CLUB NUMBER FIVE (Immortal Blood) Read Free Page B

“Yes?”
    “I came to see Jonathan,” I said, trying to sound convincing.
    “He didn't mention you,” he said, and I knew he knew I was lying.
    “Well, here I am!” I chirped. “Will you let me in?”
    He hesitated and I felt hope rising inside me. I tried to look harmless and sexy at the same time. I wanted him to think I was some brainless bimbo that Jonathan had hooked.
    “Let me see your arm,” he finally said. I raised my arms.
    He grabbed my left arm and searched it carefully.
    “So, will you let me in?” I asked nervously.
    “I don't think so,” he said and dropped my arm. “Look, lady, I don't know why you're here, but do yourself a favor and go away.”
    “But Jonathan said...” I stammered.
    He gave me one look and I shut up.
    “Fine,” I snapped. “I'll just wait until he comes out.”
    He shrugged and slammed the door in my face.
    I leaned on the nearest wall and tried to look like I belonged there. I watched people come and go and I could feel the bouncer's eyes on me every time he opened the door, but there was no way I would give up. I would wait as long as it took to see Jonathan. Hunger swelled in my stomach and suddenly I remembered I hadn't eaten anything in two days. Somewhere deep inside I knew if I drank blood the hunger would ease, but there was no way I was doing that.
    I had gone to a pet store after school that day. I hadn't meant to do anything. I just went to look at the animals. I'd thought I could be like the Cullens in Twilight or like Stefan in Vampire Diaries and drink only animal blood, but a mere look at the fluffy bunnies' eyes had made me sicken. I saw the trustful look in their eyes and the look in the eyes of a little girl who'd come to buy a pet, and I knew I could never do it. I could never kill an animal nor could I imagine myself drinking its blood. So here I was, in the dark alley waiting for a guy who obviously didn't want anything to do with me, and the hunger was killing me. Why had Jonathan done this to me if he didn't want to help me? How could he be so cruel?
    I went to the door again and knocked. The door opened immediately.
    “Still here?” The bouncer lifted his eyebrow. “Why don't you be a good girl and go home. There's nothing for you here.”
    “But you don't understand!” I cried desperately.
    “Believe me, I do,” he said, and I could swear I heard a hint of regret in his voice. “We're closing in one hour and you better be gone before that.”
    “Or...?” I whispered.
    “Or you're going to find yourself in a lot more trouble than where you are right now.”
    I shook my head and felt the tears burning my eyes. “I'm so hungry,” I sighed tiredly.
    “Then feed,” he growled and shut the door.
    I stared at the door. Had he really said feed, not eat? He knew! That's it ; I was so sure of it now. I started to bang the door but he didn't open it again. Eventually, I was so exhausted I crashed against the door and cried. The horrible truth started to reveal itself to me. No one was going to help me. I was alone.
    I glanced at the numbers in my cell. Three thirty. Half an hour and they would close the place, and my blurry instinct told me the bouncer hadn't lied. I should be far from here then. I sighed. The problem was, I had no place to go. If I went home I would do something horrible. I was sure of it. If dinner with my family had been bad, I could only imagine it getting worse. I hadn't seen the food Mom had placed on my plate. I hadn't heard Dad's laughter when my little sister told a joke. All I could see was their veins. All I could hear was their heartbeats and how the blood ran under their skin.
    I glanced at my cell again and saw that Kate had texted me twelve times. I knew it wasn't fair, but once I'd made up my mind I knew what I was going to do. I opened my cell and pressed Kate's number.
    “Sam?” Kate's voice was sleepy.
    “I need to see you,” I blurted.
    “Now? Do you know what the time is?”
    “You wanted to know