Chapter 2: The Plan, Dress and Mistake

POV: Seraphina Vale

“You want me to do what now?” I asked, blinking at Marcus like he had grown another head. Marcus developed the plan to infiltrate the club and he got a link to assist.

“Go undercover,” he said. “At Club Umbra but not as a cop or normal person. They’ll never let you in like that.”

I crossed my arms. “So what do you suggest? Bartender? Dancer?”

He rubbed the back of his neck, sheepish. “Escort. One of the... girls. I mean...only if you're okay with it. You’re the only one who could pull it off. You’re smart, confident and...”

“Hot,” I said proudly flipping my hair backwards.

He choked. “That’s not....I mean...yes, of  course, you are gorgeous...but that’s not what I meant. I just think you’ll blend in easily and get close to Lucien Kael. 

I sighed, rubbing my temples. “Okay. When are we carrying out this plan?" 

"Today!" He said glaring at me innocently.

"Okay, Today...what time?..." I paused processing what I had just repeated. "TODAY?" I gasped.

"Yup, tonight by 9:30pm." He said, slowly moving away from me. 

"Are you out of your mind? What kind of plan is so short notice?" I came closer to him with my fists folded. 

"Wait! Hear me out...That's the only time the link said he can help. Plus the link said this was his only favour to pay me back. It's our only chance." He said, protecting his face.

I stopped midway. "Oh really? Then I guess we would have to manage."

Marcus sighed in relief but I smacked him anyways. Just once....hehe!

"Ouch!" He screamed.

"Give me the tracker and mic and make sure you tell no one else.”

Marcus hesitated. “You sure?”

“No. But I’m doing it anyway.”

By nightfall, I was standing in a dark hallway behind the club, with my heart beating fast. A woman with bright red lipstick handed me a tray and a tiny earpiece.

“Room service. VIP floor only. Smile, walk slow, sway your hips and don’t spill anything.”

I nodded. My real clothes were gone. In this club...the ladies wore what was given to them to wear. I was wearing a sheer, nearly see-through lace corset, black thong, and six-inch heels. My breasts were pushed up like they were about to escape and my hips curved like I’d been made into a fanta bottle or hour glass.

“Damn,” I whispered to myself while looking at myself in the mirror. “I look like I can bag me a sexy hot billionaire vampire or werewolf in those Korean dramas.”

Marcus’s voice crackled in my ear. “You good in there?”

“Yeah,” I whispered back. “Wish you could see me right now. You’d pass out.”

“I probably would. 100% will.”

I smiled. I knew the flirty tension was always there, but this wasn’t the time. I joined the other ladies as the backdoors opened and  Club Umbra swallowed us whole.

There was red lights, pounding music, and hot bodies everywhere. Heat rolled off the crowd like steam, champagne, cologne, pheromones... it was dizzying.

Men and women in masks lounged on velvet couches. Others danced like they were about to devour each other. I walked past slowly, serving drinks, smiling, pretending I belonged.

One handsome man slid a hand over my hip and smiled. Another grazed my thigh when I leaned in.

Stay cool, Seraphina. Don't burst your cover. You’ve been in worse places. I forced a smile and moved on.

“Looking good,” a tall man said, eyeing my chest like it spoke a different language. "Nice booty."

I winked and walked faster. “Marcus,” I whispered. “I think I see him.”

Through the crowd, a figure with red shoulder length hair and all black clothes,  moving towards one direction. Lucien Kael was known for this look. I struggled through the crowd to be sure. And Yes, it was him. He had no guards at all.

His back was broad and his hands in his pockets. He looked calm and drop dead gorgeous like everyone says. But his scent hit me hard, like the sand after rain, coconut and smoke. It prickled my skin. Why would someone have such a scent? Rich people probably have bad taste in perfume.

“I’m going after him,” I whispered.

“Be careful,” Marcus said in my ear.

"Okie-dokie."

I slipped through the dancers and followed Lucien to the VIP corridor.

"Make sure you...................." Marcus cut off, everything went static.

“Marcus? Hello?”

I heard nothing. The earpiece went dead and so did my tracker. Every signal cut the second I crossed that threshold.

"Great! Solo Mission...Of course." I murmured.

I kept on going searching for him, my heels clicking. The hallway had many doors, each were numbered. Suddenly I saw Lucien pop out of one door and disappear into another one, but I wasn’t sure which. Room 9? Or 10?

I came loser, adjusting my boobs so they won't fall out. "I guess I'll try my luck with room 10.

I knocked lightly and stepped in with a tray, ready to flirt, fake it, and maybe drop something in a drink if needed.

But the room was dark, there was no music. Then I heard little noises and  breathing.

"Hello? You asked for an escort girl...."

Suddenly, I paused, trying to adjust my eyes to see what was in front of me. I was about to gasp out loud when I quickly covered my mouth, trembling.

A man?....no, it looked more like a creature was on the floor with someone beneath him. I looked closely and saw that he was eating an escort girl.

Blood was smeared on the walls and the victim’s eyes were open, lifeless. Her neck was torn open and some flesh was gone.

The thing looked up but I couldn't see it so clearly. But it's eyes were definitely glowing yellow.

Whatever it was, it smelled me.

“Shit,” I whispered, backing up fast.

It lunged towards my direction as I dropped the tray and the bottles crashed. I stumbled, kicking off my heels. It was huge and too fast. I ducked under a table and grabbed a bottle neck, smashing it for a weapon.

It roared and flipped the table. That's when I screamed at the top of my lungs.

It grabbed my wrist...very strong...and slammed me into the floor. My corset snapped and I could feel the pain through my whole body. It growled as I cried, kicked, scratched, panicked.

Just when I thought I was really going to die, the door burst open, and a man came in, crossing the room in seconds, his eyes glowing gold. He tackled the creature, claws ripping from his fingers. The creature howled. Next thing, blood sprayed everywhere....on me also.

, but the man didn’t stop.

Slash...Bite..Tear....

I watched, frozen and stunned, as the man ripped the monster apart like paper. Before I knew it, everywhere was silent.

The man stood up straight and his gaze went straight to me. I was still on the floor, breathing hard, my torn lingerie was barely holding up.

He came closer and closer towards me, as I tried to move back but my body failed me.

When he came closer, the moon cast light through the window to his face. Then, I realized it was the man I was looking for...Lucien Kael.

“No humans are allowed to witness this,” he said, in a deep and scary tone.

I tried to stand, my legs shaking. “I..I did.....n’t.... kno....w...I...I...was.... ju...st”

I was sweating profusely and stammering. 

Before I knew it, he moved so fast I didn’t see it. His hand gripped my throat and he easily lifted me off the ground, one-handed. My feet dangled and I was pleading for life as I was loosing my breath. 

“You shouldn’t be alive,” he growled.

Then suddenly he sniffed, then sniffed me again. His grip loosened. I could see his eyes widened just slightly.

“What... are you?” he whispered.

At that slight moment, I saw confusion and shock come across his eyes. But then I passed out before he could say more.