Dead Girls Don't Cry (6 page)

Panic fluttered around the room. Protective anger flowed off of Jonathan. Even though vamps have teeth, super speed and strength, most of us aren’t fighters. Many don’t have the skills for combat. Like me. There were others in the family with those skills and, like a sensible girl, I stayed near Jonathan.

“Everyone. Please remain calm!” Prior tapped out commands on his laptop. “No need to panic. The security system is glitchy.”

The normal lights switched back on. The alarms went silent.

Jonathan quietly signaled for some of the bouncers to check out the area. Ian was already gone. Come to think of it, I wasn’t sure when he had left or if he was there when the alarms sounded.

My neck hairs stood upright, instincts on high alert, but I could sense no immediate threat. Taking a cue from Jonathan, I sat back down, appearing to pay attention. In reality, my thoughts spun back to Ian. Where the hell was he?

CHAPTER FIVE

After another hour of what Prior called, the mission briefing, I remembered why I had hated school so much. As a child of privilege, I had the best private education money could buy. The teachers, down to the last one, were dry, boring and sanctimonious. Prior prattled on in the same manner.

I’m not a good pupil. I hate anything that requires me to sit in one place for hours at a time. I would never last in space.

Jay took the seat Ian vacated. He positively brimmed with excitement. Gag. “Cherry. Good news. Prior said he can connect me to resources so I can finish my doctoral thesis.”

Not wanting to infect Jay with my sour mood, I forced a smile, “Great news, Jay.”

The display didn’t fool him. He squeezed my hand, “This is not your fault.”

“Everyone keeps saying it, but I don’t believe it.” The whole situation sucked. If I hadn’t helped Ian, then maybe the family wouldn’t be in this mess. “Once we leave, I’ll never be able to clear my name or the family’s.”

“Not every problem is yours to solve.”

“It is if I caused it.” I leaned closer and told Jay the full story of how I met Ian.

He scoffed, “You did what any decent, moral being would do. You helped someone in need. Could you have lived with yourself if you had walked away?” When I didn’t answer, Jay continued, “Trust in the power of the universe. Things happen for a reason.”

“Don’t go philosophical on me, please. We’ve both been alive longer than any religion or science can account for.” The walls in the room felt close, cramped. Suffocating.

Jay, recognizing the signs of claustrophobia, grabbed my head and massaged my temples. The calming effect of his touch and the low rhythmic chant in his native tongue calmed me down enough. Crisis averted for the moment. As long as I didn’t think about the reality of being stuck in a metal tube for years on end.

I leaped out of my seat and zeroed in on Prior as he shut down his laptop. He didn’t notice my approach until it was too late and he had no way to avoid me. “Mr. Prior. One more question. How long will this journey take?”

Jay hovered like an emergency helicopter. Either to rescue me or Prior wasn’t immediately clear.

“Well, Ms. Cordial. Depending on the Earth’s rotation in relation to Mars, the journey can be as short as seven months or as long as two years. We’re currently in a more distant position…”

Years
! Jay’s hand landed on my shoulder before I could bolt out of the room. I’d rather be dead then trapped in space for two years. Jonathan could find a new second in command and Thalia could have my head.

“. . . however, that’s human space flight. We have specially designed chambers to induce sleep. Passengers won’t even notice the time pass. And with vampire technology, it will take about two weeks…”

Okay, I could do two weeks. I would hibernate. Yup, sounded like a plan to me. I could do this.

“. . . and once we reach the Veil, the trip will be considerably shorter… another week or so after, ” Prior said, completely unaware I’d stopped paying attention.

“So, when do we leave?” I interrupted. Bad manners, I know. But I couldn’t listen to anymore techno-babble.

“Tonight.” Prior slid his laptop into its case, zipped it and marched over to Jonathan.

“I think you scare him,” Jay teased.

We passed around the throng of musicians huddled together. Snippets of conversation drifted by, mostly concern about transporting instruments.

“We both know I couldn’t scare a fly.” I stopped when we reached the other strippers. They seemed resigned to their fate. Big surprise there. Most of them were as docile as sheep. A few, like Pearl and Nina the Naughty Nurse, were complaining.

“This is crap. I don’t want to go to Mars.” Pearl twisted one of her curly, blonde locks into an even tighter corkscrew. “Cherry, this is your fault.”

Jonathan appeared like an avenging angel.

All conversation stopped dead.

He thrust Pearl up against the nearest wall, fist wrapped around her neck. Hairline fractures cracked the cement. Red light blazed from his eyes with laser-like focus.

“Are you challenging me, Pearl?” Anger thickened his voice into a low growl.

“No, Master.” Pearl’s lips trembled. Her chin quivered as she angled her neck outward in submission. “My blood is your blood, Sire.”

Jonathan shifted his grip. His fangs elongated. Savage and swift, he bit deep into her throat. Pearl grunted in pain. Jonathan could have made his bite pleasant, but the message he chose to send us —
Don’t fuck with me
.

His savage gaze zeroed in on me while he swallowed Pearl’s blood. I didn’t flinch. Message to me –
promise kept
.

Jonathan withdrew. Crimson spray jetted onto his white shirt. Pearl dropped to the floor in a heap at his feet. “We’re traveling to Mars. Does anyone else want to voice an opinion?”

Every head in the room shook “no,” followed by exposed throats and oaths given. The shock was palpable. Jonathan rarely displayed such brutish, domineering behavior.

When he stormed out of the room, everyone heaved a collective sigh of relief. I reached down to help Pearl. She shrank away. Her gaze darkened and her mouth pursed tight before she turned around, giving me her back.

One thing I knew for certain. I had a new enemy.

She could get in line. I didn’t have the mental energy to worry about Pearl’s hatred.

Nina, formerly a U.S. Army nurse, bent down and checked Pearl’s wound. With the drama over, most of the family moved back to their respective cliques, conversation more muted and somber.

The constant waiting grated on me. Jonathan had forbidden us to leave the bunker, but he didn’t say we had to stay in the conference room. Too many of my fellow vampires were eyeing me. They wouldn’t be as stupid as Pearl to actually voice their doubts, but I could feel their judgment.

Escaping into the hallway, I found myself alone in a maze of featureless tunnels. There were no signs or markers on the walls. I chose a direction and walked. The lone sound of my footsteps clacked against the metallic floor. With the musty air in here repugnant and confining, I yearned for the outdoors.

I squelched the thought. No need to remind myself of what I missed. Having a panic attack alone in a strange place was not my idea of fun. The appearance of double doors distracted me. After a jiggle, the handle moved and the door creaked open on seldom used hinges.

A vast, tall space opened before me. The metal floor went from solid to an open grated walkway over-looking a missile launch pad. Fresh, night air flowed in from the open airlock stories above. An actual rocket occupied the launch pad.

Unfreakin’ believable. This was real. It was happening. I was leaving Earth.

Swallowing the large lump lodged in my throat, I moved along the walkway, angling for a closer look. It seemed kind of small. How would everyone fit inside? Weren’t rockets mostly fuel tanks and a tiny pod at the top? Maybe this wasn’t the ship?

Prior appeared, dashing my hopes. At Prior’s command, a group of workmen in orange coveralls disconnected large flexible hoses, possibly fuel lines from the rocket’s base.

Reality settled in. We were leaving the Earth. I’d be strapped into a tube and hurtled into space. If we survived the journey, I’d be on my way to Mars.

My kneecaps dissolved to water. I clutched the railing, trying to calm my stomach and stay upright.

“You don’t have to go, Cherry.” Ian said from behind me.

I stiffened. His offer seemed more tempting by the minute, yet I couldn’t abandon my family. “I’m afraid to board the ship. But I can’t disobey my sire.”

“You could ask him to emancipate you. You’re plenty old enough.”

“Why are you still here?” Old enough? No woman likes to be told she’s old. Especially when it’s true.

“Concerned is all,” he shrugged and joined me by the railing. He stared out, side profile as handsome as the full frontal.

“Don’t be. I’m a big girl,” I chirped with way more bravado than I felt. Now I knew what Alice experienced when she fell into the rabbit hole. Afraid, confused. Freaked out. I reminded myself Jonathan was a great leader. Even though we had our personal baggage, he would do his best to ensure we survived. He hadn’t let us down yet.

Heavy machines moved into position. The workers unlatched more hoses, wires and mechanical items from the ship’s side. Blood pounded in my head, caused by my tight jaw and grinding teeth.

“I didn’t mean to offend. Or imply Jonathan can’t defend you.” Ian’s voice softened. The low tone made my toes curl. “I hoped we could prove our innocence together.” His shoulders slumped then stiffened as if he had made a decision.

Tempting. So very tempting. I tore my gaze off his profile. So what if he was sexy as hell, there was no “together” for us. “What will you do? Thalia won’t stop hunting you.”

“She can try and find me.” He turned to face me, grinning widely. “I’m coming with you.”

“Why?”

“Is that your favorite word?”

“No. But I’d like to know what’s behind the sudden change of heart.”

Ian’s face grew somber. “You saved my life in that alley. Despite what I said that day, I owe you.” The impish smile returned. “Besides, someone needs to watch your back.”

Right. I probably should have been touched by the sentiment. Instead, suspicion danced in my head. What was his angle? “I have my family for that, thank you very much.”

“I got the impression they don’t like you very much right now.”

“Because of you.”

He held up his hands. “Fine. Sorry. Let’s not go there.” He crossed his arms across his chest. “You make it very hard for a bloke to get to know you better.”

A small smile crept across my lips. Yes, we’d have plenty of time together. I could use it to find out more about him. I’d have to finesse the information. Based on our previous encounters, I could tell already that a direct approach wouldn’t yield results.

“And what about the rest of your group?” From what I did know about Ian, I got the impression he took care of his rogues.

“Most of them are coming too. Jonathan had room to spare. A select few of the rogues are staying. I need men on the ground, keeping an eye on Thalia.” He looked like he wanted to say more. When he didn’t elaborate, I didn’t press.

The heavy machines drove away. Prior exited through a side door disappearing from sight. Moments later, he reappeared with Jonathan by his side. An animated discussion was underway with lots of hand gestures, some more lively than others.

“Can you hear anything?” I asked Ian.

“No. Best get your things,” he cupped my elbow and guided me back the conference room. Good thing because I’d forgotten the way back. Anytime I’m in a strange place, I can’t find my way out of a paper bag with a road map. If we had stayed there long enough, I would have figured out the lay of the land and been fine after.

We gathered my meager belongings and handed them over to the ground crew. Prior allowed each of us one bag. The rest of the cargo area was devoted to mission necessities and travel capsules. Not coffins as Prior corrected me when I suggested the idea.

“These are state of the art stasis chambers, designed to induce deep hibernation as soon as the lid is closed. Everyone will go to sleep and wake up fresh and read to tackle Mars. You there! Load those crates into the cargo hold. ” Prior dodged off to scold the offending worker.

Sign me up for deep sleep. At least I wouldn’t be bored the whole trip.

Ian sniffed, “You won’t catch me in one of those things.”

“Don’t like being cooped up?” I asked.

“No. Never have. Besides,” he leaned in conspiratorially, “Remember, I’ll be watching everyone’s back.”

Curious. For a rogue, Ian was as protective as a sire.

Honks cut through the noisy activity. A series of golf carts cut through the crowd. The flight crew had arrived.

Ian’s jaw tightened. “Humans,” he observed.

I shrugged. “I’m guessing there aren’t a lot of vampire space pilots out there.”

“Could become problematic later.”

When I pressed, Ian was tight lipped. I hung back on the fringe of the activity, scanning the crowd for Jonathan. Ian’s comment about humans had me worried for Jay. He was still human enough. How would he survive the journey? He couldn’t stay behind. Thalia would kill him if she caught him, after making him suffer horribly first.

After the cargo had been loaded, Ian’s rogues showed up. They were a ragtag bunch. Vampire bad asses exuding enough attitude to fill the hangar. Many of them were scarred, scruffy and well-muscled. Several of my fellow dancers openly eyed them with approval. Guess they liked it rough.

Ian stood off to the side with a chiseled vampire who looked like he ate nails for breakfast. He wore a menacing scowl that would have scared me if we were alone in an alley somewhere. Mr. Scar, as I christened him, dwarfed Ian’s six foot three frame both in height and girth. Even though he was the bigger of the two, his deferential body language transmitted Ian was the boss. Mr. Scar broke away, supervised the loading of the rogues, then joined them in hibernation.