Why don`t you bring your boyfriend here? Scarlet asked.
I`m not sure if he would like this club.
Is he a mortal? Onyx inquired.
The two girls waited on edge for my response. But it was I who was most anxiously awaiting the words to flow from my lips. No, my boyfriend is not a mortal. He is a vampire, I said. It was the first time I`d ever admitted that my boyfriend was immortal (except once to Becky and she thought I was trying to make her laugh). I felt as if a burden had been lifted from my shoulders, and it was exhilarating. My boyfriend is a vampire, I repeated proudly.
Then you have to bring him here, Onyx suggested. The whole point of this club is for us to have a place we can call our own.
And that might change, Scarlet said secretively.
Why? I asked.
We`ve heard rumblings that someone is planning to take over the club.
One person--who I`d seen having secret meetings--sprang to mind. I remembered Phoenix talking to his henchmen. He was magnetically alluring and mysteriously dangerous. I could see his followers heeding his every command. Phoenix--, I said in a whisper.
What? Scarlet asked. I can`t hear you above the music.
I felt the hairs on the ends of my neck stand up. I glanced back and Phoenix was sitting in the electric chair, staring right at me.
My heart sank to my stomach. Though I was surrounded by two friendly vampires, I was deathly afraid of the one behind me.
Never mind, I said. Even though he was out of earshot and the club music was pulsing faster than my beating heart, I sensed he could hear every word.
The club has been a great hangout, Scarlet began. The whole reason the club exists is so that we can be ourselves peacefully, Onyx said.
There are many of us who don`t want a new direction. The club is being torn apart, Scarlet admitted, shaking her head.
I had to know more. I leaned into the girls as closely as I could. What`s his story? I whispered to Onyx.
Whose story? She scooted closer.
What? Scarlet asked, tossing her luscious locks over her shoulder. I can`t hear you.
She`s interested in some guy, Onyx said.
I thought you had a boyfriend, Scarlet added.
Onyx nudged her best friend, then eagerly asked me, Which one?
I placed my index finger over my lips. In my softest whisper I began, I`m not interested...I mean I am...but not that way. Don`t look now...but the guy behind me, sitting in the electric chair...
Onyx did her best to check him out without being too noticeable, but Scarlet glared toward the stockade. Who, him? That`s the bartender.
I shook my head. No, not him.
No, she means over there, Onyx corrected. But there`s no one in or near the electric chair.
I spun around. The electric chair was empty.
Who were you interested in? Scarlet asked.
Uh...no one really.
Tell us, Onyx pried.
The biker dude with purple hair, I confessed.