"Hey!" the tall blonde called with a laugh and a wave, smiling happily as she ran a little to catch up to her friend. Both women wore casual clothes, dressed for a Saturday out, and in the sunlight they looked very good. "It took you long enough, Nadine," the black haired woman answered cheerfully, her short skirt hugging her hips. Nadine shrugged, her long blonde curls bouncing on her bare shoulders. The dress she wore as a strapless black number, with a white coat and purse. "I slept in Amy," she confessed sheepishly, "I'm really sorry." Amy had to smile slightly, unable to resist the girl's puppydog eyes. "You could sleep through the end of the world," she joked as they walked down the street together. "I'm not that bad," Nadine protested. "Right," Amy smirked. Nadine blushed, remembering certain sleeping in incidents in the past. "So what are we doing today?" she asked brightly. Amy snickered at the obvious attempt to change the subject. Still, she let it go as they walked on, "I thought we should go clubbing." Nadine made a face, "But we've gone to most of the good clubs in this city." She sighed, "Not that there's many in this town to start with." They walked on a moment, Amy hesitating slightly. "I heard about a new place that we could try," she finally said. "Oh?" Nadine looked over at her curiously. "It's a wild place, from what I've heard," Amy cautioned. "We've been to wild places before," Nadine reminded her, "hell, I can think of a few we went to more than once!" "The Daughters sounds like it's on a whole different level," Amy shook her head. She tilted her head, "If even the rumors are true it's a dangerous sort of place." Nadine chuckled softly, looking over at Amy thoughtfully. "Something about this place has you spooked," she said tauntingly. "I am not," Amy said with a great deal of dignity, "spooked." Nadine reached out to take Amy's hand, grinning impishly. "Then let's check this place out, huh?" she asked. "You're relentless," Amy smiled back, "but yeah, let's go." Together they walked to Amy's car and got in, smoothly pulling out into traffic. With the top down the wind gently ruffled their hair, the sun shining down on them as they drove on. It didn't take long for them to reach the bad side of town, then eventually pulling up to a unmarked building. "There's a club here?" Nadine blinked in surprise as they got out. Amy shut her car door with a thump, "Yeah, they don't advertise." She lead the way up the sidewalk towards the door, the two heading in without knocking. Going inside there were a few people who gave them curious glances, but both girls ignored that. As they walked forward into the bar itself they saw the back wall, a massive mural painted up on it. The woman stood in the forest, drawing a bow back smoothly, her slim athletic body scarred and battered by many battles. Still she was beautiful too, a warrior facing her enemies with strength and courage. Just below the image a simple line of text read, 'The Daughters of Artemis.' "Wow," Nadine murmured. "Quite a painting," Amy answered softly, "I heard it was done by one of the patrons." Weaving through the tables they felt the eyes of men and women falling on them, the assessing looks that newcomers always received. Nadine smiled back at a few of the handsome men, even as she felt a thrill at the frankly sexual gazes a few women gave her and Amy. "Is this a gay bar?" Nadine asked softy. "It's a mix," Amy answered with a shrug, "gay, straight, bi, and any other variation you can think of, I've heard." She smiled at Nadine's look, "Not normally my scene, but a friend invited me here and we had a good time." "Welcome to the Daughters," the woman with the long brow hair smiled slightly, studying the two of them as they reached the bar itself. "My name is Diana," she said to them smoothly then asked, "what can I get you?" "Rum and coke," Nadine smiled engagingly. "Beer," Amy shrugged. Diana poured and mixed smoothly then passed over the glasses with a wry look. "I hope you have a good time tonight." "Thanks, we will," Nadine smirked, giving another speculative look around the bar. Amy rolled her eyes then whispered once Diana had moved off a little, "You're acting like we're at a meat market!" Nadine blushed a bit, "Sorry." "Be a bit more subtle, please," Amy said as they walked over to a side table. She sat down gracefully, "Not that you've ever been...." "Gee, thanks," Nadine said as she sat down with her own drink. She gave Nadine a thoughtful look, "How the heck did you hear about this place?" Amy sipped at her drink, seemingly stalling a bit for time. "Girlfriend's birthday party," she finally explained, "a group of friends chipped in to take her out and we ended up here." "Huh," Nadine looked thoughtful. "Are you ladies here alone?" the soft voice asked. Both looked up to see the older man looking down, his face handsome if a bit rugged. The clothes were elegant, if a bit old fashioned, and his eyes shone with amused interest. "Oh," Nadine murmured, eyes wide. "I'm sorry," Amy said firmly as she took Nadine's hand in hers, "but we're here together, sir." He smiled, black hair almost gleaming in the light as he said, "I'm sorry to hear that." Turning to go he added, "If you change your mind, I'll be here most of the night." "Why did you do that?" Nadine squeaked out once he moved off. "He's a predator," Amy warned softly, "didn't you feel it?" "No," Nadine bit out, finishing off her drink. "I'll catch you later," she got up and went after the man, stopping him as she spoke to him softly. Amy felt her heart sink as they talked, the man weaving a web of charm over her friend. "Don't worry," the woman's voice was gentle, "he doesn't eat newcomers." Amy turned to see the tall redheaded woman who has silently slipped up behind her, the woman adding impishly, "Well, at least not on the first date." "Gee, thanks," Amy replied wryly. :"You're welcome," she chuckled. The gorgeous redhead took the chair without asking as she continued, "My name is Dominique, little one." Amy raised her eyebrows slightly and Dominique smirked. "I don't think I'm that young," she decided to say, studying the odd woman. Dominique wore all black leather, and not the nice sort of leather that a city girl might wear going out clubbing. No, this was a darker looking costume, a plunging neckline, high skirt and so tight it looked like it had been painted on. Thigh high boots hugged each long leg, matching gloves on each arm and a expression that was entirely comfortable. "Young enough," Dominique purred. She smiled in amusement at her look, "What do you think of my outfit, then?" "Daring," Amy conceded, a blush coloring her cheeks. Dominique crossed her legs and her blush darkened as she realized the woman wasn't wearing panties. "You look like you've been abandoned for now," Dominique and Amy's gazes were drawn to the dancers where Nadine and her companion were necking furiously. Amy looked away, her jaw tensing. "I guess so," she sighed. "Then would you care to join me?" Dominique asked softly, resting her unusually pale hand on Amy's. She smiled, showing what almost looked like fangs as she continued, "But I should warn you, I do bite on the first date." Amy met those seemingly bottomless eyes, almost feeling her will slip away as she breathed out her surrender, "Yes." To be continued.... Notes: Dominique is a vampire featured in the series Descent, as well as appearing here in Daughters. This episode is intended to show that Daughters, while a interesting place, is not the safest place for a unaware newcomer....
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