Chapter 9
We stepped off the elevator and onto the first floor of the club. There were people on the dance floor, but they were frozen. What's more, they were the same people that had been there last night.
The colored lights above the chrome dance floor were still changing colors and music was still pounding out of the many speakers built into the club's walls, both being controlled by computers that weren't subject to the Count's powers.
“It's very noisy,” Gladrielle yelled. “Do you think anyone would mind if I turned the music off?”
“If you can find the controls,” I said.
Gladrielle waved a hand. The music stopped playing, the lights stopped changing color. The green lights were left on, but she waved her hand again and the blue lights replaced them.
“Much better,” she said.
“How did you do that?”
“Electricity is energy,” she said.
I nodded. “And you can control energy the way I can control water.”
We passed through the crowd of dancers, and from what I could see, they hadn't moved a muscle since last night. I could see them blink, could even see their muscles twitching, the Count just wasn't letting them move. He was compelling them to remain still. Whether they wanted to or not.
We headed up the stairs to the second floor. The bartenders were frozen behind the bar, the people at the tables were frozen, and the waitresses were frozen, their trays still in their hands.
“So where's he at?” Gladrielle asked.
“One more floor.”
We headed up to the third floor, slipping past the human bodyguard that remained frozen at the bottom of the chrome staircase. As we climbed, I moved in front of Gladrielle, so the Count couldn't see who was behind me. Although the glow she was giving off might give him a clue as to who was there.
The Count was still sitting in Titus's chair. Titus was standing next to him, his eyes were glowing red, which told me that he hadn't eaten since last night. I also noticed that the Count's entourage was down to six people, three males, three females. Titus might not have eaten since last night but it was pretty clear that the Count had. Six people in just under twenty-four hours, that wasn't just eating, that was gorging. If vampires could get fat, the Count would have to turn sideways just to squeeze through doors.
Savanna was still there, but she had lost her top. She was standing in front of the Count dancing, grinding her hips with her hands laced behind her head and her bare breasts bouncing. Like everyone else in the place, save for Titus, she had a blank look on her face.
I couldn't help but wonder if she was even aware of what she was doing. I suspect she was, like everyone else, she just wasn't strong enough to overcome the the compulsions the Count was forcing upon her.
I figured this was why the Count had gone through so much of his entourage. Exerting control over this many people for this long a period required a lot of energy, and for a vampire that required a lot of food. Blood if you preferred.
“It's nice to see you haven't killed anybody yet,” I said. I glanced at what was left of his entourage. “Well, anybody I care about.”
“I'm a man of my word. I promised you forty-eight hours.” He stretched his neck to see who was standing behind me. “So, have you brought me a playmate?”
“I have, and I'll show you who it is once you let Savanna go.”
The Count watched Savanna grind her hips for a few seconds then sighed. “I was growing bored with her anyway. She's been doing the same move for the last twelve hours. The girl clearly needs to take some dance lessons.”
He waved his fingers and Savanna seemed to come out of her trance. She stopped grinding her hips and lowered her hands, then she looked at me. That's when I took off my jacket and tossed it to her. “Go home and don't come back until it's safe.”
Savanna nodded, slipped into my jacket, and hustled down the stairs.
“All right,” the Count said. “Once again, I've held up my end of our deal. Now, it's time to see if you've held up yours.”
“Oh, I've more than held up my end.” I stepped aside, so the Count could see who was behind me.
“Hello Eradu,” Gladrielle said. “It's been awhile.”
The glow she was giving off brightened, making her look every bit like the immortal that she was. I wondered if she did it on purpose, or if it was a subconscious reaction to seeing an old flame. Assuming the Count was an old flame. He might have been in love with her, but that didn't mean that she had been in love with him. Although the way she seemed to get lost in thought when she talked about him made me think that the attraction hadn't been one sided.
“The voice is vaguely familiar,” the Count said. “But I'm afraid I can't see your face. Don't suppose you could turn the wattage down a little bit.”
He placed his hand in front of his eyes, shielding them from Gladrielle's glow. It made me wonder how he thought they could ever be together if he couldn't even look at her when she used her powers. Of course, when he decided to become a vampire, he probably didn't understand all the side effects that came with the immortality. According to Gladrielle, he just wanted to be immortal. Like her.
Gladrielle turned the wattage down, so she looked normal again. Well, as normal as an immortal elf dressed in a skin tight latex dress was likely to look.
The Count stared at Gladrielle, finally, he said, “Long time no see.”
The way Titus's eyes were glowing bright red, it was pretty clear that he needed to eat. I figured now was a good time to take advantage of Gladrielle's being there, take advantage of the distraction she provided, and do what I had been hired to do. Namely, protect Titus.
“You mind if Titus gets something to eat?” I said.
“Yeah, fine,” the Count said, without taking his eyes off Gladrielle.
“Go,” I said to Titus.
Titus bowed to the Count, brushed past me, and headed down the chrome staircase. He didn't like drinking cold blood from a plastic bag. He preferred it to be ninety-eight point six degrees, no more, no less, but I suspect he would make an exception in this case.
“You can go too,” the Count said to me. “In fact, everyone can go.”
What was left of the Count's entourage, turned and followed Titus down the stairs. I started to follow them, but Gladrielle grabbed my arm.
“She stays,” Gladrielle said.
The Count bowed his head. “As you wish.”
“I wish.”
“Mind if I ask where she found you?”
“Where do you usually find elves?”
“In a forest or along a river.”
“That's where she found me.”
“You look good,” the Count said.
“You look . . . different,” Gladrielle said.
The Count ran his hand through his spiked hair. “I stopped shaving my head. The style kind of disappeared with the pharaohs.”
“It's not just the hair. You never used to hide your eyes. At least not when you were human.”
“Immortality comes at a price, at least for some of us.”
“My people have paid a price for our immortality,” Gladrielle said.
“Yeah, what's that?”
“We can't reproduce as fast as the humans can.”
The Count laughed. “I've never really considered that to be a bad thing. Children are a nuisance.”
“That's why we would've never worked out. We're too different. Especially now.”
“Sounds like you haven't changed your mind about us.”
“Gladrielle shook her head. “No.”
“Then why are you here?”
Gladrielle nodded at me. “She asked for my help, said you threatened to kill a couple of her friends.”
“Did she tell you that her friends aren't human. They're supernaturals, just like me. In fact, one of them is exactly like me.”
“You're still bitter,” Gladrielle said. “I thought maybe time would change that.”
The Count rose to his feet. “Of course I'm bitter. I became this . . . this creature for you, for us. You think I would've done this if I'd have known it wouldn't have made a difference?”
“You could've asked me. You should've asked me.”
“Why do I get the feeling that this is the same argument you guys were having the last time you talked,” I said.
“Because it is,” Gladrielle said. She glanced at me, then turned back to the Count. “Go home, Eradu, wherever your home is these days, go home and leave these people alone.”
“They're not people,” the Count said. “They're abominations, just like me. That is the word you used to describe me isn't it? The night I told you what I did.”
“The beings you spring from were made by those that rebelled against God, which makes them and their off-spring abominations. And yes, that includes you. ”
“Since we're all abominations, why would you care if one of us kills another. It would be one less abomination in the world, which from your perspective, would be a good thing.”
“Low asked for our help to save her friends. When's the last time you tried to help someone?”
The Count didn't respond, prompting Gladrielle to respond for him.” That's what I thought. From what I hear, all you do these days is hurt people.”
“Not people,” the Count said. “Abominations. I don't harm humans.”
“You used to.”
“That was a long time ago. I was still learning to control my . . . compulsions.”
“How long have you kept those humans on the two lower floors frozen?”
“What difference does it make. I'm not hurting them.”
“You're not letting them lead their lives, but then you always did like to show off.”
The Count scowled at me. “I should make you pay for bringing her here.”
I held up both hands. “You said you were bored, then you gave me forty-eight hours to find someone that wouldn't bore you. Whether you're glad to see her or not, you gotta admit, she's not boring.”
“Release the humans,” Gladrielle said. “Let them go home.”
“Fine,” the Count said. “They're released.”
I could hear noise below us, people talking and shuffling around. I moved to the chrome railing and leaned over it. The dancers on the first floor were moving and talking, heading for the exits. It would probably be a few months before they returned to the club. But then that was one of the dangers of hanging out at a vamp club.
There was even a sign inside the elevator that led to the club, pointing out that the club was owned and frequented by supernaturals, and that one entered at their own risk, but I suspect that was one of the club's main attractions. Humans were always looking for that next big thrill, and from their prospective, hanging out with vampires was a definite thrill.
“The humans are leaving,” I said.
“Thank you,” Gladrielle said to the Count.
“Since when have you and your people felt the need to help an abomination?”
I felt I should protest, since I was the abomination he was referring to, but I had been called a lot worse in my ten years as a cop, so I remained quiet.
“Five thousand years ago, her kind was an abomination, but that was then and this is now.”
“And?” the Count said.
“And she's got more human blood in her than her ancestors.”
“So that means what? She isn't an abomination?”
“It means I'm no longer sure,” Gladrielle said. “Supernaturals don't ask for help to save others. At least they didn't until now.”
“What do the rest of your people think?”
“Some of them haven't changed their opinions of supernaturals, some are no longer sure, like me.”
The Count smiled. “So there's hope for me yet.”
Gladrielle paused for a second, almost as if she didn't want to say what she was about to say. “There's hope for her, and others like her, but not for you. You're too close to the Nephilim and the fallen angels that created them.”
“I was human once.”
“Until you allowed yourself to be turned into something else.”
“So, what, I'm irredeemable?”
“When's the last time you tried to save someone's life?” The Count didn't answer, not that Gladrielle expected him to. “That's what I thought. I'm guessing you haven't tried to help someone since you were human.”
“So the only reason you came was to help others. You didn't come to see me, to see how I was doing?”
“I'm the reason you became what you are, which means I'm responsible for everything you do, for everyone you hurt.”
The Count rose to his feet and moved toward Gladrielle. “You want to know what I think? I think you're here because you wanted to see me. I think you're here because you still care about me.”
“And I think you need to stop right there.” Gladrielle began to glow, brighter and brighter, forcing the Count to stop and shield his eyes with his hand.
He held up both hands and retreated. “I'm backing up, turn down the wattage, please.”
Gladrielle let the glow fade, until she was her normal blue haired, blue eyed, flawless elfish self.
The Count returned to Titus's chair and sat. “So let me get this straight. If I hadn't been causing trouble, threatening to kill people, you wouldn't be here?”
“I am responsible for what you've become. At least in part. I shouldn't have led you on, let you think there could've ever been something between us, but I liked the attention. That's always been my biggest failing.”
“An elf admitting that she's not perfect, now there's a first.”
“You're mocking me,” Gladrielle said. “Still, it's probably the least cruel thing you've done since you arrived in this part of the world.”
“When it comes to cruelty, I'm just getting started.”
Gladrielle wrinkled her brow. “I don't understand?”
“Neither do I,” I said.
“It's very simple,” the Count said. “If killing people is what it takes to get you here, then that's what I'm going to do.”
“You wouldn't,” Gladrielle said.
The Count grinned, actually, it was more of a sneer. “Why not? After all, I am an abomination. In fact, I think I'll start with your little friend here.”
He stood up and faced at me, then he began advancing toward me.
“Don't,” Gladrielle said. “Please.”
The Count didn't listen, so I reached out with my mind, until I could feel the water inside his body, inside the individual cells that made up his body. Then I ordered that water to freeze.
I couldn't kill the Count by freezing him, but I could incapacitate him until he thawed out, which would give me enough time to get away. Of course, that was assuming I could freeze him faster than he could bite me. Considering he was only five feet away from me, that was a big assumption.