Page 9 of The Second Sight (Wanderlust Emporium Presents, Season One)

Chapter

Eight

KASI

Seven led us toward a corner arrangement of couches partially hidden by an ornamental screen.

A woman sat there, her posture so perfect it made my spine ache just looking at her.

Even seated, I could tell she was tall and lean.

Her dark brown hair fell only an inch or two below her shoulders.

When she looked up at our approach, I was struck by her green eyes.

At first, I thought she was Hispanic, but the closer I got, I could see she was White.

Her face was beautiful in a severe, intimidating way. She wore a simple black dress that somehow looked more expensive than anything I’d ever owned. It was her expression that truly caught my attention. She looked bored as hell, and her face went cold when her gaze landed on me.

“Lily,” Seven said as we reached the seating area. “I’ve brought some new friends.”

Lily’s gaze moved from me to Brooklyn and back again, assessing us with the detachment of someone examining insects. “So, I see,” she replied, her voice low and musical despite its frosty tone. “How unexpected.”

Seven gestured for us to sit, arranging things so that Brooklyn and I were on one couch while he sat beside the Lily lady. The moment his hand left my waist, I felt both relief and a strange sense of exposure.

“This is Kasinda and Brooklyn,” Seven said, settling back against the leather with casual grace. “Kasinda is a college student. Brooklyn is—”

“A student too,” Brooklyn supplied, apparently unbothered by Lily’s cool reception. “This place is amazing. Do you come here often?”

“These are your new... friends,” Lily said to Seven, ignoring Brooklyn’s question entirely. The pause before “friends” was deliberate, loaded with a meaning I couldn’t decipher.

Was she being racist? It was my go-to, but I needed to see a little bit more before I labeled her. Shit! What if she was a vampire? Why didn’t I think of that before?

Seven smiled. It was a private exchange passing between him and Lily that excluded Brooklyn and me completely.

“We’ve only just met,” he said smoothly. “But I find the ladies fascinating.”

A server appeared at Seven’s elbow, seemingly summoned without any visible signal. “The usual, sir?”

“Yes, and whatever these ladies would like,” Seven replied without taking his eyes off me.

Brooklyn immediately ordered some complicated cocktail, while I asked for water, not trusting myself with more alcohol. My head was already spinning from everything that happened, and I needed to keep my wits about me.

“Kasi, what are you studying in college?” Seven asked once the server had gone.

“Psychology.” I answered truthfully. I guess this was his way of making small talk.

“What drew you to that field of study?”

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. “I’ve always been interested in how people think. Why they do the things they do.”

“Kasi’s always been good at reading people,” Brooklyn chimed in, relaxing into the plush leather.

“Is that so?” Seven leaned forward, his eyes never leaving my face. “That’s a valuable skill.”

“Not really,” I said, trying to steer the conversation away from myself. “What about you? What do you do?” I asked Seven.

“Investments primarily,” he replied vaguely. “Family business. Rather dull, I’m afraid.”

“Seven’s being modest,” Lily interjected, her green eyes glittering. “Our family has... interests in many ventures throughout the city.” The way she said “interests.” made it sound like a threat.

“Our family.” I stated.

“Yes, yes, Lily is my sister.” Seven offered.

I didn’t believe him. They didn’t look alike. But I was going to play along and try to gather more information. “How long have you lived in Chicago?” I asked, genuinely curious despite my fear.

“A while,” Seven answered with a cryptic smile. “We move around quite a bit. We never stay in one place too long.”

“Because of the family business?” Brooklyn asked, clearly trying to get a clearer picture of our mysterious host.

Seven nodded, then smoothly changed the subject. “Tell me more about your studies. Do you live on campus?”

I felt a subtle shift in the conversation, noticing how Seven deflected personal questions while extracting information from us.

He asked about our locations, our schedules, our families, all while offering nothing substantial about himself in return.

It was like a chess match where I could see the moves but was powerless to counter them.

As we talked, Seven shifted to the couch where Brooklyn and I sat. He positioned himself beside me with a casualness that felt like he knew me before tonight. Lily watched this rearrangement with her mouth in a thin line of disapproval.

Now sitting next to me, Seven’s knee occasionally brushed against mine, each contact sending an unwelcome jolt through my body.

I couldn’t tell if the touches were accidental or deliberate, but they kept me constantly aware of his presence.

What disturbed me most was my body’s confused response.

My fear commingled with an attraction I couldn’t control and didn’t understand.

“I need to use the bathroom,” Brooklyn announced after we’d been talking for about twenty minutes. She stood, smoothing her dress. “Where is it located in this section?”

“Through there, to the left,” Lily directed, gesturing toward a discreet hallway. “The private facilities are much nicer than the main ones.”

As soon as Brooklyn was out of earshot, Seven turned to me, all pretense of casual interest gone. “Give me your phone,” he demanded, his voice low but authoritative.

“What? Why?” I clutched my purse tighter, wishing I had gone to the bathroom with Brooklyn.

“Because I said so,” he replied simply. “And because it’s better than me showing up at your father’s house to get your number.”

The implied threat was clear. Brooklyn’s big ole mouth told Seven I lived in an apartment attached to my father’s house. I pulled my phone from my purse and unlocked it before passing it to him. His fingers brushed mine deliberately, the contact sending another chill through me.

Seven quickly navigated to my contacts, adding himself. Then he opened my messaging app and sent a text to an unknown number. “There,” he said, handing the phone back. “Now I have your number, and you have mine. For our next meeting.”

“I already said I’d be there tomorrow,” I whispered, fear making my voice tremble.

“Yes, but this ensures you won’t forget.” His smile didn’t reach his eyes. His glare was too intense, too sexual. I felt naked and exposed when he gave me that piercing gaze.

Lily watched our exchange with undisguised interest. “You’ve certainly taken a special interest in this one, brother,” she observed, her voice cool. “Unusual.”

Seven ignored her comment. “Brooklyn’s on her way back,” he murmured.

I nodded, slipping my phone back into my purse just as Brooklyn reappeared, looking refreshed. She settled back onto the couch, launching into praise about the fancy bathroom.

As she chatted animatedly, Seven’s knee pressed against mine again, longer this time, and more deliberate. His hand casually draped over the back of the couch behind me, not touching but close enough that I could feel him.

Time stretched in the VIP section, minutes dragging into hours as I sat rigidly beside Seven with Brooklyn on my other side.

Brooklyn laughed at Seven’s well-timed jokes and peppered Lily with questions about her jewelry.

She was having the time of her life, while I fought to keep my expression neutral.

My untouched bottle of water sat on the table staring back at me.

The server had brought another round of something without being asked.

Lily nursed what looked like red wine but what I now suspected might be something else entirely.

Seven hadn’t touched his drink either. I wondered if vampires could even consume normal beverages, or if they only pretended to for appearance’s sake.

“So, Lily,” Brooklyn said, her words slightly slurred from the cocktails she’d been happily accepting, “that necklace is gorgeous. Is it an antique?”

Lily’s hand drifted to the silver pendant resting against her collarbone. “Yes,” she replied. Her voice was clipped yet musical. “A family heirloom.”

“It looks really old,” Brooklyn pressed, leaning forward to get a better look.

“It is,” Seven interjected smoothly. “From my grandmother. Passed down through generations.”

His knee pressed against mine again, the sixth or seventh time in the last hour. Each contact lasted a few seconds longer than could be considered accidental. I’d stopped trying to shift away. It only seemed to amuse him.

I caught myself wondering how many “grandmothers” Seven had outlived over his centuries of existence. How many families had he watched grow old and die while he remained unchanged? The thought sent a chill through me that had nothing to do with his supernatural coldness.

“You’re very quiet, Kasi,” Seven observed, turning those pale eyes on me.

“Just tired,” I lied, forcing a smile. “It’s been a long day.”

“Your birthday,” he remembered. “Twenty-one. A milestone.” His smile revealed nothing of the fangs I knew lay behind it. “How does it feel to be considered a full adult?”

“Not much different than yesterday,” I answered honestly.

He chuckled, the sound surprisingly warm coming from someone like him. “Perhaps not yet. But birthdays can be transformative.” His gaze intensified. “You’ve certainly had some revelations today, haven’t you?”

I swallowed hard, aware of Brooklyn listening nearby. “I suppose I have.”

Seven seemed pleased with my cautious response. Every nerve in my body remained on high alert, tracking his slightest movement like prey watching a predator.

Brooklyn yawned suddenly, checking her phone. “Oh wow, it’s almost three! We should probably think about heading out.” She looked at me apologetically. “I’ve got work tomorrow, and so do you?”

Relief flooded through me so strongly I nearly gasped. The prospect of escape, of putting distance between myself and Seven, was a bet. I nodded too eagerly. “Yes, we should go. Thank you for your hospitality,” I added, turning to Seven and Lily with what I hoped looked like genuine gratitude.

Lily inclined her head slightly, assessing me. “It was— interesting to meet you both.” The pause before “interesting” spoke volumes about her true feelings. Clearly, she tolerated Brooklyn but didn’t mess with me at all.

Seven rose smoothly to his feet, extending a hand to help me up. I took it reluctantly. As I stood, he pulled me slightly closer than necessary, leaning down to speak directly into my ear. His lips grazed my skin as he whispered, “You’re free to go, but remember our arrangement.”

How could I forget? His breath raised goosebumps along my neck, and I fought back a shiver.

“I remember,” I whispered back.

He smiled, straightening up to his full height. “I’ll walk you ladies out,” he announced, his hand finding the small of my back.

Brooklyn took notice of his chivalrous gesture, clearly interpreting it as a sign of Seven’s interest in me. If only she knew. She shot me an excited thumbs-up behind Seven’s back as we made our way out of the VIP section, passing the stoic bouncer, who nodded respectfully to Seven.

The main floor of the club had thinned out, though the music still pumped at full volume. We weaved through scattered groups of dancers and drinkers as Seven guided us toward the exit. The warm night air hit my face as we stepped outside, and I inhaled deeply. I was seconds away from freedom.

“Thank you,” Brooklyn said to Seven, her cheeks flushed with alcohol and excitement. “Best VIP experience ever.”

“The pleasure was mine,” Seven replied with a gracious nod. Then his eyes found mine. His gaze intensified. “I look forward to continuing our conversation tomorrow, Kasi.”

He took my hand in his, raising it to his lips in an old-fashioned gesture that would have seemed ridiculous from anyone else. But from him, it felt natural. His lips brushed my knuckles, lingering a moment too long, his eyes never leaving mine. The contact sent an unwelcome quake through my body.

He released my hand slowly, his fingers trailing along mine in a deliberate caress that felt like both a promise and a warning. Brooklyn was watching this exchange with barely contained glee. As Seven turned and walked back into the club, she grabbed my arm, bouncing slightly on her toes.

“Oh my God, Kasi! He is so into you!” she squealed, her voice carrying in the quiet street. “And he’s gorgeous! And rich! Did you give him your number? Please tell me you gave him your number.”

I nodded mutely, unable to form words around the knot of fear in my throat. Seven had my number all right, and a lot more since she was running her mouth to him and his sister.

“Your birthday was epic,” Brooklyn continued as she tried to read the license plate on a car that pulled up.

“Did you already order an Uber or Lyft?” I asked.

“Yeah, but that’s not ours.” She said.

I didn’t even see her order it. I was too busy watching Seven. I was so glad there was a car in route.

Brooklyn looked up from her phone. “They will be here in two minutes. Damn. Kasi, I mean, of all the girls in there, he picked you!” she said, squeezing my arm.

If only she knew why he’d “picked” me. Not because I was special or pretty, but because I could see through his disguise. Because he thought I wasn’t entirely human.

The Uber arrived, and I almost pushed my bestie down getting into the comfort of that stranger’s backseat. The driver rumbled through Chicago’s late-night streets, carrying us away from the club, and away from Seven.

Even when my body betrayed me, I was still terrified. I didn’t run toward danger. I ran from it. It felt so nice to run. Sitting in the backseat, I remembered I had never used the bathroom. My bladder was full. I needed to hurry and get back home.