stand a chance of getting away.

Music drifts from the open doors, transporting me into another world. It's like something out of another time. I pause for a moment and open my clutch to check I have everything. There isn't much I can do if I haven't, it'll take me too long to get home and back. My city-safe phone nestles next to the odd fan Bram gave me. I still have no idea what I'm supposed to do with it, but it's better to have it with me. I pull out my invitation, unsure if I need it. I doubt anyone uninvited would try and turn up here, it's too dangerous.

With as much confidence as I can muster, I stride towards the entrance, determined to not draw attention to myself. I pass through the entrance without any problems. There isn't anyone even bothering to check invitations. I fumble with my clutch and shove the piece of card back in. Carrying it around when no one is looking for it will be a quick way to signal I'm up to no good.

I follow the other vampires through the corridor while hoping they're leading me in the right direction. The music is getting louder, which gives me hope.

Another set of double doors opens in front of us. My heels click on the floor, not making as much noise as some of the others as I opted to wear flat ones. My dress may not make it easy to run, but that doesn't mean my shoes should make it even more dangerous.

Voices chatter away over the music, rather ruining the beauty of the melody, but it does reassure me that I'm heading in the right direction after all.

I step into the room and stop in my tracks, trying to process what I'm seeing. It isn't until someone walks into me that I stumble forward and out of the way.

"Sorry," I mutter under my breath and hurry to the side. I've already spotted a refreshment table to the left, and plan to get myself a glass of something so I can look busy for at least a moment.

I make my way over while keeping an eye on the front centre of the room where a huge throne dominates. It's too much for me, but my opinion isn't going to change what the dark-haired vampire lounging in the chair thinks about her seating.

My drinking options are limited to blood and wine, so I opt for the latter. Something tells me it's the safest option. I pour myself a small glass of white wine. Once I have it, I place myself in a better position to observe the ballroom. Later, I'll attempt to listen in on some conversations, though I'm not sure what I'll learn. Hopefully, if they can get me invited to one of these events, then they'll be able to get me a second invitation. Maybe then I'll be able to get some useful information.

The wine is ice cold, as it should be, and the tartness of it is oddly refreshing. I study the Mayor over the rim of my glass, trying to get a measure of her. She appears younger than I expect, probably because she has the advantage of a vampire's lack of ageing. I'm not sure how old she is, but she's been running this city for nearly thirty years, which must make her sixty at the youngest. Not many vampires manage to climb to positions with this much power at that age anymore, so she's likely much older. It's still a mystery to me how she managed to set up the city in the first place. It's hard to think about it not being part of the world when it's been around three years longer than I have.

A woman in an ornate dress walks in front of my view and snaps a fan open. It's like the one I have, except that it's a warm yellow. A quick scan of the room reveals at least a dozen others with fans out, in all kinds of colours. It doesn't take long for me to spot several using black ones. I'm not sure if it means anything, as not all the women have them, but I do. Should I be using it?

I take another sip of wine to squash my nerves. I need to be careful I don't overdo it.

Thankfully, no one seems to be paying much attention to me, so I set my glass down and start making a lap of the room. The party is both everything I thought it would be, and nothing like it. So far, there's been no death, which is a good thing. But it also seems rather tame.

I'm making my second uninteresting lap around the room when the Mayor rises to her feet and claps her hands.

Silence falls instantly. Whether she does good things with it or not, there's no doubt she wields a lot of power, and knows how to use it. It's eerie how quiet the room is despite there being close to a hundred people in it. The soft rustle of fabric rubbing together, and the odd creak from the direction of the musicians, are the only sounds to reach my sensitive ears.

"Good night, my fellow children of blood," she starts, her voice ringing out through the room.

Everyone stares at her as if she's the messiah of vampire-kind. Personally, I don't see it. No one who uses the term children of blood to describe us is worth taking seriously. Normally, they're too self-involved to say anything of interest.

Uh-oh. That kind of thinking is going to get me killed if I'm not careful. Whether I like it or not, this woman is more in control of my life than I am. And as I'm here under my real name again, she'll make short work of figuring out my identity. It almost seems laughable that I have the multitude of IDs I do, as there never seems to be a chance to use them.

"With the month of our anniversary upon us, I give you a gift," the Mayor announces, then claps her hands again.

Behind her, two hidden doors swing open, and a guard marches out of each of them. I focus my attention on the one on the left. I imagine they'll both be doing the same anyway, but even if they aren't, it's better that I give an accurate report on one side, than none.

The vampire tugs on something which clanks loudly. My blood turns to ice in my veins. Even if I can't see exactly what's coming, I have a good idea.

So much for thinking there isn't going to be any death tonight.

"The blood of the most beautiful humans in the city," the Mayor says, her mouth curving up into a satisfied smile as she watches. "Drink your fills and worry about nothing. They are yours."

Cheers come from some of the assembled vampires. I'm relieved it isn't all of them. It's reassuring to know not everyone in this city is unnecessarily cruel and hateful when it comes to their attitude towards humans.

The guard reaches a divot in the floor and attaches the chain to it. Five humans spread out around it, each at the end of another chain, and each wincing in pain. I don't know how the other vampires are managing to circle around them with lust in their gazes when I can hear their whimpers.

"Feast!" the Mayor shouts, then gestures for the musicians to begin playing again.

They choose a lively tune, one that doesn't fit the solemnness of the situation. Are the assembled vampires really okay with this? How can they let someone like this rule over them when she has no compassion for any kind of life?

"You have to smile," someone whispers beside me.

I jump, then turn. The only person there is a girl with a fan who is retreating quickly towards an alcove.

The fan...

I open my clutch and pull it out, clicking it open and into position so I can use it to hide my face. I'm not sure I can control my expression while this is happening. Covering it up seems like the best option.

The sweet tang of blood fills the air. My reflexes kick in as my fangs descend and hunger rumbles inside me. But the sensation quickly turns to disgust as I watch. I cover my face with the fan, noticing a few of the other girls do it too. I wave it a couple of times.

The wave of air against my skin is all I need to calm myself down. My fangs retract and the smell becomes nothing more than something I'm dimly aware of. I drank before I came, anticipating something putting me off doing it otherwise. Though I couldn't have imagined this.

"If you don't want a bite of the human, why don't you take one of me?" a man asks someone.

Poor girl.

A hand clamps around my wrist and I whimper in pain. The man pulls me around.

"Don't ignore me," he growls. "How much for the night?"

My eyes widen. What is he asking?

"I..."

"Lord Rufus, a moment, if you please." A woman swoops in and places a hand on his arm. A closed fan dangles from her wrist.

The man's fingers let up and I resist the urge to rub my wrist where it hurts. I'm going to have bruises in the morning.

"Lady Catherine," he acknowledges gruffly. "Your girl is ignoring me."

"Ah, I'm sorry about that. She's new and not taking clients tonight," she lies smoothly. At least, I hope she is, and she doesn't think I'm someone else.

He narrows his eyes at me. "She had her fan open."

Catherine nods. "Simply practice, My Lord. Tamsin will take care of you. On the house, of course." She gestures across the room for a pretty girl with bouncy blonde curls.

She heads our way instantly.

I look between all three parties, confused by what's going on, but no one seems to want to explain it to me.

"Very well," Lord Rufus grumbles, then turns his attention to the girl heading towards us, leaving me alone with my saviour.

"Thank you," I whisper, my voice cracking slightly. "I don't know what happened."

Catherine raises an eyebrow, as if not believing a word I'm saying. "What's your name?" she asks.

"Chloe."

"I'm Catherine," she says needlessly. "Why don't you come with me and we'll have a little chat."

The way she says it leaves no doubt in my mind that saying no isn't an option. I swallow down my nerves and follow her to a side room, hoping this isn't going to end badly. She saved me from the man, but that doesn't mean anything. Not here.

For all I know, she wants to get me alone so she can kill me herself.