I know what you must be thinking. What bodies is she talking about? And what is she going to do with them?
Well, the Crimson House is not an ordinary place. It's the most exclusive, most expensive club in all of New York City. Only the elite, the truly powerful, the dangerous, and the obscenely wealthy gets in.
From the outside, it may look like an ordinary luxury club. A glass façade dripping with gold accents, laughters echoing through the velvet-curtained balconies, the scent of champagne and smoke clinging to the air. But inside, it's another world entirely. It's a place where the boundaries between humans and the supernatural blur under dim crimson lights.
Ofcourse most humans don't know about this, because it's very easy to fool them. But for me, I can finally breathe whenever I'm here. This is my safe space, away from the exhausting performance of pretending to be human all day.
Just as I was taking in the familiar rhythm of music vibrating through the room, Cassian's deep voice interrupted.
"My lady," he said as he stepped outside, his voice smooth. "Your food is ready. Shall I serve it here, or…"
I cut him off before he could finish, not even looking up. "Cassian, have I ever had my meal in the presence of people before?"
He smirked. "Of course not," he said simply.
"Then you have your answer."
He lowered his head, the faintest trace of amusement tugging at his lips. "Very well then. I'll have it served in your private VIP room."
"Good," I murmured, grabbing my bag and following him through the corridor.
The truth is, it's no longer a secret that supernaturals lives among humans in New York. They could be sitting beside you at a café, buying flowers at a corner stall, or whispering things into your ear on the dance floor. You'd never know. Why? Because they have learnt how to hide it and blend in as humans, just as I have.
Cassian knows what I am. Atleast the witch part, not the other darker part of me. And so most of my staff are humans. They're useful, loyal, and they know enough to keep their mouths shut. It's best to have humans around when you run a place like this. They draw less attention, and besides, their fear makes them obedient.
When I stepped into my private VIP room, the atmosphere shifted. The lights dimmed automatically, revealing soft colored walls, a long velvet sofa, and a glass table. I dropped my bag on the table, kicked off my heels, and sank into the sofa just as Cassian entered with a tray.
He's the only one allowed to serve me, more like the only human I trust and honestly, I don't trust humans. He dropped the plates on the table, and began announcing what I was going to have . "For entrée," he began, his voice sounding a bit dramatic, "we have steak with risotto on the side. If you're feeling indulgent, we also have lobster surf and turf. And for dessert, a salted caramel chocolate cake. And to drink, water, which is very important, then your personal favorite the 1947 Chevalier Blanc."
I couldn't help but laugh as i clapped mockingly. "Do you have to be this dramatic every time you bring me food, Cassian? You know at this rate, it'll be cold and stale before you finish your little presentation."
His grin widened, wicked and boyish at once. "Well, I like to think of you as the queen. Plus you're my priority, after all, and I have to make sure you're happy and comfortable."
"Then perhaps you should start by letting me eat before I actually starve," I said dryly.
He chuckled. "As you wish." He bowed slightly and left the room.
I shook my head, smiling to myself. Silly Cassian. He's the only one who isn't afraid of me. Or maybe he is, and he's just better at hiding it. He treats me differently from most men I've met, and although I'd never admit it aloud, I don't entirely hate it. But still, I don't hesitate to put him in his place when necessary.
I began eating slowly, savoring every bite. I don't rush my meals. Real food, is a luxury I rarely allow myself to have. And tonight, it might take a while for me to finish up as I occasionally glanced between my plate and the files scattered across the table.
Then I heard it, a commotion outside. People were arguing, raised voices, constant bickering.
Before I could make sense of it, the door bursted open.
Lucien.
I exhaled sharply, not even surprised. "Of course," I muttered under my breath.
One of my staff followed him in, flustered and pale. "I'm so sorry, ma'am," she stammered. "I tried to stop him, but he insisted he wanted this room—"
I raised my hand, cutting her off. "Shut up. I'm not interested in hearing your lazy ass excuses. Get out."
Her eyes widened. She bowed quickly and left.
Lucien stood there grinning, like a man who knew exactly how much he annoyed me.
Before I could speak, Cassian stormed in, grabbing Lucien by the collar and shoving him back. "You can't just barge in here," he growled. "My apologies, ma'am, I'll get him out of here immediately—"
"Cassian," I interrupted calmly. "Let him go."
He hesitated, confusion flickering across his face. "But—"
"He's not worth the headache. And also, he's a VIP, so he should be treated as one. Meanwhile he's a business partner so I can handle him." My tone gave room for no argument.
Cassian's jaw tensed. He looked at Lucien like he wanted to tear him apart, but eventually released him and backed away.
"If he causes any trouble—"
"I'll deal with it. You can go" I said firmly.
He lingered for a moment, then turned and left, closing the door behind him.
Lucien smoothed his collar, unbothered. "Well, that was dramatic," he said lightly, taking the seat across from me.
I didn't respond. I just went back to my meal, pretending he didn't exist.
"Lovely place you've got here," he added after a moment, then reached forward and, to my disgust, took a slice of my dessert.
I froze mid-bite. "Do you have a death wish?" I asked, my tone deceptively calm.
He smirked. "Relax princess. I'm not here to start a war with you. I was just curious."
"Curious enough to trespass?" I arched my brow. "Or are you stalking me? I'm certain a man like you, has better things to do."
He chuckled. It was a low sound that crawled under my skin. "If stalking you gets me your attention, I wouldn't mind doing it more."
I rolled my eyes. "You're insufferable."
"Perhaps I am," he said, leaning back in his chair. "But I'm here for the same reason everyone else is, and that's to have fun. I wanted this particular room, that's all. So when I was told it was being occupied, I had to see who was occupying it."
I set my fork down and stared at him. "You're unbelievable. You can't just disturb the peace of others, because you want attention, Lucien. You're not the only one spending money here, we all are and being a jerk about it, doesn't make it better ."
He tilted his head, studying me. "I guess you must be kind of a big deal here," he said finally. "Seeing as the staff nearly fell on their knees while trying to please you."
"They are just doing their job," I said coolly. "They have to make sure that the customers are happy and satisfied. That's how every business works. You, of all people should know that much. So it's not a big deal."
He smirked but said nothing. Then without warning, he leaned forward, placed his elbows on the table, as his eyes locked mine.
For a moment, the air shifted. The music outside dimmed into nothing, and the candlelight flickered as if it sensed something dark between us.
Then he whispered, "I finally know what you are."