Night Prayers (25 page)

And if she decided to stick to the "exotic dancer" gimmick she'd do a solo act
— answer to no one — follow her
own
God damn rules for once in her…

… death.

Allison slumped into one of the chairs, tucked her palm under her chin and watched Gina begin a whole new series of snarls and curses over something Luci was whispering. Now what, she wondered, more fun and games with the Butch Boss?

Turning, Allison stared at the cracked plaster wall behind the mirror frame and fluffed her hair
— pretending she could still see the tiny lines that had sent her into a cheese-cake binge-and-purge depression.

How long ago had that been? A month ago? A year? The night before she wandered into the
Silver Spur
where Seth was waiting.

For someone just like her.

Anyone
just like her, it wouldn't have mattered.

If she'd been a little less desperate she'd be home right now… watching the Late, Late, Early Late Show and forcing down a full gallon of mint-chocolate chip ice-cream.

The slam of the dressing room door snapped her back.

Turning around, Allison saw Luci shaking her head at the still vibrating frame.

"Gina's a little miffed," she said. The white dinner dress reformed into tight jeans and a midriff length, spaghetti-strapped top as Luci opened the door. "So, you full or does a nightcap sound good to you?"

Allison looked down at her wrist — and smiled as the pale watch silhouette disappeared. She
had
to stop thinking like a Breather… time didn't
mean
anything anymore. It was just something that happened to the living.

But
still
—

"Isn't it getting a little late," she asked, trying to sound as casual as Luci looked. "Dawn should be coming up soon. Shouldn't it?"

Luci's firm skin went slack as her jaw dropped open. "You can't even do
that
? Shit, Alley-cat, we're creatures of the fucking night… can't you
feel how
dark it is out there? Can't you taste how far away the God damned sunlight is?"

Allison smacked her lips. All she tasted was the college kid's blood…

with traces of Old Spice. Luci leaned back against the door frame and shook her head.

"Maybe Gina's right about you, Alley-cat," she muttered, then shrugged as if it didn't matter. But it mattered… Allison knew
exactly
how much it mattered. "Not to worry, as our dear little Miriam would say, the sun's still a long way off. So, you want to come with me or not? I have this craving for Chinese."

"Sure," Allison said. Quickly. It seemed to please Luci. Somewhat.

"Good, I'll go get the car and meet you out front." Luci pushed away from the door and gave Allison a slow once up and over. "We are the things of desire and lust, Alley-cat… so for Christ's sake will you try and
dress
the part, okay? Vampires aren't supposed to look like the farmer's daughter unless they're going after the farmer."

Luci didn't say another word as she spun and walked out of the dressing room, hair billowing out behind her like a silver mist. It was probably just as well, Allison decided. If she asked why a vampire needed a car Luci might have given up all together and called Gina.

"Now wouldn't
that
be fun?" she said out loud. Her voice echoed in the empty room. She didn't like the sound.

Allison stood up and walked slowly to the door — the basic black leggings and matching lace tunic replacing her dress before she'd gone a yard. Black leather slippers dropped her three inches… but they felt so
good
after those damned heels. The outfit might not have been what the typical Hollywood vampire would wear to go out for Chinese food… but
SHE liked it
!

Adding a blood red Isadora Duncan scarf — complete with fringed tassels — as an afterthought, Allison turned back to the dressing tables and struck a pose.

And a lot of nothing stared back at her.

shit

I've just GOT to get the hang of this!

Allison had never liked coming to Chinatown even during the daylight. Somehow venturing into the heart of L.A's own little DMZ just didn't seem like the most prudent thing for a round-eyed, red-haired woman to do.

But that was then… this is NOW!

And she pressed her head down againsr her shoulder and spun in circles before the carved stone lions guarding the entrance to General Lee's restaurant.

God, it was great to be dead!

Nothing was open and no one was wandering around. Except the two of them. And that was fine with Allison. Too many things had happened in too short a time. She needed a little R-and-R time to think and sort things out. To work out what she was going to do next.

Allison kept spinning until she felt the blood in her belly start to churn. Letting the momentum wrap her arms around her, she stopped and giggled
— waited for the tickle down deep inside that she remembered from her childhood. When nothing happened, Allison lifted her head and watched Luci across the wide court yard play in the Wishing Grotto.

Wondered if the ghost-pale vampire still felt
anything
.

And hoped not.

Having fun, Alley-cat?

Allison nodded and wiggled her fingers.
Sure am. I always loved this place
.

"And it's even better at night!" Luci shouted as she sloshed through the shallow, multi-layered oriental tourist trap. Less than a moment later, she'd vaulted the iron security fence and tossed the handful of coins she'd picked up back over her shoulder.

The money made
ping pang think thonk
sounds as they struck the plaster deities overlooking the water.

"Ah," Luci said, clasping her hand against her cheek, "a soothing Chinese lullaby."

"Hah, hah," Allison said, although she really didn't think it was all that funny. "You're all wet, you know."

Luci looked down at her soaking jeans and overacted a shiver.

"I'd better do something," she said, "or I'll catch my death. Again."

The
something
was simply to lose the jeans. Luci's skin was so pale it seemed to shine under the sodium-yellow street lights.

"See anything you like, Alley-cat?"

Allison shrugged instead of answering. It seemed the lesser of two evils — both of which were staring her straight in the eyes when Luci's top went the way of her pants.

"Luci… what if a
cop
sees you?"

She reached out and traced Allison's bottom lip with her thumb.

"He'd either come in his Fruit-of-the-Looms or not believe what he was seeing. Breathers are horribly dull for the most part… if they can't touch it or taste it,
it
just doesn't exist." Finished with Allison's lips, Luci's thumb made a slow southerly decent down the front of the black lace tunic. "But once they know it's real… watch out because
anything's
possible."

But not THIS!

"Why not, Alley-cat?" Luci said, keeping pace as Allison backed up into the paws of one of the stone lions. An ugly smirk curled the left side of her mouth. "You can't tell me that after killing all those men in
cold
blood that
this
makes you squeamish."

The ugliness slowly covered the rest of Luci's carved marble features. Try as she could, Allison knew she hadn't been successful at keeping her thoughts to herself.

"God damn it… you
do
! You fucking think I'm disgusting. Well, then let me tell you
this
, girlfriend… we're more fucking alike than you think.
I'm
just not afraid to be myself."

Luci pinned Allison's arms against the statue so quickly she didn't have time to react, let alone move out of the way.

"Poor little Alley-cat, my ass!" Luci snarled. "Your Maker didn't dump you, sweet-cakes… he
escaped
. Gina saw through your act the minute she laid eyes on you —
dammit—
so you can just cut the poor little virgin shit any time now, 'cause we ain't buyin' them eggs no more."

"I'm
not
!"

"The HELL you're not. And the worst thing is that you don't even know
what
you want. C'mer, bitch!"

Luci attacked before Allison knew what was happening — smearing her cold lips against Allison's slack ones while her slug-like tongue poured down Allison's throat.

While Luci's mind force-fed images of women crawling over one another… licking, sucking… their faces buried deep between the other's open legs.

NO!

I told you to cut the shit, ALLEY-CAT
. Luci's fingers sank into Allison's hair like a vice.
Whatever you WERE died when you did, baby, so just let go and start enjoying THIS side. If you don't, you won't have any fun
.

One of Luci's hands left Allison's scalp and dropped to her crotch. Something cold and slimy scurried across the pit of Allison's stomach.

A
real
feeling… the first she'd had since Seth had sucked her dry.

Revulsion.

"Just let go, sweet-cheeks," Luci murmured, her hand sliding up toward the leggings waist band. "You won't
believe
how nice it can be. You've already forfeited your chances at wings and a halo… so why not just enjoy what you got?"

"Sure," Allison whispered, wrapping her arms around Luci's back. "Why not?"

She pulled Luci in at the same time she kicked the woman's knee out from under her. Luci's naked ass hit the ground in front of her with a satisfying
smack
.

"You God damned bitch," Luci growled as she dragged herself to all fours, fangs gleaming, "I'll tear your fucking heart out!"

In the instant before she charged, Allison saw Luci's face and body transform into something so old and wrinkled it seemed impossible that the thing could move as quickly as it did.

But move it did. And fast.

Allison just barely managed to duck to one side as Luci's gnarled talons slashed the tunic.

"Yeah, man… a
cat
fight."

Allison spun to the right and
felt
Luci do the same. The "disagreement", though not over by a long shot, would have to be postponed. For a while.

Two Chinese men in their early twenties stepped out of the shadows at the far end of the court. Both were smoking cigarettes and smelled like they'd been swimming in beer. Allison closed her eyes and tried to mentally eaves-drop. All she got was a smattering of words she didn't understand and a sense of ultimate good fortune. If they'd seen Luci nude and…
changed
, it hadn't registered.

Just like she said it wouldn't.

"Hmmmm," Luci said out loud — all palsy-walsy as she tossed an arm over Allison's shoulder and began walking her toward the men. She was dressed again. This time in a shimmering silver cat suit. "Looks like our dinner companions have arrived. Smile pretty, Alley-cat…"

…
and I might let you survive another night
.

"You boys looking to party?" she asked when they got within striking range.

One of the men, the taller of the two, flicked the cigarette out of his mouth and looked at Allison like she was a slab of half-priced beef.

"You two pros?"

Luci wiggled her hips against Allison's and inched the tunic's front zipper half-way down her breasts.

"Don't we look it?"

The men exchanged glances and knowing nods. Their eyes glinted in the semi-darkness like the switch blade knives Allison knew were in their pockets.

"How much," the shorter, more pragmatic of the two asked.

"One hundred," Allison said — hoping that by entering the game she could start to defuse the feud she'd stupidly begun with Luci.

There were still too many things she needed to know before she went solo.

"One-fucking-hundred?" the short man growled. "You do something
special
for that, bitch?"

"Honey," Allison said, "you won't know what
hit
you."

Luci forgave her.

i