Run

Chapter 2 - An Invitation

I took some time to think over the message sent to my inbox.  The beast felt suspicious over the possible intentions of the sender.  Was this a case, or worse did someone know what I was?  

I leaned back on my heels sitting on the folding chair.  Tapping a pencil gently against an open notebook, I took some time to think.

Perhaps, it would be best to check out the address first.

With a quick google search I was able to see that the meeting location was at Sanguine.  It appeared to be an upper scale bar in the center of downtown.  It was higher end, and screamed expensive.  

A small smile turned at the corner of my mouth.  I suppose sweatpants wouldn't cut it for this meeting.  

I sent a short reply.

When and what time?

Considering the short details left for me I suppose that the sender would not be too willing to send me anymore details than those in the original e-mail.  I was surprised when a message came back instantly.

Tonight. 12am.

I smiled the witching hour.  How spooky and stereotypical.  As long as the beast could hold it together, all would be well.  

The full moon was only a night away.  I needed to ensure be productive tonight.  Under the mad haze of the beast, I would not be completing any quality work tomorrow night.  

I checked the time, 8:00 pm.  Figuring it would be a long night, I decided to take a quick nap before heading downtown to meet the mysterious sender.  

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I sighed as I waited in line at Sanguine, pulling down my skin tight black bodycon dress.  It was the closest thing I had to cocktail wear.  I shuffled from foot to foot, already regretting the choice of 6 inch stiletto heals.  I looked good tonight. My makeup was done up just enough, without being too heavy. To complement the black ensemble, I put on a bright red lip. My dark black hair was pulled up into a stylish loose bun, with a few tendrils of hair floating down to my neck. Passing by a window, I caught a glimpse of myself.  My golden eyes gleamed back at me, reflected in the pane of glass showing that I was not quite human.  Thankfully the club would be dark and help to conceal the beast peaking through.  

Eventually, the line lessened and I made it to the door.  A bouncer looked at me bored.  

"Name?"

"Lucy Franklin."

With a board expression on his face, he glanced down at the clipboard in his hand.  Finding my name, he stepped back and pulled up the red velvet rope.  Without any words he gestured for me to step inside.  

The bar engulfed me as I entered.  Load, pulsing music blared through the bar.  It was packed with drunk dancing patrons.  Their bodies reeked of sweat, and desire.  The beast smiled within my chest.  

How delicious.  It purred within me.  I tried to put a bored expression on my face as I struggled to quell the beast.  Trying to shove it beneath the surface, proved to be difficult this close to the full moon.  Maybe this was a bad idea after all.  However, I was curious.  It wasn't everyday a girl got a mysterious note from a stranger.  

I glanced at my watch again.  11:30pm.  I was early.  Deciding it was best to take some time to scope out the place, I made a beeline for the bar.  I sat down on a corner that gave me a good vantage point to watch the entire bar.  A bartender stepped toward me.  

"What can I get you?"  His voice startled me.  It was rich and dark like molten chocolate.  I turned at the sound of his voice, and was rewarded by the sight of him.  He was average height and very muscular.  His white, starched shirt strained to keep his muscles held within.  He was tan, and looked to be of Spanish descent.  Long black hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail.  A neatly trimmed beard accompanied it to complete the beautiful specimen of a man.  

"I'll just take whatever red wine you'd recommend."  He simply nodded and quickly returned with a bottle and tall wine glass.  He popped the cork and poured me a glass.  I could tell that he was appraising me as much as I was before.  He watched me with hypnotizing eyes, studying me.

Choosing to ignore his stair, I quickly thanked and paid him for the wine.  Turning back around I continued to study the interior of the bar.  

There appeared to be three main parts to the club.  The bar area where I sat, a balcony with private booths, and the dance floor filled with sweaty dancing bodies.  The bar filled to brim.  It made me anxious.  I shifted slightly in my seat, trying to quell my nerves.  It had been a long time since I had been around this many people.  Heck, I couldn't even remember the last time I willingly went into public.  Three years.  I thought to myself.  Three years since my life disintegrated, and I became a shell of what I once was.  

A man staggered over to where I was sitting.  Leaning heavily against my body, I could smell the stench of alcohol on his breath.  

"Bartender!" He shouted gesturing wildly.  "I need another." He slurred his words together.  The same handsome bartender that had served me before came silently back over, and quietly handed the man a simple beer.  Noticing me the man leaned in closer.

"Hey cutie. I haven't seen you here before." He slurred as he leaned in closer, giving me an even more unpleasant sniff of his breath.  "Wanna daaance." He slurred.  He put his arm around my shoulders, pulling me in closer.  His warm breath beat at my neck.  I scrunched my nose in response.  The beast tried to pull to the surface, wanting to hurt the poor bastard that dared touch her.  Trying to quell my instincts I pulled his arm away.  

"No thanks." I simply replied trying to disentangle myself.  

"Now, now hunny i'm sure we'd have a good time."  He re-inserted his arm over my shoulders trying to pull me to my feet.  Getting frustrated, I pulled him in closer.  He thought I was going in for a kiss.  Instead, I moved my face away so that it was in the crook of his shoulder.  I whispered in his ear. 

"Remove your hand now if you want to keep it."  I tried to make my voice as icy and threatening as possible allowing the beast to rise closer to the surface.  He pulled back as if shocked.  

"Sure thing sweet cheeks." He shakily laughed as he stumbled away towards another group of young girls.

I became increasingly irritated at the crowd, glancing down at my watch again.  12:00 am.  Whoever had sent me that e-mail had exactly five minuted before I was out here.  I had had more than enough for one night.

The bartender returned.  "Lucy Franklin?" He questioned, with his rich voice.  I simply nodded.  He gestured back behind him to a set of doors.  "You are requested."  He walked away as quickly as he had come, finding another customer to attend to.  

I sighed as I got up.  Here goes nothing, I thought.  I stepped behind the door and pushed open the doors ahead of me and stepped inside.