Bite of the Night

Chapter 1: The Night It All Changed

I always thought my life was mundane. Sure, I had school, friends, and the occasional heartbreak, but nothing prepared me for the whirlwind that was about to descend upon my ordinary world. My name is Scarlett, and this is the story of how a single night turned my life upside down.

It all started at Bite of the Night, the hottest new nightclub in town. My best friend, Lily, had dragged me there, insisting that we needed a night out. As I stood at the bar, nursing my drink and trying to appear more confident than I felt, I noticed him. Dimitri Nightshade. His eyes were dark and piercing, his jawline sharp enough to cut glass. His presence commanded the room, and when our gazes locked, a shiver ran down my spine.

I tried to ignore the magnetic pull I felt towards him, but it was impossible. His tall, muscular frame moved through the crowd with the grace of a predator, and before I knew it, he was standing right in front of me.

"You look like you're having a terrible time," he said, his voice a low, velvety whisper.

I laughed nervously. "Is it that obvious?"

"Only to me," he replied, a smirk playing on his perfect lips. "I'm Dimitri, by the way."

"Um.... Scarlett," I said, my voice barely more than a whisper.

"Scarlett," he repeated, as if savoring the sound of my name. "A beautiful name for a beautiful girl."

I couldn't help the blush that crept up my cheeks. There was something about him that was intoxicating, something dangerous and thrilling.

The night flew by in a blur of laughter, stolen glances, and the electric tension that crackled between us. When Lily and I finally left the club, I couldn't shake the feeling that my life had been irrevocably altered.

I was right.

It happened three nights later. I was alone in my room, the rain pounding against my window, when I heard the front door slam open. My heart leaped into my throat. Who could it be at this hour?

I crept down the stairs, my breath hitching with every step. When I reached the bottom, I saw him. Dimitri. Standing in my living room, drenched from the rain, looking like a dark angel.

"I- Uh- Dimitri? W-What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"We need to talk, Scarlett," he said, his eyes blazing with intensity.

Before I could react, he crossed the room in an instant and grabbed my wrist. "You're coming with me," he commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument.

"What? No! Let go of me!" I struggled against his iron grip, but it was useless. It was too easy for him to scoop up my petite frame.

"Scarlett, I don't have time to explain," he growled. "But you need to trust me. Your life is in danger."

His words sent a chill down my spine. "What are you talking about?"

"There's an ancient prophecy," he began, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my knees weak. "And you're the key to it. I need to protect you."

"This is crazy!" I exclaimed, trying to pull away. "Let me go!"

"I'm sorry, Scarlett," he murmured, his voice a mix of regret and determination. "But I can't."

Before I could protest further, he scooped me up into his arms, carrying me effortlessly out into the stormy night. The warmth of his body against mine was a stark contrast to the cold rain that pelted us, and despite the fear coursing through me, I felt an undeniable spark of excitement.

As Dimitri carried me to his sleek black car, I couldn't help but notice how perfectly sculpted his features were, how his wet hair clung to his forehead in the most alluring way. The scent of him—dark, spicy, and utterly intoxicating—filled my senses, making it hard to think clearly.

He gently placed me in the passenger seat and slid in beside me, his eyes never leaving mine. "Trust me, Scarlett," he said softly. "I won't let anything happen to you."

As we sped off into the night, I knew my life would never be the same. I was plunging headfirst into a world of danger, desire, and mystery—all because of a devastatingly hot vampire named Dimitri Nightshade. And despite the terror and confusion swirling inside me, a part of me couldn't wait to see what would happen next.