Sylvie

“Even’n ma’am.”  One of Sylvie’s well groomed security bouncers named Max greeted her.  He pointed at 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.  Scratching his black beard lightly, Max smiled and pointed to the door. “Veronica and the others are inside set’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 nickname, 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 can take care of him, if you want me to 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 laughing. “I don’t know you fella, what’s your name? Let me guess, Bubba?”  Sylvie heard the other guys start chuckling and raised her eyebrow waiting for the newcomer to answer.

Locked in place looking at Sylvie’s eyes, the man took a few seconds to answer. “N..no…the guys…um..”  He pointed to 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 accent a bit, “Luna is their little pet name for me.”  She pointed to her sign. “They all think I am some sort of moon spirit danc’n around naked.”  Giving Bary a little wink, Sylvie gave him a welcome light kiss on his cheek. “Welcome to the party, Bary.  Come inside in a few and one of the girls will give your first round on me.  Just ask for Amber.”

“Awww, come on Moonie!  Give us something.”  Another guy behind Bary laughed, “Why are you so late this evening?”  He tapped on his expensive watch then patted another one of his buddy's on the shoulder, “Couldn’t get away from your girl fast enough?  I think we need pictures for proof.”

Deciding that a little fun was in order, Sylvie wanted to 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 ‘Once Bitten’ written in gothic lettering sat above a mouth complete with four fangs and little drops of blood that adorned the 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 attack.  See ya inside, boys.”

“Nice one, 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 pointed to the crowd, “Oddly, that little bunch keeps things from getting out of hand.”  Sylvie rubbed her chin for a second, “I will send Amber out to check on them throughout the evening.”

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

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

--

Striding through the entrance, Sylvie took the time to open the two sets of doors that separated the two sections of the establishment.  Clearly labeled signs that read “Speakeasy” and “Dining” shone in a calming violet light centered above the doors.  Between the two openings, Sylvie had a wide oak desk constructed for her host and concierge to lead her patrons through the building to the side they wished to participate in.  A questioning look came over Sylvie’s features when she noticed that none of her staff were there to greet her.  Poking her head into the restaurant, Sylvie saw her bartender polishing the glassware. “Larry, where are the girls?”  She inquired.

“I thought they were setting up over there.”  Larry pointed to the more action packed side of the house. “It’s just Laurie, Will and I at the moment.  Do you need us to come 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 covering that section tonight.”  Sylvie rolled her eyes when Larry shrugged his shoulders and kept to his previous job.

Flicking on the extra light switches as she walked the hallway, Sylvie made her way into the large bar and noticed that nothing was set up.  Bar stools were still on the tall 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 flashed 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 since then.”

Sighing, Sylvie waved Will over. “Could you at least help a bit and get the stuff off the tables?  We should have been open twenty minutes ago.”

“Sure.  I can work the sound system from my Iphone anyway.”  Will chuckled and began pulling seats 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 second. “Can 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 snort-laugh, Will nodded his head. “Groove?  I don’t know the last 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 coming from behind the door.  Slipping the key into the lock, she turned the knob and stepped into her office and 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 perfect unison 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 late so we entertained 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.

Reaching 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 and letting the blood flow onto her tongue and down her throat.

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 seconds and felt the holes in her neck close, forcing her to stumble back and flop uselessly on the sofa.  Lying her head on the plush armrest and smiling wide, the platinum blonde blood bunny relished the intoxicating feeling for a few more seconds. “Mistress, we like saying it just for you.”  Licking her lips, Amber giggled. “We say Sylvie out there with those people…you know…um.”  Amber closed her eyes and began lightly snoring.

Jessica jiggled lightly on her toes 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 second 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 place and counted to ten before licking the wounds closed. “There you go, my sweet Jessica.”  Swirling her tongue over her lips, Sylvie continued, “You taste like fine champagne, to be savored and not wasted.”  

Taking a few moments for herself, Jessica swayed lightly and let the 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 comparison, 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 then went to 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 one time 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 confident and well…affectionately 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 honestly find love?  Am I chasing a never ending vision?-