Adduné - the Vampire's Game (68 page)

How the hell did these people get her private number? That’s what she wanted to know. She began deleting a batch, seeing Reggie’s number in the mix. She listened to the voicemail not quite sure she wanted to hear his message. It was stern and to the point – urging her to call him as soon as possible. She realized she didn’t know which subject was worse for a conversation. Was it talking about her naked body being ravaged on film? Or speculation that vampires were after her and her family?

She decided they were an even match. Miranda didn’t want to talk about either, but then she had to, didn’t she? She’d made her bed, now she’d have to lie in it. She’d always abhorred that phrase so much – and now she was cursed to live it.

She went in the bathroom and brushed out her hair. She looked approximately how she felt – sick to her stomach and ready to puke. She’d never seen a green tinge to her skin before – it was remarkably unbecoming.

She tiptoed down the hallway careful not to disturb Tiffany. It was bad enough she was using her as a security blanket and safe harbor. The least she could do was respect her routine and not wake her up. She was satisfied that the scream she let out upon arising hadn’t. She was grateful for that at least. All she needed was to explain why she was shrieking out in terror.

She started the coffee perking and debated about calling Reggie before she’d laced her weak English blood with Columbian coffee beans. She opted to sit still and ponder her next move. She’d made enough rash decisions.

Her phone rang in her hand. She looked down and saw it was her brother. She knew it wasn’t his style to call her – unless it was a chance to rake her over the coals. She didn’t know if she wanted more bashing. Against her better judgment she answered it.

“
Good morning, dear brother, just calling to say hello?”

“
Yup, that was it. How’d you guess?”

“
Used the law of probability. I mean the other fifty million people did, so why not you?”

“
Fifty million? I think my friends are a small part of your throng of admirers – the males anyway. I didn’t watch it myself, but I hear you grew up just fine,” he said with more than a trace of a chuckle.

“
Not even a peek? I’m surprised since you’ve been actively engaged in such lecherous physical pursuits yourself – at least that’s what I’ve heard.”

“
Peek? What do you take me for? A perv? And the young ladies I consort with are of age, consenting, and not relatives. I think that should ease your mind.”

“
It does not.”

“
Might I ask if Goldilocks is a relative? With all that fine, blonde hair hanging down in his face it was hard to tell.”

“
So you did peek, you little pipsqueak!” she chastised.

“
Not at you, sis – at him. Honestly, he looks like he stepped off the cover of one of your romance novels. How long did it take him to grow that mane?”

“
No time at all. He’s completely bald,” Miranda lied. She felt good starting this fallacious rumor and talking badly about the man in the world she most hated.

“
Really? Then that hair is not his?”

“
No, only a very bad weave on a circular fringe of the most sparse hair imaginable. Looks like a cue ball on top.”

“
Gosh, that is disturbing. I wonder how many Palomino horses had to die just so he could play Marquis de Sade? He certainly had the spanking down – and no, I didn’t look. It’s what I heard from my very randy friends who – I might add – are most anxious to meet you.”

“
You are quite the joker, Chasie. Remind me to punch you right in the mouth when I see you. Or how about a nice kick to your testicles?”

“
I don’t see why you’re getting mad. I was only inquiring since I thought you were so straight-laced in your, er, preferences. I don’t even go in for that sort of thing and I was the one that actually got my bottom swatted by father. Perhaps a case of bottom swatting envy?”

“
Unlikely. More a case of I got curious with the wrong person because my brain fell out into the toilet. My God, Chase, I feel like such a fool.”

“
Aw, Randi girl, it’ll all blow over in a few hundred years. And most of the people doing the most talking are the biggest carousers imaginable. They have no business talking about anyone. Hypocrites at best.”

“
Yes, but they didn’t get filmed and have their video splashed all over the internet. It is all over the internet isn’t it? That is where you saw it?”

“
Psychic as well as beautiful! That’s the saving grace. If you had looked all flabby and out of shape, it would have been depressing and a real tragedy.”

“
Yes, thank God for that!” she answered sarcastically.

“
I’m glad you’re coming around. I just called to offer my support and tell you that you never looked more beautiful – and that’s through my friend’s vantage point.”

“
And that’s all? Not to rub it in?”

“
Nope! Not the type to gloat about another’s misadventures. Especially not my brilliant baby sister. Just say the word and I’ll have a hit put out on this guy. Mind telling me his name or should I just say Palomino Boy must die?”

Miranda giggled in spite of the situation.

“
And here I was debating about whether taking this call was a good idea! You have quite lifted my spirits, my wonderful Chasie. As for taking out a contract, it wouldn’t do any good. Can’t kill the undead now can you?”

“
Undead? As in vampire? Why did you say that?”

“
Why? Have something against movies? Ones involving vampires are all the rage or haven’t you heard?”

“
No, it’s not that. I enjoy a good horror flick … it’s just …”

Chase’s whole tone changed. It had gone from a light-hearted sibling type of teasing to a downright funeral-style solemnity. Miranda immediately regretted bringing the subject up.

“
Just what Chase? Oh, I am stupid for bringing this subject up.”

“
Why did you? It’s just odd.”

“
Odd in what way?”

There was a pause on the other end of the line before he spoke.

“
I wasn’t going to bring it up at all. It’s just such a depressing subject and they’re just dreams. Dreams are not real.”

Miranda heard the furious perking of the coffee coming to the end of being brewed. It approximated the rhythm of her heart.

“
Dreams? Have you had dreams about vampires?”

“
As a matter of fact I have. It’s what was bothering me the other day. You know, when you accused me of being hammered. Really, Randi girl, I haven’t been drinking … well, not that much anyway. I feel quite insane mentioning it, but it’s true.”

“
As insane as being spanked on the internet?”

She heard her brother laugh in spite of himself.

“
You do have a good English dry wit about you. Can’t take that away although you sure can your panties.”

“
I will wring your neck for that one. Now the dream please? What was it?”

“
I don’t remember all of it. It was vague. I think I was here. Sitting in the dark being watched. Although I couldn’t see by who, I knew it was a vampire. You know how dreams are, Miranda – how you can tell things without seeing them. It was quite terrifying. I was almost paralyzed with fear. I just sat not being able to move knowing that a vampire was in my room about to bite me. I mean it’s total rubbish and I don’t even know where the notion came from. I haven’t watched any horror at the cinema in quite awhile.”

Miranda felt a catch in her throat. A scratching like someone was clawing and climbing their way up.

“
Really? Did anything else happen? Do you remember? And when did they start?”

“
Hmm, a few nights ago I think. As for what happened, just more garbled nonsense. I was walking in some dark place. Then a horrible face came out of nowhere. It was vague, but I did see these black eyes. Then a mouth opened up, showing two incredibly long teeth. The thing hissed at me, and attacked. I backed up to avert being bitten – and then just started falling.”

“
Falling?”

“
Yes, you know dreams where you fall and fall. Like that. Now what, Sigmund? Think it was the intuitive vision that my baby sister was going to get a spanking filmed that caused them?”

Miranda would have loved to be more forthcoming in what she thought on this subject, but held back.

“
No, I think it was because you don’t include spanking in your sexual repertoire. You really ought to loosen up. Then mother can be thrilled to have both of us on the web doing the nasty. Two children she can be proud of instead of just the one that has pablum for brains.”

“
Randi girl, don’t be hard on yourself. He was a sleazeball for doing this. I assume you lawyered up?”

“
Yes, I called Reggie last night. I was going to call him back after some caffeine.”

“
Good idea. And remember we all make mistakes, sis. None of us is perfect.”

As Chase said goodbye, she whispered, “Not even father.”

She put the phone down berating herself for not telling him about her dreams, but then what good would it do? It was a coincidence at best. Besides, that scoundrel Reginald probably called him and told him about the bloodsuckers out to wreak revenge upon the naughty Perrys. That was probably it. Just Reginald passing on those ridiculous fairy tales told by Pinckus and Figgs. She hoped that in the telling, he’d ended up scaring himself. It would be beautifully karmic.

She refused to contemplate this subject. The whole thing was just ridiculous. There were more pressing matters – like Peter being an asshole. And her giving into him. It was exactly what Tiffany had tried to warn her about. Of course, she hadn’t listened, but then when did she ever listen to anyone? She hated herself for being so conceited as to think she knew better than anyone else. It was an offshoot of playing boss. She was used to making decisions, but decisions about the artworld and museums did not equate with knowing everything. She would learn to defer. A little at a time. She would start with men. She would pass any new prospective suitors by Tiffany for her take on them. She would go with Tiffany’s opinion from now on and not her own.

Miranda poured herself some coffee and had several good swallows before calling Reggie. It was late, but somehow she had the feeling he’d be up. She almost wished he weren’t since by any stretch of the imagination, she was not looking forward to this conversation. She punched in the quick dial and wondered if her mother knew.

“
Oh, dear, God, please no!”
she pleaded.

“
Miranda, well, you’ve done it this time!” Reggie barked in ill-humor. It sounded like he had steam coming out of his ears.

“
Mea culpa,” she meekly replied. Now was not the time to brazenly wiggle off the hook with lame excuses. She’d take it on the chin.

“
At least you have the good grace not to deny it!”

“
Is it bad? Have we any chance getting it removed?”

“
Bad? It’s worse than bad! You would have had a leg to stand on had you had the decency to drag this fop back to your apartment, but you had sex in a public place! What the deuce am I supposed to argue? That you wanted to have sex in public, but not public-public? Or that you were only performing for certain members of the public, but not others?”

“
It was a private room …” she interjected. She didn’t have to wait long for the onslaught of the legal perspective to be unleashed.

“
A private room, you say? A private room that has a sign on the door saying that you’re being taped, and further, making you aware that this tape may be shown! Anywhere! Everywhere! I have a picture of it in front of me! You can still read English can’t you?”

Miranda audibly moaned. She placed a hand over her forehead and visibly shrunk.

“
But Tony said …”

“
You mean, Tony Alvira that worthless club owner that is wringing every ounce of free publicity out of this?”

She peeked through her fingers.

“
Yes, I think that would be the one. You mean, he’s not helping?”