Page 58 of Dark Souls

I had no idea what this mad woman was talking about, but I nodded my head in understanding. “No. Not prowling. I’m just here to see if the club’s hype is really going to live up to the rumours or if I’ll be left disappointed.”

She cackled, grabbing my hand in hers and pulling me across the road. “If you’re disappointed by tonight’s event, you’ll be my kinda girl.”

The doorbell chimed as we entered the restaurant and all the grumpy faces of the customers lifted their heads to us. Nodding at Sammi, the owner watched as she tugged me towards the back and through the beaded door frame that led to the kitchens. The chefs didn’t even glance up, consumed by their cooking as we headed past them to another much sturdier door. She tugged the handle, which led down some very narrow steps to a dark basement. Jesus. Was this where I got sacrificed?

Another door and then the entire scene changed. We found ourselves in a long black corridor which had neon graffiti across the walls. A woman stood with some kind of card scanner machine in one hand and two very butch and intimidating men in suits like I’d seen in the club last week were standing on either side of her.

“Card,” she demanded with hand outstretched to Sammi. Sammi placed an identical matte black card to the one Heathen had given me in her hand and I watched as she placed it in the machine. The screen flickered to bring up the profile of Sammi. Her photo, her name and her species.

Ah, shit. Heathen really had done an atrocious job of preparing me for this. I didn’t even know whose card I had, just that she had black hair and yellow eyes.

Once the card was returned to her, Sammi opened her handbag and gave it to one of the men. They riffled through it, checking the contents, while the second one gave her a full body pat down.Double shit.

“Card.” The woman, who looked like she didn’t know the meaning of the word polite, stared at me next. I placed the black card in her hand, keeping my face calm and unaffected while trying to control the adrenaline that was causing my heart to pound.

I caught a glance at the screen as an image of a black-haired woman with yellow eyes appeared. Catching the name Tamara Rosen at the top and fucking fae. Fae?! What the fuck, Heathen. She looked nothing like me in real life, but hopefully, the wig and contacts would be passable enough. But if this woman could detect species, I’d be screwed. Luckily, she was a witch, so she may not have been able to sense what I was so easily.

I had to remind myself to breathe as she peered up at me from under tight eyebrows and thick lashes. She scrutinised my face with a deep scowl and as I read her mind; I knew she was doubting what she saw.

“That photo is so old. I really should get a new one.”

“Name?” she asked, narrowing her distrusting eyes.

“Tamara Rosen,” I answered without a pause. Sammi looked at me over her shoulder with a confused expression. Yeah, I’m not Rebecca, and I was beginning to sweat.

Three more bodies appeared behind us, forming a queue and irritation appeared on the witch’s face as she glanced behind me. Clearly, she didn’t like holding up members on arrival. She handed me back the card and gave me a sharp tilt of her head as I passed her. Handing my bag to the bouncer, he checked it while the other one ran his hands up and down my body, lingering far more than necessary over my ass and legs.

“Watch it, handsy,” I hissed at him, which caused one side of his lips to tug upwards in a sly smirk. Of course, he felt the dagger in my boot and raised his eyebrows at me. I huffed, acting more irritated than panicked as he slowly slid the zip in my inner thigh down with predatory speed. He pulled out the knife, wagging the blade in my face in a side-to-side motion as he tsked. “Can you blame me? I’m not even through the door yet, and I’m already being molested. A girl needs some protection.”

He chuckled darkly, tossing the blade carelessly into a locker.My poor baby. The other man removed my phone from my bag and placed it in there, too. I nearly hissed.

“Necklace.” He stated, with his large, scarred hand open in front of me. I frowned, my fingers going up to the choker around my neck and the hidden camera in the diamond.Bollocks.

“What about it?”

“Do you need to go through the induction again? No, we don’t allow jewellery that could be used as a weapon.”

“You’re kidding?” I spat. What a stupid rule. I wanted to point out that this place was full of supernaturals who could kill at the drop of a hat, but his deadpan expression told me it wouldn’t be appreciated. Sammi was hovering nearby, waiting for me and the worry on her face said I shouldn’t argue with him. Reminding myself that I wasn’t here to cause a scene, I bit my tongue and complied, removing my last connection to the outside world. Raiden was going to lose his shit. I just hoped Sienna could keep him from storming in and fucking everything up. I’d got this far. I wasn’t about to back out.

“You’ll get it back when you leave. Can’t take any chances with a firecracker like you, can we?” He laughed darkly, placing it in the locker with my other belongings. I huffed past him until I was back in the company of Sammi.

“I thought your name was Rebecca.”

“No offence, but I don’t know you. Members are supposed to have anonymity, so I wasn’t about to give you my real name outside on the street. You could have been anyone.”

Her eyes widened. “Clever! Why didn’t I think of that?”

I didn’t answer her. I was too busy trying to calm my racing heart and relief that I had actually made it through the door.Just.

“So, I have quite a lot of questions as a newbie. Are you okay with being my guide tonight? If I’m annoying, just tell me to fuck off. I won’t be offended.”

“Girl. I’ve got you. Usually, I come to these things alone so it makes a nice change to find a like-minded bitch who gets it. I’m a rogue if you haven’t noticed.”

I had guessed she was a rogue wolf. She had that look about her. Slightly more feral in appearance, as if she struggled to keep her wolf in check. That is often the way with rogues. Wolves needed order and discipline. They thrived under leadership. They needed an Alpha and Luna to keep the chaos at bay. Without a pack, they became wild. Harder to control.

“If you don’t mind me asking, why are you a rogue? By choice?”

“Nah. I was exiled from my pack in France.”

---