His Lost Tribrid

Chapter Seven

Ruby POV

“It’s your birthday?! Why the hell didn’t you say something?” Calli screamed, jumping up from the white, leather sofa.

“I am saying something now,” I shrugged. I wasn’t even going to mention it, but when she asked how old I was, I thought there was no harm in telling her the truth. Now, from the excitement creeping up on her face and cogs spinning in her brain, I wasn’t so sure it was such a good idea.

“We have to go out to celebrate! Your 21st is a huge milestone and needs to be a night to remember!” she moves through the chic lounge into the open-plan kitchen/diner and opens the fridge. After we had been shopping, which Calli enjoyed far more than me, we came back to ‘her place’. It was what she called a little condo but right in the heart of the town. She kept apologising for the mess and the size and the nosy neighbours, but if anything, I just thought the place was cute. It suited her well; bold, inviting, colourful and a bit chaotic. She offered me to stay in her spare room and, seeing as I didn’t really have many other options, I thanked her and took her up on the offer. She was going to help me find the Vampire King, so it made sense to stay with her.

She strutted back into the living room, swaying her hips purposefully whilst holding up a bottle of alcohol in one hand and two glasses in the other. Her mischievous smile made me giggle. “Champagne for the birthday girl?”

“Um…ok. I have never tried champagne but I’ll try anything once!” I said honestly, and took a glass from her as she popped open the bottle with a bang. The fizzy liquid foamed over the top, falling to the floor as she squealed.

“You’re a champagne virgin?” she seemed surprised as she poured into my glass.

I took a small sip of the drink. I wasn’t sure what to think. At first it was sharp but sweet, the bubbles causing a strange sensation in my mouth and down my throat, but once it had gone, I wanted to have some more. “Virgin?” I asked with an arched eyebrow. There had been a number of things already that Calli had to elaborate on and I hated feeling like an i***t in this place. I seemed so out of my depth. Like the ‘elevator’. The strange machine you stand in, and it takes you somewhere else. I didn’t see the point in it. I could just transport myself there.

“Please tell me you know what a virgin is?” she smirked into her glass. I shook my head. “How do I explain this? It means that you are new to something. That you have never tried it before. It normally refers to sex.”

I felt my cheeks blush slightly as she eyed me carefully. I knew what that was. I had read enough steamy scenes in some of the books I had back home and Maggie and I had had quite a frank discussion about it one night over a glass of wine. It was something that I really wanted to try but never thought I would get the chance. I had often had fantasies and felt aroused, especially when it involved my green-eyed stranger, but to do it in real life, I am sure, was a very different experience.

“So, is it a bad thing? To be a virgin?” I asked slowly, nervous to hear her answer. She smiled at me sweetly but I couldn’t ignore the amusement in her eyes.

“No. Of course not! Lots of people choose to be virgins for lots of different reasons. I, on the other hand, enjoy it far too much to have that amount of self-discipline,” she giggled.

“Are we still talking about champagne or…sex?” I asked boldly and she burst out laughing.

“Both!”

I started laughing too, feeling a little lightheaded and giggly. This champagne was becoming more and more delicious!

“What is it like then? s*x?” I whisper, which only makes her laugh more.

“Girl! You should never be embarrassed to talk about s*x! It’s a natural thing and as strong, independent women, we have every right to have or talk about s*x as much as we want, okay?” I smiled and nodded. I really liked this girl. “Don’t get me wrong. There is such a thing as bad s*x. And when it’s bad, it’s f*cking awful! But when it’s good…” she fanned her face. “It will shake you to the core.”

“How can you tell if it’s going to be good or not?” I asked curiously. I never felt comfortable asking these questions in front of Maggie but Calli was so open and kind, I felt like I could ask her anything.

“Well, normally you can’t. It’s the luck of the draw. But every now and again, you will meet someone who you just vibe with. You’ll have an instant physical attraction and the chemistry between you will sizzle! That’s when you know it will be good! I envy the wolves and vampires for that reason.” She sighed as she leaned back on the sofa, drinking her champagne.

“Why?” Her last sentence instantly piqued my interest. She may only believe I am a witch, but I feel a strong connection to my vampire side and wolf, Ada.

“Because they get mates! Vampires have soul mates and wolves have fated mates. I have heard that s*x between mates is beyond anything you could ever imagine. Lucky f*ckers.”

I sat back and let that information sink in. Mates. Maggie had mentioned a few things about mates and that my parents were apparently mated. My father a vampire and warlock mix and my mother a wolf. So now I am here in this human realm, my mate is likely out there somewhere. The thought made my stomach flutter and my heart race.

“Hey! Don’t look so excited. Us witches rarely get paired with a vampire or wolf mate. Can I ask you a question?” she leaned forward and topped up my glass with more champagne. I nodded whilst taking another sip, the funny feeling of the bubbles in my throat becoming more satisfying. “You say you have lost your memories, right? So how do you know that you are actually a virgin? That you have never had champagne or s*x before? You may have just forgotten.”

I smiled at her question. I wish that was true, but I have all my memories from the last ten years. Everything that happened in Maggie’s creation. It’s only when I really try to think back to a time before, maybe the age of ten, that my mind goes blank. “Trust me. I am a virgin!”

“Well, that is no bad thing, Lily. Save yourself for that special person,” she said, raising her glass up in the air. The comment made me feel strange. Yes, apart of me wanted that. For it to be special with the person she was describing as a mate, but another part of me wondered if I would ever meet them. From what I have seen, this realm is enormous and there are so many people. What are the chances of finding your mate anytime soon? I have lived all my life stuck in a fantasy land with no real experiences. Now it was time to live.

“I don’t think I want that. I want to experience life as much as possible. I want to feel alive! But I don’t want it to be bad, so maybe I will just wait until I find someone who I have that chemistry with.” I said and she nodded in agreement.

“Good plan. Well, if you want to live, let’s get ready! We are going out!” she jumped up off the sofa and clapped her hands together.

“Out where? Don’t we have to go and find the Vampire King?” I asked slowly, but standing up all the same. My body seemed to like the idea of ‘going out’ even if my mind was unsure.

“Lily, it is your birthday! We can take a night to celebrate and we will start our search tomorrow. Anyway, I’ll take you to the best super natural club in Oregon so you can openly ask people if they know where he is and we may actually find some information!”

When she put it like that, it seemed like a solid plan. “Okay. Let’s do it! To living life!”

I raised my glass and she clicked hers with mine. “To living our BEST life! Now let’s go find you something to wear. You are going to sparkle like the diamond you are tonight birthday girl.”

I don’t think I have ever smiled so widely.

***

“Are you sure about this?” I whispered in Calli’s ear, pulling at the tiny fabric of the sequin dress that barely covered my ass.

“You look insane, Lily. Trust me. Just try to relax and have fun tonight.” She said confidently as she strutted down the gloomy alleyway in her six-inch heels. She was wearing tight jeans that showed off her curves and a tiny silver-chained crop top that didn’t leave much to the imagination! I swear in certain lighting you could see her n*****s.

I watched her behaviour intently as she walked with an air of confidence and swagger. Her chin held high, a perfect smile on her face and a flick of her brown, tight curls over her shoulder as we approached two very large, serious-looking men.

Their eyes scanned our bodies inappropriately before resting on our faces. I lifted my chin higher and smiled, mimicking Calli’s body language, and they both nodded and stepped aside.

“Thank you gentlemen,” Calli winked as she walked through the gap between them and into a door. I quickly followed, hot on her heels before stumbling into her back when she stopped abruptly.

“Sorry,” I mumbled when she looked over her shoulder to check on me.

“Names?” A gorgeous blonde woman asked behind a desk, barely looking up from her strange device.

“Calliope Reyes and Lily…” she looked back over at me expectantly. My eyebrows pulled into a deep frown. What was she asking? “What’s your last name?” she gritted through her teeth, trying to keep a smile on her face.

Last name? I only have one name. Ruby. And I haven’t even told Calli that it is my name. Calli’s eyes widened as she realised I don’t know and she turned quickly to the woman. “Virgin.”

The woman’s red eyes flickered up at her. I could tell from her scent and aura that she was a vampire. “Sorry?”

“Calliope Reyes and Lily Virgin. We are witches.” Calli says as I giggled behind her. Did she really just use that word as part of my name? The woman’s gaze darted over to me and she didn’t try to hide her instant dislike for me for whatever reason. She started touching the screen of the black box and then sighed with a bored tone. “Do you give permission to be fed from tonight?”

Calli quickly replied, “No, we’re good.”

“ OK, please no use of magic inside the venue. Keep it clean ladies. Have fun,” her mundane voice showed little to no enthusiasm for her job and I said a polite thank you as we walked past her only to receive a cold glare back.

“Vampires. The bitchiest of the lot!” Calli muttered under her breath. We turned a corner and the noise erupted. Electric, booming beats vibrated through the walls and the air was thick with smoke and chatter. The amount of people crammed into the room was overwhelming. I felt Calli grab my hand as she pushed her way through the throng of bodies until we reached a bar.

“What do you want to drink?” she shouted over the sound of the deafening music and if it wasn’t for my wolf hearing, I don’t think I would have heard her.

“Umm… champagne?” She rolled her eyes as she leaned over the counter, getting the instant attention of a good-looking man behind the bar.

“Two double vodkas and coke and two shots of whatever you recommend,” she yelled at him, giving him a dazzling smile. His eyes lit up as he looked down at her see through top and wasted no time in preparing our drinks. “You don’t drink champagne in a club girl. Costs a fortune!”

There was so much to learn! And fast. She handed me my drink and a tiny glass of bright green liquid. “Down it in one go. You ready?”

“Yeah!” We sank the ‘shot’ and I couldn’t help but gag at the vile taste it left in my mouth. It felt like it was burning me from the inside out.

“That it girl! Right, let’s go dance. I have clocked some very delicious looking men on the dancefloor who are dying for us to show them a good time!” Her light brown eyes twinkled with mischief, and I giggled.

The alcohol was kicking in and suddenly I felt like I was the most confident woman alive. Nobody knew me, I had no one to scold me or tell me what to do, and I was finally in a club with real people my own age! I don’t know how long I had wished for a moment like this, but now it was finally here, I was going to make the most of every minute of it!