Authors: Dawn Michelle
Chapter 7
Beth slid into the seat at the bar with a soft groan. After all the shopping and trying on different things, her muscles ached and she was thirsty. Penny had assured her that the clothes would be delivered by the time she got to her room, sparing her that misery at least. The bartender, a tall blond woman with several thousand dollars invested in her chest, sent a smile her way and started to walk towards her.
"We're good, Candy," Penny said as she slid into the seat next to her.
"Oh, okay," Candy said. "Friend of yours, Penny?"
"Yes," Penny said. "A very close friend."
Candy's eyebrow rose and she smiled. "Good for you!"
Beth turned to look at the smiling vampire woman. "Very close?" she asked.
Penny winked. "Let her think what she wants."
"I'm not gay," Beth said.
"Pet, that doesn't apply to us. Not anymore."
Beth tilted her head and glanced away. She wasn't sure what Penny meant by that, or if she wanted to find out. She looked up at the flat screen television mounted above the mirrors behind the liquor bottles. She read the caption stating that an unknown shipwreck had been discovered off the east coast.
"We can still have sex," Penny said after several seconds passed.
"Gross! I don't want to have sex with you."
"I meant people like us. Well, women like us."
Beth turned her focus away from the coverage of the salvage company working to recover the mystery ship. "Women?"
Penny looked in the mirror, her eyes glancing about to insure there was no one within earshot. "There are no men."
"What? Why?"
"A long time ago we came together and decided the blood couldn't be trusted to men," Penny said. "They spread it without fear of consequence and nearly undid us all. People knew of us and they were banding together to seek us out and destroy us."
"Okay, so what about all the male vampires out there?"
Penny winced. "Don't use that word."
"What? Vam— why?"
"It is an uncommon word and people can overhear it more easily. It brings attention and awareness, two things we do not want."
"I saw what you did to those assholes that attacked me," Beth hissed. "What are you afraid of?"
"The sun," Penny stated. "At night we are strong but not invulnerable. We can be worn down and incapacitated. There is a reason that stories speak of destroying us by a spike or a bullet that lodges in our heart. That or cutting off our heads. Either will disable us until the sun, a fire, or something else destroys our bodies."
Beth blinked and shook her head. "Holy shit. I can't believe I'm having this conversation."
"It's real, Elizabeth. And you will soon be bound by this reality."
"This is too much. And you calling me Elizabeth makes me feel like I'm in trouble."
Penny smiled. "I'm sorry, I want you to understand the importance of what I'm saying."
"Oh, I get that," Beth agreed. "So, um, what happened to all the males?"
"We killed them."
Beth stared at her, expecting a smile or a wink to show she was kidding. Penny's face remained emotionless. "Holy shit! All of them?"
Penny nodded. "A few may have escaped, but we haven't heard or seen anything of the ones who are missing and it's been nearly five hundred years."
Beth frowned. No male vampires. That meant she was going to live forever but she'd only have Penny and any other vampires she met as companions. If she wanted to mess around she'd have to find a guy. A living, breathing guy.
"You said we can still have sex?"
Penny nodded. "Yes, everything feels the same. You can't get pregnant or catch any diseases. Built in safe sex."
Candy signaled and walked towards them. "Hey Pen, I know you're busy but Scarlet was asking about you earlier. She looked upset."
"Scarlet?" Beth asked, turning her gaze on Penny.
"One of the dancers," Penny said. "She's been having problems with her son."
"And you help?"
Penny offered a wry smile. "I do what I can."
"I've seen what you can do," Beth hissed.
Penny shrugged. "Sit tight and think about what I've told you. I'm going to see what Scarlet needs."
"Wait—" Beth said and then hesitated. "If there's no guys… I'm confused."
"You flirted with me, Pet," Penny said. "You told me about loving your friend and wanting more, and experimenting to learn more. You told me how you admired pretty girls and couldn't stop being attracted to them."
Beth gulped. She started to shake her head and stopped. There was a sense of familiarity to Penny's words. It felt right, like she'd done or said those things. "That sounds like me, but I don't understand. I mean, I'm not gay."
Penny smiled. "We can talk later. You don't have to be gay. Now or ever. I didn't give this to you so we could be lovers. I did it because I enjoy you. I'm smitten with you, Pet, but soon you will learn that lust and passion for the flesh are not what drive us. It was your experiences and your closeness with another woman that influenced you, I think. And your desire to have the body you wanted, rather than the one you have."
Beth swallowed as Penny's words sank in and resonated with her. Everything the woman said sounded so true. So perfect. Like it was everything she'd known all along, even if she couldn't quite remember it. She offered Penny a smile, releasing the woman to go and check on the dancer with the problem. Beth turned back to the bar and stared up at the television. The news report had moved on to something else, an update on the affairs of diseases in Africa that the world was struggling to contain.
She sighed. Everything was falling apart. The world was filled with chaos. Not just her own life, but everyone's. Disease, terrorism, corruption, drugs, taxes, and a few dozen other problems she couldn't imagine. And she was going to be able to watch it all happen while she existed outside of it. Her and Penny, her immortal companion.
Something flashed on her left, drawing her attention. Her eyes narrowed, there was nothing shiny on the two people that stood near the bar, but they looked different. Clearer maybe? No, brighter. Something about them drew her to them and made her ignore the people around the couple.
The man wore an suit that looked expensive. It was tailored to fit his body and give him a presence that made him stand out in the room. Salt and pepper hair rested atop a face that looked chiseled and ready for anything. His eyes searched the room while the woman beside him, a trophy wife-style blond in a dress that had more curves than a two snakes wrestling each other, turned and looked straight at Beth.
The blond tugged on the man's hand and nodded at Beth. His eyes locked with hers and Beth found herself staring back. She had to remind herself to breathe as he smiled and revealed gleaming teeth. They weren't as perfect and white as Penny's, but they were close.
"Hi there, are these seats taken?" the man asked her.
Beth's eyes widened. She hadn't even realized they'd walked up to stand next to her at the bar. She shook her head to clear it and said, "Yes. I mean no. One is."
"Which one?" he asked and then paused. "Pardon me, how rude! This is Tiffany and I'm Hunter. We're celebrating Tiffany's recovery from a nasty bug that she picked up. Wasn't sure she was going to make it, but she's one tough bitch."
Tiffany laughed, flashing her teeth and glancing at him with a sparkle in her eye that seemed possessive and dangerous. "I am a bitch, but I'm your bitch," she confirmed.
Beth fought back a gag as she watched them. Hunter smiled at the outrageous blond and turned back to Beth. "Care to join us? I'd love to get you a drink?"
"What? No, I'm not thirsty. Thanks," Beth fumbled. "I'm just—"
Penny swept in beside her and laid her hand on the small of her back. "Is everything okay?"
"Penny!" Hunter said. "I was hoping you'd be here. I was telling my girlfriend about you and she wanted to meet you."
"You know these two?" Beth asked.
Penny tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. "You were here a while ago. Before Christmas?"
Hunter's smile was magnetic. "I'm impressed. Tell me, how are things with your brother?"
"Fine," Penny answered in a neutral tone. "Can I show you to a table?"
"We were thinking of sitting at the bar," Tiffany said. She extended her hand to Penny, "I'm Tiffany. Hunter was right, there's something about you that takes my breath away."
"You have no idea," Beth mumbled under her breath. Both of them laughed at her private joke, causing her eyes to widen in surprise.
"My partner and I are going over some job details," Penny said. "I'll show you a table and arrange for someone to take good care of you."
"Your partner?" Hunter asked.
"Yes," Penny said without giving anything away. She stepped between Beth and Hunter and gestured towards the tables towards the back. "Shall we?"
Hunter watched Penny and nodded. Tiffany's eyes dropped and checked out Beth from her new heels all the way up her stocking clad legs, skirt, and new corseted top. She smiled, baring her teeth and then winking before she turned and followed Hunter.
Beth watched her hips sway as they wound through the growing crowd in the club. Her dress probably cost a thousand bucks and consisted of enough fabric to cost about two dollars. She had the kind of body Beth had fantasized about. Firm and sensual and perfect. Beth jerked her eyes away but not before she caught the blond tossing her hair over her shoulder and glancing back at her.
"What the fuck?" Beth whispered.
"You all right, hon?" Candy asked as she turned from grabbing a bottle of liquor off the shelf.
Beth sighed. "Actually, no. I'm tired and feeling like crap. Can you tell Penny I'm—"
Candy held up a hand. "You two just meet?"
Beth nodded. "I guess so. A little over a week now."
Candy nodded. "Whatever you're doing, keep it up. She's been acting funny. Good funny. Like she's excited about something. If you're that something, then it's good for her."
Beth turned to see Penny talking to the couple at a distant table. "Really?"
"Oh yeah. The way she's been looking at you? Phew, I'm not into girls but to have someone as cool as Penny into me that much? I'd switch teams in a blink of an eye!"
Beth blinked and licked her lips. "Um, I don't know what to say."
Candy smiled. "Just me sticking my nose in where it's not wanted. Take it or leave it. I've been here almost a year and from what I've heard, she's never been into anyone before."
Beth nodded. "Thanks. I'll, um, I'll keep that in mind."
Candy smiled and walked back to where she was making a round of drinks for a waitress.
Beth watched her and then turned, wondering if Penny was coming back. She had so many questions, but she didn't know what they were or how she felt. Just because someone else thought Penny was the shit didn't mean she had to think that. Sure, she liked her. She was nice, if a little scary. But she wasn't what Beth wanted. There was something missing. Not missing with Penny, with her. Something inside of her didn't feel right and she wasn't sure how to fix it.
Penny walked between the tables, moving so gracefully on her heels Beth knew she couldn't be human. She'd suspected it before, but now she knew. She smirked and saw Penny tilt her head and smile back at her. Beth gasped, she hadn't intended to be misunderstood, she was laughing at her own private joke. Still, Penny did look happy and excited.
"Told you," Candy hissed from behind her. "She's one hell of a catch."
Beth didn't bother turning around, she could hear the bartender moving back and forth. She ignored Candy's ironic words and watched Penny approach. Tonight she was dressed like the other waitresses, with a white blouse halter top that was only buttoned at the bottom. A short pleated skirt with a tartan pattern and tall white socks completed the outfit. In place of the shorter heeled mary janes the rest of the waitress wore, Penny's added another two inches to her height.
"Sorry about that," Penny said as she walked up. She raised an eyebrow. "What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Beth tried to look away but couldn't. "I'm sorry. You look nice like that. Cute."
"Cute?"
"Oh my god! Okay, sexy. Is that better?"
"Thank you," Penny said with a grin. She glanced back over her shoulder at Hunter and Tiffany. "Do me a favor though, stay away from them."
Beth frowned. "Why?"
"You didn't notice?"
"Notice, notice what?" Beth asked. She frowned and tried to figure out what she meant, but thinking hard made her head hurt. "They seemed different. Brighter or something, but that's all."
Penny frowned and reached out to brush her fingers against the side of Beth's face. "Are you feeling all right?"
"Not really," Beth admitted. "Everything aches and it's getting hard to think. Feels like there's a fog in my head."
Penny nodded. "Come on, let's get you upstairs to bed."