Felix's POV

We push our way through a sea of limbs. The club is brimming with bodies, throwing themselves up against gravity, lost in time with the music.

Oblivion, once an old art-house theatre, now four floors of concrete decadence. One of the few clubs catering for every kind of patron. Metal and breezeblock make up the endless walls and an arc of a twisted crystal cuts the space, up to the ceiling, allowing moonlight sneak in.

Security gives us both a nod as we pass upstairs to the old dress circle. To the right of the elevated DJ booth, gilded in glass and behind velvet ropes, is the VIP area. An aerie in the skylight separate from the masses.

I push aside black drapes with Avari in tow, and enter inside. Lounging at one of the tiered tables, our table, is Theo. His arm loose around Sati who looks frozen and over polished. Her usual self no less. Loren is swaying near the private bar with a drunken human girl closeted around him. I can hear Theo giggling as we approach. Sati sees us and looks away.

"Ah, the Heirs are finally gracing us with their presence!" Theo slurs. He jumps on to the table and tries to bow, spilling his drink over Sati who makes a face.

"Watch it!" She doesn't look happy. Avari has his work cut out for him. She brushes her couture cut dress with a free hand, glaring at me as though it's my fault somehow.

"Piss off Theo..." Avari laughs and pushes him back down into the sofa. Theo falls back, feet in the air and howls.

"You're late," Sati sulks. "we've been here for hours."

"Oh Eve, you started without us. Time to catch up. Pass that bottle will you Sats?" says my brother.

Sati reaches over her and offers him a bottle of whiskey. Avari takes it and starts to pour a couple of glasses. I sit down beside Sati and grab her drink from her hand, taking a large gulp of watered gin and lemonade.

"You killed the gin," I wince, downing the rest, handing it back empty.

"Oi." She pokes me in the ribs. "You owe me a drink."

"So you can sit and nurse it for hours like the last?" I ask, accepting a larger-than-usual shot of whiskey from Avari.

"Does matter what I do with it, if it belongs to me?" She asks.

"Well, technically, it all belongs to me." I motion the whole club.

"No, technically, it belongs to your father-" she pokes my chest in staccato fashion, "-you're just an heir."

I glance over at Avari. He's not paying attention to either of us. Instead, he's slapping Theo on the back, grinning like he's hilarious. Hand on heart that pisses me off more than anything. He isn't even trying.

"I see, that's all we are to you, heirs?" I arch a brow and take a swig of my drink, letting my focus drift back.

When I do finally look at her she's staring, right into my eyes, unflinching and unblinking. Drinking me in. There's a desire behind the wall of decorum I can't quite grasp. I have an urge to break it down.

I cock my head. "So, will either of us 'heirs' do, or have you set your sights on my brother?"

I mean it to be a teasing question, but there's a slight edge to my tone. I say it too quick and quiet to be a joke. Testing her loyalty to my brother when she's not even his yet.

What are you doing Felix?

Don't mess with this one. She's not yours.

Sati smiles, eyes cat-like. I see a flicker of something, but only for a second before it flies away.

I could sense her emotions with my ability, unlock her secrets.

Even if Sati is good at shielding, better than most, I could tear it down. But I'd be reaching my limit if I tried, to the point where I'd have to take energy from someone else. Just keeping my ability connected right now is sapping all the strength I have.

It would also be cruel and abusive, definitely not the Viscarii way.

"Felix!" Sati punches me playfully on the arm, breaking the spell. "Don't ask questions you don't want to know the answer to."

"Ouch." I grumble. Not the answer I was expecting, but a better one. Sati deserves someone like my brother. Not me. Definitely not me.

"Did I hurt you?" She asks, still enjoying the game.

"Not really." I say.

It's difficult to avoid being burnt, playing with fire, once you start.

"Good, I wouldn't want to hurt a prince." She smiles at me and prods me in the ribs again.

Flames don't extinguish themselves either.

This time, I grab her hand before she can dig her nails in. I do it gently, wanting to stop with the physical abuse more than anything.

"Careful, you should get those claws trimmed if that's the case."

She looks down and I sense her body tighten. We are quite close, sitting next to each other, holding hands across bodies. Her eyes catch in mine, wary, like a fox in headlights. She isn't smiling anymore but I notice her eyes are huge and her lips have parted. She leans in.

Close enough I can taste her signature scent. Roses.

I pull away, in case she gets the wrong idea. Too late for that don't you think?

I want to say something light hearted.

But she beats me to it, smiling softly, sadly. Like I missed the joke.

"Just get me another drink Lothario. Gin." She pulls her hand back and waves me off. She turns her body away to Theo, who is laying back on the seat with his legs on the table singing.

I'm dismissed.

"Yes ma'am," I say, resigned. I sigh and stand up.

Avari is frowning until he catches me looking. But Loren takes the moment to stumble over, throwing an arm around my brother and pulling the human girl into our midst like a midnight snack. She drunkenly latches onto Avari to hold her upright (they all usually do), and buries her face in his neck. Loren flashes me a smirk and flips me the finger, tugging a slight smile from my own lips.

I decide then, to leave them to their banter.

The private bar is already three bodies deep so I head instead to the main atrium, where I might stand a chance of getting served. There's table service in the aerie, but just as well I need to get away. And I'm grateful for the distraction. Anything to avoid going back.

When I get to the bar I lean against it, not quite ready to order, scanning the crowd. The familiar beat of music drawing me in.

I don't notice at first what I'm looking at.

Only I'm staring at a petite girl, in a clearing, across the floor. Her hood is up, but I can see a touch of black, strands curled, peeking out from inside her collar.

Her hair used to be longer. When did she cut it?

My gaze drifts to her eyes and I know they are blue and green, the right one is the lighter one. There is also dimple in her left cheek, when she smiles.

She is not smiling now, though.

I can hear her breathing and her heart beating, so fast, over the music, only three feet away. I'm caught in the rhythm of her, a beat I know so well, the sound that drew me across the room in the first place.

"Ai." I breathe her name, finally, breaking the curse which has me held fast, as the world around us ceases to exist entirely.

***

Author's Note - 

Thanks so much for all the reads and likes! And a special thank you to those who have subscribed. I'm a little bit closer to reaching my sub goal yay! ☺

This was a tough chapter because I had to edit a lot of changes. It should start getting interesting, all the (main) characters are now all under one moonlit roof, in the most notorious of nightclubs! ^^

What do you think will happen next??

Cast your votes here please!

p.s. if you liked this chapter, please don't forget to ❤️

Lis x