Vampire Dating Agency II (11 page)

CHAPTER
THIRTY-EIGHT

A vampiress with curly black hair was
sitting on the edge of the jacuzzi just outside Cyrus’s dwelling. She had a
cigarette in one hand. Her feet were in the water.

“So you found
her after all,” the vampiress remarked. “Good for you.”

“Where are
you putting that ash?” Cyrus replied. “Not in the water I hope.”

She held the
smoke out, and tapped it in front of her.

Cyrus’s hands
closed together. “Give me that.”

“Fuck you,”
the vampiress said and kicked a puddle of water at him.

He grabbed
hold of her hand, and she switched the smoke to the other. She took a drag.

Cyrus went to
push her into the pool, but she managed to take hold of his neck in time, and
threw him over her head.

He landed in
the jacuzzi with a giant splash.

The vampiress
gave a childish laugh. She turned to Haley as Cyrus surfaced.

“You should
lend him a hand, I think.”

Haley moved
around the pool’s edge where Cyrus was attempting to climb out. She bent to her
knees and put her hands out to him. Cyrus avoided them. “I don’t think so.”

He hoisted
himself up onto the ledge a short distance away. He shook his hair, trying to
drain the water. “Fucking bitch.”

“Just
reflexes, I guess,” the vampiress said coolly.

“How dare you
embarrass me in front of a guest.”

“And just
what she wants to see too. You getting worked up over losing to a girl.”

“I didn’t
lose.”

Haley turned
to the vampiress. “I saw you earlier.”

“Yes, I’m
aware,” the vampiress replied. “I’m Avril Rance, the little fool’s sister. I
forget your name –”

“Haley.”

“Well, nice
to meet you Haley.” Avril stood up. “Play nice then. Both of you.”

She walked up
to the house and pulled back a sliding door. She went inside.

Haley removed
her shoes.

She sat at
the jacuzzi’s edge next to Cyrus, and put her feet in the water.

Avril’s
cigarette floated on by.

“It’s so
stupid,” Cyrus muttered. “I don’t know why she always gets to me.”

“It’s your
house isn’t it? You let her be here.”

“Well, she is
company. And company well trusted.”

“She’s not
the only one here, is she?”

“No,” Cyrus
admitted. “I suppose I should ask you whether you’re a people person or not. If
you don’t mind spending time with all of them. Or you just want to spend some
time alone.”

His foot
touched hers.

“I think you
know it’s not going to be that easy for you, Cyrus.”

Cyrus
laughed. “Good. Yes – yes, of course. How silly of me.”

There was a
moment of silence.

Haley watched
their reflections bubbling in the water.

She couldn’t
see him yet. She was trying to … trying to know if the mind beside her was the
killer’s.

Cyrus glanced
up at her, as though he was trying to read her mind.

And in one
reality, they were both strangers. So close, and yet so far away.

And in
another reality, they both knew.

Exactly who
they were.

CHAPTER
THIRTY-NINE

Inside the house, Avril was lying
face up, spreading herself across the silky soft carpet at her partner’s feet. Both
were a few feet away from the kitchen area where Haley and Cyrus entered.

“I really
must say, Cyrus,” the partner called. “This some of the best blood I’ve ever
tasted.”

“It’s from
Paris,” Cyrus said opening up the fridge. He produced a bottle and set it on
the counter. “1585.”

“I don’t know
how they did it.”

“Did what?”

“Not drink
all the blood for themselves.”

“Well. One
has to make a living.”

“Indeed.”

Cyrus to
Haley. “Would you like to try it?”

“Is that a
joke?”

“Oh I’m
sorry,” Cyrus said touching her hand. “I forgot you weren’t a vampire.”

“Not yet
anyway,” Avril called.

“There should
be some other type of beverage in the fridge,” Cyrus offered. “Just don’t touch
any of the green bottles.”

“I’ll pass,
thank you.”

“Okay. Go in
then. Make yourself comfortable.”

Haley walked
around the side of the counter. She selected an available armchair in the far
corner of the room.

Cyrus
reentered and topped up the other vampire’s glass. He returned briefly to the
kitchen before pulling up another chair so as to sit near Haley with a glass in
his hand.

“I’m Magnus,”
the vampire called across the room. “What’s your name?”

“This is
Haley,” Cyrus answered for her.

“I like your
look,” Magnus said.

“Thank you,”
Haley replied.

“I think
Edmond’s working on something similar with Melanie.”

Haley leaned
forward. “Melanie’s here then?”

“Yes, your
old friend Melanie,” Cyrus said. “She’ll be pleased to see you I’m sure.”

“Edmond!”
Avril shouted. “Melanie!”

“You don’t
have to bother them,” Magnus said bending towards her.

“But I want
to,” Avril said kicking her feet up at him. “And I always do what I want.”

“To the
dissatisfaction of others,” Cyrus commented.

“Still mad
cause I threw you in the pool, brother?”

“You’ll know
it when I’m mad, sister.”

“Is that when
you go running to Mommy and Daddy?”

“Exactly.”

Cyrus turned
slightly towards Haley. “Just the usual fun and games here.”

“At half
three we take a drive into the city and start stalking people,” Avril
exclaimed.

“We are?”
Magnus mused.

“We’re not
going out tonight,” Cyrus said calmly. “Besides it would be rude of us to
participate in vampire-only activities when in the company of humans.”

“Oh not on my
account,” Haley said sarcastically.

“What’s
that?”

“Please do go
off to the city and start murdering people. Please do.”

“I’m sorry,
Haley,” Avril said from the floor. “I was only joking you know.”

“I have my
doubts about that.”

“So you think
you know us then? You think you know vampires?”

“I know
killers when I see them.”

Cyrus leaned
in towards her. “Take it easy,” he whispered. “We’re all friends here.”

Haley nodded.

She felt his
hands moving in to pry hers apart.

“Look at me,”
he said.

She looked at
him.

“You’re on an
adventure here,” he said. “Try and have some fun.”

Haley tried
to smile. “Depends what kind of fun.”

Cyrus raised
his eyebrows.

Behind him,
just within Haley’s line of sight, the tall figure of Edmond Rance emerged from
down the hall.

“She’s here
then,” he said. “Well done.”

Cyrus turned
and opened his hands, showing he was pleased with himself.

“Where’s Melanie?”
Avril asked.

“She’s
coming,” Edmond said. He peered down the hall behind him. “Hurry up, dear.”

Melanie soon
appeared at Edmond’s side.

Haley
immediately saw Melanie’s flamboyant spirit had been trampled.

Behind the
clothing, and the makeup, and the hair dye.

Behind all
the changes to her appearance to make her look just like Haley.

Melanie was
crying out for help.

CHAPTER
FORTY

Magnus put his hands together in
applause, kicking whatever part of Avril was touching him out of the way and
standing from his chair.

“Go on,”
Edmond said, ushering Melanie into the centre of the room.

As Melanie
staggered forward, her body weak at the knees, Haley stood up to meet her.

“Extraordinary,”
Cyrus remarked. “They could be sisters.”

“Are you
okay?” Haley asked. “Did he hurt you?”

Melanie
wouldn’t look her in the eyes.

Haley could
see her hands were trembling.

“Cyrus,”
Edmond said. “I think we could use some music.”

“What sort of
music?”

“Something …
atmospheric.”

Cyrus moved
round the side of the room towards the stereo system in the right hand corner.

Edmond walked
by Haley and into the kitchen. He shut off the lights in there and then
switched on a series of green light globes mounted into the ground around the
central carpet.

Haley
approached Cyrus who was pushing buttons on the stereo.

“Is
everything alright?” she asked.

“Uh-huh.”

She turned
round again to find Melanie on her knees. Both Magnus and Avril were standing
over her.

Edmond had
left the room.

Cyrus found
something with a light techno beat and adjusted the sound to minimal level. He
turned around to stand with Haley.

“Where’s
Edmond?” Cyrus asked.

“I think he
went to fetch something,” Magnus replied.

“I don’t
think Melanie’s well,” Haley said. “Maybe she should lie down somewhere.”

“I don’t want
to lie down,” Melanie said. “I want to go home.”

Edmond
stepped back through the archway. He placed a tripod he was carrying at the
edge of the carpet and mounted a camera to it.

“Whoa, whoa,”
Haley murmured. “What’s that for?”

“Yeah, what’s
it for?” Avril asked cheekily.

“I’m so glad
you asked,” Edmond said standing up from the camera. “You know despite the room
being full of them here, vampires really are quite a rare beast. If one does
not wish to automatically dispose of such folk, they usually expect to be
entertained by them. Blockbuster movies, bestselling novels, hit TV shows –
everyone wants to get in on the action.”

“And what
sort of entertainment for this evening do you have?” Cyrus asked.

“Well, I’ve
been thinking there’s an untapped market for Vampire pornography.”

“Pornography?”
Avril laughed. “You want to make porn?”

“I don’t see
why not. I mean even if doesn’t make any money, we’ll still have fun making
it.”

“Fuck the
porn,” Magnus said. “Let’s just kill her.”

“Kill who?”
Melanie asked.

“Yeah – kill
who?” Haley demanded.

“No one’s
killing anyone,” Edmond said. “Really that’s a rather vulgar thought to be
having, Magnus on such a dignified occasion.”

“Dignified?”
Cyrus remarked.

“We could be
making history here.”

“I hate to
burst your bubble, but I’m sure there’s already some sites out there doing
this.”

“There isn’t.
I checked.”

“Well, check
again.”

Edmond
sighed. “Let’s not all think about this. I’ll just turn this on… And then
whatever happens in front of it, happens.”

Edmond got on
the carpet next to Melanie and began fondling her up.

“Stop it,”
Melanie cried, writhing in his grasp. “No!”

“I don’t know
how much fun you’re going to have if she’s unwilling,” Cyrus said.

Haley rushed
over and grabbed hold of Melanie’s arms. She tried to force her up off the
ground whilst Edmond held her in place.

“You can’t do
this!” Haley shouted. “I won’t let you!”

Avril and
Magnus latched onto Haley and pulled her away.

Edmond began
undressing Melanie whilst continuing to fondle her.

“NOOO!” Haley
shouted trying to break free of them. “LEAVE HER ALONE!”

Cyrus walked
over to where Edmond was. “Cut it out.”

Edmond’s
hands moved up to Melanie’s breasts. “You should join in.”

Something
long and metallic appeared in Cyrus’s hands. He swung the rod into Edmond’s
face, striking him with a bloody spray.

He then
stepped back while Edmond released Melanie who crawled across the ground in
terror.

Edmond looked
down at the blood spewing from his nose.

“Seriously,
Cyrus,” Avril said dropping her hold of Haley. “Was that necessary?”

“I’ll fetch
you a bandage,” Magnus said hurrying off into the kitchen.

“I’m sorry I
had to hit you,” Cyrus said. “But there’s a degree of behavior I won’t
tolerate.”

Edmond
chuckled to himself. He got to his feet. “I so hate it when people come between
me and my friends.”

“Cyrus you’re
trying way too hard to impress her,” Avril said.

“No, I’m
not,” Cyrus said. He pointed the rod at Haley. “You think I care about her?”

Edmond took a
step forward. “Don’t you?”

Cyrus
grinned. “Meet me outside in five minutes.”

“What?”

Cyrus walked
past him.

Avril tried
to grab his arm but he shrugged her off.

Magnus waited
for Cyrus to pass out the backdoor then walked over to give Edmond the bandage.
Edmond held it against his nose.

“I don’t
understand why you wanted to hurt Melanie,” Haley said.

The three of
them turned towards her.

“If you want
to fuck someone and make a sex-tape, it shouldn’t really be that hard to find
someone who’s in to that shit. Taking advantage of someone who isn’t is just
wrong. It’s abhorrent. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves.”

Haley forced
her way past them and walked a few paces down the hallway to where Melanie was
sitting.

“I’m sorry,”
Melanie whispered.

“What?” Haley
said crouching down.

“I should
have just gone through with it.”

“Don’t say
that. You have a right to decide.”

“I know.”
Melanie pressed her head against the wall. “He did things to me. Things I
wanted … but then didn’t want. I think … I …”

“Look,” Haley
said. “I’m going to get us out of here. Cyrus is on our side. Or at least … he
seems to be.”

“I’m such an
idiot. Why have I done this? Why, Haley? Why couldn’t I just –”

She closed
her eyes.

Drifting from
consciousness.

Haley saw
there were bite marks on Melanie’s neck. But there was no blood.