Urban Vampire

Chapter 11

My eyes opened to what at first appeared to be the sunshine. I blinked in confusion until my vision cleared. I knew that I wasn't in my bed though I didn't immediately remember why.

My fingers brushed the soft fur of the comforter, and I remembered the events of the previous night. Tony Yates. This was his house. I sat up and allowed my legs to swing over the side of the most comfortable bed I had ever slept in.

I dressed and examined myself in one of the many mirrors. My eyes weren't as vibrantly gold as the night before, but nothing else about my look had changed. I puffed my hair. Damn, but I was loving this two-toned gold hair. My skin had even taken a slight golden sheen. I didn't need even a touch of makeup. I rubbed my hands down my toned belly and thighs. I did a little spin to admire the shape of my butt.

A woman cleared her throat behind me. How the hell didn't I hear that with my new hearing?

It was the Asian Council woman, the one who had called me out for using the word "Vampire." Uh oh.

"Can I help you?" I said, making sure to put a bit of attitude in my words to mask my unease.

She looked at me intensely from my feet to my hair then to my eyes. It took a pretty minute for her to appraise me while I appraised her.

She wore cream-colored evening gown that brushed the floor. It shimmered as if it was made of little diamonds. It had a simple neckline, not too risqué which made it all the more sophisticated. Her hair was up in loops that reminded me for some reason of Princess Grace, and her makeup was tasteful and flawless.

I wore the black jeans that I had carelessly packed so they were a bit wrinkled and the button-down silk blouse meant to be both casual and dressy depending on the accessories, but no number of accessories would put me in the same league as Girlie.

"I see Tony put you in my old room," she said. "Were you comfortable?"

Her old room? I glanced around. "I thought the ceiling was a bit gaudy, but it'll do," I replied, trying to mask my disappointment.

She didn't frown or move in any other way, but the blood must have rushed to her face because she turned three shades darker. Even with her too pallid skin, the look wasn't complimentary.

I braced myself to jump either on her ass or out the door.

"I see," she said, barely moving her lips. She turned her head away from me and walked across the floor to the dressing table. I had placed my lotion, deodorant, jewelry box, and perfume there. She gazed at them with a look of distaste.

I folded my arms. "Did you want something?"

She ran her fingers over the items on the dressing table. "Just to welcome you," she said. "We were a bit ... hard on you before." She glanced at me.

I smiled. "No harm no foul. Well, Johan might not think that." Then I smiled even brighter.

I don't really know why I was tripping. But somehow I sensed that Girlie was looking for my weakness, and I wasn't about to show her any.

I could see her steel herself as if she wanted to strike out at me, but something held her back from doing it.

She glared at "Johan was a founding member of the Council. He ruled over thirteen hundred Neratomay. His lineage can be traced back to Caesar." Her eyes narrowed as she gave me a contemptuous look. "And you," she almost spat, looking me up and down, "are just little Kim Russell from Cincinnati, Ohio."

"More than that." I narrowed my eyes at her in that same chilly way that I'd seen Tony do so well. "I am bad enough to kill a Neratomay who could trace his lineage back to Caesar, who had ruled thirteen hundred Neratomay and who helped found your Council. And I've been a Vampire less than forty-eight hours." I swore that I would never refer to them as Neratomay again. They were f*****g vamps—we were f*****g vamps!

"So you believe yourself more skilled than Johan?" Her voice sounded like a growl.

"I told you then like I'll tell you now. b***h, I will do what I need to do in order to survive."

"b***h?" She took a step toward me.

I felt my gums tingle. My teeth lowered to dangerous points.

She snickered and tipped over my favorite bottle of perfume with her index finger. The cap was on so it didn't spill, but she watched me with an amused little smile.

I didn't move a muscle to stop her. If that was her game, then let her play it because as the saying goes, "Bitches be trippin'"—but I wasn't planning to trip with her.

She lifted the lid of my jewelry case. Her hand reached inside, most likely to criticize its contents. The majority of my jewelry was silver. I hadn't had a chance to weed it out from the rest of my items. I was really happy that I had gotten preoccupied.

When her fingers made contact with my jewelry, I heard a loud crackling like a lightning strike, the distinct sound and smell of sizzling filling the air.

She screamed, yanked her hand back, and spun away from the dressing table. She looked as if she were on rotors!

She then hissed, and there was nothing human about the sound.

Chills ran up and down my arms and back.

She clutched her hand to her chest, hissing and screeching.

Damn. It hurt to get stung by silver, but why all the theatrics?

She ran in my direction but not at me. Before she disappeared out of the door I caught sight of her eyes.

They were terrified.

I could smell searing flesh, and it was sickening. But what had happened? Her hand hadn't been in contact with silver any longer than mine had.

It was time to go. Whether Tony had set me up, I no longer wanted any part of the Council or him

I picked up my overnight bag and shoved my belongings back into it. I was becoming more and more pissed about her attitude. How dare that b***h come up into my face trying to intimidate me? Yeah, I was scared and everything, but I wasn't going to get punked out.

I had my bag in hand and was about to head out the door when I felt more than saw a flash of movement.

Tony blocked the door. He looked at my bag. "What's going on?"

I tried to move past him, but he gripped my arm.

"Kim, wait."