Cassian Legacy: The Vampire Prince
Chapter 13

As soon as I got home I took a longhot shower. I found my essay on the floor where I left it and put it on mydesk, knowing that I wouldn’t get the score I wanted to because Finn had turnedin an essay I didn’t write. Once I felt refreshed, I retreated to my bedroomand settled in for a long nap.

I awoke the next day feeling quiterefreshed and headed out, making sure I took my cell phone with me. I expectedI’d receive a phone call or two from my friends, detailing where and when weshould meet because we never fully decided on set plans, but I never got anymessages from them. Eventually I detoured off for a movie, by myself, and setmy phone on silence.

It had been a long time since I satin any theatre, and I thought I had picked a quieter movie than the others fromthe descriptions the girl gave me at the window, but it was anything but quiet.Several times I covered my ears with my arms because the noise was so deafeningI nearly doubled over in pain. Of course matters didn’t help much when themovie next door shook the walls with its special effects. The bass and treblewere loud enough it set my head on fire. I withstood about an hour of the noisebefore I left, making sure I got my money back because there was no way Icouldn’t stay in the theatre without getting sick.

Once I emerged back outside, nighthad fallen. I spent all day wondering around the shops after sleeping in thismorning, though I at least thought that I would’ve heard from my friends bynow. I headed back down Avenue K. The stores were filled with people buyingclothes and food, perfumes and trinkets. Several teens that I recognized fromschool made their way across the street in the direction of the Red Curtain,laughing aloud and talking excitedly.

That night club bothered me, butthat was due to the fact it was owned and operated by vampires, probably onesthat were alive and not created like I had thought from before. Even thoughtheir little endeavor was a business of sorts, making an honest living sellingalcohol and sugar to the city’s young adults, it still held its secrets in theeuphoric high they gave away by chomping on the kid’s necks. In whatever waythey peddled their operation, I didn’t plan on going near it anytime soon.

The phone in my pocket buzzed. Iwhipped it out and glanced down. I had a text message from someone. I didn’trecognize the number, but it was signed by Mallory.

We’reheaded to the club. Wanna meet?

Club? It took me a second before Ifigured out what she meant. They were headed back there, to the Red Curtain, even after I hoped they’d never go back.I crossed the street quickly, darting in front of a few cars that slammed ontheir brakes and honked their horns, I was never in any danger as I was out ofthe road before they fully halted, and hurried down the alley behind theboutique stores where the club was kept. The line outside tonight was longerthan I had seen it. People dressed in clubbing attire waited behind the goldropes that wrapped around the building. Hopefully they stood in the line, and Icould catch them before they entered the club. But once I rounded the cornerand spotted the rest of the line which formed at the door’s main entrance, Irealized they weren’t where I’d thought they’d be. There was a possibility thatthey were still on their way and I arrived ahead of schedule.

I waited a few minutes out by thecurb. People booed and hissed at me because they thought I was trying to cut.They kept waving me towards the end of the line that was around the corner anddown the street already. I pulled out my phone and checked the time stamp. Ihad only gotten the message a few minutes ago, but that didn’t mean she hadn’tsent it earlier. I now realized that it was possible I didn’t get serviceinside the theatre. Nearly cursing myself I changed my mind. They weren’t ontheir way, they were already inside, and I had missed their arrival by a longshot.

I swept over to the bouncer,ignoring the protests from the ones who stood near the door behind the gildedrope. Several people were really overdressed for a place like this, whileothers were underdressed, wearing hardly anything at all. The guy who protectedthe entrance was the same muscular guy I ran into from the last time I washere. This time he didn’t even pause in questioning my presence, but sidestepped away from the massive door at once like I belonged at thisestablishment and had a personalized VIP card. He didn’t even realize I worejeans and a shirt, not the vinyl shiny stuff the other clubbers wore.

I barreled myself through the massof people standing right inside the door and got cornered by a new guy I hadn’tseen on my first adventure in here. He barred my entrance into the rest of theclub, like he was an inside bouncer or test of some sort. I resisted the urgeto break his arm when he stuffed it in front of my face by casually leaningagainst the wall at the right moment.

He was young, but only in his earlytwenties, and his skin was awfully pale even in the dim light. He must’ve beenone of the born vampires for he had a heart beat and it pounded faintly againsthis chest, definitely faster than Finn’s but slower than the mob of human girlsthat surrounded him. His adoringly sky blue eyes met mine and he turned on hischarms.

Like honey, the words dripped fromhis mouth. “Why don’t you stay here with me tonight?”

Before I could answer, another guyaround the same age patted his shoulder and whispered in his ear. I overheardthe words spoken. “Don’t bother her - Finn’s orders.”

The blondie scowled at once and metmy eyes again with a quizzical look plastered on his face, but all hint of thepower behind those pale blue gems was erased. He clearly was unhappy now thathe’d been told off.

I smiled at him and walked away.

Now that I was inside, I searchedfor the others. Seth and the girl from Chemistry danced together on the floor.Mallory was with a guy I didn’t recognize, but one swift glance in hisdirection told me all I needed to know. He wasn’t one of the vampires.Apparently word had spread around that the others were not supposed to touch myfriends or go near them, which I was secretly grateful for. Finn may not knowmuch about me and my past, but it was clear that the four people I hung outwith were off limits and treated as guests, not food. Once I scoured the area Ifound that only Krista and Nate were missing from the throng.

I headed down the sleek stairs andgreeted the two on the floor, making sure I kept my ears tuned into the bassthat rippled underneath my feet. It was the only noise in here sane enough tokeep my head calm and focused.

Mallory’s face lit up once she sawme. “You got my message! I told Krista that you had your phone on you.”

So Krista had tried to get a holdof me first and I hadn’t received any messages or calls. “I was in thetheatre.”

Her mouth rounded in a long drawnout, “Ooooo.”

Seth pulled me closer to him. “Youcan’t get service in there,” he nearly yelled in my ear. The girl he was withfrowned at my nearness to his side. I pulled away and turned back to Mallory.

“Where’s Krista anyway?”

Mallory shrugged. “She and Nateheaded off towards the bar. I think they were looking for something to eat.”The boy she danced with closed the gap between them and rested his hands on herhips.

“I’ll replace them,” I told her andfaced the entrance once more.

I closed my eyes and combed thecrowd with my ears, searching for their voices. I found Krista’s first. She wason the backside of the bar, near the tables and chairs that I assumed was theVIP corner because of the sheer red drapes covering the entrances on eitherside. She talked to some random guy whose voice I had never heard before. Ipushed my way through the dancers and climbed the set of stairs that led to thearea where she was at.

Sure enough I found her around thecorner, leaning against the wall while twirling her hair around her fingerlazily. She looked completely normal and flirtatious, but then I noticed hereyes. They were completely glazed over staring dreamily at the man in ablissful trance. I knew at once what had happened.

I tapped the shoulder of the brownbeauty that enchanted her. “Mind if I cut in?”

He whirled around, clearly angrythat he’d been interrupted. He formed his mouth into a snarl and I was sure hewas about to produce a growl, but the second he saw me, all trace of hostilitywas wiped off his face. He was startled by my sudden appearance. His body frozefor a second or two before he ran out of the area. He definitely didn’t stickaround long enough for me to replace out why he had Krista in here.

I turned my attention back to myfriend and shook her arm, waking her from the merry slumber of herconsciousness. She blinked several times and steadied her breathing. Once hereyes settled on me and I spotted recognition in them, she beamed brighter thanshe had been before I awoke her.

“You made it! I tried calling you,but you didn’t pick up.”

I ignored her chatter and scouredthe dimly lit area for Nate. Now that she was free of the spell, I could honein on his location. I spotted him on the far wall, in a booth occupied by twoblonds. They were both kissing and nuzzling on his neck while he grinned withpleasure. I took a guess that they weren’t really kissing him like normal girlswould be doing.

“Stay here,” I commanded Krista andwent to retrieve him.

I cleared my throat at the table,hoping they had enough sense to stop like the other guy did, but the grossscene continued. I hadn’t seen Finn in here tonight, and thought from thebehavior of the other vampires that he was present. But if he was in thebuilding, he would’ve found me instantly somehow. Since he wasn’t here, I wouldhave to take care of this myself.

I grabbed the girl nearest me andpulled her off of him. Sure enough a small wound, where blood trickled down hisneck, was revealed. Her fangs retracted the moment she saw me. She was upsetand mad, especially to be caught in the act. She went after me with her nails,but I ducked and tossed her aside. The other people in the vicinity didn’tnotice, mostly because the other vampires had engaged the humans here in somesort of compulsory act, distracting them from the commotion.

Nate opened his eyes, and smiled atme. “Want to join us?” he slurred out the question.

He wasn’t looking at me though. Myeyes traveled the distance to Krista, who gaped at him with her jaw hangingopen. The look on her face said it all. She wanted to be the one who waskissing on his neck though she’d never admit to it. Seth was right - they had arelationship that neither acknowledged.

I grabbed the other girl and pulledher off of him. She actually tried attacking me outright. But with one meetingof the eyes, I turned on my charms and mouthed one word to her, “Stop.”

She halted her progress and didn’tmove.

I tore my eyes away from her.“We’re leaving, Nate.”

He didn’t look happy by thatthought, but he scooted across the booth, over to me. Though the second hetried to stand up, he nearly passed out. I caught him before he hit the floorand pulled him upright. While holding his waist so he wouldn’t fall onto thefloor, I hurried over to where Krista stood. She looked really worried abouthim.

I got her attention and directedher down the stairs because she tried helping me with Nate, but he was tooheavy for her to hold. “Go get Mallory and Seth. It’s time to go.”

The sea of vampires parted beforeme. One offered to help me tote Nate outside, and once we got there Finnarrived by Limo. He jumped out with several of his supposed friends, includingthe two I had seen at school. They hurried on ahead, while he stayed behind andstudied Nate and me. One swift look told him all he needed to know. Without anyspoken words to any of us he disappeared inside.

Mallory and the others appeared,with smiles plastered all over their faces. The guy she danced with before hungonto her jeans as they walked. Krista helped me with Nate, while the othersfollowed us as we headed off for the nearest café. Once I set down Nate in achair and ordered us some appetizers I got to work cleaning off his neck. Thewounds had already closed, but there was still some blood drying on his skin.

Krista sat on the other side ofhim. She shook her head and glanced at me. “I don’t even know why we go thereanymore.”

I did, but I wasn’t going to tellher why. It was a compulsion trap. Come for the view, stay forever.

“He was supposed to be getting thefood, not getting felt up by blond tramps,” she groaned.

Mallory stopped talking to herdate. “What happened?”

I shook my head. “Not now,” Imuttered to her. It was clear that Krista’s delusional experience had shatteredthe moment I awoke her from the compulsion spell.

“I don’t know why I even talked tothat other guy,” she continued. “It was like he wore some alluring cologne thatI couldn’t tear my nose away from.” She shook her head, shaking the memory. “I don’teven remember what we were discussing.”

I finished with Nate’s neck andmade him drink the soda I ordered for him. He was awfully weak. The girls hadtaken too much from him.

“I think it’s time for you all tostay away from the club,” I stated openly. I really didn’t want to discuss ithere, but if I kept making excuses I’d never get another chance with them allseated together to bring up this topic again. They needed to stay away fromthat place.

Krista forked a piece of ziti intoher mouth. “After this incident, I agree.”

I glanced down at my hands. Therewas leftover dried blood flakes from Nate’s wounds on my hands. “I’m headed tothe bathroom. I’ll be right back.” I leant over and whispered in Krista’s earbefore I made a complete escape. “Make sure Nathan eats something.”

The waitress set down another trayof food and refilled the drinks.

I practically bolted for thenearest sink. The last thing I needed was to explain how I got blood on myhands. I finished up washing off the dried flakes in near record time. No otherfemales arrived as I scrubbed, so I counted myself lucky, but made sure that Iwouldn’t get caught washing a byproduct into the sink. I wanted to avoidsuspicion. I dried my hands on a few paper towels and fled out the door. I wasanxious to get back to Nate, knowing he could be in danger from severe bloodloss, but I didn’t get far. I ran right into Finn.

He had followed me.

“I’m sorry for what happened at theclub. I thought I made it clear to the others they weren’t allowed to do whatthey did,” he said with a straight face.

At first I really was startled byhis sudden appearance here, but once he apologized it set my mind back to whathad happened and the cork on my anger bottle popped off. I pulled him asideinto an alcove, where we wouldn’t be overheard by the patrons who entered thebathrooms. “Did you know that those two blonds nearly drained him? He’s so weakhe can hardly eat. And Krista caught the end of the act, clearly making herjealous of the two because she has feelings for the guy and has never toldhim.”

His jaw clenched but he met mygaze. “I specifically told them to leave you alone… that command was also foryour friends as well because you obviously care about them.”

“Yeah well they didn’t,” Iinterjected before he could say another word on the subject.

We stayed there for several minutesglaring at each other. Several patrons noticed us giving the death stare to oneanother, but I paid them no attention. I only caught their glances from thecorner of my eye.

Finally Finn relaxed his composure.His gaze softened back to his normal lounging position. “You used yourcompulsion on Atria.”

I didn’t have to answer that. Hewould know if it worked or not. Unfortunately though, I had indirectly told himthat my compulsion works on vampires like his did.

“It took her several minutes torecover.”

I turned away and headed back to myseat. He didn’t follow me and I didn’t care by that point. The others weren’tworried that I had been gone for nearly twenty minutes. Nathan had eaten a fewbites, and after he felt good enough to walk home I sent him on his way. Kristastayed by his side, clearly attached now that he didn’t feel great, but maybeit was better for their relationship this way. Mallory and the others headed fortheir respected homes as well, taking the bus back to the outskirts of thecity. I waited at the café all night, making sure that the five didn’t replacetheir way back here. I already knew their compulsed minds were programmed badlyand that eventually they would stray back until I found a way to override thedecision.

They all stayed away this nightafter the serious turn of events. Near midnight I caught sight of Mallory’sdate headed back towards the Red Curtain, returning from the direction he leftwith Mallory in. I followed him once he returned because he was a human, andnot one of the others. He genuinely felt obliged to return to the dance club.But I only knew he had been tricked into going there, like so many of the otherteens and adults.

The rest of the night I stayed upon the rooftop of the building across the street from the club, monitoring thecomings and goings of the humans. None of them had any clue to what actuallyoccurred within its depths. Most left feeling great and expressed theirfeelings about wanting to return in the next couple of days though they didn’tknow the reason why. I heard it in their voices - the workings of compulsion.None of them ever talked about what they did at the club or what music theylistened to, or who the DJ was, or if they got a phone number from a boy or agirl. They only knew they liked the place, but they couldn’t remember anythingelse.

I had been right before, the clubwas a trap - a roach motel. It wasn’t any better than the feeders and drug housesin the southwestern part of town. The only difference here was the socialcaste.

I pulled out my phone once itbeeped with a message. Mallory and the others returned safely home. I retreatedaway from the building near dawn, towards my apartment, sickened by what I’dseen here. As I pocketed the phone back into the rear of my jeans, my fingersfound the note. I pulled it out and found an elegant script written onto thecream colored paper.

Itwas Finn, even though I had no acknowledgement of his signed name after thesimple message. I just knew it was his. I ripped it into pieces and flung theminto the trash. He wanted to explain tomorrow, at a bakery on the boulevard. Ireally didn’t want to go, but I felt like I had no other choice. Eventually he wouldtry and replace me, and I didn’t want him at my apartment.