Trisha had been distracted all day.
She tried to focus on her work—checking reservations, coordinating with the event management team, assisting guests—but her mind kept circling back to the same conversation.
Seraphina's voice.
Soft. Calm. Almost amused.
Come tomorrow night.
You'll see everything.
Trisha still didn't know whether she had meant it as a warning… or a threat.
She told herself she wasn't nervous.
But her hands still felt colder than usual as she adjusted the sleeve of her uniform behind the service counter.
By evening the hotel was glowing the way it always did—warm golden lights reflecting off marble floors, the scent of expensive perfume drifting through the lobby, the quiet hum of conversations between wealthy guests. Guests checked in. Luggage rolled across the floor. Everything looked normal.
On the surface, everything looked normal.
But something about tonight felt different.
Security had doubled.
Except for the private elevator.
Two security guards stood beside it tonight.
And a velvet rope blocked the entrance.
Private Event.
Staff Only When Assigned.
And earlier that afternoon the manager had gathered the staff for a brief but very serious instruction.
"No one," he had said firmly, "is allowed to enter the upper ballroom tonight unless specifically assigned. This is a private event for exclusive guests."
His gaze had moved slowly across the room.
"Anyone found wandering there will be removed from duty immediately. Do I make myself clear?"
Everyone had nodded.
Trisha had nodded too.
But now, standing behind the bar counter polishing a glass, she could feel curiosity gnawing at her.
She shouldn't go.
She knew that.
Trisha had heard whispers about the event since the afternoon. The entire top floor of Rowan's seven-star hotel had been sealed off. Exclusive guests. Strict instructions.
Seraphina's words echoed in her mind.
Come tomorrow night.
You'll see everything.
Trisha exhaled slowly.
I'm not doing this because of Rowan, she told herself.
I just want the truth.
That was the only reason.
Nothing else.
Not curiosity.
Not jealousy.
Certainly not the memory of his mouth against her neck.
She picked up a tray of glasses and walked toward the service corridor.
Confidence was everything in a place like this.
If you walked like you belonged somewhere, people rarely stopped you.
The staff hallway was quiet. Only a few staff members moved around carrying trays or pushing service carts.
The music from the private floor leaked faintly through the ceiling—deep bass vibrating through the walls.
A party.
A real one.
Trisha reached the restricted elevator.
A velvet rope blocked the entrance.
PRIVATE EVENT.
Trisha walked toward it anyway.
Two guards immediately looked at her.
One of them frowned.
"Sorry Miss, this elevator is restricted tonight."
Trisha gave a polite professional smile.
"I know. I was told to assist upstairs."
The guard crossed his arms.
"By who?"
For a split second she wondered if she should bluff.
But before she could answer, the second guard spoke calmly after reading Trisha's name card.
"It's fine."
The first guard turned to him.
"She's allowed."
He stepped aside.
Trisha blinked.
"Allowed?"
The guard pressed the elevator button.
"Ms. Seraphina gave permission for you to enter."
Trisha's stomach tightened.
Seraphina had expected her.
The elevator doors slid open.
For a second, Trisha almost stepped back.
Then curiosity won.
She stepped inside.
The doors closed behind her.
And the elevator began rising.
The higher it went, the louder the music became.
A deep, pulsing bass vibrated faintly through the metal walls.
It didn't sound like the quiet corporate events the hotel usually hosted.
This sounded like a party.
A real one.
The elevator stopped.
Dim red light spilled into the elevator.
Trisha stepped out slowly.
*****
The music grew louder as the doors opened.
Not wild.
Not chaotic.
Smooth.
Slow.
Sensual.
Trisha stepped out cautiously.
The hallway leading to the ballroom was dimly lit in deep red and gold tones. Velvet curtains framed the walls. The air felt warmer here.
Heavier.
And there was a strange scent lingering in it—sweet, metallic, almost intoxicating, smelled expensive—perfume, alcohol, something faintly metallic she couldn't quite place.
At the end of the hallway stood a massive pair of double doors.
Two more guards opened them the moment she approached , without a word.
And Trisha stepped into the party.
At first…
Everything looked completely normal.
The ballroom was enormous, glowing under soft crimson chandeliers. Music pulsed through hidden speakers, the bass deep and hypnotic.
It looked like the kind of private high-profile party the hotel hosted all the time.
Trisha slowly walked further inside.
Beautiful people everywhere.
Men in tailored suits. Women in elegant dresses that shimmered under the soft lighting. Champagne glasses sparkled in their hands as they laughed and talked.
A live DJ mixed music near the center of the room.
There was nothing strange about it.
Nothing supernatural.
Just rich guests enjoying themselves.
She walked deeper into the ballroom, her eyes scanning the crowd.
Couples danced slowly across the polished floor.
Waiters moved through the crowd carrying trays of drinks.
Trisha blinked.
For a moment she felt almost foolish.
A woman in a silver gown leaned against a marble column laughing with two men.
Another couple danced slowly near the center of the floor.
A bartender poured dark red wine into crystal glasses.
A group of women laughed near the bar.
Two men discussed something quietly near the balcony.
Someone popped open a champagne bottle.
Everything felt… normal.
Maybe Seraphina had exaggerated.
Maybe she had just wanted to intimidate her.
Maybe this was just another elite gathering for the wealthy and powerful.
Trisha frowned slightly.
This is it?
She exhaled slowly, almost embarrassed by her own nerves.
Then someone spoke behind her.
"I wondered how long it would take you ."
Trisha turned.
Seraphina stood only a few feet away.
Even in a room full of beautiful people, she was impossible to ignore.
Her black dress clung to her tall, slender body like liquid silk. The fabric shimmered under the red light, cut high along one thigh and low across her back. Her long dark hair fell in glossy waves over her shoulders, framing a pale, flawless face.
But it was her eyes that held attention.
Golden.
Almost glowing under the red lights.
Predatory.
Her lips curved slightly.
"Curiosity is a dangerous thing, Trisha."
"I'm impressed," she said softly. "Most humans would have been too afraid to come."
Trisha crossed her arms.
"You said I should come."
Seraphina tilted her head slightly.
"And you did."
Trisha glanced around the room again.
"But what exactly am I supposed to see?" she asked.
"This looks like any other party."
Seraphina's smile widened slightly.
"Does it?"
She stepped closer.
"Look again."
Trisha followed her gaze.
Across the room, a beautiful woman stood near the bar speaking to a tall handsome man. The woman leaned toward him slowly, brushing her lips near his neck.
It looked intimate.
Romantic even.
Like she was whispering something.
Or maybe kissing his neck.
The man tilted his head slightly to the side.
His eyes closed.
Then the woman's lips parted.
And something long and white slid past them.
Fangs.
Sharp.
Deadly.
Before Trisha could process it, the woman bit down into the man's neck.
Trisha froze.
The man gasped.
Not in pain.
In pleasure.
A soft sound escaped his throat as the woman drank.
Blood slid slowly down his collar.
The music continued.
No one screamed.
No one reacted.
It was as if nothing unusual had happened.
As if nothing was wrong.
Trisha's stomach twisted.
"What the hell…"
She turned quickly.
Another couple was dancing nearby.
A tall man held a woman against him as they swayed to the music. His hands on her waist.
His mouth lowered to her wrist.
His teeth sank into her skin.
The woman moaned softly.
Blood glistened across her arm.
Trisha's breathing quickened.
Everywhere she looked now—
She saw it.
Vampires.
Humans.
Teeth.
Blood.
A man leaned against the wall while a woman fed from his throat.
Another vampire licked crimson from a girl's wrist while she laughed breathlessly.
Drops of blood glimmered under the red lights.
Humans leaning closer.
Offering themselves.
Smiling.
Laughing.
The scent in the air suddenly made sense.
Metallic.
Sweet.
Overwhelming.
Seraphina watched Trisha carefully.
"Welcome," she said softly, "to a Vampire Party."
Trisha's pulse pounded in her ears.
"This… this can't be real."
"Oh, it's very real."
Trisha shook her head, backing away slightly.
"These people… they're being attacked."
Seraphina laughed quietly.
"No."
She gestured toward the room.
"They came here willingly."
Trisha looked again.
A woman tilted her head back intentionally, exposing her throat.
A vampire bent down and bit her.
The woman smiled.
Seraphina leaned closer to Trisha.
"This is a harem. "
The word sent a chill through her.
Trisha's eyes moved across the crowd again.
Human men.
Human women.
All offering themselves.
Blood.
Bodies.
Pleasure.
Terrifying.
And strangely beautiful at the same time.
Then her eyes lifted.
And she saw him.
Rowan stood on the upper level balcony overlooking the entire ballroom.
The red light traced the sharp lines of his face, the dark elegance of his grey suit. His posture was relaxed but powerful, one hand resting lightly on the railing as he spoke to a group of distinguished guests.
He looked completely calm.
Completely in control.
As if this entire world belonged to him.
Which it probably did.
Several stunning women stood near him.
A woman approached him.
Tall.
Blonde.
Stunning.
She leaned close, whispering something in his ear.
Then she lifted her wrist toward him.
Offering it.
Another woman joined them.
And another.
Beautiful.
Confident.
Hungry.
Offering their necks.
Their wrists.
Anything he wanted.
Trisha's chest tightened painfully.
Seraphina watched her expression carefully.
"This is his world," she said quietly.
Trisha didn't answer.
Her eyes remained fixed on Rowan.
And suddenly—
He looked up.
Directly at her.
Their gazes locked across the room.
For a moment, the entire party seemed to disappear.
Rowan's expression didn't change.
But his body went still.
Completely still.
He had not expected to see her there.
Trisha felt something twist violently inside her chest.
Fear.
Disgust.
Jealousy.
Betrayal.
Everything crashed together at once.
She couldn't breathe.
The music suddenly felt too loud.
The smell of blood too strong.
This place—
This world—
Rowan's world—
It was monstrous.
She turned sharply.
"I'm leaving."
Seraphina didn't stop her.
"Of course you are, You don't belong in this world, in HIS WORLD ," she murmured.
Trisha rushed toward the exit, pushing through the dancing crowd.
A vampire laughed behind her.
Someone moaned in pleasure.
Music thundered around her as she fled the ballroom.
Behind her, on the balcony—
Rowan was already moving.
Following.
And the night was far from over.