Cryptic Cravings (Vampire Kisses 8)

"Tonight?" I asked, goose bumps shuddering down my spine. The thought of seeing Phoenix again - especially when I knew he was reallyAlexander - thrilled me. And his being on a secret mission made him that much sexier to me.

"Nothing major happened last night - no unknown vampires popping in - or at least none that we knew about," he said. "But it's not like the Maxwells to cave so easily. The Covenant door still remaining locked means Jagger is planning to use it for something. We can't wait any longer."

"I agree," I said. The more I fell in love with the Crypt, the harder it would be for me to lose it if unknown vampires started coming. "We have to have proof that vampires aren't being invited," I said, "and Phoenix has the power to do that." I watched as Alexander continued to scour through his closet.

"Phoenix can save this club, too," I said. "If it wasn't for him taking over the Coffin Club and, at the last moment, giving the reigns over to the clubsters, Jagger wouldn't even have that club. He's almost like a superhero." "All right," Alexander said, pulling out a pair of black leather pants and a motorcycle jacket and tossing them on the bed. "It's time for you to go. I'll see you at the club."

Glaring at his sexy outfit strewn on his coffin, I almost had a change of heart. "This isn't easy, you know. I'd rather be with you - as Alexander, Phoenix, or whomever - than alone in that nightclub." "Get out of here," he said playfully as he put on a tight white T-shirt. I did my best to tear myself away from my handsome boyfriend. "And don't forget that British accent," I called back to him as I left his room. "It goes right through my heart!"

Chapter 17 - Familiar Visitor

Jameson kindly drove me to the Sinclair Mill-turned-fabulously-macabre dance club. It seemed to take forever as the Creepy Man drove at a zombie's pace. After I finally arrived I was hanging outside the Crypt with Scarlet when I heard the sound of a motorcycle pull up to the factory.

"Maybe it's the police," I heard one clubster say. A purple-haired biker raced through the alley and parked his Harley. "I think that's Phoenix!" Scarlet said. "What's he doing here?" "I don't know," I said.

"This club isn't supposed to be open to outside vampires," she said as if taking offense to her special VIV - Very Important Vampire - status. She stormed after him, and I followed close behind, but by the time we reached the entrance he was already going inside.

"Line cutter!" I heard a few clubsters shout. "My best friend dates the owner!" Scarlet shouted back. Scarlet grabbed my arm and we quickly ducked inside so as not to make any more enemies than I normally had. I spotted a handsome guy with purple hair talking to Jagger by the dancing cages. We pushed through the crowd of dancers and snuck up behind them, eavesdropping on their conversation. "I saw the crop circle," Phoenix said. "So I came to check out your place." "Uh . . . we got rid of that. The plans for the club have changed," Jagger said. "This place looks cool!" Phoenix continued. "What are you serving?" "I really must tell you - " "This club might be better than the Coffin Club," Phoenix said, slapping Jagger on the back.

"You think so?" Jagger was overcome with the attention. He beamed like a star. "Romeo - get this man a Lethal Injection. It's the house special," he said. "So, how did you hear about us?" "Like I said before, a crop circle. I figured you were starting a new vampire club. But this town isn't known for vampires. So I thought I'd come and check it out."

"Well, there are a few here among us. But that's what I need to tell you about. I made a deal with my buddies," Jagger said. "This club will be slightly different from the Coffin Club." "What do you mean by 'different'?" It was as if Jagger was afraid to admit that the club would be mortals only. "You think this should be like the Coffin Club, with a Dungeon, too? My friends persuaded me . . . I was a fool to listen. You have to see what I have here.

Let me give you a tour." I followed behind so as not to be too conspicuous. When they passed the Covenant room door, Phoenix stopped. "What's this?" Phoenix asked. "Another club?" "That's not just another club - it is theclub. The Covenant," he said proudly. "More private than the Dungeon." Phoenix's eyes lit up. "So this is where the vampires are?" "Yes. They'll be here."

"So you have planned another vampire club? Something you can't share with your 'buddies' but you can with me, your old friend?"

"It's only for special members." "Vampires? Does anyone else know?" he pressed. "No, it's a secret. No one knows. I was waiting for a special occasion to open it." "Ah . . . the element of surprise," Phoenix said. "Exactly," Jagger said.

Phoenix scanned the crowd of mostly mortal dancers and put his hand on Jagger's shoulder. "Some surprises are best left undone."

"I'm not sure what you mean," Jagger said, confused. "Look around here, Jagger," Phoenix said. "This town, this club. It's full of mortals. No vampires live here. You could put us all in danger by inviting indiscreet vampires here," he charged.

"Well, a few vampires and their friends do live here." "It's not safe for you to run a vampire club in a town this small." "And it's not safe for you to come to my club and tell me how to run it." "You know what happened between us at the Coffin Club. It can happen here, too," Phoenix pressured. Jagger was really heated. His face flushed red like the fiery dyed tips of his white hair.

"You don't know the truth. That club isn't meant for you. Maybe in the beginning I thought it would be cool to have a second Coffin Club. But you know, I think this one will be unique, too. It's meant as a special club for my friends to celebrate their birthdays in. A surprise. One they'll never forget. You've come all this way, and you were lucky I let

you in. But this club and the one below are for mortals only," Jagger said, "unless you are one of my closest vampire friends, which I'm sorry to say you are not."

Jagger waited, poised for a fight. But when Phoenix smiled, Jagger's body relaxed. I couldn't believe it. I'd done so much sneaking in and asking questions, but it had taken only seconds for Phoenix to get more answers than I had in a month.

"Then I guess my work is done here," Phoenix said like a cowboy in a Western movie. But Jagger continued to soften. It was unlike him to send someone out of his club with a bad taste in their mouth.