Page 54 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

“It’s… more of a nickname. But I guess it just… fits,” I tell him.

Ben nods politely. “Yeah? How did you get it?”

Hook, actually. But I don’t tell him that and my silence doesn’t seem to bother him as he continues to talk.

“I wish I could have a cool nickname, but you can’t really do much with Ben.” He gives me a smile before glancing around.

The song changes and the crowd slowly starts to disperse enough that I can see a few feet in front of me. But there’s just more tables and people further out with no signs telling me where the office could be.

“Are your friends around? Or?” Ben gives me a warm smile but something in his eyes seems… off. Like there’s a slight coldness to them.

I shake it off, thinking I’m just being paranoid after meeting the blood demon, to answer him.

“Actually, I’m kind of lost. My…friendsare on another floor. But I don’t know which one or how to get there.” I glance around again but apart from the dance floor and blaring lights bouncing around it, everything else beyond it is dark and I don’t know which way I should try first.

“Okay, well it’s my first time here, too. But I’ve heard a bit about it. Let me get a drink and then I’ll help you look for your friends.” He turns to the bartender, and one comes over to him in seconds, making me frown.

I turn back around just as a group of giggling girls pass me before heading off the dance floor and into the dark space behind it. A minute later, I spot another group head the same way.

There has to be something over there. Maybe a bathroom or a way out?

I start to move toward it when Ben steps in front of me with two drinks in his hands.

“Here, I got this one for you.” He places one of the drinks in my hand. I glance down at the green mixture as a fruity smell drifts up to my nose.

“If you don’t like it, I can get you something else?”

“No, it’s fine. I…” I give it a little sip and a delicious fresh fruity taste slides down my throat.

“Good.” He watches me as I take another sip. He seems nice enough.

“Can you describe where you were?” He frowns. “I know there are three floors here. One above and another below.”

I ignore the strange cold shiver running down my back and answer him.

“We walked through another floor like this except there were fewer people and a smaller stage. The—”

The music booms as cheers ring out right before a hypnotic beat blares through the room once again.

He winces at me, leaning in. “Sorry? What did you say?”

“There was a small stage in the room. But it wasn’t as big as—”

He shakes his head again, pointing to his ear. “I’m sorry, I can’t hear you. One sec.” He steps closer and leans down so his ear is at the side of my face.

I instantly want to move away.

“Sorry. What did you say?” he asks as he places a hand on my shoulder. The scent of him makes me want to recoil, twisting something in my stomach, but he’s just being nice. I could at least see if he knows which way to go.

I glance down at his arm just as a throng of people move closer, caging us in.

“The room had soft music and girls dancing on a smaller stage and—”

A hand comes from behind me shoving Ben backwards. I whip around to find Hook in front of me and the strange churning in my stomach quickly eases.

Until I see the look on his face.

The area around us quickly clears as Hook glares at everyone. His electric blue eyes are full of storms and lightning and he’s clenching his jaw so hard it looks ready to snap.

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