Chapter 16: Club Yoru—Where the Monsters Come to Dance
If hell had a cover charge, it would look exactly like this.
Club Yoru wasn't just a nightclub. It was a statement.Black marble floors. Velvet curtains. A chandelier made entirely of LED shards that looked like dripping blood when the lights hit it.
And the bass?It was so loud I could feel it in my teeth.
"Stay close," Riku said, his voice low in my ear as he led me through the packed crowd."Trust me, I'm not planning to wander off," I muttered, clutching my drink like it was holy water.
This place wasn't like the bars I'd been dragged to by classmates. There was something off about it.The people here didn't just dance. They moved like they were feeding off the air itself.
Their eyes glinted strangely when the lights hit them—some gold, some red, some silver.
And for a second, I could've sworn one girl at the bar had fangs.
We were supposed to be here for an "after-party."But every instinct in my body screamed that this wasn't just a party.
"Riku," I whispered, leaning toward him, "is it just me or is everyone here… weird?"
His lips curved into a humorless smile. "They're not fans."
"What are they, then?"
"Predators," he said simply.
Before I could process that, someone approached.Tall. Elegant. Dressed in a white suit that seemed to glow faintly under the lights.
"Riku Kurosawa," the man said, voice smooth as honey. "I thought the great 'vampire idol' didn't mingle with his own kind anymore."
My stomach dropped.
Riku's expression didn't change. "Good evening, Kael."
Kael. Even his name felt dangerous.He smiled at me next—sharp and beautiful in a way that made my skin crawl.
"And who's this? Your pet human?"
My mouth opened before my brain could stop it. "Excuse me?!"
Riku stepped between us, his tone dropping to frost. "Watch your mouth."
Kael chuckled, unbothered. "Relax, little king. I'm just saying hello. You used to have such better taste."
The air around them felt like it was vibrating—like invisible power pressing against my chest.
Finally, Kael leaned closer, whispering something that made Riku's jaw tighten.Then, with one last smirk, he disappeared back into the crowd.
"What did he say?" I asked.
Riku's eyes followed the man's retreating form. "He said… 'They're coming.'"
The music throbbed louder. Somewhere, a glass shattered.And I realized the lights in the club weren't just flickering—they were dimming.
The crowd's laughter turned strange, distorted.And one by one, the smiles around us started showing fangs.
Riku grabbed my wrist."Haruto," he said sharply, "don't look back."
"Why—"
"Because if you do, you'll see what's hunting you."
And as he pulled me into the dark hallway behind the stage, I heard it—A low hiss, like something ancient and hungry had just woken up.
TO BE CONTINUED…