Page 231 of Flirting with Darkness

The energy of the city thrummed through every cell in my body, and I absorbed it like water after a drought. I’d honestly never felt this level of vitality and excitement, not around me or in me. For the first time ever, I felt truly alive. The sounds, the sights, the smells. It was overwhelming and exciting and terrifying, all at once.

I watched traffic dart around London’s streets as I walked among people who rushed by me as if I didn't exist. It amazed me that they were all going somewhere, that they all had a purpose. I’d never had a reason to exist, except to be Victor’s vessel for revenge on my mother. High above me, on the wall of the beautiful old building across the street, huge screens lit up the sky, advertising the latest action movie. Below it, on another screen, a gorgeous celebrity peered out at me, rugged and perfect with a bottle of aftershave, enticing me to buy it so I could be as handsome and successful as he was.

I huffed, a bitter smile curling my lips. I’d never owned aftershave in my life. I’d been given the basic toiletries to survive, but there’d never been any luxuries, not for me. I had no money of my own, and my clothes had always been threadbare and ill-fitting. Victor said I didn’t need or deserve anything except necessary items, and unless my clothes and shoes were falling apart I didn’t get different ones. Only the human blood and sex slaves had it worse than me. Some of them didn’t even get clothes.

Self-consciously, I brushed my hands down the new jeans I wore before descending the steps into the underground station. These were the nicest clothes I’d ever owned. Victor had given me a budget to buy decent enough attire that I’d blend in and, when it was time, play my part. He’d lifted his compulsion not to run. I’d almost expected him to send someone with me to make sure that I didn't mess this up, but he and the First Order had been given another mission. They’d departed for Canada before I’d even left the house. Not that I was upset about that. I’d been terrified about leaving Victor’s home for the first time ever, but I’d rather be by myself than with a malicious vampire who’d take pleasure in ensuring I failed so they could watch Victor end me. Time by myself was a luxury I’d only ever dreamed of; besides, I’d been fine so far. Since I was young, I’d watched videos and researched information about cities all over the world. My lack of possessions hadn’t stopped me from making use of the communal computers during the day while the coven slept.

I selected the train I needed and stepped aboard, proud that I had managed to navigate the crazy London underground system.

Hot air rushed by me as I stepped off the tube. Diesel fumes, body odour, and hot air blasted up my nose as the train revved its engine and pulled away. I moved with the crowd, marvelling at the fact that humans really were like cattle being herded from one spot to another, some of them oblivious to the fact that supernaturals walked among them, others deliberately clinging to ignorance if only to maintain their sanity.

The noise of the screeching trains and people hurt my sensitive ears. My heart raced as the overwhelming stimulation hit me. I really couldn’t wait to be back out in the open air again. I wasn’t used to this amount of noise or this many people being so close. Even if the energy of the city seemed to be feeding my physical and mental strength, I craved the relative silence of the city rooftops where I’d been watching the doors of Count Balthazar’s notorious club since I arrived in London a week ago.

I gaped at a male couple who walked past me hand in hand, big smiles on their faces. They looked so happy that my eyes burned. I’d never had that, a partner. I’d had sex plenty in the past. The human’s in Victor’s house had been as happy to use me as I was to experiment with them, but none of us allowed ourselves the luxury of feelings. That was dangerous ground when humans were expendable and often disappeared. Not once in my life had I experienced any affection. Victor knew no vampire would fuck me, so I’d taken solace where I could, though sex had eventually lost its appeal. My orgasms had stopped pushing away the depressing reality of my life. I’d even given up visiting the human males who were just as desperate to escape their own nightmare as I was.

I scowled and made a fist with my right hand, the cold metal of the ring I wore digging into my fingers. I wasn’t here for damned affection, I was here to assassinate the owner of the Gambit nightclub. A move that would gain me a place among the Made vampires and prove that I could be useful as something other than the worthless bastard of an unfaithful Original vampire.

3

ELLIOT

Two weeks later, I stared down at the street and released a deep, steadying breath.

“You can do this,” I whispered to myself.

The thought of not having to return to Victor’s house, of being a fully Made vampire was the only thing forcing my feet to move. I had no idea how a half-human could become a Made, but I guessed it was something to do with the strength of whoever bit me and took my blood. I strode to the rear of the rooftop and jumped, nailing the landing in the alley.

The main street was busy and buzzing with life, as it had been every night. The Gambit didn’t shut on any day of the week, not like the other clubs. Its plush glass entrance stood open, welcoming those looking to experience the delights and dangers of a supernatural club. Soft lights enticed, chrome fixtures gleamed, and the sparkling black marble flooring led the way to a night of promise. Off to the left of the main doors, a staircase curved up into the human section of the club. Raucous laughter and excited conversations drifted down, but I turned to the stairs on my right, stairs that led down into the shadows. Power thrummed up from that dark, underground place. It wasn’t like anything I’d felt anywhere else in the city. The inky shadows pulsed with that force, brushing my skin, seducing me yet warning me to run.

I didn’t run. I wouldn’t. I’d been down here before. I was prepared. I’d be fine.

Keeping my head high and my fear locked away, I walked past the huge doormen who supervised both the stairs up to the human club and the ones that led down into the supernatural playground below. Their eyes followed me, their attention like a weight on my back as I disappeared down into the shadows. I knew why; they sensed my human blood. Humans weren’t permitted in this part of the club unless they were owned and with their masters or bore the claiming mark of one of the breeds. Even then they were vulnerable. But I’d already discovered my mixed blood gave me a pass.

The soles of my new shoes clicked against the metal steps, the silk mix of my new suit brushing my skin. With each step my breath got shallower and tighter. I wiped my sweaty palms on my thighs, aware of the cameras following my progress. Turning the last corner, my breath hitched, and my heart missed a beat. This wasn’t the first time I’d visited the club, but on the previous two occasions I’d tagged along behind another group of Mades. The guards hadn’t spared me a glance, not when the group had brought enthralled humans along with them, too.

Tonight, I was alone. I’d seen the Count’s Landrover, driven by his second in command, come zooming past. The car had disappeared into the underground garage a couple of hours ago and hadn’t resurfaced. A glimpse of tied back blonde hair, a strong profile, and thick corded forearms that led to capable fingers gripping the wheel with surety had burned into my brain. The Count’s second was a gorgeous male, yet even from a distance I’d felt the danger radiating from that vehicle like a brush of arctic air on my skin.

I’d used the new phone Victor had given me to do some research, breaking into a cold sweat when I’d realised how powerful the Count really was. But that research had also given me the information I’d needed to get into this club and observe the ancient vampire as well as the guards he stationed around the place. Even the mortal tabloids had images of him and his second in command, Davlov Zoltar, gracing their glossy pages.

I still wondered why Victor had entrusted me with this job. Ending the most powerful Original vampire lord in Europe was a kill order for an experienced assassin, not a nobody like me. Although technically, it hadn’t been him that had ordered the hit, had it? It had been our mysterious leader. A vampire who ruled the Mades but had never shown his face in the mansion. I expect Victor knew who it was, but no one else seemed to.

The raucous sound of people having fun reached me from deeper in the dim stairwell. Goosebumps rose on my skin as the darkness pushed against me, testing me, seeing what I was. Runes graced the walls, their magic deciding whether I was the right kind of clientele for this place; well, that and whoever watched the security cameras that followed my progress.

I swallowed against my dry throat. Vampires were beings I should be used to, but I wasn’t. Not this kind. I’d discovered that Mades were nowhere near as powerful as blood-born vampires, or Originals as they were known. And Mades had been beating my ass all of my life. Shit, could I really do this? Was I strong enough? My plan was simple, but damned dangerous, and it relied on my powers of seduction. I huffed at myself. Jesus fuck, I was doomed. I never seduced anyone in my damned life.

Two more guards protected the rune covered door to the club, their eyes assessing, their bodies ready to burst into movement if they deemed me a threat.

I exhaled. It was okay. I could do this, I knew how to get past these guys. They just needed to believe I was totally harmless. Sadly, it wasn’t hard for me to look that way. I was thin, and even though I was six feet tall, my low body weight made me look younger than I was. And weak. I slumped my shoulders and lowered my eyes, only flicking them up to look briefly at the first guard’s face, before lowering my gaze to the ground at his feet.

“Where you going, kid? No humans allowed in here.”

“I’m not human, not completely,” I explained. Another flicker to his face. “I’m half vampire, and I need in.”

A look of disgust crossed his face at my admission.

Yeah, I guessed even Originals were bigoted sons-of-bitches. They still thought a half-blood was a pathetic and disgusting creature, just like my father did. I resisted rolling my eyes. Supernaturals were all beautiful in their own way. That didn’t mean they had any more brains than a human.

The other guard chuckled. “Let him in, he’s harmless. He’s been in before and not caused any problems. Besides, maybe he’ll get up enough courage to feed and fuck tonight.” His gaze raked from my head down to my toes, his beautiful mouth stretching into a grin. “He’s fuckable enough, but looks like he needs a good feeding. Or maybe he’ll make a good meal for someone.”

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