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HAYLEY
Final Act
ALEXANDER STARES at me with his fake, show-worthy smile as I hang above him on my hoop. The crowd cheers from below, licking the blood-rain from their lips like they truly think it has spilled from me. At least this time, I was prepared. Opal showed me how to properly cut myself without damaging one of my arteries to have a repeat of me nearly passing out from blood loss.
She also rigged my ring to send blood squirting from it to trick the audience. I’m not even sure Alexander knows. If he did, he’d probably insist on things being authentic despite what it does to my physical state since his blood heals me in seconds.
“All right, you fuckers! Who wants to help my baby doll Ruby with her final act? I’ll need one hungry mother-fucker to lick her clean.” Alexander winks at me, his wicked smile displaying his sharp fangs. “You can even steal a bite. You’ll be her first.”
What? I freeze, my body stiffening. This wasn’t part of the rehearsal, and he’s once again throwing me off. After finding out what happened at The Pala, Opal told me she would make sure no one gets within reach of me. I haven’t talked to Alexander yet like he purposely keeps avoiding me as a way to fuck with my mind.
“I hear she’d like to be bitten on her fucking incredible tits, that naughty ass, or her supple, smooth thighs,” he adds, pretending to bounce my boobs in his hands from his spot below.
My nerves bunch in my stomach, and I tighten my grip on the hoop. This fucker. He’s humiliating me and putting it into the audience’s heads that they have the right to fuck with me later. If they think I like it, they’ll push me and hassle me if they see me on the floor. That’s one of the perks of Vampire Nights. We’re not hidden and untouchable. He will put me on display in the damn birdcage again. I know it.
Dramatically searching the crowd, Alexander waves his finger over the front row tables of cheering and hollering men. The spotlight roves over them, and the sticky gen. pop. blood glistens under its glow. My jaw hurts from clenching my teeth, my smile never waning as Alexander hops from the stage and shakes his hips while waving his hands, pretending to struggle picking an eager guest.
He stops and taps his index finger to his chin. “Baby doll, I’m not sure anyone wants to help clean you up tonight.”
A man climbs onto the table in the second row. “I’ll fucking give you a damn blow job for a taste of her!”
Alexander’s eyebrows peak on his forehead, and he rests his hand to his chest. “My, oh, my. Doesn’t that sound...unappealing. Whoever gets that fucker out of my sight can lick this beautiful bombshell’s toes.”
Growls and snarls rip through the air as a dozen vampires lunge at the guy. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying my best not to react to the fight. The douche vampire must’ve expected something to come from his attempt to bribe Alexander, because he manages to dodge out of the way and stab another guy trying to rip his jacket off. The second the douche escapes through the exit, the vampires don’t bother chasing him. If they leave, security will not allow them back in.
Alexander shakes his head with a growl. “Despicable. Don’t you fuckers know my baby doll is worth far more than a subpar blowie? At least bend over and spread your fucking cheeks wide open for me.”
God, please. Don’t let anyone think he’s being serious. Alexander doesn’t need to be bribed with sexual acts. He has his collection of men and women, vampires and donors that he enjoys without strings or stipulations. Opal even fucks him, which is why the performers are off-limits. That’s one line she won’t let him cross.
Tipping his head back, Alexander laughs. “See, I knew you all were smarter than that.” Strutting along the edge of the stage, he finally stops in front of a man, sitting in his seat and leaning his elbow on the table. “I mean, look at this fucker. He’s not falling over himself for the chance. I like that. High standards. Power. He doesn’t rush to beg because he doesn’t give a flying fuck, which means my baby doll needs to change his mind.”
The vampire lifts his gaze to mine, his eyes lighting silver with his scrutiny.
“What do you say, Mr. Baker? Would you like to help Ruby clean off?” Alexander asks, rubbing his hands together. “Just look at her. She’s dying to get that blood off. To feel your mouth.”
Mr. Baker extends his fangs, finally reacting, and he stands from his seat. Howling in fake excitement, Alexander pats the guy on the back and shoves him toward the stage. The two of them climb up together, and I force myself to wave and blow Mr. Baker a kiss.
Jasper and Pearl roll out the plush, satin-covered bed, causing the crowd to go even wilder. Mr. Baker bites his lip, looking from the bed to me, and he adjusts his cock in his pants, clearly getting a boner just thinking about putting on a twisted show for the live audience.
My hoop hums, the tether unreeling to send me lower toward the stage. Heaving a few breaths, I try to get my pounding heart in control. I feel sick the closer and closer I get to Mr. Baker below me. His gaze devours me, and Alexander chuckles and bumps him with his shoulder, getting him to act like he’s squeezing my boobs and pretending to lick the blood coating my skin.
My mind whirls. I don’t want to do this. I can’t pretend that I enjoy this kind of bullshit any longer. It was one thing to suck it up to protect myself from Alexander’s twisted punishment, but now? The toughest of the Bella Crew promised to protect me. They promised that they would be here. But where are they? Would they risk intervening this time in front of everyone?
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
“Brace yourself, little bird. You’re going to have to choose to fall instead of fly.” Monroe’s voice hums into my ear from the hidden com device attached to my headpiece. Only Opal has ever used it, but it’s rare. Monroe must have hacked into it or something.
And brace myself to fall?
I don’t get even a second more to think about it before the wire tethering my hoop snaps, and I scream, freefalling the thirty feet to the stage. I can’t do anything as I land on top of Mr. Baker, his surprise stopping him from catching me. A shock of electricity pops overhead next, and the huge spotlight crashes to the stage next to Alexander, sending smoke billowing through the air.
The sparks set the satin on the bed aflame, and the crowd hums in commotion as the audience gets to their feet and heads in the direction of the doors. Vampires might be tough, but they’re not stupid, and no one wants to spend hours healing from getting burned alive.
“Shit, Ruby,” Opal says, materializing beside me. “Are you hurt?”
Before Mr. Baker has a chance to even try to bite me, Opal yanks me off him and hugs me to her. The world blurs as she relocates me out of harm’s way as the stage crew puts out the flames and ensures the audience gets out safely. I’m so in shock that it takes Opal setting me on my feet to realize that my ankle hurts like a bitch. I intake a sharp breath and shift my weight to my other foot.
“Fuck, Hayley! Are you okay?” Mya runs from the dressing room and throws her arms around me. “That looked scary as shit! You were so lucky you landed on that asshole.”
