Kill Wilson (Petersburg Vampires) (14 page)

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“Robert, do you think you can look after yourself for a
few days?” Nikka asked.

“No mommy, I need you to wash my clothes, and make sure I
brush my teeth,” he answered sarcastically. “I’ve been on my own for my whole life;
I think a couple of days
is
in the realm of
possibility. Why, what’s up?”

“Amp and I are taking a short trip, get some things cleared
up, and
kinda
unwind.”

Amp was looking back and forth between the two, not
having a clue to what they were talking about. This was the first she had heard
about a trip, although the idea of getting away for a bit sounded very
enticing.

“Where we going?” she asked Nikka, Robert already bored
with the conversation, going back to the baseball game he was watching.

“Pack an overnight bag for two days,” Nikka replied
smiling. “We’re out of here in an hour. I’ll explain on the way.”

An hour later, the two were driving toward Sea-
Tac
airport, their moods giddy with the opportunity to take
a girl’s trip. Being around Robert was fun, and both girls were quite fond of
the soldier, but it was also taxing their patience. Thankfully the man was
disciplined enough that Nikka felt comfortable leaving him alone. It would be a
good test for Robert, and more importantly, fun for the girls.

“You were asking me about New Orleans the other day,”
Nikka began. “It got me thinking that for all these years you’ve been vampire,
you’ve never truly been exposed to the culture.”

“We’re going to New Orleans?” Amp squealed.

“Nope; something better.
We’ll make New Orleans someday soon, but let me try to explain a few things. In
America, the majority of Vampire communities, both large covens and small ones
are located around the major cities. New Orleans has probably the highest population
of vampires. The city is perfect for our
species,
basically because it is full of such odd and diverse cultures that we just naturally
fit in. Like I told you the other day, there’s a real danger element to the
vampire community. New York has a large population, and even up into New
England, mainly because of the weather. There are not many communities in the
Midwest or the Southwest, except around Houston. On the west coast, L.A. has
several covens, and most operate as business corporations, much like Lord Morgan.
Then there’s San Francisco.
It’s
home to many of the
ancients, the vampires who settled in North America centuries before white men
ever set foot on this land. It is in San Francisco, not New Orleans, where the
rules are written…where the few who dictate the behavior of the vampire
population reside…quietly and completely undetectable to the general
population. Visiting the vampire culture of San Francisco is like taking a trip
through history…and that’s exactly what we’re going to do for a few days. I
want to give you a taste of who you are…of what you are. I don’t ever want you
to think you have to be something you’re not. We are vampire, Amp, and there’s
nothing I would rather be. I want you to feel that same satisfaction of being
something special.”

“You know where to go to see all of this?” Amp asked. “I
mean, do you have friends there?”

“I am 523 years old, Amp. I have few friends, but I have connections
everywhere. Wherever we need to go, in any city in the world, doors will open
for us, you can be certain of that. Someday you’ll understand the reasons why.
In the meantime, we will enjoy this trip, and hopefully you will learn something
about yourself.”

The two hour flight was uneventful, and after the girls
were checked into the Fairmont atop Nob Hill, they were ready to explore the
night life of San Francisco.

“Where to first?”
Amp
asked as they walked through the lobby of the luxury hotel.

“All three cable car lines meet in front of the Fairmont,
so pretty much we can go anywhere we want. Let’s ride around a bit, check out
the sights, and then there’s a couple clubs we need to visit.”

A few hours later, Amp felt like she was an expert on
cable cars, and well on her way to claiming San Francisco her favorite city ever.
The two went through Chinatown; past fisherman’s wharf, saw the beautiful homes
on Nob Hill, and eventually mixed with the revelers downtown.

“We have to come back when we have lots of time to
sightsee,” Amp told Nikka, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “This place is
incredible.”

“I know, right,” Nikka answered, pleased. They were
walking hand-in-hand down 3
^rd
street, passing the Museum of Modern
Art. “It’s one of the greatest cities in the world.”

“I’ve never felt this way about a place before,” Amp
said.

“Let’s go through here,” Nikka directed, turning into an
alley, the lighting dim. They continued for another two blocks, Nikka leading
Amp to a doorway with one blue light burning above. Amp was mystified, but
Nikka seemed to know where she was, and what she was doing. She knocked loudly
on the door, waited, and knocked again. Finally, the door opened, a tall,
slender man dressed in a gray suit, a white shirt, and a bright red tie stood
before them.

“May I help you?” he asked, looking down his nose at the
two juvenile females.

Vampire, Amp knew, her senses kicking in.

“I’m a member,” Nikka said. “0823.”

“One moment, please.” The door shut, leaving the girls
standing in the alley.

“What’s going on?” Amp asked.

“This is The Bridge. It’s a private club; they have to be
careful who gets in. Almost all of the vampire community’s social activities
are ultra-private, and they work hard to keep their secrecy intact. Not only do
they want to keep the humans in the dark, but they also don’t want any of the
riff-raff from certain segments of the vampire community hanging around. It’s
worked for centuries, so I’m not about to knock it. This club has been here for
more than 200 years.”

The door reopened, the man staring hard at
Nikka
 
before
formally
bowing to the waist. “Pardon me, Lady Nicola, I should have recognized you.
It’s been far too long since you’ve graced our establishment. Please, let me
find you a table.” Leading the girls, the man entered the club, nodding at the
security man who hovered off to one side. The trio entered the main bar of the
club, and Amp looked around with wide eyes. Not in Kansas anymore, Toto, she thought
to herself.

The club was magnificent, all wood and leather, and
million
dollar
art adorning the walls. Each room they
passed was decorated with crystal chandeliers, several with billiard tables,
slot machines, and one with a baccarat table in use. The girls were
underdressed, which didn’t seem to faze Nikka in the least. Amp thought she
should ask her about the Nicola thing later.
Must be from
another era in her friend’s life.
Whatever it was, the man was certainly
deferring to her.

There were maybe 100 people in the club when they
entered, many turning to watch the girls walk to a table. Amp sensed that the
majority was vampire, but she thought there were several humans mixed in,
probably mates or blood donors.

As they were seated, it seemed to Amp that there were
more stares in their direction, and a noticeable buzz in the air.

“Are they staring because we aren’t wearing evening
clothes?” she asked Nikka.

“Maybe that’s it,” Nikka chuckled. “I think they just
aren’t used to strangers. Relax; I think the bands about to play. I want you to
have a good time tonight. Meet some people, dance and have fun. These are your
people, Amp, enjoy them…experience them. Come on, I’ll dance the first one with
you, then you’re on your own.”

They didn’t make it through the first dance before two
men cut in, each taking one of the girls. It was the first of many dances for
Amp, the girl hardly getting off the dance floor before being asked by somebody
else to dance. She found herself enjoying the night, the mixing with others of
her race a treat. All of the men Amp danced with were gentlemen, and nobody
seemed to mind that she was not dressed in evening wear. She found herself
listening and laughing with her partners, being a vampire among other vampires.

The band finally took a break, and Amp made her way back
to the table, Nikka talking to a young, beautiful man in a black tuxedo.

“Amp, this is Christopher Taylor.
Chris,
my friend Anne Marie.
Chris is an old friend who lives here in the Bay
area.”

“My absolute pleasure, Anne Marie,” the man said, taking
her hand, and bending to kiss it.

Oh my god, Amp almost squealed.

He kissed my hand, like they do in old movies. “Are you enjoying
our city?”

“Your city is magnificent,” Amp answered. “I can’t wait
to come back when we can see everything. It’s the most beautiful place I’ve
ever been to.”

“When you return, please let me
be
your guide. It would be such a pleasure to show you all of San Francisco.”

My heart is fluttering, Amp thought.

“Excuse me, Lady Nicola, but my master requests a few
moments of your time, if that is convenient?
 
Your friend, also.”

Looking up, a wide smile split Nikka’s face. A vampire in
his mid thirties was standing rigidly beside the table. His black hair was
combed straight back from a classic Italian face, his swarthy complexion and
oversized nose giving him a distinguished, if not handsome look. He was not a
big man, about five feet ten, but he carried himself with complete assurance.

 
“Agostino, my old
friend, how have you been?” Rising, she embraced the man.

“Good, good,” he said, returning the embrace, although a
bit uncomfortably.

“How is your master?” Nikka asked. “I was so hoping to
see him this trip, it’s been so long. Too long, I think. I’m so glad he’s in
the club tonight.”

“Actually, and don’t you tell him I told you this,
somebody called him, and told him you had entered. He had me bring him
immediately. He’s waiting upstairs in the red room. I’ll escort you both there,
if that’s acceptable.”

“Of course, Agostino.
Chris, it was good seeing you, next time we’ll get together, I promise.”

The two girls followed Agostino back out of the main
room, finding the stairs, and climbing to the second floor. Several people
nodded at them as they made their way down a long hallway, Agostino stopping at
a door.

“Go right in, Nicola.
He’s waiting for you.”

He was gone, disappearing down the hallway without a
word. Nikka knew Agostino would not be far, had not been away from his master’s
side for centuries.

Opening the door, she stepped inside the lavishly
furnished room, Amp following. The red walls complimented the black leather
furniture perfectly. The floor was dark hardwood, and red velvet drapes covered
the windows.

A man was standing by the bar, a huge cigar in one hand,
a goblet of some drink in the other. Amp saw he had been turned in his late
twenties, but he was old fashioned looking in the manner he dressed and carried
himself. He was handsome, six feet, with dark wavy hair, a face that could be
in movies, and a trim, fit body tucked neatly into a beautiful tuxedo. She
watched as Nikka approached the man,
then
gasped as
her friend kneeled on one knee and lowered her head until her forehead touched
the floor.

“Lord Rinaldo, I am honored that you’ve asked for me.”

“It is I who is honored, My Lady, that you’ve graced our
fair city with your presence. Rise, child, and let me look at my old friend.”

Nikka
stood,
the two staring at
each other until Rinaldo reached out and embraced Nikka, holding her as an old
friend, or a lover, might hold one dear to them.

“It’s been too long, Nicola, too long. How have you
been?”

“Good, really quite good, my Lord.
Oh,
I’m
sorry,
this is my friend Anne Marie. Anne Marie
has never been to San Francisco, so we took a few days to visit.”

“Anne Marie, my city is much more beautiful with your
presence. I am pleased that you are here.”

Not sure of how to address the obviously important Lord,
Amp simply bowed slightly, and smiled. “Thank you, Lord Rinaldo. I love the
city, and can’t wait to come back for a longer stay.”

“I insist that when you return, you will reserve one
night to spend with me at my estate. It would be my honor to entertain the two
of you.”

“Thank you,” Amp replied, on unfamiliar ground.

Amp was offered a seat on the couch, and for the rest of
the time in the red room, she kept her mouth shut and listened to Nikka and
Rinaldo catch up, eventually zoning out of their business. It was obvious that
the two had known each other for many years, and each spoke with the
familiarity that comes from shared experiences. Amp was in awe of her friends
contacts, and realized that the
stares when they had arrived
wasn’t
because of the way they were dressed. It must have been because
Nikka is a well-known vampire. There’s more to this story than she’s letting
on, Amp thought. Someday I hope she lets me in on the rest of it.