“My club.” Jo corrected, stepping from the shadows and Tina jumped, not
having heard or seen Jo coming into the club. Jo knelt, taking Shane’s
chin and raising her eyes to hers. Interesting color, and the
intensity. Jo looked up, locking eyes with Susan and making her look
away.

Shane gasped; the woman’s eyes were a vibrating dark amber, shimmering
in the low torchlight of the room, and Susan said nothing. Shane took
note; this woman was more powerful than Susan was. Maybe even an ally.
Jo studied her, and smiled.

“Come with me, Shane?” Jo asked and Shane nodded, swallowing and
suddenly wondering if it was safer with Susan. Everything about her
screamed danger, but Shane followed; for Tina’s sake. She cast one
quick look back to Tina, whose mouth was in a soft ‘O’, stunned at what
Shane had just done so easily and willingly.

“I’ll bring her back safely, Tina; it will only take a moment.” Jo
said, taking Shane’s chin and making her rise to her feet. Shane gave
Tina a pleading look and followed Jo to the hidden stairs behind the
bar.

She quickly followed the woman, her body aching as Jo pushed open the
door and let her go first. Shane stopped at the second door, and Jo put
her hand to a palm scanner, and then she took Shane’s hand. Letting the
scanner do its work and she typed in her name with the small keypad.
Shane noticed her hand was cold to the touch, so cold that it burned as
her fingertips held her palm down.

“You can come in any time now, put your hand to the scanner and it will
announce you.” Jo said and Shane swallowed, unspeaking. Jo pushed the
door open and Shane walked it, stopping suddenly.

“Oh *****!” Shane said, feeling like she was floating as she saw the
club below, dancing figures under her like ants in lust, moving to the
silent beat. She took a step back right into Jo, who caught her and
smiled.

“I love when someone comes in here for the first time. You can taste
their fear drifting off them, a thick taste on the palette.” Jo said,
and Shane looked up, eyes locking with hers, but looking away again. Jo
licked her teeth, the sharp fangs cutting into her tongue.

“A friend of the alluring Tina; I’m intrigued. That is for another
time. Do you know what you are doing, Shane? Our time together is short
and I can’t waste a moment. Susan will only wait so long, and she was
very eager to get her claws into you, so tell me you know what you are
doing?” Jo asked, moving around her, Shane felt the air stirring all
around her and Jo touched her neck. Shane gasped.