“Okay, Midnight. Del, Rachel, you get that?”
“Got it boss.”
“Good. First port of call is to get them the hell out before anything happens. Then we can leave without any drama and everyone’s happy. If not, we wait for the attack to start and act before any damage is done.” “Waitin on your word,” said Midnight and the earpiece fell silent. Gabriella put a hand on mine. “Let’s come back to that conversation later.” She stood up and motioned for me to follow. We stood up and made our way over to the bar.
Gabriella ordered another round of drinks. I pretended to take a swig and then settled the bottle on the bar and waited for the new arrivals.
The sound of giggling burst from the doorway and group of four girls stumbled into the bar. They were all dressed up ready for a night out and clearly drunk. “I can’t believe it,” a blonde one said. “They wasn't messing about,” a short one with pink heels answered. “Proper secret this place!” “It’s wicked!” slurred a third with dyed black hair and a lip piercing.
Looking around I could see that every pair of eyes were on the girls. There were murmurs from the occupants of the booths and I saw the ones who couldn’t pass for human shrink quickly from sight and disappear through a door hidden in the shadows at the back. The barwoman’s wings retracted into her back with feathering sound.
The girls staggered over to the bar. One put her hands in the air and shouted ‘WOOOOO’ at the top of her lungs. I could feel the room growing hostile. The Incubus barman slid uneasily over to them. I noticed him glancing over to the same man we were keeping an eye on. When he served them, I noticed that he wasn’t trying his charms, but this didn’t stop the girls from being infatuated.
“Oh my god you’re well fit!” cooed the blonde one.
“Have a drink with us,” said the one with the lip ring.
The barman didn’t answer, just got the drinks they ordered. Around me I could feel the room stir. More Pandemonians started to leave, shaking their heads in disgust. Only a dozen or so remained. Gabriella edged her way over to the girls, armed with a winning smile. “Hi girls”, she beamed. They turned around and frowned as if trying to stare through fog. Then one by one they noticed her. “Wow, you’re so pretty!” said pink heels. “Thanks. Looks like you’re having a good night.” “It’s been quality,” said blondie. “It would be better if hottie over here gave us his number. What do you say babe?” said lip piercing. The barman cringed and glanced over at the Vampire again.
Gabriella carried on speaking, her voice taking on a diplomatic tone. “Listen girls I don’t want to ruin your night, but this bar is actually private. I think it might be better if you enjoyed your night somewhere else.”
The girl’s demeanour changed in a split second. Pink heels folded her arms and rested on her back foot, expression full of attitude. “Well the bouncer let us in so it can’t be that private, actually.” The other girls chimed in with ‘yeah.’
“And who do you think you are, comin over here and tellin us to leave?” piped up lip ring. “Why don’t you leave?”
Gabriella raised her hands in an appeasing way. “Girls I’m not trying to start an argument. I just think you should go and have fun somewhere else.” “Not a chance bitch,” said blondie. I saw Gabriella stiffen. “I see what it is,” slurred lip piercing. “You want to have all the guys in here to yourself!” Pink heels leaned over. “And what are you wearin? Mate, the Matrix isn’t real yeah?”
The girls all burst into a savage laughter. I felt a sudden temptation to march Gabriella out of the bar and leave the vile girls to their fate. But as grudging as I felt, I knew they had to be protected.
The atmosphere in the bar was now as oppressive as the weather had been outside. I could hear the patrons starting to grumble. A Bloodseeker crushed a glass in his hand.
Gabriella reached backwards for my hand. I knew what she was going to do. I closed mine around hers.
“ Listen to me now,” she said, her voice raising and taking on a sharp tone. “I want you to turn around — ”
“Stop the music!” shouted the Vampire in the suit. The bartenders looked warily over at him and then one passed through a door. The music cut off. He unwound himself from the seat and poured his drink onto the fire, causing the flames to flare angrily.
I unbuttoned my coat and held it closed with one hand. Gabriella moved out of the Vampire’s way. He stared at the girls one by one.
“Who are you?” the lip piercing girl asked, making a sucking sound with her teeth.
“Who am I?” he growled, curling his fists into balls. “I’m Malachi, the god damn owner of this bar. Who the hell are you?’ He emphasised each word of the last part, pointing a finger at each girl in turn. They shuddered.
“I think that maybe we should go,” said pink heels to her friends.
“Now that’s the best idea you’ve had all night,” he said, his voice taking on a calm, acidic tone. “Unfortunately it’s no longer that simple. You came into my bar through a fatal error by my doorman.” He cast a menacing look at the man with the Mohawk who shifted uncomfortably. “You inappropriately propositioned my bar staff. Your very presence forced my…shyer customers away and your unsightly behaviour offended others into leaving. And worst of all, you had the bare faced cheek to insult another to her face!” He gestured towards Gabriella.
Well that backfired.
“You are so disgustingly human,” he added with a hiss.
“So human?” said lip piercing, her voice growing smaller. “W-what do you mean?”
The Vampire didn’t answer. Instead he took a step closer. The girls moved towards the door, but after a glance from his boss, the bouncer blocked it with his large frame.
“I’ll have to move locations. But it will be worth it to rid the world of three vermin.”
The girls screamed and scrambled for the exit. They clawed at the doorman, trying to escape. He didn’t even flinch at their efforts.
“Let them go,” warned Gabriella.
Malachi turned around and stared at her. “Who do you think you are, talking down to me in my own bar?” His eyebrows swooped down over his eyes and he leaned forward, his nose turned up like he had smelled something sour. “What…are you anyway?”
Oh crap.
He was distracted by one of the girls letting out a hysterical scream. He gave a predatory smile and turned to face the bar. “Bloodseekers and Bloodlings listen up. You’ve got some drinks coming your way. On the house!”
Some of the Vampires cheered and rose to their feet.
Gabriella squeezed her bracelet. “Now!”
Everything happened at once. Malachi charged for the blonde girl just as we all cast off our jackets. I went to draw the Crimson Twins, hesitated and then opted for the gun instead. Gabriella ran for the owner and pulled him away — the points of his teeth millimetres from the girl’s throat. She dragged him back by his neck and threw him over the bar. The bartender had to dive out of the way as Malachi came flying past. He collided with the spirits shelf, smashing bottles and sending glass tinkling to the floor. The barman’s eyes went wide.
“Guardians!” he yelled, pointing at me. There were roars of indignation as the effect of the belts became redundant. A few more patrons scrambled through the back door. Others stood up to join the fight. A gaunt looking Bloodling charged for me. I aimed the gun and squeezed the trigger. The bullet hit him in the chest, lifting him right off his feet and sending him careering through a set of chairs. He made a groaning sound and then passed out.
I watched as Gabriella pulled away two of the girls behind her. She tried to help the remaining pierced lip girl, but the bouncer sent her spiralling to the floor with a backhand swat. He grabbed the screaming girl’s hair and wrenched her head back. His fangs slid down.
There was no time to do anything.
Without warning, all of the oxygen drained from the room. My lungs felt constricted, like an elastic band had been wrapped around them. I literally couldn’t catch my breath. Around me, those who needed air were gasping.
