CHAPTER 1
ROOM 66

PERCY Isaacs really didn't like his friends.

Christian Santos and Bobby Parker were good to him. They never treated him wrongly. They were nice too. In fact, it was them who asked Percy if he wanted to be their roommate at Harvey Mudd's freshman year orientation. Percy had never been much of a talker. He was a loner who didn't make a lot of friends, but he gratefully took Christian and Bobby's offer. Once he got to college, Percy decided he was going to make a name for himself, he wasn't going to be the Percy Isaacs everyone once knew.

Freshman year went on with a blink of an eye, and Percy soon realized how much he differed from his roommates. Christian and Bobby were rich – filthy rich – and Percy couldn't blame them. They were attending one of the most expensive and prestigious colleges in California, but Percy got there on scholarships and working hard. His roommates attended Harvey Mudd for their reputation.

They were also partiers, while Percy was content in staying back at the dorm with one of his favorite books. They could get with any girl they wanted. The last time Percy had sex was after his ex-girlfriend cheated on him, causing him to hook up with the first girl he saw at a party, only to leave him feeling guilty in the end. Christian and Bobby were sometimes mean to others, calling girls ugly that weren't their standard, right to their faces. Percy wasn't like them at all. He'd never be.

At one point, Percy went to his parents to ask them what to do. It was winter break of sophomore year, and Percy was seriously considering on moving into a new dorm. He didn't care about making new friends or learning a new roommate's quirks. He just wanted to get away from Christian and Bobby. They totally weren't his cup of tea. He needed to befriend more people who liked the same things as him, like the weird guy in his Biology class that collected bugs. Sure, his hobby was a bit weird, but he said that 1984 was his favorite book and Percy would take what he could get.

But his father wasn't having any of it. "This is the first time that you're branching out, Percy," Jim had said. His father was a tough man – a former veteran with a stone-cold face that never broke. He wouldn't change his mind on anything. "I'll be damned if I let you fuck this up. Those boys are doing a lot for you. You're making friends."

Percy had turned to his mother, a voluptuous woman with an expression that always softened at the sight of her beautiful son. He hoped she would be on his side, but ... "Your father is right, honey," she smiled sweetly, and Percy let his forehead fall into his hand. "I think you should still give Robert and Christian a chance. Their nice boys."

If only they knew the half of it.

So that's what led Percy to where he was now: sitting in the back of Bobby's BMW, amongst all the duffle bags and suitcases, as he and Christian blasted Florida Georgia Line. Percy found his eyes rolling, and he couldn't stop the annoyed groan escaping his lips. It's not like they would hear anyways. The music was too goddamn loud.

The hot, summer air whipped Percy's dark honey locks in every direction as he ran a hand over his shiny face. They were celebrating the upcoming semester. It was going to be their senior year, and all Percy was looking forward to was graduation. He couldn't wait to have the degree in his hands, to place his tassel on one side and tip his cap into the air. Just one more year, he promised himself. One more year until you're free.

It was scary to think about – you know, being in the real world. Growing up was terrifying, and sometimes, Percy wished he had the ability to stay twenty-one forever. But that was impossible. In the very least, he could look forward to leaving college and finally getting away from his lackluster "friends."

The drive was short. They weren't taking a road trip, thankfully. Percy knew he wouldn't be able to take several hours with them in a car. They were only driving from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles, a short two-hour drive. Despite agreeing to this vacation – which his parents wouldn't let him say no to – Percy was the tiniest bit excited. He had never been to L.A., even after living in California his whole life. Visiting Los Angeles was almost like a rite of passage to any Californian.

They really didn't have much of a plan, either. Christian said they were going to spend this whole week surrounded by girls and a round of shots. Percy hoped to God that maybe he could slip away from the partying once and while to explore L.A. He liked partying as much as the next person, but ... doing the same thing all the time was just boring.

Bobby hadn't asked him to contribute much money for the hotel, and once they arrived in the parking lot, Percy suddenly knew why. As Bobby pulled the key out of the ignition, Percy's eyes drifted up to the sign flashing on and off in the darkness of the night. He couldn't see much of the hotel, due to the sudden rain shower that was clouding up the sky, but it looked incredibly old. Percy cocked a brow, wondering why his rich friend decided on a place like this for them to stay.

It seemed that both Bobby and Christian had the same thought. "Before you say anything," Bobby said, "just know that every other place was booked. It is Labor Day weekend, after all, and this joint is right near everything. We should be set."

"It looks like a fucking dump, Bobby," Christian complained.

"Just shut up and get your bags," the other boy replied. "You don't have a problem with it, do you, Perce?"

Percy's head snapped in Bobby's direction. "I mean ..." He shrugged. "It doesn't really matter to me."

It wasn't difficult to lug their bags inside. For some reason, Bobby and Christian felt the need to bring three bags, while all Percy needed was one. The second they stepped inside the lobby, Percy's eyes were engulfed with red. Red couches, red carpet, red curtains. The lobby was an image out of a 1920s movie. Percy was stunned and found himself hesitating to take it all in as his friends walked towards the front desk.

There was no one there. Percy watched Bobby begin to ring the shiny, silver bell on the desk as he sauntered towards them. Christian eventually slapped his friend's hand away, and finally, an older woman came out of the back. A pair of big, round glasses sat on the edge of her nose, and her wrinkled lips formed into a taut frown. Christian leaned against the counter, throwing the woman a lazy smirk, and said, "We have a reservation. Should be under Robert Parker."

The woman sighed before turning around and handing them the address book to write their names down. Her name tag glistened in the light, the word, Iris, printed on bold, black letters. "How many?" She asked as Percy arrived by his friends' sides. "Three?"

Bobby nodded, handing the pen to Percy, who reluctantly signed his name below theirs. When he looked up, he noticed Iris was staring at him. He quickly set the pen down and handed it back to her when she asked, "What do you boys plan on doing?"

"We're partying in L.A. before our senior year of college." Christian released a short laugh, rubbing at the bottom of his nose. "It's the last time we're gonna be able to before we go out into the real world."

Iris snorted. Percy wasn't sure if she was teasing them or actually thought Christian was being funny. Behind her was a wall full of room keys. Iris was staring at them with amusement flickering in her stare, and without looking, she chose one key at random, throwing it over to Bobby. "Call the front desk if you need anything. There's a full-service bar on the second floor as well. Don't have too much fun."

Both Christian and Bobby's faces were muddled. Percy was the only one of the three to thank Iris with a short wave, and then quickly followed behind the other boys. Bobby was turning over the room key in his hands. He chuckled, causing Percy to peer over his shoulder to look at the key. Christian pressed a button for the elevator and asked, "What's so funny?"

Bobby held up the key. "We're in Room 66. If only they could've added another six."

As the elevator dinged upon arrival, Percy felt someone's stare lingering on them. He tilted his head up, eyes growing wide once he noticed the woman watching them from above. She had frizzy, blonde hair, and a cigarette hung from her maroon lips. Her dark eyes narrowed once Percy looked at her, and she gave him a small wave before he was pulled into the elevator by his friends.

He couldn't wait for this week to be over.

•••

Hadley Monroe didn't like the hunt.

It was one of the quintessential things that made her who she was, but she couldn't stand it. This was one of the reasons why she didn't do it until she was absolutely thirsty. The hunt pushed her farther away from humanity. On the outside, she could pretend and be as human as she wanted, but it was all a lie. She craved the taste of crimson on her lips and only wanted to rip the flesh off someone's neck.

She couldn't be a human even if she tried.

Elizabeth liked the hunt, though. While she would rather stock up and drink from the blood supply they had at the hotel, Hadley knew her creator loved the thrill of the hunt, the adrenaline of the chase. Elizabeth taught her everything she knew: where the right veins were, how to tell if the blood was pure, and ways to lure in unsuspecting humans. It was so ... unhuman, completely against every moral Hadley had, but she couldn't stop. She wouldn't stop the thirst.

It wasn't difficult to entice innocent victims. Not when you had a face like Hadley Monroe's; not when you were forever twenty-years-old. Young adults were the most gullible, and they ate up every pretty word she said. The hunt was exhausting and she didn't like it, but she couldn't help the smile that appeared on her face when her mouth was coated in red and she had her hands wrapped around a victim's neck.

Hadley found herself at a college bar that night. These were the easiest places to kill: a room packed full of drunk adults, celebrating the upcoming school year. Hanging around these people almost made her miss college. She was a straight-A student in all her classes, until Elizabeth whisked her away, wanting an older daughter to nurture. Now, she was stuck in the sea of idiots that were called students, wondering which one would be her lucky kill.

Again, it wasn't hard. Once she arrived in the middle of the dance floor, swaying to the heavy beat of the music, a red-haired boy rushed over with an open beer in his hands. The music was pounding in her ears, but all she could focus on was the beating of his heart as he got closer to her. The heartbeat drowned out every sound in the club, echoing each second in her brain. Hadley's throat ached and screamed. It begged for a small taste, but every tiny bite turned into a whole meal.

The boy went up to her ear, placing one hand on her hip as he pulled her closer. Hadley could smell the blood pumping in his veins. "I'm Ryan," he tried yelling over the music. "What's your name?"

"Hadley," she replied, pulling back to send him her most alluring grin. "Do you want to dance with me?"

She knew what his intentions were the second he nodded. Hadley threw her hands in the air, allowing Ryan to dig his fingers into her hips. He stood behind her, practically grinding on her from behind, and making her tsk under her breath. The music got faster, the tempo went up, but his hands got rougher. He kept trying to fondle her from behind, even when she pushed his hands away, trying to move them in different places. His behavior would make the kill even better. Hadley licked her lips. She wouldn't be able to keep up this act for long, not when his lips were ghosting over the nape of her neck and his hands were squeezing her butt.

And then she was dragging him off the dance floor. Ryan shouted excitedly over the crowd's roar, allowing Hadley to yank him into the dirty men's bathroom. Toilet paper rolls crunched under her feet, but all Hadley cared about at that moment was the sweet and salty taste of his blood.

She threw him into one of the only stalls, locking the door before his back was slammed against the wall. Their lips were attached instantly, hunger seeping through their veins, but it was a different kind of hunger on Hadley's end. Ryan shuddered underneath her touch, especially when her hands lowered to grip his thigh. She felt his length harden in his pants and press against the thin material of her jeans.

Hadley pulled away for a moment, allowing him to breathe. He panted heavily through swollen lips. She sent Ryan a sickly sweet smile, one made of candy and sugar.

The blade came out seconds later. From her back pocket, Hadley whipped her trusty pink switchblade across his neck, causing blood to immediately spurt onto her face. Ryan began to choke on his own blood, but his cries were drowned out as soon as Hadley's mouth attached to his wound. She drank her fill, and it never tasted better.

Despite the boy's blood being impure, riddled with various liquors and just a hint of marijuana, Hadley took what she could get. The taste was bitter, and it satisfied her, but only for so long. She couldn't drink as much as she'd like. The taste was going to make her gag if she kept on, so she decided to leave Ryan there, bleeding on the bathroom floor. The police would locate him hours later, after another guy ventured into the men's room to get his dick sucked, only to find himself in the middle of a crime scene.

After successfully washing the blood off her face and mouth, Hadley headed out. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy, she told herself as she pushed through the crowd of sweaty college students. Her throat ached for more, the tartness of vodka still lingering from Ryan's blood on her tongue. She guessed she'd just have to steal from Elizabeth's stockpile at home.

The walk back to the hotel wasn't long, but Hadley almost felt like turning away once she saw the Cortez's blinking sign in the distance. The sidewalk was wet from a fresh rain, glistening off the yellow and red words flickering above her head. Hadley stopped under it, glaring at the sign with narrowed eyes, before walking through the double doors. That sign was the entrance to Hell.

As much as she yearned to leave, to venture off into the real world, she knew she couldn't. Hadley liked to think she knew everything, but the truth was, she was nothing without Elizabeth by her side. She still had so much more to learn. And then, there were the people too. While turning her head to the side, Hadley spotted Liz Taylor at the front desk, a cigarette dangling from her fingers. She couldn't leave Liz, or Donovan – especially, Donovan. They cared for her, made her feel special. Everyone else could choke.

Punching the up button for the elevator, Hadley tried her best to think of a plan. Somehow, she'd be able to distract Elizabeth and sneak away with some of her stash. If Donovan was in her room, it would be easy. Donovan always had a soft spot for Hadley, and she almost thought of him as a dad. Sure, he was only about ten years older than her, but she had slim pickings for fake parents in this place, and she most definitely wasn't going to let Mr. March continue his fantasies with thinking that him, Elizabeth, and Hadley were one big, happy family. The guy needed to move on sooner or later.

The elevator dinged as soon as it reached the top floor, and Hadley was brought out of her thoughts. She hadn't used her time properly. She had no plan, but maybe she wouldn't need it. Sometimes, having no plan was the best option. Elizabeth told her that once. "And that's what makes the hunt even more exciting," she had said.

But when Hadley walked further into the penthouse suite, she didn't see her creator anywhere. In fact, there was a stranger, dancing amongst the dim lights with Nirvana blasting from the speakers. Hadley blinked, meeting a new pair of eyes as the figure turned around to look at her.

Shit, she thought to herself, not another one.

•••

A/N: Welcome to the first chapter!!!!

I know that this was A LOT of set-up and introduction, but this is honestly the first time I've ever been happy with a first chapter omg. I'm usually so self-conscious about first chapters, but I think this went pretty well!

Also a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who has sent me graphics for this story, even before this chapter was published! It means SO MUCCCCCHHHH to me that you guys like these characters as much as I do, and I hope you'll continue to love them as this story continues 💞💞💞