“Even’n ma’am.” One of Sylvie’s well groomed security bouncers named Max greeted her. He poi the group of older men she’d just passed. “Looks like they were anxious to see their favorite biker chick.” Max’s deep and cultured voice echoed. Scratg his bck beard lightly, Max smiled and poio the door. “Veronid the others are i’n up.”

  “Hey Luna!” One of the guys from the circle of guys shouted at Sylvie.

  Regretting that she’d ever told anyone her old niame, Sylvie sighed and unfastened her leather jacket before turning to look at the man who called out. She’d been ready to answer when Max touched her arm.

  “I take care of him, if you wao ma’am.” Max offered.

  Sylvie shook her head and pushed her bangs from her eyes, “That’s alright, Max. I’ve got this covered.” She winked her half-moon irises at the man and walked over to the group of guys ughing. “I don’t know you fel, what’s your name? Let me guess, Bubba?” Sylvie heard the uys start chug and raised her eyebrow waiting for the newer to answer.

  Locked in pce looking at Sylvie’s eyes, the man took a few seds to answer. “N..no…the guys…um..” He poio the circle, “...they said..to..oh boy..call you L-l-luna.” He frantically tapped his chest, “I’m B-Bary, not Bubba.”

  “Bary, darl’n.” Sylvie smiled and patted the heavyset man on the shoulder, “They set you up, hon.” She drew out her southern at a bit, “Luna is their little pet name for me.” She poin. “They all think I am some sort of moon spirit dan around naked.” Giving Bary a little wink, Sylvie gave him a wele light kiss on his cheek. “Wele to the party, Bary. e inside in a few and one of the girls will give your first round on me. Just ask for Amber.”

  “A, e on Moonie! Give us something.” Anuy behind Bary ughed, “Why are you so te this evening?” He tapped on his expech then patted another one of his buddy's on the shoulder, “Couldn’t get away from yirl fast enough? I think we need pictures for proof.”

  Deg that a little fun was in order, Sylvie wao give the guys something to think and ponder about as she walked away. Sylvie picked to show off the rear of her blue jacket. A patch with the name ‘Oten’ written in gothic lettering sat above a mouth plete with four fangs and little drops of blood that adorhe heavy leather. Spinning on her boot heel, Sylvie giggled and blew the group a fake kiss. “Something like that might give you all a collective heart attabsp; See ya inside, boys.”

  “Nie, boss.” Max chuckled.

  Using her key to open the door, Sylvie nodded and flipped the open sign on. “Sometimes they need a little fun, Max.” She poio the crowd, “Oddly, that little bunch keeps things from getting out of hand.” Sylvie rubbed her for a sed, “I will send Amber out to che them throughout the evening.”

  “That a good idea? A bunch of drunk bikers that aren’t really bikers?” Max ughed and shook his bald head.

  “I trust Amber.” Sylvie stepped one foot ihe building then paused, “Keep an eye on her anyways, alright?” She watched as the rge guy gave her a loose salute.

  --

  Striding through the entrance, Sylvie took the time to opewo sets of doors that separated the two ses of the establishment. Clearly beled signs that read “Speakeasy” and “Dining” shone in a calming violet light tered above the doors. Betweewo openings, Sylvie had a wide oak desk structed for her host and cierge to lead her patrons through the building to the side they wished to participate in. A questioning look came over Sylvie’s features wheiced that none of her staff were there to greet her. Poking her head into the restaurant, Sylvie saw her bartender polishing the gssware. “Larry, where are the girls?” She inquired.

  “I thought they were setting up over there.” Larry poio the more a packed side of the house. “It’s just Laurie, Will and I at the moment. Do you need us to e over?” He asked and scratched his short blonde hair.

  Sylvie shook her hair and hung up her coat on the small rack for the employees. “That’s okay, I just thought Jessica was c that se tonight.” Sylvie rolled her eyes when Larry shrugged his shoulders ao his previous job.

  Flig ora light switches as she walked the hallway, Sylvie made her way into the rge bar and noticed that nothing was set up. Bar stools were still oall tables, the few televisions were unpowered, the chairs around the smaller tables were still upside down on the marble. When the DJ came out from his small booth, Sylvie fshed a quick grin. “Hey Will, where are Jessica, Amber and Veronica?”

  “They were down there. I saw them power up the systems and that was it. I have been doing sound checks sihen.”

  Sighing, Sylvie waved Will over. “Could you at least help a bit ahe stuff off the tables? We should have beewenty minutes ago.”

  “Sure. I work the sound system from my Iphone anyway.” Will chuckled and began pullis down. “As strange as those three are, I would bet they are in your office.”

  Trudging off to her office, Sylvie looked back at Will for a sed. “ you start off with something on the heavy side? I am feeling like the guitar and bass are the groove this evening.”

  Letting out a snh, Will nodded his head. “Groove? I don’t know the st time I heard that word.”

  “You know what I meant, darl’n.” Sylvie added and took the time to focus her hearing towards her office. “Yeah, that’s where they are. Good call. We’ll be out in a bit.”

  When she reached the door to her office, Sylvie caught the faint whiff of fresh blood ing from behind the door. Slipping the key into the lock, she turhe knob and stepped into her offid saw her three blood bunnies. Letting the hydraulics close and lock the door once more, Sylvie smiled. “Hello?”

  All three of her devoted friends and employees dropped to their knees and in perfeison answered, “Mistress.” They all collectively giggled with normal bite marks all over their shoulders and skin, some deep enough to draw a few drops of blood.

  “You were te so we eained ourselves.” Jessica quickly added.

  “You said ten minutes.” Veronica chimed in.

  “You also said you'd attend to our personal needs.” Amber smiled and offered her neck.

  Reag a hand to her three friends, Sylvie pulled them up from the floor. “You don’t have to collectively call me Mistress. You aren’t my thralls or anything.” Sylvie pulled Amber into a soft hug and scraped her fangs over the skinny woman’s neck before breaking the skin aing the blood flow onto her tongue and dowhroat.

  Purring and holding on to Sylvie for dear life, Amber emitted a tiny sigh. “We know…your bite is such a gift to us all…more…” Amber shivered for a few more seds ahe holes in her neck close, f her to stumble bad flop uselessly on the sofa. Lying her head on the plush armrest and smiling wide, the ptinum blonde blood bunny relished the intoxig feeling for a few more seds. “Mistress, we like saying it just for you.” Lig her lips, Amber giggled. “We say Sylvie out there with those people…you know…um.” Amber closed her eyes and began lightly sn.

  Jessica jiggled lightly ooes in anticipation of Sylvie’s embrace. “Mistress, see how Amber is? Devoted and loving? You know we all are.” She reached and pulled a drop of blood from Sylvie’s lower lip and licked it. “I think she meant to say that we are normal around the patrons, so let us have these moments.” Jessica offered her neck after moving her long brown hair. “If you please.”

  A little needle of familiarity prickled Sylvie’s mind when Jessica issued her polite request. “My…little Jessica has learned a fun saying from a certain blue-eyed vampiress, yes?” Sylvie giggled and found the spot she desired and began feeding from her sed friend. Sylvie felt her bunny wiggle her plump form into hers and matched the purring that Amber did moments before. Slipping her hand to the small of Jessica’s back, Sylvie held her in pd ted to ten before lig the wounds closed. “There you go, my sweet Jessica.” Swirliongue over her lips, Sylvie tinued, “You taste like fine champago be savored and not wasted.”

  Taking a few moments for herself, Jessica swayed lightly ahe rush of the moment travel the length of her body before opening her glossed over brown eyes. “Mis…tress..” Jessica’s voice slurred, “...I was thinking about that same vampiress.” Jessica pulled Sylvie into a tight hug. “No parison, though. She’s still a bit stiff to deal with.” She pressed a warm kiss on Sylvie’s cheek, and adjusted her tight tee where it had exposed her round tummy during the embrace. “You are…well, warm.” Jessica theo the desk and grabbed her apron and headed out of the office. “It was just one of the things I thought she said that was cute.”

  “I guess that leaves me.” Veronica swaggered up to Sylvie and ran her finger over Sylvie’s moon tattooed arm. “Mistress.” Veronica stated and paused, “We love you and each other. It’s why we followed you from Ravenstead manor. We could have stayed behind, heck we all could have.” Veronica’s brown eyes sparkled with anticipation, “You’ve always looked after me, I even thought at oime you were in love with me.” Slowly pulling her dirty-blonde hair into a bun, Veronica leaned into Sylvie and grabbed her by the waist. “I know you have a vision you are struggling with..” Using one of her thin fingers, Veronica rubbed gently below Sylvie’s moonlit eyes. “...You have to follow them and your heart.” She kissed Sylvie’s neck lightly. “I am happy to serve, happy to be your fident and well…affeately your blood bunny.”

  When the word love pierced Sylvie’s ears, it was like a cold chill ran the length of her spine and a bit of doubt seeped into her mind.

  -Will I holy find love? Am I chasing a never ending vision?-