FIFTY ALLIANCES

Chapter four - New comers welcoming

I woke up to the sound of footsteps in the large bedroom. Someone went in and out of the bathroom. I smiled with satisfaction that I had gotten laid.

Sex partners wanting to achieve the same goal, it was only a matter of time. But having the fearless devil in bed with me gave me dragonflies, not butterflies, Dane was too hot for butterflies.

I can't believe men feared who I f****d, but that doesn't mean that I am not cautious around him. It's like a whole new phase and his aura mixes to something dangerous, like he can take and kill when he wants to. No one can predict his actions and I won't be as complacent to think that I wouldn't be a victim.

I rested my head on my palm, letting my pillow rest in the space between. I didn't know if I should get up but I was tired and my legs felt too weak for movement. He popped out the bathroom door once more, holding his toothbrush and putting it in a case.

"Morning," he said to me, "Get up, we have a ceremony to attend to today." He ended his statement without even turning or glancing my way. He was serious about the s*x having no strings attached.

I wanted to stand but hesitated. I didn't know if I should stand naked in front of him or wrap myself in the duvet. I sat up straight, resting my upper body on the bed stand, the white duvet to my chest watching him sit on the edge of the bed lacing his shoe, he told me to get up once more and when my body didn't make any movement, his gaze fell on me.

"Come on, I've f****d you far too many times for you to be shy. There's nothing to hide." Dane said and averted his gaze. No morning kiss, no how was your night, no chin touching, no warm greetings, no nothing! I watched him leave the room. I wanted to smack him but didn't, couldn't actually. Letting out a sigh, my body collapsed on the bed. Yeah, the start of a tiring day two has begun all because some mayor felt the need to welcome new members. I didn't see his need to attend. What are we going to do there? Act normal? Call a blood feast fest? My mind is too hazy to think. I think I am coming up with a headache.

My legs dropped to the floor as I stepped out of the car, walking towards the building where the welcoming party is. Dane was far from me, I think he didn't want us to be seen together to avoid the unnecessary. I made a few pauses at the entrance, greeting all who approached me while taking a glass of champagne from the waiter at the door.

One of them directed me to the back entrance. I gulped down the champagne forefully and gave the emptied glass back to the waiter by placing it on the ash-coloured steel tray and stepped out.

Lots of people were gathered here. This town sure has a lot of immigrants. Outside looked like a field, tables and chairs arranged in a set with plastic cups on some and mountains of snacks while others were empty. There was a white garden house at the far end to the side, designed with flowers and filled with people, mostly men or all men in suits, each holding a glass of cocktail. I looked around, everywhere just seemed.......green, filled with people and had a casual setting. It made the necessity of my leather pants and brown top with matching leather jacket pointless. Plus, the weather was hot. Too hot, I needed to take my jacket off.

The green grass and leaves on the trees reflected on the river illuminating a faint greenish-brown colour like a swamp.

I looked around the party searching for Dane. I know no one here and this "welcome party" did look pretty boring. I helped myself to a plastic cup filled with liquor when a man approached the same snack table as me and stared.

"Hey!" He said helping himself to the mozzarella bites on the table, serving some in a plastic cracker. I flashed a fake smile returning his greeting, "Hey." To be honest, I don't want to see or talk to anybody right now.

"How are you, are you new in town?" He asked not seeming to understand my earlier gaze. "I haven't seen your face around, would hate to miss such a beauty."He flirted. I smiled in return, faking a giggle.

"Yeah, well.... I won't say I'm entirely new, I just haven't been to any of the gatherings."

"You don't like it much?" He asked helping himself to more mozzarella bites as he made me his sole focus.

I didn't answer, staring at the unique greyness of his eyes, helping myself to some snacks. It was chicken meatballs and vegan arancinis. Eating with the pick that came with it.

I swallowed hard after chewing, still chewing, before accepting to reply him trying to cover my mouth with the upper flesh of my mouth so he doesn't see the mashed food in it as my hands were occupied.

"Well, yeah.... No, but yes! Have you even..." I paused looking for a right word and continued, "Like look at this place, it is boring with a touch of liquor, who the f**k goes for these kinda gatherings? Old people?" I swallowed, stuffing my mouth with more before washing it down with a cup of juice. These were good. He chuckled and I did too, maybe he's not that bad.

I found myself blurting out reasons why I never attend these, using this gathering as a reference. Gesturing a lot while eating and he was laughing to all of it. I didn't know I was funny or could make someone laugh this much until now.

I don't know what it was, but I did feel tipsy. Maybe the champagne wasn't champagne after all, maybe it had a high percentage of alcohol or was alcohol. If so, this is a major problem because I'm a light weight drinker.

This is bad, but thankfully, not that bad due to the juice I just had and this gentleman. I led another cup to my mouth only to know I had finished the juice. I wanted to drop it looking dissatisfied when he handed another to me with a smile, "Here." He said.

Aww, mister cutie got a cute dimple and I just noticed it now.

"Thank you." I winked, stretching my hand to take it, bending as low as Mister hot to get a good stare into his eyes. I brought the cup to my mouth when I felt a twinge. I froze, my smile slowly drifting to a puzzled expression.

"What? Is anything wrong?" Mister hot.....no....the stranger asked me. I couldn't believe this.

"I uh, I just gotta...." I slurred my words dropping the cup steadily. He held my hand and I freed it moving ahead, anywhere but where he is.

Don't let him get close to you. A voice played in my head when I approached a man in suit, walking away from "the stranger". I stop confused, regaining my composure and changed my direction.

Be careful, move away.

Don't stare.

Don't take his drink.

Feminine voices whispered in my head making me turn and turn, avoiding people, hiding my face, averting my gaze, and slipping away until my mind and body was in chaos. I almost dropped to the floor with my vision blurring and whirling, the yellow lights and chandeliers and people everywhere causing an ache in my eyes. I wanted everything and everyone to vanish. I almost blacked out when I spotted Dane. He was having a chat with some of the men in suit. It seemed friendly and less chaotic. I walked up to him with the last ounce of energy I had in me. What was..... What is going on?

"Dane." I muttered, holding his lower arm. He looked confused, his drink untouched. Good Dane, he might have noticed. "Gentlemen, ..ease excuse us." I said to them trying to sound as couth as I could in my current state of mind.

"Let's go." I said to Dane.

"What?" He reply me puzzled.

"Dane let's get out of here! I can't, I can't...!" I whispered, panicking. I didn't have much time before collapsing. Not just the drinks, but this place is spiked with something I can't seem to wrap my head around. A venom of some sort in the air.

He resisted a bit longer but I dragged him forcefully out of that place and to the door, he must have known something was up because he didn't resist much.

"Dane let's get out of here!" I couldn't hold on much longer. I felt my grip on his suit come loose on getting to the entrance, just a step and I'll be out the door.

Da...nee....Danee.... I can't...

Air finally gushed painfully into my nostrils as we left the welcome "cage of demons". I felt a bit better but couldn't put a word to my sight. All I saw before closing my eyes shut was a car, a black car glinting with rays of light from the sun and me in the arms of a man. Staring up to see his face, the light blurred my vision as I felt my eyes go shut. Vision blank. I fainted.