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HAYLEY
The Strip
I’M GOING TO DIE.
I can feel it in my body and soul. My mind races as my stomach flips, threatening to make me sick. No one tries to stop whoever relocates me. If they notice, they don’t care. They’re letting this asshole get away with me.
“If you try to fight or scream, Ms. Aris, I was instructed to gag and restrain you for transportation.” The strange voice instills dread in my core. “Please know that I don’t want to hurt you.”
I heave a few breaths, my silent sobs racking through me. Who instructed him? What’s going on?
And then the strangest thing happens. The air turns from warm to cold and then the man sets me onto some sort of leather bench. Voices and loud music echo around me for a second, and then something booms, cutting off the noise. Maybe a door shutting? It sounds different.
Someone sits beside me, touching their knees to my leg. The vampire yanks my hair as he pulls off the cloth bag, finally letting me see what the fuck is going on. I tense at the tinted windows around me. We’re in a limo. A fucking limo. I’ve only seen these vehicles from high above in my tower.
I gasp and cling onto the seat, looking for anything to grab ahold of. The driver, hidden behind a painted partition stomps the throttle, sending the limo barreling forward down the busy street of the strip. There are very few other cars on the road, because not many vampires own them and it’s illegal for a donor to drive. I tense as the driver doesn’t even swerve as the Strip dwellers scramble to get off the street and out of the way.
“Ms. Aris, I apologize for frightening you, but it was imperative to remove you from the hotel without notice. Mr. Aris noted that there would be problems otherwise due to some interest you’ve gained recently.” The man shifts beside me, his movements stealing my attention from the outside world.
It’s hard for my mind to grasp what’s going on.
“Mr. Aris would’ve brought you himself, but to ensure the safety of The Pala’s staff, he advised this was better. Mr. Pala agreed. It’s not often that performers are given this kind of opportunity, and you will do your master proud, bringing in extra stipends and blood through the new alliance between him and Pala.” The vampire offers me a smile, keeping his fangs in check. He adjusts his navy tie and loosens it around his collar.
I just gawk at him, trying to process his words. A new opportunity and alliance? More stipends and blood? What the hell is going on? No one told me anything, and I wonder if Opal knew of this plan. She would have surely put a stop to whatever the fuck this is.
“I don’t understand. Have I been sold?” I try not to react, keeping my gaze on my glittery nail polish. “How far is The Pala? I’ve never heard of it.”
The vampire chuckles. “Sold? No. You are quite the commodity. Consider yourself to have been...rented. You will be traveling to The Pala for twenty-four hours once a week. Mr. Pala will be pleased to bring in more guests with you.”
I release a breath. I thought Alexander sold me and didn’t give me the chance to say goodbye to anyone. I wouldn’t put it past him. He’s been pissed at me lately. Now that I know I’m not, I relax a bit in my seat. The Strip looks even more incredible from the ground, the lights of so many different hotels dazzling me. I don’t even notice most of the Strip dwellers because we move too fast. Mya is going to freak when she finds out that I got to leave.
The limo comes to a stop at a magnificent entrance to a hotel as pristine as the Aris Hotel, and a donor man in a black uniform opens the limo door. His eyes dart to me and then to the ground, his surprise prevalent in his expression. I doubt he expected to open the door to find a female in a tight glittery costume.
The vampire growls and snaps at the startled donor, and he rushes away and vanishes through a door off to the side of the building. Composing himself, the vampire offers me a smile and steps out first, extending his hand to me to help me.
Dozens of loitering vampires stare in my direction—most of them dirty and unkempt, clearly Strip dwellers who survive on credit and violence to get by. I drop my gaze to the ground, my fear over the sudden attention stabbing right into me. I’m usually fine under hundreds of vampires’ scrutiny, but out here somewhere unfamiliar? No fucking way. I really wish I hadn’t been taken in this damn tiny costume. It could’ve been worse though. Mya could’ve given me a G-string and mesh topped outfit.
“You are safe, Ms. Aris. The guests are only excited to see you.” The vampire strides forward, tugging me along.
Another donor in the same uniform as the guy that ran away opens the door to the hotel. He greets the vampire with a smile, but keeps his gaze on the floor. “Welcome back, Mr. Perry. I hope you’ve had a lovely night on the town.”
Perry grins and pats the donor on the shoulder. “You bet. I got to escort this magnificent woman here on Mr. Pala’s behalf.”
I force myself to smile, trying not to look around too much. Voices murmur in the grand space, more sleek and luxurious with a water display and an open lobby with a view of several floors. I don’t know what the rules are here or what is expected from me. Every vampire that controls a hotel has their own laws.
“Lovely,” the donor responds. “Do have a good day.”
Perry nods again and guides me along and past the huge monument of the word ‘love.’ It was obviously from the back-world and unchanged like the rest of the lobby. We enter a red-carpeted casino, humming with catchy slot-machine tunes and glittering with flashing lights. Music pulsates through the air, and I recognize one of the songs. I can’t stop myself from swaying along to the beat. It keeps my mind off of all of the hotel guests acting as if they’ve never laid their eyes on a woman before. I’m sure there are some around here. Every hotel has their own donor population, and a hotel would fail without them. With women, new donors can and will be born. I hate to think about it, but that’s one of the few things that keeps donor women alive. Vampires are protective of those who can help expand their blood source population.
“There are just a few rules for you around here, Ruby,” Perry says, swinging my hand to get my attention. “Do not interact with any guest who doesn’t carry a platinum card. They are our best and most well-respected guests. They need to feel their importance.”
I nod my head. That’s not so different than one of Alexander’s rules.
“You must also do as you’re told. The only thing off-limits is sexual acts, so if a guest tries to initiate it, you will hit this button on your com device.” Perry shows me a diamond bracelet with a deep ruby inlaid in the center. “This will alert your floor staff, so they can intervene to make the proper arrangements. You do not work for free. We understand how charming and attractive many of our guests are, but it is in the contract that any private time must be paid for. Do you understand?”
My body cools at his words. Is he insinuating what I think he is? It sounds like I can be bossed around up until they demand sex, and if they do, they have the option to buy it with me. No fucking way. It’s one thing to feed some of Alexander’s guests and occasionally give a hand job or to suck them off. But sex? No. “That’s not one of my duties at the Aris Hotel. I’m a stage performer. I thought I’d be doing that.”
Perry scrunches his brows and chuckles. “Might I remind you that you’re under Mr. Pala’s control for the next twenty-four hours? You do what we say, and if you disagree, we will make you. This is not open for discussion. Mr. Pala paid an exponential amount to acquire you, and he expects a return on his investment. You will perform, show our guests a good time, and keep your mouth shut.”
