Initiation Read online

  Addison gave him a dirty look when he shoved himself in between them. He tried to put his arm around Addison’s waist, but she pulled away and wouldn’t allow him to touch her. They walked through the thick crowd gathered on the staircase that had been rejected by security. The bouncers at the top let them through after seeing their drink tickets.

  It was less crowded upstairs. The people standing around were dressed in designer clothing, something they were not. Addison recognized many of their famous faces, most of them actors or children from the wealthiest families in the area. She wasn’t like them, and her fear of being inferior made her very uncomfortable.

  Kelly smiled as she placed a calm hand on Addison’s shoulder, "I’ll be right back, Addy. I’ll meet you back here when I get the drinks." Her face reflected her excitement. Her eyebrows rose, wrinkling her forehead and widening her eyes, their color identical to her sister's. She shook Addison playfully and tried to get her to smile. "Oh my God, this is so awesome!" She left Addison with Carl and walked over to the bar, disappearing into the dense crowd around it.

  "Let’s do some sight-seeing." Carl smiled, wrapping his arm around Addison and leading them toward a closed off section.

  "Watch your hands, Carl." She pushed him off her, but he kept returning. "Stop it." She was going to walk away from him, but Carl grabbed a hold of her shoulders and pushed her unwilling body through the door that the bouncer had opened for a large crowd going in ahead of them.

  "It’s not funny." Addison tried to wiggle out of his arms, Carl rubbing his scratchy beard up against her cheek teasingly as he held her hostage in his arms. "We’re going to get in trouble."

  "Ooo…temperamental." Carl laughed when she slapped at him, his eyes closing defensively as he tried to hold her arms down so she'd stop hitting him. "I like that."

  "Stop it!" Wrinkling her nose, Addison’s dark butterfly lashes kissed her brow. In a swift upward stroke, she kneed him as hard as she could in the balls, Carl quickly releasing her. She heard him let out a high-pitched yelp, his hands cupping his injured manhood. "Jerk."

  She turned her back to him and observed the activity going on in the rest of the room. She crossed her arms over her chest as she tried to slow her quick, angry breaths. There were a few women stripping on the stage, their movements slower than the beat of the music. Their perfect bodies were illuminated by the lights overhead, the glitter painted on their skin making it sparkle.

  There were no men ogling the women, handing out dollars like at a traditional strip club. No one seemed to notice these girls as most of the people in the VIP room were sitting at tables conversing and drinking.

  Addison rubbed her arm nervously, feeling very out of place in this expensive realm of sin. The music was so loud where she was standing, she didn’t notice the bouncers that came up behind her.

  "You’re not supposed to be in here." One of them grabbed Carl forcefully, pulling him out the door. He tried to protest, but they didn’t listen and drug him out.

  Addison turned around a few seconds later and didn’t see Carl anywhere. Twirling in a complete circle, Addison tried to scan every inch of the room quickly, hoping she could find him. Panic started to set in now that she was alone, her heart beating faster as she licked her lips. She hated being by herself and the thought of being trapped in a room full of dangerous elites terrified her.

  Fidgeting with her hands, she sniffled back the wetness gathering in her nose that threatened to bring tears if she didn't calm herself soon. Her eyes wandered over to the table where the elites sat near the back of the room. She tried to avoid eye contact with them but soon found herself trapped by a pair of curious eyes. Her brow rose when her eyes grew wider, her baby blues reflecting the innocent fear of child as she returned Christian's relentless gaze.

  Although she knew how dangerous this man was, she couldn't break the stare, her dazed expression showing her intense fear of him. She watched him take a slow drink from his glass, a devilish smile gracing his lips as he took in this angel that would soon meet the fate he would create for her.

  He was drinking what appeared to be blood, the rings on his tanned fingers sparkling under the lights. He was surrounded by beautiful women, all of them fighting to sit next to him and get as close as possible. Addison took a few steps backward, the intensity and promise of sin in Christian’s gaze terrifying her. Even though the sight of her pleased him, he didn’t appear to be in a good mood, his mind seeming distracted.

  Swallowing the lump building in her throat, Addison decided she should leave instead of seeing what more could come from this silent staring contest with Christian. She quickly turned around and started toward the large double doors. She wanted to get out of the room as fast as she could, her lower lip quivering as fear overtook her body. Then, someone grabbed her hand, making her turn around and halting her retreat.

  One of the elite vampires, Samson, was holding her fingers, his large fangs kissing his bottom lip as he smiled at her. "Come join us."

  Addison nodded, her fear of him silencing her voice. Samson put a loose arm around her shoulders, leading her over to their table.

  Samson laughed when he felt Addison tremble under his hands. He ignored her uneasiness and maneuvered her through the crowd gathered around the table. She kept her head down as she passed people so she didn’t see Christian motioning to the girls around him to leave.

  Samson placed her next to Christian, and Addison slowly sank down in the chair. She tried not to look over at all the women that were staring at her angrily, but she could still feel their eyes on her.

  Christian sat up a little straighter, pushing a glass of champagne in front of her, "What’s your name?"

  "Addison." She forced a smile, glancing up at him briefly then back down at the drink in front of her.

  Addison knew who Christian was, her nervousness about being around such an important person wearing thick on her gentle features. She had seen him a few times at swanky functions held for museum fundraisers and auctions, but their only interactions had been a small smile or a wave in passing.

  She worked in the preservation department at the Cartwright Museum, one of the largest in the country. As a member of the staff, she was allowed to attend the events, but mostly as another body to fill the room. The museum employees weren’t allowed to converse with the donors, like Christian, unless they had reason or were approached by them.

  He eyed her curiously, licking his lips as he set down his half-empty cup. Addison studied the contents, noticing it wasn’t blood, but some kind of unidentifiable brownish red drink. Her shaky hands picked up the glass in front of her, and she purposefully took a sip, her long fingers wrapping tightly around the stem.

  "Are you enjoying my club?" Like a cat, Christian’s eyes scanned the room quickly, watching a few people that walked by their table.

  Addison’s voice was soft and inaudible over the voices of the crowd around them, "Yes. It’s great."

  "What?" Even though he had heard her, Christian pretended like he hadn’t. "I cannot hear you over the music." He scooted his chair closer to her, his hips banging against hers and making her jump a little. A sly smile appeared on his face as he caught her in his gaze. He knew he was making her nervous.

  Addison laughed, her light blue eyes darting all over Christian’s handsome face, "I said it’s great."

  Christian picked up his drink again and took an unhurried swallow, the shifting of his stare smooth as he once again scanned the crowd in front of them. Christian’s poise was unfailing. He was extremely attractive, his firm build and striking eyes enough to cause Addison’s heart to race and make her slightly dizzy.

  Even though she knew he was a killer, being in his presence was intoxicating. His good looks were a sin against nature, and sitting next to someone so inhumanly flawless carried an indescribable feeling. This was the lure of the devil that made any woman bow to his every whim.

  A beautiful girl with platinum blonde hair and perfect breasts sat do
wn next to Christian, rubbing his shoulder and making him turn to her. However, his attention didn't stay on her and quickly switched back to Addison. He placed his hand on Addison’s knee for a few seconds before letting it slide up her dress. Then, he rubbed her inner thigh, his touch soft and light. Addison jumped at his action, a fearful expression on her face as she choked a little on the champagne she was drinking.

  He looked over at her and chuckled, his devilish eyes settling on hers before he spoke softly into her ear, "Relax sweetheart." He moved her hair behind her shoulder, gazing at her neck for a few seconds. Leaning even closer, Christian continued to brush his fingers up and down the inside of her leg. "I am not going to bite."

  Christian felt her body shake a little at his comment, which ignited a small chuckle from his lips, "Yet." With his free hand he tapped on her knee playfully before pulling away, "You work at the museum correct?"

  "Yeah. I work in the restoration department." Smiling, Addison was relived to talk to him about something she knew well. "We’re currently working on Monta’s Damnation of the Seven Sisters of Eden. It was donated to the museum last year."

  She let out a forced giggle, her nervousness apparent in her voice as she looked at her glass. Having a handsome man like Christian’s full attention on her was exciting, but unbearable for the shy Addison, "It’s a beautiful piece. It’s the first historical piece of art I’ve worked on. It’s very exciting."

  "I remember reading an article about it in the paper." Christian picked up his tumbler and drank from it slowly, his stare going from her to the woman next to him. "Personally, I am not a fan of Monta."

  There was an annoyed expression on Christian’s handsome face, a few pieces of dark black hair falling into his striking eyes. "His art is a little too abstract for my tastes." His cat-like regard bounced around the roomful of people quickly, his brain moving at a speed a million times faster than a human's.

  "I agree. I’m more of a fan of realism." Addison’s face filled with a giant smile, her fear of Christian subsiding a little. Talking about something she enjoyed had broken the ice. Yet, his hand remained under her dress, as Addison tried desperately to ignore the excitement the warmth of his fingers against her skin was producing. "An artist’s ability to capture life in such awesome beauty is amazing. I’m a great fan of Hamstein’s work. I would faint if we ever receive one of his pieces."

  "That’s an interesting choice." Laughing into his glass, Christian’s eyes were focused on one of his elite’s at the table.

  The young-looking vampire had his face buried in a woman’s neck, the bob of his head seeming like he was merely making out with her. In reality, that wasn't what was happening. The woman’s body was shaking, but her hair fell over her face a little and hid the sin.

  Addison looked over at them too, but she didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary and quickly turned her attention to the man who had come around the table and filled her glass of champagne.

  "I own the largest collection of Hamstein paintings in the world." Christian didn’t turn to Addison as he spoke, his hand squeezing her thigh as his eyes focused on someone else.

  "I hear you own twenty of his paintings, including the masterpiece, Sacrifice of Annabelle. I’m so jealous. I’d love to see one of them up close. Seeing a photo in a book isn’t the same." Addison laughed, her attention turning to Christian, though he wasn’t looking at her. "You have very impeccable taste."

  Christian didn’t answer, focusing on a few more of his elites getting a little more intimate with the women at the table, a few of them not being as subtle about it as the one he had seen before.

  Addison jumped back when she heard one of them slam a girl onto the table, viciousness in the once very well-mannered elites' actions. Christian squeezed her leg and turned his head slowly toward her, a small smile on his face. Addison’s fear wore thick on her tender features as she recoiled against the back of the chair, her knees pushing together and smashing Christian’s hand between the warm flesh.

  "You are aware of my lifestyle, correct?" Christian smiled devilishly, an evil grin lighting up his features.

  "Ya-ya-yeah." Nodding her head quickly, Addison’s fearful gaze settled on an elite who was angrily biting at a woman’s neck. "My brother Josh…works at your manor. He’s…umm…in maintenance."

  "Then I trust this will not be an issue." Christian grabbed her chin with his free hand and pushed it toward him, so that she was looking away from the elite.

  "No." Addison's fearful eyes darted across Christian’s stern face. "It’s fine. I just…umm…" Pausing as Christian released her, Addison looked back at the elite again as she clasped her hands tightly together in her lap. "Have never been this close to all this…"

  Addison hesitated, fishing for a non-offensive word to use, "…I mean…ummm…the whole feeding thing before…so I-I apologize if I’m a little jumpy." She looked back at Christian when she felt his hand slip out from under her dress. "My brother’s friend Carl is a feeder or a…a—"

  "Scavenger is a better term." Christian glanced at her briefly then over at the blonde woman who was still eyeing him lovingly. Addison caught a glimpse of a wound on her neck that appeared to be a few days old and slightly scabbed over.

  "I’m sorry for the mistake."

  "It is fine." Christian turned to her again, a calm in his inhuman blue eyes. "The Sacrifice of Annabelle is on display in my home in Castile, so it is impossible to show you that one now, but I have a few Hamstein paintings at the manor. You are more than welcome to come by and see them. I will give you a tour of my collection."

  "Of course. I would love to!" Addison nodded quickly, her voice coming out as sweet as the expression on her face. "Thank you so much, Master Vallore. I finally get to see a real Hamstein! I’m so excited." Giggling, Addison pressed her palms excitedly against her chest as she beamed at Christian. "Hamstein is my absolute favorite artist."

  "You are welcome. I am glad you appreciate them as much as I." Her happiness ignited a calm smile on Christian’s face. He motioned for the waiter carrying a tray of shot glasses. "We have something very important in common—Hamstein is also my favorite."

  The man set four small shot glasses in front of Addison, her eyes opening wider as she looked down at them. She didn’t drink a lot, and the sight of the white liquid scared her a little. Christian chuckled at her hesitation, watching her slowly pick one up and stare at it.

  "Drink it."

  Addison threw back the shot, her hand quickly going over her mouth as her throat burned. She hastily grabbed the only glass near her with liquid in it, which was Christian’s, and took a giant gulp of it. Christian busted out laughing when she choked on it, her face turning beat red as she coughed.

  "Whiskey's…" Christian patted her on the back. "Not a good chaser." Someone near them handed Christian a glass of clear soda, and he held it up to Addison’s lips, making her swallow. "Feel better now, party girl?" Christian was still snickering as he put his arm around her shoulders.

  Addison looked up at him sheepishly. "Yeah." She sipped more of the soda, her head buried in her glass as she spoke.

  "All right." Christian rubbed her back a few more times, leaning close to her face as he whispered to her, "A word of warning, my dear." Sporting a devilish expression on his face, he looked at the still red-faced Addison. His smile was pure evil, but also frighteningly sexy. "Sit still and do not move."

  Christian chuckled as he turned his body away from Addison and focused his attention on the beautiful blonde next to him. He pushed her hair over her shoulder, his fingers lightly touching the woman’s skin and making her swoon. In a quick movement, he buried his face in her neck, a sound of ecstasy escaping her lips.

  The sound quickly caught Addison’s attention, her worried eyes watching Christian closely as she peered at him over her glass. Addison didn’t want to be nosy, but at the same time, she was extremely curious about what he was doing. Soon the woman’s body went limp in his arms, and Christ
ian looked up slowly.

  Christian gave a sinister snicker as he stood up, letting the girl fall out of his arms and slump to the floor. Addison couldn’t tell if she was dead but didn’t see any blood flowing from the wound.

  Suddenly, Christian’s expression turned hard and he yanked another girl near him by the arm. His bite was rough and full of malice as he sank his teeth into her several times. With each scream, he dug his fingers into her flesh deeper.

  Addison set down her glass and shoved her chair back as far as she could, slamming it into the wall. She pulled her arms to her chest as she watched the sight taking place before her in horror.

  There were still girls dancing on stage and other people standing around drinking, all of them delighting in the act. Most of the women were eyeing Christian, giggling and pointing to him as if enjoying his actions as a form of entertainment.

  Christian was having fun, he and his elites now chasing some of the unwilling girls around the room. No longer was this a calm, party atmosphere like it had been, the murderous true nature of the vampires was now showing through.

  Christian slammed a girl into the wall next to Addison, knocking over the chair near her. The woman’s head bounced off the surface and broke a lamp hanging there. The glass shade shattered and sliced open the back of her skull.

  Pausing to send a devilish smile Addison’s way, Christian grabbed the woman by the hair and dragged her away from the wall. He then slammed her forcefully down on a table, smashing some glasses under the weight of her body.

  Addison stared at him as he drank from the woman before nervously glancing at the broken lamp, its sharp edges coated in blood. She wanted to get up and run, but listened to Christian and didn’t move. After a few minutes, he slowly raised his head and looked at her, loosening his grip on the girl and letting her limp body slide off the table and onto the floor.

  He walked over to Addison, grabbing a napkin and wiping his face with it. "Come." He held his hand out to her, motioning for her to take it.

  Addison quickly obeyed. Her fear made him laugh, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they walked out.