Work Text:
Nadja stood in the VIP section of the club, a balcony overlooking the main dancefloor. She walked towards the railing with a drink in hand and looked down over her patrons. The crowd was alive with the pulse of music and lights. Soft pinks, blues, and purples colored their bodies, bouncing to the beat. It was a successful first week in business.
Nadja, standing tall with one hand on her hip, raised the crystal tumbler to her lips. How sweet it is, she thought. Eyeing the dancefloor, she tried to pick out the faces of her friends from the crowd, but she could not find any. Nandor was busy doing his typical idiot shit, Laszlo was probably trying to put the boy down for bed, and it was Guillermo’s night off. She swirled the remaining blood around in her nearly empty glass.
A familiar head of blonde hair caught her eye: the Guide. She was hanging around the fringes of the dancefloor chatting with a patron. Nadja cocked her head to the side, considering her. Previously, she viewed the Guide as being completely serious, uptight even. Since she’d been working more closely with her, Nadja grew to appreciate her. The Guide was committed to doing anything she did well. The bitch gets shit done. After the Guide’s therapy session with Laszlo, Nadja was beginning to see a new side of her as well. Now she was watching her from above, her lips set in a wide, open-mouthed smile, fangs and all. Maybe it was her good mood, or the liquor sitting in her chest, but perhaps she’d even grown to admire the Guide.
Nadja sipped the rest of her drink, turning the empty glass around in her hands. Might as well get some more. She headed down the staircase past the velvet rope to the edge of the dance floor, trying to bypass the dancers. She wriggled her way to the front of the line at the bar to find the Guide there as well.
“Mistress Nadja!,” she said in a high voice.
“Hello, the Guide.”
“Where have you been hiding all night?”
“I’ve been in the VIP section. What is the status of the dance floor?”
“Status report: the music is bumpin’, the ladies look good, and the blood is flowing!”
“This is excellent news!”
“Yeah, it’s a total fucking rager.” She noticed Nadja’s empty glass. “Did you want more of that?”
“Yes – “
The Guide snapped her fingers and the bartender, a wraith, came over.
“Type O on the rocks for me and AB neat for the Mistress.”
Nadja raised her eyebrows.
“You remembered my drink?”
“Of course!”
The wraith slid the drinks in front of them.
“Thanks, Gary,” the Guide said to the bartender.
“They have names?”
“They don’t remember their own names, so I gave them some. Gary and I go way back!” The Guide picked up her drink. “Cheers?”
Nadja picked up her glass and the two of them clinked rims.
She had only taken a few sips when the Guide slammed her glass down on the bar.
“Do you hear that song?”
Nadja listened closely.
“Is that…the sacred chant of the ancient ones?”
“Yes! Fergalicious!”
The discography of the powerful vampire, Fergie the Fergalicious, was irresistible and drove them to dance. Nadja knocked back the rest of her drink and the two of them shoved through the crowd to the main floor.
Once in the middle, they began to dance. They were off beat, off time, and bobbing their heads back and forth having fun.
When the alcohol hit Nadja during the song, things around her got slower and fuzzier. The music beat in time with the flash of the lights, and it was so loud she could feel the bass in her chest. She ceased dancing to maintain her balance, instead focusing on the Guide. The Guide moved methodically to the rhythm, her curls swaying with her. Flashes of light cast her face and hair in a wash of lavender and, if Nadja let herself get lost in her glow, she almost seemed like a vision.
Not paying attention, the Guide lost her footing and stumbled forward. She fell towards Nadja, wrapping her arms around Nadja’s neck for balance. Nadja grabbed the Guide’s back to stop herself from falling, and immediately realized how tightly their bodies were pressed together. She was so close she could feel the Guide’s breath on her neck. The Guide pulled back a little and Nadja locked eyes with her. The Guide’s gaze dropped to Nadja’s lips. Nadja leaned in.
Suddenly, someone bumped into the pair, causing Nadja to drop the Guide who hit the floor like a sack of flour.
Nadja felt a pang of embarrassment wash over her body. She took a few steps back, desperately looking anywhere else in the room, to pretend like she hadn’t just tried to kiss the Guide. Wait. Embarrassment. Why was she embarrassed?
Nadja was accustomed to taking lovers. She was definitely physically attracted to the Guide and figured they would have some sort of sexual romp at one point or another. Kissing, among other things, was likely to happen. However, Nadja was not accustomed to feeling any sort of emotion related to her extramarital lovers. But there it was. Embarrassment at seeming foolish in front of the Guide. It was a symptom of something much more than lust. A crush.
The Guide stood up.
“Don’t worry, I am okay!”
Nadja shook the thought out of her head, chalking it up to the alcohol. She needed to eat something of substance to sober up. She abandoned the Guide on the dancefloor and headed for the exit. The Guide trailed after her.
“Hey! Aren’t you going to dance some more?”
Nadja pretended not to hear her. When the Guide grabbed Nadja’s hand, her accursed feet refused to take her any further. She turned to look at her against her better judgment.
“I am erm – going to get a bite to eat. Do you want to join me?”
Fuck, why did she say that.
“Yes! I’d love to!”
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
About ten minutes of flying had led Nadja and the Guide to a nearby park, landing at the entrance. The park was adjacent to an upscale apartment complex. You could usually find joggers, canoodlers, or people walking their tiny white dogs throughout the evening. The high energy atmosphere of the club shifted into something quieter in the silence of the night. Nadja felt a bit awkward, standing away from the Guide as they strolled into the park.
Looking to start a conversation, the Guide piped up.
“Pretty good opening weekend, huh?”
“Yes, I suppose so.”
“How does it feel?”
“Good,” she shrugged.
“Just good? You’ve led the local Council, served on the worldwide Council, and returned to open your own nightclub. It has to be better than just good!”
Nadja had not taken the time to consider how she felt. Without the stupor of alcohol and the thrum of bass in her head, it started to sink in. She had done all those things and she had successfully opened a club. Lines of vampires spanned the whole block for a chance to enter a club that held her name. A name that once meant nothing, held no value, was now on everyone’s lips and they were practically dying a second time just to get in. A smile spread over her face.
“Actually, it feels motherfucking awesome!” She quickly glanced over to the Guide. “And you. You also helped.”
“You think so?” The Guide perked up.
The same feeling of admiration she held earlier returned to Nadja, now sober enough to really think about it. She couldn’t deny how imperative the Guide’s assistance was to opening the venue. She commanded the wraiths, oversaw the demolition herself, coordinated building, and even set up the club on its opening night. The boys at home helped here and there but it was the Guide who did most of the groundwork.
“Yes, well done, the Guide.”
The Guide beamed at her praise.
“Oh, it was nothing really. I suppose my research did help, though.”
“What research?”
“Well, before we officially opened, I went on some reconnaissance missions to gather information.”
“Where?”
“I have been going to human bars!”
“Why on this awful Earth would you do that?”
“To people watch!”
“Like a sick little voyeur?”
“Not exactly; I sit at the bar and observe the humans around me. I am very inconspicuous about it. I even order a human beer so I may appear as one of their own!”
“And this works?”
“Sometimes. A few have asked me not to come back because they know I pour the beers on the floor. But, besides getting down and freaking nasty, I’ve learned that humans are very stupid. They’ll go into just about any place with mediocre music that serves alcohol to party. Which gave me a new idea: we could use the club as a front to attract prey and fill the bar’s blood supply!”
“That is…not a terrible idea. You’ve proven to be very savvy at all this club business. Isn’t this much nicer than being attached to some drab old building?”
The Guide rubbed at the back of her neck.
“I like it and all but…without the building, I feel like I don’t know who I am anymore.”
“What do you mean? You’re the second baddest bitch in the club circuit right now! After me, since I am the first baddest bitch in the club circuit right now,” Nadja interrupted.
“Right, right, it’s just, I’m not the dirty vampire slut I used to be – “
“Legendary exploits, by the way.”
“Thanks – but I’m also not just ‘the Guide’ for the Council anymore. I don’t really know who I am now.”
“That is not such a bad thing.”
“How so?”
“You’re your own vampire now, baby!”
“Yeah…”
“So that means you can do whatever the fuck you want.”
“Yeah…”
“And you don’t have to listen to the Council!”
“Yeah,” the Guide nodded her head, “fuck the Council!”
“Fuck the Council!” Nadja repeated, louder.
“I am going to do what I want, when I want!”
“Hell yeah!”
“I’m going to be my own person!”
“Hell yeah!”
“I’m going to commit arson!”
The Guide threw her hands up in the air, setting a nearby trash can on fire with her powers.
A new feeling overcame Nadja as she watched the Guide laughing maniacally, her features lit softly by the light of a burning trash fire. She felt it in her stomach, light and fluttery. It was awful.
When the Guide turned back around, she saw Nadja staring at her.
“Sorry,” she laughed nervously, “got a little carried away there.”
“Do not apologize, arson is a wonderful outlet!”
The Guide looked at her with her big, round eyes, her face and hair cast a dull orange glow. She was beautiful. Nadja felt nauseous.
They took a seat on a bench next to the burning trash can with the Guide sitting close to Nadja.
“You know, I like spending time with you. It’s always been just me and the wraiths, so this has been a nice change.”
The Guide was shoulder to shoulder with her and it drove Nadja insane. It would’ve been easier if they were just fucking, but instead she was stupidly nervous about their shoulders touching. A shoulder!
The Guide noticed Nadja’s uncomfortable expression.
“Are you okay?”
“Just fine.”
The Guide shifted away from Nadja, putting space between them. The sinking feeling that created was infinitely worse than the stupid nervous butterflies.
“Is this about earlier?,” the Guide asked.
Fucking shit.
“Whatever could you mean, the Guide?”
“I could have read this wrong, but I thought you were going to kiss me before, no?”
Sweet Satan, she thought the Guide would be too drunk to remember that. She was dead but she swore she could feel her heart pounding out of her chest. She felt like she was going to be sick.
“I don’t know.”
She cursed herself. Really? That is your best answer?
“Eh, no worries. We can move on from it.”
“No. I did. I did try to kiss you.”
“Why didn’t you?”
Nadja stared straight ahead at a tree and avoided eye contact.
“I was nervous…I like you,” Nadja mumbled.
The Guide’s eyes went wide. That was not something she ever expected to hear from her. Nadja was stubborn, rude, and cruel and yet she was tripping over her own words. She had grown a soft spot for the Guide. Sure, Nadja was a pain sometimes, but the Guide had always admired that she knew exactly what she wanted and that always went after it. And now Nadja wanted her.
But, this also meant the Guide could take the piss out of her and that was a golden opportunity she never passed up.
“What was that?”
“I like you.”
“Still didn’t catch that.”
“You heard me!”
“I’m afraid not. You’ll need to say it one more time.”
“Oh for fucks sake, I like you! I like you in that stupid, soggy headed, damp teenager way!”
“That’s a lot of words to describe a crush.”
“Cease speaking or I will change my mind.”
“Aw, but it’s funny!”
Nadja crossed her arms and huffed, blowing her bangs out of her eyes.
“But it’s also very cute. Do you want to try kissing me again?”
“Yes, you arsehole.”
Nadja turned her body towards the Guide and inched towards her. Sober and quiet, time moved around them slow and thick like sap. The Guide had often thought about kissing Nadja, mostly in her dreams. It was always rough, never earnest like this. She was so close to her face, eyes half-lidded and red lips slightly parted. The Guide reached out her hand, placing it on Nadja’s neck. Nadja bowed her head, leaning towards her mouth, noses touching when a whistle split the air.
It was a man. He whistled at them.
“Didn’t mean to stop the show! Keep going, ladies!”
Nadja smiled, looked towards the Guide, and then back towards the man, and stood up.
“Why don’t you come over here and join us?”
“Shit, really? Don’t mind if I do.”
He started walking towards them.
The Guide shook her head. It was too easy.
The moment he was within distance, Nadja lunged forward and grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt, wringing it around his neck.
“What the – “
She began to float off the ground.
“We were in the middle of something of which you rudely interrupted!,” her voice thundered.
She wound up her other arm, claws poised and ready to rip into his chest, when the Guide floated up behind her.
“Oh, let him go,” she tutted.
“What? Why?”
“It’s no fun if you kill him like that. Set him down and let him think he has a chance.”
With Nadja’s attention elsewhere, her grip had loosened and freed up some of the man’s airway.
“Put me down! Please! I’ll do whatever you want! Please, please – “
“Shhhh!” Nadja hissed right in his face before turning back to the Guide. “Mr. Interruption, this guy! He is massively annoying. I want to kill him now.”
“But shouldn’t he feel a little terror before he dies? We could make a game of it.” She leaned her head on Nadja’s shoulder.
Nadja preferred an immediate kill. Less time for her prey’s pathetic quibbling. But, unfortunately, she had a crush on the Guide and Nadja supposed she could oblige her. She dropped him.
The man fell to his knees, clawing at his chest and neck trying to regain his breath. He scrambled to get up and fled. The two hovered in the air while watching him run.
“He’s going to get away,” Nadja remarked.
“No, he won’t.”
The Guide watched intently, mentally counting down in her head until he was just near the exit.
“Now.”
She lurched forward, transforming into a cloud of vapors black as a phantom.
He almost reached the exit when she materialized right in front of him, hissing ferociously. Startled, he fell backwards. Luckily, Nadja flew up behind him. She stopped his fall and pushed him toward the Guide. The Guide pushed him back towards Nadja and they shoved his body around like a kickball at recess. The Guide then joined Nadja in the air, throwing him back and forth.
At one point during their game of catch, they were laughing so hard that he slipped from the Guide’s grasp. He used the momentary distraction to get to his feet again and take off running into the park this time.
“Hey! Get back here,” the Guide called after him. She turned into a cloud of black mist, traveling quickly along the ground. Her hands reached out, grabbing his legs and sending him falling to the ground yet again.
She dragged him by his ankles towards the tree line like a leopard with its prey. He wailed and pleaded, clawing uselessly at the dirt. Nadja flew over and joined the Guide under the tree cover.
The Guide hoisted him up and shoved his back against a tree.
“Shall we?” the Guide asked.
“We shall!”
The two of them bared their fangs at the same time, sinking their teeth into their prey’s flesh each on the opposite side of his neck.
He didn’t have the energy to struggle much as the pair drank from his neck. As his body grew cold, Nadja could feel her energy being restored. When their well of blood ran dry, Nadja threw his body to the ground and she looked at the Guide.
“Shit, I pierced an artery,” the Guide said, looking down at her blood-soaked dress.
Her face was covered in a mist of blood spatter, delicately dotting her skin like summer freckles. Blood collected at her chin and dripped onto her chest. Drops of crimson stuck to the strands of her hair like rubies beaded into a fine lace and she smiled like a jackal licking her lips. The Guide had never been more beautiful and she simply couldn’t stand it anymore.
Nadja cupped the Guide’s face with her hands and drew her in. The Guide was stunned for a moment before leaning in, kissing Nadja back.
When they pulled away, the blood from the Guide was now all over Nadja, her hands, her hair, her face. Her body felt alive from just a kiss.
The Guide pointed to Nadja’s face.
“Nice bloodstache.”
Nadja rolled her eyes, moving to wipe the blood off her face with her hand.
“Wait, use this.” The Guide pulled out a silken handkerchief from her pocket. She placed one hand on Nadja’s jaw and used the other to dab the blood from her lips.
“There you go.”
Nadja leaned in, placing another kiss on the Guide’s lips.
“Oh no, it seems I’ve acquired another bloodstache.”
“Shut up,” the Guide said, smiling and dabbing at her lips once again.
After their meal, the two finished their stroll through the park and opted to walk back to the club. It would be sunrise soon and they still needed to close up. They linked arms and teased one another all the way back. The whole situation was silly, girlish even, but it made Nadja feel alive in a way she hadn’t in centuries. Though she would only begrudgingly admit she had a crush, perhaps it wasn’t too bad if it kept the Guide by her side.