The Dark Proposal Part 12

It was the next evening, and the three girls were preparing dinner after a long day. Claire had just come home from the college while Monica had another day subst.i.tuting. Samantha spent the afternoon at a job interview that didn't go very well. Added to Claire's announcement that she was going to give Daniel another chance, she was not in the best mood.

Claire stirred the macaroni and cheese in the pot, not looking at either of her roommates. "We met last night and talked things over. He admitted to being a jerk and said he was sorry."

"Sorry my a.s.s!" Samantha slammed the forks she had in her hands on the table. "He hurt you, both physically and mentally! What are you thinking?"

"He hurt her?" Monica looked confused as she poured the soda. "Since when?"

The two other girls stared at her, remembering how she suddenly forgot everything Claire told her about Daniel. Claire wondered if it was best Monica didn't remember what she had told her.

"I exaggerated," she began. "The truth is, he did grab me but didn't beat me up or anything like that."

"Whoa, wait. You made up that he hurt you?" Samantha narrowed her eyes.

"Yeah, I did. I just was angry at him." She turned around and went back stirring the pot.

Samantha went over to her and put her hands on her hips. "First you say he hurt you, then you say you made it up. That's not the Claire I know. So, tell me, and refresh Monica's poor memory. What is going on?"

"I just told you," Claire felt her aggravation rise. "We had a fight, things got nasty. But he contacted me the other day and we met last night to talk things over. He apologized. I'm willing to give him another chance."

"But what about your arm? You told us he nearly tore it off."

"I made it up!" Claire snapped. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to have dinner."

In a huff, Samantha went back setting the table. Monica looked unsure of what to do or say next. Claire just kept stirring, an angry look on her face.

Dinner was tense, with Monica talking the most about subst.i.tuting for a kindergarten cla.s.s. The other two showed interest, but avoided directly talking to each other. Cleaning up was done in silence.

While Monica took a shower and Samantha watched TV, Claire went into her bedroom to complete one of her a.s.signments. She didn't come out until the next morning.

For the next two days, she worked at the school and on her freelancing. She went to the coffee shop to do the latter in order to avoid Samantha's glares mixed with disgust and concern.

During this, Claire felt like she was living an out of body experience. Her meals tasted different, her hearing was off, she saw things in different colors, but she refused to admit all of this. She believed things would work out for the best, somehow.

Even at the college, Nancy noticed something was wrong. The secretary took her aside once, pointing out that Claire was acting like a s.p.a.ce cadet.

"You just b.u.mped into your desk twice in one hour," she said. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes," Claire got defensive. "I'm fine."

Nancy could only shrug. Ever since Claire pointed out how unfriendly she was to Daniel whenever he came into the office, Nancy had been keeping her distance. Claire knew she was missing those times when she would chat with the older woman, but she didn't know how to admit to her that she was right about Daniel.

She continued to exchange texts and phone calls with Daniel. They mostly chatted about their work. Again, she was a rock for him as he voiced his annoyance over his students slacking off before finals. These students had come far, he said, and they should have the strength and will to put up with the last two weeks of cla.s.ses. As for next semester, he will again have two introductory English cla.s.ses, but it was looking as if he would get the Intro to Playwriting course. When she suggested they celebrate this chance, Daniel turned it down as it was not yet official. However, he did have a place they could go to Sat.u.r.day night. His friends, Hilde, Michel and the Brooklyn trio, would be there. All she had to do was wear dark clothes to fit the scene.

"Is this one of the Black Roses' goth hangouts?" she asked over the phone.

"Something like that," he said.

On Sat.u.r.day, Claire was doing one of the weekly ch.o.r.es by cleaning the bathroom. Monica was vacuuming, while Samantha dusted the furniture. Both Samantha and Claire kept things polite but distant. Whenever she looked as if she wanted to confront her, Claire would turn away. She knew it was immature, but she didn't want to hear what Samantha had to say.

Finally, while Monica went out to get the mail, and Claire was making tuna fish sandwiches, Samantha took her chance. "Look, you can't go on avoiding me like this. How more childish can you get?"

"I'm not being childish; you're irritating me." Claire refused to face her.

"Well, you're irritating me by your childishness. I'm only doing and saying what is best for you, Claire."

"Since when did you become my mother?" she growled.

"Oh G.o.d!" Samantha rolled her eyes. "Don't do this, please! We've been good friends for four years, and now you're going to throw it all away because I am worried about you?"

"There's nothing to worry about." Claire sighed and looked at her. "Like I said, Dan and I are working things out. We're going to spend time together tonight, and it may make or break us. Anything is possible. Now, please let us be!"

"Okay," Samantha hesitated. "Okay, fine. If that is how it's going to be. I just hope you know what you're doing after all that's happened."

Claire was about to retort when Monica came back in, her hand filled with envelopes. She darted her dark eyes back and forth between the two before sticking her hand out. "The bills are in. Who wants to take a chance?"

For the rest of the day, the three roommates kept their relations civil. The only time they seriously spoke to each other was when one of the daughters of their landlords stopped by to tell them about her mother's funeral next week. The three then gathered at the kitchen table to wonder about their future. Samantha wanted to move, and so did Monica. But they were concerned over who would take three underemployed tenants.

"I'll see what happens between me and Daniel. If it works out, I'll move in with him," Claire told them.

Again, Samantha narrowed her eyes. "Wait a minute. Didn't you say that he somehow was involved in Theresa's murder?"

Monica jolted forward in shock and that made the other two gasp. "Whoa, was I not here when this all happened?" she said. "I mean, was I on another planet when Theresa was killed?"

Claire patted her arm. "No, I said that because I was angry at him. I do strange things when I'm p.i.s.sed at someone."

"Really?" Samantha snorted. "That's news to me."

"This is all news to me," Monica looked pale. "I feel like I'm going nuts. I don't remember you saying anything bad about Daniel. It's like you and Samantha know something I don't!"

The other two got quiet and decided to focus on calming her down. Monica wasn't losing her mind, they told her. The shock over Theresa's death made her forget several things. The murder was making them do strange things too, and she was not alone.

That night, Claire was applying her makeup in her bedroom. As she watched herself put on black eyeliner, she felt like pinching herself. She rarely wore black makeup; what was she doing? She looked down at her black pants and frilly black top. She felt so awkward wearing one color.

Once she was ready, she texted Daniel that she was on her way. As she left the apartment, she walked past Samantha, who was also getting ready to work another s.h.i.+ft at the sports bar. "Um," she said."Theresa's funeral is Tuesday, not tonight."

"Sam, please don't start," Claire said as she put on her coat, which was also black.

"I'm not. But it's weird to see you dressed like this. Where are you going?"

"I don't know. Dan said it's some goth hangout. I guess his friends who are in that band are performing there."

"Okay," Samantha shrugged and zipped up her boots. She offered to walk with Claire to the bus stop.

As they walked, they were quiet at first, watching their breath form in the cold early December air. Once they arrived at the spot, Samantha suddenly said she was sorry.

"I know I've been difficult these past few days. I wasn't like this for the h.e.l.l of it, but I was and am concerned. But if this is what you want, between you and Daniel, then I'm here for you."

Surprised, Claire looked at her and saw she was biting her lip nervously. "I honestly don't know what will happen between Dan and I, but I'm glad whatever does happen, you'll be okay with it."

Samantha gave a relieved smile and squeezed her hand. Claire squeezed back and the two exchanged knowing looks.

The bus came soon after, and the two got on. Samantha got off three stops later while Claire took it all the way to the ferry terminal. She made the boat in time and rode it while sitting near a window, trying to make out the lights against the dark sky.

When the ferry docked, she found Daniel was there waiting on the other side. He was also dressed all in black: leather jacket, jeans, and a b.u.t.ton-down s.h.i.+rt with the first two undone, exposing his chest. Although his pale skin glowed against the dark attire, there was something s.e.xy about his appearance. Maybe it was because he looked so mysterious dressed as he was.

They kissed h.e.l.lo and Daniel ran his curled fingers down her face. He then took her hand and walked her out to the street. Instead of taking the subway uptown, he hailed a cab. "The club we're going to is a bit out of the way," he told her as they got in. "It would be best to do this than do a lot of transferring."

"So we're going to a club? A rock club?"

"It's a club as in only certain people are allowed in. But don't worry, I'll get you in."

During the ride, Claire searched her mind to figure out what sort of club Daniel was taking her to. He had never told her he was part of some exclusive organization, so this was definitely something new about him. What could it be? As the ride went on, she could feel flutterings in her stomach - but not good flutterings. They were the ones that made her almost shake with tension.

They arrived on Lower East Side, to a place with a red-painted exterior, along with fake black cobwebs and painted crosses decorating it. Loud heavy-metal music thudded from inside. They approached the bouncer, a big, burly man who looked bored. Daniel teased him for not looking enthusiastic enough, and he laughed and slapped Daniel on the back. "It's been a while! Where've you been?"

"Teaching a bunch of brats," was the reply. "I could use some relaxation."

The bouncer laughed again and noticed Claire. "Ah, some fresh blood tonight?"

"She's with me. It's her first time here," Daniel put his arm around her shoulders.

The bouncer accepted the payment and gestured them inside. Walking in was like going through the openings of one of the haunted houses Claire went to while growing up. There were black walls with black light bulbs faintly s.h.i.+ning in the pathways. She expected a cutout of a ghost or monster to suddenly pop out at her.

Instead, she started to see other members of this club. People dressed in all black, and some of the women wore very revealing clothes. Couples - opposite and same-s.e.x - made out in the corners as Daniel guided her through the pathways until they reached the main floor.

It was fairly large, with about sixty people covering the room. Red and black lights lit the place, and there were red velvet seats along the walls. Scantily clad women danced on the platforms dotting the floor as the metal music thudded away. A band was playing, but it was not The Black Roses.

Claire felt uncomfortable. She was far from living the gothic subculture, and this was not her scene at all. She could have sworn people were looking at her and seeing her discomfort, most likely laughing at her. She looked at Daniel, who was searching the room for the others.

Trying to shake off her uneasiness, Claire said to him, "I never knew you'd like this type of place!" When he frowned at her, she added, "I mean, I thought you liked softer music and quieter places!"

He shrugged. "Sometimes you've got to let out your wilder side. Everyone has different aspects to them. Oh, I see them! They already got a spot. Come, let's go." He took her hand again and guided her through the crowd. Claire kept her focus on following him as the club members stared at her. She was a new face to this exclusive club. Plus, she was with Daniel, who seemed to know quite a few people as they exclaimed their h.e.l.los and patted his back. As long as she was with him, she would be safe.

They reached a corner where Hilde, Michel and the three rockers from Brooklyn were seated. Everyone stood up and kissed Daniel. When they got to Claire, she got kisses on the cheek. However, when Hilde approached her, she leaned in to her lips. That made Claire flinch and blurt out, "I'm not drunk."

"You're not?" Hilde replied. "Eh, maybe tonight you will be."

They all sat down and began chatting. At first, everyone talked about their week. Daniel and Michel traded professor stories while Yvette, Jessica - or Carys as she'd corrected Claire when they said h.e.l.lo - and Antonius talked about the new songs they had written. Hilde tried to get Claire to loosen up, but she was feeling very shy in this strange place. Daniel didn't seem to be aware of this, and continued talking to Michel, who was patting his hand a little too much.

Claire tried not to let it show that she was a bit bothered by that. Yes, this group made no secret they were openly affectionate with one another from the moment she first met them. But now since she knew exactly what they were, was she going to be pressured into as adventurous as them? She was never interested in bi-curiosity, and watching Daniel and Michel be almost absorbed in each other increased her discomfort. Not that she cared what Daniel did anymore, it was just she couldn't exactly escape this situation.

She noticed Carys was looking at her, an amused gleam in her eyes. Claire realized she had just read her mind, so she sat up straighter, her downcast eyes looking at the empty table in front of her.

Empty table? Why was the table empty? There were no drinks or anything on it, like any other club would have.

She lifted her head and turned her focus to the crowd of people gathered on the main floor. Many of them were holding bottles of beer or c.o.c.ktail gla.s.ses. Yet this group had nothing.

Then Claire spotted something that nearly made her gasp. Not too far from where they were sitting, she saw two young women nuzzling each other. One raised her bare forearm to the other, who put in false pointy teeth into her mouth. The woman took the arm and bit into it. The other let out a pleasured moan as a single drop of dark red blood ran down her arm. Her companion started licking and sucking at the wound.

Claire was ready to stand up when a young man approached the group. He wore a loose black t-s.h.i.+rt, with the collar cut up to give it a wide V-neck. He had bloodied marks on his neck and forearms.

Arms stretched out in offering, the young man, who looked to be no more than twenty years old, smiled broadly as Antonius and Yvette stood up. His smile was like he was accepted by some people he had long admired. He held out his arms and asked them to "do that thing again."

Claire held in a gasp as the two opened their mouths and their fangs suddenly jutted forward. Yvette sunk hers into the boy's forearm while Antonius went for a fresh spot on his neck.

Claire jumped up and blurted out that she had to use the bathroom. Grabbing her arm and pulling her down, Daniel hissed over the loud music, "You're not going anywhere."

"Why did you bring me here?" she said.

He nearly sneered at her. "Why not?"

Pulling her arm away from Daniel's grasp. "I really have to use the bathroom."

"All right," he said. "But can you wait?"

"No."

"You're going to have to." He then turned around to a waitress who was delivering drinks to the people seated behind them. He crooked his finger at her, and she let out a giddy squeal. Putting down her tray, she hurried over and stood over Daniel. She also had bloodied bruises on her arms and neck, along with fangs in her mouth that turned out to be fake as she adjusted them while looking deep into Daniel's eyes.

Grabbing the waitress's leg, which was fully exposed by a miniskirt, Daniel placed her foot along side of him and ran his hand languidly up to her upper thigh. His eyes were burning for the waitress just like the way they had burned for Claire weeks ago. When he got to the sensitive parts of her thigh, he squeezed the flesh. She moaned, and the others, especially Hilde, smiled delightfully.

Claire felt intense fear while watching this. She knew what was going to happen and she was powerless to stop it.

Daniel opened his mouth, bared his fangs and bit into the waitress's thigh. She let out a cry that mixed both pleasure and pain. Claire watched frozen as Daniel began to suck away at the wound. Hilde and Carys cheered him on, while Michel rubbed his shoulders. Yvette and Antonius stopped feeding off of the boy and joined in on the cheering. He fixed his s.h.i.+ning, now multi-colored eyes on Claire as they taunted her with his l.u.s.t for blood. She could only sit with her mouth hanging open.

She didn't know how long Daniel fed off of the waitress, but at one point, the cheering turned into concern and her moaning began to fade. Michel stopped ma.s.saging his shoulders and began patting Daniel to stop. Claire looked up at the woman and saw she was about to faint. Yvette and Antonius caught her and called over a bouncer who carried her away. Antonius pointed out to Daniel that he got out of hand.

"Yes, well," he wiped his mouth, leaving a trace of blood on the back of his hand. "She's always tasted delicious."

There was a communal laughter and Daniel looked at Claire. "You going to be okay?"

As if his words unhinged her, Claire felt bile rise in her mouth. She stood up and pushed and shoved her way through the crowd to the exit door. She didn't care who she knocked over, she had to get out of there.

The exit door led to an alleyway behind the club. There, she let out a pile of vomit and heaved more of whatever was in her system until she was certain she would throw up her organs. She felt dizzy, and couldn't get out her head the image of Daniel's eyes while he drank from the waitress's thigh. The greedy hunger, the callousness, and the snide laughter in them were still penetrating in Claire's mind.

She stood up and exhaled heavily. She could still throw up if she wanted to, but she felt too sick to even do that.

She was wiping her mouth of the vomit, when she sensed someone was behind her. It had to be Daniel, or at least one of the other vampires. Great. Now she had to face them. There was no use running away because they could always catch up with her. Or do something horrifying to her.

She turned around to face Hilde, who looked at her with curiosity. Tilting her head to the side, the vampire asked if she was all right.

"Yeah, I will be once I get away from this place and you guys." Claire didn't care what she said. Let the vampires beat her up. Let them torment her. She wasn't going to put up with them anymore.

Hilde didn't look amused. "Have you lost your mind?"

Claire thought for a second. "Yeah. I probably did. I probably had my mind twisted around, thanks to Daniel. He did that to one of my roommates, why not me?"

"No, he didn't have to. You lost it on your own." She took a step towards her and Claire backed away. "Relax. I'm not going to hurt you. But you realize you're going to have to come back inside?"