Free 2 Sean Hayden by Sean Hayden Page A

over six feet tall and a spidery air clung to him like a shadow. Long spindly legs propelled him across the room to the master's side. "Yes, my master?" The man bowed low and remained prostrate.
    "Raul, we have honored guests. Tonight we shall have a feast in their honor, please make it so," Santiago told the gangly man. He stood and I could see the excitement in his eyes. I had a bad feeling about it.

 
     
    Chapter 9
     
     
     
    The spacious underground room looked as if it had been hewn from the rock by hand. Score mark, upon score mark marred the granite walls not leaving a smooth surface anywhere. I marveled at the difference between the room in which we sat and the expertly crafted hidden entrance we were led through to enter the vast catacomb-like area beneath Santiago's club. Gone were the sounds of the club, replaced by the subtler sounds of acoustic Spanish guitar in the background.
    A wooden table, easily forty feet long sat squarely in the center of the cavern. Wrought iron candle chandeliers hung from the stone ceiling over different segments of the table, as well as candles in wall sconces illuminated the room and cast flickering shadows everywhere. The effect seemed positively medieval. I liked it. I doubted I'd be decorating an apartment in D.C. like it anytime soon, but I liked it.
    "Please, make yourself at home, the master will be joining you shortly," Raul told us and gave a curt bow leaving us to explore the room. I wandered to the far wall and sat down on a mahogany colored leather couch and watched Marcel and Strozzini as they made their way to where I sat.
    "I apologize for the wordplay in Santiago's office, Ashlyn. There is so much you need to learn about being a vampire," Marcel said and sat next to me, leaving Strozzini to either sit somewhere else or continue standing. "When the master of the city offers you hospitality, you are under obligation to accept. It is one of our oldest laws," he continued and Strozzini nodded as he stood a few feet away from us.
    "He could have taken offense, but I think he is a little confused as to your office," Strozzini said. "Remember the words we spoke, for it is almost a ritualistic response, the same for Santiago's acknowledgement of our gratitude."
    "Well at least I don't have to remember Santiago's response. I have no inclination to ever be master of any city," I said with distaste, earning me a short burst of laughter from Strozzini, but not Marcel.
    "Take care when you speak out loud so the fates may overhear, il mio piccolo tesoro . Sometimes the fates take great pleasure in heaping on you that what you wish for least," Strozzini said with a sad smile. It sounded as if he spoke from experience.
    "What does il mio piccolo tesoro mean?"
    "My little treasure," he replied offhandedly, like he had more serious thoughts running through his head.
    Santiago chose that moment to enter the dining hall. I hadn't even imagined vampires gathered for meals. I did however have a feeling of what would be on the menu, I just didn't know how I would get away with not partaking in the feast.
    "I hope you are all comfortable, the others should be joining us shortly," Santiago said, and as if on cue, one by one, came the rest of his entourage. They took their seats around the table and left spaces at the head for Santiago and us. The men talked animatedly about the state of affairs of the Sacramento vampires, and I listened disinterestedly as the vampires filled the spaces around the table. Most of them seemed comprised of the workers from the club upstairs. My suspicions were confirmed when the tall blonde dancer who'd captured my attention onstage sat in one of the seats closest to where we would be sitting. I'd just have to make sure I sat on the opposite side of the table from her.
    "It is time," Santiago said and raised his arms. He walked us over to the table and pulled the seat out by the blonde exotic dancer, looking at me expectantly.
    Well, crap . "Thank you, Mr.