The vampire club seemed to breathe on its own. Red and violet lights pulsed in sync with the deep electronic beat that filled the room. Natalie, still barely believing where she had ended up, stayed close to Ruby, who chatted cheerfully with everyone who passed by, as if she owned the place.
That was when Natalie's eyes caught a familiar figure. Rose, with the same sharp gaze and confident posture, crossed the crowd like every step was calculated. When she noticed Natalie, a mischievous smile curled on her lips.
"Well… look who decided to show up here." Rose said, her voice dripping with irony, though a hidden warmth lingered beneath it.
Natalie shifted uncomfortably.
"I… didn't know you came here."
Rose raised one eyebrow.
"I'm always here. This place is like… a second home." She stepped closer, the distance between them shrinking with each breath.
"And you? Aren't you afraid of getting lost around here?"
Before Natalie could answer, Ruby jumped in, laughing:
"Oh, stop it, Rose! You always do this mysterious predator act."
She wrapped an arm around Natalie's shoulders, almost as if shielding her.
"Don't scare the girl. I'm Ruby, by the way... nice to meet you. And you smell really good."
"I'm not scaring anyone," Rose shot back with that same teasing smile.
"I was just explaining how things work around here."
Natalie looked at the two vampires, curiosity slowly overcoming her anxiety. Rose finally spoke in a more serious tone:
"This club is a gathering spot for our kind. Vampires come here to relax, dance… and feed."
Natalie's eyes widened. Rose seemed delighted by her reaction.
"But relax," she continued.
"It's not as sinister as it sounds. The humans here know exactly what they're getting into. Many enjoy being bitten — pleasure, curiosity… it's practically a fetish."
Ruby burst out laughing.
"It's basically vampire Tinder."
Natalie blinked several times, trying to process everything.
"And… they don't remember afterward?"
"No," Rose replied casually, as if discussing the weather.
"After we feed, we use a little mind trick —some call it hypnosis. They wake up the next day without remembering the bite, only our faces."
The silence of the human girl only made Rose's teasing stronger. She tilted her head, eyes slowly trailing up and down Natalie's body, and whispered:
"Of course, if you keep showing up here… I might start wanting a taste myself. Maybe I'll feed on you."
Natalie swallowed hard, her heartbeat doubling. Ruby jumped in again, but still playful:
"Hey, hey! Leave the girl alone. If you're going to bite her, at least buy her a drink first."
Rose let out a short laugh — neither denying nor escalating the threat. Natalie, however, couldn't decide whether she felt fear or curiosity.
The music's beat intensified, pulling everyone toward the dance floor. Rose extended her hand toward Natalie as if nothing had happened.
"Shall we dance?"
Natalie hesitated, remembering the dangerous teasing from minutes before. But Rose's gaze now was almost hypnotic, as if saying "trust me" and "run" at the same time.
Ruby watched from behind with an amused grin, though her eyes remained alert, ready to step in if things went too far.
Natalie finally took Rose's hand, allowing herself to be guided to the center of the floor, where the lights flashed wildly. The beat echoed in her chest like a second heartbeat.
And as they danced, a burning question haunted her:
Would Rose actually feed on her that night?