Philadelphia by Night Chapter One - Closing Time

Michael Allens, vampire of the Daeva clan, awoke to the sound of a pounding dance beat. The sound was well-muffled by several layers of concrete and stone. He awoke secure in his haven, located deep beneath his home on the outskirts of Blacksburg, Virginia. His town, his domain, he reminded himself with a smile.

It had been two years since he’d returned to this region. Two years since he’d successfully challenged The Djinn and placed his sire, Deborah Means, upon the vampire throne of Roanoke and its surrounding cities and towns. Two years since he’d withdrawn from the politics of the vampire world to indulge his vices in peace. The pulsing bass he could hear above him said much about how much indulgence there would be tonight.

It was a typical Friday night at Michael’s villa. Michael was known across town for his lavish parties, which drew students from nearby Virginia Tech and gave them license to blow off some steam. Alcohol was plentiful. Members of the opposite sex available. If the right people were there, weed could be found, although Michael drew the line at harder drugs. Still, it was everything a hedonistic college student could ever want and all in one place. The hardest part was getting in. There was only so much space, even in Michael’s expansive home, and those slots filled up quick.

Michael checked himself in a mirror. Content that his appearance was appropriate, he climbed the wrought iron spiral staircase from his underground haven to the house above. In his left hand, he carried a bottle of vodka, a tried and true technique for throwing off suspicion. His true haven, after all, needed to remain as secret as possible. At the top of the stairs, he opened the door and stepped out into a scene of debauchery and excess.

Michael quickly took stock of his surroundings. The access to his haven was well disguised as the door to a wine cellar, hence the bottle. It emerged into the villa’s dining room, which was often occupied during the parties by people playing cards or drinking games or both. Such were things tonight. Several Tech students were hunched over the table, casting dice and drinking after each roll. None looked up and noticed him.

Even if they had, they would have seen nothing out of the ordinary, just their host coming up from his cellar with more booze for his guests. Michael turned left and walked a short distance down the hallway. He paused briefly at the entrance to the kitchen. Inside, he saw one of his “harem,” the former prosecuting attorney for Virginia Beach, Rhea Valdez, at work preparing another tray of hot wings for the guests. Rhea had resigned her position in Tidewater when Michael came to Blacksburg and now worked as a local attorney. She aided Michael in keeping his vampiric indiscretions out of the public eye and occasionally assisted in hosting his weekly parties as her schedule allowed.

Michael walked into the kitchen, put down the bottle, and slid his arms about Rhea’s waist. Rhea was not his favorite of his harem; She was older, but still attractive with dark hair and eyes that well matched her Latin origins. She put down the tray of wings to turn and plant an affectionate kiss on Michael’s lips.

“So, you are able to grace us with your presence tonight?” Michael inquired with a smile.

“Sammy told me tonight would be busy, with it being the beginning of the school year and all. So I cleared my schedule.”

“Thank you. That will help.” Michael replied. The “Sammy” Rhea had referred to was Samantha McKay, the former Virginia Beach police officer who had become the first of Michael’s “harem.” Sammy was also his favorite, a buxom redhead who reminded Michael greatly of his sire. Sammy was “the power behind the throne” as it were in the Blacksburg Police Department and kept Michael’s thralls therein in line. But she also helped run the villa and was the informal leader of the harem girls.

“Then I’d best deliver this.” Michael picked up the bottle of vodka again.

“Are you coming by later?” Rhea asked seductively.

“Perhaps.” Michael answered. That was a decision he never made this early in the evening. Which of his harem he took to bed was always decided later, and entirely dependent on his mood, whimsy, and a whole host of other variables. He turned about and headed back out into the hallway. He continued down it, passing by the bedroom door of Corwin Morse. Corwin was Michael’s former college roommate, now graduated and working a sales job during the week. He too was a thrall to his vampire friend; his task was to manage Michael’s household. Beyond Corwin’s room was the massive bathroom Michael had built to accommodate his many house guests.

The door beyond that was open and that would have been the room of Donna Barerra. Donna was the youngest of Michael’s harem, a feisty brunette and the daughter of a Tidewater area judge. Donna was now of age to be at university and she masqueraded by day as a Tech student. It was not an unusual thing for her room to be open during these parties. She always had a few students in her room with her, playing games, watching movies, smoking weed, or other more carnal activities. Michael briefly considered peeking in on her, but instead turned to the left and headed out the double doors into the courtyard.

The courtyard was full of students, many of them in swimsuits and enjoying the courtyard’s central feature, a large swimming pool. This early in the school year, the pool was still open and a viable option for fun and frivolity. Michael noticed Sammy keeping watch nearby, dressed in a bikini swimsuit that gave great advertisement to what Michael offered his guests each week. Despite her sexualized attire, he knew her mind was focused on the pool, ever diligent, and recognizing the reality that alcohol and deep water could be a dangerous combination. She looked at him and smiled briefly. Michael returned her smile, but did nothing more to distract her from her task. Nothing could be a greater kill-joy to his parties’ reputation than word a student had drowned while at one of them.

Out here, the music was at its loudest. Michael made his way around the pool towards where the DJ had set up. Running the mix was his childe: Julia Snow, the former hunter Michael had made a vampire during the time in Tidewater known as the “Reign of Terror.” Before becoming the unintentional harbinger of the hunter crusade in Tidewater, Julia had spent much of her adult life DJing at various clubs in Great Britain and the east coast of the United States, looking for vampires. That gave her a skill set she now made use of in Michael’s cause, both as his bodyguard and as the unofficial MC of his parties.

He moved to greet Julia much as he had Rhea. After Sammy, Julia was his other favorite lover. She was not a typical beauty, a bit plump but utterly unashamed of it, confident and comfortable in her own skin. As she spun the tunes, she was dressed in a two piece swimsuit that showed almost as much skin as Sammy’s. Her self-confidence was sexy to Michael and he showed his appreciation by coming up behind her, running his hands across her bare belly and kissing her neck repeatedly.

She shivered in excitement, but also turned to give him a playfully scolding look. After all, he might have thrown her off by such a lavish expression of affection. Michael merely smiled, encouraged her to keep up the good work. Then with a playful squeeze of her ass (nicely exposed by the thong bottoms to her swim suit), he moved on.

Beyond the DJ booth was the bar. Behind it, he found his friend Michael “Boar” Boorman. Boar was a werewolf and one of Michael’s most stalwart friends. He was tribeless, a ghost wolf as his own kind referred to it, but had adopted Michael and his friends and allies as his new pack.

“Wild night.” marked Michael has he handed over the bottle of vodka.

“Gonna be a good party.” replied Boar. “Can Angelica and I get you anything?” Michael acknowledged Angelica Walton behind Boar, grilling up a few hot dogs on the grill. Angelica was another of the harem, a blonde nurse who like the rest of the harem had come with Michael from Tidewater.

“I’ll take one of those dogs and you know my usual.” said Michael. Boar nodded and began to mix a Captain and coke. Angelica took a dog off the grill, put it on a bun, and handed it to him. She smiled and ran her fingers affectionately across his as she handed it over.

Despite rumors to the contrary, vampires are perfectly capable of eating normal food and drink; they merely gain no sustenance therefrom nor can ingested drugs like alcohol affect them. Michael took a bite of the dog, savoring the flavor, as Boar finished his drink.

“Where’s Mitch?” Michael asked between bites.

“Front door.” answered Boar.

“Oh, the thankless job.” commented Michael. “Best give me a drink for him. I’m heading that way.” Boar set to work as Michael turned around to scope out the lay of the land again.

The taste of human food and drink might pleasure his taste buds, but they did nothing to satisfy the craving deep within: the craving for the blood of the living that all vampires had to contend with nightly. That was one of the reasons for the parties, to bring his prey to him. Most nights of the week, he fed from his harem or his other thralls. But tonight, some young lady at this party would be taken up behind the closed doors of the off-limits private area of the villa. She would be seduced, her body satisfying Michael’s sexual lusts and her blood satisfying the needs of his curse. She would then be sent packing, dazed and confused about what had happened, but none the worse for wear. Again, nothing would ruin Michael’s vaunted reputation for providing a good time to all than news someone had died at one of his parties.

Michael scanned the crowd, seeking out someone who might catch his eye. His criteria was varied and often changed from night to night. Michael subscribed to the philosophy that “all women are beautiful. Some are just more beautiful than others.” It was not an unusual thing for Michael to pick out someone who might have otherwise been regarded as homely or unattractive and give them a night to remember. Pleasure was his goal, and the more pleasure his prey felt the more he in turn also felt. Michael would never force himself on anyone, although his vampiric powers made few ever refuse him.

That philosophy extended to others and he took a dim view of anyone forcing themselves on another. Rape was a constant danger in an environment as uninhibited and sexually charged as this one, and all of Michael’s friends and allies kept a close eye out for anyone who wasn’t taking “no” for an answer. As he scanned the crowd looking for a suitable companion for the evening, he spotted just such a situation playing out.

A pretty Asian girl was standing against the wall near the front section of the courtyard. A burly frat boy and several of his companions had surrounded her. He could not hear what they were saying over the din, even with his enhanced senses, but he could tell by the look on her face that she was growing increasingly uncomfortable with their attentions.

Michael finished his drink and his hot dog. He grabbed Mitch’s drink from the counter and headed over to the girl. “Guys,” he said firmly, “break it up. She’s not interested.”

The lead frat boy turned on Michael, clearly quite inebriated and very annoyed at his interference. “None of your business, nerd.” It was not obviously the cleverest of insults.

“Find somewhere else to be or I’ll throw you off the property.” Michael repeated.

“You?” laughed the frat boy.

Michael was not a small man. He was nearly 6’ in height, but he was slight of build. He continued to wear glasses as an affectation from his mortal days, although his vampiric eyes no longer needed them. He was, by all appearances, the 98 pound weakling and not very intimidating at first glance.

“Yes, me.” He grabbed the frat boy by the arm and squeezed. The power of his cursed blood flowed into his muscles, giving Michael the strength of ten men in an instant and making his grip as hard as a vice. The frat boy went to his knees in pain immediately. “I may not look like much, but understand this, asshole. This is my house, my party, and my rules. Got that? Now, are you going to do as I say or do I have to break your arm to make my point clearer?”

The frat boy shook his head in desperation and Michael released him. He and his friends left without another word.

“Thanks.” said the girl. She got a quizzical look. “Michael?” she asked, as if the name belonged to someone she knew.

“Yes, I am Michael Allens. I hope this hasn’t ruined your experience of my party. Please excuse me.” He headed inside, thinking he hadn’t had Chinese in a while.

The door led into the front foyer of the house. Michael passed through into the front lawn, where he found Mitch keeping watch. Michael handed over the drink. “We full yet?”

“Of course.” replied Mitch. James “Mitch” Mitchell was another of Michael’s closest friends and the third male resident of the villa. Like Boar and Michael, he too was of supernatural origin, a wizard, a mage who could command the very stuff of creation. “Thanks for the drink.”

“Figured you had the toughest job of the night.”

“Not really. There are perks.”

“The sun has been down less than an hour and already one of these fine ladies has sucked your cock to get in?” teased Michael.

“Hey, make me happy and I’ll find a spot for you.” Outside of the vampire community, which was filled with debauched hedonists of every stripe, Michael had never met anyone whose hunger for carnal pleasure was greater than Mitch Mitchell. Michael had long since reasoned this was why Mitch got along so well with vampires.

At that moment, they were joined by Terra Hines, the last member of Michael’s harem. Terra was dark and athletic, and cut a fairly imposing figure for a young woman. No doubt an asset in her line of work as a reporter and journalist. “Why don’t you head inside, Mitch? I’ll mind the store for a bit.”

“Yeah, now that we’re full up inside, it should get quieter out here.” admitted Mitch. “Have fun!”

Michael and Mitch headed back inside. They both turned left and headed into the library and then beyond to the game parlor. Here, several Tech students had gathered to play pool, darts, or Playstation on the large screen TV. Michael knew what Mitch was up to. With his magical powers, Mitch could alter probability and chance, something he did often at games to fleece unsuspecting rubes of their money.

“So what’s your pleasure tonight?” asked Michael as they looked around the room.

“Ideally, three drunk sorority chicks and a game of strip poker.” said Mitch, only half-jokingly. “I’ll settle for darts right now. You, or is it too early to ask?”

Michael read the subtext to Mitch’s question. “Cute little Asian girl I rescued from some overeager frat boys a few minutes ago.”

“That didn’t take long. I guess the whole ‘knight in shining armor’ bit helped make the decision tonight.”

“A little.” admitted Michael. “I don’t often get the chance to play hero, but it loosens inhibitions almost as much as any drink we serve.”

“Have fun.”

“When don’t I?”

Michael headed back outside to the courtyard. He glanced about, looking for the Asian girl. His eyes quickly found her. She had moved out from the wall and was now sitting on the edge of the pool, dangling her legs into the water.

Michael walked over and sat down next to her lotus style. “Sorry about running off a minute ago. Duty called.”

She looked at him and smiled. “I’d imagine this sort of affair takes a lot of work.”

“It does.” Michael admitted.

“And money.”

“Yeah, but the cover charge takes care of most of the expenses. The rest is my gift to the Tech community. Give the students a place to come and blow off some steam, have fun, maybe meet a new friend or two.”

“You don’t seem much older than a student yourself.”

“I’m not.” He admitted, and it was true. Had he still been mortal, Michael would be turning 26 in just a few months. Still, he looked much younger. Michael had spent a great deal of energy in the years since leaving Tidewater altering his appearance, growing his hair out and growing a goatee, precisely for that reason. A vampire never ages and as Michael had been embraced at age 18, he was perpetually baby-faced. It took a great deal of will for one his kind to change their appearance in even such a small fashion, and Michael had long since recognized it was well beyond him to ever look anything close to his actual age.

“I swear to God you’re him, but that can’t be.” she muttered aloud. “Your look, your voice. But he’s dead. He died seven years ago.”

“Excuse me?”

“My next door neighbor growing up was a guy named Michael Allens who looked a lot like you. But he disappeared years ago and was given up for dead.”

It was a rare thing for a vampire to feel fear and yet its creeping chill now ran up Michael’s spine. If this was someone who recognized him from his mortal days, there would be great complications. “It is a small world,” fudged Michael, “and my name is not exactly the rarest out there. I hear there’s a horror and sci-fi author by my name too.” Part fib, part forgetfulness. Michael was jokingly referring to himself, but it had been so long since he’d put pen to paper that he’d honestly forgotten he used a pen name to write his published works.

“Really? Never heard of him.”

“So what’s your name? I haven’t gotten around to ask you that yet.”

“Keiko Fujioka.”

The growing sense of unease in his gut exploded into panic and Michael just barely managed to maintain his composure upon hearing her name. His mind raced back to his mortal days, to his old neighborhood in Charleston, West Virginia and to Fujioka family who lived next door. Their little girl was eight years his junior and was just a little wisp of a grade schooler the last time he’d seen her.

How things had changed. Keiko had the dark eyes and hair of her Japanese heritage. Her skin was flawless, a beautiful bronze color no doubt from a summer of tanning. She’d filled out nicely from the little girl he remembered. Her clothes were not particularly sexy or revealing, a simple T-shirt and shorts, but he could easily imagine the womanly figure beneath. He knew also that he would not have to imagine it for much longer.

As lust overcame his fear, Michael also became thankful for his good fortune. It was much better for him to encounter her here, rather than have some random unknown person in town recognize him and bring the curious down on him by rumor of his survival. He’d used that intentionally once before, to lure his ex-girlfriend Rebecca and the rival that had stolen her from him into a trap but further rumor of Michael’s presence in Blacksburg would undoubtedly draw unwanted attention. Too much smoke for there to not be some fire, someone would likely reason. Michael now had a golden opportunity to nip this rumor in the bud and he was looking forward to enjoying every minute of it. Perhaps it was time for the harem to grow by one.

The next steps would have to be delicate however and it would require Michael to take the biggest gamble of them all.

“There’ll be no fooling you.” Michael admitted. “With others, it’s easier, but sooner or later I’d slip up and say something that would confirm it beyond any doubt. You caught me, Keiko. You’ve done what no one else has been able to do for seven years.”

Keiko didn’t quite register at first what Michael just admitted, but then it dawned on her. “Oh my God, Michael? For real?” Astonishment crossed her face. “I knew it! It had to be you. But you’re supposed to be dead.”

“And everyone needs to keep thinking that.” said Michael emphatically. “For their sake.”

“What the hell? What’s going on?”

“I can’t tell you just yet.” said Michael. Michael willed the powers of his cursed blood and as he did so, subtle changes took place. His voice became more persuasive, his face more alluring, his body more attractive. Everything about him began to say “Trust me and do as I ask.” So subtle was the effect that few mortals were even aware they were being influenced and fewer still could resist it.

Michael could tell his powers were working by the look on her face, her unwavering stare, and the quickening of her breath. “Ok,” she said, “but whatever it is people need to know. Your parents need to know. They’ve thought you dead for years now.”

“I know. That can’t be helped.” replied Michael. He put just enough regret into his words to sound sincere and Keiko believed every emotion, feigned or otherwise. “For now, it’s our secret.”

She smiled at that. “Since you’ve shared your secret with me, should I admit mine to you?”

“And that is?”

“That I used to have the biggest crush on you when I was about eight years old.” She giggled at the admission.

“Do I still measure up?” asked Michael seductively. A pointless question in many ways. Michael already knew the answer, regardless of what words escaped her lips in response.

“Oh, yeah.” she answered truthfully.

“So what do I suppose I’m to do with that?” Michael said playfully.

Keiko took her eyes off of him just long enough to shoot a glance first towards Sammy and then towards Julia. “Given what you’re advertising in those two, I’d wager you’re the type who only sleeps alone when he wants to.”

“Your intuition serves you well. Tell you what...” Michael came to his feet. “This reunion calls for a bit of a celebration. Care to join me over at the bar?”

“Sure.”

Keiko stood up and Michael fell in behind her. Michael bit down on his forefinger, an act that looked to any onlooker like he was simply biting his nails, an ugly but perfectly normal habit. Michael’s act had a more nefarious purpose however. Drink three times of a vampire’s blood and you become enthralled to that vampire. Keiko was about to get her taste from the blood that now welled up on Michael’s finger tip.

When Keiko reached the bar, Michael moved behind it. Boar stepped aside wordlessly. “What’s your pleasure?” Michael had to raise his voice to be heard over the nearby DJ booth.

“You know I’m underage.” she teased, matching his volume.

“Old enough to vote. Old enough to go to war. Old enough to fuck, but not to drink.” critiqued Michael. “Such rules don’t apply here.”

“A screwdriver.”

“Tame.” he lamented. “You sure?”

“Yeah.”

Michael turned around to grab the very same vodka bottle he’d brought up earlier. With his back to her, he flicked off a few drops of his blood into her glass before pouring in the vodka and orange juice. He turned around and handed her the glass.

“And now for mine.” he grabbed the bottle of Captain Morgan and made his usual. Keiko brought her glass to her lips and Michael scolded her. “Ah, wait now. Don’t drink until we toast.”

“Oh, sorry.”

“To old friends and neighbors” He raised his glass.

“Cheers.” The glasses clanked together and they both drank.

“You two know each other?” asked Boar.

“The last time I saw Keiko here, she was just about this tall.” He put his hand at waist height.

“Not quite, but almost.” corrected Keiko.

Boar shot Michael a concerned glance, but Michael gave him wordless reassurance with a brief nod. His friends, particularly those who shared a secret supernatural origin, were very diligent in trying to keep his true nature hidden.

“Let’s go someplace a little less noisy.” Michael suggested. He gestured towards the door behind Boar that led inside. Keiko nodded and headed inside.

“Upstairs.” guided Michael as he came inside. There was a nearby staircase that led up. They went up the stairs. At the top, there was a pair of heavy somewhat intimidating double doors.

“Is this your sanctum?” queried Keiko.

“Of a sort. We open up much of the house to our guests, but behind these doors the party goers are forbidden.”

“I feel a bit like I’m being invited into the Bat Cave.” she admitted as Michael unlocked and opened the doors.

“You’re quite the little nerd, aren’t you?”

“So were you, as I recall. Nerd? Yes, I am, but not much of a comic geek.. When you’re in advanced mathematics and science classes all the time, you pick up the lingo regardless.”

“So the old stereotype about Asians proves true with you...”

“You can’t help it when you have parents as overbearing as mine are. Nothing short of perfection is good enough.”

A memory of his own childhood crossed Michael’s mind. It was not so different for him. “I can relate.” he admitted. “I wonder what would they say if they found out you were here? At a wild college party with drinking, drugs, sex, and all sorts of other craziness.”

“I don’t even want to know.” She paused. “Somehow, I get the feeling our stories aren’t so different. You’re so different than the boy I once knew, yet much of this doesn’t surprise me.”

“Anonymity does bring with it a certain freedom. I can now live as I wish, no longer required to fit into the mold others have demanded of me.”

He opened the first door on his right. It led into a well apportioned office. A fine mahogany desk was the centerpiece. Atop it was a top-of-the-line computer and before it was a large Persian rug. The walls were decorated with various posters of science fiction and anime films, confirming Michael’s nerd credentials. On each side of the room were two sofas flanked by bookshelves. On the bookshelves, in addition to books were a variety of photographs.

“And this looks like the room of the Michael I remember.” she teased.

“Much has changed, but not everything.”

“True.” Keiko supposed. She paused as one of the pictures on the bookshelf caught her eye. Michael followed her gaze. It was an old picture of his junior prom, with Rebecca Phillips on his arm.

“Whatever happened to her? The two of you used to be inseparable.”

“More questions.”

“You can’t blame me for being curious.”

“Shawn Sexton happened. Then the two of them came looking for me here, ran afoul of things they were never meant to run afoul of, and they both got killed.” Michael machine gunned his explanation, speaking with a rapid-fire staccato the revealed his discomfort with the subject. That emotion was not feigned; it was very real. The trap he’d laid for the two of them remained one of Michael’s biggest regrets. He seduced Rebecca away from Shawn, turned her into a vampire, and then unleashed her on Shawn. He was her first kill.

That single murder would not normally have bothered a monster like Michael. But it set off a chain of events that led Michael to where he was today. Soon after Shawn’s death, Michael and Rebecca were discovered by the Prince of Roanoke and held to account for their violations of vampire law. Both barely escaped with their lives and Michael had spent a great deal of energy hoping to find Rebecca again to atone for his short-sighted cruelty.

But cruel fate twisted their story further. One of the vampires to fall during the “Reign of Terror” in Tidewater was Sarah Cobbler, Michael’s betrothed true love. He’d been tricked into believing Sarah’s death was by Rebecca’s order. His return to Blacksburg was driven as much by revenge for that as any other motive.

But it was all a ruse. Rebecca had not given that order, nor had Sarah truly died. The order, in fact the whole “Reign of Terror,” was because of Guy du Savoy, the vampire prince of Richmond who had wanted the throne of Tidewater for himself. He’d unleashed the hunters like Julia upon the vampires of Tidewater. It was his agent who had taken down Sarah and sent her into the long sleep of torpor. Michael had been fooled into believing her dead by Rebecca’s hand, and once Michael had left Tidewater to seek his vengeance, Guy saw his chance.

Guy failed, but three things then happened to make things still worse for Michael. One, fearful of Michael’s return, the victorious Prince of Tidewater, Maximilian, banned him from ever setting foot in the city again. Two, Rebecca had fled Roanoke and Blacksburg for parts unknown, preventing any reconciliation or atonement. And three, Sarah awoke from torpor.

To know Sarah was alive and to be kept apart from her by the edict of a cruel vampire Prince was torture. In the end, Michael had gained little by his return to Blacksburg.

“So their deaths were real, while yours wasn’t.” Keiko’s voice drew Michael from his memories and it took him a second or two to remember she was still talking about Rebecca and Shawn. There was a subtle hint in her voice that revealed she wasn’t entirely convinced of his story about them.

“I’d rather not talk about it.” emphasized Michael. “It’s very painful to me.” Again, that was honest.

“I used to think I could never compete with her. She was so pretty and I was just a gangly little kid.”

“I said enough.” Michael’s voice grew forceful and impatient.

Worry crossed Keiko’s face. Michael let that emotion linger in her for a moment before speaking words of reassurance. “No more talk of the past. Tonight is ours and, from what you’ve told me, you’ve wanted this chance for a very long time.”

“I thought you were dead like everyone else. Now to find you alive...available...”

“...eager.” Michael finished for her. He moved in close, enough that he could almost smell her arousal. He brought his hand to her face and she nearly melted at his touch. He moved in to kiss her, his lips just lightly brushing hers in a teasing gesture.

“My God, don’t stop.”

“I’m not.” As his hands slid under her shirt to touch bare skin beneath, she never even noticed his canines lengthen.

---

Michael ravished her for the better part of two hours, driving her to exhaustion. After Keiko fell asleep, he played a few missions of Starcraft on his PC. After the party outside wound down, he carried Keiko to the guest bedroom on the first floor. He then peeked in on Rhea, gave her an obligatory quickie (since she had asked so nicely) then returned to his gaming.

When Keiko awoke the next morning, she heard the hustle and bustle of people hard at work cleaning. She quickly dressed and stepped out into the hallway. From the window, she could see several people out in the courtyard, cleaning up discarded cups, unfinished drinks, and other trash that lay strewn about.

“Where’s Michael?” she asked when she stepped outside. She still felt a little out of sorts, knowing she’d fallen asleep in his office and yet awoke in a completely different part of the house.

“He’s out for the day.” answered a young woman about Keiko’s age. “Hi, I’m Donna.”

“You a Tech student?”

Donna nodded. “Sophomore. Chemical engineering. All that, and I live here.”

“Pretty posh housing arrangements. How’d you manage that?”

“Michael’s pretty generous to those he fucks.” she answered bluntly.

“You and he? Um...”

“Yeah,” answered Donna nonchalantly. “And pretty much everyone else who lives here. Well, not the guys. But all the women; he calls us his harem and it’s a pretty accurate term.”

“And you’re all okay with this?”

“Of course. Turnabout is fair play as far as Michael’s concerned. We’re all pretty open here. No jealousy. We share him and he in turn makes no demand of monogamy with any of us in turn. My bed wasn’t empty last night and it wasn’t Michael next to me. Hell, on party nights I doubt anyone who lives here sleeps alone.”

“It just seems kinda weird to me.”

“You’ll get used to it.”

Keiko did not like the implication, but rather than press further she changed the subject. “So this is what the after-party looks like?”

“Pretty much. We spend most of every Saturday morning cleaning up. Then the rest of the day is ours.”

“So what happens here during the rest of the week?”

“I go to school. The rest of the girls work. Sammy’s a cop. Rhea a lawyer. Angelica’s a nurse...”

“Wait. How many are you?”

“Six in the harem. Plus three guys: Mitch, Corwin, and Boar. Corwin manages the house while Mitch and Boar work for Michael directly.”

“What does Michael do?”

“Little bit of everything and nothing at the same time.” Donna answered cryptically.

“He has to pay for all this somehow.”

“Sure. He owns businesses. Gets royalties from his writing. Investments, so forth.”

“So what’s the big secret? What’s he into that he’d fake his own death and demand that I keep quiet about it?”

“If he hasn’t told you, I’m not about to either. In time, you’ll know.”

“This is all just too weird for me.”

“Then leave. Go back to Tech.” Donna’s tone was not hostile, more apathetic than anything. “This is just the way things work here.”

“Secrets upon secrets. Everyone sleeping around with everyone else, and you don’t think this even remotely strange?”

“Once, yes. But I got used to it. Look, it’s not for everyone. I get that. But Michael thinks it might be for you.”

“I think I’d best be going then.” Something about Donna’s statement shook Keiko to her very core.

“You’re free to do so. But if he’s right about you, you’ll be back. Maybe it’s the mystery you’re only beginning to unravel. Maybe it’s because of what he gave you last night that you discover you want more of. Regardless, you’ll not stay away.”

That disturbed Keiko most of all and she walked away swiftly without another word. She reached the front door and was about to leave when she changed her mind. Instead turned and tromped up the left-hand stairs to the second floor. The first room she came upon was open. Inside, it looked like the party had never ended. Two...no, three young women were entwined on the bed asleep. A young man with long black hair and goatee came out from behind an old fashioned screen partition where he’d apparently been getting dressed.

“I told Michael I’d find a trio for strip...oh, you’re not Boar.” he said, a little surprised. “Guess he’s still out hunting.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude.”

“You’re the little Asian minx Michael was chasing last night. I take it since you’re still here that he caught you.”

Keiko blushed. Did everyone in the house know they’d gone to bed together?

“Don’t be embarrassed.” said the man, sensing her mood. “I’m James, by the way, but most everyone calls me Mitch.” He gestured towards his own bed. “As you can see, we’re all free spirits here.”

“So I’ve noticed. That pretty much is what this place is about, isn’t it?”

“Pretty much. So what do they call you?”

“Oh, Keiko. Michael and I knew each other from way back.” she admitted.

“Oh, really?” Mitch’s tone betrayed a hint of surprise and concern that further unsettled Keiko.

“Let me guess. You’re not going to tell me anything about him either.”

“Not my place.” Mitch walked out to the hallway and peeked out the window on the courtyard below. “You looking for a ride back to campus?” he asked. “It seems most everyone else is on cleaning detail.”

“I suppose. But what about your...” she motioned towards the three sleeping forms on his bed.

“Oh, them? The harem girls’ll rustle them out of here in a little while. I’m hungry. Let’s hit the donut shop.”

---

After a brief brunch at the donut shop on College Ave where Mitch answered none of her questions, Keiko returned to her dorm. She tried to get some work done on one of her assignments, but she couldn’t focus. She tried some reading, but her mind kept wandering. All day, she thought of Michael. All day she wondered why. Nothing added up. Nothing made sense. She remembered the Allens had always been a church-going family and she remembered Michael not as rebel against that, but an enthusiastic participant. She could buy that he’d kept that animosity secret all that time, but his lifestyle now seemed way over-the-top in the other direction.

And then there was the secret of his supposed death. Why? Adding to that question were the  deaths of Rebecca and Shawn. What did they uncover when they came down here that fateful week? And did they really die or did they just disappear as Michael had?

After several hours running over all this in her mind, she got fed up. She packed up a bag with some clothes, a few of her school books, and a swimsuit. She headed out of her dorm, hopped on a BT bus, and rode out to the end of Tom’s Creek. She walked the rest of the way to the villa.

No one acted the least bit surprised when she showed up at the front door. A different young man let her in; he called himself Corwin. She headed down the hallway back to the guest room she’d found herself in upon awakening that morning, dropped off her bag, and then set out to find Michael.

Unlike earlier, the house was now mostly empty. Only Corwin and one of the harem girls, Terra, were home. Both told her that Michael had not returned yet, but that she could make herself at home. She did so, almost immediately going upstairs to the north wing of the house into the “sanctum.” She expected the doors to be locked as they had been the night before, but they opened to the touch.

Michael’s office was much as she remembered it. She searched it for clues. The computer was password locked and Keiko was no hacker. The bookshelves were filled with tomes of utterly random subject matter, a few novels, several roleplaying games, a couple computer manuals, business guides, and so forth.

Then her eyes fell on the pictures again. There was quite a variety. Several of Michael with the various harem girls. Quite a few of Michael with Mitch, Corwin, and a dark skinned young man she presumed was Boar. The picture she’d noticed the night before of him with Rebecca. It was separate from the others, but gathered together with a handful of other pictures of young women and girls. One, a brunette teen perhaps 14 with stunning amber eyes. A second of a Bohemian hippy chick. A third was of a plump freckled brunette so buxom she was nearly falling of her tank top, which said “Fox Club” across the front. The fourth was of a petite redhead who looked like she might be Asian or at least partly so.

What she noticed absent were any photographs whatsoever of his family. And outside of the single prom shot of him and Rebecca, nothing earlier than when he’d come to Blacksburg the first time.

“There’s no answers here.” said a voice. Keiko jumped with a start and turned to see Corwin in the doorway.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to be nosy.”

“Don’t apologize. I think Michael relishes the whole “man of mystery” persona. Drives the chicks nuts trying to figure him out. It isn’t easy.”

“So, are these some of those he drove nuts?” she asked, pointing to the one shelf.

“Those are mostly the ones that figured him out.” Corwin admitted. “And the ones lost to him.” he finished ominously.

“What does that mean?”

Corwin stepped forward. He flipped down Rebecca’s picture. “Gone.” Then the hippy chick. “Gone.” Then the plump girl. “Gone.” Then the Asian redhead. “Enemy.” His hand lingered over the amber eyed teenager. “Gone.” he said after a brief pause.

“What do you mean by gone?” Keiko asked.

“Michael is a very dangerous individual. So long as you are with him, your life will be full of pleasure, of fun, of thrills. But it will not be safe.” Corwin answered ominously.

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