A.M. Scott's Blog, page 2

Working Class Vegas Vamp–Chapter 23

Working Class Vegas Vamp is a free urban fantasy serial, usually publishing on Tuesdays. It is unedited and subject to change. If published later, it may differ significantly, and will probably include additional material. Typos and English errors are likely; feel free to leave a comment or write me at am {AT} amscottwrites.com (revised as a standard email address. Pesky bots!) Available for a limited time only!

Haven’t started yet? Chapter 1: https://www.amscottwrites.com/2024/10/29/working-class-vegas-vamp-chapter-1/ ‎

Chapter 23

Sunburned book! I turned away from Mattias and strengthened my mental shields again. “Sorry. Occupational hazard, I guess.” I wasn’t positive I could block the prophecy completely.

Mattias, who’d grown taller and wider at my hiss, returned to his normal size. “Understood. I recommend you wear gloves, and spend as little time touching it as necessary. Does it seem sentient?”

I shrugged. “It’s certainly blasting me with anger. It keeps trying to take me over, control me, make me into a puppet. But I will not let that happen.” I would not be owned. Especially by an object.

“In that case, I recommend that you treat it as a living being, and explain your boundaries in simple terms. Think in pictures while you speak, if you have that ability. The prophecy chose you as the Unbound Queen for a reason, so it should not be shocked that it can’t control you. But you could accept guidance, with the understanding that attempts at binding will be met with fire.” One corner of his mouth rose in a half-smirk.

I glanced at the bedroom door behind me. “I told it I’d drown it if it kept trying to take me over, but fire might be more effective.” I turned to Karski. “Got a flamethrower?”

He shrugged. “Maybe. But you can’t use it inside.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s almost sunrise. If you could secure that…thing in the can, I’d appreciate it. I’ll keep my pack out of the basement today and we’ll find a better place for your rest.”

“I can provide that,” Mattias said. “The Council’s chambers are deep below the earth, and we have human quarters in the complex. You are not a physical threat to us and we will protect you, both night and day. We also have magical experts who can help you. Do you agree?”

I trusted Mattias, but there was always a catch. “What will it cost me?”

Mattias nodded. “First, mutual defense. Second, you must be open with the Council. They want to know the extent of your abilities, and they expect you to keep the vampire community under control, if that is possible. If you attempt to take over the entire world, bring all the vampire leaders together, reveal the supernatural community to humans or any other similar action, you will truly die.”

I snorted. “I don’t want to do any of that. I don’t really want to develop additional abilities, or work with the prophecy, but I’m guessing that if I don’t, I’m as good as dead anyway. I accept your offer, but unless you’ve got a magic carpet, I’m not going anywhere right now.” I didn’t want to be a queen, but I’d do a lot to keep humanity safe. They had enough problems without being treated like cattle. Or worse.

Mattias nodded. “Agreed. I will guard your day, Charlene Flammen.” He turned slightly towards Karski. “I will keep your pack away, Alpha, if the prophecy calls them.” He swung back to face me. “And if the prophecy makes you day-walk, I will prevent you from going anywhere.”

“Are you kidding me?” That wasn’t terrifying at all.

His head swung ponderously from side to side. “No. If you can help other vampires day-walk, why couldn’t you do it yourself? Whether your mind would be awake is unknown. That’s why I’m staying.”

“Thank you.” I had no desire to go wandering around at the whim of the prophecy. Especially if I wasn’t conscious. I could end up doing something truly awful, like draining someone. Thinking about that made me realize I was hungry. I backed away towards the bedroom door. “I appreciate your help. I’m going to drink a blood box and sleep.”

“I’ll make sure you have a fresh supply, Char.” Karski left, closing and locking the door behind him before I could thank him.

Mattias leaned against Karski’s desk. It creaked, but held. “Good day, Char. I’ll see you tomorrow evening.”

I nodded. Certainly, I felt safer with Mattias outside, and I believed he’d keep everyone else in the compound safe, too. “See you then.” I secured the door, then trotted to the bathroom, snagging a blood box on the way. After sucking down the thick, cool liquid while resisting the prophecy’s demand for hot, living blood, I sat on the tub and opened the ammo can.

The pressure on my shields didn’t increase noticeably, so the metal can was probably useless. But as promised, I’d keep the book in there. “Look, book.” I felt silly talking to an object, but Mattias had always given me good advice. “Stop trying to take me over. I’m the Unbound Queen and you are not.” The prophecy stopped battering me, so I guessed it was paying attention. “I will work with you to fulfill the goals I decide are reasonable, but first, I need to read them and agree. I don’t think you understand the world today. Your worshippers have created a false sense of security. I cannot create an empire built to subdue all humans, because that will get me, and all the other vampires, true dead. Fast.”

Fury at lesser creatures spewed from the volume, so I sighed. “I’ll talk when you’re done, or I fall asleep.” I slid to the floor, putting my back against the wall next to the tub, just in case my timing was off. I concentrated on my breathing. Gradually, the book calmed. I guessed it was ready to listen. “There are over eight billion humans in the world. They have weapons of mass destruction.” I pictured scenes from US rallies and religious pilgrimages around the world. Then I thought about a picture of the aftermath of the atomic bombs that fell on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. “Those bombs are weak in comparison to what we have now.” I pictured horrible scenes from the latest wars in the middle east. “World militaries can easily destroy us. Or a single suicide bomber. If you force my actions, you will get me killed and you’ll be destroyed by fire. Is that really what you want?” I thought about Theoden’s life experience. “The last vampire who carried you was too optimistic. He doesn’t understand the power of infuriated humanity, because he’s been insulated by wealth.”

I climbed to my feet and removed the uncomfortable body armor, then the clothing, and put on sweatpants and a t-shirt. “The masses can overcome us if we aren’t subtle. But we can create a solution that works for the vampires, the other supernaturals, and the humans. You think about that while I rest.” I closed the can lid, retreated to the bedroom and climbed into bed.

Blanking my mind, I returned to my breathing and waited for the sunrise. The time came and went, but I remained awake. I continued meditating, acknowledging my shock and letting it go. Gradually, I became sleepy, then I faded into darkness.

*

I woke with nightfall, still in bed. From the pressure on my bladder, if I’d gotten up during the day, I hadn’t done anything logical. Rising, I entered the bathroom, took care of business and got in the shower. “Good morning, prophecy. Thank you for letting me rest. Did you contemplate my thoughts?”

Images flooded my mind. Mobs, wars, political rallies, lynchings, the Holocaust, and then, the lights of Vegas from Theoden’s penthouse. The feeling of hot blood in my mouth, the joy of feeding. Puzzlement over sharing resources rather than ruling. Image after image from my memories, along with those from earlier times; probably from Theoden and his vampires.

When I shook off the book’s visions, water cascaded over me. I’d curled into a ball on the tile floor. Concentrating on each step, I got up and finished my shower, and didn’t say a word or think about anything else until I was dressed and my bag packed. I strapped the body armor and helmet to the outside of my backpack. “Okay. Obviously, you learned some things. I’m guessing you got all that by rummaging around in my brain and your worshipper’s brains.”

A picture of my ex-husband came to me, along with anger and a need to drain the man. I laughed. “He’s long dead. When he got the flu and couldn’t get out of bed, his second wife took the telephone and ran. I sent her some money and she lives quietly in a town far away.” They didn’t have trauma counseling for partner abuse survivors back then, but much like me, she’d decided that man wouldn’t take anything more from her. She’d become a school librarian and volunteered at the local women’s shelter. I wished I could do the same, but that wasn’t the life I’d created.

Or been drafted into. “I’m taking you with me to the Gargoyles Council.” Wariness came from the book. “They won’t take you from me, and they will help me find a way to lead the vampires into a better balance with humans. I want to work with you, not against you. We can create a better world, and eventually, we can find a way to openly exist among humans, because we won’t stay hidden much longer.”

A double helix and a feeling of confusion came to me. “Yes. Genetic testing isn’t good enough yet, but it will be soon. If we emerge as predators, we will be destroyed.” The book sent a picture of wolf skins hanging from a long line. “Exactly. There are too many humans to fight off. If we convince a few key leaders that working with us is smart, then we can live in harmony.” Anticipating anger, I strengthened my mental shield slightly. “I will probably have to destroy some vampires.”

Anger flashed, but was quickly followed by a feeling of righteousness. “It’s my duty to control my people?” The righteousness strengthened. That wasn’t exactly the result I was hoping for, but I’d take progress. Hard to overcome thousands of years of arrogant worship in a single day. “Okay, then.” I picked up the can and carried it and my bag to the door, opening it to reveal Mattias and Karski. “Good evening. I have come to an understanding with the prophecy—for now. Mattias, if you can guarantee they won’t try to take the prophecy from me or kill me, I’ll take the Council’s offer of shelter and training.”

Mattias nodded. “Excellent. The Council doesn’t want to kill you or take the prophecy, but they will defend themselves, their home and the Pool of Life. Understood and agreed?”

I returned his solemn nod. “Understood and agreed.” I focused on Karski’s chin. “Thank you for your help and hospitality. I appreciate it.”

“You are welcome. Work fast, Char. Theoden is sending a lot of messages, both electronic and hard copy. We don’t know what’s in them, though.” He moved to the side, clearing the doorway.

I crossed his office, chuckling. “Did you check with the badgers?”

A low growl rumbled behind me. Mattias said, “A useful suggestion, Char. I’ll do that on the drive.”

Before I opened the office door, I turned. “I’m taking my motorcycle.”

Mattias nodded. “I anticipated that. We’ll escort you. We’ll make a lot of twists and turns through town, and we may send you alone through a few alleys, because we don’t want to be followed.”

Karski’s head tilted and he frowned at Mattias. “There are only so many ways out of town.”

“Ah, but that’s where magic comes in.” The corners of his mouth rose. “I hope you didn’t waste resources putting trackers on Char’s bike.”

Karski’s lip curled. “Of course we did.” His expression cleared and he gestured at the door. “I’d appreciate it if you kept me in the loop.”

I had no reason not to. “If you do the same.” I returned to the bedroom and put on my riding clothes, then sped up the stairs and outside, joining Mattias and Karski. My bike remained near the garage where I’d parked it. Four massive white pickups idled in the driveway beyond.

A mirrored window rolled down on the nearest truck and an arm held out a headset. Mattias took it and handed it to me, so I slid it into place, then put my helmet on. The pressure was a little uncomfortable and would get worse over time, but I’d deal with it for the security.

“Grease Spot, Stone One, comms check.” Mattias tapped his ear.

I snort-laughed. I guess they didn’t think much of my mode of transportation. “Stone One, Grease Spot hears you loud and clear.” I strapped the ammo can on the back of my motorcycle.

Before I could mount, Mattias held out his hand. “I can take your backpack. Leave your microphone enabled, and stay behind Stone Two until directed otherwise.”

It hadn’t dawned on me to turn the mic off. “Of course.” About to throw my leg over the bike, I looked at the ammo can and the relatively flimsy net holding it in place. If I had to make tight turns, the whole thing could go flying. I removed the contraption, and tucked the prophecy into the inside pocket of my jacket. Keeping the seemingly sentient book that close wasn’t comfortable, but the thought of losing it was worse.

“Thanks for waiting.” I jumped on the bike, started it with a roar and waited for it to warm up. After putting the bike in half-choke, I rolled into place behind the second pickup. “Grease Spot is ready.” Without another word, we drove away, idling through the gated community, then speeding up on the streets beyond. Winding through residential areas, the convoy travelled gradually east and south and into industrial areas. I closed the choke, and followed Mattias’s directions, occasionally riding alone through narrow passages, then reconnecting with the convoy.

When the city became empty desert, we pulled off the highway and stopped behind a berm. Mattias got out of the lead pickup and motioned with his hand across his neck for me to turn the bike off. After I did, two more large men—I assumed they were gargoyles, too—got out of the second pickup and joined Mattias in front of my bike.

Mattias crooked his fingers in a beckoning motion. “Char, if you’ll join me, we’ll load your motorcycle, then continue after we obscure our vehicles.” He cracked a small smile. “And kill the trackers on your machine.”

I put the kickstand down and dismounted. “Understood and agreed. Thanks for understanding.” I wouldn’t allow myself to be stranded.

While the two men picked up my bike and secured it in the back of the second pickup–without needing a ramp–Mattias led me to the first pickup and opened the back door for me. After he got into the passenger’s seat, he spoke over his shoulder. “We understand the need for an emergency escape. Rock can be broken.”

“Or worn away.” The driver’s words had the tone of a rote reply.

Mattias nodded. “If you could shield yourself, that would help.”

I didn’t hold back my huff of uncertainty. “I’m not trained in any of this, but I’ll do my best.” I pictured myself surrounded by a shield of light like the one I’d used to cut the badgers free. The prophecy shoved into my brain, and I pushed back, hissing. The book grew hot in my pocket, and I unzipped my jacket and yanked it out. “Listen here, book. Quit trying to take over. You want to tell me something, show me.”

Anger flooded me, but I didn’t let it wash me away. I held firm, picturing myself with my hand in a stop position. Eventually, the anger faded, and acceptance took over. A picture of a bulbous structure came to me, like a round water tank on a tall stem. Power flowed up and down the stem, while the tank formed into a structure that looked like a geodesic dome combined with a toy Hoberman sphere. Each panel thinned or solidified as needed, independent of the structure’s size. “I understand, thank you.”

Using the prophecy’s instructions, I implemented the suggested shield, then lessened the power flow from the stem to a trickle. My shield glowed rather than burned, and the connection let me draw power from outside, rather than draining me.

“We can work with that.” Mattias turned to face forward, and low rumbles emitted from him like rocks grinding against each other. Which made sense, since gargoyles were supposedly living rock.

I doubted anyone else could speak their language; it might not even be possible for humans to understand it. Was their natural form a crouching, winged animal form like those on cathedrals, or something else entirely?

Eventually, the rumbling stopped. Looking out the window, I didn’t see anything different, but perhaps their magic wouldn’t be visible to me. The driver put the truck in gear, and we got back on the highway.

Mattias turned in his seat again, handing me a scarf. “Please put that around your eyes.”

I took the cloth from him. “Sure, I get it.” Hiding their location would help keep them safe. After I wrapped the scarf around my head, I relaxed against the seatback and meditated. If I didn’t, anxiety would make me jittery.

After hearing nothing but the diesel engine and tires humming on asphalt, we turned and the ride became rougher. We bounced along, slowing and speeding as the road conditions allowed, then finally stopped, the rumble of the motor ceasing.

“You can take the blindfold off now,” Mattias said. Truck door latches clicked and dry, dust air flowed. I removed the scarf and grabbed my helmet. My door opened, Mattias holding it and my backpack. “You can leave your helmet with the motorcycle. It will be safe here.” He pointed behind me. The same two large men lifted my motorcycle from the back of their pickup, then rolled it to the side of the parking lot.

I followed. The convoy’s pickup trucks were parked in a row behind a fleet of large vehicles, inside a gigantic rock cavern. Bright lights above illuminated the orange and beige walls and ceiling, and the slightly sandy floor I trod. Immense doors, like those on an airplane hanger, blocked the cavern’s exit. Human-sized doors on both ends of the cavern’s opening allowed foot traffic.

Or, in my case, a motorcycle. I hung my helmet on my handlebars and returned to Mattias. The rest of the convoy’s inhabitants were already moving to a smaller tunnel beyond the parked vehicles.

Mattias nodded once. “Welcome to Council Shield, Charlene Flammen. We offer sanctuary, but only if you swear to harm none within and assist with mutual defense.” His heavy brows rose slightly. “Do you so swear?”

***To be continued***

Working Class Vegas Vamp Copyright © 2024 by AM Scott. All Rights Reserved.

Cover by Achlys Book Cover Designs

The post Working Class Vegas Vamp–Chapter 23 first appeared on AM Scott.

Working Class Vegas Vamp — Chapter 22

Working Class Vegas Vamp is a free urban fantasy serial, usually publishing on Tuesdays. It is unedited and subject to change. If published later, it may differ significantly, and will probably include additional material. Typos and English errors are likely; feel free to leave a comment or write me at am {AT} amscottwrites.com (revised as a standard email address. Pesky bots!) Available for a limited time only!

Haven’t started yet? Chapter 1: https://www.amscottwrites.com/2024/10/29/working-class-vegas-vamp-chapter-1/ ‎

Chapter 22

We pulled into Karski’s garage and I retrieved the ammo can, pinching the handle between my thumb and forefinger and holding it at arm’s length. Being controlled by an ancient prophecy or deity spawned by the belief of nasty vampires creeped me out. But I couldn’t forget that the prophecy book had helped me win against Theo. Honestly, help was too weak a word, though. Rather, it used me like a puppet. The effort and willpower was mine, but the targeted refinement of that willpower was beyond me.

Whatever this thing was, it could manipulate my thoughts and feelings. I’d have to guard against it and fight it, or find a way to work with it. Or burn it.

Anger flooded me again, and I dropped the ammo can. It smacked against the floor, leaving a shattered tile. “Sorry, I’ll pay for the damages.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Karski huffed. “Wolf claws chew up tile. We replace them regularly.”

I regarded the can, swallowing my revulsion. That…thing enabled me to fight off Theoden. I couldn’t afford to turn down an advantage. But it had to provide more than it took. Revulsion warring against need, I retrieved the ammo can, still holding it at arm’s length, and trotted down the stairs.

Karski let me into his sanctuary and strode to the bedroom beyond. “I hope my people can find a containment vessel quickly. Until then, we need to keep it as far from my pack as possible. I’ll find shelter for you somewhere else.” He opened the door, holding it open for me.

“I understand.” After I entered, I turned back to face Karski. “There’s no telling if lead will work. It might take silver or gold, or maybe nothing will work.”

“That’s a good point.” Karski’s mouth twisted. “I’ll find some silver and gold foil. We can use multiple layers.” He pushed the door, then caught it before it closed. He stared at my chin. “And Char? I don’t want to, but if I come down here tomorrow and you’re that…thing again, I’ll kill you true dead myself.” His eyes flashed gold, then the door slammed shut.

Fury battered me, but I really couldn’t blame Karski. That thing wanted me to drain him dry as we drove, which could have killed both of us. I carried the ammo can to the bathroom and put it in the tub, right under the faucet. Then I popped the can open and thinned my mental shield. “Here’s the deal, book. I’m happy to work with you, but if you attempt to take me over, I’ll drown you. I’d bet your ink isn’t waterproof. I am the Unbound Queen, and I will not be bound by you. Understood?”

Hatred battered me, but I kept my hand on the faucet handle, ready to slam my shields closed while I studied the little black book. The slim volume was about four inches wide and six inches tall; the cover shimmered like an oil slick on swampy water. No writing marred the slightly pebbled surface. I wanted to read it, but I wasn’t touching it until we came to an understanding or I had protective gear. Since it burned Karski through a heavy leather glove, I wasn’t sure anything could shield me from the effects.

A knock thudded on the bedroom door. I closed the can, compartmentalized the book’s anger, and renewed my shields. Crossing to the door, I peered at the sensor. Mattias, Fantastique’s gargoyle security chief, stood there with Karski. I opened it to let them in. “The sun rises soon.”

“I know.” Mattias entered, Karski closing the door and standing with his back to it. “Where is it?”

“You can’t have it.” The book was mine!

Mattias held up his hands, palm out. “I don’t want it. Trust me, I don’t even want to talk about it. But I’m the one who’s here, so I have to.” He folded his arms across his massive chest. “And unless you want to go full Golumn ‘my precious,’” he hissed the quote, “I suggest you listen.”

I strengthen my shields again. “Sorry. I’m trying to keep it out of my head, but it’s tenacious.”

“Powerful immortals revered that book for thousands of years.” Mattias spread his hands wide. “We don’t think they intended to create a deity, but we believe they did.”

“Who’s we?” I had no trouble believing his words, but his motivations were unclear. “And why do you want to help?”

“We are the Gargoyle Guardians.” He smirked. “Yes, I’m aware of how the alliteration sounds.” Returning to his normal blank expression, he continued. “The Gargoyle Guardians protect the magic allowing the supernatural community to stay hidden. We call it the ‘Pool of Life.’ As technology improves, it’s become almost impossible. The supernatural community must change their ways if they wish to remain a secret. The Council has created guidelines, but we know most of the community won’t follow them. They’re too arrogant, too ignorant of scientific and technological advances.”

“I tried to warn Theoden that he was playing with fire, but he wouldn’t listen.” I couldn’t see his bully boys giving up their petty amusements.

Mattias grimaced. “Believe it or not, he’s made some progress with his people. Vampires like Trinity were kept close. But Theoden feels threatened, and I’m not sure he’s wrong.”

“What is the threat?” Karski snapped the question before I could.

Mattias turned to face Karski. “Vampire rulers have remained in their territories for centuries, both through agreement and magical limitations. We’re not entirely sure how, but they seem to be tethered to the area they were turned in. With enough power, that tie can be broken. The threat to Theoden’s creator was so immense that he escaped, but even though he was ancient and immensely powerful, his efforts broke him. He never recovered, and Theoden had to kill him.” Mattias focused on me. “Vampire leaders around the world have been waiting for the Unbound Queen. They believe the Unbound will free them from all constraints, including their place ties. If she does, the vampires will war for dominance. Theoden is relatively young. He inherited the prophecy, but he doesn’t have the power to hang on to his territory if the older vamps attack. Vegas is valuable.”

Theoden’s efforts to control me now made sense. “So if he controls me, then I keep him safe.” I didn’t hold back my eye roll. “Ridiculous man. If he’d told me, I would have told him I have no interest in freeing the vampires to war on each other. The carnage would kill too many innocents.”

“It would also irrevocably reveal supernaturals to the world.” Karski frowned. “But Theoden, for all his business sense, is still a product of his times. One, he can’t handle the thought of a woman in charge. Two, humans are food. And three, he believes altruism is weak.”

Mattias nodded. “That’s only part of it. One of the reasons Theoden hasn’t forced you to take the crown, Char, is because he didn’t want to bring attention to you. When you were turned, the Council felt the impact in the Pool of Life. They didn’t know what the shock was, only that it occurred, and in the Vegas area. It took years of research to figure out what caused that reverberation, and the possible repercussions. Once they discovered you’d been turned free because of an ancient prophecy, they set watchers on you.”

He nodded at my unspoken question about his employment at Fantastique. “In addition, the oldest vampires felt your turning. They were furious, because they were all positive Theoden didn’t have the experience or age to know who the right person was to fulfill the prophecy.”

I snorted. “I’m pretty sure they were right.” Why anyone would pick me was a mystery. Uneducated, poor, and middle-aged—none of that screamed royalty or chosen one.

Mattias shook his head. “They were wrong. The prophecy picked you. The Council summoned Theoden to an audience here in Vegas. No one can withstand the power of the gathered council, and they dragged the story of your turning out of Theoden. After Theoden killed his creator, the prophecy told him about you through dreams. It didn’t know what you looked like, but it knew the measure of your soul. After you were born, the dreams became more specific. Then you moved here, and the prophecy felt your proximity. Theoden’s vampires searched for you, and they found a woman they couldn’t mesmerize. Nor could Theoden, no matter how hard he tried. He finally brought the book with him when he was trying to take you over at the bar. When it didn’t work, the book told him it wanted you. He suspects the book created the mob confrontation that killed you.”

“Are you kidding me?” I glared at the book right through the walls. “Now I really hate that thing. If Theoden had told me what I’d be doing to survive, I’d have told him to let me die.” At least I thought I would. In that moment’s cold, I might have begged for my life, regardless.

Mattias’s head tilted. “He did not fully inform you? What did he say?”

“No.” I didn’t like remembering that time, but some things were permanently etched in my mind. “I was lying in a pool of my own blood. Dying. He asked me if I wanted to live. I said yes. He said, ‘if I keep you alive it will hurt. It will create the worst pain you’ve ever endured. But you will have a life. Do you agree?’ And I said yes.” I remembered drinking his blood, then fire running through my entire body. The rest I tried to block out.

“That is not true consent.” His head shook ponderously.

I shrugged off his concerns and the memories. “Doesn’t really matter. I’m here, I’ve been living with the least amount of negative impact I can, and I’m apparently the Unbound Queen.” I couldn’t hold back a grimace at the ridiculous statement.

“It is indeed a rock already thrown.” Mattias sighed. “However, Theoden did not tell the Council about this, which makes me suspect he lied by omission more than once. That is the nature of vampires.”

Karski huffed. “That’s the nature of most supernaturals. Don’t share.”

“Despite the need for secrecy, I can tell you a little more, Char.” Mattias met my gaze. “One, the oldest vampires believe the Unbound Queen can also free them from other constraints, such as burning in the sun and the need for blood. Two, Theoden and other vampires can read part of the prophecy, but not all of it. Theoden told the Council what he knew.”

When Karski made a scoffing sound, Mattias held up his hand. “Or claimed to know; he certainly held information back. Three, if you are killed, the prophecy will search for the next Unbound Queen. Many vampires are unhappy with Theoden’s choice, but they don’t want to wait for centuries for the next chosen one to appear. We believe that’s why Theoden pushed you—more than one vampire threatened to have you assassinated unless you manifested as the Unbound Queen. Tonight, the vampires recorded your confrontation with Theoden from multiple locations. He wore a camera, too. We don’t know if that demonstration will placate them or not.” He grimaced.

Just what I needed. A price on my head that I couldn’t pay, and even if I could, I wouldn’t. I wasn’t freeing a bunch of ancient vampires to war on each other, even if they no longer needed blood.

“Char, the Gargoyle Guardians Council wants to know if you’ve read the prophecy.” Mattias pointed at the bathroom. “Whether you have or not, they require your attendance. Immediately.” He crossed his arms, blocking the door quite effectively.

My life was so weird. Only I’d get stuck between a rock, a wolf and an angry magical book. “I haven’t read it yet. Last time I picked it up, it almost took me over. I’ve devised a way to hold it off for now, but I really don’t want to touch that thing.” I shuddered.

Mattias shook his head. “You have to. The Council will compel you if necessary.”

My fangs dropped, and I hissed. “I am the Unbound Queen! I do not answer to them.”

***To be continued***

Working Class Vegas Vamp Copyright © 2024 by AM Scott. All Rights Reserved.

Cover by Achlys Book Cover Designs

The post Working Class Vegas Vamp — Chapter 22 first appeared on AM Scott.

Working Class Vegas Vamp–Chapter 21

Working Class Vegas Vamp is a free urban fantasy serial, usually publishing on Tuesdays. It is unedited and subject to change. If published later, it may differ significantly, and will probably include additional material. Typos and English errors are likely; feel free to leave a comment or write me at am {AT} amscottwrites.com (revised as a standard email address. Pesky bots!) Available for a limited time only!

Haven’t started yet? Chapter 1: https://www.amscottwrites.com/2024/10/29/working-class-vegas-vamp-chapter-1/ ‎

Chapter 21

Thirty minutes later, I rode in the backseat of a large SUV. Karski drove. A coyote in human form sat next to him, carrying a small semi-automatic rifle. A wolf sat next to me, and two more panted behind me. Our vehicle was in the middle of a long line of dark-colored SUVs. I knew Karski had sent a couple of motorcycles ahead to scout the area, and more pack members were setting up sniper positions. The badgers and gargoyles had taken Karski’s communication devices, but hadn’t promised to stick to his plan.

That was fine by me. Unpredictability might save the day, or me, maybe. But I wouldn’t count on anyone but myself. If Theoden had given his people kill orders, I’d be dead. If he didn’t, then he’d try to take me over. The best thing I could do was shore up my defenses. Knowing I’d need the energy, I’d taken blood from two more of the badgers, leaving Freddie’s contribution for after the confrontation. My body almost hummed with power.

But Theoden would do the same, or worse. I meditated, imaging a shield surrounding me, powered by my adamant will. I would triumph and save all of us. When we made a sharp turn, I opened my eyes, knowing I was ready. The bullet resistant vest, a helmet, and tactical clothing didn’t hurt, either, although none of it would save me from a high-powered rifle round.

“We’re almost there,” Karski said. “We’ve cleared a path so we can drive straight to the meeting point where we’ll drop you. Our perimeter is solid, but the vampires have one too. We haven’t confronted any of them, but they’re all under surveillance.”

Theoden would do the same. “And yours are in the same boat?”

Karski nodded. “Yes. My people are being watched, mostly through high-powered rifle scopes and armed drones. We’re targeting Theoden’s people with the same, plus pack in animal form.”

Great; we had mutually assured destruction again, just on a larger scale. “And if it looks like I’ve given into Theoden?”

He glanced over his shoulder. “You won’t.”

I smiled, but I knew it looked grim. “I won’t. But I might do something that looks like I have, so don’t let your people kill me.” Sometimes, the best way to success was from the inside.

“Char, you’re not going to fall under his spell. I know that. But as much as I want to protect you for my pack’s sake, you are not pack. I won’t start a war for you if you lose.”

No one sane would, nor did I want that, even if the betrayed child inside of me wailed in protest. I knew the voice of my emotional trauma. I was an adult, and capable of reason, rather than reaction. “Good. Don’t.”

“I will, however, defend my pack against all outsiders, including you, if necessary.”

“Understood.” And I did. I wasn’t his responsibility. I’d made that clear; he was making sure I understood all the ramifications. Getting Theoden to understand would be harder. Despite his centuries of life, KT was a privileged toddler used to getting his way and throwing tantrums when he didn’t. But he had plenty of power, money and people to throw. I hoped we could have a simple conversation, but I wasn’t betting on it.

At the very least, I’d have to fight off mental control attempts from the very start. I had a few advantages—very few. Theoden was used to success. He hadn’t had to fight on his own for a very long time. Which made me wonder what traps he’d already planned and who he’d involved. Probably the representative of the religion spawned by the prophecy, and his highest lieutenants. There might be a way for those people to join Theoden’s mental efforts against me, and then they’d get close enough to overwhelm me with numbers.

So I had to strike hard and fast. Karski pulled to a stop in the middle of a huge barren area, the ground covered with odd markings from the fireworks testing. I waited for the dust to settle, then opened the door.

Karski turned, his eyes glowing amber. “We’re all pulling for you, Char. Go get him.”

“Thanks.” As the vehicle pulled away, I didn’t look back. I was on my own; I’d refused to wear a microphone or earpiece. Theoden would overhear anything they said, and I didn’t need the wolf overreacting to Theoden’s words. KT would do his best to get a rise out of me.

Within seconds, another vehicle appeared—a limousine, of course. Theoden was undoubtedly sipping blood wine, ready for a quick escape with the prize.

I reinforced my mental shield, but left a small “window” to push my thoughts through. As the long, black car stopped twenty feet from me, I could feel Theoden, the driver, and three others in the car. The driver got out and opened the back door.

I projected disdain through my shield. “Alone, Theoden. That was the deal. You agreed.”

Theoden gracefully exited the vehicle. “That will be all until I call.” The driver got back in and drove away.

Theoden wore a perfectly fitted black suit with a blood red tie, and his mind pummeled mine. His hair had grown and flopped in the wind, his face was dark with taken blood, and his fangs extended halfway down his chin. He held out his hand. “Come, Charlene Flammen. Now!”

I thrust his pitiful attempts to control me away. I lowered my tone and volume, shoving the thoughts of pleasure and favor to him, while keeping my revulsion hidden. “Come to me, Theoden Klaus. Come here.” I lifted the corners of my mouth in a seductive expression.

He took one step forward and clenched his hand. “No. You will come to me!”

Using my hard-won bartender to-the-ugly-skills, I smiled and shook my head slowly, while employing every bit of mesmerization I’d learned. “You want to come. Join me, Klaus Theoden.”

His body shaking, he thrust both arms skyward. “Now!”

Rifles boomed, making me jump and fumble my connection to Theoden. I set my feet and reinforced my desire. I couldn’t outrun a bullet, but I would not be moved. Theoden would come to heel.

Vampires sprinted across the open ground almost faster than the eye could see, but the fusillade of rifle rounds kept them away from the two of us. The sand in front of each vampire fountained under the impact of automatic fire, forcing them back in a twisting, turning dance.

My attention remained on Klaus. “I name you oath-breaker, Theoden Klaus.” The old-fashioned words rose unbidden. My arms rose, my hands stretching towards Theo. “Who are you to bind the Unbound Queen?” I hissed, my fangs dropping. “My book, now.” I shoved my will at him. I didn’t know where the words were coming from, but I couldn’t spare the time to worry about it. Especially when it was working.

Theoden reached into his jacket, withdrew a slim, black rectangle, and tossed it at my feet. Then he appeared in front of me, clamping his hand around my neck.

I grabbed his wrist, keeping his burned hand close. The gargoyle glamor had worked—Theo hadn’t noticed the silver-clad leather neck guard I wore. “You are mine.” I put my other hand on his cheek and stared into his eyes, forcing him to submit.

“No!” He jerked away, then stooped.

I jabbed my knee into his chin, knocking him away from the book of prophecy, sending him sprawling on the sand. I scooped the book up and held it to my chest. “Mine.”

Theoden ran, his vampires following. He almost flew, reaching his limo and diving inside, leaving his people to run behind. The car sped away, dust rising in its wake, scraping through a hole cut in the fence. His vampires followed, climbing into a fleet of SUVs.

Two bodies sprawled headless on the plain, black blood oozing from shattered spines. My people, their second life wasted by that selfish man. I stared at the true dead, mourning.

A black SUV rolled towards me, slowing and stopping a few steps away. Karski lowered the window. “Char, are you okay?”

Char. Char was my name. I shivered, shoving back the presence that put words in my mouth and forced my body to act. “I’m not sure.”

“Is that the prophecy?” He nodded at the greasy leather notebook in my hands. “Are you getting in or standing there?”

The sun would rise before I could return to a safe spot. Going with Karski was wise. “I’m coming.” I walked to the door behind him.

He frowned. “Get in the passenger seat.”

I walked around the SUV and climbed inside, then put the book on my lap. Keeping one hand on the leather, I buckled in. “Go.”

Karski’s head jolted, and he leaned away from me. “Are you okay, Char?”

“Yes. Go. We must find safety before the sun rises.” I felt disconnected from my body, and a sense of mortal danger lingered.

He put the vehicle in drive and followed the path the fleeing vampires took. “Before you ask, the two vampires who died are known for preying on children. They’ve been marked for death by the supernatural community, excluding the vampires, of course. Neither has been seen for years.”

“A year is blink in the life of a vampire.” I stared at Karski, hunger rising. “Hold out your arm.”

Karski’s arm rose, then his hand clamped around the steering wheel. Yanking the wheel, he pulled off the road, slamming us against the seatbelts. “You aren’t Char.” He unbuckled, turned towards me and snarled, his head morphing to the wolf’s.

I hissed at him, my fangs dropping, then I retracted them so fast it hurt. The pain shocked me, and I dropped the book on the floor. “Whoa. Sorry.” I reinforced my personal shield and nudged the booklet away with my booted toe. “I don’t think I should touch that.” Anger and need pummeled my mind.

Karski got out of the SUV and ran to the back, raising the tailgate. He came around to my door and opened it. “May I?” His hand was covered in a thick leather glove.

I nodded, frantically. “Yes, please. But don’t throw it away. I’m pretty sure we’ll need it.”

He pinched a corner of the slim volume between his forefinger and thumb, the book falling open. He growled and ran to the back of the SUV. I followed, watching him toss the book into a metal container. “Hopefully, the ammo can will shield you from the effects until we can get back to the house.” He closed the can and slammed the tailgate shut. “But I don’t want anyone else carrying it. Too risky.”

Anger burned through me. I gritted my teeth and backed away, hardening my mind against the book. “Yeah. It’s not happy now.” I returned to the front seat, forcing my dragging feet forward.

Karski hooked his arm into mine. “Come along, Char, just a few more steps.” We reached the seat. He shoved me in, then closed the door.

Concentrating on my shield, I fastened my belt and rolled my shoulders, then paid attention to my breathing, grounding myself. This was my body, flaws and all. My mind, my heart, my soul. I was me.

Karski got in, belted, and pulled out. He clicked a button on the steering wheel. “Call Virginia.”

“Calling Virginia. Please standby,” the pleasant female voice said.

“Yeah, boss?” A woman’s voice; Theo’s limo driver.

“I need a containment vessel. Lead-lined preferably. Big enough for that book I was holding. Can you get one?”

“We don’t have one, but I’m sure we can come up with something. I’ll get on that when we get back. Are you okay? Need someone else to drive?”

“I’m fine. Not a problem now.” He clicked the button and disconnected the call. “Are you doing any better, Char?”

“Yeah.” I felt in control again, but the anger simmered and pushed at my shield. I shoved it away. “That thing is gonna be a problem.”

“Yes, it is.” He glanced at me. “Not only did that thing try to burn me, but I couldn’t read a word of it.”

My gut sank. I hadn’t even tried—yet.

***To be continued***

Working Class Vegas Vamp Copyright © 2024 by AM Scott. All Rights Reserved.

Cover by Achlys Book Cover Designs

The post Working Class Vegas Vamp–Chapter 21 first appeared on AM Scott.

Working Class Vegas Vamp Chapter 20

Working Class Vegas Vamp is a free urban fantasy serial, usually publishing on Tuesdays. It is unedited and subject to change. If published later, it may differ significantly, and will probably include additional material. Typos and English errors are likely; feel free to leave a comment or write me at am {AT} amscottwrites.com (revised as a standard email address. Pesky bots!) Available for a limited time only!

Haven’t started yet? Chapter 1: https://www.amscottwrites.com/2024/10/29/working-class-vegas-vamp-chapter-1/

Chapter 20

I watched the military-style preparations surrounding me with despair. Karski was in his element, born to be a general and doing it well. The badgers just wanted to tear things apart. The rest of the shifters agreed, but wanted a plan. The gargoyles were present, but not engaging, other than to answer direct questions.

All I could see was a lot of people dying, including a lot of bystanders. There had to be a better way.

“You don’t look happy, Char.” Freddie’s voice came from behind me.

I spun and frowned at her. “Thanks for startling me. Like I don’t have enough trouble now.”

Freddie smirked. “You’ve got a ton of it here, for sure. This big elaborate war plan is doomed to fail, with a ton of collateral damage. Plus, Theoden’s got excellent air attack defenses on his tower, so we can’t parachute a small team in anymore.” She put her hand out flat, twisting and turning it in a descending spiral. “Even gargoyles can’t glide in. He’s got big caliber automatic weapons on the roof, and they’ll eventually chip the gargoyles to pieces. Those pieces will fall on the streets below.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.” That’s why the Alpha was planning a suicidal frontal assault with shoulder-fired rockets.

She smirked. “Theoden and his buddies aren’t in his tower anymore. They’ve relocated to a secret underground vault in the mountains. It’s built into an old mine and the only way in will take a huge amount of shaped charges to blow through. Or maybe a nuke.” She smiled slowly. “Unless you know about the emergency escape tunnel. Then, it just takes a single shaped charge or the combination, plus some stealth and a little luck.”

I rolled my eyes. “Let me guess. You know where the emergency escape is, and you want me to get the shaped charges.”

“You’re smart, Char.” She winked.

“Or Theoden paid you a lot of money to bring me in, and this is the easiest way to do that.”

She put a hand over her heart and glared. “Ouch. Why would you ever believe I’d work with that guy? I hate him.”

She did, that much was obvious. But exactly why was the mystery. “You might hate him, but you love money, and once you’re bought, you stay bought. You told me that yourself.” I scanned the room, and stared at Mattias, the Fantasique’s security manager. He’d always had my back, and I was fairly certain he wouldn’t let me down now. Plus, trying to extract Karski quietly from the middle of his shifters would never happen.

“It’s true. But I’d never willingly work with KT.” Her lip curled. “He’s scum.”

Karski hadn’t wanted to work with Theoden either, but he had, and for good reason. Even if I couldn’t forget his nose shoved against my rear end. Mattias glanced at me, then met my gaze and barely nodded. While I replied to Freddie, I looked at the ballroom ceiling, then returned to Karski at the war table. Mattias’s gaze followed mine, then he looked away. “Let’s talk upstairs. You can tell me what you’re thinking.” I left the ballroom and trotted up the stairs to one of the club meeting rooms. Freddie was on my heels. Even though I couldn’t hear them, I’d be willing to bet her sisters weren’t far behind. I hated not trusting friends, but that’s the only reason I’d survived so far. Of course, I was trusting a gargoyle who wasn’t even a friend, just an ex-coworker, and a wolf with his own agenda.

With his niece free, I trusted Karski more than the rest of them, though. At the top of the stairs, I walked down the hallway to a conference room and entered, striding to the far end of the table. Freddie probably thought she had me trapped. They didn’t know that I was fast enough to go through the window, or across the table, straight through them.

Freddie stood behind the chair to my right, and as I expected, the rest of the badger girls ran in, two of them firing tasers at me. I swept my arm down and across the wires before the barbs embedded in my body, ducking and pulling the wires under the end of the conference table. More projectiles sailed over my head, smacking into the wall behind me.

I picked up the chair in front of me and stood, swinging hard and bashing Freddie in the head. I caught her sister with backswing and threw the chair at the third. By the time I reached the far end of the table, Mattias blocked the door, the fourth badger’s throat in his hand.

I ran back to Freddie and copied Mattias’s move, grasping her throat. Her pulse pounded under my thumb and forefinger, and I couldn’t help licking my lips. “Such a bad, bad badger. Did you think I’d trust you?” I forced her to meet my gaze. “Tell me everything about this attempt to take me. Start with the initial contact.” I mesmerized her without remorse; she’d brought this on herself.

But it wasn’t working. Her jaw clamped and her pulse and breathing rate rose. I pushed my will on hers, harder, surrounding her with the same spherical shield I’d used on Irene. Words poured out of my mouth. “The Unbound Queen frees you from all other binds. Speak truth, now!” I slammed the sphere shut, enclosing the two of us.

She gasped in pain, then her eyes popped wide. “KT. He got me. He got all of us.” Gasping the words, she panted in between phrases.

I loosened my grip and did a quick sweep of the room. Mattias and Karski restrained the other three even though they struggled in the iron grip of their captors. I’d have to unbind them, too. “How did it start?” I captured her gaze again.

“Normal contact on our portal for a snatch and grab from a human. She assured us it was an abduction for child support leverage, not a killing, so we agreed to meet. As soon as we got there, KT’s vamps surrounded us and he mesmerized all of us.” She shuddered. “It was horrible. I owe you for getting me free.”

“You do. In blood, Freddie. Because cutting people loose is hard.” I hungered, but it wasn’t raging—yet.

She shivered, but nodded. “I understand. Can you free my sisters, please?”

I nodded. “Same deal. They owe me blood.” The women struggled harder.

“Agreed.” Freddie swallowed hard and held out her wrist.

“Not yet. Sit. Stay.” I pushed past her and captured the gaze of the next badger, surrounding and freeing her, then the next, and the last. Each one was easier than the last, but by the time I finished, I was ravenous. Not looking away from the last badger, I spoke to Mattias. “Are you willing to run a timer for me? Two minutes.”

“Yes.” He pulled out a cell phone and tapped on it. “Go.”

I licked and drank from the badger. Her blood had a strange flavor, but it wasn’t unpleasant; it was similar to eating sharp cheese. Power swept through me. Not as good as the wolf, but better than a human. When the phone chimed, I pulled away and licked the wounds shut.

“That’s so weird,” the girl said. “It hurt, then it didn’t, and then it felt good. I really don’t like vampires.” She shuddered.

I laughed. “I don’t like them either. We’re all horrible.”

Freddie shook her head. “Not really. Taking someone’s free will is awful, but other than that, I don’t see much of a difference between you and me. You’re a specialized carnivore rather than an omnivorous predator. Plus, you’re not drinking people dead or mesmerizing for fun and sex. That’s the difference.”

“Let’s focus on the current situation.” Karski sat on the table in front of Freddie. “What do you know about Theodore? Where is he now? What’s his plan?”

“I told the truth before, just not all of it.” She shrugged one shoulder. “He and his buddies are in their super-secure hideout inside an old mine in the mountains. Going through the front door would take a couple of anti-tank rounds, and the back escape hatch is the same. The plan was to bring Char to the escape hatch, and then the vampires would surround us. They’d overwhelm her with numbers in the narrow space.”

An idea rumbled in the back of my mind, but it wasn’t quite ready for prime time. “Have you been there?”

She grimaced. “Only the outside. One of KT’s minions showed me the entrance to the back escape. You wind through a big stack of broken-off hoodoos and boulders, then the tunnel starts. The vault hatch is supposedly about fifty yards down the tunnel.”

“And what about the main vault door?”

She shrugged. “You can’t see it from the mine entrance. I don’t know how deep it is. The mine entrance is fenced off, and there are cameras everywhere.”

I turned to Karski. “Why didn’t we know they left? And can we find out who they took with them and who was left behind?”

Mattias broke in. “We knew they left. We watch that tower closely.”

Karski shot a glare at him. “That would have been useful information.” He grimaced. “There are limos in and out of Theodore’s tower constantly, and they all have dark windows. We do what we can, but that’s not much. Every time we hack the cameras, we’re in for five to ten minutes if we’re lucky, then they kick us out. He’s got excellent network security.”

“You know who normally lives in the tower, though, right? Can you get a list of those missing? I want to know if any of the vampires are still in the tower, and which humans are gone. Because I think there might be an easy solution to the entire problem.”

Karski frowned, then his lips turned up as he caught my meaning. “It might be a cat’s solution, but I think we can make it work.”

*

Three days later, I had answers, but I wasn’t happy about most of them. Theo, all his vampires, and all his humans had literally gone underground. If the humans were all willing, I’d have buried them alive in their litter box and let them prey on each other. But there were too many innocents involved. Theoden wasn’t stupid. He knew I wouldn’t cause that much collateral damage.

The gargoyles reported he sent vampires in and out of his tower every night. Usually, they transported boxes and bags to the mine, and envelopes out–a mail run. Karski’s people uncovered a copy of a commercial delivery contract for food, liquor, and other comfort items three times a week for the next month. Vampires weren’t fans of roughing it.

During the day, Karski’s foxes and coyotes had searched a five-mile diameter around the mine and found two more escape tunnels. They’d also mapped the Starlink antennas, cameras, tripwires and other sensors and evaded multiple drones running surveillance patterns. Three of them got hit with tranquilizer darts. Since they worked in groups, they rescued the fallen before the vamp’s security could snatch them.

One of Karski’s wolves ran a major construction company and after winning a poker game against a competitor, got a look at the mine blueprints. The facility had multiple air intakes with excellent filtration that automatically shut down if foreign substances were detected, like tear gas. If I was willing to kill everyone, we could get enough poison inside, but I was trying to save the innocents.

Karski pounded his fist on the table. “There’s got to be a way to get the humans out.”

“I don’t think there is.” Mattias shook his head. “Theoden’s not stupid.”

We’d been over this before. Maybe it was time to look at where we could go, rather than where we couldn’t. “Let’s go with our first plan and break into Theoden’s tower. I bet we’ll find some interesting things, even with the vampires gone.”

“I’m sure he’s set traps.” Karski grimaced. “I would.”

I nodded. “I know, but I still think we should look, especially at the temple. I’m sure they took the book of prophecy, but we might find some clues.”

“You may find more than that, Char.” Mattias’s thick brows almost met, an unusual display of emotion for the normally stoic gargoyle. “We’re talking about an ancient religion with centuries of worship. That can create a deity. If there is a temple, it might be dangerous.”

I wasn’t the true-believer type. Becoming a mindless priestess or an empty vessel for a minor god would be even worse.

Karski tilted his head, his amber eyes glowing brighter. “That might have been Theoden’s plan all along. Leave, draw us into the tower, take us out with traps, and sucker Char into the temple where whatever they’ve hatched can take over.”

Freddie inspected her fingernails. “KT’s been stalking Char for a long time. He’s tried courting, he’s tried manipulation, he’s tried forcing a business relationship, and he’s tried abduction. I don’t think it’s just the thrill of the hunt. He wants her to join him willingly, but he’s lost patience.”

Mattias nodded. “I think you’re partially correct, Freddie. Theoden lives for the chase, but he’s adapted to modern times by pursuing his business goals, and done very well. I think he applied that same method to Char. His sudden escalation says two things to me. One, whatever he wants Char for, it will work better if she does it willingly, under his leadership. Two, he’s being pushed by outside pressures. He’s not one to give up easily. He enjoys challenges, and Char has provided decades of entertainment. But I’ve watched the ballroom video, and that’s an unhappy man who’s no longer one hundred percent certain he can win.”

“He’s lucky he kept his life.” Karski finished with a growl.

Mattias shook his head. “You’re lucky too. If you hadn’t shot right away with the correct placement, you might be under his control. Next time, don’t let him touch you, especially not skin to skin. That strengthens his abilities. Wear long sleeves, a hat, and gloves.”

“I appreciate that information very much.” Karski nodded. “You’re partially right. My humanity almost fell, but my wolf was still free. I was about to shift when he ran. If we invade any of Theoden’s abodes, the pack will be in wolf form, which limits our usefulness with modern weaponry.”

But Karski could change partway, so maybe he could use a weapon. I wouldn’t ask with all these non-pack members around.

“That’s why we went in badger form,” Freddie said. “Took forever to force the change, but it was the only way we could be sure.”

I doubted she was absolutely certain even in badger form. Although, if any animal could withstand an ancient vamp, it would be a badger.

Freddie continued, “Whatever we’re going to do, we need to do something soon. All this sitting around talking is getting us nowhere fast.”

“Failure to plan is planning to fail.” Karski frowned at her.

“It also makes us sitting ducks for an attack.” Freddie motioned at the second-floor conference room, the blinds drawn and ultrasonic vibrators—to prevent long-distance listening devices—mounted on the glass. “I know you’ve got people out watching, but every minute we spend here increases the chance of them coming after us.”

He growled for a moment. “I know that. That’s one of the reasons we didn’t meet yesterday. I’d planned on making a final decision today, regardless.”

I’d spent yesterday going over the intelligence Karski had gathered on Theoden and his vampires. His lieutenants weren’t simple bully boys after all. Looking back, I suspected they’d tried to force a reaction from me. It didn’t excuse their behavior, because the issue could have been resolved if they’d simply listened to what I had to say. But they were too set in their ways, too certain that a baby vampire couldn’t control her emotions and reactions the way I had. They’d attempted to make me snap, but I’d learned to control my reactions in a much harsher environment than KT’s luxury tower. I’d also learned that running kept me alive, so I had. KT had probably forced Pamela to contact and shelter me, to keep me from slaughtering every human in my vicinity. When that didn’t happen, he was finally forced to admit that I could survive on my own. He’d modified his approach. That still left me wondering why he’d forced the issue now. “You know, Theo’s organization didn’t listen to me. Maybe I need to talk to him.”

“No.” Karski slashed his hand through the air in front of his body. “Way too dangerous. Besides, he’s made it clear. He wants complete surrender or nothing.”

Freddie backhanded his shoulder. “They have these things called phones, genius. She doesn’t have to get close to him. My sister can even route the call to mask the location.”

I pushed the corner of Karski’s phone, making it spin on the table in front of him. “He knows we’re here. Just call.”

“I don’t think this will work.” But he tapped, and the call rang through.

After five rings, a voice finally answered. “What do you want, Karski?” It was Theoden’s voice, unusually impatient.

“Nothing, Theoden. But Flammen wants to talk to you. I recommend you listen and discuss, but that’s your decision.” Karski’s tone was flat, but I could hear the exasperation. Theoden probably could, too.

“Charlene,” he practically purred. “I’m listening.”

My lip curled, but I controlled my immediate revulsion. “What exactly do you want with me, Theoden? We can fight, but it’s a waste of people, time, and money. If you keep forcing me to submit, we will fight. I don’t belong to anyone, especially you. So what is the problem you’re trying to use me to solve?”

“I’m not talking about this over the phone.” He snapped the words.

“Then I guess we’ll fight, because I’m not wasting lives trying to meet with you in person. You can’t be trusted. You’ve proven that.”

“How dare you doubt my word!”

I snorted. “You broke your word by attacking Karski.”

“He broke first. He threatened my people.”

I couldn’t hold back a sigh. “You had his human niece, doorknob. And your people were armed. Of course he threatened them. Let’s return to the subject, which is talking about whatever issue you’ve got. You said there was a threat coming, a threat to all of us. What is that threat, and why is it my problem?”

“I will not share my secrets with animals. Charlene Flammen, come here to me, now.”

I could hear the command in his voice even over my team’s protests, but it rolled over me without effect. “No. I won’t. That doesn’t work on me, Theo. Not even in person. And you’re not going to seduce me, either. Stop trying. It’s annoying.” He might be physically attractive, but his personality negated that entirely.

“I will talk to you and you alone about this, Charlene. Meet me at Arrolime in an hour. I will drop a pin and text it to Karski. My people and yours will remain at the bottom of the hill while we meet at the top. No listening devices, no sniper rifles.”

Karski shook his head. “How do we know it’s not already trapped?”

“Make a counter-offer.” Theoden spoke without emotion.

“Send your pin.”

A text popped on Karski’s phone and he displayed it on the large screen in the conference room. The location was at the top of a hill, one of several near Highway 91. Karski zoomed out, then into a facility nearby. He muted the phone’s microphone. “I’ll tell him the open area behind the fireworks company where they test and build displays.” He didn’t wait for agreement, but tapped the middle of the open area, then sent that pin to Theoden.

“Standby.” I counted to thirty-three, then Theoden spoke. “Agreed. One hour. Our people remain outside the field. Charlene and I meet in the middle.”

I held up my hand when Karski opened his mouth. “Agreed.” I tapped the phone, ending the call. “You can yell at me, or get ready.”

“Born ready, Char.” Freddie winked, then faced Karski. “Snipers on the warehouse?”

Karski nodded. “Of course.” He stood and crossed to the map display.

I’d leave him to plan, because I had more important work to do.

***To be continued***

Working Class Vegas Vamp Copyright © 2024 by AM Scott. All Rights Reserved.

Cover by Achlys Book Cover Designs

The post Working Class Vegas Vamp Chapter 20 first appeared on AM Scott.

Working Class Vegas Vamp Chapter 19

Working Class Vegas Vamp is a free urban fantasy serial, usually publishing on Tuesdays. It is unedited and subject to change. If published later, it may differ significantly, and will probably include additional material. Typos and English errors are likely; feel free to leave a comment or write me at am {AT} amscottwrites.com (revised as a standard email address. Pesky bots!) Available for a limited time only!

Haven’t started yet? Chapter 1: https://www.amscottwrites.com/2024/10/29/working-class-vegas-vamp-chapter-1/ ‎

Chapter 19

I woke the next evening feeling energetic and ready for the night. Even remembering I had to release Irena from my grip somehow didn’t faze me; a challenge rather than a dreaded unknown. Maybe my optimism would fade when faced with reality, but I hoped for the best.

I wanted to start now, but since I had a safe place, I meditated instead. When I couldn’t fight my overactive mind, I rolled out of bed and did my yoga routine—twice. One way or another, I would maintain my mind-body balance. I pushed the memory of Karski’s delicious blood away. The possibility of attacking a wolf was too risky and would mean my death.

After I finished, I showered, dressed and sucked down a blood box. I hadn’t been hungry, but better to be satisfied when faced with temptation.

Before I could fret too long, a knock sounded on the bedroom door. I opened the door, revealing Karski and Irene. “Good evening, Char. I hope you’re feeling well?”

I stepped back. “Excellent, actually. How are you? And how are you, Irene?”

Karski waved his hand towards Irena. She grimaced. “I feel…kind of weird. Like I was living in a dream, or more like a nightmare, and now I’m not. But I don’t feel quite normal, either.”

I nodded, glancing at Karski. “Alpha, I hope you have trusted counselors. I think Irene will need therapy for the post-traumatic stress.” I turned to Irene, looking at her chin. “Irene, it will take time to recover. Your mind betrayed you, making you do things you’d never do on your own. I’m so sorry.” Irene’s trauma might keep her from ever feeling normal, but with care, she could recover. Walking to the seating area, I waved my hand at the couch. “Let’s sit down.”

Irene followed me and sat. Karski hovered next to Irene, shifting restlessly. I didn’t know if he was worried about Irene, or concerned I’d attack her. Or maybe it was something else, like an outside threat.

I ignored him and leaned towards her. “Irena, yesterday I told you to obey me and your uncle, because I was trying to break Theoden’s hold on you. When I say the name Klaus Theoden, what do you think of?”

She shuddered. “A monster.”

“He certainly is that. Good, that worked. The problem is, I don’t want you to have to obey me or anyone else. I want you to live a free, normal life, or as normally as you can after such a horrific experience. When I talk to you, what do you feel?”

“She’s still obeying me to the letter, if that’s what you’re asking.” Karski scowled.

I glanced at him and nodded. “Irene, what do you feel?”

She shrugged. “Nothing, really. I don’t really know you.” She shuddered. “But whatever you did let me see that vampire in a different way. When I look back, I don’t understand why I did anything or allowed him to do that to me without a fight. I didn’t want to fight him! All I wanted to do was make him happy, no matter what it took.” Her words were wails; protests to the heavens.

She sounded traumatized and unsure, but not broken. “I’m so sorry. I’ve been where you are and it’s awful. But I got loose, and you can too. If you agree, I’ll mesmerize you again, and tell you that you are free. I don’t know if that will be sufficient. If you can’t stand the thought of being under my spell again, we’ll find another way.” I looked at the ceiling for a moment, needing a break from her scared but still too-trusting expression. “I’ll leave you a reinforcement affirmation. I know you can resist vampires, but you must believe it. I’ll leave you the seeds of that truth.” I looked at her chin, rather than her eyes, trying not to influence her. “Do you agree to be mesmerized? You can say yes or no.”

She looked at Alek, and he nodded once. But every muscle in his body was tight. Despite his clenched fists and hostility, I was attracted to him—and his blood. That dangerous thought made me return to the traumatized child. “Do you agree?”

Irene squeezed her eyes shut, then nodded. “I agree.”

I moved and sat on the coffee table in front of her and then held out my hands. “If you’re sure, give me your hands and look into my eyes.” I carefully kept my tone neutral; I didn’t want to force this moment. Of course, I’d told her to obey me, so she didn’t have a true choice. I hated myself for taking her free will. But better me than Theoden.

Her hands shaking, she reached out and dropped her hands into mine. Then she looked up into my eyes, deliberately meeting my gaze.

I pushed my will towards her. “Irena Zivia Karski, you are your own person. You do not have to obey me, your Uncle Alek or anyone else unless you choose to do so. You have free will to do what is right for you. You are intelligent, wise and compassionate, and will make your own decisions based on your sense of integrity and common sense. You are free of all unwanted ties, compulsions, and connections.” I repeated the concepts of free will and pushing my belief towards her, imagining the girl free and happy, and gradually pulling my will back. When my connection to Irene had thinned to a gossamer whisper, I remembered the prophecy. “Irene, picture this with me. A force shield surrounds you, a sphere of sheer will, shining bright. Can you see it? Glowing and strong, the light shines all around you, keeping others from forcing their will on you, cutting all unwanted exterior ties. It allows only what you want, like love, to penetrate, and only when you want it. Do you see it?”

“I am surrounded by a wall of light, unbroken. I am free. I am me.” Irene raised her chin, smiling triumphantly, but didn’t break my gaze.

The words came to me without thought. “I release you from all bonds of obedience. You are unbound.” Keeping her gaze, I imagined the shield surrounding her closing, cutting the connection between us. An arrow pierced my heart, and I clamped my hand over my chest, groaning. Then I slammed my mouth shut, holding the pain inside. I wouldn’t create additional trauma.

Irene collapsed on the sofa, fainting like a girl in a horror film. Which, in many ways, she was. Karski snarled and shoved me off the coffee table, away from his niece. He cradled the girl in his arms.

I scrambled to my feet and backed towards the bedroom door, ready to run. If she’d done more than faint, I was forever dead. But my problems would be over, at least on the earthly plain, and I’d have the satisfaction of knowing Irene was free—I could hear her heart beating.

Karski checked her pulse. “Alive.” He arranged her on the couch, his movements slow and deliberate.

His tenuous control obvious, I retreated to the bedroom, leaving the door barely cracked. Then I grabbed a blood box, sucking it down slowly. I’d give the wolf time to settle. I wasn’t as hungry as last night, but I definitely needed the nourishment. The door to Karski’s office opened, a man and a woman talked to Karski, then the outer door shut. As I finished a second box, a knock sounded on the bedroom door. “Char, you okay?”

“I’m fine. Irene’s okay?” I couldn’t hear her heart anymore.

The man poked his head inside, his eyes glowing like the wolf’s. “She seems to be sleeping. Are you okay?” He grimaced. “I can’t—”

I held up my hand. “I’m not asking. Today was much easier.” No headache, no raging hunger; I was fine with a box. Or three.

“I’ll be back later. I’d recommend you stay here.” He backed out, and the door shut.

I wasn’t stupid enough to stroll through his pack home without his escort, making myself a target. I took his tablet off the nightstand and returned to reading about Theoden.

But only a few minutes later, the bedroom door opened and Karski entered, a smirk on his face. He stabbed his phone.

A man roared, “He’s dead to the world! Not responding at all!”

The corners of Karski’s mouth turned up. “And he said Char’s name before he dropped?”

“Yes. What did she do?”

I grinned. “I cut off his connection to the Alpha’s niece. Little boys who steal underaged girls get smacked. I’ll do it to you too.” I put a snarl into the last line.

“You did this? You’re a dead woman.”

I recognized the man’s voice. Reeve was Theo’s primary bully-boy. I huffed. “Have been for decades.” I smirked, seeing a way to solve several problems all at once. “Rather than yelling at me, why don’t you take advantage of the opportunity I’ve given you, Reeve?”

Karski grinned. “Yes, why don’t you, Reeve? Then I’ll throw you a party. A hanging party.” He growled the last part.

Reeve swore, and the line clicked off.

“Too bad. I was hoping to hear a sword.” Karski shook his head.

“Me too, but I’d bet Reeve isn’t alone. Now they’re arguing over who’s in charge, and Theo will wake soon.”

“When will Theo wake, Char?” Karski met my gaze.

“Now. And he’s furious.” The foreign emotion cut off. “That’s interesting. We must be connected.”

“He turned you, so it makes sense.” He quirked a brow. “Can you still feel him?”

I shook my head. “No. I only got a flash. I’d guess he’s got very strong mental shields.”

“Do you? Or can he feel your emotions?”

I sucked in a breath. “I don’t know. If I’m the ‘Queen Unbound,’ then no. But like you said, he turned me, so it’s likely.” I held up my hand. “Give me a few moments.” Ignoring his looming presence, I cleared my mind. I imagined the same sphere of light imagery I gave Irene, surrounding me and closed it tight. I could almost feel the severing of my connection with Theoden. The question was, how did that affect him and could I hold it? I had no way to know.

Karski’s phone buzzed then shut off before he could accept the call. One corner of his mouth lifted. “What do you bet that Theoden passed out again?”

“No bet.” I smiled. “I just cut him off. But I don’t know if I can keep him out.”

He nodded. “I wonder. If Theoden gets killed, will your bond pass to his successor? Or is it a bond at all, Unbound Queen?”

“I don’t know. But I do know that I desperately want a copy of that prophecy.” I didn’t believe in predictions of the future, but that document might tell me a lot about my abilities. Because I was fairly certain I had many I hadn’t discovered, yet.

“Then let’s find a way inside.” Karski pointed at me. “And a way for you to take over, for good. Because that’s the only way this ends well for you.” His brows lifted. “And me.”

“Pack not happy with you?” I bet they weren’t. With one of his humans taken hostage, he’d been forced to submit to Theo, and that made him weak.”

“No, they’re not. But it’s more than that. I have a long history with Theoden’s vampires. While Theoden and I have, until he took my niece, kept a careful truce, the same can’t be said about his people.” He scowled. “We’ve had trouble with all of them. Theoden always had excuses and paid for damages, but that doesn’t revive the people I lost.”

I’d bet that Karski didn’t make excuses for his people. “Par for the course. Theoden’s big on authority and privilege, but not the associated responsibility. But we’ve had this discussion. Time to talk to the badgers.”

“Why?” His revulsion was crystal clear. “Undisciplined, unorganized, mean, nasty—”

I’d had enough. “Quit with the prejudice. One, they’ve gotten into Theo’s tower. Two, you’re wrong. They may not be planners, but they are organized and, more importantly, they’re determined.” I smiled at him. “Did you know they can turn without a moon?”

He growled. “Of course. Badgers don’t follow the rules.”

I couldn’t hold back a smirk. “Poor baby. Can’t deal with the rebels, huh? Well, those rebels will save our asses, because it’s their disregard for the rules that will let us win.” I held up a finger. “You were a soldier. Planning is important, but plans never survive first contact with the enemy, right? So how do you win?”

“Adapt, improvise, overcome. If you can’t get over it, go under or around.” He snorted. “Okay, you’re right. Badgers are great at that.” He couldn’t be more grumpy about that admission. “This won’t help me with my pack.”

“Not my problem.” For once. “But a successful raid will help, correct?”

“Only if heads roll. Because taking my niece was a declaration of war and using her to make me a herd dog only added to it.” He glowered.

I nodded. “Understandable.” I huffed a laugh. “Well, let’s get some, then. Because evidently, that’s the only way I survive, too.” I wished Reeve had taken his opportunity at command, because the mere thought of killing Theoden made me nauseous and elated. It was rather like the immortals in the movie Highlander. Sure, I’d kill my rival, but it was going to hurt. I suspected it would hurt more than my morals—everything associated with vampirism seemed painful. I’d rather make him submit to my will, but that seemed impossible.

Every action had a reaction, and every decision brought consequences. That was life. I’d rather face the consequences on Earth than carry it over to my next life—if there was one for vampires. I picked up my phone.

“That won’t work down here.” Karski handed me his phone. “WiFi calling.”

I nodded my thanks and dialed Freddie’s number. “Hey, it’s Char. Got a few?”

“For you, always. Where and when?”

“I know you won’t like it, but can you come to the wolves? We’ll meet at the clubhouse.” I lifted my brows at Karski. His lip lifted, but he nodded.

“No problem. We’ve been expecting your call, and we’re bringing friends. In an hour or so?”

“That’s great. Thanks.” The line clicked off. I forced a smile. “In an hour. The badgers are bringing friends, so make sure your people don’t attack on sight, please.”

A rumble underlaid his words. “Worry about your problems. My people are under control.”

“I hope so.” I grabbed a notepad and a pen. I felt horrible about my plans, but it was the only way ahead. “Our goals are to capture a copy or the original of the prophecy and to control Theoden. Is that correct?”

Karski jolted, then he smiled. “Yes, that’s goal two and three. Goal one is putting you in command, and that means our operational priority is neutralizing Theoden. If you can’t get him to submit, he’s got to die. Agreed?”

I nodded, despite my misgivings. “I don’t see another way ahead. He’s too set in his ways, too stuck in the past, too driven by his ego not logic, and too dependent on allowing his people to prey on others to stay in charge. He’s got to go.” I couldn’t see how I could possibly take over, but I’d have to, at least for the short term. Even if I knew it would be a disaster. But fewer innocents would die.

“He’s not just allowing his people to prey on others. He’s doing it too. But he’s good at making the evidence disappear, and convincing those around him that he’s the good guy. All that money makes a big difference. Especially when he uses his money to make life better for the majority. Those people forget about the minorities, the poor and the downtrodden.”

I grimaced. “The golden rule: those with the gold, rule. I may be a predator, but I’d like to see the real golden rule revived.”

Karski smiled. “I think we’d all like to see that.” He grimaced. “But getting there will be painful for everyone. You’re going to make mistakes. Your people, my people, and humans will suffer along the way. The difference is, you’re not playing people against each other to make more money to spend on stupid stuff.”

I snorted. “Oh, I’ll make a ton of mistakes, there’s no doubt about that. And everyone will point fingers at me. We’ll have to keep the human cops off my back, too.”

“You can leave that to me. I’ve got dirt on the District Attorney, and I have an excellent relationship with the local police chief. And a lot of the national office representatives, like the FBI and DEA. The people who support Theoden are getting paid off, or he’s financing their elections. A lot of them will support you once the money’s gone.”

Karski seemed overly optimistic. “I hope so, because I’m not playing that game. Call me naive, but I believe in free elections that aren’t unduly influenced by the rich just trying to get richer for no reason. And local politics should remain local.”

“It’s a great ideal.” He shook his head. “Suck down another box and let’s get going. We’ve got too many things to do and not enough time to do them in.”

***To be continued***

Working Class Vegas Vamp Copyright © 2024 by AM Scott. All Rights Reserved.

Cover by Achlys Book Cover Designs

The post Working Class Vegas Vamp Chapter 19 first appeared on AM Scott.

Working Class Vegas Vamp Chapter 18

Working Class Vegas Vamp is a free urban fantasy serial, usually publishing on Tuesdays. It is unedited and subject to change. If published later, it may differ significantly, and will probably include additional material. Typos and English errors are likely; feel free to leave a comment or write me at am {AT} amscottwrites.com (revised as a standard email address. Pesky bots!) Available for a limited time only!

Haven’t started yet? Chapter 1: https://www.amscottwrites.com/2024/10/29/working-class-vegas-vamp-chapter-1/ ‎

(Note: There is a minor time inconsistency below with a previous chapter that will be fixed in a published version.)

Chapter 18

The next evening, I woke up on an air mattress in the backseat of my ancient Oldsmobile. The blackout structure was all in place; a good sign. Taking shelter at one of my possibly known locations was risky, but I paid a premium for the studio space. The owner believed I was a flight attendant with little time to work on my car art, and when I did, I’d work all night, leaving the door open. Everyone could see there was little in here except the carcass of a rusty automobile body with dented body panels stacked against the walls. I’d sweetened the deal by leaving my welder in the common tool pool unless I was using it. No one asked any questions, and I saw no attempts to enter my space; none of my telltales were broken.

When I showed up, I’d fire up my welder, make a seam or two on an extra fender, grind it apart, and start over. From what I’d seen, doing something over and over wasn’t uncommon in the art world, and quirky behavior was standard. I’d also installed excellent locks and light proof seals for the garage door and the door to the inner common area. But still, staying here was a risk I’d taken only a few times.

I didn’t know if the wolves or KT had found this location. They might be waiting right outside. But I thought it was less risky than the rest, because I’d been extra careful setting up the persona and cryptocurrency-based payment system. I’d used a completely fake name with no ID, so I had some hope.

I climbed out of the light safe cocoon I’d constructed inside the car, letting the air out of the mattress so the whole thing collapsed. After slinging my new, fully stocked go-bag over my shoulders, I unlocked the common area door and peered out. Light shone from a single cracked door, but the common area was empty. I used the facilities, cleaning up the best I could, and stuffed my distinctive hair under a black wrap. Then I climbed the stairs to the roof of the building, surveying the exterior and streets surrounding the former warehouse south of the airport. I didn’t see any black SUVs or any other inhabited vehicles, so I returned to my studio.

Slipping black riding leathers over my clothes, I popped a plain black helmet on my head and armored gloves on my hands. After putting my backpack on again, I yanked the miscellaneous vehicle body panels away from the wall, uncovering my last best hope for a clean escape.

Grasping the handlebars of my ancient Honda motorcycle, I rolled it out the door into the common area. After securing my door and reinstalling the telltales made of hair and a little clear tape, I pushed the machine out the front door. Then I mounted and flipped the switches, hoping it started. I’d kept a battery tender on it, and started it once a year, but motorcycles could be finicky. Despite my concern, it fired immediately. I let it warm up, then kicked it down to half-choke and rode toward the glitzy lights of Las Vegas.

I wasn’t going to do anything foolish, like ride by KT’s tower, the wolves’ den, or my old bar, but I needed information. I’d retrieve the cell phone I’d stashed that first night and call Karski. Dread tightened my back muscles, but after contemplating the questions for too long, I’d determined that Freddie was right. I needed the wolf’s information, and maybe his plan. Help would be better, but I wouldn’t count on it.

Plus, I really wanted to free his niece. No one should desperately long for that evil, old, nasty vampire, let alone a seventeen-year-old girl. If an adult chose to believe the snake oil he was selling, that was on them, but taking away their freedom to choose was horrific.

I should know; I was guilty too.

My only solace was knowing I did it out of necessity, not joy, and released my victims immediately. And while I was thinking about necessity, I needed blood, now. It was still early evening, but I could find a gang-banger easily. The motorcycle made hunting easier; my quick reactions helped me survive the city’s wild traffic.

I headed to West Las Vegas, one of the most dangerous parts of the city, and cruised a few backstreets. It wasn’t long before a group of men tried to pull me off my bike. I bashed a scrawny man in the temple with the back of my fist and pulled him onto the bike in front of me, then sped away, twisting and turning through the dark streets. When he started to struggle, I pulled over and mesmerized him, then fed.

I took a little more than I normally would, grimacing at the bitter traces of drugs and alcohol, probably from the night before. I propped him against the side of a building. Before I left, I crouched in front of him. “Find a better line of work. Something you can be proud of, or I might come back.” I licked my lips, enjoying the way the man’s eyes widened, then hopped on my bike and rode towards southwest Las Vegas.

I retrieved my bag of stuff with the phone, rode a few streets away, and dialed the wolf before I could think too much about it.

“Karski,” he snapped.

I smirked, knowing he’d hear the smile in my voice. “Your ego didn’t kill you after all. Surprising.”

“Thanks for nothing, Flammen.” He snarled.

I huffed. “Neither of you was paying attention to me. The only thing I could do was catch a stray bullet, so I ran away to fight another day. That’s the smart bet.”

“The coward’s bet.”

I shrugged the pain of his accusation away. I’d been right, whether he thought so or not. “Coward, smart, whatever. I’m alive, free of bullet holes and bites. I doubt you can say the same. Sadly, KT will already be healthy.” His legions of human followers would have provided more than enough blood to heal him.

He growled. “Maybe if you’d stuck around to help, I might have won, rather than fighting to a draw.”

“Not likely. But that’s not why I’m calling.”

“Do I care?” He bit off the words.

“I want to help your niece.” Hopefully, he could hear my sincerity, because it was true.

He blew out a long breath. It wasn’t a sigh, or exasperation; I was fairly certain he was attempting to control his anger. Along with some fear. “And what do you want in return?” His voice was calm and even.

“Nothing.” I grimaced. “That’s not quite true. I want a truce. While I attempt to free your niece, I get safety from outside threats and your pack, including a safe place to sleep the day and an adequate number of blood boxes. I make no guarantees that I can free her, but I will try my best.”

“Curse you, Charlene Flammen, for finding the one thing I can’t turn down. And now I’ll owe you.”

“You owe me nothing. No one deserves to have their free will taken.” Even that gangbanger who tried to pull me off his bike deserved free will, even if he probably deserved prison for assault and attempted robbery. “While I’m there, I’d like to keep reading your intelligence summaries, but I’m doing this for your niece, and for me, not for you.” Helping her might even out some of the damage I’d done over the decades.

“I see.” After a long pause, he spoke again. “I can send a car for you.”

“No need. I have transportation. That’s safe too. No taking away or damaging my transportation.” If I didn’t succeed, I couldn’t count on a clean escape. Even if I did succeed, some of his pack members despised vampires. They’d take any opportunity to get rid of me.

“I guarantee your safety and the safety of your possessions while you attempt to release my niece. I also guarantee safe passage in and out, including a full twenty-four hours after you leave. By then, tempers should have cooled. Especially if you’re successful.”

Great. So if I failed, I’d have not only the vampires on my back, but offended pack members. All the more reason to leave Las Vegas forever. “Agreed.”

“Give me thirty minutes before you show up at the gate. What are you driving?”

“Honda motorcycle. Black helmet and leathers.”

“You have a death wish.” He snorted. “Thirty minutes.” The line went dead.

Hopefully he’d be speaking of the motorcycle rather than my actions in general, but there was no telling. He and his pack could certainly be the death of me. I kicked the bike into gear and wove through the quiet streets.

I rolled through the open gate and through the empty community. No one made a move, but I could feel the hostile gazes. I parked between the garage and the house, then walked to the back door.

It opened less than halfway, the woman who’d driven KT’s limo blocking the entrance. She snarled.

I grimaced, knowing she couldn’t see my face behind the mirrored face shield. “Hard to free the girl if I can’t get to her.”

“Take off the helmet. I must confirm your identity.”

I raised the face shield instead. “No thanks. I’d prefer to avoid brain damage when I accidentally fall down the stairs.”

Her body jolted, like she was shocked. “You’ve been promised safety. I will not violate that agreement.”

“I’m sure.” I pushed past her, then turned halfway back. I wasn’t leaving this woman at my back without watching. “Is the girl downstairs?”

“Yes.” The woman returned the favor, slamming her shoulder into me as she passed. I’d expected it, so I turned with her, and she stumbled forward from the unexpected momentum. She continued, leading the way to the stairs I’d used previously, and opening the door. “Down there.”

I nodded. “Thanks.” Keeping my eyes on her, I sidled down the first five stairs, then turned away. If she came after me, I’d hear her, even through the helmet.

At the bottom, Karski waited. His expression and body language were neutral, but I could almost feel his hostility. I deliberately avoided his gaze; I had no reason to make him angrier. He turned on his heel and strode to the open door behind his desk.

A young white girl with long, dark brown hair shifted restlessly on a gurney next to the bed, pulling against the restraints at her wrists, waist and ankles. Karski stood next to her, his lips compressed. “She kept trying to leave, pounding on the door and trying to kick it down, injuring herself. Even sedation isn’t helping much.” He looked at the wall behind the girl, his jaw working.

No wonder he was furious. I hoped I could break Theoden’s enchantment. I walked to the other side of the gurney and looked at the girl. She was too thin, and her skin sallow, with dark circles under her closed eyes. I pulled off my helmet. Moving slowly to not alarm the wolf, I placed my hand on the girl’s cheek, then pushed my will towards her. “Irena Zivia Karski, wake.”

Irene’s eyes popped open, and she struggled against her bonds, her body twisting and her head tossing. “Theoden!” She wailed his name over and over.

Karski moved to the head of the gurney and held her shoulders down. I cupped her face between my hands. “Irena Zivia Karski, look at me. Now!”

Her gaze snapped to mine. “Theoden, take me to Theoden!”

Now what did I do? She was looking at me, but still wanted him. I couldn’t tell her he was evil; she wouldn’t respond to logic, not in her current state. He’d forced a bond. I’d have to mesmerize her, then let her go, not that I was sure how to do that. I pushed my will towards her, demanding her submission. “Irena Zivia Karski, you will obey me, and only me. I am the only person who matters. Do you understand?”

”No, I want Theoden.” She tried to pull away from my hold, but her voice and movements were weaker.

I repeated my demands, and eventually, she stopped asking for Theo. By that point, my hunger roared. “Irena, you are safe here. You will stay here in this house. You can act normally. You will care for your body properly. Use the bathroom, then eat if you are hungry. Sleep when you are tired. Pay attention to how you feel and tell me or your uncle if you are uncomfortable or need something. You will obey your uncle. Take care of yourself. Do you understand?”

“Yes. I will obey you. I will take care of myself. I will obey Uncle Alek.” She nodded, her gaze on mine.

I broke her stare, and she whimpered. Closing my eyes, I turned away and sat on the bed, hunger driving me to attack the girl and the man. I gripped the comforter. “Let her go. Where are the blood boxes?”

Karski sprinted out of the room, then returned, dropping three boxes on the bed next to me. I grabbed the first, stabbing the opening with my fingernail, and upending it into my mouth. While I gulped the thick, lukewarm fluid, Velcro ripped.

“Irene?” Karski’s voice was the softest I’d ever heard. “Do you need help to get to the bathroom?”

“I can do it, Uncle Alek.” Fabric rustled, then soft footsteps crossed the room.

I grabbed the next box, taking the time to stab the straw into it, but sucking it down fast. The third I drank slower, my hunger fading, but my head throbbing. When I opened my eyes, Alek Karski loomed over me.

“Thank you. She hasn’t said anyone’s name but his since she returned. It’s been horrible.” He nodded and took a step back.

“You’re welcome. I have to rest before I can do anything else.” I flopped back on the bed, the pounding in my head increasing. Despite my hunger being slaked, I still wanted his blood. I closed my eyes.

“Do you need aspirin or something?”

“It won’t help. Take your niece and go. Leave me a couple more boxes, and I’ll figure out how to release her tomorrow.” I put a hand over my stomach. I was full, but longed for more blood—his, specifically, fresh. I gripped the comforter again, and kept my eyes shut. I would not attack the man protecting me. I would not break the truce.

He remained in place, staring at me, while I struggled to remain on the bed. The bathroom door clicked, and he finally moved. “Come on, kiddo. Let’s go to the kitchen and get you some food. Then you’ll take a shower and sleep, okay?”

“Okay, Uncle Alek.” Their footsteps moved away, then the door to the bedroom suite closed and locked.

I opened my eyes and sat up, releasing the comforter. That had been too close for comfort. My head still throbbed, but with the human and wolf gone, I could think. I looked at the stack of blood boxes on the nightstand, but decided I wanted a shower worse.

Taking my go-bag into the bathroom, I withdrew a pair of loose silk pants and a shirt, then stripped out of my riding leathers and clothes. I showered, enjoying the hot water and lightly scented bath products, then dried and dressed. My temples throbbed, but the pain had lessened.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, I stopped. Karski sat on the bed, and my hunger raged. I locked my gaze on the stack of blood boxes on the nightstand, even though the thought of drinking another box made me slightly nauseous.

“You don’t want that, do you?” Karski’s voice was certain and compelling.

I swallowed, gripped the door jamb to keep myself in place, and kept my eyes on the boxes. I controlled myself, my needs didn’t control me. “Not really. You should go.”

“You need fresh blood, don’t you.” He thought he knew the answer.

“Need, no. Want, yes. So you should go. Your niece needs you.” My head turned despite myself and could see his pulse throb in his neck. I wanted to bite and drink him dry.

“You’ve done what none of us could do and may be able to do more. I can donate some blood to the cause.” He sat, outwardly relaxed, but his pulse picked up.

I shook my head. “I can’t guarantee my control right now. It’s a bad idea.”

“But you’re in pain, and you can’t perform if you’re in pain.” He held out his arm. “Drink. Tell me how long, and I’ll remove you if I have to.”

“You won’t be able to. Part of drinking from someone is taking their free will.”

“Have you ever tried to drink without mesmerizing them?” He leaned back on one arm, the other still outstretched.

“No. I don’t think it’s a painless process. The mesmerization controls the pain.” My hunger grew and I stepped back towards the bathroom.

He huffed. “I can handle a little pain.” He pulled out his phone. “I’ll set an alarm. How long?”

I swallowed. “Two minutes.”

“That’s it? It takes about ten minutes to give blood.”

He must have looked it up. There was no way a were would take the chance of donating to a human blood bank, and he wouldn’t sell to the blood box companies. “Vampires actively suck, and the hole is larger. Which means it’s more painful.”

“I’ve been shot, more than once. It can’t be worse than that.” His mouth twisted in a wry smile.

I shrugged. “No idea. I’ve been shot, but I don’t remember my initial donation and turning.” More like I actively avoided remembering; all I had was a memory of pain and terror that lasted forever, then morphed into my entire body burning. I’m fairly certain I passed out at that point, but even thinking about it that much made me shudder.

He sat upright, scowling. “Who shot you?”

I waved his concern away. “Got caught in a mob battle. The people involved are long dead.” I snorted. “Theo had been dead for a long time even then.”

His scowl changed into interest. “That’s why you turned?”

“Yeah. I was lying on the sidewalk, bleeding out, and he asked if I wanted to live.” I shrugged. “Of course I said yes. He didn’t say anything else, and I don’t remember the rest.”

“You don’t want to remember the rest.” His brows lifted. “Can’t blame you there. I feel the same.” He shook his head. “But that’s not important.” He lifted his arm higher. “You’re in pain, and I can fix it. Take what you need.” He emphasized the last word.

“And if I take more?” Because my control was thread thin.

His mouth twisted. “I won’t let you. If necessary, I can knock you out with my other hand. I’d rather not, because you don’t need additional trauma.” He smiled ever so slightly. “But I’m not worried. You have excellent self-control.”

I grimaced, then swallowed, because my mouth watered with his offer. “I hope so.”

He tapped at his phone, then set it down on his right side and held his left arm out. “Let’s get this done.”

I sat next to him on the bed, and cradled his arm in my hands. Then I let my fangs drop and licked his inner elbow.

He sucked in a breath. “Oof, that packs a punch.”

I huffed. “Good or bad?”

“A little of both. Keep going.” He licked his lips. “Please ignore any bodily reaction. I, too, have iron self-control.”

I knew my saliva was an anesthetic and helped heal wounds. I hadn’t been positive it had other effects, but it made sense. “I understand.” I found his vein with my tongue, then adjusted and struck.

He took in another deep breath and his muscles tensed, then he relaxed.

I withdrew a little and sucked. Hot, rich, earthy blood flowed over my tongue, and within seconds, my head stopped throbbing. I sucked harder, ignoring the wolf’s reactions. When a chime dinged, I started. I’d been lost in the lovely flavor of iron and salt. Despite my instinct and intense desire to continue, I withdrew my fangs completely and licked the wounds to close them.

Before the holes closed, he pulled from my grip. “I’ve got it from here.” He pulled tissues from a container on the nightstand and clamped them on his arm. Then he strode to the bathroom and kicked the door shut.

I let myself flop back on the bed. Alek Karski’s blood was the best I’d ever tasted, and it seemed to be supercharged with everything I needed most. I felt renewed, energized even. If they all tasted that good, it was amazing vampires hadn’t wiped werewolves out. In the wild, packs meant mutual survival; in supernaturals, that must be even more important.

After a long time, the Alpha emerged from the bathroom—in wolf form, and I couldn’t help staring. When I’d seen him before, conditions didn’t encourage gawking, and he’d mostly been lying down. Perhaps purposefully, so I underestimated the threat he posed.

First, he was huge. Wolves were big, but the Alpha was at least fifty percent taller and larger than the wolves I’d seen at the zoo or on TV. His fur was black and thick, with a longer ruff, and his eyes glowed amber. Lean muscles rippled over a heavy frame, conveying an impression of strength, speed and endurance. A majestic combination that I didn’t want to get on the wrong side of. “Wow. You’re gorgeous.”

He tossed his head and let his jaw drop, displaying huge, white teeth. If that was a smile, it was terrifying. He crossed to the door and stood on his back paws, looking at the sensor. The locks released. He pushed the door open, dropped to all four feet, then turned and tapped the floor with a paw.

“Are you seriously telling me to stay like a good dog?” I chuckled. His blood had energized me enough to continue working with his niece, but maybe it was better if I didn’t push my luck.

He nodded, then backed away. The door closed and locked.

“Okay then. Guess I’ll stay here.” I picked up the tablet on the nightstand and let it see my face. Theoden’s file appeared, right where I’d stopped reading. Interesting; it seemed Karski had expected me to return.

Both of these men had been playing politics far longer than I had. If I wasn’t careful, they’d play me, too.

***To be continued***

Working Class Vegas Vamp Copyright © 2024 by AM Scott. All Rights Reserved.

Cover by Achlys Book Cover Designs

The post Working Class Vegas Vamp Chapter 18 first appeared on AM Scott.

Working Class Vegas Vamp Chapter 17

Working Class Vegas Vamp is a free urban fantasy serial, usually publishing on Tuesdays. It is unedited and subject to change. If published later, it may differ significantly, and will probably include additional material. Typos and English errors are likely; feel free to leave a comment or write me at am {AT} amscottwrites.com (revised as a standard email address. Pesky bots!) Available for a limited time only!

Haven’t started yet? Chapter 1: https://www.amscottwrites.com/2024/10/29/working-class-vegas-vamp-chapter-1/

Chapter 17

I opened my eyes; a metal ceiling gleamed above me. I was safe in Freddie’s vault. Rising, I stretched, then quietly slid the padlocks from the hasps and opened the air valve on the bed. Just in case she had visitors, I’d wait for Freddie to open the vault. After I folded the bed and blanket, I paced little circles around the bench. Too bad she didn’t have a gun for me to clean; I’d be happier doing something useful.

The vault lock spun and the locking arms retracted. Freddie swung open the door, frowning. That didn’t seem like a good sign. As the door opened, it revealed four more women, all wearing striped hair and scowls. “Let me guess, your sisters?”

Freddie nodded, her gaze on my chin. “Yeah. They wanted to make sure I hadn’t been mesmerized. I told them you were strong, but hadn’t deliberately tried.”

I held up both hands. “I swear I did not try to mesmerize Freddie, nor will I try to mesmerize you unless you’re a threat to me. Is that good enough?”

The scowls didn’t lessen, but heads nodded.

Hopefully, a quick explanation would lead to a clean escape. “Great. Thanks. Look, I don’t know why KT chose this moment to try and control me, or what he thinks is going to happen. I’m clueless here, and I’d really like to understand. And I’d also like someplace to hide, and a way to find the trackers on my stuff, and a hundred blood boxes while I’m dreaming.” I shrugged. “But I’m not likely to find any of that here, so I’ll just go. Thanks for your help, Freddie. I appreciate it.” I put on the backpack and picked up the pieces of my phone.

“You’re welcome.” Freddie nodded. “I asked around about the priestess idea. If they have one, nobody but the vampires knows who they are. We—” she motioned towards her sisters, “—don’t think it was Trinity. She wasn’t stable enough to do anything but hunt. We think KT wanted an easy way to put her down without getting blamed. The weres did it for him.” She shrugged. “Why else would you leave a hostage with Trinity?” She shuddered. “Anyway, I have something for you.” She pushed past me, into the vault, then came back out, holding a small device. “This is a bug detector. All it does is find typical transmission frequencies. So don’t point it at a radio or pretty much any modern car, because they’re all connected to WiFi these days.” She tilted it to show me the top. “The lights indicate the strength of the signal, five being strongest. Good luck, Char.” She placed the device in my hand without touching me.

“Thanks, Freddie. Let me know if you need help with anything. I’ll keep this phone as long as I can.” I held up the cheap smart phone. “But I’ll probably turn it off a lot. Text or leave a voicemail. I truly appreciate the help you’ve given me, and I wish you luck.” I meant every word. Finding a safe place for tonight would be a challenge.

“Same, girl. I’ll keep checking on the priestess thing. And I’ll talk to the wolf.” She sighed. “He’s such a stick in the mud. But if anyone can figure out how to deal with this whole thing, it’s him. Now that his niece is back, and the biggest threat is negated, he might be more reasonable. Might.” She smirked. “Still going to be a control freak alpha, I’m sure. Take care. Stay alive. I like you.” She winked.

“Be careful. I like you, too.” Sighing, I left Freddie’s house and jogged to the nearest drugstore. I bought a new set of clothes and changed in the bathroom. I hated to ditch Freddie’s comfy jeans, but I didn’t fully trust her. Bundling the clothes and the bug detector into the plastic drug store bag, I jogged a meandering mile through neighborhoods. Then I slid the bundle into a crack between two concrete brick walls. I was fairly certain I could download an app to my burner phone that would let me check for transmissions. Freddie had my burner phone number, but she hadn’t had a chance to bug or clone it unless she could do that from outside the bathroom door.

I wandered farther westward through the dark streets for about an hour, but I knew that without taking a cab or a bus, I’d never make it to my natural hideouts in time. Taking any public transportation meant the possibility of showing up on a camera. If I stuck to rundown neighborhoods off the main streets, I had a better chance of avoiding anything but doorbell cameras. Plus, I’d previously spotted a rundown church in this area, and had always meant to check it out. While I walked, I slid the phone into an empty diet soda can to block any remaining signal powered by the backup battery.

Two hours later, I reached the church and sauntered around the old building. It didn’t appear entirely abandoned, but it was old and worse for wear. The doors were locked and all the windows were about twenty feet above my head, but there didn’t appear to be any cameras. One of the windows, near the altar end, was cracked. The fancy brick and stucco walls gave me plenty of hand and footholds, and it wasn’t long before reached the window ledge. Pulling the cracked glass from the frame was easy. I stacked the pieces on the wide outer ledge and raised one foot, then hesitated.

The rumors said vampires entering consecrated ground burst into flames or got struck by lightning. Or melted like the Wicked Witch of the West. But I was running out of time and, therefore, options.

Swallowing hard, I clamped my jaws together and slid my foot into the opening, feeling for the narrow windowsill. My foot didn’t burn, so I climbed inside, but I faced an entirely different problem.

I teetered on the windowsill, two stories above the empty, hard church floor, with no way to climb down the smooth wall or anything below to cushion my fall. Well, I had a lot of speed; maybe that could make up for gravity. Cautiously turning, I crouched and put my fingers on the edge of the sill just outside my feet. Before I could overthink, I slid my feet and legs over the side, flattening my feet against the wall to slow my fall.

Hanging by my fingertips, I let go, and tried to run back up the wall like a cartoon character. I didn’t succeed. Impacting the floor, I let my knees and hips collapse, and rolled to my side, then got back on my feet. Ouch. My soles smarted, and my joints ached, but I’d survived. I explored the space, searching for a basement door or crawl space, but found neither. What I did find, though, was a door to a choir loft.

Climbing the stairs, I stepped gingerly across the dusty, creaking floor, grateful I was light. On the far side, a door led to a closet. But a hole in the ceiling dashed my dwindling dreams of a hideout.

Returning downstairs, I explored the area again. At the back of the church, three doors in a row created the outer wall of a confessional. The priest would sit in the middle, while penitents kneeled in the tiny rooms on either side, speaking to the priest through a small, screened hole. My best bet was securing the priest’s room. I found an old board to block one speaking hole. The bottom of a broken chair blocked the other hole. Shoving a ladder-back chair under the doorknob would close off access to the priest’s room. It wasn’t exactly secure, but it was the best I could do for now.

Leaving the confessional, I tied the church’s main double door handles together with scraps of cloth and rope, and hoped today wasn’t the day the owner tore the place down. I also hoped Freddie successfully negotiated with Karski, because I’d much rather die the day away in a comfortable bed. Returning to the confessional, I secured the space. Then I sat on the floor, leaning against the back wall, and waited to pass out. I hoped the wolf was reasonable, because mere survival took way too much time and energy for a working class vamp. In hindsight, all my preparations were too little, too late. They’d depended on way too much luck and not enough planning for emergencies.

In short, I’d been an idiot.

My best remaining hope—and it was hope, not planning or certainty—was the wolf. He’d be justifiably angry that I’d left him struggling with KT, but on the other hand, I’d be useless in an armed struggle. KT wouldn’t have paid attention to anything but Karski, and anything I’d done physically would have been a pinprick in comparison. I had a bargaining chip—my potential influence over the hold KT had on Karski’s niece.

So much hope, so little certainty. True death seemed more and more likely. The world would probably be better off with one less vampire, anyway.

*

I woke still secure in the priest’s confessional—a minor miracle. My back cracked and popped as I stood, and my butt ached from sitting on concrete all night, but I was still here and free. Undoing all my security measures, I scattered them, then left through the back door, which I locked behind me. I kept moving west through neighborhoods, the houses getting larger and nicer as I walked. Near a major street, I took a chance and bought another cheap burner phone in a gas station, disabling the location services immediately. Then I called Freddie, while walking to a neighborhood across the street.

“Hello?” She answered in a neutral tone, with an odd echo.

Relief I had no business feeling swept through me. She was a business associate, not a friend. “Hey, it’s Char.”

“You’re alive. Awesome.” A huffing laugh. “Smart of you to ditch the electronics, even if it’s expensive.”

I was burning through my emergency funds at a swift pace, and hunger rode me hard. I’d have to mesmerize another human, or find a blood box source. Both were perilous, one for my body, the other for my soul. If I had one. “You found them?”

“I know where they are. I didn’t go anywhere near them, because the wolf and the vamp are watching my house. I’m routing this call through a series of services, so the chances of tracing it are low, but we should wrap this quickly. If you call the wolf, be ready to ditch that phone and run, because he’s not happy.”

“So I shouldn’t bother.” Even though I’d already known that, my spirits sank. I’d have to spend most of tonight finding a safe lair rather than planning for the future.

“Eh. I didn’t say that. He’s still your best chance of a decent plan. Personally, I’d just get some guns and walk into KT’s tower. Demand your birthright as the Queen Unbound, and make them all kneel. But that also seems suicidal, so maybe my advice isn’t so good.” She sputtered laughter.

I joined her. “Yeah, I don’t see me going all Rambo. Maybe you and your sisters can get away with that, but I’m one working class vamp, not a commando or a mobster.” I needed a strategy.

“But more seriously, it might actually work.” Freddie’s tone was sober. “The guns get you past the human security, and you can take on KT in the privacy of his tower.”

“Where his overwhelming forces will jump me, knock me out, drug me and use me as a puppet. No thanks.” Even though Freddie had successfully entered KT’s tower, she’d admitted they hadn’t gotten far. If KT and most of his vamps hadn’t been downstairs dealing with the smash and grab, the badgers might have found themselves in a whole lot of trouble. KT may have even anticipated an attempt to retrieve the Alpha’s niece and let them in deliberately, to prove how useless it was. But he’d probably thought he’d be dealing with the logical, practical wolves, not the chaotic, troublemaking badgers. And the gargoyles. They didn’t seem to fit into the picture. “Why are the gargoyles involved?”

“Hmph. They have reasons, but they’re not sharing.” She sighed. “You could contact them, but dealing with them is tricky. They’re all lawyers, fulfilling the letter of the contract, but not caring about the intent.”

“Interesting.” That didn’t entirely jive with my experience working with Matias at the drag bar. He’d been helpful to me beyond his employment terms. But perhaps that was my mesmerizing ability, as the wolf claimed. “At this point, I need any allies I can get.”

“You do. I talked to my sisters some more. We’ll support you, but eventually, we’ll need some return favors.”

I chuckled. “To be specified later and I can’t turn them down? I’m not sure I need help like that.” I wasn’t committing to open-ended contracts.

“We’re not stupid enough to back you into a corner. The thing is, we know Vegas would be better off with you in charge. KT’s getting more and more out of touch. He understands business and powerful people, but he doesn’t understand that when enough regular people band together, the results can be catastrophic. And while he’s charismatic on a small scale, he’ll have a hard time with a mob. That kind of destruction is bad for all of us.”

“That’s probably why he wants me. He thinks I can stop a mob. Even if I could, I wouldn’t. I’m not doing that to thousands of humans who just want to have a little fun without losing their lives along with their money.” I’d warned him, and he’d laughed. He deserved the consequences.

“Maybe he wants you to take on the legal authorities. I’m sure he can control one or two, or maybe more when he’s present, but he’s looking for more complete protection.”

Freddie was probably right. Controlling the people in charge was more KT’s style. He wouldn’t want to deal with the little people who did the real work, like me. His lack of respect towards me wasn’t just my “baby vamp” status; it was because my working class life satisfied me. He’d probably believed the Unbound Queen would roll over everyone and rule the world with enthusiasm. He didn’t understand me, or real leadership. Despite the poor example of recent politicians, I knew real leaders served their people, rather than the other way around. “I’m not doing that.”

She snorted. “That’s why I’m willing to support you. I know that more and more people will find out about supernaturals. With the increasing surveillance everywhere and all the other scientific advances human have made, our secrecy is thing of the past. We need someone who can act as an intermediary, someone who understands regular humans and those in power. Someone persuasive, but not selfish. Someone to smooth the way into the mainstream. Someone who’s not stupid enough to believe a prophecy can become word-for-word reality.”

“People join cults for a reason.” We’d stayed a secret this long because our numbers were relatively low, and we avoided publicity. Klaus Theoden had shattered that rule and expected me to use my power to enforce his position. I had no reason to help him, especially after he pushed me so hard. Overall, the supernatural community had been smoothing the way for a long time. Books, movies and TV had celebrated and reviled us, but more and more, we were shown as regular people with some extra talents and different weaknesses, both good and bad. Eventually, someone would correlate the DNA differences, too. I suspected that the differences right now were seen as unknown mutations or corrupted samples, but that couldn’t last.

“That’s the risk we’re taking. With your power, you could easily become a cult leader over millions, including us. We’re counting on you staying true to your working class roots, Char.” Freddie’s warning was clear.

“I’m assuming you’ve got plans if I don’t.” Probably one of those sisters and a high-powered sniper rifle, which was a smart way to go.

“Yep.”

“Good. No one should have unrestricted power. Why haven’t you taken out KT?”

“We’ve been talking too long. I’ll text you Karski’s number and XXX, the gargoyle’s. Later.” The call clicked off. Thirty seconds later, a text chimed. I’d find a scrap of paper and write both down, but for now, I needed to move, because Freddie was right. We’d been talking too long, and I needed to find safety for the coming day. I powered off the phone, removed the battery, and stuck the phone in a flattened beer can, wrinkling my nose at the smell.

Returning to the main street, I flagged down a taxi. “Airport, please. Cash tip if you keep me off camera and get there quick.”

The man grinned. “You got it, honey.” He stuck a piece of blue tape over the lens of a camera in the ceiling and flipped the meter on.

I sat back and relaxed. It might not be the only surveillance, but whatever else he had was probably his, not the company’s. I was done with running on foot. I’d retrieve my next car, more funds, search for transmitters, and get closer to my next hideout. Then I’d find a food donor and figure out a plan. I had a badger girl-gang; I didn’t need the wolves or gargoyles. Maybe…

***To be continued***

Working Class Vegas Vamp Copyright © 2024 by AM Scott. All Rights Reserved.

Cover by Achlys Book Cover Designs

The post Working Class Vegas Vamp Chapter 17 first appeared on AM Scott.

Working Class Vegas Vamp Chapter 16

Working Class Vegas Vamp is a free urban fantasy serial, usually publishing on Tuesdays. It is unedited and subject to change. If published later, it may differ significantly, and will probably include additional material. Typos and English errors are likely; feel free to leave a comment or write me at am {AT} amscottwrites.com (revised as a standard email address. Pesky bots!) Available for a limited time only!

Haven’t started yet? Chapter 1: https://www.amscottwrites.com/2024/10/29/working-class-vegas-vamp-chapter-1/ ‎

Chapter 16

Egotistical idiots! What a waste. I sprinted to Alek’s SUV, pressing the unlock on the key fob in my hand. At least the fob had been easy to snatch from his pocket. Jumping in the vehicle, I hammered the gas, flying through the community and hoping no one was in the streets. The front gates were closing, so I put my foot down and rammed them.

With a clang and a screeching rip of metal, I was out and speeding through the dark streets of the wealthy neighborhood. I couldn’t keep this car for long; it surely had a tracker, if not a disable feature. But I could get closer to my next storage unit. Except Alek—no, Karski—implied he knew where all of them were. But since his pack was pinning down Theo’s vampires, he might not pursue me right away. I could get closer to a daylight safe bolt hole instead. But if I was on foot, Karski could track me.

If I could get to one of my cars, could I find the tracker before the pack found me? It was a gamble, but if I avoided my closest storage unit after I ditched this car, I might have more time. I drove towards the airport. The busier the area, the easier for me to hide, and the more options I had. Near the airport, I parked the SUV on the street near the car rental center, left the fob in the gas cap cover and hopped on the airport connector bus. The crowds and accompanying mixture of scents should make me difficult to track.

At the airport, I found an abandoned makeup case and dumped the remaining contents, putting my few belongings inside, and tossed my bag. Karski might have slipped a tracker into my bag, and possibly my clothing, too. Outside the airport, I jumped in a taxi, giving the driver the address to a drugstore near my closest storage unit. After a quick ride, I paid cash, and bought a cheap outfit, including new shoes and a small crossbody bag. I left, and changed in a gas station bathroom, scrubbing my body with disposable body cloths, and thoroughly wetting my hair in the sink. After drying my body on my old leggings, I tossed the old clothes in the garbage, and twisted my hair into a messy bun, tying it with a strip torn from a plastic bag.

With any luck, that would kill all the tracking devices. I strode to the next convenience store and bought a burner phone. I could keep going on my own and save the badger’s escape offer. Or I could take a chance now, because I might not be able to call in the future. Leaning against the store’s exterior, I dialed the number.

“Hello,” a woman said. “I’d bet this is Char Flammen, right?”

I snorted. “You would be correct.”

“I heard about the confrontation. Need a little help?”

“Yes, but—”

“How do you know it’s safe? We owe you. The timing was too close on our escape. You bought us a few critical seconds. It’s worth one day of safety, no blood.”

I was an excellent judge of character, usually, and her voice was sincere, without trying too hard. I’d have to negotiate in person to be sure. “How about some information, too?”

“It depends, but talk is cheap. Can you travel?”

“Yes.” I had enough money to have options.

“Sending you a geolocation pin. Come here on foot and I’ll find you.” The call dropped, and a text pinged. I pulled up the location. It wasn’t far, so I’d walk.

Leaving the store, I jogged into a housing development, weaving through the dark streets with the occasional cat, rat and trash panda for company. I crossed a major street, cut through an apartment complex, and walked towards the pin.

“Hey, Char!” A woman waved from the front stoop of a small house. She was about my height, but powerfully muscled, and her dark brown hair bore white stripes. A phone glowed in her hand.

“Do I know you?” I didn’t recognize her, and I had an excellent memory for people. However, her voice sounded familiar. She must be the badger I was looking for—the stripes in her hair were a giveaway. I’d been so concentrated on running that I wasn’t thinking, and that was dangerous.

She shook her head. “No, but you just called me. Look, I hate owing favors.” She held up both hands. “I offer safety for the next twenty-four hours. We can negotiate additional items. I don’t care about vampires, werewolves, or gargoyles. Or the rest of them, except my badgers. And money.”

I’d been burned several times tonight; adding another seemed stupid. On the other hand, an independent party was exactly what I needed, and being off the street for the next day seemed smart. But I didn’t move. “How did you find my car?”

She laughed. “We track the wolves and the vamps. Anything they’re interested in, we’re interested in.” She smirked. “You’re important to both, which is intriguing.” She put her hands on her hips. “So, coming or going?”

She might be a fantastic con artist, but I got a distinct feeling of sarcastic sincerity. “I’ll come. Thanks.” Having a safe shelter for the coming day was a huge relief. Getting it from someone who’d invaded Theo’s home was even better. Jogging up the sidewalk, I stopped outside the door. “I promise mutual defense while I’m here, and I will not prey on you or any household members.”

“Good enough. I’m Freddie Schaft.” She held out her hand.

I shook. “Charlene Flammen. Call me Char.”

“Hah. Everyone knows who you are, Char.” She scanned me up and down. “You ditched your old clothes, right?”

“Yes. And my bag. Most of this stuff is new.”

“Good. Turn the phone off and take the battery out.” She turned and entered the house. “Come in.”

I did as she asked, then followed Freddie inside. The small living room held a worn blue sofa and a fuzzy orange recliner facing a large screen on the wall. A doorway revealed a galley kitchen, and a hallway hinted at bedrooms. Cozy and homey; much more my style than the wolves or the vamps ostentatious abodes.

“We all know how much you hate Klaus Theoden, too. We’ve got that in common. Can’t stand KT or his people.” Her lip lifted in a snarl. “Thinks he controls everything and everybody.” She huffed. “The wolf isn’t much better.”

“I’ll agree with you there.” It seemed a common theme. “Did they live?”

Freddie chuckled. “Unfortunately. The vamp holding Irena died, but the rest escaped. A couple of the wolves were injured, including Karski, but nothing serious.” She sighed. “Unfortunately, they had to sedate Irena. KT didn’t release his hold.”

I wasn’t sure he could. Not if she’d been mesmerized for a long time, and it was probably worse if they’d been intimate in any way, especially with a blood transfer.

“They’re both looking for you. Dropping the SUV at the airport and ditching your stuff was smart. My doorway detector didn’t find any emitters, but let’s get you in a shower to kill anything left and change your scent a little.” Freddie crooked a finger, leading me to the hall. “Last door on the left. I’ll give you some clothes, no obligation there, then we’ll head down to the den. If there’s anything left on or in you, being underground ought to block the signal.”

I stopped. “You’re awfully well informed about my movements.”

She turned back and grinned. “I told you we track the wolves and the vamps. Anything they’re watching, we’re watching. Their internet security isn’t as good as they think it is. Come on. Shower. Fast.”

“Okay.” Knowing they had a basement was a big relief. Making an upstairs room light safe took a lot of effort; blackout curtains weren’t enough. In the bathroom, I showered, scrubbing hard and thinking harder. I couldn’t afford to relax, so I kept the water lukewarm. One of the badgers must be an expert hacker, because both the wolves and Theoden appeared to have excellent security. But anything on the internet could be found with enough time and effort. The smallest gap could be exploited. After I left Freddie’s, I’d leave my burner phone behind, and change clothes again.

A light knock, then the door opened. “It’s just me. Clothes on the counter,” Freddie said.

I finished rinsing. “Thanks.” After toweling off, I searched the skinny jeans and t-shirt for anything hard, especially on the seams, but didn’t find anything. That only meant the tracker was expensive and sophisticated. The cotton would be more comfortable, so I dressed, and stuffed my drugstore buys into my bag.

Freddie leaned against the wall outside the bathroom. “Sorry it’s all black, but I’m a stage hand. That’s all I wear.”

“They’re perfect. I appreciate it and the shower.” That was absolutely true. “I’m happy to pay for both.”

She pushed off the wall, crooking a finger. “Nah, it’s part of the shelter. You being tracked does us no good. Come on.” She opened the middle door on the right side of the hallway and bounced down the stairway.

I followed, more sedately. The stair emerged into an unfinished concrete basement. A long L-shaped couch took up one corner, with a couple of recliners nearby and a large screen hanging on the bare wall studs. Game controllers sat on a scarred coffee table between the furniture. Behind the stairwell, the gym matting covered the concrete. Weights were racked along one wall, with a treadmill and a rowing machine on the other. We crossed the gym to a vault door with a keypad.

Freddie shielded the pad with her hand, entered a code. The pad beeped, locks thunked and she hauled the door open with a hiss of seals. “This is our armory, but it will make a good vampire hideout. You can leave your stuff in here.”

Inside, a tall table holding gun cleaning equipment took up the middle of the room, my phone and battery sitting on top. Two large safes stood along the left-hand wall, and shelves lined the other two walls, full of military ammunition boxes. The labels revealed a variety of calibers. The strong scent of solvents and oil made my nose wrinkle. “Nice set up. Do you moonlight as a mercenary?” Their guns must be stored in the safes, or they’d never allow me inside. I put my backpack down on the floor, and the dismantled phone on the table.

She laughed. “No. Bodyguard occasionally. Quick reaction force sometimes. But these are mostly end-of-the-world as we know it supplies. I’ve got a blowup bed and blanket in there. You can secure this from the inside with this bar; even I can’t get through it without drilling or explosives.” She showed me where to place the padlocks on the locking bars. “So don’t die for real tomorrow, because breaking in here is a pain.”

I chuckled. “I’ll do my best.”

“I’ll leave it open for now. We can hang out on the couch until I go to bed.” She flopped into the corner and swept a finger across her phone. “Looks like all the wolves will live. One of the vamps is iffy, but the other is true dead.” Her lip lifted for a moment. “Trinity is no loss. Klaus should have put her down a long time ago.”

I shrugged. “I didn’t know her.” But Karski seemed to agree with Freddie’s assessment.

One corner of her mouth lifted. “I’m sure KT kept her far away from you. She had delusions of ruling Vegas. If she’d ever met you, you’d be dead.”

I frowned. “I wasn’t hiding all these years. KT knew exactly where I was.” I liked her nickname better than mine.

She shook her head. “Trinity was old. Really old. She didn’t understand technology at all. Couldn’t stand watching TV or movies. She liked streaming music once she found out about voice-activated devices. She’d have never figured out how to find you. Plus, KT kept her on a very short leash. Mostly in the tower so she wouldn’t kill too many people. She didn’t have much control. Or maybe a better way to describe her was that she didn’t care about control. She likes killing.” Freddie shrugged. “Personally, I think that after centuries of living, the fast changes of the last century drove her insane.”

“I’ve heard of that happening.” But I thought it was a fairy tale, made up by hopeful humans. Karski said I was dangerously ignorant, and I had to believe him. “You said we’d negotiate for anything more than shelter. What are you thinking?”

Freddie shrugged. “What do you need?” She smiled, grimly. “I like favors and information more than money.”

I snorted. “Then I’m not sure what I need matters, because I don’t know much.” But maybe I knew enough, because she might not know why the vamps and wolves wanted me.

“Oh, it matters.” She wagged her forefinger at me. “I’ll go easy on you, because you’ll make it easier for me in the future. If you survive.”

“I’ll live, I’m pretty sure of that.” Whether I’d be free was the question. “I’m guessing you’d like to know exactly why KT and the Alpha want me, right?”

She smirked. “We know about the prophecy. If the wolves have it, we’ve got it.”

“Well, then you know it’s ridiculous.” I shrugged.

“Sure, all prophecy is.” She squinted. “Until it isn’t. It’s important to the believers. KT’s not a true believer, but some of his vamps are, so he wants you, but not enough to risk damaging you.”

I scoffed. “More like he wants to use me like he uses everyone else.”

“True.” She smirked. “But I think there might be more to it. I don’t think he likes working so hard. He does it to stay alive and in command. But what I want to know is if you think the prophecy is true and if it’s about you.” She grimaced. “Ugh. Rhyming.”

I couldn’t hold back a chuckle. “I just read it. It might be true, but it’s so general it could apply to just about anyone and anything.” I pinned her with my gaze. “Do you have more of the prophecy?”

Freddie opened her mouth, then slammed it shut. “No blood, no mesmerizing. Got it?” She glared.

“Wasn’t trying.” I held up both hands. “Seriously. I hate using that. It’s creepy.” I shivered. It was extra creepy knowing I used my ability subconciously.

“Hmm. Maybe I understand why they think you’re the unbound queen, then.” She tapped a finger against her chin. “You’re seriously convincing. If you can do that without trying, I also understand how you kept Fantastique running. I hear things aren’t going so well now that you’ve left.” She laughed.

“That’s too bad. They’re a nice bunch of folks. I enjoyed working with them most of the time. But with KT in charge? No thanks.”

She flopped back, seemingly boneless. “If he really believes you’re the unbound queen of prophecy, he’s been giving you a lot of freedom. Why change now?”

“I’d like to know that, too.” I shrugged. “Karski thought maybe there was an astrological event tied into the prophecy, like a comet or alignment or something. Or maybe KT just got tired of waiting.”

“Or his big ego got popped, because he never expected you to succeed without his help.” Freddie huffed. “Most vamps need a lot more care and feeding, it seems like. You? You’re made, and boom, you leave KT’s tower to make it on your own.”

“Yeah, but if he was going to get mad about that, it should have happened a long time ago. I’ve been on my own for decades.” I wasn’t sure I really wanted to ask, but Freddie wasn’t stupid. “Do you have a copy of the full prophecy?”

“No.” She shook her head. “We’ve never found it online. Supposedly, it’s stored in a secret temple in KT’s tower. We looked for the temple during our raid, but no luck. Lots of locked doors we couldn’t get through without explosives. We didn’t have enough time to use what we brought, other than making a mess.” She grinned. “I’d have loved to see KT’s face when he saw his bedroom, but he doesn’t have any cameras in there.”

I couldn’t help smiling with her. “What did you do?” He’d dished out enough pain; consequences were due.

“Let’s just say that things went boom.” Her laughter turned to a growl. “He deserved that and more for taking the Alpha’s niece. Humans are used enough. Kids shouldn’t be pull toys. I’m so angry we couldn’t get her to leave.”

“So she really is a kid?” Anger rushed through me. I’d kill Theoden myself. I bet Freddie would loan me a high-powered rifle. With enough bullets, even he’d go down.

She held up her hand and tipped it back and forth. “Seventeen. Too young and naive for him. She wasn’t exactly sheltered, but no one’s prepared for that.” She shuddered. “We’d have jumped from KT’s tower without parachutes before enduring that.” She spat the last word.

I nodded. “When things calm down, I’ll try to help her.” I shrugged. “No idea if I can.” If I couldn’t help her, I’d find a way to make Theoden let her go.

“If anyone could, it would be you.” Her brows rose. “Figure out what you want to ask, yet? Because you’ve only got a few minutes before this girl passes out. I’m a night owl, but we’re getting to my bedtime.” She yawned.

“Got any ideas on how to take on KT?”

She snort-laughed. “Right. No. You want an object? I’ll get it. Want someone taken out? I might do it, if it’s justified. I’ll definitely scare someone straight. But I’m not a planner.” Her lips clamped together for a moment. “You know who is?”

My lip curled. “Karski.”

She smiled, grimly. “Karski.” One shoulder rose, then dropped when she sighed. “Even KT can’t out-think Karski long-term. Especially when he’s more predictable every year. The only time he’s unpredictable is when it concerns you.” She scowled. “There’s got to be a reason he’s making his move now. You haven’t made any changes lately, have you?”

I shook my head. “No. I’m terribly boring. Work, die the day away, work some more. Save money to get out of here. Find places to hide.”

Her mouth opened for a moment, then snapped shut. “That’s it. I’d bet he’s been waiting for you to make a move, then make you stop and grab control. When he got tired of waiting on you, he made you jump. There’s something in that prophecy about running, I’d bet.”

“Either than, or a true believer pushed him. Is there a religious leader of some sort? Priest, priestess, avatar, someone like that?” If that was the case, maybe I could get that vampire on my side.

Her mouth twisted. “Maybe. We know there is a temple. That implies there’s a leader or a caretaker. Or maybe someone who keeps the prophecy safe, like a guardian.” She nodded several times. “That’s an intriguing idea, Char. I’ll look into it.” A snort burst from her. “Maybe that’s why KT kept Trinity around. She’s the guardian. Or was. If so, we’ll have to figure out who took her place.”

Having no clue, I shrugged. “I didn’t stick around KT’s tower long enough to hear any origin stories or religious mantras. I learned to control myself around humans, then I left. KT’s actually not all that bad, if you don’t mind doing everything his way and bowing.” It was my turn to snort. “Which I do. But his people are horrible. Nothing but bullies. Physical and mental abuse galore. I didn’t survive to put up with that.”

“Preach, sister. They’re even worse to non-vamps. They consider everyone prey.” She shrugged. “Which to be fair, we kind of are. None of us can withstand a full-court press from a mature vampire. Not alone. That’s why even the most solitary of us weres work in packs. And honestly, we use humans, too. Blending in lets us hide more effectively.” She smirked. “I’ve been told badger blood has a sharp flavor, and it’s a last resort.” Her lip curled. “Not that it stops vamps like Trinity. She didn’t care. Alive and running was her favorite flavor.” She yawned again. “Anyway, I’ll look into the religious leader idea tomorrow.” She stood and stretched. “My house is yours, except the bedrooms. Stay out of those. And stay off the internet and phone, please. I’d like my house to remain off the big boy’s radar if possible.”

“Sure. I’ll hang out, then go to bed. I won’t put you at risk.” That would be a poor repayment for her hospitality.

Freddie bounced up the stairs. A door closed, then water ran.

I grabbed a blood box from my bag and sucked it down. Sourcing more was my first question for Freddie tomorrow. Next, I needed a way to find the trackers Karski put on my stuff. If I worked with him again, it had to be on my terms, not because he treed me like the cougar I wasn’t. I needed a way to safely talk to Theoden, too. He obviously wasn’t giving up, but neither was I. We had to come to an understanding or one of us would end up true dead. Probably me. I also needed a long-term lair. Somewhere I could come and go from without interference. Getting rid of the trackers would help with that. But they might have tracked me every step of my searches, and knowing both men—and Freddie—they’d have it all mapped out. Since I’d run, they might have put sensors on every one of my potential hideouts. I needed someplace safe.

I wasn’t asking much, was I? I padded back to the vault. I’d blow up the bed and get set for the day. Maybe I’d have a brilliant revelation tomorrow.

 

***To be continued***

Working Class Vegas Vamp Copyright © 2024 by AM Scott. All Rights Reserved.

Cover by Achlys Book Cover Designs

The post Working Class Vegas Vamp Chapter 16 first appeared on AM Scott.

Working Class Vegas Vamp Chapter 15

Working Class Vegas Vamp is a free urban fantasy serial, usually publishing on Tuesdays. It is unedited and subject to change. If published later, it may differ significantly, and will probably include additional material. Typos and English errors are likely; feel free to leave a comment or write me at am {AT} amscottwrites.com (revised as a standard email address. Pesky bots!) Available for a limited time only!

Haven’t started yet? Chapter 1: https://www.amscottwrites.com/2024/10/29/working-class-vegas-vamp-chapter-1/ ‎

Chapter 15

“By the burning daylight, I thought I’d have another day.” I placed the tablet on his desk. “Thanks for your help, but I don’t want to put your people at risk. Is there a discrete way out of here?”

“Several.” He shook his head. “But you won’t be taking any of them.”

That was ominous. So much for promises. I slid towards the bedroom. “I see. Found a way to retrieve your niece after all, did you?”

“Yes.” He smiled. “But it’s not what you think. It’s time for a conversation with Theoden, rather than a battle. If he really believes the prophecy, he’ll want to help.”

“In a way that leaves him in charge.” I didn’t stop moving away, even if I had little chance of avoiding the wolf in this confined space.

He nodded, but didn’t chase me. “Of course. He’s a predator, just like me. He won’t give up power willingly. If he’s not a true believer, but merely hedging his bets, he’ll make you work for it. But enough of his people believe in the prophecy that he can’t work against you or he’ll lose everything. He turned you ‘unbound’ for a reason. Either there’s something in that prophecy that he wants to happen, or enough of his people believe you’re the queen that he had no choice.”

“He probably considers himself king.” My lip curled. A personal relationship with Theo turned my stomach. He was a gorgeous man, no doubt of that, but he’d demand complete subservience. I’d never, ever put myself into that position again. “Where are we meeting?”

“At our clubhouse. He’s agreed to meet the two of us with a single vampire as backup. My pack will surround the clubhouse, of course. He’ll have personnel just outside the club’s fence. But with just four of us, we should have mutually ensured destruction.”

I snorted. “You still have a greatly exaggerated view of my abilities.” Confronting Klaus Theoden seemed like suicide.

“No.” He smirked. “I have an accurate view of my abilities. If I’m not mesmerized, I can easily take out two vampires. Even Theoden.”

I had my doubts. “And how do you avoid mesmerization?”

He smiled grimly. “That’s your job.”

“Again, you have a greatly exaggerated view of my abilities. I’ve never attempted to mesmerize another vampire. I don’t know if I can. Especially one like Theo. Probably any of his vampires have more experience than I do. Theo can move faster than the eye can see, too.”

“He’s a challenge, but I’m sure I can take him out.” The Alpha’s eyebrows rose. “But I’m also sure about you. I’ve never felt the kind of…persuasion you emit from any other vampire. Most vamps find me impossible. Theoden’s tried, but I’ve never allowed him to capture my gaze, so I don’t know if he could succeed. I highly doubt it. But despite actively avoiding your eyes, I still feel compelled to please you. It’s disturbing.” He grimaced.

“I imagine so.” This man was in charge of a large werewolf pack and a major company. Being coerced into protecting me, a non-pack member, must be unnerving. “I’m not trying to compel you in any way. I can take care of myself.” I could still run and leave Vegas behind. Just because the Alpha didn’t think it was possible didn’t mean that was true.

“By running? Won’t work. If Theoden doesn’t find you, another vamp will. You’ll end up fighting, eventually. Do it now, while you’re strong, not after you’ve been on the run and end up starving. Take the fight to Theoden, now.”

He was trying to compel me, and that wasn’t going to work. But he also had a good point. I sighed. “I’ll give it a shot.”

“No.” He growled. “There is no try, only do.” Grimacing, he shook his head. “Seriously, if you have doubts, you’ll fail.” He met my gaze. “You can do this, Charlene Flammen. You absolutely can. But you must believe in yourself and your abilities. If you don’t, believe me. I know you can defeat Theoden. I’m positive you can win and I’m betting my life and my niece’s life on that.”

I gulped. “No pressure. Just do something you’ve never done before, perfectly, or a young woman and the pack Alpha dies. Right.” Because I’d survive that disaster—not. But he had a point. I’d been successful as a vampire because I was persuasive. I’d thought it was my natural, somewhat bitter charm. But evidently, that was incorrect. It was my ability to mesmerize. Which was disturbing on several levels. I should be in control of my efforts and aware of my abilities. Maybe if I’d stayed longer after turning, I’d know more. Or more likely, they’d have fed more fairy tales and I’d be firmly under Theoden’s control. Perhaps my ability is why Theoden never attempted to mesmerize me.

“Char, I’m not joking.” The Alpha’s words brought me out of my whirling thoughts. He met my gaze. “I know you can do this. The odds are definitely in your favor.”

I broke his stare, uncomfortable with his previous admission of my abilities and his unknown abilities. “Mixing your fandoms?

He put a finger under my chin, pulling me back to his almost glowing eyes. “For a good cause. You just threw off my best attempt at mental persuasion, one that’s a hundred percent effective in my pack, and about ninety-eight percent outside of it. I’ve never tried it on Theoden, but I’ve compelled other vampires to leave pack members alone.” He nodded once. “Between the two of us, we can do this.”

Uncomfortable as it was, I held his gaze, hoping that his certainty defeated my doubts. Since he’d successfully commanded vampires, we had a chance. A decent chance, even. “Okay. We can do this. When are we meeting?”

He spun, not breaking my stare until his neck stopped turning. I winced. That looked painful, but I hadn’t been trying to control him. Maybe he was correct about my abilities, because I couldn’t imagine faking that move.

He looked at his watch, a rather massive military-style stainless steel timepiece. “In thirteen minutes.” He took the tablet off the desk, tapping and swiping, then handed it back to me. “That’s a diagram of the clubhouse. We’re meeting in the ballroom, which is completely empty except a few decorative tables along the sides. As you can see, there are exit doors on the north side, two doors to the hallway on the south side, an exit on the west, and two doors to the kitchen on the east side. The kitchen has exits on the west and east, plus and door to the lobby, bar, and the dining room. There are exterior exits on the dining room, bar and lobby, of course.” He pointed at each feature, his words over-enunciated and sharp. “The kitchen has a stairwell to the upper level. That level contains meeting rooms over the dining room and kitchen, with offices over the ball room. There are several emergency escapes on that level and roof access in the middle and near the east and west sides of the building. Questions about the building?”

“No basement?”

Shaking his head, he swept the diagram away. “No. There are escape tunnels. The exits are in the kitchen cleaning closet and behind the bar. Both have hidden, coded key pads, but if you need to use those, we’ve lost already.” He brought up a map of the entire compound. “I’ve marked escapes from the ballroom. But again, we’re going to win, not run.”

The Alpha was now carefully avoiding my eyes, looking at my forehead or mouth. That should give me confidence, but instead, I felt more alone than ever. He was an ally, not a friend, and once he had his niece back, he might not even be that. If Theoden released the girl—and I didn’t know if that was possible—the Alpha might turn on me. He seemed honorable, but I had to be alert to every possibility. “Okay. We’re winning. Do we know what that looks like? Am I taking over the vampires? Theo’s business? His tower? I’m a working class vamp, not a CEO.” I’d rather not set foot in that place again. But I might have to.

“At least the vampires. The rest, I don’t care about.” He slashed his hand through the air. “If you take Theoden’s entire business, I can help you find your feet.”

I sniffed. “For a percentage, I assume?”

A wry grin. “Of course. You should never trust people who do everything for free. They’re getting a reward somewhere. Usually, a much larger one.” He turned towards the door. “Come on. We want to get there early.”

I followed him upstairs and into one of the big black SUVs, already running outside the garage. He drove efficiently, parking behind the clubhouse and turning towards me. “When you act, move fast with full force and intent. No doubts, no half-measures. Overwhelming force wins battles like these. We’ll worry about the war later.” He bounded out of the vehicle.

“What war?” Maybe whatever threat worried Theo. But the Alpha was right; nothing but the present mattered. Before I’d gotten out of the car, he was holding the back door, a keypad flashing green. He shoved his phone in his back pocket and the SUV key fob dangled from his front right pocket.

Slinging my backpack on, I joined him and we stepped inside. Four chandeliers sparkled, but bright LEDs on the ceiling lit the space. It was probably one-hundred and fifty feet long by seventy feet wide, with sandy beige walls above dark wood wainscotting. Wide light wood planks covered the floor, shimmering with a sealant. Small occasional tables flanked the room, and logo mats discretely wiped guest’s shoes at each door. A light floral scent mostly covered the chemicals of industrial cleaners.

We moved to the center of the room and faced the lobby doors. Rather than wait in silence and let my fears take over, I’d ask questions. “This might be an odd time to ask, but what is your name, anyway? Calling you ‘the Alpha’ takes a lot of time in my head.”

He almost barked his laugh. “I didn’t realize you didn’t know. My mother would have my hide for such poor manners.” He turned to face me and bowed. “Aleksander Karski at your service, milady. Call me Alek, with a ‘k’ on the end, not a ‘c.’ He pronounced his name with a bit of an accent.

“Lovely to officially meet you, Alek.” I held out my hand, and rather than shaking it, he brushed his lips over my knuckles. A surprising gesture, but one that felt authentic. And hot. But I didn’t have time for nonsense. “And your niece?”

“Irene Karski. My sister never married Irene’s father.”

I shrugged. Did anyone care about that anymore? I didn’t. “Does she have a middle name?” Middle-naming a child was a great way to get their attention.

“Ah.” His brows rose slightly. “Zivia. Officially, she’s Irena Zivia Karski.”

I nodded. “That will help, thank you.”

“Of course. But we can experiment with Irena’s issues later. Theoden must be your primary concern.”

A whoosh of air, the doors banged, and Theo was in front of us. “I’m happy to be Ms. Flammen’s primary concern.” He practically purred the words, while attempting to loom over us. Since he was only four or five inches taller than me, it really didn’t work.

“I’m sure you are.” I crossed my arms and frowned at him. “I—”

“Where’s my niece?” Alek hovered over both of us, quite effectively. “I set this meeting up to get my niece back, healthy and whole.”

Alek had told me—no, implied—that Theoden found us and insisted on the meeting. Maybe the enemy of my enemy wasn’t on my side after all.

“You thought I set this up?” Theo ignored the wolf, sniffing while staring down at me. “Hardly. You’ll come back eventually or you’ll die.”

My frown turned to a scowl. “Let me make something crystal-clear to both of you. You don’t own me. I’ll walk into the sunrise before either one of you control me.”

Theoden’s snarl had nothing on Alek’s. “You will not.”

I put a hand on Alek’s chest and shoved him back. “I don’t answer to you.” Turning to Theo, I repeated the same sentiment, but slower. “You don’t own me. You may be able to capture me temporarily, but that’s all it will ever be. Captivity. I won’t be your plaything, I won’t be a figurehead for your religion, and I won’t be at your beck and call. Is that clear?”

Theo smiled. “Oh, but you will. I made you. I own you.” He took a step back, then another. He met my gaze. “Come, Charlene Flammen. Now.”

At the snapped order, my foot lifted, and I slammed it back down. I reinforced my mental refusal. “No. Release Irena, now.” I copied his tone.

He leaned forward, then scoffed. “No.”

“Yes, or your people die.” Alek shoved his phone in front of Theo’s face. “My pack has every one of your people in cuffs or in the sights of a high-powered rifle. Release my niece, fully, or they all die.” He paused, then growled, “Now.”

“You’re a dead man.” Faster than I could see, Theoden had a hand around Alek’s neck.

“So are you.” A shot blasted, deafening in the empty room.

Theo and Alek staggered. Theo’s hand clenched Alek’s neck, and red bloomed below Theo’s armpit, around the muzzle of the pistol in Alek’s hand.

Mutually ensured destruction, indeed. I wasn’t getting caught in that trap.

I ran.

***To be continued***

Working Class Vegas Vamp Copyright © 2024 by AM Scott. All Rights Reserved.

Cover by Achlys Book Cover Designs

The post Working Class Vegas Vamp Chapter 15 first appeared on AM Scott.

Working Class Vegas Vamp Chapter 14

Working Class Vegas Vamp is a free urban fantasy serial, usually publishing on Tuesdays. It is unedited and subject to change. If published later, it may differ significantly, and will probably include additional material. Typos and English errors are likely; feel free to leave a comment or write me at am {AT} amscottwrites.com (revised as a standard email address. Pesky bots!) Available for a limited time only!

Haven’t started yet? Chapter 1: https://www.amscottwrites.com/2024/10/29/working-class-vegas-vamp-chapter-1/ ‎

I sat back, rolling my eyes. “Ugh. I don’t even know where to start.”

He smirked. “Luckily for you, I do. I’ve been where you are now.”

“Don’t you werewolves do the whole fight to the death thing and kill your way up the ladder?” The thought turned my stomach. I didn’t like Theoden or his people, but I liked the idea of killing even less.

“Yes and no.” His lip curled. “I have killed those who were unwilling to yield, or betrayed the pack. But I prefer to fight for supremacy and I’m good at it. I can help you.” His gaze met mine again. “But only if you help me.”

“I’ll help you with your niece, regardless.” It was my turn to curl a lip. “But taking over the Vegas vampires? That seems like a lot of work with no reward, just more work.”

“Leadership can be difficult, it’s true.” He pointed at the ceiling. “My pack is enjoying their normal lives, while I’m in a windowless basement, talking to a blood sucker.” He smirked. “But there are benefits, like knowing my people are safer because I’m in charge.”

I blinked, stunned by his arrogance. “And you know this, how?” I shook my head. “Never mind, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’m not so certain the Vegas vamps will be better off under my rule.”

He stabbed his forefinger towards me. “I’m sure. I’ve seen who you are through my pack. You’re thousands of times better than Theoden, let alone those hedonistic idiots lazing around in his tower, making a mess of human lives and hassling us. You will take command and put them to work. That will keep them out of trouble.” He snarled. “Except Trinity. She’s mine.”

He didn’t mean that in a positive way, clearly. Trinity must have lured his niece away. “I don’t know any of them. Never wanted to know any of them after Cerise almost killed me.”

He smirked. “Fortunately, I keep tabs on all of them.” He tapped on his phone. “I’ll share my intel with you. Bios, preferences, and backgrounds, although some of them are older than most records. None of it leaves this house in anything but your head, understand?”

I nodded. “I agree. I appreciate the help, but I still don’t see how I can take over Vegas. Theo’s been ruling for decades. He’s a billionaire CEO, not some bandit king. He makes decisions impacting thousands of human lives and millions of dollars every minute.” I spread my hands. “I mix drinks and talk to people.”

He shook his head. “You lead diverse humans, werewolves, and gargoyles. You manage drunk humans without violence regularly. That’s incredibly rare in the vampire world. Theoden leans on technology, avoiding the humans who work for him, because he doesn’t have the control to deal with them. Before email became common, a lot more humans died. I’m amazed he sat at your bar for three days without killing anyone.”

“I’m amazed I didn’t kill him. He’s been a black hole, bringing everybody down.” My tips had been next to nothing, except those he dropped, and I left those in the tip jar for everyone else.

“So why didn’t you?” His eyes narrowed. “You could have taken care of all your problems with one quick thrust. Plenty of wooden chopsticks on your bar.” He mimed stabbing with one hand.

Stake Theoden? In public? Right. “You have greatly exaggerated ideas of my capabilities.” Theoden’s speed and stealth were terrifying. I couldn’t come close, literally and figuratively.

“I think you underestimate yourself.” He shook his head. “You have plenty of speed, strength and mental talent. It’s confidence, training, and awareness that you lack.”

“Oh, just those.” I didn’t hold back my eye roll. “I’ll get right on that.” Like I hadn’t been practicing when I could? My opportunities were limited, because I trusted few.

He leaned forward. “If you want to live free, you can. I will help with the training and awareness. Confidence is all yours, sweetheart.”

I huffed. I could do without the cute diminutives. I heard enough of that at the bar. “I’m confident that Theoden can kill me whenever he wants to.”

The Alpha sighed. “But he doesn’t want to, or you’d already be dead. He wants to control you. Don’t let him.”

I shook my head. “We’re going in circles.”

A knock at the door interrupted his reply. The Alpha rose, striding to the door and cracked it. He accepted a tablet, then secured the door and returned to his seat. “This contains biographies, likes, dislikes, accomplishments, failures, and suspected strengths and weaknesses. Everything we’ve been able to gather about Theoden and his vampires over the last forty years.”

“Forty years? You’ve been at this for a while.” That was a lot of data.

He nodded. “Yes, we have. As I told you, I’ve got intel on every supernatural and all the important humans in the area, too. Although the human files are shorter, even with scum like your former boss, Ald.” He tapped on the tablet, then turned it around. “Look into the camera and follow the directions, please.”

I took it from him and created a profile, including biometrics. Then I selected the file folder labeled vampire. Folders appeared, labeled by vampire name. I clicked on Theoden’s, of course.

The Alpha—I had to learn his name at some point—pointed at the tablet. “Every file contains a summary, with links to the detailed documents. I’d recommend reading all the summaries, then concentrating on weaknesses and strengths. Except Theoden, because you need to know everything about him.” He sniffed. “Everything we know, that is. Much of his early years are unknown, because he was raised in Russia.”

“Russia? How did he get here?” Perhaps Klaus was his given name, rather than a fake. Northern Russian heritage would explain his ice-blue eyes and blond hair.

He shook his head. “We don’t know for sure, but we think he came over with his creator during the California Gold Rush era. There are no immigration records, but that wasn’t uncommon back then, particularly for those who came through Asia. We know that much of his wealth came from gold discovered in California and Nevada. Some supposedly haunted mines weren’t—the vampires were living in them. Claim jumpers were a food source.”

I wrinkled my nose, but had to clamp down on my thirst. My last meal had been too long ago, and I’d have to do something about that soon. Without taking anything from the werewolves. “I suppose that’s fair, unless they killed them.”

He rose and retreated to the bar, returning with a familiar box and handing it to me. “No, they mostly lived, but with wild stories to tell. Kept all but the most adventuresome away.”

He was too perceptive. I stabbed the straw into the box and sucked. After the first pull, I remembered my manners. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He returned to the bar and slid a container into the microwave. “I’m hungry, and I can’t eat without offering something to a guest.”

I laughed at his smooth handling. “Well, I appreciate your manners. They’re rare these days.” I scanned through the vampire files, then the gargoyles, other supernaturals, and the weres—except werewolves.

“True. Some of my people have a lot to learn. Theoden’s vamps even more.”

“I notice my name isn’t on any of these files, nor is yours. Or your pack members.”

The corners of his mouth lifted. “I don’t gather intel on my pack. They are mine and I know them, inside and out. I have a file on you, and I could probably gain a lot from watching you read it, but I try not to betray a trust I’m trying to gain.”

He was certainly an Alpha—wearing command like a second skin—but an enlightened one. Although, he was gathering intel on me now, so maybe he just hid his inner ruling Alpha well. Even without a dossier, I was fairly certain he’d been Alpha for a very long time, but it would probably be rude to ask. “I appreciate the attempt.”

He brought the container to the couch, popping the top and filling a fork with shredded meat.

It smelled spicy and delicious. “Carne asada? Smells fabulous.”

Smiling with his mouth closed, he nodded, then swallowed. “It is. Almost too spicy, but it’s good training. You never know when you might run into peppery hazards.”

I held back a grimace at his subtle condemnation. I wasn’t sorry for trying to cover my tracks. “I suppose so. I miss eating tasty food.” I sucked down more bland blood.

“Turning has tradeoffs for any supernatural. There is always a price.” He returned to his meal.

“I suppose so.” I finished the box while I scanned the rest of the files. It would take me days to go through all of these—or nights, more accurately. I had about an hour left tonight, so I turned to Theo’s file.

Before I got far, the Alpha rose, putting his container in the sink and gathering more blood boxes. “Come, and I’ll show you to your room.” He walked to the door behind his desk and entered a code. “I’m the only one with the code to this room, although there is an emergency entry protocol if I don’t log into the house security every seventy-two hours.” The door beeped, and he opened it, revealing a master suite with a king-size bed, dresser, TV, and a compact, but luxurious bathroom with dark gray solid surface countertops above pale wood cupboards. No bathtub, but the shower had multiple adjustable spray heads and full size toiletries.

“This isn’t my room, but I’ve slept here often when work gets busy. Feel free to use anything you find in here; it’s pack property, not mine. The room is completely light-safe; the door seals tight. There are no windows, but there is an emergency hatch in the bathroom that exits into an upstairs safe room. That safe room exits into the mud room or there’s an emergency tunnel to the desert behind the fence. Getting out that way requires blowing explosive bolts.” He led me into the bathroom and pointed at the ceiling above the toilet. “Just turn and yank the toilet paper holder to pop the hatch. Please don’t do that unless you really need it. There is no security on the exit above, and it’s not accessible from the outside without explosives.” He put the blood boxes on the sink counter.

My previous lair’s security was a joke in comparison. “I’d prefer not to use any exit but the usual, because that means something has gone terribly wrong.” I backed out of the small bathroom, uncomfortable with his proximity. “This is very impressive.”

He smiled wryly. “We didn’t start in this house, but when we built it, we sunk every penny we could afford into security. Later, we renovated with a bit more luxury.” He followed me out, turning to the door. “I’ll lock this from the outside. If you need out, just look at the scanner.” He pointed at what I’d thought was a peephole. “You might have to jump, sorry.”

I sighed. “Tall people rule the world.”

“I’m not that tall by today’s standards, but yes.” He opened the door with a quiet hiss as the rubber seals peeled apart. “Rest well.” The door locks thunked into place and the scanner glowed red.

I carefully placed the tablet on the bed and took my backpack to the bathroom. I hoped the bathroom didn’t have cameras, but the Alpha seemed justifiably paranoid. I pulled my leggings down, palming the paper left by the badgers, then sat and read it again. After I memorized the phone number, I flushed it. Then I got ready for the night.

After a long shower removed some of the knots from my back, I put on the extra clothes in my bag. Then I washed my dirty ones in the sink, wringing them out before hanging them over the shower enclosure. Back at the bed, I glanced at the time, put the tablet next to the bed on the floor, then peeled back the sheets and climbed in. The mattress was firmer than mine, but very comfortable.

I attempted my meditation, but the Alpha’s stare was hard to forget, and Theo’s threat even worse. I fretted until I fell into darkness.

*

The next evening, I rose, ran through a quick meditation and yoga routine, showered, and sucked down a blood box. Then I returned to the tablet. I considered letting myself out of the room, but if the Alpha was busy, I didn’t want to bother him. On the other hand, I didn’t want to make him wait on me, either.

I could read in either place. If he had pack members out there, I’d return to the bedroom. I packed my clean clothes in my bag and cleaned up what I could with a washcloth. I’d strip the sheets and towels, but it was likely I’d stay here again tonight, so I wouldn’t bother. But I also wouldn’t risk leaving anything behind.

Rising on my tiptoes, I looked at the scanner, and the locking bars thumped, the light turning green. I cracked the door and peered out. Seeing no one, I left the door open and entered the office, plopping back on the chair I’d used the night before.

When the office door beeped, I jumped, then shuddered. I’d been so lost in the files I hadn’t been paying attention. That could be deadly. I’d obviously assumed I was safe here, and that was a leap of faith I had no business taking, even if the Alpha somehow projected safety.

“Good evening, Char.” The Alpha entered, wearing dark jeans and a long sleeve dark green Henley. He filled out both very nicely; lean, but muscular, just like a true wolf. “I hope you slept well.”

“Very well, thank you.” I was alive, so it must be true. As usual, time had passed leaving no memories behind. “I haven’t gotten much farther with these files.”

He handed me a blood box. “And you won’t get farther tonight, I’m afraid. Theoden knows you’re here.”

***To be continued***

Working Class Vegas Vamp Copyright © 2024 by AM Scott. All Rights Reserved.

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