DEATH AND DOMINATION EPISODE TEN

If I haven’t told all my family and friends lately how much I love your company then be it now. I’ve just been informed by my cardiologist that I need to check in to the hospital on Monday. He’s concerned that there may be a blockage of blood to my lower heart. Yep he’s going to poke a tiny camera into my arteries and snoop around in there. I’ll let you know how bad it is next week. In the mean time here are two more chapters of Death and Domination hope I live to finish the book. That would suck if you never got to read the climactic ending.

BLOOD MOON SOCIAL CLUB

DEATH AND DOMINATION EPISODE TEN

By Karl Clay Vetter & C. Vetter

This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the authors’ imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
This story was inspired by the fictional events and characters created at the Blood Moon Social Club interactive theater. Produced and directed by Karl Clay Vetter, C. Vetter and Patrick Foster.
The authors wish to thank all the Blood Moon Social Club members for their outstanding performances and support. The fictional characters in this story pay homage to you each and every one. Proceeds from this book go toward keeping the Blood Moon Social Club alive.

Copyright protected © 2015 by Karl Clay Vetter and C. Vetter.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the creators, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized digital sharing is a punishable offense.

Technical support Patrick Foster.

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OTHER BOOKS BY KARL CLAY VETTER & C. VETTER

BATTLE BUTTE: CROSSBREEDS 1
THEY WERE BORN HUMAN THEY BECAME SOMETHING ELSE

TANGLEWOOD TERORISTS: CROSSBREEDS 2

HUMAN SOULS TRAPED IN ANIMAL SKINS

DARK LEGENDS: CROSSBREEDS 3

NO HEROES ONLY DARK LEGENDS

LINK FROM WWW.KOOLKOLLECTABLES.COM TO AMAZON.

Follow Karl Clay Vetter on Twitter and Face Book

DEATH AND DOMINATION CHAPTER 20 THE GADGET

Barron offered the stranger a seat in front of his desk. “Bret is it? I didn't get a last name?”

“Bret's good unless you want me to make one up?” He sat and folded his hands across his lap.
“No we don't put a lot of credence in names around here nor do we ask a lot of questions. However, you went to some great expense to see me so what can I do for you?”
“Nothing that I can't reciprocate. You see you have a cool little gadget that I need and I know how to use it. Now in certain circles it's rumored that you collect rare and unusual artifacts. That gadget could be very useful for say a treasure hunt.”
Barron leaned back and scowled. “I don't care about lost gold or... pretty rocks. How did you happen to hear of me and what I may or may not have?”
Bret held nothing back he could feel the hairs on his head tingling a sensation he always felt when a telepath was probing his mind. “Oh you have it alright I beat it out of Rosen so lets not play games. I'd beat it out of you, but my bad luck you have way too much security so I come to you with a proposition instead. I can be practical. You have it but I guarantee you haven’t a clue what it is. Trust me it's amazing.” He left it dangling and pushed forward in his mind an image of and island in the midst of a great ocean under a cloudy sky. A midday sky with vampires walking about unharmed.
Curiosity getting the better of caution Barron had to capitulate. “Okay I'll bite what does it do?” He removed the gadget from a desk drawer and sat it before the stranger.
Bret reached over and adjusted the dials then he turned a little knob several times and suddenly it began to move. Tiny gears engaged and the mirrors and lenses changed positions. After a moment they stopped.
“Well...?” Barron's scowl deepened.
Bret shrugged. “What you saw was a failed attempt to line up on celestial points in the sky.”
“You're saying its a navigational device?
“Yes like a sextant or an astrolabe only far more advanced. You see it only works when you use it on a large body of water. Basically you need a boat.”
Barron mulled that over. “How do you know all this?”
“That's not important. You see I haven't told you the best part yet. When you use it in a specific manner at just the right time it will find a portal into another dimension. A place I want to return to and I need it to get back there. The slips or portals if you prefer are invisible to the eye but can be seen when the optics line up with the special mirrors. And even then you only have seconds to guide the boat through the opening.”
“So these portals are opening up randomly over great bodies of water? While you and others who know the secret just pop in and out anytime you please? Amazing! And not one fisherman has posted a video on You Tube. Thanks for the entertaining story Mr. Bret Whatever, now show yourself out.”
“But you read my mind?”
“You're not the first to shield his true thoughts with well crafted fake images, I've seen it before.”
Bret nodded. “Okay you're smarter than I gave you credit for. Still, I'm telling you the truth... just not all of it. You see I held back one critical detail. The reason no one has ever witnessed one of these events is two fold. First as I've stated conditions have to be absolutely perfectly alined or you miss the slip altogether and the boat never enters. Rarely, but from time to time a boat has enter quite by accident but the poor souls had no way to return and were thought to have sunk. Second, have you ever been out in the fog on a boat?”
“No I don't like boats. You're trapped by water on all sides with blistering sun over head all day. It's like a floating coffin with no escape.”
“Yeah I know the feeling but that's only on this side, over there the sky is very cloudy and low fog lays on the water. When you come through some fog follows. On the remote chance you're seen the eye is fooled by the mist. The events only occur over water where a very few eye witness accounts have been chalked up to all kinds of things ranging from too much rum to the Bermuda Triangle. Look here's an easy solution. You rent the astrolabe to me for one night out on Lake Mead. If I'm full of shit you get some pretty rocks and keep the device. If on the other hand I disappear into the slip I keep my gadget and you're amazed. Of course if you come along you just may find the golden orb you're looking for.”
Barron stiffened. “You didn't beat that out of Rosen.”
Bret smiled. No, but I did say in certain circles one hears things and for years you've been sending minions out with large rewards searching for the orb. Where I came from there is a legend of such an orb of gold that glows from within. You know I'm telling the truth, I can feel you sifting around in my head.”
Barron relaxed and pulled back his mental probing. “Does it have to be a boat?”

***

It was well after noon when Marilena crawled out of bed. Vampires kept late hours and so it was with her. In fact she had adopted many of their habits like avoiding the sun and following a liquid diet. She started her evening with a cappuccino then followed with a fruit and vegetable smoothy. In the days before Oleander's raid on the blood bank her complexion was a rich dark chestnut. Passing a mirror she noticed how pale she'd become making her brown eyes all the darker.
She felt like dressing casual so she slid into a snug black pair of yoga pants, a black tank top and matching Nikies then tide her long bruin hair back. It was her intention to make a quick run to the Glow Worm juice bar a clever health food front for her back room off the grid blood bank. The plan was to see to it her manager Jerry, had the shop up and running. Then take the rest of the night off and finish reading a torrid romance novel she'd started a week before. Silly things she knew but a frivolous habit she picked up while waiting on former boyfriends to see their parole officers. Always about a beautiful red-head with emerald-green eyes being swept away by a handsome rogue with a castle. Why were the heroines always green-eyed red-heads? Why should they have all the fun?
Jerry was whipping up a protein shake for a customer when she trotted in. The young man was all human but a loyal donor. When she entered he smiled and said, “Hi Boss,” but gave here a sharp glance toward the back room. The look was a prearranged signal.
“Hi Jerry, I'm going to squeeze some blood oranges and refill the dispenser. Can you manage without me?”
“Sure thing Boss.”
She closed the door and locked it then entered another room. Here she would normally find a donor in need of fast under the table cash. She then would extract plasma and prepare it for delivery. Instead of a warm blooded, eager to be squeezed 'blood orange' as was the code name for donors. She was confronted by Andre and the one-eye stranger. An all to familiar surge of excitement set her skin to tingling.
Miss Costa, Barron sent me here with a new customer his name is...”
“Bret,” she interjected.
“Yes.”
“Okay Andre I'll see him. You can go have a power drink on the house.”
“Thank you Miss Costa.” He exited the room.
She took a deliberate posture of indifference. “If you're looking for a quick fix I don't usually do that here. I delver to the clubs and they serve the clients. Crimson Rein is close by tell them I sent you.”
He was silent for so long she was about to speak again when he beat her to it. “I don't need a fix.” Another long irritating pause. “How much can I get before tomorrow night?”
“Well, that depends. I have my regular stock of twenty bags, then we squeeze a few more through the night.”
“Not enough.”
“Okay, I can call my donor list and bump up at least ten or twenty more.” But it'll cost extra.”
“Something tells me you don't mind charging extra, I need twice that.”
“Sorry in that short of time it's impossible.”
His piercing eye darted to a pair of locked refrigerators. “What's in there?”
“I have special clients that are willing to pay a lot for select blends and rare types. They have first call. And you don't look like you carry a bank full of cash around with you.”
“Yeah I know the ones, older than Methuselah, richer than a Pharaoh. What they like, a little something from the old country? Hundred percent pure Romanian, or a shot of royalty. Maybe you know a fifth cousin to the Queen of England that has a gambling habit, or perhaps some fresh virgin blood?”
“It's none of your business, so take what I can sell you and get out.”
He moved closer and dumped the last of his jewels on the counter. “That's all I've got so let's load up,” it was more of an order than a request.
In spite of his menacing expression she held her ground. That won't even cover what I'm willing to sell you.”
“You knew my name,” his razor edged gaze cut away her tough bad girl facade, “someone told you about me so you should know not to piss me off.”
Her hand flew to her mouth to stifle a burst of laughter. “Oh yeah you've got a bad rep, but don't swagger in here and threaten me. I have Andre and if you're not afraid of him then let's not forget I'm protected by every bloody old Methuselah in Vegas.” She sauntered up to within inches of his face. “So don't you piss me off, or I'll scratch out your other eye.” She put up a strong defense.
“You're dangerously pushy for a blood donor. What makes you so special?”
“You need to get it through that thick skull of yours, I'm not a donor. No one has ever put their fangs on me, I'm a broker and I supply all of Vegas.”
The grimace on his ruddy face lingered but a second then melted in to a dazzling smile. “Okay you're a brazen hussy, I can respect that. So here's the deal, fuck all your old regulars and sell me everything you've got. Do that and I'll make you richer than a pirate queen.”
Her pounding heart sent a violent shudder throughout her body. Most vampires she dealt with were civilized but this one was different and just scary enough to give her the shivers. But she didn't back down.“Oh sure and you've got a diamond mine under that patch,” her voice trembling.
His tone drifted down to seductive whisper. “No but you trust Barron right?”
“We have a good business relationship.”
“What if I told you he believes in my plan so much he's going along. That's why we need your juice. We won't be able to feed for several days until we hit land and we need enough for the whole crew.”
“Where are you going Antarctica?”
He smirked. “Further than that.”
She was torn between screaming for Andre or throwing herself into his arms. He was exactly the kind of man that always got her into trouble. Worse even than the gorgeous gun-runner that swept her off her feet then dumped her with a trunk full of AK-47s in her car. While the ATF was interrogating her like a home grown terrorist. Lover-boy crashed all her credit cards making his get-away to South America. It took weeks to convince the Feds she was an innocent victim of a ruthless con man.
“Look, I get how you need all this, and I'm sure you mean every word how you'll pay me what it's worth. I'm just not sure you've considered the 'shit happens' factor.”
“The what?”
“Every time I let some guy convince me it's gonna be just fabulous... shit happens. Then everything in my life gets crushed under a mud slide. Not the regular California kind where a few houses end up on the free-way. I'm talking like the ones in China or Bangladesh where whole towns disappear.”
He moved closer. The heat of her body warmed his powerful undead chest like a glowing hearth fire. I haven't overlooked anything. Shit happens because I make it happen. Bring me everything you have to Lake Mead, Andre knows where. When Barron returns he'll have more than you'll ever need. In the mean time tell your rich clients you got robbed and it'll be a week or so before you restock.” Before she could muster a rebuttal he was gone.
She rushed to a refrigerator, punched in a code, removed a cold bag and slapped it on her neck. “Damn it to hell! You’re a fool girl, a crazy fool.” She whipped out her phone and called the only person she could trust.
Oleander answered. “Hey sweetie, what's up?”
“He was here.”
“Who was there? I'm getting better but not yet a mind reader.”
“Rock hard body, disarming smile, one eye the color of a Caribbean lagoon.”
“Oh my God! Are you okay?”
“No! He waltzed in here like he was the first and last word. Told me how it was going to be and waltzed right out.”
“Did he do anything to you? What did he want? ”
“What do you think he wanted, my juice?”
“Well I hear he's rich, jack the price and sell it. If you're nice to him maybe you'll get a big ruby for a tip.”
“He wants it all, every last drop... Including your cut and he wants credit.”
“That arrogant son-of-a-bitch, I'll kill him!”

DEATH AND DOMINATION CHAPTER 21 THE CAPTIAN

The black limo left the pavement and drove for a quarter mile on a hard pack road. A weathered sign appeared briefly in the headlights. LONE WOLF TAVERN BBQ & BEER. A moment later a ramshackled building with four motorcycles parked in front loomed. Andre parked, got out and opened the door for Barron.

Bret exited from the the other side. “Smells like somebody’s been marking the trees.”
Barron cautioned with a stern look. “None of that talk around here. You wanted a boat so let me do the negotiating. Andre you watch the car we wont be long.”
“Okay Boss but if there's trouble I loaded Little Mamma with silver bullets.” He caressed a metallic bulge under his coat.
They had taken only four steps when a strapping young biker came through the door. He was as tall as Andre, stout as an oak tree and sporting long blonde hair with matching mustache. “This is a private club so turn around and blow.”
Barron held out his hands in a jester of submission. “We just came to see Norris Thornton about a business proposition. It wont take but a few minutes of his time.”
“My uncle is out but I'll put your name on the list maybe he'll get back to you in a month or two.”
“This is very important we need to see him now.”
Three more bikers exited lead by a were-wolf showing the first stage of shape shifting and this time they were armed. “You heard him fang faggot, nothing for you to suck on around here,” growled the wolf-man. 
Andre's hand slid under his coat. “Time for Little Mamma, Boss?”
“No,” Barron replied calmly.
“I'm Barron from the Blood Moon Social Club I respect the truce and last I heard so did Captain Thornton.” Fangs and fur began sprouting on the other three.
Bret moved forward. “Stay behind me and don't say another word.” He adjusted his eye patch to cover his good eye. “Now boys we don't want to fight. We came here to talk to your boss and that's what we're going to do.”
All four of the bikers stood staring at his face. Each one began to tremble and turn pale, as he came close they cringed back out of his path. “Follow me Barron we're going in.” As he entered he glanced around and saw no other club members so he covered the demon eye. “Okay you have about ten minutes to negotiate before those boys snap back.”
Barron walked past the frozen in fear bikers and stepped up to the bar. He scanned the room with all his senses on maximum. The air was pungent with werewolf pheromones, barbeque smoke, beer and liquor. Metal rock blared from the jukebox. The walls were adorned with pictures of sexy nudes draped over hot choppers. A single individual stood behind a swinging door in what smelled like the kitchen. In spite of the loud music Barron heard the distinct clicking of a double barreled shotgun's hammers being pulled back into firing position.“Good evening Captain It's been a long time. Might I have a moment of your time?” He laid his hands on the bar top. “Come now you don't need the weapon, but if you feel more comfortable by all means bring it.”
The door swung open. A massive man of fifty filled the opening with a body sculpted from granite. Graying hair and beard cascaded down to his rolling shoulders. The sawed-off aimed steady at Barron's head. “What the fuck did you do to my boys?”
“Nothing permanent and had they not been so aggressive not even that but please let us get to our reason for coming here. My associate and I are in need of your service and we're willing to pay well, that's all. Just a little boat ride out on Lake Mead. It's known that after your stint in the US Navy you bought a large sailing craft and have it moored at the marina. We just need a ride out to the middle of the lake and for that we will pay your price.”
“Suck shit someplace else. Whatever gave you the idea that I would go out on a boat with a bunch of blood drinkers? Do I look like a vampire's pick-nick basket to you?”
Only two vampires and my man Andre. We're bringing all the blood we need for the trip. You see we don't need you and your boat for more than a few hours. We have secured a smaller vessel for our voyage. We need yours for another purpose.”
The Captain was a brutish giant equal to Andre in bulk but he was also a shrewd negotiator and instantly knew there had to be much more to this story. He laid his gun down on the bar and poured a shot glass with rum and swallowed it. “I'd offer you one but I'm fresh out of your brand.”
Barron smiled. “Quite alright.”
“So what's to see, says me? Two night crawlers want to hire a confirmed vamp hater to go for a pleasure cruise on lake Mead. Ah but they have a secret, what could it be, says me?”
“No secret we're simply testing a nautical device.”
“No secret, says you? Well first you need a big boat and you need it fast. Two you need a seaman with experience and he's got to be clued in to the underworld politics. Three you're willing to enter wolf territory to see the old salt who wears all those hats... Me. Now why, says I? You already got a boat for your trip and you packed a lunch but that makes no sense unless you're working some kind of sorcery and you need a second boat in case something goes wrong,” he paused watching their eyes, neither blinked. “Getting warm, says I. So now I'm curious what are you two about to do and why should I help you do it?” He poured another and sipped it slow while Barron pondered his next move.
Bret being impatient interrupted the verbal chess game. “Look we can pay you or we can cut you in but you need to know some details first and that's my department.”
Barron sighed. “I was doing just fine now you'll have to tell him everything.”
The Captain smiled and rubbed his hands together. I knew it let's sit down and have a nice little chat and don't worry about the boys I'll take care of them. So can I get you gentlemen anything I've got some bloody rare steaks in the back?”

***

Oleander entered the Glow Worm from the rear entrance after punching in the key-pad code. She found Marilena doing an inventory of her available stock. “You're not serious about giving all our juice to that scoundrel are you?”

Of course not. He's partnered up with Barron on some kind of crazy expedition. You know Barron and his obsession with antiques. I'll sell all this to them, not him. Barron's good for it and we don't lose a cent.”
“Listen to me sweetie I have to tell you something, You know we vampires have our big dark secret law and I broke that law when I showed you my true nature. You kept my crime between us and soon you became part of our world. I'm responsible for you and I can't let anything happen to you. Understand?”
“Don't worry I know the rules.”
“Good, and you know that we vamps have powers, we're fast, strong, bullet proof and we can read minds and stuff like that.”
“And your super hearing let's not forget about that.”
Oleander grinned. “Yes among other things but what you don't know is what I need to tell you now. I'll be breaking another law so you must promise not to repeat where you learned this.”
“Promise.”
“Vamps are not the only supernaturals out there...”
“Oh please I know about the werewolves, saw one change once. He got too drunk at Blood Moon and security booted him out.”
“Not just them there are witches and lots of others, but what I'm getting at is some of us can work magic. I mean create spells that can alter reality. That's what Barron's antiques do. He collects enchanted artifacts. Now I snooped around and heard some whispers. He and Bret are up to something really scary so I think I should make the delivery.”
You can certainly come along if you're worried but I'm not afraid.” She was busy loading boxes and did not pause in her work.
“You horny bitch! You can't wait to see him again.”
Marilena's head snapped up. “You don't know what you're babbling about.”
“Bullshit I can smell your pheromones oozing from your pours every time you hear his name.”
Marilena stood trembling with anger. “What is this some kind of jealousy thing?”
“Oh you sad little mouse, you have no clue the shit you're about to step in. Fine I did my part I tried to warn you. Go throw yourself right into his trap.”
“I'm not throwing myself anywhere this is business.”
“Really then why do you have a go-bag packed and ready next to the door?”
Marilena's eyes darted to a black bag on the floor. “That's nothing I just want to... I'm concerned about the cargo... I might need to keep an eye on him... I mean it, the load.” Her eyes exploded with salty tears. “Oh shit what am I doing? It's like he has some kind of power over me.”
“He probably does I warned you about us, we're a tricky bunch. Please stay here and let me go.”
Marilena wiped her face. “No you take over the shop, Jerry will run it until I return. I need to confront the one-eyed devil and see if he is using some kind of power. I'll have Barron to protect me and Andre, I trust them.” 
Oleander hugged her. “Sad little mouse, I tried, I really tried.”

***

“Another world!” The Captain ran a hand over his silver-gray beard. “With Pirates and the like.”

Bret tapped his fingers on the table top. “So are you in or not?”
“But technology and such explain that again, my GPS won't work?”
“No, none of that shit works over there they have other techno stuff. It's different. You navigate with sextant and compass, ships use sails and steam. The humans don't run the show either the overlords do. Vampires, werewolves and sorcerers, there is no hidden underworld. It's as it should be with us in power, not the sheep.”
“It's primitive like in the time of the Vikings?”
“Well not that primitive you'd be surprised at the machines that can run on wind and steam but yeah there is a lot of swashbuckling because of the great sea. Oceanus is mostly water and lots of islands. Each island is ruled by a High Lord Admiral with a navy to protect him from freebooters and scallywags. Trust me it's like nothing you can imagine until you've seen it. Then of course the booty is incredible not to mention the women if you're inclined.”
“Women?”
“Beautiful, young and subservient to their masters. Not like here bossy, independent an demanding.”  
The Captain clenched his fist tight around a thick choke of beard. “I'll be ready with everything you need, and if you're lying to me. I'll hang your heads from my bow and bait my hooks with your balls.”

Coming soon chapters 22 The Catalina Cutlass and 23 Oceanus.

Thank you for reading.

Your humble purveyor Karl Clay Vetter.

DEATH AND DOMINATION EPISODE 9

My dark steam vampirate is ready for the Roswell Cosmicon in July. I'll be working my way to Las Vegas soon after. I'll keep posting from the road should have some great stories.

BLOOD MOON SOCIAL CLUB

DEATH AND DOMINATION EPISODE 9

By Karl Clay Vetter & C. Vetter

This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the authors’

Imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

This story was inspired by the fictional events and characters created at the Blood Moon Social Club interactive theater. Produced and directed by Karl Clay Vetter, C. Vetter and Patrick Foster.

The authors wish to thank all the Blood Moon Social Club members for their outstanding performances and support. The fictional characters in this story pay homage to you each and every one. Proceeds from this book go toward keeping the Blood Moon Social Club alive.
Copyright protected © 2015 by Karl Clay Vetter and C. Vetter.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the creators, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized digital sharing is a punishable offense.

Technical support Patrick Foster.

'LIKE' THE BLOOD MOON SOCIAL CLUB FACE BOOK PAGE

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blood-Moon-Social-Club/354434527949489?ref=hl

JOIN THE BLOOD MOON SOCIAL CLUB FACE BOOK GROUP

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1488306761451445/

'LIKE' THE FACE BOOK PAGE CROSSBREEDS BY KCV

https://www.facebook.com/karlclayvetter?ref=bookmarks

OTHER BOOKS BY KARL CLAY VETTER & C. VETTER

BATTLE BUTTE: CROSSBREEDS 1

THEY WERE BORN HUMAN THEY BECAME SOMETHING ELSE

TANGLEWOOD TERORISTS: CROSSBREEDS 2

HUMAN SOULS TRAPED IN ANIMAL SKINS

DARK LEGENDS: CROSSBREEDS 3

NO HEROES ONLY DARK LEGENDS

LINK FROM WWW.KOOLKOLLECTABLES.COM TO AMAZON.

Follow Karl Clay Vetter on Twitter and Face Book

DEATH AND DOMINATION CHAPTER 18 THE DEMON EYE

“They call me Red Sugar because of my red hair and cause I'm so sweet.”

Bret allowed the half naked woman to fold her body into his but sex was not his motivation. He leaned against the dresser. In the large mirror behind him only the girl and the dingy bedroom were reflected.
“Relax baby you're so tense, you need a fix.” She pushed her scarlet locks back offering her throat. “Take a little, it'll be so good.” She combed his black hair with long thin fingers, they stroked the leather studded patch covering his left eye.
“How many have had you tonight?” He could smell the lingering stench of un-death under a fog of cheap perfume. He didn't take to the donor trade; humans that sold their blood to hungry vampires. It was a seedy business; the underbelly of the underworld, but what could a vampire do? The bygone era of hunting for dinner was all but lost in a modern age of smart phones, surveillance cameras and FBI forensics. He couldn’t stop thinking how things had change from feasting like warrior vikings a few centuries before to popping the top off prepackaged tomato juice.
“Don't worry about me honey I've got lots to spare.” Her arms encircled his brawny neck.
“You said Rosen would be here, where the fuck is he?”
“Bobby? Oh he'll be here after we're done. You know to collect the money.”
Bret's meaty hands closed around her narrow waist and easily lifted her up. His one good eye glanced down to her pulsing jugular. His thin pale lips parted and fangs slid into striking position.
“Now baby, drink me now,” she cried out.
In that instant he flung the clinging girl towards the door. As she flew across the room a blur swept in as the closed door burst open. She collided with the blur. Bret vanished as the speeding creature knocked her aside smashing the girl into a wall. The sound of her spine snapping silenced her startled yelp.
Bret reappeared only for a millisecond then streaked for the blur. A long well honed blade sliced through a thigh bone and the blur crashed into the floor. Blood gushing from the stump. Bret cleaned his blade with a sheet from the bed then draped the bloody shroud over the red head's limp body. “That's a shame, I was really thirsty.” He turned his sea-blue eye toward Rosen floundering on the floor.
Rosen struggled to reach his severed leg. “You didn't have to kill her, you son-of-a-bitch. She was my best donor.”
Bret kicked the leg away from his clutching grasp. “You had as much a hand in that as I did. What was the scam? She lets me get all distracted with her nectar then you rush in and take me down?”
Rosen was turning paler than usual from blood loss. “Something like that.”
A cruel scar of a smile ripped Bret's mouth. “Well you fucked up ass-hole. I felt her body tense when she yelled, “drink me now”, I figured that was the signal. A pro like her wouldn't do that just from a little bite.”
Rosen was concentrating all his energy on staunching the flow. “You've been snooping around asking questions. What do you want and make it quick, I'm running dry here?”
“By all means. I have no desire to see you destroyed. All I want is a name. You recently sold something for a lot of cash and I just want the name of the buyer.”
“I didn't steal it from you.”
“I know you didn't, but you bought it from the thief that did and he gave you up.” He bent down and picked up the leg by the ankle. “So who bought it from you?”
“That's easy why are we fighting? All you had to do was ask. His name is Take That Leg and Fuck Yourself.”
Anticipating the response Bret batted Rosen across the face and head with the bloody limb. Gore and bits of flesh splattered the walls. “Okay as much fun as that was you're out of stalling time so now we get real.” He crouched in front of Rosen. “Would you like to hear how I lost my eye?”
Rosen was a gruesome mess but managed a contemptuous sneer. “You were going down on your boyfriend and his boner poked it out.”
Bret grinned. “That's a good one but no. Like this leg it would have healed. No, it was cursed or rather it was possessed. I looked at something that I should never have seen. The story is long and dreadful all you need to know is that my eye changed forever. Now It sees what the old one could not see. For example, secrets you keep hidden in the blackest corner of your mind.” Being careful to avoid the mirror and with slow deliberation he lifted the patch and adjusted it to cover the good eye.
Rosen shut his eyes. “Eat shit mother-fucker. I'm not looking at your Demon Eye.”
Bret laughed and removed a pair of fish hooks from his pocket. “Yeah, well you're not the first to say that.” Too weak to fight back Rosen could only whimper as the hooks pierced his eyelids then the flesh above them pinning his lids open. “There we go. Now you can see clear as crystal.”
Rosen's gaze fixed on the bulging bulbous eye, it was not human nor like any animal he'd ever seen. Burn scars around the cornea left it seared forever open. It seemed to draw him in and prob his thoughts as if it were a creature unto itself. It crawled about in the skull's vacant eye socket as a hermit crab occupies an abandoned shell. Horrific images flashed through his fevered mind. Hellish thoughts that wrung tortured cries of anguish from his contorted mouth. As madness gripped him he attempted to look away.
Bret held his head steady and forced him to stare at the hideous thing. “The name, give me his name.”
Blood tears streamed down Rosen's cadaver white face. Among the insane screams that rattled the walls a name was revealed. “Barron! … At the Blood Moon Social Club!”

***

Andre knocked once then entered Barron's office. “Everything is quiet on the floor Boss,” the huge man's voice was soft in a tone that defied one to believe it came from his massive body.

Barron was preoccupied with a strange object. “Mmmuah, what's that?” He pulled away from it and looked at his bodyguard. “Sorry Andre all's quiet got it, let's hope it stays that way.” His eyes refocused on the brass dials and gears. “This thing is fascinating, it's very old but has a technological element that seems too advanced for its age.” Barron was an expert on antiquities, skills he'd picked up in the last nine-hundred years. “It has unique inscriptions on it indicating it could be magical but I can find no enchantments. Most interesting are these lenses they are polished as fine as any modern day telescopes, yet they are clearly the originals fitted at least a hundred years before Galileo.” He glanced at Andre who always looked as if he was truly interested in his Boss' hobbies. 
“Did you see to the liquor license yesterday?”
“Yes Boss the inspector's wife was very happy with your charitable gift.”
“Yes well, we must all do our part for the environment. I forget, what are we saving this week?”
“A tiny fish that only lives in a warm springs north of here.”
“A warm spring, really? Was it a sunny day, it's been so long since I saw one.? Of course it was it's Vegas.”
“Yes Boss, sunny but cool.”
Barron was peering through the lenses and attempting to adjust them with little knobs made from polished whale bone. Each lens mount moved independently and ivory pointers moved around the dials. “Here is the truly remarkable thing. Two of the mounts hold little round mirrors and when you line up the lenses the mirrors reflect the images back through them. Just the oddest gadget.”

DEATH AND DOMINATION CHAPTER 19 THE BLOOD BANK

When twenty year old Marilena Costa agreed to five hundred hours of community service at the North Las Vegas Blood Bank she never dreamed where it would lead. A life of petty crime had landed her in court several times but she had always relied on her beauty and innocent smile to skirt the law. The law had finally caught up with her. Her court appointed attorney brokered the deal with the prosecutor and she had no choices left other than jail.

It wasn't as bad as she'd anticipated. Blood didn't bother her and a lot of the donors were exactly the type of low life criminals she was expected to avoid. From time to time she made a little side money by arranging deals for various contraband and misappropriated swag. She herself was a bit of a health nut and never drank, smoked or took drugs. Her fastidious cleanliness made her a perfect fit for the blood bank.
Poverty and lack of education was never the cause of her fall from grace. The product of a good stable middle class family and a high school diploma should have opened the world to her. Her problem was as old as any story where a good girl meets a bad boy. In her case more than one.
Ninety-eight hours into her sentence her life changed forever. It happened during a county wide blood drive. She was working the late shift and her partner showed up blitzed on weed and vodka. For twenty bucks she covered for him while he slept it off in his car. Darkness fell early in the winter and around closing time a near convulsing young girl all in black, pale and thin came in asking for blood.
“I'm sorry miss but we only take blood. If you're sick I'll call for an ambulance to take you to the emergency room.”
The girl was delirious and knocked her down. Marilena got up and followed the girl into the lab ready to kick her ass. Here she was stunned to witness the girl draining six quarts of fresh plasma.
“Thanks that was just what I needed.” The vampire could have killed her but Marilena didn't panic. Quite the opposite, cool headed and showing no fear she sensed an opportunity. They talked and Marilena promised not to tell what she had seen for a price. After that the vampire came again and soon she brought a friend. Twelve months later Marilena was running the most successful underground blood donor operation in Vegas. She paid more than the legitimate banks to her streetwise donors in exchange for their blood and silence. She then secretly sold her crimson gold to a clientele of grateful vampires.
Not only were her new friends grateful they were generous to the extreme. The Blood Moon Social Club casino's limo picked her up with fifty quarts of fresh blood and delivered her and the rich full bodied cargo to the back door where a massive man carried her load into the kitchen.
“Thank you Andre.”
“My pleasure Miss Costa.”
“You know I think you can call me Marilena now. How long have we been doing this?”
“As you desire Miss Costa.”
She gave in for he always called her Miss Costa. They poured the blood into wine bottles so it could be served to the patrons in long stemmed wine glasses. A simple yet sophisticated camouflage. After receiving a bundle of cash she tried her luck at roulette. Everyone in the club knew her and treated her with a level of respect she'd never known outside of the dark world of the supernatural. Everyone except a stranger siting alone in a corner sipping from a glass of her special vintage.
He was well dressed but not elegant, powerful in build but not hulking like Andre. A wave of black hair rolled over his head and his one blue eye swept the room like an azure laser. He was a vampire she was certain even though he wasn't thin and pale the way most were. She realized she was staring at him and forced her gaze back to the wheel where she'd placed a very large bet, after all she was celebrating.
“21 Red,” the croupier announced. A flutter of applause broke out around the roulette table.
Marilena's bet had won. It was her twenty-first birthday and she always bet on red. Again she stole furtive glances in his direction. She'd known men from the gangs that were quiet seething powder kegs ready to blow at any moment. The stranger was one of those very dangerous types. Only this time he saw her and now she was caught in his unbreakable sea-blue glare. Embarrassed, excited and afraid all at once, she tipped the girl and gathered her winnings. She felt an urgent need to leave the casino before she did something incredibly foolish. 
“Congratulations Miss M.” Only one person called her that. She turned and smiled. “Thank you
Oleander, you're looking gorgeous as ever. That black gown must have cost someone a small fortune.”
Oleander a beautiful white flower with poison in its veins was the name of Marilena's best friend and patron. After their first encounter a year before Oleander had come to trust her with every confidence. “Oh you have no idea, he's sitting at the poker table right now losing thousands. Yet not as much as this outfit cost.” She waved her hand over the dress and displayed an emerald bracelet dangling from her alabaster wrist.
Marilena cast a quick look around and smiled. “Duncan really? He's on the counsel. You lucky girl.”
“Not a word please there are a couple of jealous bitches that would remove my head if they find out.”
“As always my darling as always.” The two shared many secrets stemming back to that night when Oleander violated the first law of vampires. Never expose the dark truth to uninitiated mortals. When the starving goth robbed the blood bank she opened herself to possible retribution from the counsel upon which her secret paramour sat. Marilena had never let a word of it slip. Since then both had mutually benefited from the relationship. Most notably from Marilena's underground enterprise.
Marilena whispered low in her ear. “Andre has your batch under lock, it's the special blend the bank was busy this week.”
“Thank you my sweet and now tell me why are you so interested in the one-eyed stranger?”
“Nothing gets past you does it? Truth is I never saw him before and thought he would be needing our service is all.”
Oleander brushed Marilena's long dark hair back over her shoulder. “You're so cute when you try to lie. Your voice is convincing but your pounding heart always gives you away.”
“Damn your ears. Is it really pounding? Never mined just who is he?”
Oleander took her by the arm and walked toward the exit. “I scanned him last night when he first appeared. Yes he has something intense raw and virile akin to a wild animal you know what I mean. Like a wolf, you can admire in a picture but never try to pet a real one. It was obvious he's much too dangerous even for me so I moved on. His name is Bret was all I got. A real bad one who takes everything and gives nothing back. He'll drain you emotionally and drink you dry like iced tea on a hot summer night. Then without a drop of remorse leave your withered husk behind as thoughtless as dropping fast food litter on the ground.” They came to the limo. “Wait do you want me to hypnotize you? I can make you forget you ever saw him, I'm getting better at that.” She gazed deep into Marilena's huge brown eyes.
Marilena batted her long lashes and shook her head. “Thanks, but I knew he was an outlaw the minute I saw him and without powers. I do know men and how to handle them.”
Oleander frowned and tenderly kissed her lips. “My poor sweet child. He's not a man, he's a monster, a devilishly handsome monster. Now get out of here right now.” Oleander pushed her into the limo. “Andre, take her straight home and do not let her talk you into any detours.”
“Yes Miss Oleander.”
Marilena sighed. “You're being silly, I was already on my way out the door when you came up to me.”
Oleander gently shushed her lips with long white fingers tipped with sharp black nails. “Oh sweetness, you think you know men, but when it comes to bad boys... I know women.”

***

Muffled Rock and Roll tunes thumped against the back wall of the casino where Bret happened to be seated. On the opposite side of the wall a band furiously played their last song of the set. The lead singer announced a break and the showroom went quiet. Five minutes later he stood next to Bret's table. The rocker had long dark hair and fit his rail thin frame into tight black shirt and jeans.

Bret took him in with a single scorching look. “Stone right?”
“Right and you are?”
“Bret, have a seat.”
“Your message said you needed my help, my time is valuable.”
“Word around here is you can get things done, I'm willing to pay.”
The rocker sat and flagged a server for a drink. “So what can I do for you? And before you ask the answer is probably going to be, no. I'm particular who I help.”
Bret reached into his pocket and produced a leather pouch. He shook it and smiled.
Stone rolled his eyes. “You're kidding with that shit right? If you want to pay me for anything you better be ready to transfer some serious jack into my off shore account.”
Bret opened the pouch and spilled out a handful of precious gems the size of walnuts.
Rubies, emeralds, peals and diamonds sparkled under the casino lights.
Stone's eyes sparkled too. “You just tell me who you want destroyed and that fucker is history. For a little extra I can make his history disappear.”
“No violence just an introduction, and a recommendation. I'm new in town and would like to get in tight with the higher ups.”
“You want to meet the counsel, no big deal. I check you out and get you in say next month.”
“No, I was thinking you get me into see Barron, say right now.”
Stone sat back and studied the stranger's face. “Look whatever he did to you it ain't worth getting vaporized over. Do you have any idea the kind of security they have around here. I mean they let werewolves in here and even they don't start any shit.”
Bret held up a fabulous ruby. “This is just for talking to me.” He slid it over to Stone. Then he picked up a flawless diamond to win a queen's heart. “This one is to deliver a message. Tell Barron you want to introduce a friend. Say only this... I know how it works.”
Stone took the gems. “That's it?”
“If he accepts tonight you can have five more.” 
In the half hour it took the musician to return Bret figured they had sniffed him and probed his subconscious with every power available to them. Since he wasn't lying in the desert with a stake in his heart, he assumed he passed the introduction tests.
Stone waved him over and they went upstairs. Just outside the office door stood a mountain of man meat. Stone halted. “Andre will take you in. This is as far as I go. If you do something stupid and get vaporized. I don't want to be anywhere near you.”
“Bret handed him his reward and joked. “Don't spend it all in one place, save a little for your old age.”
Stone gave him a twisted smirk. “Clearly you haven't met the women around here.”

Coming soon chapter 20 The Gadget and 21 The Captain. Marilena Costa has a thriving underground blood business and the respect of every vampire in Las Vegas. Not bad for a mere human. Then a one eyed stranger swoops in weaving a web laced with sparkling jewels and fantastic tails. But experience warns her to shy away from the devilishly handsome monster. But her pounding heart says otherwise.

Thank you for reading,
Your humble purveyor Karl Clay Vetter