Chapter Thirteen

Erica felt Max around her and inside her. She tasted him and she ached for him long after he left her apartment.

Because the memories of their lovemaking were so fresh, guilt gnawed at her as she stood before her closet looking for an outfit that would help get her into The Underside.

She hadn’t mentioned anything about Elena’s phone call knowing he’d insist on being involved. Erica had no illusions that her task would be easy, but she wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize her sister’s life. Her trips to After Dark and Club Dead had taught her more about the vampire world and what they expected of her feeders. She could do this.

A little on-line research told her The Underside was more of a Goth club, which she might have found amusing under other circumstances. What could be more Goth than vampires after all?

That thought brought her back to Max. The line between human and vampire was blurred in him. As blurred as his image had been each time she’d looked in the mirror. She hadn’t asked him about it, but as they made love again that afternoon, she’d stolen glances across the room and marveled at the fact that his reflection was no more than a waxy smudge. She wondered if it was simply her own perception, clouded by the delirium of sexual fulfillment or if there was some truth at least to that bit of vampire lore.

Beyond that, she felt him and remembered him as human. Everything in the way he touched her today was different than last night. Though he’d looked at her with the same dark longing in his eyes, that dangerous look that turned her insides to liquid, he’d been gentle and slow with her. He’d kissed her senseless and caressed her body until her nerves caught fire, but he hadn’t delayed her pleasure like last night. He hadn’t forced her to promise him things, or tortured her with words that made her want what she couldn’t have.

He’d loved her thoroughly and left her wondering once again what she’d gotten herself into.

With a ragged sigh, she thumbed through the clothes in her closet until she found a long straight skirt and a black tank top. She appraised the outfit in the mirror and tossed the top aside. A leather bustier would work better but she didn’t have one.

She wished she’d insisted on going with Max to Elena’s apartment. There, she’d have found a suitable outfit.

Maybe in the back of the closet with the stuff she didn’t wear anymore? She dug deep, tossing things aside as she went until she came upon the item she remembered. It had been Elena’s but Erica had borrowed it years ago. She laughed at the memory. A Halloween party at work was rare, but one year her manager had decided to get everyone in the spirit. Erica had dressed in an eclectic mix of beachwear and black rags, a long black wig, a broom and a bottle of suntan lotion and called herself the “Sand-Witch.” The getup won a prize and garnered her a few months of teasing from her co-workers. She thought of them now and wondered if any of them would believe how she’d spent her weekend so far. She wasn’t sure she believed it herself.

She found the black top she’d worn as part of the costume and pulled it out of the closet. The sleeves were laced up the sides and the front sported rips and tears held together with silver safety pins and jump rings. It would have to do.

She mussed her hair, slathered on her darkest lipstick and ringed her eyes with black liner. The look reminded her of the girl who hadn’t gotten into After Dark. If she adopted the same attitude, they’d probably welcome her at The Underside.

She left her apartment at ten and drove herself across town to the address listed on the Web site. This time she didn’t care who saw her.

* * * *

“Carlisle’s not there tonight?” Max adjusted the volume on his cell phone headset as he turned into the parking lot of Elena Talbot’s building. His partner’s voice reached him over the patchy connection. With deliberate patience, Lucas Vitale repeated what he’d just said.

“I don’t see him anywhere. I know he spends most evenings here, but maybe he got tired of the place.”

Max worked with Lucas regularly and the other vampire investigator was the closest thing Max had to a friend. He tried to keep the frustration out of his voice when he answered.

“I don’t like that Erica is alone. I’ve got to finish this now, but maybe you can swing by her apartment, just to see if she’s all right.”

“You want me to go in, or just lurk around?” Lucas’ deep voice held amusement. He was a bit of a rebel and he liked his job, perhaps too much.

“Lurk. It’s what you’re best at. Call me if you see anything suspicious.”

“All right. I’ve got to take Kyra home first.”

Halfway out of his car, Max paused. “Kyra is with you?”

“Of course. I needed to bring a feeder with me. You know she can handle anything.”

Max shook his head. He should have expected that. Kyra knew them all and she fed them all. It was her job. And her pleasure from what Max understood. A few days ago, he might have felt a pang of jealousy, but now, just annoyance that she couldn’t get home by herself. “Do me a favor and don’t waste any time at Kyra’s, all right? I want to know that Erica is safe.”

Lucas’ voice took on a curious tone. “Why so worried about a feeder?”

“She’s not a feeder. She’s just.…” Just what? he asked himself as he rounded Building A and headed for the fire stairs at the back that would lead him to Apartment 5.

“Just what? Just a human? Just a good lay?”

“Shut up, Luke.”

“Ooh. Did I strike a live nerve there? I didn’t know you had any left.”

“Just do what I ask, Lucas ... and keep Kyra out of it. I don’t want her to know about Erica.”

“Why not? Do you think she’ll be jealous that her favorite biter has a new toy?”

Max hung up. Lucas was a prick sometimes, but he’d never let Max down yet. He jammed the cell phone into his pocket and cased the building. Getting in wouldn’t be a problem. The fire stairs at the back of the building gave access to all the bedroom windows. Elena Talbot’s was bare, no curtains, not even a shade. He wondered as he began to climb, if the landlord had already cleaned the place out.

Max pried the screen off the window and set it on the stairs, then hoisted the old sash, glad that he wouldn’t have to break the window to get in. Once inside he lowered the sash again and moved out of the line of sight.

Two steps in, it hit him. The scent he’d been looking for. It permeated the place. A smoky mixture of musky perfume, heather and clove. He didn’t need to take anything that belonged to Elena to remember it and he didn’t need to give the scent to anyone else.

What he needed was to figure out how to tell Erica that he knew exactly what had happened to her sister.

* * * *

Déjà vu struck Erica as she took her place in line outside of The Underside. The back entrance was another unpainted steel fire door manned by a bouncer who could have been the twin brother to Frank from After Dark. This one looked less friendly, though. He scowled at the women and men lined up outside and rather than gesturing the unacceptable candidates out of line, he waited until they approached him and literally shoved them aside.

He seemed to get off on it. The smirk on his doughy face grew wider each time he refused someone entry.

Erica’s fear and annoyance peaked as she neared her turn. If he threw her aside, how would she get in? She thought about calling Max and telling him about Elena’s phone call but she knew he’d make her leave. Worse than considering that he’d leave her out of the rescue mission, was the thought of admitting she lied to him. She lied in the throes of passion and made a promise to him that she didn’t intend to keep. What did that make her? Certainly not worthy of the adoration he’d shown her this afternoon. Certainly not worthy of his trust.

She shook the doubts aside and moved up to close the gap that had opened between her and the person ahead of her in line. She still had time to walk away and call Max for help. What if he needed time to formulate a plan? She couldn’t let Elena down by not being here.

Erica jerked her head up when the bouncer called, “Next! You in black!” He laughed at his own joke. Everyone in line wore black and each outfit was darker than the last.

Erica stood out because she was the only blonde in sight and that worried her. Inside, she wouldn’t be able to melt into the crowd, and she wouldn’t be able to avoid a body search tonight.

Just like After Dark, the man checked her for needle marks, asked if she smoked or snorted and he also squeezed her ass. She forced a smile as she shoved her inside and pretended it didn’t make her want to rip his head off.

The gauntlet tonight was worse than at After Dark, but at least the music was better. Four men lined the back room and each one of them searched everyone who came through, male and female alike. Erica noted that quite a few men had been admitted and none of them seemed to be bothered by the intimate body search. Of course they had fewer places to hide contraband than women did.

Erica bit her lip and held her breath as each of the four security guards took his turn. The first one lifted her skirt and patted down her legs from crotch to ankle. He actually ran his fingers inside the leg of her panties and leered at her before he motioned her to move on. The second one looked down the front of her blouse but nothing she had made an impression on him. He motioned her on to the third who also lifted her skirt. This one sniffed her hair and she shuddered. That was almost as bad as having the first guard’s fingers in her underwear.

The fourth one patted her hips and her breasts. He pushed her collar open and stamped a fluorescent butterfly on her chest, then let her pass into the club. She figured the brand meant no one would chase her down later and insist she hadn’t been properly felt up ... searched. She had proof that she’d passed the security inspection.

The Underside had an odd vibe to it, and a strange smell. It took Erica a few minutes to place the sharp, smoky scent. Cloves. Small plates of incense burned everywhere, making the air heavy with the spicy aroma.

Drinks flowed freely and here she didn’t have to order at the bar. A waitress pressed a glass of sweet wine into her hand moments after she arrived. She resisted the urge to take a sip. It smelled so good, but she didn’t dare take any chances.

She made a quick circuit of the place to get her bearings and then found an empty corner table where she would be able to watch everything. As soon as she saw Elena, she’d make her move.

Her nerves thrummed with anticipation. She’d find Elena tonight and this half-life would end. No more rescues after this. No more sleepless nights.

No more Maxwell Hart.

A flash of white caught her attention and she zeroed in on a figure across the room that stood out even more than she did.

A tall woman with long black hair and a flowing white dress floated across the room like a runway model. Vera Nighe. Her almond eyes lit on Erica and she smiled.

“What are you doing here, little one? Where’s Max?” Vera asked when she arrived at Erica’s table. She looked angelic and full of life, unlike last night at Gregori’s when she’d appeared sunken and tired.

“I came alone tonight.” Erica wanted to lie but she thought of Elena’s plea to leave Max out of it.

The other woman looked around, scanning the room with her curious gaze. “Wonderful. Then you can have a drink with me.”

Erica smiled and pushed her glass toward Vera as the tall woman sat down. “Here, it’s all yours.”

“Come on, Max isn’t around. One sip won’t hurt.”

“I wonder what would have happened if I’d drank the wine last night. Apparently just a whiff was enough to affect me. I barely remember anything that happened.”

Vera’s smile became a pretty pout. “Then you forgot all the fun we had dancing together?”

Erica shrugged.

“What a shame. We’ll have to make some more memories tonight, since you’re on your own.”

“Where’s Mr. Carlisle?” Erica asked. She wanted to sound conversational but a hint of suspicion crept into her voice. If Carlisle was responsible for hurting Elena, she wanted to make him pay.

“He’ll join us soon, pretty one. Very soon.”

Vera sidled closer to Erica and put her arm around her shoulders. Erica pulled away but the woman resisted and dipped her face toward Erica’s for a light kiss.

Erica pushed her away. “Vera, I’m flattered, but I belong to Max and he doesn’t like anyone else touching me, even other women.”

“He’s not here. He doesn’t have to know.”

“He will know. He’ll find out and last night he was very angry with me about what you did ... when you kissed me.”

“I thought you said you didn’t remember it.”

“I didn’t, but he reminded me. I’d rather not be punished again, if you don’t mind.”

Vera pouted again. “He’s bad. We’re not hurting anyone. Just a little harmless flirting. It doesn’t mean anything.”

“I know.”

“Just one? Benton likes to see me with other women. It would make him happy and I could have him smooth it over if Max found out.”

“I’d rather not.”

“Just one.…” Vera dove in again and Erica tried to dodge but the woman was all hands. She took Erica’s face in her fingers and kissed her on the lips again. She tasted like candy and cloves and something else.…

When she broke the kiss, Erica stared at her. “What did you do to--” The world went black before she finished her sentence.