Vampire Outlaws, MC
Brooklyn, New York
Caleb
I know following Zane was a bad idea, but I had to know for sure. A taxi rolled up at the appropriate time shortly after Zane had dropped me off at my apartment. I ordered the driver to follow that biker and all I got was a confused look. But he did it anyway. It's amazing what people will do when you a flash a fifty dollar bill in the rearview mirror. I sat back in my seat and watched as the scene outside my window had changed. City streets and alleyways had vanished, turning into a long stretch of nothingness. The road was long with only a few abandoned advertising signs to keep me company.
"You sure you still want me following this guy, kid?" The driver asked.
"Please," I said. "If it's not too far out of your way."
"Alright, I'll keep going—oh, we're here."
Pulling off to the side of the road, I watched from the backseat as Zane cruised through an opening that was protected by an electronic gate. I thanked the driver and tossed the fifty into his lap as I got out of the car and sneaked up against the wall. The ground was flat and rocky with patches of gravel to make my presence known. A silent alarm flashed overhead as the gate started to close and I had to hurry to get inside if I wanted to find out more about this place.
The building was an old warehouse. A structure that at one time could've been a factory of some sort. While a few of the windows were either broken or taped up with old newspaper to allow privacy during the day-to-day operations. I stuck to the outside of the courtyard as best I could, moving swiftly, and as quietly as possible. A door opened up ahead as I dropped to the ground behind a parked van. Two men dressed in jeans, boots, a leather vest and with enough rings to leave bruises were laughing, a beer bottle in hand.
They stood around under a light that hung above the door. I groaned in silence wishing that they would hurry up and move on so I could continue my investigation. When the door opened again, another one of their friends showed up, telling them that it was almost time for the initiation to begin. As the three of them walked away and headed towards the back. That's when I made my move. I went to the door and tested it, finding it to be unlocked as I slipped inside and made my way down a short corridor.
A flight of stairs provided the perfect advantage point and my means for escape in case things went wrong. I climbed higher, listening for any signs of trouble. That is until I noticed a little hole in the wall on my left. I took a peek and was amazed at the sheer size of its layout. My whole apartment could fit in there like three times and still have enough room leftover. Various tables and chairs were sprawled out on one side with a boxing ring in the center. An outdated gym sat on the far end next to a private room with a curtain.
There was also an open bar and a small area where the guys could fix their bikes. You know, if it weren't for the mess lying around, this warehouse would be an ideal man cave. At the top of the landing, another hallway stretched out before me. Doors' leading to different rooms with no clue what was behind them. So I kept going. That is until I heard music coming from outside. It was the Heavy Metal kind, rock music. The kind that made my ears bleed.
I shook my head. Then I was startled by the sound of voices coming up from downstairs. I panicked and threw myself behind a door that was directly behind me. My heart was pounding in my chest, my breathing hitched. Like a statue, I braced myself against the door as the voices got louder and passed me by without a hitch. I swallowed, taking a breath as I took in the room that stands before me. An office with a view of the room below, I took in the couch that sat up against the wall with a couple of file cabinets standing opposite it. An old antique wooden desk stood in the center with an array of guns and knives lying about.
I moved closer. Examining the desk as well as the equipment until I was convinced that I was standing in Zane's office. Footsteps echoed down the hallway once more as I heard the doorknob rattle, and I hid behind the desk with my hand over my mouth. Someone was in here. Shit! What if it was, Zane? I thought. I remained calm. Praying that they wouldn't come way this and spot me like a character in a video game otherwise the words GAME OVER would be flashing in my eyes.
A pair of boots striked across the floor as they got closer, standing in front of the desk. I waited. My body almost trembling out of fear of being caught.
"What the hell are you doing in here, man?" A male voice said near the door. "We're gonna be destroyed if the President catches us in here without his permission."
"Will you keep your voice down? And Zane doesn't scare me."
"Well, he scares me. And I happen to love being a vampire. Can we just go?"
"Yeah. It's not here, anyway."
As the two of them left the room, I felt an urge to sneeze creep up on me. The door closed finally and I had to brace my arm over myself to help mask the noise. When they didn't come back, I breathed a sigh of relief and decided it was time to leave. The coast was clear when I checked down the hallway and quickly made my way downstairs. But the second I stepped outside, a hand clasped over my mouth, preventing me from screaming. A warning growl reverberated against my back as I instantly became still.
"A living breathing, blood bag," said a voice in my ear. "You'll make a fine meal for some of our new members. And if you're really good, you might just make it through the night. Although that's highly unlikely."
Forcing me to move forward, my hostage taker directed me towards the back of the warehouse where a large crowd had gathered. A half dozen barrels with flames burned with such intensity that I could see shadows on the ground. As we made our way through, my life flashed before my eyes. In front of the crowd where four men on their knees staring up at a man standing on top of a small platform. He was an older man with salt and pepper hair, and gray eyes. But still devilishly handsome nonetheless.
When he spoke his voice was deep, husky with an accent that sounded almost European.
"Gentleman, welcome to the night of Initiation. For tonight, we have four new members joining our ranks. They have shown us what it means to be one of us. And it gives me great pleasure to welcome them into our family. So, what say you? Shall we begin, and party until the sun comes up?"
The crowd cheered as I struggled to escape, but the man who was holding me was strong and didn't budge an inch. Then four more men appeared behind those who sat on their knees as all became silent except for the frantic beat of my own heart. A glint of light up ahead caught my eye and that's when I noticed it was a pair of long white fangs. I froze as did the crowd and with a single nod of his head, the four men attacked. The onslaught took only a few minutes when the older gentleman stepped down and made an incision on his left wrist.
Blood flowed freely from the wound, trickling down his arm as he extended out and over the mouths of four naturally dead humans. I struggled some more against my captor. Only this time, I managed to slip free thanks to the sweat on my arm. I launched an elbow to the jaw and took off at a run only to get captured again by the same man.
"You're gonna pay for that!" He growled, his fangs gleaming and aiming for my throat.
I screamed. But it was cut short for somebody had saved me and threw my captor across the yard like a rock skimming across a pond. It was Zane. He turned to face me, his eyes wild and angry. A closer look revealed a smear of blood along his bottom lip. As for the other vampires in the crowd, they started to make their way towards us as Zane shielded me behind his back and reached for the daggers that were attached to his thighs.
"Son," said the older vampire. "You would dare risk your life to save a human blood bag?"
"He is not, just another blood bag," Zane replied. "Caleb is mine."
Author's Note: Woohoo! Chapter Ten is here! I really hope you guys liked this chapter. :) And I will see you all next Wednesday when the newest chapter of The Escape Artist is uploaded for my readers viewing pleasure. Nighty-night.