https://youtu.be/L_G022b3AW8

Watching everyone getting prepared to go to a gathering together was possibly the most entertaining thing I had witnessed since the beginning of my existence. Levi spent his time on a phone, barking orders to some unknown being on the other line. And in between that, he was snapping at Miles who kept cracking jokes about his appearance despite their identical similarities.

I personally didn't have a lot of formal clothing that I liked to wear, but I did have a couple of dresses I didn't mind that were collected from Levi when he'd taken me out previously. I sat in a general living room, reaching down my leg to pick at the heels I had decided on. I was a bit clumsy, so the heel itself was rather short to save me from complete embarrassment.

When I looked up, Theo was leaning against a wall nearby, watching me intensely. I straightened quickly, a blush rising before I gave him a shy smile. He closed his eyes, tilting his chin downward as if dozing off while standing.

"How do you know you can't taste anything, Theo?" I asked unexpectedly.

"I just know," He mumbled shortly.

"Have you tried it?" I continued, unfazed. He chose not to answer this question, which told me he hadn't tried it at all. I frowned at him.

"Come on, Jax," Oliver called out the door impatiently before looking in at us within the room, "I'd say he's a damn girl, but Katia still got ready before him."

"That's because she's not a girl," Miles replied sardonically. "She's more like a blowup doll; only useful for one thing, if you know what I mean."

I abruptly stood, tightening my hands into fists and drawing everyone's attention. Miles only watched me from his spot in a far chair, obviously pleased by my reaction. I wasn't sure what exactly I had planned on doing, but the sudden anger in my veins was enough to guide my glare.

"I'd watch what I say if I were you, Kitten. I've got you next," Miles reminded me, his voice low and menacing. His words were threatening, promising painful trouble for me should I take a wrong step. Miles was the only one whose threats held a ring of truth in them. But still, I didn't fear him. If anything, the idea that I would soon belong to such a dangerous creature only served to excite that part of me that craved being the prey.

His threat did succeed in halting the sudden urge to curse him. I instead relaxed my fists, tilting my chin up defiantly before saying, "You're just mad because a blow up doll is the only action you can get."

There was a sudden burst of laughter from both Levi and Oliver, and even Theo couldn't resist a smug smirk to cross his lips. Miles, on the other hand, was unimpressed. If I had ventured a guess, I took the wrong step after all. My hands vaguely trembled with adrenaline as his stare watched me with dark intensity.

"Miles prefers to use pillows. He draws smiley faces on them and everything," Oliver teased with amusement, catching a glare from Miles.

"Go fuck yourself, Olly," He answered, but he finally seemed to relax a bit.

"Ugh, don't call me that," Oliver groaned, palming his face. He looked up when Jax appeared, dressed in an impressive suit. "Finally. Jesus, Jax, I said a club not a funeral." Jax didn't appear amused by his comment. When he looked at me, I smiled bashfully.

"Alright, let's go," Levi announced, reaching for my hand before leading the party out of the room.

For the occasion, Levi had ordered a limousine if only to avoid being crowded. I stayed by him, but I felt like a bauble caught in the waves of an ocean. Anytime one of them spoke, I was drawn to them with great interest and amusement before being distracted by another. I felt perfect bliss, being surrounded by those I cared deeply for.

"Here, Katia," Oliver handed me a familiar pair of gloves. I frowned at them.

"I don't want them," I told him firmly, crossing my arms and looking away pointedly.

"Come on, little devil. We've been through this. Just for tonight," He continued.

"If you don't want my skin to glow when you touch me, wear those gloves yourself," I answered sharply. Oliver sighed, but I wasn't going to cave. Levi caught my hand lightly, drawing my attention to him.

"Stay by us at all times," He told me, his voice suddenly serious, "At no point should you wander away, do you understand? This is a more anonymous gathering, not invitation only, and I don't want you mistaken for a free-for-all snack." I nodded sincerely, not enjoying the idea of someone other than those I cared for feeding from me.

When we arrived, the place was positively crowded. As I was led from the limo towards the building, I glanced at the crowd of people in lines outside the doors. Their eyes varied from the black of vampires to the brighter color of humans. We walked past the line, being allowed entrance without more than a glance from the men at the door.

The doors opened to loud music that I'd never heard before. It pulsed through the club, thriving in the movement of those dancing inside. My heart rose with it, sending a new excitement throughout me. Lights flashed through the dark, giving the surroundings a feeling of being in an entirely new world.

There were people everywhere. The dance floor was throbbing with them, their bodies moving like leaves in a forest of trees in beat with the music. On either side were isolated stages where professional dancers held their own choreography. And beyond that was a large bar surrounded by tables where people conversed over the deafening music impossibly.

I didn't notice the eyes on me or the men I was with. I did notice that they promptly separated into many different directions, advancing without regard of one another. I panicked momentarily before I felt the cold brush of Theo's fingers over my wrist reassuringly. When I looked up to him, he tilted his head expectedly and I knew he meant to follow me wherever I went. I smiled at him thankfully.

I headed towards where Oliver and Miles had gone; sensing rather than seeing Theo follow me through the crowd. I caught sight of them ahead of me and sped my pace to catch up. They had found their spot by the bar and were already being served drinks. I stepped up to them, nearly tripping, but catching myself before running into the bar itself.

"One for Katia!" Oliver called out, moving so that I could join them. A shot glass was slid in front of me just as quickly and I looked at it suspiciously. Oliver picked it up and handed it to me, "On 'go', little devil-"

"Go," Miles interrupted and the both of them downed their drinks before dropping the glass on the counter loudly. Not wanting to feel left out, I sniffed my glass carefully, grimacing at the scent of alcohol. And then I tilted the drink into my mouth, nearly choking immediately before forcing myself to swallow. This was followed by loud coughing from me and amused laughter from those around me.

"Stop laughing," I coughed again, "That's was just terrible."

I spent my time with them, laughing as they took shot after shot and refusing to participate myself any further. Theo had receded into a darker corner, but I could still feel his eyes on me as I enjoyed myself.

After a while, I decided to go looking for the others, leaving Oliver and Miles to continue their quest to hopefully get drunk, despite their vampiric states. I moved through the bodies aimlessly, heading towards where I thought Jax had disappeared to. When a random person reached out to grab my wrist, another hand snatched theirs dangerously. Theo was there, prying the stranger's grip from me with a threatening growl before indicating for me to continue.

I found Jax seated at a large table among several other vampires, playing cards in their hands and treasures within the center of the table. He spotted me and lowered his cards carefully before lifting his hand for me to come to him. I stepped forward, reaching for him trustingly and letting him pull me onto his lap comfortably.

Jax lined his body against mine, caging me with his arms when reaching forward to continue his game with the other vampires. Among them were humans, some bitten into and mostly dead eyed or confused. I felt a slow anxiety rise within me at the appearance of those humans, but Jax's lips brushing reassuringly against my ear caused me to relax under his glowing touch.

"Who is this?" A man I could identify as vampire asked from nearby, his own hands holding a set of cards as well.

"None of your concern," Jax's voice rumbled against me, sending shivers over my skin with delight. The other vampires did appear concerned, or rather curious, as they peered at my sudden presence.

"Seeing so many of the Genesis brothers in one place is odd enough," The man continued anyway, "Seeing them with a pet is especially curious."

"Can I taste her?" A vampire to the other side asked without restraint.

"Do you value your life?" Jax replied dangerously.

"Not particularly," The vampire answered before laughing loudly, causing the others around the table to join in his amusement. After that, they didn't bother Jax about me further, clearly taking his warning to heart. I continued to relax in his arms, leaning against him as he played his game with these strangers who fed him amusing comments and frustrated groans.

I suddenly felt the glow of a strong hand lace through mine softly and looked up to see Levi hovering next to me. He tugged on my hand lightly and I threw Jax a small smile before leaving him to follow Levi curiously.

Levi led me deeper into the music and further into the sea of bodies that moved with it. As I realized he meant for me to dance with him, I felt a sudden jolt of nerves through me. I didn't know if I could dance. But even as I thought that, I could feel my hips beginning to sway to the beat on instinct. Levi pulled me to him, moving his hands over my waist possessively as he moved with me. I felt my skin alight as I lifted my hand to run over his jaw adoringly. His grip moved over my arm slowly, pulling my wrist to his lips where he laid a sweet kiss against it.

I gasped when his mouth opened and his fangs abruptly pierced my wrist without warning. My body sang with euphoria, desire trembling throughout me. Levi didn't feed deeply. He only took a taste of my blood before releasing his bite, continuing to move with me against him. He moved his lips over my ear carefully.

"Sorry, darling. I couldn't resist," He told me apologetically.

Before I could respond an arm wrapped around my waist from behind, pulling me away from him swiftly. The music had changed into a darker, more seductive tone around us. I moved to look over my shoulders, knowing it was one of my vampires who had stolen me away. Oliver danced with me, moving his hand around my wrist just above my fresh bite.

He lifted my wrist to his mouth, running his tongue over the wound and sending a heated blush over my skin in response. I looked away, my body tensing with anticipation as I fully expected him to bite as well. But Oliver resisted, releasing my wrist and instead running his hands over my stomach and then lower suggestively. I leaned my head back against his chest, revealing the flesh of my neck and shoulder invitingly. He growled against me and released me, stepping away.

I turned to search for him and instead found Miles in front of me. He towered over me, so identical to Levi but so different. I absently took a step back, inhaling sharply when he closed the distance between us dangerously. He snatched my wrist roughly, pulling the fresh bite wound to him hungrily before inhaling my scent deeply.

My body was strung with excitement, my skin flushed with delight as I fell under Miles' target. But behind that was my own mind hissing at me that this was dangerous. He could attack me, doing worse than a minor bite wound on my wrist. And I was in the center of a dance floor filled with vampires.

Even with those thoughts, I didn't fight him. I trusted him. I gasped when he stepped closer, tangling his grip into my hair possessively. I tilted my head, giving him my throat with bated breath. He aimed to take it. And then he was abruptly torn from me.

Theo stood between Miles and me protectively. He was smaller than Miles, but something in his stance made him appear larger and far more threatening. Miles had stiffened angrily, huffing as if he had just completed a race.

"She's not yours," Theo growled in warning.

"Yet," Miles replied coolly and then turned to disappear in the crowd.

Theo looked over his shoulder to me with guarded eyes before looking around the crowd as if one of the others would be there so that he could sink into his dark corner once again. Before he could even think of it, I reached out to turn him to me.

"Dance with me," I insisted, trying to pull him to me. When he refused to move, I instead stepped forward into him, making him freeze solidly. "Please?" Theo didn't respond, but he didn't run away either.

I lifted my arms, wrapping them around his neck and lifting my forehead to press against his softly. I swayed gently against him until he began to relax. And then I smiled when his arms moved around me, holding me to him carefully. We must have looked silly, slow dancing around jumping bodies and loud, pulsing music. But my heart was pulsing loudly in my chest, the pleasure of having Theo so close to me almost overwhelming.

I tilted my head slightly, lifting my lips to catch his softly. His touch was cold, so different from the others, but my skin still heated under it. My breath caught under his cool lips. And despite the fact that he wasn't what my magic wanted, I knew he was what my heart demanded. Theo pulled away from the kiss, but not from me. His lips brushed lightly over my cheek and then my jaw as he continued to dance with me contently.

After a while, I was beginning to feel exhausted from all the dancing, loud music, and bodies pressing in around me. I stole another sweet kiss from the unmovable Theo and then escaped towards the bar; taking a large drink from the glass I had been given. I was relieved to find I had received normal water as asked rather than anything alcoholic or bloody. Theo was nearby, my shadow no matter where I went.

As I looked around, I began to notice a theme I hadn't noticed in the gathering Oliver had taken me to. The humans were being drained. Wherever my eyes landed, vampires were feeding together. It reminded me of the family dinner I had witnessed. And it reminded me of others things; smoke, blood, and screams. I tightened my grip on my glass anxiously.

"You're safe," Theo leaned into me, his arm moving around me protectively to grip the bar counter behind me. I looked from the feeding to him with rising despair, but he caught my gaze and I felt the suffocating smoke begin to recede back to my subconscious.

"Don't you need to feed?" I asked him quietly, thinking it impossible to hear my voice over the deafening music.

"I will never feed from you," He told me, an intense determination in his words. He ran a finger along my cheek carefully. I swallowed with difficultly. Theo released me, turning abruptly, "Scarlett."

Scarlett was suddenly standing in front of Theo. She looked different when dressed more for a club rather than formally. Her nearly artificially red hair was loose around her shoulders. She nodded at Theo, turning to another man beside her.

"Theo, this is Nick," She told him, "He said Levi and Miles had spoken to him."

The man, Nick, promptly moved forward to introduce himself.

"I'm not here for business," Theo informed him apathetically, refusing to shake the man's hand without concern.

"Just hear me out," The man pleaded with him, grabbing Theo's arm to turn him away. Theo refused to move from his spot, but he rolled his eyes before allowing the man to continue in a quiet voice too low under the blast of music around us to hear further.

I felt a separate hand lightly grip my upper arm and nearly leaped with surprise. Scarlett had moved next to me, clearly intending to speak to me all along. She turned me to her, holding out her hand officially. I blinked with surprise, but took her hand politely.

"I'm Scarlett," She introduced herself to me, her onyx eyes wide with curiosity. "What's your name?"

"Katia," I murmured timidly, releasing her hand before focusing on my glass of water.

"I must admit, I'm surprised you're still alive," She stated, taking in each part of my body carefully as if trying to calculate my entire existence. "The Genesis boys aren't known for getting along, but here you have them flocking around you like their own personal ray of sunshine. What's your secret?"

I was nervous. I didn't like being the target of an inquiry no matter who it was, but being asked questions from a complete stranger only added to my anxiety. I shrugged halfheartedly.

"Well," Scarlett mused, finally drawing her eyes away from me. I felt a weight instantly lift with her gaze. "Have you decided who will be your Master?" I hesitated, the question finally enough to make me withdraw slightly from my shell.

"My Master?" I asked with confusion.

"They'll share for now, but in the end you'll have to pick one, won't you?" Scarlett told me, a cool intelligence within her tone. She slid her eyes back to me slowly. "So, of the Genesis brothers, who will you choose?"

I couldn't understand her question. I looked from her to around me, realizing she had skillfully led me further away from Theo to avoid being heard. My eyes slid over him, thinking over her question, and then they moved over the people within the club. I searched for each of them: Oliver, Miles, Levi, and Jax. All of them, included Theo, were distracted, oblivious to the choice being presented to me.

"Only one?" I asked, my throat closing. A panic was beginning to seep into my soul. Was this my true fate? That I'd have to decide between my vampires? That I would be only allowed the touch of one and deprived of the love of many?

"I have... to..." My panic increased exponentially, clawing at my lungs. I was suffocating. I scanned the club wildly, spotting an exit sign. "I need air." I shoved roughly past Scarlett, who had merely watched me with interest as I struggled over her question.

I rushed through the bodies of the club, squeezing past as the oxygen in my lungs burned out in panic. And then I slammed into the exit door, stumbling out into the night and landing within the depths of an empty alley. The cool air shocked me, but the sound of music faded into the background and the solidary surrounding was enough for me to feel like I could breathe again. I leaned forward, resting my arm and forehead against the adjacent building as I gasped painfully.

I didn't hear the footsteps over my own heart pulsing wildly throughout me.

"Excuse me," A woman's voice called to me. My breath stopped altogether, her voice something familiar to me; something warm and safe. I turned my head slowly, my vision taking in the presence of a woman and behind her, a man.

The woman had blonde, short hair with wild curls crowning her features. She had eyes caramel with flakes of lighter gold among them. She wasn't a vampire, but in my subconscious I knew she wasn't exactly human either. The man behind her was tall, his appearance dark and powerful. He also wasn't a vampire and he also wasn't human.

"Witches," I said quietly, unsure of how I knew this.

"So it is you," The woman sighed with relief, "We've been expecting you since you've risen. When you didn't come, we thought something might have happened. We've been waiting for you a long time, Phoenix."

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Music: Everything Is Beautiful by Harlin James & Clav