Where Secrets Lie

Kara's chest tightened, and a familiar fear arose in her. She prepared herself for the worst, knowing exactly who she was going to see on that tape. Grant hit rewind on the remote and after a few seconds, the picture stopped. Just as she feared, Alyssa stood, clear as day, in the middle of the club, wearing that unmistakable red dress she wore last night at her house.

"I don't understand. She knows that club is a hotbed for gang activity. I've told her a million times to stay away from there."

"Apparently it didn't stick," Grant replied, rubbing his cheek. A shadow of stubble covered his lower face, showing her he hadn't been home all night. His dedication to his work rivaled her own. She knew, as his partner, it was her job to voice her concern, but Alyssa was the more pressing matter.

"I'm sorry Grant, but I really need to go check on her. Can you get by on your own today?"

Grant hesitated then smiled. "You're lucky that you caught that fool Mancini yesterday. I'll give you a break for that. You owe me though. I need a day off too sometimes." He flipped imaginary hair over his shoulder. "I got to catch up on my beauty sleep, you know. These double shifts are doing a number on my skin."

Kara slapped him on the back. "You're right, I owe you."

"Yeah yeah," Grant grumbled as he waved her off.

****************************

Kara pulled up the address to Alyssa's dormitory in her GPS app and headed out. Hopefully, she'd be back home after her busy night out

Kara had never been to Alyssa's dorm. She offered to go and help Alyssa move in, but Alyssa told her not to worry about it. The dorm was a tall, brick structure that looked like a huge apartment building. With Alyssa, she was able to just walk right in, but Kara didn't have a key and needed to use the intercom.

"Hello," she said. "I'm here to see my sister."

"Come right to the front desk," a voice spoke and the door beeped, unlocking.

Kara entered the building. A few yards in front of her was a young girl only a year or so older than Alyssa. She sat behind a computer at the front desk and motioned Kara toward her. "Hi, I'm here to see my sister. Alyssa Westbrooke. I'm not sure which room she's in."

The girl stared at Kara disapprovingly over her wire-rimmed spectacles. "Just a second please." Her fingers tapped the computer keys at an unreal speed, and then suddenly stopped. "I'm sorry ma'am. No one by that name is staying here right now." At this news, a deep dent formed in Kara's forehead. "Are you sure? This is 367 Brown Street isn't it?"

The girl shrugged. "Afraid so. Sorry."

At this point, Kara was furious. No wonder Alyssa never wanted her to come visit her in the dorm; she lied about where she was living. Kara couldn't decipher why Alyssa would lie to her. Had she done something to upset her sister?

She immediately whipped out her phone and attempted to call Alyssa. She tried several times, but each time, it sent her directly to voicemail. "Damn it!" Kara cursed. She shoved her phone back in her pocket and jumped in her car. She had no idea where Alyssa was living, and she had no idea how to get ahold of her. It looked like her only option was to drive around and look for her baby sister.

Kara drove around town all day, trying to find her. She stopped by everyplace Alyssa used to frequent without any luck. Each time, she tried calling, she reached her voicemail. Finally, she decided she only had one option: to go to Immortal. She had no desire to go there, but it was the only place she honestly thought she might find Alyssa.

A full moon just began to rise above the horizon as Kara pulled up to the club. A large bouncer guarded the door, and he turned away nearly everyone who tried to enter. It was impossible to get inside, but Kara had the key: her badge.

"Sorry, you aren't on the list," the bouncer said without asking for her name or even glancing at the clipboard.

"Does this put me on the list?" She flashed her badge.

He quickly stepped aside.

Immortal was exactly how Kara pictured it: dark, crowded and noisy. Red lights flickered all around her, making it even more difficult to see where she was going in the darkness. She shoved her way through the crowds, looking for Alyssa, and she found her serving drinks to a small group in the VIP section. Tonight, she wore a black latex mini dress. Kara thought the red dress was bad enough, but this was like wearing a glove. She definitely didn't know her sister anymore.

"What the hell is she thinking?" she muttered to herself.

Kara forced her way through the packed dance floor. It was like being in a dream. Everyone seemed as if they were in a trance. More than once, someone jerked on her to dance or someone nearly knocked her over from wild dance moves. Finally, she broke through the dance floor to the VIP section.

"This is for special guests, only," the security guard said.

Alyssa hadn't noticed her, but that didn't stop Kara. She walked straight up to Alyssa and grabbed her arm. The pitcher of beer Alyssa held tumbled to the ground and spilled all over the tacky carpet.

A shrill voice whined in the background. "Hey! Someone is going to have to pay for that!"

The man whom Alyssa had been serving stood to his feet. He looked nothing like the people who frequented Immortal. He wore a black suit that looked as if it cost Kara's yearly salary. Perfectly, tailored in every way, with a gray vest and tie peeking out from under the blazer, he looked more like he belonged on Wall Street or in a movie.

His striking emerald eyes caught her attention, and she felt as if they pulled her. She tried, but she was unable to look away. Suddenly, calmness washed over her as if she was suddenly drunk or in a trance. The man opened his mouth to speak, revealing shining pearly white teeth.

"What is the meaning of this?" His smooth, deep voice reminded Kara of the ocean before a storm. Unable to reply, Kara simply continued to stare at him.

He spoke again. "Let this girl go. You need to leave now. You are not wanted here."

His words seemed so powerful to her as if they had the ability to move her. Her body wanted to do exactly what he said, and for a moment, she almost did. However, she fought the strange feeling.

"This girl needs to come with me," she said and showed her badge again.

This man looked at her badge as if it were a toy. However, he didn't argue.

Kara tightened her grasp on her sister and dragged her out of the club.

Alyssa wiggled out of her sister's grasp. "What the hell was all that about? I was trying to work. That guy who told you to leave is a very important person, in case you didn't notice. I might lose my job now!" Alyssa seemed more like her life was about to end instead of her job.

Kara was lost for what to say or do. This was no longer the same girl she had known since childhood. This was some strange imposter who hung out with creepy people in bad places.

"I've warned you about this place before. It's way too dangerous for you to be here at all, much less work here! I can see the effect that these people are having on you already. You're coming home with me right now. I forbid you to ever set foot near this club again!"

Alyssa laughed. "Forbid me? It's just a club, relax. I'm old enough to take care of myself now."

"Obviously not, if you have to work here to earn cash. Also, could you please explain to me where you have been living for the past year, since I know you haven't been living in the dorm?"

Alyssa's jaw dropped. "So you're checking up on me now?"

"Seems I have to," yelled Kara. She didn't plan to start a fight. She wanted to find a gentler way to talk to her sister about this, but as soon as she saw Alyssa in there, her mind snapped. She couldn't be calm in a situation like this.

Kara folded her arms across her chest, enraged. Her sister mimicked her.

"I'm not leaving until you tell me why this club is so dangerous," Alyssa demanded.

There was a long pause between the two women. Kara never told anyone her suspicions regarding Immortal, but it seemed it was time to tell Alyssa. Even if she didn't believe her, she had to tell her. Perhaps it would knock some sense into her.

"This is going to sound crazy," she said, taking a deep breath. "but this club is operated by vampires."

Alyssa stared at her with an incredulous look on her face. "You know about vampires?"