100% Freshie Chapter 7 --PG-13

[librarian_7]

Disclaimer: The characters from Moonlight are copyrighted by CBS, and no infringement is intended.

Special note: This work takes place in the world of Moonlight, but your favorite vamps are not the main focus. Sorry about that; try to enjoy the story anyway. You might be surprised.

100% Freshie

Chapter 7


“Is heaven missing some angels?”

Emma and Danni turned away from the bar, coming face to face with a man Danni assumed must be a vampire. Danni wasn’t terribly impressed, if so. He was on the short side, slight, with oily dark hair brushed straight back to show off a widow’s peak, and his worn leather jacket was a little too worn to be stylish. It, and he, just looked slightly seedy, slightly disreputable. He had to be a vamp, Danni reflected; they’d never let a human who was so uncool into this club. She might be new, but she’d figured out a few things about Pulse!, and one of them was that to get in, you had to be a vamp, or someone the vamps would like. A lot.

Emma reached the same conclusion, and faster. She looked him up and down, and replied, "Wait a minute. You're a vampire, and that's the best you can come up with?"

He shrugged. “I didn’t think I needed to waste my best stuff on a couple of loose freshies.” He took a step closer, crowding their personal space. “And you,” he growled the words coming out with a low, animal hoarseness, “need to be a little more respectful when a vamp addresses you. Didn’t you come in here with your card in hand, just hoping to attract someone’s attention?”

Emma gasped, as if the insult had been a direct slap in the face. He reached up and touched Danni’s hair, stroking it familiarly. For Danni, the moment froze in time, and everything crashed in on her at once. This was not a fairy tale, or a romance novel. In the middle of this crowded club, with people all around, she and Emma could well end up feeding this—this random lowlife. No one would do a thing to stop it, unless Will noticed. If Will wanted to notice, she amended bleakly. She suddenly understood that when the others had told her he didn’t want them to be exclusively his, it meant he might not want to interfere. He might want to see her bitten by another vampire, might even enjoy the sight of it. She started to tremble, and in that frozen moment of time she hated him. The greasy-haired vamp was smiling at her, and she saw his eyes start to go to silver. A scream rose in her throat, but somehow she couldn’t voice it, and she swallowed frantically, her mouth gone dry.

Danni did not see the tall vamp with short reddish hair passing by, with a pretty, petite brunette on his arm. She didn’t see the blur of motion as his hand lashed out, grasping the arm of the offending vamp and pulling it away. She only knew that the hand on her was gone, taking a few strands of her hair with it. And she heard the growl of “Back off,” in a voice that was somehow familiar. With an effort, she focused in, realizing their unexpected savior was Josef Kostan. He looked, to put it mildly, quite annoyed.

“I was here first,” the interloper snarled, but Danni thought she could sense a hesitancy in his voice. Even to a human, and an untutored one at that, Josef gave off an unmistakable aura of power. She imagined it was much more evident to another vampire. He tried, unsuccessfully, to wrench his arm from Josef’s grasp. The older vampire’s smile was sardonic, mocking.

“You know,” Josef said conversationally, “one of the fascinating things about coming to Pulse! is that when you meet a young lady here, you never know who her particular friends are. As it happens, while I am not particularly well acquainted with the luscious Emma, Danger has been a guest in my house, and I’m very well disposed toward her. Which means that you, my friend, would find it advisable to be a little more polite in future.” He opened his hand and released the younger vamp, who growled a curse and slunk away.

Looking after him, Josef shook his head. “Sleazy little bastard,” he said to himself. The situation under control, Josef turned his attention first to the young woman at his side, who still had her arm tucked securely into the crook of his arm. His smile softened as he looked down at her. “You all right, Faction?” he asked.

“I’m always all right when I’m with you, Josef,” she replied. Danni felt a stab of envy. Why hadn’t Will been there for her, for Emma? Why had it been up to a relative stranger to come to their rescue?

Josef reached into a pocket, pulling out several bills and handing them to his companion. “Faction,” he said, “why don’t you go on to the ladies room—it’s just a few steps—and take that to Mollie? You can call Lucky and Turbo from there to come escort you back to our table.”

The young woman showed a bit of stubbornness in her expression at that, and shot a very hostile look at Danni and Emma. “But, Josef, I—“

He cut her off with a chuckle. “Are you going to argue with me, Formidable? I need to talk with these young ladies, and you need to scoot.” He put a finger up to the heart-shaped ruby that hung right at the pulse at the base of her throat. “What are you worrying about?”

Faction looked up at him. His brown eyes gave off a silver gleam, and although his face was kind, as it was ever kind to her, she could tell he would not stand for any argument. She didn’t have to be happy about it, however. “Lucky always says you make your own decisions, Josef.”

“Lucky is usually right,” he replied quietly. “Now go. I’ll be watching.” Faction frowned, but, looking around her nervously, turned obediently and moved away.

Good as his word, Josef watched until she had gained the relative safety of the ladies lounge, then turned back to the two freshies before him. “Well, ladies,” he said affably, “I believe I’d like to know how you two came to be in such a nice little—jam.”

Danni glanced at Emma, unsure of what to say, or even whether she should speak. In the event, it was Emma who spoke up. “Mr. Kostan—Josef—we really appreciate your help. Really, we do.” She paused. “Will says you never do anything without at least one string attached. So, what do you want from us?”

The vampire smirked, although Danni discerned very little humor in his expression. “Emma, I’d heard you were direct. So I’ll do you the courtesy to return the favor. What I want—“ and with startling quickness he moved in closer to her, much closer, “—is to walk you back to Will’s table.” With that, he put a hand at the small of her back, and repeated the gesture with Danni. She found herself extremely conscious of his touch, even through the silky fabric of her dress. The touch of his hand was at once protective and somehow exciting to her. Without being in the least forward, she felt he was somehow conveying an interest, and she wondered if Emma sensed the same thing. He guided them expertly through the crowd, back to where Will was sitting with Hunter. As they approached, he released Hunter’s wrist.

“Spence,” Josef said, “your pet lambs were straying. You need to keep better watch—this place is full of wolves.”

Will wiped a last drop of Hunter’s blood from the corner of his mouth. “I’m sure they can take care of themselves, Kostan.”

“Right. I’ll let Emma tell you how well that was working out,” he replied. “Meanwhile, I believe Danger is going to join me over at my table for a drink. Unless, of course, you object?”

Will’s face looked stormy, but he waved his hand negligently. “If she’s willing,” he said.

Emma looked troubled, uneasy. She laid a hand on the vampire’s arm. “Josef,” she said, “Danger is very new. Please be careful with her.”

Josef looked down coldly at her hand, and she withdrew it instantly. He put a hand to her face, gently tracing one finger down her jawline and tapping her softly under the chin. “Comments like that, Emma, are exactly why you and I are not ever going to get better acquainted.” The he shifted his gaze to Danni. “Danger, what do you say? Join me for a drink?”

Danni gulped, and looked at Emma, who gave her a tiny nod, and at Will, who avoided her gaze. “I think I do—owe you a favor, Josef.”

He smiled at her. “Trust me, sweetheart, despite what you’ve heard, you’re under no obligation. Everything is your choice.”

Danni wanted to make the right decision. She wanted to please Will, and he’d seemed to want her to play the field, at least a little bit. On the other hand, it was also clear that he was not a big fan of Josef Kostan. Still—she felt safer with Josef right now than she did with Will, even not knowing whether that drink would be for her, or for him. She smiled up at him. “I’d be delighted,” she said.

As they made their way to Josef’s table, Danni could tell he was keeping a close eye out around them. On her first visit, she hadn’t realized the level of risk inherent in the club. Now that she knew the nature of the patrons, it was different. Now, every glance seemed fraught, every touch seemed to bear more weight than it had before. Even the pulsing beat of the music seemed to mimic the heartbeats of the dancers on the floor, pulling her own heartbeat into sync. She guessed the rhythm would be powerfully seductive to a vampire, possibly more so than she could imagine.

“I don’t know why I spend time in this snake pit,” Josef commented, as though reading her mind. “Nothing but predators and prey. It’s like being at a watering hole on the veldt. Still,” and he smiled down warmly at her, “one does find the occasional gem among the trampled muck.”

Danni supposed that was meant for a compliment, and returned his smile uncertainly. It wasn’t anything he’d said or done, but somehow she felt very nervous and almost terrified.

Josef sensed her agitation—it was evident in her heartbeat and, and in her scent—and sighed to himself. Newbie freshies, he thought, why do I bother? He knew the answer, though, even as he asked the question. Her blood—the scent of her blood flowing like sweet red silk through her veins—drew him. As attached as he might be to his special freshies, a vamp needed variety from time to time, needed the texture of different skin, the sound of a different breath. And Danger, he thought, would provide that very nicely, this evening.

Danni swallowed nervously when they reached the table. Lucky and Allara were there, waiting. Josef ushered her to a seat with his usual impeccable courtesy, but there was no way she could mistake the hostility in the looks she received from Allara. Lucky was maintaining a carefully neutral expression, but dander thought she saw a certain amount of disappointment in Lucky’s gray eyes.

“Turbo,” Josef said to Allara, “flag down the waiter and set me up with another scotch, would you?”

“Where’s Faction?” Allara replied abruptly. “Wasn’t she with you?” She exchanged a concerned look with Lucky, even as she obeyed his request.

“She’s fine. She should be calling any second.” Josef seated himself between Danni and Lucky. “Now, did you girls miss me?”

Lucky laid her hand on his briefly, as though to reassure herself with his touch. “Josef…” she said mildly.

The vampire’s drink arrived at about the same time as Lucky’s phone rang. While she answered the call, Allara quietly got out a small device from her purse that Danni realized with a little curiosity was identical to the lancet her grandfather had used to draw blood to test his blood sugar. As Danni watched, Allara pricked her finger, and squeezed a couple of fat red drops of blood to drip into the neat scotch. By the time she was done, Lucky had finished with her call, and she in turn added just a taste of blood to the drink.

“Faction hopes you will take the thought for the deed, Josef,” Lucky said, passing the drink to him.

Josef nodded. “Will you be all right, going to meet her in the lounge?”

Lucky smiled. “If anyone gives us any trouble, I can always show them my necklace,” she said cryptically, rising from her seat. “Josef, Danger, we’ll be back soon, I’m sure.”

“Take your time,” Josef replied. “No need to rush.”

Allara didn’t say a word, although her set expression as she walked away spoke for her. Danni frowned, worried she’d made an enemy. This was all so complicated. And now she was alone with Josef. Her stomach did a quick flip-flop.

For the next little bit, she mostly listened as Josef talked. She realized that however effortless he made it seem, he was working at being charming, and she was flattered to have him taking the trouble to do so. It was beautifully done, and much more than she had expected from him, but she wished he’d stop. She laid her hand on his, intending to speak, when she saw him focus in on her wrist. Josef fell silent and looked up at her, an unspoken question in his eyes. Even in the dimness of the club, Danni could see the silver gleam of his eyes, beginning to drown out the brown. He was a handsome man at any time, but when he changed, he became breathtakingly, heartbreakingly beautiful. She drew a trembling breath, but she was no longer afraid of him. She nodded slightly

Josef gently grasped her wrist, never taking his gaze from her face, almost willing her not to panic with the force of his silver eyes, not to shy away from him. He raised her arm, drinking in the perfume of her being, and she felt the heat of his hunger sear her skin just before his teeth pierced her with a white flame of passion. She wanted to scream, but whether from pain or pleasure she was unsure. The shock of his bite was replaced almost instantly with the pull of his mouth as he drank, and she felt as though a wave were crashing over her, as though she were drowning from the touch of his lips, of his tongue against her, lapping steadily. She would swear she could feel the blood itself sliding down his throat, being absorbed into his very tissue.

When Josef’s favorites returned a few minutes later, they found him sipping his drink, watching Danni. She sat very quietly, cradling her left wrist in her other hand. The white of the handkerchief wrapped around it was stark in the gloom, the few dark spots of blood appearing more black than red. Her eyes were dreamy, focused on some unseen interior landscape. Josef, on the other hand, looked sharp, alive
Danni didn’t need to be carried back to Will’s table, quite, but she was very glad of Josef’s strong arm around her waist, supporting her as she leaned heavily against him.
When he had poured her gently into a seat next to Emma, he rested a hand caressingly on her shoulder. Danni had to fight what seemed to be an urge deeper than instinct to incline her head and rub her cheek against the back of his hand.

Josef’s attention, however, was directed at the vampire seated across the table, glaring at him. “You have a special girl here, Will,” he said, his smile belying the acid in his words. “You’re a fool to let anyone else near her.”

“Even you?” Will bit out, his lips tight. The points of his fangs were extending as his anger rose.

“Especially me.” As if to punctuate his statement, Josef leaned down and kissed Danni deeply. She tasted scotch and blood in his mouth, and she moaned a little when her tongue touched his fangs, the fangs that had given her such pleasure.

When he pulled away with a last sweet caress to her cheek, she opened her eyes to meet his brown, enigmatic gaze. “Another time, Texas,” he said. “Another time.”

[francis]

Oh, now she is meeting another vampire and sees for herself that they are not all the same.

Emma gasped, as if the insult had been a direct slap in the face. He reached up and touched Danni’s hair, stroking it familiarly. For Danni, the moment froze in time, and everything crashed in on her at once. This was not a fairy tale, or a romance novel. In the middle of this crowded club, with people all around, she and Emma could well end up feeding this—this random lowlife. No one would do a thing to stop it, unless Will noticed. If Will wanted to notice, she amended bleakly. She suddenly understood that when the others had told her he didn’t want them to be exclusively his, it meant he might not want to interfere. He might want to see her bitten by another vampire, might even enjoy the sight of it. She started to tremble, and in that frozen moment of time she hated him. The greasy-haired vamp was smiling at her, and she saw his eyes start to go to silver. A scream rose in her throat, but somehow she couldn’t voice it, and she swallowed frantically, her mouth gone dry.

That’s really troubling me too. To take a very harsh metaphor, it’s like a boyfriend that you just start to get intimate with, wanting you to be taken by one of his friends, or any man, just to prove that you aren’t attached.
Josef to the rescue. I love the power. He knows how to be in control, and doesn’t suffer fools. And he wants his freshies obedient, but he is protective also. This is a predator world they are in. And Will is a fool to be so cold towards Danni. Josef is doing a much better job here.
Did Danger already make an enemy in Faction just for being there? Could be.
The feeding scene was very sensual, and I hope Josef didn’t ruin it for Danni. She might now never be satisfied with another vamp’s bite. And Will might be aware of his mistake.