“He’s stubborn, I’ll give him that,” laughed Faye.
I glared at her. “Glad this amuses you.”
“Would you hold him down better,” complained Lucas as I broke my right arm free and punched one of them in the jaw.
“Slade!” screamed the girl, who was in the corner, watching as they wrestled me back down to the ground and kicked me in the spleen. Although it would heal quickly, it sure hurt like a son-of-a-bitch.
“Bring him into the basement. We can restrain him better there,” stated Faye. She rolled her eyes and waved her hand in exasperation. “Great, he’s gotten blood on my white carpeting. I just had that installed last week, dammit.”
I grunted. “Bill me.”
Before she could respond, her office door was kicked in and pieces of the splintered wood flew everywhere.
I sighed in relief as Liam and my boys entered the office. When they saw me bleeding and being subdued by Faye’s goons, they didn’t think twice. With a roar of anger and bloodlust, they launched an attack.
“Stop!” hollered Faye, now staring in horror as my guys slaughtered her so-called vampires in a whirlwind of blood and madness. It was obvious that we were much older and stronger and in a one-on-one combat, they were screwed.
“You okay?” asked Liam, helping me up.
The bruises on my face were already healing. I spit out another wad of blood and nodded. “Yeah. Cheap bastards.”
“Oh my God!” shrieked Chelsey, who was now standing in the doorway with Susan, and staring at the grisly scene in the office. The terror on her face did something to me. I felt an urge to comfort her, but found myself frozen instead.
“Shit,” said Liam, also staring at her.
Bradan and Jimmy were still attacking Faye’s henchmen. Fangs were bared and blood was everywhere. I could only imagine what she was feeling. This was my world, not hers.
“Vampires!?” screeched Susan in horror. She tried to turn and run, but behind her stood a dark-skinned security guard, blocking her way. He grabbed her by the arm.
“Forget about her, Mason!” hollered Faye. “Get the others and bring them here!”
Reluctantly, Mason released Susan and took off.
“Chelsey!” sobbed the other girl in the office. Terrified, she’d hidden behind a tall metal filing cabinet.
Chelsey turned toward her and gasped. “Melody!” She ran over and pulled her into her arms. “Are you okay?”
Melody, who had tears running down her face, nodded. “Yes. I think so.”
“You guys, come on!” hollered Susan, her face white. “We have to get out of here.”
I sighed.
“You need to make them forget,” said Liam.
“I know,” I said, moving towards Chelsey and Melody.
“Stay away from us!” choked Chelsey, backing away with Melody. “You… you’re all monsters.”
The look in her eyes crushed me. Just like Vanessa. “I’d never hurt you,” I promised, forcing a smile. “Swear to God.”
Chelsey looked behind me and screamed.
I turned around just as some kind of winged reptilian creature lunged towards me.
Chapter Fourteen
Chelsey
The creature that landed on Slade reminded me of some kind of gargoyle, with its greenish black scales and rubber-like wings.
“Oh my God,” gasped Susan, covering her mouth in horror.
Just when I thought the madness couldn’t get any crazier, Liam turned into a massive wolf and sprang at the reptile trying to attack Slade.
“Let’s go!” screamed Melody, grabbing my hand and pulling me towards the doorway.
Terrified and needing to get away from this nightmare, I obeyed. We grabbed Susan and then all three scrambled away from Faye’s office, down the hallway, and back to the main area of the club.
The music was as loud as ever and everyone seemed oblivious to the horrors taking place on the top floor of Club Nightshade. Frightened beyond belief, we hurried down the staircase, towards the exit when our bartender from earlier, stepped directly into our path
Are you girls okay?” he asked, looking concerned.
“Brian…. Oh my God,” said Susan, shaking her head vehemently. “There are monsters upstairs. We’re leaving. Now.”
His eyebrows shot up. “What?”
“Just like she said,” I answered. “Vampires, werewolves, and gargoyles. We’re out of here.”
He stared at us in amusement. “Let me guess, too many Cosmopolitans?”
“No,” I snapped. “Look, we’re not making this up.”
“Calm down,” he said, placing a hand on my shoulder.
Four security guys raced across the bar and headed towards the stairs.