23. Apple Schnapps

Chapter 23

Apple Schnapps

Vanessa

R ed doors.

Of course, the entrance was red.

Well at least for once I was dressed the part.

The second I got the card from Stacey and called the fortune teller's number, she had given me this address. She had told me that she was doing a private event here and that if I really needed to speak to her, then she would see me at this nightclub.

In fact, she seemed weirdly surprised but not by my call. No, it had been after she asked me where I was calling her from and in my drunken state, I told her from my apartment. Only then had she given me the address, which was why I was standing here looking at the long line of people all eager to get inside.

Each woman was wearing the most fashionable clothes that I could never afford, and all with their designer shoes, handbags, and tailor-cut businessmen on their arms. And for those that didn't have a man, they were in groups… each most likely hoping they would get their chance at meeting the elite inside. And well, this would be the place because honestly, one look and I knew I had very little chance at getting inside.

Especially when I foolishly looked down at myself and saw the little goth girl I was trying to be.

I had been hoping for something black and unassuming to borrow from Stacey. However, when the fortune teller told me the address, I let my roommate convince me to wear a dress.

Now, I just felt like a fool.

Stacey told me the dress was called Ophelia. I didn't even know that dresses could have names. But apparently, they could and did. The black taffeta gathered in ruffles at my sides before joining with straight black panels of the corseted top. A crisscross of thick black ribbon pulled the material together tight enough that my breasts looked like they would spill from the top… I wasn't surprised because Stacey didn't have my curves, just like I didn't have her height. Although, thanks to her black lace up boots, I had managed to add about four inches to my height, despite how hard they were to walk in.

As for the skirt, this was made up of layers of black lace at different lengths, each with a frilly edge, making it flare out around my legs. It was also longer at the back than it was at the front. Opaque black tights were designed to look like my legs were wrapped up with thick straps, thanks to the thicker material crossing over them in different directions. As for the boots, these were a shiny material adorned with multiple chains all a different thickness. They also looked kick ass, in my opinion, but I was still drunk, so what did I know?

The dress made me feel like some gothic damsel with its thick lace straps that kept falling off my shoulders and draped at the top of my arms. Of course, Stacey had also curled my hair before twisting it off to one side and clipping it there with a black rose made from the same lace as the dress. My make-up was smokey-black, with thick eyeliner and mascara that made my eyes look like they belonged on a doll. Dark red lipstick completed the gothic look, which was one everyone now seemed to look down on. As if I was some sort of New York outcast that should have remained with my own kind.

Well screw them! I wasn't there to impress anyone. I just wanted a disguise in case I was seen on the streets by a certain Vampire duo. I also needed to be dressy enough to get into a club and with the little options open to me, this was the best I was going to get because thanks to the corset, it was the only dress that really fit me.

So, with my mission in mind, I positioned my purse at my hip, a black skull bag Stacey had leant me, and I walked straight up to the doormen, trying not to trip in my drunken state. However, I didn't see another man coming my way and I ended up bumping into him, having to say sorry the second I did. I didn't recognize the handsome Black man, but his eyes widened down at me, most likely because of what I was wearing. His dark gray suit was a startling contrast to how I was dressed, and he look like he was on his way to a meeting.

"Sorry," I muttered, lowering my head.

"The fault was mine, but please, after you," he told me, and I knew this would only end up being embarrassing. Because I knew the chances of me getting in a place like this were slim at best. Even if they took enough pity on me above all the rest that were standing in line, I doubted I would have been able to afford the entrance fee. Something I realized I should have thought about before simply turning up in my drunken state.

"Thanks," I said, granting him a small nervous smile in return, before stepping right up to the front of the queue to the big intimidating doormen.

"Name?" one asked, granting me a look that said it all… not a fucking chance. But that was when the man behind me spoke up before I could.

"She's with me," he stated firmly, and their eyes widened before nodding. The line complained when the doormen unhooked the rope barrier and, honestly, I felt just as shocked as they looked.

"You didn't have to do that for me," I told the big man, his eyes so dark they looked black in the low light of the entrance hall.

"No problem, but can I ask if you're meeting someone here?" he inquired. I noticed that he shook his head as we got closer to the hostess where it was time to pay to get in. The beautiful stylish blonde woman looked surprised for a moment, especially after eyeing up my outfit.

"Erm, yeah, well kind of," I added, looking back at the hostess who had just let us through, to see her asking the next people for payment.

"Do you work here?" I asked, making him grin down at me and say,

"Bingo."

"Oh wow," I said, looking around the place and seeing the pure opulence for myself. Although the massive glass chandelier in the center of the room had me shivering because it looked like giant blood droplets of all different lengths falling from the ceiling. The whole front of the building was tinted glass that curved around in a spherical shape, and the rounded bench seats in rich red mirrored the design contours perfectly.

Even the dance floor looked like it was made from red glass, no doubt it was some sort of resin because it had swirls of black running throughout it. This was the same as the curved bar set off to one side, with the matching resin front. The smoke effect came up off the floor, like raising fumes and swirls of darkness curling within the red crimson color. Lights set behind the bar illuminated the whole thing, giving it a sinister touch.

"So, you were saying that you were looking for someone?" the guy next to me asked, making me only just realize that he hadn't left me when I started standing gaping at the whole room like a guppy.

"Oh yeah, a fortune teller, she is erm… working an event or something here."

He narrowed his eyes as if this was the first he was hearing about it.

"Let me check for you," he said, slipping his phone from the inside pocket of his suit jacket. I didn't know who he called but he started speaking in a foreign language. It sounded French, and I was thankful it wasn't Greek because I would be out of there. Gone. In fact, I didn't think I would ever be able to hear Greek being spoken again without freaking out.

"What's your name?" he asked, again drawing my eyes away from the incredible space.

"Vanessa Cadell," I told him, and he nodded once before ending the call.

"Here, let me take you," he said, holding out an arm for me to follow as he led me toward the back doors. These ones were more like a burnt red color, with a thick black frame.

"Is there a private party back here or something?" I asked as he nodded to the two doormen guarding the door, who promptly opened it without question.

"Yeah, just down the corridor and through the end doors that are black."

"Oh, okay, thanks a lot," I told him, making him wink at me with a smug grin.

"You're welcome, Nessa," he replied as I stepped inside, but after a few steps I turned to find him on the phone once again. I also realized something… even in my drunken haze.

"Hey, I never told you my name was… Nessa." This last part was muttered in a barely-there whisper as the doors were promptly closed.

"Well, that was weird," I muttered to myself before hurrying down the hallway. I continued to look back at the doors on my way, half expecting security to come through them as if realizing their mistake at letting me in here and intent on kicking me out. Which was why I ended up practically throwing myself through the doors, miscalculating how easy the heavy looking things would be to open.

"Oopsie… I think I must have… Oh, son of a bitch!" I shouted after swinging around the door, holding on so I wouldn't fall on my ass. Looking up, my heart didn't know whether to sink or swim when I found the two men who I had been trying to avoid seeing tonight. Their eyes scanned the length of me, heating as they took in the sight of my outfit.

And even in my drunken state, I knew that it was time to run because, Jesus Christ, it looked like they both wanted to eat me. Like hungry wolves in sight of their prey. Even their friend Andras looked shocked and a little bit… well, hungry.

Still having enough sense to recognize danger, I quickly rounded the doors and started running back down the hallway, looking behind me to see them both emerging. I even stumbled on my heels and my knees hit the floor. But at least I was saved the pain thanks to alcohol and carpeted floor. I scrambled quickly to my feet, knowing I didn't have far until I reached the doors that would get me back into the club. However, when I gripped the handles and started to tug with all my strength, they wouldn't budge.

They were locked.

I turned around to see Victor and Talon both storming down the hallway toward me. Good God, they both looked so formidable, I swear, I couldn't breathe. I turned again, banging my fists on the doors, screaming,

"Let me out! Open the doors!" However, it was pointless because this ended with a scream of fright when I felt them reach me. It started with a hand at my lower back and a hand wrapped gently around my bruised wrist. That grip belonged to Talon, who pulled my hand down from where I was still pounding it against the door.

As for Victor, I felt his hand slide up to the back of my neck, gripping me with enough pressure to know that he could hurt me if he wanted to. Especially when he did the same thing his brother did, taking my other bruised wrist and pulling that from the door too.

"Nessa, stop," I felt Victor hum in my ear in a gentle tone that had me trying desperately not to panic. Because that was his dangerous voice. The one that I knew could make me do things. Silly, stupid, foolish things. Things I would only end up regretting. Just like when Talon asked,

"Now, are you going to fight us, little Peach?"

I shook my head, telling him that I wouldn't.

"Good girl," Victor replied, letting his hand slip from being shackled around my wrist to entwine with my fingers. Then they started to walk back toward what I was assuming was their office as my reality started to hit me.

The fortune teller had set me up.

Did that mean she worked for them? I very nearly asked this but stopped myself as we approached the doors. Talon's hand stayed sprayed out on my lower back, just in case I managed to slip free of his brother's hand. Of course, in the end, this helped in keeping me upright because I stumbled once more on my heels, making Talon react by falling back a step and framing my waist to keep me vertical.

"Whoa, little one… looks like we have a little drunkard on our hands," Talon said behind me, the humor in his tone easy to hear. It was soon followed by a chuckle when I shamefully burped. I mean, it wasn't a great whopping Viking belch or anything, but it was bad enough to have them both laughing.

"Did someone let their nerves get the best of them?" Victor asked after tipping my head back and looking deep into my eyes.

When I didn't answer, he lowered his head enough that at first, I thought he was going to kiss me. And damn my own reaction to this because my lips fell open a little as if more than ready for it. Of course, it also helped that I was now a little taller, so he didn't have to bend so much.

But in the end, he didn't kiss me. No, he simply ran his nose along the seam of my lips and breathed deep.

"Mmm, I smell apple."

I felt my chin gripped in another's hand and my face was turned to Talon. This was so he could do the same thing as his brother, running his nose along my lips and humming,

"Apple schnapps."

"It was all I had," was my small admission as I looked up at him.

Holy hell, he was handsome… his grin made me suck in a breath. It should have been God damn illegal for someone to be that hot. All I could remember now was the way he had kissed me… the way they had both kissed me.

The foolish way I wanted them both to …

Do it again.