Any characters you recognize belong to Sherrilyn Kenyon or Laurell K. Hamilton. I’m just doing this for fun.  I don’t really work at the radio station.

 

Oh this is rated PG so far….

 

Nate’s Story: Part Five

 

I talked to Nathaniel off and on for the next week. He'd call and say, "I like that song." I'd ask which song. He'd reply, “I can't remember the name.”

 

I'd let out a frustrated sigh. Then he would say, "It went like this..." and start singing it. The kid had a good voice.

 

So, after a solid week of 'I can name that tune in...' I finally had an idea what kind of music he liked. I told him that I would make up a CD and bring it down.

 

"You will? He sounded surprised. "Really?"

 

“Yes, really,” I reassured him.

 

He told me he would leave a message at the door with Buzz that it was okay to let me in. I figured Buzz was a bouncer.

 

Saturday night, Myra cornered me, as I was getting ready for my shift. “You aren't really going down there. Are you?”

 

“Yes I really am, tomorrow night.” She shook her head and rolled her eyes at me so I added, “I can take care of myself.”

 

“Everyone says that.” She replied with a somewhat critical glare.

 

Okay now she was just annoying me, “I'm not everyone.” I shot back.

 

She opened her mouth to reply when her cell rang. It was Kevin, the boyfriend. I took the chance to escape.

 

She muttered, "I'm not through with you yet."

 

I kept walking. "Artemis in mortal form and just as bitchy." I half expected a lightning bolt for that comment.

 

I locked the studio door, put on my headset and drowned out the expletives coming from the other side of the glass.

 

Nathaniel called later that night. He wanted to make sure I was still coming, that I hadn't changed my mind. I hadn't.

 

It was around five thirty on Sunday evening. I had dressed in dark blue jeans and a black sweatshirt. I had the CD and my keys in one hand with my other hand on the knob when the bell rang. It scared the hell out of me. Cautiously I opened the door and found Myra standing there.

 

She was dressed in a red leather skirt that hit her mid thigh and a white tank top with a leather jacket to match the skirt. A pair of knee-high boots with five-inch spike heels completed the outfit. I was about to ask her how she stood upright in those boots, when she gave me a look that said, "Yes, I am all that" and walked past me into the living room. Sighing I closed the door.

 

I turned to find her shaking her head and making little clicking noises with her tongue. Okay the room was furnished pretty sparsely but it had all I needed. There was a forty-two inch flat panel TV, an overstuffed green leather lounge chair, and a table by the chair that held a lamp and the TV remote. Yep, All the comforts were covered.

 

Raising one eyebrow at me, “Well I can see you don't plan on entertaining.”

 

“Not really.” I shrugged.  “I like my privacy. What are you doing here?”

 

“I'm going with you to Guilty Pleasures.”

 

“No you're not.” I shook my head.

 

She looked at me like she was explaining something to a child. “Yes I am. Single men aren't allowed in the club. It makes the dancers nervous.”

 

“Seriously?” I half thought she was joking.

 

“Yes. So I'm your escort.” She folded her arms across her waist, daring me to argue.

 

“I don't need an escort.” I repeated.

 

“Yes you do.” She grinned at me and I could see I wasn't going to win.

 

Sighing, I told her, “I have to make a stop first so two cars.”

 

“Do you know how to get to the District?” Myra sounded a bit concerned.

 

“No... not really, but I can follow you.”

 

She shook her head, “We'll take my car. Is that what you're wearing?”

 

“What's wrong with what I'm wearing?” I looked down to see if there was something I missed before looking back at her.

 

“It's a little casual.” She explained.

 

Confused, I told her, “I never pictured strip clubs as 'high class'.”

 

“This isn't an ordinary strip club.” She winked at me when she said it.

 

I had another thought. “What about Kevin?”

 

“What about him?” Her tone said indifference but I could tell it was strained.

 

“Is he okay with this? Shouldn't he go too?” I didn’t need a pissed off boyfriend on my hands. I could handle him but it might make things tense at work.

 

“He won't go to the District. He doesn't like the...people. So it's you and me. Besides, I need a night out.” She sounded a bit defensive but I let it go.

 

I threw up my hands realizing it was a waste of time to argue. “Okay. Okay. Fine, but I need to make a stop.”

 

“No problem.” She grinned, apparently willing to be agreeable now that she was getting her way.

 

Myra's car was actually a white Toyota pickup with flames on the sides and several speeding tickets on the dash. She also liked to take the truck off road or so I was told. I cinched the seatbelt tighter as we pulled out onto the street in a lurch.

 

Ten minutes later we were in front of a small parish church.  It was St. Michael’s. I knew there was a mass at seven, so I hurried inside.

 

Walking down the aisle I made the sign of the cross. I knelt at the altar for a quick prayer for all those lost over the years. I lit a candle for Paul's soul and one for what was left of mine that Artemis was holding on to.

 

When I walked back up the aisle, Myra was waiting just inside the door.

 

As soon as I got near she told me, “I thought something was wrong or that maybe you went out the back door.” I blinked at her, confused.  “You were in here a half hour.”

 

“Lost in thought I guess. Sorry.” I shrugged, unsure what else to say. What I did here was none of her business.

 

“It's okay. But if we're going to catch the show, we need to get going.”

 

She grabbed my hand and pulled me out the door, down the steps to the truck. Once on the road, we were passing cars like they were standing still, taking curves on two wheels. I was beginning to bless the makers of seatbelts and that little strap that my right hand had a death grip on.

 

We were almost outside the city proper when we came upon a slow moving minivan. Myra got right on their bumper, laid on the horn and then sped around them so close that the van had to pull to the side. I got a glimpse at the driver and passengers as we sped past, nuns, old nuns.

 

Okay I was picturing white knuckles, heart failure... What I didn't envision was the driver giving us her middle finger and Myra's lunatic laughter as she drove on.

 

It was actually a relief when she finally pulled into the parking lot of Guilty Pleasures. I pried my fingers off that little strap by the window and got out. Fighting the urge to kiss the ground, I promised myself that I was taking a cab home.

 

We walked around to the front of the club to find a very long line of mostly women in various dress. There were a few couples and a few guys on the sidelines checking out the women.

 

As we walked past the line, Myra told me, “The guy checking IDs is Buzz. He's a vam...”

 

“I know what he is.” I interrupted her.

 

“I thought you hadn't been here.” She looked surprised.

 

I sighed. “I haven't.”

 

How did I explain that I had sensed the guy as we rounded the corner? There were others as well. I could hear Acheron’s warning running through my mind. ‘You cannot kill them. Vampires are legal here. Stay out of trouble Nathan. Do not ruin what the Fates have given you.’

 

“What?” I looked up at Myra’s question.

 

“Nothing.” I shook my head.

 

“You all right?” She seemed concerned. I nodded. It was the best answer I could give her.

 

The vampire motioned for Myra to come up to the front of the line. She dragged me along.

 

“Myra! Long time no see.” Buzz smiled, flashing fang as he did so. He must be a young one.

 

“Hey Buzz!” Myra replied as they embraced but he was looking at me.

 

“Where's Kevin?” He asked as they parted.

 

Myra shrugged, “Home I guess.” She turned to stand between us. “Hey, this is Nathan. He's our new overnight guy.” Buzz nodded so she continued. “Nathaniel asked him to bring a CD down. Thought we'd see the show.”

 

“Yeah, he told me. You have a table reserved.” Buzz answered. He was still looking at me and it was not a friendly look.  “Make sure you check everything at the booth before you go down on the floor.”

 

“You know I don't carry anything.” Myra looked perplexed.

 

“He does.” Buzz nodded toward me.  Myra looked from the vamp to me and back at him.

 

“Enjoy the show.” Buzz added as he moved, granting us access to the front door.

 

We went inside. As soon as we cleared the door, the hair on the back of my neck stood up and a chill ran through me. I looked up my left to see two of the club’s black shirted security people heading straight for me. This was not going to be pretty.