The Raven was an auspicious club on the outskirts of town.  A warehouse converted into a nightclub, it was the hottest hang out the dead had seen lately.  A long line stretched around the corner with potential patrons waiting to get inside the exclusive vampire club, but Mandy Roth just sauntered past it.  Michelle, the best friend she'd dragged away from her computer, was being yanked along behind her. 

            To any who saw the two women, it was a wonder they were even friends.  They were as different as night and day, and not just in looks.  Michelle was paler with hair the color of wheat, and blue-grey eyes that watched in quiet observance.  Mandy, tanned with long black hair and a rather loud mouth, was always the life of the party.  She was content in the spotlight, whereas Michelle was content out of it. 

            "Ah, stop," cried Michelle.  "Let go!" 

            "If I let go," said Mandy, "you'll just try to run away─again."  

            Michelle grimaced and made a face behind Mandy as one of Mandy’s fake silver hair extensions fell out.  Michelle laughed slightly as it blew past her foot.  It was a shame to see it go, it matched Mandy’s silver mini skirt and tiny top.  Michelle rolled her eyes when she noticed that Mandy’s four inch spiked boots ran all the way up her legs.  

            Whereas Mandy was a total party girl, Michelle was more conservative.  Mandy frowned as she looked her over, but no amount of persuasion got Michelle into a sexy little dress.  She wore a faded pair of blue jeans and a faded grey T-shirt that had seen better days, but thankfully had no holes in it.  Her long hair fastened back into the customary ponytail that aided in her virginal appearance.  

            Mandy snorted, thankful that Michelle hadn't insisted on wearing pajama pants out of the house.  She could almost swear the girl lived in them! 

            Michelle’s eyes widened as the large man guarding the door motioned them forward.  Seven feet tall and pushing three hundred pounds made him seem a little like a bald terminator checking IDs.  He put his hand out and Mandy grabbed it.  He pulled her close and gave her a hug.  

            “What’s on the menu tonight, Mandy?” he asked in his deep voice. 

            “You, baby, only you.”  She gave a little flick of her hair and glanced over at Michelle.  “Makonnen, this is my friend Michelle.  She works with me down at The Nocturnal Journal.  She handles the Arts section, and before you even ask, yeah, I’m still writing the sex column.”  

            “You still working for them?  Damn girl, I thought you’d have given that up by now and taken Armando up on his offer.”  Makonnen glanced at Michelle and smiled wide.  “Nice to meet you, Michelle.  Watch out for this one, she’s trouble.”  

            Mandy gave a loud laugh and grabbed onto Michelle’s arm. “Come on.”  

            “Who’s Armando?” Michelle asked.  

            Mandy smiled and pulled her through the club doors.  “He and his best friend own just under half of the club and the other half is owned by another vamp.”  

            “Hmm,” Michelle said softly.  There was more to the story than what Mandy was letting on.  Although, she knew Mandy well enough to know that after alcohol was added, all the secrets would be spilled.  

            Music boomed around them.  For a minute Michelle was sure that she was now rendered deaf.  Red, blue and yellow strobe lights flashed all around them.  “Yippee, if I don’t go deaf, I’ll be blind,” Michelle said sarcastically under her breath.  

            “What?” Mandy leaned in closer to her friend.  “I’m sorry, it’s a little noisy in here.”  

            “Yeah, I noticed,” said Michelle, her tone dry.  She looked around the club and wondered where exactly her friend had taken her.  She understood the place catered to the supernatural, but now was starting to wonder if it was a fetish club to boot.  Knowing Mandy, the answer was yes.

             “Come on,” said Michelle.  “I see a few spots at the—” 

            “Oh, look, the bar’s open.  Come on, I want you to meet the gang.”  Mandy grabbed Michelle’s arm and pulled her to the nearest barstool.  Looking at the bartender, she batted her eyelashes coyly.  Michelle rolled her eyes and chuckled to herself.  Her voice a playful purr that always drove men mad, Mandy said, “Hi, Armando.” 

            “Hi, kitten,” Armando answered smoothly.   

            Michelle frowned.  It was clear by his play of fangs, that he was a vampire and she definitely wasn’t into vampires.  Not that they weren’t handsome specimens, she just couldn’t appreciate anything that sucked blood for a living.  She studied him closer, a memory trying to tug at her brain.  He looked somewhat familiar.  His dark black, wavy hair hung just past his shoulders and his sapphire blue eyes weren’t ones that you’d forget easily.  He was taller than Michelle liked and not quite the body builder type she seemed drawn too, but gorgeous all the same.   

            “Regular,” panted Mandy.  She glanced over at Michelle.  “And the celibate nun here will have a Virgin….” 

            Armando grinned wickedly at the word. 

            “Mary,” finished Mandy with a smirk. 

            “Better a prude than a….”  The rest of Michelle’s response was lost in a grumble.  

            Armando leaned over the bar and attempted to kiss Mandy’s check.  Michelle watched as Mandy dodged it without being obvious.   

            “Smooth,” said Michelle in a hushed tone.  

            “Hmm?”  

            Michelle looked over at her green-eyed friend and shook her head slightly.  “Nothing, so tell me again why we’re here?”  

            “To shack up with a supernatural stud for the night, honey.  Isn’t that what all you humans come in here for?” a deep voice said from behind her.  

            Michelle turned around slowly, ready to verbally lash out at the chauvinistic pig that had decided to grace her with his presence.  She opened her mouth, but no sound fell out.  She stood speechless, taking in the sight before her.  Six feet of well-oiled, rock hard muscle stood before her.   

            Mandy put her chin on Michelle’s shoulder and giggled.  “Breathe,” she said softly in her ear.  “Dmitri’s bark is worse than his bite.”  

            “Is that another pot shot at me being a Lycan?” Dmitri asked, seeming amused.  

            “Oh, you’re one of those,” Michelle said sardonically.  

            Dmitri focused his grey eyes on Michelle and flashed a smile that could make any woman melt.  “Yeah, I’m one of those.  I take it from your tone that you have yet to experience riding a wolf.”  

            Michelle let out a humorless chuckle, spun around, and headed to the other side of the room.  Dmitri moved in closer to Mandy and leaned against the bar.  “She’s a hottie.”