3. The Choosing

- One month later -

"You're seriously not going?"

I didn't even look up from the tray I was carrying. "Nope."

Maya followed beside me as I moved between tables.

"You didn't even think about it?"

"I thought about it."

"And?"

"And my answer is still no."

She sighed dramatically. "You're unbelievable."

I placed a glass of water in front of a customer and turned back to her. "I'm not having this conversation while I'm working."

"You're saying that like we haven't had this conversation three times already. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, one that's nearly impossible to get."

I sighed, even though I knew she wasn't wrong.

The Choosing had been all anyone talked about for weeks. Not just at the restaurant, but everywhere. It was a major event in the supernatural world.

Carefully selected humans who wanted to become Moon Jewels or Blood Jewels could attend. Werewolves and vampires looking for companions could express interest. The human made the final choice.

"I don't belong there. I don't even know why Elena gave me that invite."

"I don't know either. How could she have possibly given you and not me?" Maya groaned. I glared at her, and she snorted a laugh. "Kidding, but really. If she didn't think you'd fit in there, then she definitely wouldn't have given it to you. I heard they are very careful of the type of women they allow access to the supernaturals."

"Right," I sighed.

"You know you don't have to pick someone, right? If none of the males who offer themselves are to your liking, then you can decline," she said.

"I know."

"Then what exactly is the problem?"

I stopped.

Because that was the question, wasn't it?

What was the problem?

"I just... Elena said some women go there for love and family, and that's what most males want as well. The only reason I have to go there is because I need money for my aunt's surgery. She's getting so much worse and..."

I clasped my hand over my mouth, trying to stop my lips from wobbling. My vision went blurry as tears filled my eyes, and I felt Maya's arms wrap around me.

"And... and," I continued, my voice cracking. "I don't even look nearly as beautiful as a Jewel. No one would pick me anyways, and apparently if something like that happens, then your reputation gets ruined and..."

"Okay," Maya stopped me, squeezing me. "That's enough from you. Firstly, you're smoking hot. We aren't debating that whatsoever. Secondly, yes, you need money, but you also want love too, right?"

I closed my eyes, leaning against her shoulder. "I mean, who doesn't want that eventually?"

"Exactly. No one is going to look at you and see a charity case."

"They might."

"But what if someone looks at you and sees someone they want to love?"

Well...

"They might."

..............

My aunt was awake when I got home.

She always waited up for me, even when she shouldn't.

"I'm back," I said to her, immediately making my way to the fridge to grab some leftover chicken.

"You look tired." She said, looking away from her TV show.

"Dealing with bossy vampires and flirty werewolves does that to a waitress."

She laughed softly, and her laugh turned into a harsh cough. I shut the fridge and looked at her with furrowed brows. She held her hand up, silently telling me not to ask her condition for the hundredth time.

I popped the food in the microwave and sighed, the invite hidden in my pocket suddenly feeling heavier.

"Tell me about your day." She said, looking back at the TV. "Anything but whatever you're thinking about."

I crossed my arms, watching the food spin in slow circles. "Well, I don't know if I should tell you."

"Well now you have no choice but to," she laughed again.

I took a deep breath. "I got invited to the Choosing."

The room went quiet, and the microwave beeped before it stopped spinning. I grabbed my food, ignoring the stare she was giving me.

"Yasmin."

"I know that..."

"Absolutely not."

I looked at her. Her hand was tightly grabbing the remote, and her eyes were wide. I knew that if she could stand up, she would've already made her way to the kitchen. I dug into a drawer for a fork.

"I haven't even decided."

"You don't need to." Her voice softened. "Is this because of me? My illness?"

I didn't answer. And that was answer enough.

She closed her eyes for a moment.

"I knew it."

"I just want to help."

"I know."

"I can't just sit here and watch you get worse. You can't even walk anymore."

Her face tightened.

"My illness is not a reason for you to give up parts of yourself to... to... those vicious beasts."

I swallowed.

The doctors called it Aurelia degenerative disease.

A rare, progressive condition. The kind of illness where the treatment existed, but only for people who could afford it.

Without the surgery, eventually her body would stop being able to fight it.

And I couldn't fix that.

"I would rather die tonight," she whispered, "than have you give your body, your heart, your mind, your soul to them."

My eyes burned. "Don't say that."

"It's true."

She put the remote down and held out her hand. I made my way to her and put mine in hers. Her skin was cold. "Promise me you won't go there."

I didn't want to.

Because promises were easy to make when you weren't the one paying the price.

But I loved her.

So I nodded.

"I promise."

......

I broke that promise three hours later.

Not because I didn't mean it, but because I meant it too much.

My aunt had never hesitated to sacrifice for me. She left her husband, her house, and her dream job to take care of me.

So why couldn't I do the same when she needed me most? Didn't she deserve that from me?

She did.

That's what I told myself when I stood in front of Club Eclipse. During the day, it was another expensive place for wealthy people to pretend they weren't wealthy.

At night, it became something else.

The bouncer standing outside had silver eyes.

Werewolf.

He looked down at me. "Name?"

"Yasmin Jacobs. I'm here for the Choosing."

"Invite only."

I handed him the card, and he read it briefly. Afterwards, he glanced back at me, specifically at my blue t-shirt and jeans.

"You'll be escorted." He only said, looking away.

A woman led me through the club. Past the music and the humans who had no idea what was happening behind the walls. We walked down several flights of stairs.

Then we reached a private room.

"In there. I'll give you a form to fill in about yourself before you go out." The woman said, walking off in another direction. I took a deep breath and stepped in.

To my surprise, it was nearly empty. Only three women were in the room. One fixing her hair and two clearing a table full of make-up. The stage was visible from where I was standing, and I slowly stepped forward, peeking behind a tall, black curtain.

The room was massive. As big as a theater. Every seat was filled with a supernatural. Vampires sat on one side, and werewolves sat on the other.

Red eyes.

Silver eyes.

Two worlds.

One decision.

Some males had women sitting on their laps, already claimed with the collars.

"Better late than never," a voice said. I turned to the woman who had been fixing her hair. She wore a beautiful, sparkly red dress. Her eyes looked over my outfit. "Though, you're not making much of an entrance."

My jaw clenched, and I looked back at the stage just as the announcer stepped forward. He was a vampire. "I'm just watching. Might not participate."

The woman's brow lifted, but she didn't respond.

"Tonight, we present Sasha Brown," the announcer said.

The woman standing next to me straightened up and modeled her way to stage.

"Twenty-four years old. Blood type O negative. Excellent health. No major conditions. Open to choosing a partner from either vampire or werewolf."

The room was pin-drop silent. Every male watched her carefully.

"Those who wish to express interest may do so now."

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then a werewolf stood.

Then another.

A few vampires rose as well.

My eyes widened. Who would she even choose? How would she know what the best choice was for whatever she wanted?

Sasha looked at each male that stood for her, then her eyes stopped on a vampire.

"Him."

The vampire approached. No smile. No excitement. He simply stopped in front of her.

"Your choice?" the announcer asked.

She nodded. "Yes."

The vampire opened a velvet box. Inside was a collar.

At first glance, it looked exactly like a Moon Jewel. Same elegant metal. Same delicate design. But the stone in the center was different. It was red. Fit for a Blood Jewel.

The vampire lifted it and carefully fastened it around her neck.

"Suicidal, I tell you." One of the women behind me said. "Picking a vampire is a death sentence."

The other grabbed a broom and began sweeping the floor, "Not all of them are a bad choice."

"Anything that constantly requires your blood is a bad choice."

"Yes, well, werewolves aren't the most pleasant either. They're known for having horrible anger in them."

"It's all suicidal. No matter what they choose."

"Excuse me?"

I flinched, looking away from the two women speaking behind me. I placed my hand over my heart, feeling it ramming in my chest. Suicide? Is that what I was walking into?

"Hello?" A pale hand waved in front of me. I blinked, and my eyes met with red ones. It was the announcer. "The event is over. Are you a participant or cleaner?"

I looked at the room behind him. The males were just chatting now, no longer focused on the stage. A few stood up, preparing to leave.

I looked down at my jeans. At my ordinary shoes.

At the fact that I looked like I had wandered into someone else's life.

I thought about leaving. Then I thought about my aunt. My promise.

"Uh..." I said softly. The announcer looked at me with almost pity.

"You're scared," he said. "Do not worry. I do all of the speaking. All you do... is make your choice."

That was the scary part. I wasn't forced to be here. I wasn't pressured to pick anyone. Yet, that seemed worse somehow. Being given choice and making the wrong one.

I looked across the room again, and my breath hitched.

There he was.

Valentin Sinclair.

The vampire who had noticed me before I ever understood why.

Then a male stood, catching my attention. I forgot how to breathe.

The werewolf who had spoken to me like I was his equal.

They were both there.

I looked back at the announcer, giving a firm nod. "I'll choose."

And I'll choose right. I had to.