The Underworld

[mentat_emulator]

Written for Vamptober prompt number 28 (yes, I'm doing them out of order)

Vampire who runs the underworld — no, it's a licensed bar and music venue, what do you mean?

It is approximately 1600 words, or about 3 pages long. Enjoy!

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It was Wolf Night down at the Underworld, and Benny was feeling lucky. He'd gotten the idea in is head, encouraged by his cadre of admirers, that he deserves to lead his own pack. The young werewolves looked up to him, all of twenty-nine years old, and had been whispering in his ear about it for months. But he can't just declare himself a leader; he needs permission from at least three elders to split off from the Heights pack without serious repercussions.

And who should happen to be at the bar tonight, but Old Tessa (don't let her hear you say 'Old,' or god help you), the most reclusive of his pack elders. He had been in a room with her only once before, at his induction six years ago. She was memorable though – six-foot-four, built like a warhorse, with her short blonde hair giving way to silvery gray. The younger women swooned over her, pack of rabid lesbians that they mostly were, and even Benny had to admit that she had a certain beauty for her age. But Tessa only really kept company with wolves her own age (and, it was rumored, other things), and rarely gave direct guidance to the young. It must say something about her character that she was still highly respected, and maintained her title as elder, despite this.

 

But there she was, sitting at a private table out on the patio, with another, much younger woman. Benny's packmates were immediately pressuring him to go make his case, despite this being a social event. It was a waxing gibbous moon that night, which was making them all rowdy. Some were even half-transformed, the best they could manage before the full moon. Benny was letting it go to his head. He strode over to where Tessa was sitting, projecting confidence and bravado, and stood at the edge of the table, waiting to be acknowledged, as was proper. The younger woman was talking, and continued as if he wasn't there.

“It's only been a few measly years, after all, they know what it means to do business with me.” She was wearing a thin black cocktail dress, and nothing else, in the October chill. “All this insistence on things happening right away, it's a cultural shift that I've not been enjoying.” She paused to take a sip of her drink, and Benny caught a whiff of it. Blood cocktail. He looked at her more intently, and surreptitiously took a deep breath. Pale, red eyes, and his nose was filled with the scent of vampire. It looked like the rumors were true.

“It's the attitude of the young,” Tessa replied in her gravelly voice, “Keep them in line for a few decades, they'll come to understand.”

“You're right, of course. I'm just grumpy, being bothered like this right after I woke up.” She turned her gaze to Benny for the first time, “Speaking of which.”

Tessa deigned then to glance at him as well. She looked him over, took a gulp of her beer, and sighed.

“Well? This had better be good.”

Benny found himself suddenly nervous. The courage gained from a bright moon and a belly full of alcohol withered before his elder's gaze. He cleared his throat.

“What's the matter, boy?” the vampire said before he could compose himself, “Speak!” It was said as if she were ordering a dog, and immediately made Benny bristle. Tessa kicked her drinking buddy's leg under the table. Benny calmed himself. He had to make a good impression.

“Elder,” he began, “As I'm sure you know, the pack is growing large.” Tessa made no acknowledgment. “Some would say too large.”

“Would you say so, boy?” The vampire had a wry smile on her face.

“Don't call me 'boy,'” Benny growled.

“Continue,” Tessa interjected, before he could get worked up. Her tone was impatient.

“Like I was saying. The pack's getting crowded. The boys think it's time for a change.” He paused a beat, to see if Tessa would say anything, then continued. “A splinter pack is just what we need, a-”

“And you're the one to lead it, of course.” The damn vampire wouldn't keep her mouth shut.

“That's right,” Benny said confidently, “I am. I've got the experience, and the strength to lead. The boys look up to me.”

“You're name's Benny, right?” Tessa asked.

“That's right.”

“How many of your 'boys' are asking for this?” She leaned forward and stared hard at him.

“Uh, there's at least ten who would-”

“And where would you go? You want a splinter pack right here in downtown?”

“Well, uh, there's space further out, on the Northside...” Benny was getting flustered.

“And how will you get there? Are all your 'boys' ready to move house? Are you going to pay for it?”

“That's... I can sort that out, I have connections.”

The vampire woman chuckled to herself. Benny bristled again, started to turn to her.

“Look at me,” Tessa snapped. Benny obeyed. “Do you have even the faintest idea what you're asking for?”

“Oh, go easy on him, Tessy,” the vampire was leaning back in her chair, drink in one hand, smiling her infuriating smile, “He's just a kid, he doesn't know what he wants.”

Tessy, the bitch had called her. A pack elder. Tessy. Benny was in disbelief. He glared at her, taking note of her skinny arms, her small frame. He could take her easy, the vampires around here were all pushovers.

“Look at him shaking! So nervous.” But she just kept on smiling. Benny balled his fists, trying to stay composed. He would not let this bloodsucker ruin his shot at-

“Hey boy,” the vampire leaned in, “I can smell the fear on you. You should go back and play with the other pups.”

“Rose, that's enough, stop provoking-” Tessa began, but Benny had already lost his cool.

“I am not a boy!” he roared, pivoting to the vampire, “And I am not a fucking dog!” He leaned over her, one hand gripping the table, the other the arm of her chair. “And it's not the business of some bloodsucker to tell me about my own goddamn pack!”

The mood changed fast. Everyone within earshot went quiet. Tessa, who had half risen from her seat, eased herself back down. Her face was blank. The vampire still sat serenely, a smirk on her face. But there was something in her eyes – a certain malice. She stared into Benny. He didn't flinch. The moon was nearly full, and he was in his prime. Let the neckbiter start something.

“I'll give you a chance to save face, boy,” the vampire said with ice in her voice, “Now sit.”

He did not sit. He instead made to grab at her dress, intending to scare her just enough to shut her up. But the vampire's hand shot out, lightning fast, and grabbed his wrist. Benny's packmates made to move in and back him up, but a single look from Tessa held them all back.

The vampire's grip tightened around him. God, the strength apparent in that grip. Benny thought his wrist might snap.

“It's funny,” the vampire was saying, “how you go to sleep for a few short years, and everyone forgets that you're not to be fucked with.” Her second hand grabbed a hold of his lapel, while her eyes bored into him. The night was growing unnaturally darker, but those eyes remained twin points of glowing red contempt. Benny felt his feet leave the ground. He couldn't tear his gaze away from her, compelled by her will to see only her. His mouth went dry with genuine fear.

“Listen to me, little boy,” Rose's voice was a cacophony within his skull, “I am Rose, and this is my bar. I have run it for longer than you've been alive. I will continue to run it when your miserable mortal life has ended.” They were at least twenty feet in the air by now. “Always remember this: you are guest in my domain.”

And then she dropped him.

A few of Benny's friends tried to dash in to catch him, but they weren't fast enough. He landed hard on one of the long wooden tables. Given he was a werewolf, his injuries were not serious. But it still hurt. He groaned, and rolled onto his side, where his buddies were hurriedly gathering, eager to help, or retaliate if they were allowed.

Rose drifted down and landed delicately on her feet next to Tessa, who was still seated.

“Bit much, don't you think?” Tessa remarked before finishing off her beer.

“He won't soon forget it,” Rose said nonchalantly. “I am awfully worked up, though. Fancy a fuck in the bathroom?”

Tessa let herself smile, “No, we'll go to my place.” She stood and put a big, fuzzy hand on Rose's shoulder. “Don't want to let the kids see you all bruised up, do you?”

Rose grinned ear to ear, “A very good point, my love.”

“You know,” Tessa said as they walked out, arm in arm, “You keep antagonizing werewolves, it's gonna bite you in the ass eventually.”

“Oh, you promise?”

Tessa rolled her eyes, “Seriously. You might be stronger than you used to be, but if one of these punks caught you in the daylight...”

“Well then they shouldn't be so fun to tease, frankly.”

Tessa sighed. Why did she love this woman.

 

Comments

[reliarobot]

Love a good confident vampire