Chapter 12

I don’t know what the crowd at the club thought as I led four scantily clad young girls through the mobs of people towards the door, but I didn’t much care. We made it out into the cold night air and I felt a wave of relief wash over me.

My car wasn’t big, but the girls weren’t huge, so we packed in. As I opened the driver’s side door, I saw Aaron walking towards me with a keg over each shoulder.

“Pop the trunk.” He yelled.

I opened the trunk and he tossed both kegs into it.

“What’s that?” I asked as Aaron dropped a tap in as well.

“Type O. The girls are probably hungry and will need it to heal.” Aaron said.

“Makes sense. Meet you at Steve’s?” I asked.

Aaron nodded.

I drove home as quickly as I dared. Now was not the time to get pulled over by a cop, human or vampire. We pulled into my driveway and the girls piled out. I opened the trunk and grabbed one of the kegs and carried it up the steps as the girls entered the house.

“You guys are safe here. You gonna be OK? Kayla knows her way around here. I’ve got to go get the others.” I said.

Four heads nodded silently at me.

I dropped the keg in the middle of my living room and then returned to the car for the second. I placed it in the living room next to the first. The girls were all huddled up on the couch together.

“I’m gonna go. I’ll be back soon, I promise.” I said, turning towards the door.

“Wait!” Came Kayla’s voice.

“You OK?” I asked, turning around just as Kayla tackled me.

“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for coming for us. For me.” Kayla sobbed as she wrapped her arms around me.

I put my arms around her and held her for a moment as she buried her head into my chest.

I’d never really had a girlfriend, so I really didn’t know what to do. I just held her until her breathing became more normal.

“Try not to drink all the blood while I’m gone.” I said for lack of anything smarter.

Kayla leaned her head back and then slapped my chest.

“Jerk!” She laughed through her tears.

“Yeah well. Sorry.” I grinned as I released her.

“You’re coming back, right?” Kayla asked, looking up at me.

“I am. I got to get the others.”

“Promise me you’re coming back?” Kayla asked me, her chin quivering.

“I promise. If not, I’m logged into my Amazon account. Try not to go too crazy.” I grinned as I pulled away from her.

“You’re such a jerk!” Kayla laughed.

“Get some rest. Get something to eat. All of you!” I called out as I started to walk toward my car.

“Yes DAD!” Kayla’s laughing grew louder.

I drove towards Steve’s house, unsure of what I was going to find. The underground holding area where I’d been introduced to Rose didn’t seem to be guarded, but there was no telling what sort of things might be there, but hidden.

When I pulled into Steve’s driveway, Aaron was waiting for me.

“Everything OK?” He asked as I walked towards him.

“Yeah, the girls are at my place. No one has been there. They should be fine.” I said.

“Good. Let’s go.” Aaron replied.

I watched as he reached into the open window of the back seat of his car.

He withdrew a literal mace. It was all metal, about 3 feet long with a spike covered ball at the end.

I really didn’t want to be on the receiving end of that thing and I almost felt bad for anyone who was.

I followed behind Aaron’s huge stride as we walked into the house. By now it was the wee hours of the morning, but there were still people milling about in various stages of undress. Several people gave us strange glances as we walked in, most of them eyeing Aaron’s mace nervously.

“Where too?” He asked, turning towards me.

“That way.” I said, pointing.

We made it down the hallway, but this time there was a door at the end that was shut.

“Locked.” I said, pulling on the handle.

“Move.” Aaron said, lifting the mace off his shoulder.

I quickly moved out of the way and Aaron swung the mace at the door knob.

Incredibly, the handle flew off the door.

He took a step to the side and swung the mace where the hole of the door handle had been.