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They were just some of the many bio-mechanical enhancements the brothers had, which were mandatory on the Dark Kindred home world. It gave them a distinct edge in any combat situation.
The human male looked like he might make a move anyway. But just at that moment the line moved and Light found that they were going into the club with the little human female still close between them.
“Three?” the woman at the front booth asked, a bored look on her conventionally attractive face.
“Yes, three.” Light nodded.
“Oh, I can pay for myself!” the little female exclaimed.
Light shook his head.
“Negative—I am your friendboy—remember? Doesn’t that entail paying for your entrance to the venue?”
“That’s boyfriend.” A little smile played around the corners of her lush mouth and for a minute Light saw how utterly lovely she would be when she wasn’t half frightened to death.
For a moment, he found himself almost entranced by her—which was certainly not a sensation he’d gotten from looking at any other female. But then again, he wasn’t used to many emotions yet—though he enjoyed feeling them.
“I’m also a friend who is a male,” Dark growled, looking down at her. “Let us pay for your entrance, little one. We need to get inside before I go back and pound that male who was frightening you.”
Light looked at his twin in concern. They both had the same Twin Kindred and Ash’anti DNA, but the Tolleg surgeon who had concocted their genetic mixture had also included Re’thian Berserker genes in Dark’s mix. It was the reason the two of them were considered an “Imperfect Pair”—at least compared to the regular Twin Kindred who were born in the normal, biological way instead of being grown in Gestation Tanks.
The Berserker DNA made Dark a deadly warrior—he had only to turn down his emotion damper to feel The Fury that burned like a constant flame inside him. The Fury made him the first to charge into a battle and the last one to leave it because once he started killing, he couldn’t stop until all his enemies were dead.
But such an extreme reaction wasn’t warranted here—or anywhere but the battlefield, for that matter. In fact, Yipper—the Tolleg Surgeon who was overseeing their transition to the Mother Ship—had declined to remove Dark’s emotion damper yet.
“We’ll just leave it in for now, yes we will, yes we will,” he had said, nodding his head so that his long, furry ears flopped, when they had their consultation with him. “You can turn it down and see how you do for a while. If all goes well, we can take it out later. Experiencing emotions can be most distressing if you’re not used to it—yes it can, yes it can!”
So Dark still had his emotion damper, though it was turned down at the moment. Light just hoped that it wasn’t turned so low that his twin would be seized by the Fury if the human male got too close.
“Please—I don’t want a fight. I just want him to leave me alone!” the little Elite female pleaded.
“Of course—it’s better to avoid conflict if possible—especially among the humans,” Light said, giving his brother a significant look. They’d had to beg Commander Sylvan for permission to go down to Earth in the first place and even when he granted it, he had specified that they should go someplace calm and relaxing. Like a library or the club they were currently at.
Dark raised one eyebrow sarcastically.
“Don’t worry, brother—I’ll only fuck him up if he gets too close. If he keeps his distance, he’s safe. I’m in control.”
“Good.” Feeling relieved, Light pulled out the Earth money he had procured specifically for this trip. He looked down at the little Elite.
“Friendboy, boyfriend—whatever you call it, it’s my understanding that the male pays for the female in your culture. Was I wrong?” he asked.
“Well…no.” She nibbled her lower lip. “It’s okay then—go ahead and pay. But I can pay you guys back if you want me to—I still have my purse.” She nodded at a tiny bag swinging from her shoulder.
“Fine—we can talk about it—but later,” Light agreed—mostly because he wanted to get the three of them into the club and away from the belligerent human male. Taking Dark down to Earth was a risk and if they caused a scene it would make trouble for the Kindred of the Mother Ship who had kindly allowed them to come live among them.
Also, he wanted to get to know the little female. She was…interesting in a way no other human he had met—male or female—had been so far. He found himself wanting to spend time with her and he thought Dark might feel the same way.
Light paid for their entrance and the three of them walked into the club. It was lit with blue lights and dotted with many small tables around a large open area where couples swayed together. Looking closer, Light saw a small stage at the far end of the club where a group of musicians were producing soft, calming music.
“Oh, this must be a jazz club,” the little Elite said, looking around in surprise. “I didn’t know Tampa had a place like this!”
“We were told it was a good place to observe human culture and that it wasn’t as loud or crowded as many other places open at night,” Light informed her. He had asked around ahead of time, looking for a place where Dark’s Berserker DNA wouldn’t be stirred up by loud noise or conflict.
“It’s certainly nicer than most of the other places in Ybor,” she remarked. Then she cast a glance over her shoulder and her body went stiff again. “Oh, no—he followed us in!”
Light looked as well. Sure enough, the human male had come into the club. He was still staring at the little human female with a clenched jaw and a furrowed brow. It appeared he was determined to get to her for some reason.
On the other side of the little female, Dark began to growl. It was a low, rumbling sound that came from deep in his chest and vibrated his entire large frame. He bared his teeth at the human male and narrowed his eyes, which were beginning to glow with a reddish hue.
