Lydia.
The club was packed today. There were people everywhere. I didn't bother mixing at all because I needed to focus on crowd control. I had to make sure that everything was running smoothly. With a crowd this size it only takes one fight to cause chaos.
Sam and Kelly were at the bar helping out the bartenders. I'm going to have to hire a few more. The crowds are too much for them and our stock has been running short.
Even though people had to wait longer for their drinks they remained calm. Usually after waiting too long they ended up acting out and I had to have one of my guys throw them out. There was something different about tonight. The overall atmosphere seems calmer than normal. Maybe it was just the music?
Throughout the night I kept smelling a faint perfume. It was sweet and light and I found it to be extremely appealing. If I knew the name of it I would buy it in bulk.
I listened to the music a bit while I helped out at the bar with Sam and Kelly. The DJ was missing some cues to mix in different songs so I walked up behind him and pointed out how I wanted it done. I also reminded him who wrote out his checks just to show him I was in fact his boss. I'm going to watch him for some time and make sure it's done correctly.
There's the perfume again. It's stronger now; almost like it's getting closer to me.
God it smells so good.
I heard a small voice behind me.
"Lydia, we have reached capacity. We can't let anyone else in." The hostess informed me as I watched the DJ.
"Let anyone that leaves know that they will have to wait on line and pay again to get back in this we can keep bringing people in."
The hostess nodded and left.
I felt my phone vibrating. Kelly sent me a text asking me to meet her in the office so we could discuss the club's liquor shortage. As I walked to my office, my mind ran through every possibility of how I could not have ordered enough alcohol. It could not have just disappeared.
When I opened the door she wasn't there so I sent her a text back. I waited for ten minutes before saying 'fuck it', let me handle this myself. I opened the door only to be met with Kelly. Kelly's eyes were narrow, her motions were rapid and I could sense that she was worried. She basically threw me back into the office and closed the door behind us.
"What the fuck Kelly?" She looked panicked, her eyes traced the room searching for something unknown to me.
"We can't talk here it isn't safe. We have to leave. Now." Kelly spoke franticly.
"Leave, why what's going on?" Before she could answer me Sam burst through the office door.
"Lydia, we can explain everything, just not here. Is your car in the back?" I stood up grabbed my phone from the desk and lead them out the back exit of the club to my suv. All while trying to comprehend what Sam had just said.
My wheels squealed as pulled away from the club and on to the street.
"Start talking, now." I was trying to remain calm enough to focus on the road but the vampire in me was screaming. I felt my eyes starting to burn and I blinked numerous times to restore their normal color. When I got like this everything slowed down. I could see everything, my senses heightened but my anger was uncontrollable.
"You don't have to hide it. Not around us." Sam spoke bluntly. "We know what you are Lydia. We know who you are. Our fathers were friends. They left us instructions to look after you."
Then Kelly chimed in.
"You have to understand, we didn't know if you knew what you were. We had to just observe unless you needed us."
"I've always known. Is that why you're my friends because I don't need your pity." I know my words were cold. It killed me to even say them out loud but I had to protect myself. I didn't need anyone around who did want to be.
"Bitch, you couldn't get rid of us if you wanted to." Sam was laughing. Kelly started chuckling and finally I joined in.
They had been there for years. I didn't want them to go. I didn't want to be alone but I always had my guard up. It bothered me that I had never known they were vampires. The signs were there at times but they drank and seemed to get drunk. I never saw their eyes change.
"How did you hide it so well?" The thought of me being able to do the same gave me some relief.
"Years of practice, we were trained to do so. Don't beat yourself up you're not exactly in control of your vampire side." Kelly explained. She wasn't wrong. I knew I could be inhumanly strong at times but mostly when I was angry.
"Why did we run?" My curiosity was driving me insane. It wouldn't have been the first time some vampire tried to enslave me. It usually ended with me ripping their heads off. It was only twice and they were random rogues. I blacked out both times and when I came to, their heads were no longer attached to their bodies.
"We had a visit from royalty." Kelly shook her head as she spoke.
"Who?" I needed to know.
"The Queen. It's unclear why she showed up. New York hasn't had problems for years." Sam added. "She caught your scent quickly."
His words made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
"Does she know what I am? Did she see me?" There was slight panic in my voice and Sam caught on quickly.
"I don't believe she knew you or what you are but she was definitely interested in getting closer. She was watching you."
I gripped the steering wheel tightly. I have the money saved to run. All I needed to do was take it. Sam's voice interrupted my thought as he continued talking.
"She didn't seem aggressive. It was more like she was intrigued."
"She wasn't there to seek you out Lydia." Kelly added. "She was surprised by your scent."
"Maybe I should speak to her." I interjected.
"No. Remember she's was the ruler the executed your father Lydia." Kelly countered.
My knuckles were white from the death grip on my steering wheel. It took me some time to calm down enough to speak.
"Tomorrow. If she's there again. I will isolate her and I will speak to her. She killed my father. Sent my mother into hiding and kept me from a normal fucking life."
The tension in the car was high. They knew better to interject at the moment. My eyes were red. My anger was boiling over and I was still speeding towards my apartment.
When we arrived I showed them where they could stay. My place wasn't huge, New York City rent is ridiculous and I was saving every penny in case I had to bail.
"There's two guest rooms. The bathrooms there." I pointed down the hall.
I walked directly to my room closing the door behind me.
After undressing I collapsed onto my bed knowing I wasn't going to be doing much sleeping tonight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning I could hear voices in my living room so I got ready and headed out to speak to them. We needed a plan and we were running out of time.
The truth is I'm tired of running. My mother kept me isolated for most of my life. Home schooled, private college, I liked where I am. It's not much but at least I have friends and a home where I can be myself.
"We were thinking," Sam spoke first. "Maybe it isn't the best idea for you to get close enough to speak to her."
"She may want you as hers Lydia". Kelly added.
I pondered the thought briefly. The note that my mother gave me was always on my mind. I can't help but wonder who wrote it.
"She can't. Not without my consent. And if she attempts to we can run. I need to know why she killed him. I want her to know that I know. I want her to know that I am not a possession. I will kill her and anyone else who tries to take me."
"It's not that easy. She's strong Lydia. And even if we succeed it would be treason. We would never be able to stop running." Sam voice seemed to crack a little.
This wasn't there problem. I know they want to help me but maybe I should do this alone. I looked at them. They are my only and best friends.
"If things go wrong, I will take the fall. Not the two of you. You've already done more than I could ever ask."
"No. We're family now Lydia." Kelly stated and Sam nodded in agreement.
After some discussion, we decided we knew it wouldn't take much to isolate her on the dance floor if she's as drawn to my scent at they say she was. Sam and Kelly would make sure that none of her guards interrupted my conversation with the Queen. I would stay hidden as long as possible. The plan was to wait in my office where my scent would be masked as long as possible. I would wear contacts to hide my eyes in front of the crowd just in case I couldn't control the color change.
Tonight I get my answers. Tonight I come face to face with the person who killed my father and made it impossible for me to live a normal life.
The Queen.