Blood Sacrifice (The Blood Sisters Book 3) (4 page)

“Where?
Who?” Gwen asked.

Archie
licked his lips. “If you spring for breakfast, I’ll tell you everything I
know.”

Gwen
eyes sparked with rage. “Archibald, you’re crusty as ever! An opportunist!” She
gasped a heavy sigh. “But yes, we’ll spring for two breakfasts if necessary.”

“We?”
Mike did a double take. “I’ve taken a vow of poverty, I’ll have you know.”

“Michael
Mortensen, you’re toting an AK-47. Don’t play the poverty card.” Gwen huffed.

Archie
chuckled. “It’s good to see you two back together, where you belong. The Ruby
Heart is under lock and key at the Wild Aces Casino.”

Vegas.
It seemed as if it wasn’t just the Blood sisters who were headed to Vegas. It was
going to be a Blood family reunion.

****

A
twenty-four-hour
diner was their first
stop after retrieving Gwen’s Jeep. The drive to the next city didn’t take long,
the way Gwen drove. Once cozy inside the old
diner
,
they ordered Archie two stacks of pancakes with a river of golden syrup, a heap
of bacon, and coffee as fast as he could guzzle it.

Archie
leaned back and dotted the corners of his mouth with a napkin. “His name is
Kevin Loust. A high roller in Vegas, his reputation precedes him. He’s won more
than anyone in the history of gambling.”

Mike
glowered. “Can that fact be substantiated or is it more Archie hyperbole?”

Gwen
stifled a laugh and moved her gloved hand across the table to pat his hand.
“Hyperbole, or not, that’s not really the point of the story, is it?”

“He
took his winnings and turned it into millions. Now he rarely ever leaves the
Wild Aces Casino. Rents the penthouse on the top floor and owns half the strip.
Rumors and speculation in our world have been his winnings aren’t exactly natural.
I’ve long speculated that he has the Ruby Heart and has been using it for luck.
It’s made him millions upon millions.”

Mike
crossed his arms. “What’s your proof he has it?”

“I
have my sources.” Archibald folded a pancake and stuffed it in his mouth. He
moaned with a roll of his eyes. “I’m not generally a fan of places like this,
but these might be the best pancakes I’ve ever had.”

“Archie,
your sources?” Gwen asked gently. She wasn’t a fan of handling people with
kid’s gloves, but Archibald always took a tender touch. His information and
knowledge was the best of the best.

“I
have informants. I know people; you know that and someone captured a photo of
the Ruby Heart. I saw it myself, but the photo evidence…. Lourdes came to my
mansion to find out what I knew. I had no choice but to burn the photos, and
the information on the Wild Aces.”

Archie
sighed and stared down. “If she’d gotten her hands on the Ruby Heart, she
would’ve destroyed it. It would’ve done nothing but work against her and she
wanted it out of the way. So I threw everything into the fire and escaped out
my secret passages.”

Damn.
Double damn, Gwen sighed and ran her hands through her hair. “I know you have
no reason to lie to us. You never have before and you’re a faithful friend.” Gwen
smiled. “We head to Vegas. We have a long drive ahead of us.”

“In
your blasted Jeep.” Mike ran his tongue along his teeth. “I knew we should’ve
taken my car.”

Gwen
chuckled as Mike excused himself to the bathroom. “I better use the facilities
as well. Don’t run off, Arch.” She slid from the booth, but Archie grabbed her
wrist.

He
shook his head. “Don’t let him get away again. Too much time has already gone
by, Gwenny.”

His
words
panged
her heart in the way only he
could.. Gwen shrugged. “He’s a priest, Archie. We never should’ve happened in
the first place.”

“A
priest who runs with bikers, exorcises demons as a hobby, and carries an AK-47.
Once, I even witnessed him lobbing grenades at the enemy,” Archie pointed a
finger at her, “for you. Maybe he took the vow, maybe he took the oath, but he
has no church. His mission has always been different than most.”

“If
he wanted something more after that night, he never said.” Gwen stood and
turned her back, but Archie’s next words stilled her steps.

“I
never took you for a fool. Don’t play one now, Genevieve Blood.”

Maybe
Archie was right. Maybe, but as she passed Mike in the hall on the way to the
bathroom, she kept her head down and her fists clenched. Sometimes too much
happened to look back. Sometimes Gwen’s own choices also destroyed the road
forward.

Sin
Town, a place of greed, debauchery and corruption. Between the buildings of Las
Vegas, it took shape. Claiming souls lost at the roulette wheel and slot
machines, those that entered Sin Town rarely left. Humans and demons alike,
clinging to life and trading in magical-wares that claimed souls, stole hope,
and replaced it with a helplessness that ran so deep, not even the sun shined.

And
the rain never stopped.

In
the heart of it all,
The Vampire Kiss
, a brothel that traded women a
chance at a new life for pleasuring men—humans and demons alike. It may have
sucked the woman’s humanity from them in encounter after encounter, but it lined
Vain’s wallet with cold hard cash.

Business
was good. Very good. And with Vaughn’s business now in Vain’s pocket, her
riches would only grow. Her importance was going up. Soon, the world would bow
at Vain’s feet. She was sure of it. The only question was, why had it taken so
long to get where she was meant to be?

The
interior lobby was buzzing with activity. Soft music with the bump and grind of
horns wailed through the lobby. Walls covered in black velvet fabric were
accented with red draperies. Drinks flowed from the bar and the dance floor was
primed with Vain’s sensual girls doing their usual tricks.

Above
them, the crystal chandeliers glowed brightly and the hue of the dance floor
changed in a prism of colors. What the men
thought
was smoke for ambiance was magic laced dust. It kept the men ready to part with
their money and their vision clouded. They saw pristine skin, small waists and
perky breasts. Most of all, it kept her girls’ happy and ready to perform.

Who
wouldn’t love a place like The Vampire Kiss?

Vain
watched from her throne perch. Up four black onyx steps, she sat upon a red
upholstered chair, flanked on either side by hellhounds in ruby choke collars.
She stroked one’s head while her other held a goblet of brandy—the darkest and
richest money could buy.

In
Vegas that was saying a lot.

Her
eyes traveled over her girls. High heels, corsets, and dresses, they slinked
through the dance floor like snakes. The magical spells seeping from the
curtains helped keep the clientele eating out of the palm of Vain’s hands. The
hum of the music traveled, B flat and even a gentle skip, nudged the magic on.
The girls weren’t immune either, as they ground their hips against the men who
soon would be taken back to one of the fantasy bedrooms.

A
lovely sight. Vain had big plans, and the more clients she had, the better.

At
the bar, a regular leaned against the countertop. Human as they came, he wasn’t
exactly innocent, but purity wasn’t exactly Vain’s game. No, this man had black
hair and a stubble chin. He filled his crushed velvet suit out in all the right
places and across his firm
pecks
, the
buttons strained.

Kevin
Loust. The most celebrated high roller in all of Vegas. When he came out of the
Wild Aces Casino, it always drew attention. Always a reason to celebrate.

For
him, Vain stood and slinked over to the bar. Being in his presence put dollar
signs in her eyes because Kevin was practically royalty in Vegas. He had
something she wanted that was way better than money. “Name your poison and it’s
on the house, Kevin.” She took his wine glass from him and took a dainty sip.

In
his hand, the trusty coin he always carried. Magically enchanted in a way that
meant he got free passage out of Sin Town,
whereas
most humans prayed to be smuggled free one day. That lucky coin would sell for
a pretty penny, if Vain ever got her hands on it. As with everything, Vain had
to bide her time.

Kevin
was important and held certain prestige in Vegas, so for now, he was more
useful on the outside.

He
tipped down his aviator sunglasses down. far enough to give her a penetrating
glance. Handsome as ever, Vain thought to take him to the back room herself.
She licked her ruby lips and Kevin read her like a deck of cards. “Not you,
that’s for sure. You know I like them young, Vain.” He sighed. “But all I see
is your regular girls. Beautiful as they are, they’re too…experienced.”

Vain
puffed up her chest. “I have new merchandise. Picked up quite a few girls the
other day at a….trade show. One is perfect for you. She’s feeling shy so she’s
still out back. Give me a few minutes and I can get her ready for you. She’s
had it rough. Bottle of our best champagne has your name on it, while you
wait.”

“So
go gentle on her?” Kevin smirked. “I pay well. I treat them well. That’s my
motto and if she’s dainty and sweet,” he took in a big breath of air, “I’ll pay
you three times what you normally ask.”

“Let’s
go with four and I’ll throw in the finest caviar I’ve been able to smuggle out
of Vegas.” Vain snapped her fingers to summon the bartender.

Bob
wore a leather harness and a leash around his neck. Vain gripped it hard and
tugged him forward. He groaned, but submitted to her will with his head bent
low. Vain kissed the top of his balding head, because even lowly servants
deserved a reward once in a while.

“Be
a dear, Bob. Fetch our finest for Mr. Loust and Honey-Bear Hannah. She’s about
to get the night of her dreams.”

“She’s
locked herself in the dressing room, M’lady. I’m afraid she won’t come out.”

Disappointed
with this news, Vain let Bob’s leash go. “Excuse me, won’t you, Kevin?” Vain
did an about face and sauntered as quickly as she could toward the back room.
She wouldn’t run, but a surge of anger made her face hot.

Hannah
would learn to play by the rules. If not, Vain would cut her loose and then,
the girl would never get up again.

Kevin
had something Vain wanted. A totem of power and luck that could change the
game. Everyone in town would kill to get their hands on it, but Vain was
more…tempered in her response. She was sure with Hannah’s help soon the Ruby
Heart would be hers.

And
Vegas would crumble to its knees before her.

****

Dreams.
What were dreams anyway but wanderlust in a young girl’s eyes? Vain barely
remembered being a kid, and the foolish notions she had had. Once maybe she
wanted a lemonade stand, while being a princess. Meanwhile, the world trampled
all over her—her mom—and even that no good step-father who couldn’t keep his
hands to himself. He’d had his own trailer park heartbreak once upon a time.

A
wrecked fairytale. A Destroyed future.

Everyone
had a story. Everyone was the victim until they seized the moment.

Hannah’s
was coming now, but she didn’t know it. It was Vain’s job to show her. Teach
her. And if she couldn’t be taught, Vain would cut her off at the knees.

Vain
used her skeleton key to unlock the dressing room. Once inside, she pushed the
crushed velvet black drapery aside. A series of round mirrors at small tables
illuminated the room. They were all empty, except for one. Hannah sat her
posture perfectly straight in her satin blue corset. Her legs were thin, but in
the fishnet stockings, they appeared shapely enough.

Lucky
for them, Kevin liked the school girl look.

When
Vain approached, she saw Hannah was staring down at her hands. Her eyes were
moist. Vain touched her chin and forced the young woman to look up. Her smooth
skin was as flawless as porcelain and her big blue eyes were eternally sad.

He
was going to eat her up.

Grabbing
the loose powder, Vain pressed it against her cheeks. “Don’t be so sad. Big
night for you. For me.” Vain stroked Hannah’s ringlet curls atop her head. She
leaned down and kissed Hannah’s neck. She smelled sweet, like strawberries and
honey.

“You
become the strong one now, Hannah. Kevin, he’s a nice guy. He won’t push you
into anything you don’t want. But now you turn the tables. You make him do what
we want. Understand?”

Not
the complete truth, but enough of it was. Vain had to hope the magic would take
care of any discrepancies. Soon, Hannah would be so full of desire and lust,
she’d have no will to resist the games Kevin wanted to play.

Hannah
shook her head. Her arms cradled around her middle. “I don’t want to do
anything. I want to go home.” Her lip quivered.

Vain
grabbed a pressed satin handkerchief and dotted at Hannah’s eyes. “We’re your
home now and we’ll help you. Protect you. Provide for you. All you have to do
is act…naïve. Sweet. You cut him off before anything serious happens. A few
times like that, and you’ll have him eating out of your hand. Then, if we’re
lucky,” Vain bent over and picked up a tube of red lipstick, “he’ll want to
take you to his penthouse suite.”

“Why
do you want me there?” Hannah puckered her lips as Vain applied rich red color
against them.

The
girl was beautiful. She knew with the right combination of magic and makeup
that she would be a work of art. “He has something we need. Something the
Bloods are searching for. Magic has given us the upper hand and now we have to
seize it, Hannah. Do you understand that if I don’t protect you here, in Sin
Town, what will happen to you?”

Hannah
nodded and with a shaking breath she stood from the table. “I’m ready. I guess.
Do I look okay?”

Vain
ran her hand along Hannah’s plump breasts. “Darling, you’re going to make his
motor hum. Come now.” Vain took her hand and helped her around the side. Hannah
would get used to the heels and the short skirt. That you could teach.

But
the sweet naïve quality Hannah naturally came with? No, that couldn’t be
taught. And Vain was going to use her to get Kevin Loust to do whatever Vain
asked. The Ruby Heart would be hers, one way or another.

It
was Vain who wanted to be queen of the underworld. Why should the Bloods get
all the fun?