Sally's Wolf (Motor City Vampires Book 3) (12 page)

“Not dating, but I met a guy, a Vampire. He’s new in town and we're friends. His name is Dakarai. He is the most handsome man I have ever met. He’s so exotic and ancient; he shared some of his memories with me. I didn't know you old Vamps could do that.”

Sally's face turned from friendly and easygoing to one of fear. She knew Mary could tell because she stopped taking and looked at Sally with concern.

“Sally, what’s wrong?”

Sally grabbed Mary by the arm, intent on making her friend take her words very seriously. “Dakarai is not to be trusted. He's...” She swallowed hard and continued. “He's my maker!”

D
akarai strolled for his night’s meal when his phone rang. “Yes?” he answered sternly.

“This is Maurice. How did things go in the hotel room with Mary?”

“Everything went as planned. You should call her; I planted the seed. Now tell me, where is my Salihah?”

“Not so fast, friend. You get her location when Mary is mine.”

“And if she still doesn't want you?”

“Then you will never find Salihah.”

The phone went silent. Dakarai was getting very tired of the game Maurice was playing; he wanted nothing more than to kill Maurice and free Mary of him for good. He wanted to find Salihah, but wondered if sacrificing Mary was truly worth it.

As he walked along Eight Mile road, the music from the local strip clubs spilled out into the street. He walked into one and knew he could definitely hunt there. It was true he could get a donor or even the bottled blood that had recently hit the open market, but there was nothing like a real hunt in his opinion. He strolled into the club and the bouncer hardly noticed him thanks to the Vampire powers any Vampire over a thousand possessed. He took a seat toward the back of the club and watched the women dance. They gyrated on the pole, doing moves that defied gravity, while stripping. He watched until he decided which one he wanted. She was tall with her hair in a short straight bob. She was dark skinned, very similar in coloring to Salihah. When she finished her dance, she started trolling the floor. He waved to her. She approached, slowly swaying her hips as she walked.

“Hello handsome. Interested in a private dance?” she purred.

Dakarai smiled at her. “I could be convinced; is there a private room?”

The stripper indicated a curtained off area toward one end of the club. He nodded and followed her. It was a small cubicle—just enough room for a love seat couch. Dakarai plopped down, pulled out several one hundred dollar bills, and placed them on the table next to the couch. The stripper smiled, and then she started her dance. She moved to the thumping music, her breast inches from his face. Dakarai pulled out more money for her; she tried to grab it but he pulled it back.

“This is for an extra service I require.”

“I’m not a whore,” she said angrily.

“No, my dear. I am a vampire. I want to feed from you.”

The stripper stopped dancing and sat next to him. She leaned in with a look of shock on her face. “For real?” she asked, sounding curious.

Dakarai nodded and opened his mouth, showing her his sharp fangs. He was surprised; she showed no fear, only curiosity. She reached out her hand, almost touching his fangs before she pulled her hand back.

“What is your name?” Dakarai asked the stripper.

“Lacey; you know that.”

“No; your real name.”

She swallowed and looked at him thoughtfully. “It's Samantha. I'm not sure why I'm telling you this.”

“Samantha, would you do me the honor of letting me feed from you?”

She looked a little nervous for the first time, and nodded. Dakarai leaned into her, whispering in her ear. “This will hurt only for a moment, and then it will feel good.” He kissed her neck to relax her; then quickly sank his fangs into her.

S
amantha let out a small squeal at the shock of the pain, but it only lasted a moment, then the pleasure hit. It was better than any illegal substance she had ever taken, and in her line of work she had tried many. She moaned as he drank from her. She whimpered in protest when he stopped. She wanted more. He licked the wound, sealing it.

“Samantha, I would like to feed from you again. Could I call you?” She nodded and he handed her a card with his number and took down hers as well. Dakarai gave Samantha a small kiss on the cheek and left.

M
ary sat in her apartment along with Sally. After the news and the long story about Dakarai and how Sally became a Vampire, she decided she needed the rest of the night off; not that she had a choice. Sally had a hushed talk with Enri, her boss and maker, and that was the end of that. She couldn't believe how stupid she’d been to trust Dakarai like she had. He was a horrible man just like Maurice. How could she have been fooled twice?

Crying, she hugged Sally, her face stained with her red tinted tears.

Sally stroked Mary's hair and tried to soothe her good friend. “It's not your fault, you understand. He is the oldest Vampire I have ever met and I know he has had lots of practice deceiving people.” 

Mary sniffled and sat up, wiping her tears. “That doesn't make me feel that much better, but thanks for being here. Enri will never let me hear the end of this. He already thinks I'm too naive to be working the floor.”

“Don't worry about him; I'll talk to him so he will never mention it. I have lots of dirt on him.”

Mary laughed through her tears and tried to smile. She looked down and saw her green eyed, all gray cat, Shadow. He rubbed up against her and she started to stroke his fur. For some reason that small gesture made her start to feel better. Sally smiled, looking at the cat.

“We had lots of cats where I grew up. They have a way of soothing your soul.”

Mary smiled as she picked up Shadow and gave him a kiss on the head. “I guess you are destined to be the only man in my life.” She laughed, cuddling her cat.

“Don't be discouraged, Mary. It will get better. You just need to get out in the Vampire community. Enri kept you hidden so long most people don't even know you exist.”

“I'm not much of a bar person. What do you suggest? How can I meet other immortals?”

“I hear there is a wine tasting tomorrow, different bloods with local wines,” Sally suggested.

“That actually sounds like fun. Will you go with me?” she asked Sally.

“I don't know; I'm not well liked in the community,” Sally explained.

“Don't be silly; they just don't know you that well yet. We'll go together and make friends together.” Sally was beginning to regret her suggestion when Mary’s cell phone began ringing. The number was from
Bloodlust
.

“It's work. I'll be right back.” Mary took the phone and answered it as she walked into her bedroom.

“Mary, it's been too long, my love,” a familiar voice answered.

“Maurice?”

“I have missed you. I'm back in town and would like to meet with you.”

“You know I can’t agree to that. You’re a fugitive, wanted by the council.”

“Please, Mary, just meet with me and hear me out, then if you want me to I will leave and never bother you again.”

“I... I need to think about it. Can I call you back?”

“No, but I will call you back soon. Mary?”

“Yes.”

“I never stopped loving you.”

Mary hung up the phone and was speechless. She thought she was once and for all finished with Maurice, but there he was asking to meet. She shakily walked back to the living room to find Shadow licking Sally's nose. She laughed and allowed him to continue. Mary cleared her throat and Sally looked up as Shadow jumped down. Immediately, she knew something was wrong.

“What happened?” Sally asked.

Mary sat down and did her best to begin talking despite her trembling voice. “Just Enri; he wanted to know when I would be okay to come back to work.”

“Are you sure? You look like you just saw a ghost.”

“It's nothing. Hey, I hear the new ice cream place, Michi-cream, just added a special frozen blood. Wanna go give it a try?”

“Mary, how long have we been friends?” Sally asked.

“Longer than I've been a vampire; you know that.”

“My hearing is exceptional. I was just being polite. I could hear Maurice on the phone.”

“Fuck! Damn Vampire hearing!”

“Don't you think we should call the VC?”

“I can't. As much as I despise him, in a small way I still love him.” Mary couldn't stop crying, her blood-tinted tears running down her cheek.

Sally grabbed her friend in a hug, trying her best to comfort her. She stroked her hair and told her everything would be alright.

M
aurice hung up the phone and smiled. He knew Mary would agree to meet; she just needed time to realize how much she really loved him. He’d used a disposable phone with some special modifications to make it look like it came from
Bloodlust
. He looked over at Haley. She slept soundly, finally over the worst part of the turning. He was going to wait, but just couldn't stand the possibility that she might turn him down. She would wake in a few more hours, ready to feed.

“Jacquelyn!” he yelled. She appeared in the doorway, smiling, her brown curly hair in a messy up-do. She wore a yellow flower sundress that fell just below her knees and no shoes.

“We need to prepare for her first feeding; get a blood whore and plenty of bottled blood.”

“Yes, Maurice. Should I get her some new clothes, too?”

“Yes, get a nice selection. Don't spare any expense.”

Jacquelyn nodded and left the room.

Maurice stroked Haley's cheek. She stirred slightly but slept soundly. After turning Jacquelyn, he had perfected a procedure to knock out a human during turning, making it painless and less traumatic. Jacquelyn's turning was quite difficult. Due to her extensive drug use, her body had built a tolerance to many of the standard drugs that were easily accessible. He found a mixture that worked well enough that she was in and out of consciousness. It was the best he could do at the time, but since then had perfected the formula. It wasn't too long ago that he hated what he was, but now that he’d made peace with what he was he wanted to create children so that he and Mary could be a real family.