Finding Obscurity (10 page)

Chapter Thirteen

It was Friday afternoon and I was debating if I wanted to get out
of the house or just lie on the couch, watching movies.

When nine rolled around, I had decided I was going to stay home,
but my phone wouldn’t stop chirping from texts. First Sam, then Blake, and then
finally Carlotta, trying to get me out of the apartment. I was disappointed
that Ashton hadn’t sent me any messages or tried to call me since our amazing
night together. Three days without a word from him. Ashton had given me the
best night of my life and he left while I was still asleep, leaving me a note
to let me know he had to get to the club. I was looking forward to more nights
like that, but I worried that maybe that was the only thing he had wanted from
me, given that I hadn’t heard from him since.

Finally giving into peer pressure, I showered and dressed in a
pair of ripped jeans and a black T-shirt with a bleached flower pattern running
up the side. I threw on some makeup and pulled my black hair into a messy
ponytail. It was a sloppy look, but would have to do because I just didn’t feel
like dressing up when I would rather lie on the couch and mope.

The club was starting to pick up, and it was cold, threatening
snow, which was odd for March, but the air had a bite to it. I pulled my jacket
closer and headed inside after giving my name to the bouncer.

The bass reverberated through my body as I made my way through the
club, spotting Blake and Paige drinking at Sam’s bar. Paige wasn’t looking
anywhere but at her cell phone practically ignoring Blake, and I wondered at
her lame attempt in reasoning why she didn’t like me. Her red hair was
curtained, obscuring her face from view, and her thumbs were flying over the
screen, oblivious to everything around her. She popped her head up and glared
at me before her thumbs began moving on the screen again.

Blake must have sensed somebody and glanced back, noticing me
standing a few feet back before showing a toothy grin. He waved me over and
patted the seat beside him, so I made my way over.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hello.”

He draped an arm across my shoulder, causing internal sparks
between us, and leaned closer. “I’m glad you came. I was this close to heading
to your apartment.” He held up his finger and thumb close together.

“I wanted to stay in bed and watch movies. I was feeling lazy
tonight.” He didn’t need to know I was hurt that I hadn’t heard from Ashton. I
sniffed and waved at Sam.

Sam gave me a wave and headed over. “Want your usual tonight,
Lily?”

“Yep. I don’t know how long I’m staying, though. Just not feeling
it tonight, Sam.”

“Eh. Just get a few drinks in you and you’ll want to stay.” He
smiled, tossing the cocktail shaker.

What he didn’t know was I would probably stick around to see if
Ashton made an appearance like usual. I wanted to know why I hadn’t heard from
him since that night since
he
, as Sam would say,
“popped my cherry” or whatever. I was starting to feel insecure that I had been
so cavalier with my body. He handed me my drink, and with a wink headed on to
help the next person.

I took a few sips and glanced at Paige with her head in the cell
phone. “Blake, do you think Paige likes you?”

Shock ran across his face. “Why would you think that?

“Because she doesn’t like me, and her excuse was because she likes
you
. I don’t know if I believe her,
though. Something is just off about her.”

“She never gave me the impression that she has any romantic
feelings. Hell, she hardly knows I’m here.”

I glanced over at her, but I had my doubts. Something didn’t feel
right about her and I wondered if it was because she hated me, or if because my
intuition knew something else was behind it.

“Still, she’s just weird. I tried to talk to her a few times and
she blows me off.”

“I wouldn’t worry about it. She doesn’t know what she’s missing
out on. Besides I am glad I have you here.” He pulled me closer. “Just you and
I tonight, babe. Ashton isn’t here.”

“How do you know that?”

“I just do. Another trick up my sleeve. Let’s call it a certain
awareness of his type.” He tapped his temple a few times.

“His type? What are you talking about?”

 
“So you don’t know?” I
shook my head in bewilderment, so he continued. “Typical of him. He knows your
secrets but you don’t know his. How romantic!” He pretended to swoon.

I smacked him on the arm. “What in the hell are you talking about?
Everyone has secrets, Blake. I’m sure he’ll tell me in his own time.”

“Don’t be so sure. You can’t trust people like him. They are
wicked and it will always be that way, even behind the packaging.” Blake looked
over my shoulder and straightened with a scowl before speaking in a low voice
in my ear. “Don’t be blinded into believing their lies.”

I turned to gaze to my left and saw Carlotta walking towards us,
shooting daggers at Blake. Her hair was up in a tight bun and her model body
was squeezed into a tight, black strapless dress, with red stilettos and
perfect makeup, complete with bright ruby lips. She stopped beside us, looking
fierce with an unwavering stance, as if she were heading to battle. She put a
hand protectively on my arm. “Mr. Moore. What a pleasure running into you
here.”

“Always a delight, Carlotta. What brings a harlot like you out of
the bat cave?” He waved in the direction of the VIP door.

I glared at Blake. “That was rude! Carlotta is my friend and you
need to cut it out.”

“Pretty packaging, Lily. Remember that,” Blake whispered, kissing
my cheek before leaving me with Carlotta.

I watched him leave and noticed Paige give us a disgusted look
before departing herself. I shook my head. “Sorry. I don’t know what his deal
is.”

Carlotta scoffed. “No need to apologize. It is what it is, and
there will always be bad blood. I’m afraid it puts you in the middle, and I’m
sorry.”

“Please. Just because he doesn’t like Ashton for things that
happened between them doesn’t mean he has to be a jackass.”

“I’m afraid there is more to it than just that, but that’s
something you’ll discover when the time is right. Would you like to join me in
the VIP area for some dancing?”

I smiled and grabbed her hand dragging her to the public dance
floor. “I would rather dance here.”

She frowned, tugging on my arm. “I’m not sure that is such a good
idea…”

“Come on!” I interrupted and dragged her onto the crowded dance
floor.

She followed behind like a reluctant teenager as I led her through
the sweaty bodies to the middle of the dance floor where it was most crowded.
When she grimaced as people bumped into us. I laughed and began dancing along
to the bass rumbling through the floor. I threw my hands up in the air and
moved along with the crowd while she slowly began moving with everyone. It was
no surprise that the VIP customers never made it onto this dance floor. With so
many bodies moving around you it was hard not to get bumped into with an
accidental groping, but to me, it was the best part of a dance club. You
weren’t out in the open and were part of the horde of dancers being
inconspicuous.

 
“You can dance among the
peasants tonight!” I shouted with a smile.

She looked around nervously before shouting back. “I feel a little
out of my element here. I don’t come out to the front where all these people
are.”

I grinned and grabbed her hand, pulling us closer to the DJ. “Just
relax!”

I glanced up to see Stacy above us in a cage tonight, and I remembered
I needed to speak with her soon. But tonight was about having fun. Besides,
Carlotta said she wanted to dance.

The laser lights were moving to the music while I bumped my hip
against hers playfully along with the beat of the music. Carlotta laughed and
began to let loose a bit by spinning around with her arms up and hips gyrating
to the beat. I spun around and laughed but noticed the bouncers watching and I
gave them a little wave so they knew I saw. I didn’t understand what the big
deal was that a VIP member was having a good time as she rocked back and forth
with her eyes closed with a smile.

“Let’s move closer to the front!” I screamed, grabbing her hand.

“I think we need to leave, Lily.” She looked around for a minute,
noticing the bouncers. “They will probably see me out here and ask me to go
back to VIP anyway.”

“Why would they do that? Are you not allowed to dance out here?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know how to explain it. Jeffery would
be pissed!”

I laughed at her and danced with not a care in the world.

We had been out there for a few songs and my drink was empty. I
turned around to find Carlotta to let her know where I was going, and
discovered I had lost her a few people over. A popular
Ke$ha
song was blasting, and a cute blonde male was dancing behind Carlotta, starting
to put his hands around her. Her head went back on his shoulder, letting the
guy run his hands up her thighs to her hips, and I frowned as she spun around
face to him. I began moving closer to let him know she was married, but he spun
them before I could get to her. She had her nose running up his neck and her
hands up his arms in an embrace that was a little wanton for a married woman.

“Carlotta!” I yelled, trying to get her attention.

She must not have heard me as she began running her hands through
his blonde hair, her eyes closed in a sensual embrace. Something was wrong and
I could feel the pressure in the air change the closer I got to them. It was
the weirdest sensation against my skin and grated on my nerves like nails on a
chalkboard. The bouncers were starting to move against the crowd as if they
sensed something in the air, just as I had.

“Carlotta!” I screamed it out like a curse. Something was wrong
and I had to get her out of here. I stopped dead in my tracks when her eyes
opened and her irises were nothing but black orbs as she pinned her gaze on me.

Time stood still for what seemed like hours before the sound came
rushing back in with a thud of my heart. She must have seen the terror on my
face because she stood straight as an arrow and pushed the man away from her. I
began stumbling back, and when she reached for me in concern, I darted.

“Lily, please stop!” she cried, chasing after me.

I fought through the swarm of people dancing on the floor, my
heart thumping. I began pushing people away in panic. The air was still thick
and slimy with whatever had been going on out there. I turned back to look
behind me before slamming into Blake. His face tightened at my fear as he
looked over my shoulder with fury, wrapping his arms around me protectively. I
knew Carlotta was there.

I wasn’t sure what to think of what I saw and felt back there. I
was on the verge of hyperventilating with my forehead pressed against Blake’s
chest as he cocooned me in his arms.

“Lily, please look at me,” she pleaded.

“What have you done to her?” Blake barked.

“Nothing! I swear to you! I fear I may have revealed something
that she shouldn’t have seen yet. Ashton has yet to…”

He growled at her. “Of course he hasn’t! Once she knows, she will
want nothing to do with you people!”

“Lily, please let me explain.” Carlotta sounded so stricken that I
turned.

I let Blake’s arms stay around me as a safety net. “How can you
explain that?” I pointed towards the dance floor.

“This is not the place to discuss this. Let’s go someplace
private. Please,” Carlotta said, walking towards a fire exit near the
restrooms. We followed with Blake holding my hand as she scanned a key card,
letting us out in the alley.

I was almost ready to tell her to go to hell when the door shut
with a slam, startling me.

She turned to face us with tears in her eyes. “I can explain…”
                                     

I cut her off. “Your eyes were black, Carlotta! How do you explain
that? Are you some sort of demon? Is that why I felt like the air was thick
with something evil?”

Blake snorted and Carlotta cut him off with a look. “Demon? No, I
am not a spawn of Satan, even though some people believe we are.” She gave
Blake a pointed look. “I assure you that’s not true. You felt something in the
air back there?”

“I felt something, and I’m pretty damned sure it had to do with
you doing God-knows-what with that poor guy. Were you sucking out his soul or
something? Why did it feel like my skin was crawling?”

“I wasn’t hurting him, Lily, and I’m not evil. I don’t know how to
explain how you were feeling that.” Carlotta leveled her gaze on Blake. “Did
you feel anything?”

“Not a thing.” He straightened suddenly. “Who knows what she can do.
We are still figuring that out. If she can sense when you guys are going to
attack, that may be a good thing.”

“Attack? Somebody better tell me what in the fuck is going on!”

Carlotta was looking at me, standing still as stone except for
wringing her hands, but I could see slight fear behind her eyes. “I’m not evil.
Please believe me. I would never hurt you.”

“What are you then?” When there was nothing but traffic noise from
the highway, I shifted anxiously. “So?”

Blake wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. “If you
don’t tell her, I will.”

“Just give me a moment.” I could see her internal struggle as she
sighed and twisted her hands together nervously. “I’m a vampire, Lily.”

“A vampire.” I gaped like a fish. “Those aren’t real. Are you going
to tell me there are werewolves next?”

“Yes, I assure you they are as real as Conjurers. I’m a vampire
and still the same person you knew at my house and at lunch the other day. Just
because I am doesn’t make me evil, just like you can control elements, but are
a good person.”