We finally reached the afterparty.

It was always the same room—the stockroom. Crates of miscellaneous libations were stacked around the space, some haphazardly, some arranged on purpose as makeshift seating or tall alcoves perfect for hiding nefarious deeds. 

Music thumped at a decent volume—loud, but not enough to kill conversation.

The room held maybe fifteen to twenty people. A few vampires. Mostly humans. Brought in to help satiate our needs.

From the scent alone, I could tell they were already pickled and ready for the taking. All that remained was the art of seduction—the coaxing, the charm—to secure the life-giving substance we craved.

I scanned the room for our three little troublemakers. Found them. Right next to my sister.

Valda was watching over them, whether they realised it or not. Of course she was.

So, naturally, I decided to be an annoying little brother and greet the rest of the room first. I soaked up the adoration, the kisses on the cheek, the flirtations, the ass-kissing. Let it all wash over me while pretending not to notice her.

And then, behind me, her voice cut through the noise—silky and gritted with annoyance.

“Brother, dear.”

I turned slowly, sipping my beer with all the casual grace of someone who’d just noticed her. I could see her trying to hide the annoyance on her face. I do love that I can get under her skin. 

“Valda, there you are. Did you just get here?” I smirked arrogantly.

I glanced behind her and spotted the three troublemakers who had Bastian all up in a fuss. Unremarkable at first glance, but something about them had caught her attention — and Valda didn’t waste her interest lightly.

When I looked back, her violet eyes — so close to my own — flashed with a flicker of annoyance. It was brief, almost imperceptible, but I caught it. She wanted to save face, as always, in front of her audience.

“Pretending you didn’t notice me?” she sneered. “Darien, that’s beneath even you.”

Her gaze swept over me with cold amusement.

“I do love this egocentric persona you’ve adopted though. Very rock ’n’ roll.”

Then she leaned in, standing on her toes to whisper against my ear:

“You may have these people fooled, but I still remember the shy little boy too afraid to leave his room. Don’t embarrass me in front of my new friends…”

She pulled away with a knowing smile, but her eyes flashed — that same deadly, venomous purple. Too fast for a human to notice. But I got the message loud and clear.

She was in no mood for brotherly teasing.

That usually happened when she did favours for me. I should’ve been grateful.

My smile, though now slightly forced, brightened as I turned to the three girls staring at us.

“Ah, sis… you always know how to hit below the belt.”

I let out a chuckle, the arrogance back in my tone. “But aren’t we being rude? Who are your friends?”

I caught Valda’s eyes drifting toward the three girls waiting nearby, and with lazy elegance, she turned to face them.

“You probably know Valerie Woods, the famous model?” she said, gesturing to the blonde. I could tell she was testing me.

Truth be told, I couldn't care less about the fashion world — but even I had to admit, Valerie was striking. She had the kind of tall, statuesque beauty that made people stop mid-step. Her posture was effortless, graceful, like every movement had been rehearsed and refined. Platinum blonde hair framed her high cheekbones and heart-shaped face in a glamorous 1940s Hollywood style — a silver screen siren reimagined.

Her eyes, a cool blue-violet, were disarming yet unreadable — until something shifted. It was like watching a switch flick. Suddenly, warmth and sultriness radiated from her as she purred,

“Pleasure to meet you, darling. Amazing performance tonight.”

I gave a polite incline of my head in acknowledgment. I didn’t trust that kind of beauty when it turned on like a spotlight.

Valda moved to the redhead in the centre. “This one is Elena,” she said, sounding almost bored.

But this girl was anything but boring.

I took a better look at her. Her red hair was wavy, a little wild now — no doubt more styled earlier in the night, but Club Dusk had a way of unravelling people. Her dark eye make up brought out the green in her eyes. I also noticed that she had freckles trying to make their way out of her make up. Part of me wanted them to. She stood slightly back from the others, her right arm crossed over her body, clutching her left as though holding herself together. A quiet tension lingered around her.

She kept sneaking glances at me with soft green eyes, but each time our gazes met, her cheeks flushed — warm and stubborn and oddly... endearing.

When Valda said her name, Elena offered the faintest wave with her left hand.

“Hi,” she murmured.

It was barely audible over the music.

She wasn’t shy in the attention-seeking way — no coy smiles or fluttered lashes. This was different. She looked like she’d rather vanish into the wallpaper. But under all that awkwardness, there was something flickering — awareness, maybe. A spark.

I saw it in the dilation of her pupils when she glanced my way.

Oh. she'll be an easy feed, I thought, smiling back at her.

“A pleasure, Elena.”

I let honey pour into her name, soft and deliberate. But she didn’t meet my gaze. She simply dipped her head and studied some imaginary speck of lint on her dress.

That dress was exquisite on her — a black lace corset that hugged her curves, and a skirt cut just right to show off long, pale legs. Her heels sparkled subtly in the low light, and old-school me couldn’t help but admire her ankles.

Some rather indecent thoughts tried to climb their way up from the gutter — namely, those ankles around my neck — but thankfully, Valda broke the illicit thoughts. 

“And this is, uh…”

I looked at her amused, as Valda clearly stumbled on the final introduction. The girl’s face lit with surprise as she realised Valda hadn’t learned her name.

Unbothered, she stepped forward with a bright smile and extended her hand.

“It’s so awesome to meet you — I’m Mariah!”

Her smile was infectious, and despite myself, I returned it with a slow, amused smirk as I shook her hand. Behind her, Valda rolled her eyes. Mariah was the type to own the floor — short, curvy, and dressed like she’d stepped straight out of an R&B music video. She donned a leather jacket, bright blue cropped corset top, and ripped jeans that clung like second skin. Her mocha skin glowed under the lights, and her 100-watt smile matched it beat for beat. Thick brown curls, braided close on one side, spilled wild and free on the other. Her honey-coloured eyes sparkled behind her glasses — amused, maybe, or just naturally full of fire. 

I was already guessing that Mariah was the more sociable of the trio. She looked like the kind of person who made strangers into best friends before the night was over. Hence the rather pleased look I got from her when I’d shaken her hand — like she was collecting moments. I figured I’d make polite conversation before inviting Elena into one of the darker corners of the afterparty. 

“So,” I said with an easy smile to the three of them, “I hear you gave my friend Bastian a bit of grief sneaking in like that. Unheard of, really — in the long and sacred history of this place.”

Mariah gave an exaggerated shrug, feigning guilt. Valerie merely sipped her sparkling wine and shook her head in a way that suggested elegant disapproval. Elena remained quiet, her gaze flitting anywhere but me.

Then Mariah perked up, all energy, and slung an arm around Elena’s shoulders before gently nudging her forward.

“Sorry about that,” she said cheerily, “but it’s Elena’s birthday, and by the time we got to the queue it was too long, and it was freezing and the back door was open…”

She trailed into a full-speed babble, but I kept my eyes on Elena. Her cheeks were steadily reddening, blooming with embarrassment. The rush of blood was enticing. 

Valerie clicked her tongue and scolded, “Must you brag about being a miscreant? Honestly, Iah. Elena’s embarrassed enough.”

Mariah let go of her with a mock-offended scoff, and the two of them began to bicker, the kind of well-worn back-and-forth that suggested old friendship.

Valda, I noticed, had disappeared. She’d done her part — delivered the girls, piqued my interest — and had clearly decided the rest was beneath her.

Elena, meanwhile, looked like a deer caught in headlights. Her friends were distracted, leaving her stranded with me. She stared up at me as if searching for the right words, lips parting like she might speak — but instead, she muttered, “Excuse me,” and quickly made her way across the room toward the large buckets of ice-cold drinks.

The bickering paused just long enough for both Mariah and Valerie to notice her exit. They glanced at one another and shared a smile — knowing, a little smug.

Ah.

So, it was a crush.

I felt the early twinges of bloodlust stir in my chest — sharp and eager.

My gods, I thought. This is going to be so easy.