Page 5 of Veil of Death and Shadow (Order of Reapers #1)

5

MAREENA

Present Day

T he line to Incendiary was wrapped fully around the block.

“This is wild.” My jaw slacked at the impeccably dressed clusters of beautiful people, all impatiently waiting for their chance to get in. I hadn’t seen this many people together since before The Undoing.

“The wild thing is that only a handful of them will make it inside tonight.” Sora’s eyes were bright, her body trembling with contagious excitement. “From what Rex said, most of them come here on the off chance that one of the demons inside will grab someone on their way out to help dispel some of the . . . energy.”

“Rex?”

My stomach clenched at the thought. Humans were largely split when the demon world was revealed. Some hated them instantly, others feared them, and then there were just as many bound up in utter fascination—a desire to become one of them. Or die trying to get close.

Other than the humans who were hit with backlash from The Undoing, I hadn’t heard of any being straight up turned into a demon by another demon. That didn’t mean it wasn’t possible—and that didn’t stop the cult-like obsession many harbored. They gave up everything they had for the small chance of becoming a vampire or some other mythical creature. Most of them just settled for living on the outskirts of the supernatural world, becoming blood donors for vampires, or offering whatever other services they could think of.

The thought of their idol fascination always confused me, but for the first time, I could almost understand it. The energy out here was palpable, the people looking more alive and eager than I’d felt in years.

“He’s the one who got us in. Met him recently.”

“And he is . . .” I pressed

My skin tingled with waves of energy, like there was an electrical current buzzing in the air. Even from outside, I could feel the thrum of power emanating from Incendiary. The building felt like it was alive—just as, if not more, than the people flocking to it.

Instinct told me to run, but when I caught sight of the smile carving across Sora’s face, I swallowed it back. She was right. I needed to fucking relax.

I refused to live in fear for the rest of my life, not after everything we’d done to ensure we’d have a life at all to live. Anything less would be just as tragic as death.

My body relaxed into the energy pulsing around us.

One night of fun, I could do this.

“A friend,” she said, ending the discussion there. She grabbed my hand in hers and tugged. She was surprisingly strong for someone so small.

I let her guide me to the front, where a bulky man stood with a clipboard, his beady eyes like lasers as they shifted from us to the cluster of girl’s staring daggers at Sora for cutting the line.

“Sora and Mareena,” she said, her voice clear and confident. “Rex had us on the list for tonight. He told me not to wait in line.”

A girl behind us snorted, and I shifted closer to Sora, as if I could shield her from the woman’s glare, her anger like a blade against my back.

“We can wait,” I whispered to her.

“We can’t.” Her stare was locked on the man’s, her brow arched in challenge.

He grunted, the trace of amusement a singular crack in his mask—there and then sealed back up again—as he studied his clipboard, flipped the top sheet over and scanned down the back. He paused, his eyes lingering on words I couldn’t see.

I fidgeted with my ring, sending up a silent prayer that he’d just turn us away or send us to the back of the line where we could wait for hours, pretending like there was a chance we’d get in, only to pack it up for a quiet night at home. Now that we were here, the heat of the club pulsed around me. I felt it burrow deep into my stomach, an invitation—a dare. One that I wanted to run from just as much as I wanted to take.

“Humans.” The man’s dark eyes darted from me to Sora, assessing, his brows lifting slightly in curiosity, like he expected to read the word printed across our foreheads. “Head over to the front desk, they’ll get your paperwork ready and explain the rules.”

“Seriously?” The girl behind me whined. “We’ve been here for over an hour.”

Her long blonde hair was curled to perfection, not a dust of her makeup out of place. It made her large blue eyes pop; the dark pink on her lips a shade that highlighted their natural color while adding a juicy sheen. Her dress was midnight blue and accentuated every curve. She looked the way women looked in movies and magazines—too perfect to be real, like she’d been photoshopped before my eyes.

The kind of girl who never had to wait to get into a club.

What kind of power did this Rex guy have?

“They’re on the list,” the doorman said, unbuckling the rope behind him and ushering us through to the dark hallway behind him. “You know the rules, Reza. It’s not like they change.”

I wondered how many nights she spent like this—devoting hours of her day primping to perfection, just to wait all night at the entrance, arguing with the bouncer.

Guilt seeped through me that something I didn’t even want was handed over with such ease. If it weren’t for Sora’s excitement, I’d have offered to trade spots with her.

My stomach tightened with each step we took down the dark hall, the lighting dark and tinted in pinks and blues.

“Oooh, bisexual lighting.” Sora wiggled her brows, her fingers lightly grazing the dark, velvet walls. “I like it already.”

I snorted, unable to find words as a rush of power flared over me, like the building itself was probing beneath my skin. Assessing.

Sora let out a rushed breath. “Just wait until we get in. I’ve heard rumors that just standing in the main room is like a lick to the clit.”

“Poetic.”

Nervous laughter spilled from my lips, and I tried to relax into it.

I used to be good at this. Letting loose. If I stopped being so goddamned uptight and leaned into it, I could learn to be that girl again. At least for tonight.

I pressed my hand against the wall, my head light and airy, like I stood up too quickly. The wall vibrated at my touch, purring the way that buildings did when music pulsed through the air. But it was quiet here.

As my fingers lazily traced the velvet filigree, a wave of clarity rippled through my bones, rooting me to the floor.

Sobering.

I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, my vision shifted—doubled. There was the hall we stood in, warm and humming with muted lights, but there was somewhere else too—a forest of trees in grayscale.

And nested between two of the trees was a door.

“Woah,” I groaned, leaning against the wall, as nausea rolled through my body.

I blinked.

The world righted again. The strange, ghostly forest gone, along with my dizzy spell. An illusion of some kind, maybe? Or maybe I didn't eat enough today.

“You okay?” Sora turned around; her brows pinched. She grabbed my shoulder, steadying me when I started to sway. “Is it too much? We can leave if you want?”

The lights seemed to flicker at the suggestion, but if Sora noticed them, she didn’t say.

A quiet calm trickled through the air, as if the walls themselves were asking me to stay.

As if this was where we were meant to be.

As if leaving was the most preposterous idea in the world.

Normally, that kind of thing would send me hightailing it out of here, but for some reason, I leaned into it, comforted almost.

“I’m okay,” I said, my smile tight, as I walked further down the hall, the feeling of rightness increasing with each step, like my body was growing stronger, the power of the building infusing me somehow. Perhaps that was how humans were able to withstand this place—it bolstered us.

“This way,” a cool, calm voice echoed from an open door just ahead, right in front of the desk we’d been directed to.

It belonged to a woman. She was tall, white, with black wavy hair and full lips. Her blue eyes were almost surreal in their pigment, her features exaggerated in such a way that made the girl outside, Reza, pale in comparison.

She wore a black dress that hugged her curves and stopped just short of revealing the flesh of her ass. Her lips were painted in a cool shade of red that suited her so well, it was as if the color had been designed with her in mind.

Power emanated from her, so strong and sultry that I could almost taste it—like chocolate and cinnamon, but with a deadly twist.

One quick glance at Sora showed that she was just as captivated with the woman. Her lips parted in a soft “o” as her gaze locked on her.

It was a rare occurrence, rendering Sora speechless.

That, alone, was a testament to this woman’s effect.

As if used to this reaction, the woman only smirked. It wasn’t an unkind smirk, but it also wasn’t friendly. A reminder, mostly, that in the supernatural world, beauty was braided with danger—the sharpest tool of a predator, to be wielded whenever they felt like using it.

“Humans need to meet with me or one of my partners before they are permitted entry,” she said, her voice a sultry lick that had my stomach tightening—whether with arousal or fear, I wasn’t entirely sure. One seemed to fuel the other in this place. “I’ll assess your compatibility with my establishment.”

Sora took a step towards the woman, as if getting swept into her orbit was inevitable.

My jaw clenched as I stood there, rooted with my hand against the wall, silently asking it for strength.

“My name is Villette,” the woman purred, her lips curving into a more playful smile this time, one laced with a sultry challenge. She stepped back into the dark room behind her. “Please follow me.”

Sora took a step towards her, and I reached for her wrist, pulling her back. Her skin was warm. A soft, static shock sparked where we touched; the energy kinetic. “You’re sure this is safe?”

“Yes.” She turned to me, threading her fingers through mine and offering a soft squeeze, the shock shaping into a lulling buzz. “This is why I know it’s safe, Mars. Rex warned me about this part. Villette owns this place. Her protocol for humans is extensive—we’ll be kicked out if she’s not certain we can withstand it. Trust me. I wouldn’t bring you here otherwise.”

I took a deep breath and nodded. If there was anyone in this universe I trusted with my life, it was Sora.

We followed the woman into what was a remarkably unremarkable office for someone so magnetic.

There was a large leather couch, a luxurious armchair, and decor that oozed money.

But for a club that built its reputation on illicit encounters and sensuality, the paperwork and clutter littering the mahogany desk didn’t look much different from the desk in our apartment, where I poured over ledgers and receipts for Frank’s.

The lights flickered, the blues turning into deep reds. Villette rolled her eyes.

“You’ll have to excuse the dramatics of this place. We have quite a packed crowd tonight and the building is overindulging a bit.”

She gestured towards the couch as she moved to the armchair next to it, somehow managing to sit elegantly, despite the short dress. That seemed like a superpower in and of itself.

“The building?” I asked, taking a seat next to Sora.

“It has a power of its own. That’s how this place works the way that it does.” Villette leaned against one arm of the chair, her hand resting beneath her chin as she studied us. She had just the slightest southern drawl that peeked out at the edges, like it spent most of its time hiding. “Popular theory is that it either trapped a succubus when the realm split or stripped one of her power. It’s infused with a magic very similar to ours.” She tilted her head, and I noticed that her eyes seemed to almost swim with a hundred shades of blue—like an entire night sky existed in their depths. “The building—” she paused, considering, “amplifies lust. That lust functions as an entry point for energy transfer. As the building absorbs it, so do those of us who thrive on it.”

“We being succubi and incubi?” Sora leaned forward, her eyes wide as she held onto Villette’s every word, as if her next breath required it. “Lust demons, I mean?”

The woman nodded, her expression indulgent as she studied my friend—her gaze so steady and intimate it felt as if she were undressing her. And judging by the seductive smile in her eyes, it was clear that she liked whatever it was that she saw.

Sora crossed her legs, shifting slightly. Her cheeks heated with a pink flush as she met Villette’s stare and tried to hold it.

It was strange to see her rattled. Usually when Sora found someone attractive, she approached the situation with a confidence I’d never been able to master myself.

Not this time.

Honestly, I understood the attraction. Villette was hot—sultry and powerful and mysterious. I’d probably be into her too if I wasn’t so acutely aware of how fucking easy it would be for her to kill us.

“So,” I cleared my throat, “the building feeds from us, you mean. After making us horny?”

“Mars.” Sora shot me a look, uncharacteristically shy.

“What? It’s weird?” I shot back, my voice a barely contained whisper.

“Yes.” Villette only grinned, her gaze dancing between us, before lingering again on Sora. “And you’re right it is weird. But so are many things about this world now. The building and the lust demons connected to it will indeed feed from any energy you exert within these walls. Look,” she leaned forward, her focus shifting to me now, “there aren’t any secrets here. If you enter this club, you’ll make that choice of your own volition, giving your full consent—and only after you’ve agreed to our rules. We’ve put them into place for your safety, not ours. If you are uncomfortable with the form of payment we take, I can assure you that there are many other places to spend an evening in this city. Especially on a night like tonight. We don’t beg here—” she paused, the corner of her mouth curving into a wicked hook, “unless that’s negotiated first, of course.”

“And what exactly are the permanent effects of this payment?” I asked, ignoring Sora’s breathy laugh.

Villette pursed her lips, considering. “It’s hard to say. We only opened the doors to humans a few weeks ago, after we felt certain we could ensure their safety. It was an offering—an attempt to merge our societies a bit more. This is a simple business—and a place where people come to unwind. The last thing we need is to get the high-and-mighty religious vigilantes on our case. No human has died from the energy pulled through these walls. In that sense, I can promise you that it’s far safer than being under the thrall of a lust demon one-on-one.”

I twisted my ring as I considered her. “How, exactly, do you ensure our safety?”

“The building functions as a bit of a buffer. And we’ll give you a bracelet that will track your vitals throughout the night. Generally, the humans affected most by a night here, simply wake up the next day feeling a bit sluggish, their moods a bit lower than usual from the drop—nothing permanent. The rules are simple, and if you follow them, you’ll be fine.” She held up one finger, her nail sharp, shaped, and painted a burgundy so dark it almost looked black. “You can enjoy your time at the club, so long as you wear one of our cuffs to signal to our staff that you’re human and to help us keep track of you,” she held up a second finger, “you stay on the first floor of the establishment,” a third, “we understand that . . . release can’t always be controlled, but humans are asked to refrain from having sex in this building,” a fourth, “you stay for no more than two hours,” a fifth, “and you may not return for a minimum of three weeks—an extra precaution to make sure you’ve replenished your strength. No exceptions.”

Villette let her rules sink in for a moment, and I felt some of the tension disperse from my shoulders. The structure of her rules and the clear no-nonsense, dominatrix attitude she projected erased most of my unease and fear.

“So,” she arched one dark, perfectly shaped brow and stood up, “do you agree to my rules?”

“Absolutely.” Sora’s knee was bouncing with excitement against mine.

I nodded my agreement, surprised that I meant it.

“Then if you pass my test and sign our release forms, you’ll be on your way to an evening you won’t soon forget.”

She reached for Sora’s hand, and I watched my friend stand on shaky legs.

“Don’t worry, little one, this won’t hurt,” Villette whispered, her voice a caress that made my breath catch.

Sora swayed towards her, her eyes glazed and awe-struck. Her free hand grazed Villette’s arm, tracing lightly until it reached her neck. She pulled the woman towards her until their lips were a hair’s breadth apart.

“I understand the temptation,” Villette whispered against Sora’s mouth. She held her gaze, her voice breathy. “But for now, try and resist to your best ability.”

Sora let out a low curse, then stepped back, almost panting with exertion.

“Good.” Villette’s fingers trailed briefly along Sora’s arms, then she dropped contact and stepped back. “Very good. You’re quite strong for a human. An ideal candidate for our establishment.”

Sora flushed, whether from the compliment or the forwardness of her own actions, I couldn’t tell. She fell onto the couch, sinking into it as if her legs could no longer support her.

When Villette turned to me, her hand extended, I stood on my own, my pulse beating a hurried drum.

Her fingers wrapped around my wrist, and I fell into her gaze.

A pulsing need thrummed through my veins, but it was no different from what I’d felt since the moment we’d stepped past the bouncer.

“When does the test start?” I asked after a few drawn out seconds, expecting my body to react as Sora’s had.

Villette blinked a few times, then dropped my wrist. “Interesting.”

“What is?”

“You’re just not very susceptible to my power.” Her hands smoothed the front of her dress and then she took a few steps back from me, her perfect composure breaking for only a fraction of a second before her gaze met mine again. “I don’t encounter that often.” She narrowed her eyes, studying me as if I’d offended her. “Were you . . . affected by The Undoing?”

I ran my hand awkwardly through the tips of my hair. “Free balayage for life.”

As welcoming as Villette had been, there was no way in hell I was getting into the weeds about the occasional hallucinations I had.

She cleared her throat and nodded, her half-grin less inviting this time, more pinched. “Right.”

“So . . .” Sora stood, her arm pressing against mine as she turned to Villette. “We passed?”

“You passed.” After a few beats, Villette blinked, then walked over to her desk. She retrieved two bands and a clipboard. “Read and sign this contract please.”

Sora and I read together. And then I read through the entire thing a second time.

There were no secret promises that we were selling our souls to a demon or that Incendiary would own our bodies for the night. Just the same rules that Villette had already laid out and a brief paragraph at the bottom that explained that any lust we experienced was an enhanced version of what we already felt; that the building’s magic acted to lower inhibitions, and we were encouraged to make choices accordingly.

Sora grabbed the pen, the scratches of her signature the only sound in the room.

She handed the clipboard to me, and I did the same.

“Great.” Villette grabbed Sora’s hand, any of her sudden iciness now dissolved. “The bracelet will prick you when I put it on, it’s powered through your blood. It will dull your susceptibilities to our magic, and it’s how we will monitor you. Do I have your consent to put it on?”

Sora’s neck flushed red. “You do.”

Villette turned to me once Sora’s bracelet was on—black with a silver “H” embossed on it. “And you? Do I have your consent to put it on?”

“Yes,” I said, wincing slightly as the bracelet drew its price.

“If you feel uncomfortable at any time, just press the small button on the back of it and hold down for three seconds. A member of staff will escort you out immediately and see to your safety.” Her smile widened and she walked to the door, then opened it. With a heated wink at Sora, she ushered us out. “Enjoy your time at Incendiary.”