In Thrall with a Vamp

Chapter 1

Looking at herself in the mirror, Amelia shakes her head. “You’re crazy! I’m not doing this!”

“You look gorgeous! And anyway, you need a bit of crazy anyway.”

“What I need, is to sit down and study. My masters isn’t going to write itself you know.”

“And fun isn’t going to take care of itself. You need a break girl, now come ON, or we’re going to be late!”

“My parents will never approve!”

“Your parents AREN’T HERE! Now COME. ON!”

“Cassy, you don’t understand! I NEED this degree to...”

“I know, I know! Your mum’s cancer treatment, going out will have your dad turn in his grave. I’ve heard it all these last 5 years. But sometimes a girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do.” Hands on her hips, the red head glares at her friend. “Getting a rich man is anyway a LOT easier way to get money than a degree. You’ve been teaching at the university for so many months now, always books, books books. Get your ass out that door missy or so help me!”

“Okay, okay. Keep your pants on, or rather skirt in your case. I’m coming!” With a last uncertain glance at herself in the mirror, the strawberry blond, grabs her purse from the table before heading out her to small, one room apartment.

At 25 years old. Amelia has always been a serious child, which she has taken with her into the adult world. The only time she had known fun, was when she was 12 and her mum’s twin had gotten married. The new step-cousin had been LOTS of fun, even if he had been younger than her.

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she berated herself. “Don’t go there Amy, it’s not worth it. Focus on your goal; get your degree, get your mum healthy, get your life back!”

Following her friend down the steps of the apartment block to the Uber that was waiting for them, she can’t help but shake her head at the stream of words, complaints and none stop comments on everything Cassy’s eyes could see, that never stopped flowing out of her mouth. Since they met 5 years ago while doing an assignment together, it has always been like this. Cassy was the “fun” one, always going out, trying to catch herself a rich husband, while also enjoying life. Amelia just couldn’t do it. Her father’s warning still rang in her ears.

“There’s things out there Amelia, things you never want to know about. And if you don’t get yourself an education, enough money to keep it all at bay; they will swarm you over, and in the blink of an eye, everything you think you know, will be lost!”

That was her father for you, always so careful, calibrated. Everything thought out ten times over. Even every word to his daughter was considered, careful, calculated, with only one goal in mind, getting above and beyond the rest of his peers.

Squaring her shoulders, she straightened up. Cassy was right, she needed this. If her thoughts start to go to things better left in the past and her father of all people, she needed a distraction.

“Hey! Earth calling Amy! You getting out or what girl?!”

With a nod of thanks to the driver, Amy swung her feet out of the car. The ridiculously short dress, that Cassy had forced her into wearing, made moving like a normal person difficult.

“Hey girl, if you’d rather stay, I’ll have him take you back home?” Cassy’s face was suddenly worried, thoughtful.

Linking her arm through that of her friend, she smiled at the slightly taller girl. “No, you’re right. I need a distraction Now, let’s go ROCK THIS PARTY!”

Ethan’s body reacted. His instincts coming alert. Something in the atmosphere of the room has changed, shifted into an alertness. Turning slowly, so as not to alert the others in the room, he tried to find what had caused the changed. Testing the air with his sense of smell. Hmmm, male hormones, and something slightly more, almost intoxicating. Behind him, he can feel Marcus coming alert too, his senses to in tuned with that of Ethan’s that he knew when his friend’s attention had shifted in a second.

Then he found it. To girls at the front door. One in a bright orange, strapless with flaking red hair. It was probably her that had caused the shift in male hormones in the room. She was the type to catch attention and keep it. But it was the blond next to her, petite and dressed in a too shirt navy blue dress, that focused Ethan’s attention. It couldn’t be! After all these years!

Melting into the shadows, Ethan couldn’t tear his eyes off of her. Wow. To find her here, after all this time! He knew where he was now, he would never be seen. After all, hiding in shadows was the one thing he was truly good at, he thought sardonically. A slight shift in the air and Ethan knew that Marcus had followed his example. Shifting just enough to not be seen by any eyes.

How long he stood there, just staring at the girl, he had no idea. From their place in the shadows of the balcony, he could see most of the room below. She was looking so out of place, even though her dress told a story of someone that was used to this sort of thing. When her friend left her to get them drinks, she shifted uncomfortably, allowing another girl to lead her to a bar chair.

It was however when a strange man bent forward, blocking Ethan’s view that he started forward. But when that same stranger started touching her, he couldn’t help the growl of fury ripping past his teeth.

“Hey, man. Calm down. Not here, not now. Breath. Go get some air. I’ll help her Kay?”

Nodding, Ethan only allowed himself one word “Fast!” before slipping out the back way.

Marcus was right. The club was definitely NOT the place for him to lose his cool. He needed some air, maybe something more, IF he could find it.