Passion's Pitfalls

Chapter 1

The cold mocking dark streets of Seattle was unquestionably empty and silent, save for the occasional gust of wind that sends leaves swirling through the air. A light rain falls, dampening the pavement and adding to the sense of chill and desolation. The streetlights cast a pale, ghostly glow on the sidewalks, and the shadows of buildings loom large in the darkness. The air is still, as if the city is holding its breath, waiting for somewhat to happen. Walking down carefully to the other end of the street where the famous leading exorbitant bar in Capitol Hills, - a lively and diverse neighborhood on the east center of Seattle where the bar is settled, Aurelia sigh in relief as she spotted the plaque for the Steampunk Bar which couldn't conceal the fade and peelings with old-fashioned lettering. It's been worn down by the elements, and it looks like it's been there for decades. The plaque having a few bullet holes in it from a rough and tumble past experience. The paint is cracked and faded, but there's still a hint of the original red color peeking through.

She walked nervously into the crowded room, the air in the bar is thick not missing the smell of alcohol, sweat, and smoke. It's crowded, and the people are packed in like sardines. The music is loud and thumping, and the floor is sticky with spilled drinks. Everyone is talking and laughing, but it's all a blur of noise. The lights are dim and hazy, and the whole place feels like a fever dream. There's a sense of urgency and desperation in the air, as if everyone is trying to escape something. Aurelia forced a lump of saliva down her throat. She wished she could turn back but she needed all that it takes to be out of life at that moment.

She found herself escaping through the crowd like navigating a maze of people shoving off sea of bodies, all moving and shifting around each other. She finally made her way to the countertop where the bartender serves drinks and chats with the customers. There's a vintage bar back which was constructed with a thatched roof, a bamboo furniture, and lots of tiki-inspired decor. The bar serves up fruity and colorful cocktails, vodkas and tequilas and there's non-stop razz music playing. It is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of city life Can, the bartender never failed to keep supplies and equipment on reach where as, The bar countertop, full of the sounds of ice cubes clinking, glasses clattering, and conversations.

The bartender at Steampunk bar is a tall, an imposing figure, with a thick mustache and honey brown eyes. He exudes friendliness, and his gaze seems to penetrate right through the tiny glasses he was focused while he measures the drop of a cherry vodka he was about to serve a customer. When she approach him, he gives her the friendliest nod, so professional of a bartender. Aurelia felt like she's being assessed already, He asks her what she'd like to drink, his voice deep and gravelly.

"Two shots of tequila." She finds her voice. The bartender nods and grabs two shot glasses. He fills them with tequila, then sets them down on the bar in front of her. He looks at her expectantly, waiting for her to take the shots. The tequila was smooth and strong, and it hits down her throat like a punch in the gut. Aurelia felt the heat rising in her chest, and her head starts to spin. "Do you want something else?" The man asked, unsure. With fuzzy eyes, Aurelia managed to spell out his name on the tag frame by the chest of his uniform which was made with a sturdy fabric with collar and cuffs. His name is Jacob.

"I need more.." she tells him, hazily dropping the glasses on the countertop which made a slight wrack on the ceramic. "More?" Jacob asks, raising an eyebrow. She nods, and he obliges, filling the shot glasses again. He looks a bit skeptical, but he doesn't say anything. She growls down the shots, she could feel the tequila buzzing through her veins. The world starts to blur around the edges, and her thoughts become a jumble. Jacob watched her closely, a look of concern on his face.

Aurelia gave him a small smile. "I needed that." She whispers shying slowly away from Jacob as her eyes sweeps the room, she froze instantly at the sight of a muscular built male, with broad shoulders and powerful arms. His jawline looked bold and strong, his eyes, a lighter-shade of piercing blue and his dark perfect hair, the kind that's tousled just so. It's causally messy, but not in an unkempt way. The kind of hairstyle that looks effortless, but probably took a lot of work to achieve. It has a casual elegance, and it suits his face perfectly. It's the kind of hair she would pay to run their fingers through. One reason or the other, she wondered why there wasn't any visible tattoo prints on his skin unlike the other guys on the table. He looked up from his group of friends-three of them and their eyes locked. Her heart raced, she could hear her stomach flutter and could feel her breath seize. He had a scowl on his perfect face and his stare was hard which instantly made her uneasily tempted.