Page 8 of A Touch of Madness

Her hands rise, and the air fills with the heady scent of jasmine and vanilla, a strange contrast to the growing darkness. Magic spills from her like threads of silver light, winding through the air in a hypnotic dance.

She whispers something, low and ancient—a language older than memory. The energy sharpens, condensing into shimmering tendrils that snake through the room like restless spirits before snapping back into her waiting hands.

Her eyes fly open, wild and wide, as if she’s just torn the truth from the fabric of the night itself. “We recently learned a spell in my Spellcraft Fundamentals class. I’m not perfect at it yet, and my professor said it takes a lot of honing, but it seems as if I have a little natural ability for it.”

It’s no surprise to me. Not at all. Sylvie is a force.

She closes her eyes one more time, nodding to herself. Then, a pained expression takes over her beautiful features.

“It’s Lara,” she says, her voice trembling. “And the Society. They’re behind this. They’re stealing the blood, forcing the vampires into desperation. And—” Her voice falters, and her gaze shifts to Dorian. “There are traitors among your staff. You’re right. They’re here. Now.”

The silence that follows is deafening, the air heavy with unspoken questions and a tension so sharp it threatens to break.

“Names, love,” I demand, my voice cutting through the stillness, every syllable carrying the weight of centuries.

Sylvie shakes her head, frustration darkening her expression. “I don’t know their names. But I feel them—their fear, their guilt. They’re here, tonight.”

Dorian curses under his breath, already moving toward the door to the main room. The fire in his eyes tells me he’s on the brink of losing control, and I follow close behind, sparing a glance at Sylvie.

“Come,” I tell her, my tone leaving no room for refusal.

She hesitates for only a moment, then nods, following us into the heart of what I’m certain will be a battle.

The club’s atmosphere has shifted, tilted slightly. There’s a crackling tension in the air, the kind that precedes a vicious storm. Conversations are hushed, nervous glances exchanged among the staff and patrons alike. Vampires move with predatory grace, their restraint teetering on a knife’s edge as the absence of their lifeline—our stolen blood—makes itself known.

“I understand your frustration,” she murmurs to me. “We need to act inconspicuous,” she adds, her voice barely audible over the low hum of the jazz ensemble. Her eyes scan the room, sharp and calculating. “If they suspect we’re onto them, they’ll bolt.”

“You already have a plan?” I ask, curious despite myself.

Her lips press into a thin line. “I think I can tap into their emotions, maybe even pull the truth out of them. I just need to get close enough.”

Dorian moves closer, arching a brow, but says nothing, his doubt clear. I offer her a faint nod and gesture her forward, giving her the space she needs to prove herself.

We split up, weaving through the room like shadows. I keep a measured distance, watching Sylvie as she moves from one group of staff to another. Her steps are tentative at first, but she gains confidence with each interaction, her power building like a quiet storm as she stalks the staff like they’re her prey.

She pauses near the bar, her fingers brushing the edge of the counter. The bartender, a young vampire filled with nervous energy from the day he started, avoids her gaze as he pours drinks. Sylvie tilts her head, her expression softening as she leans in.

I allow the sounds of the club to fade into the background and tap into her, into her words and her accusations. She’s all I hear, the rest of the club drowning to a low hum.

“You’re worried about something,” she says gently, her voice laced with a subtle compulsion. “It’s okay. You can tell me.” I cock my head to the side and stay rooted in place. There’s no way she could compel him. He’s a vampire who compels his own targets. But the way she’s looking at him tells a different story.

The bartender stiffens, his eyes flicking toward the shadowed corners of the room. “I... I don’t know what you mean,” he stammers, but his voice cracks under the weight of her gaze.

Sylvie closes her eyes briefly as I watch her side profile, her breathing steady. A faint shimmer of energy surrounds her, visible only to those attuned to the supernatural. When she opens her eyes again, they glint with an unnatural light.

“You’re scared,” she says, her tone more commanding now. “Someone’s threatened you. Tell me who.”

She may be truly compelling the vampire. I’ve never seen it before, and I can’t comprehend how, but his voice lowers to a whisper, trembling as if uttering the words would seal his fate. "They came last week...approached me before I came in…men in dark suits. Said they were with the Society." His eyes dart to the kitchen door again, then to me, lingering just long enough to betray his fear. "They gave us an ultimatum—help them, or they'd see to it we disappeared. Some of us resisted, but others..."

"Others what?" Sylvie presses, her voice laced with an edge of urgency that sharpens the moment.

"Folded." The bartender's hand tightens around the edge of the counter, his knuckles pale. "They took the packs as leverage, threatened to expose us to the authorities if we didn’t cooperate. It’s bigger than you think. They’re everywhere."

“Okay, Michael,” she says.That’s right.Michael. I forgot his name, but she knows it. It can only be a testament to her powers. “You’re doing good,” she says, giving him a soft smile and nod.

“Give me names,” Dorian says gruffly as we both swiftly cross the room in a split second and demand answers. The bartender flinches at our sudden appearance, but Sylvie places a comforting hand on his arm to steady him. I know she’s playing a part, but it tugs at something inside of me.

The bartender swallows hard. "I don’t know all of them. But Elijah—he’s one of ours—he’s been meeting with them. He’s in the back now with Cara, she’s been helping him. He’s the one who handed over the keys to the blood storage."

---