I glanced around, searching for signs of Halloween. They were everywhere—on advertisements and in the windows of stores. My eyes fell to the piece of paper again, and I read it for a second time. “Monster Ball by moonlight, I wish…” I scoffed before cramming the paper into my pocket and heading inside to find Hardy.
Chapter Three
Hardy was at a blackjack table when I found him again. His face was redder than before, but I didn’t think it was because of the heat or his size, I thought it was from the alcohol swimming in his veins. There was a nearly empty glass beside him. I was positive the amber liquid inside was scotch. The same redhead from the picture I had of him was at his side. Was she someone he knew personally, or was she part of the game this place had running to keep guys like him spending their money?
When I stepped closer to him, I heard him let out an annoyed huff under his breath. He was pissed. Was it because he was losing?
“What’s the matter? Not having any luck?” I asked as I slid into the open chair beside him. His pissed-off expression melted at the sight of me. I arched a brow. Was he about to make his second wish? One that involved gaining some luck, perhaps? I’d stepped inside at the right time, if so. “We could change that.”
Hardy exhaled a slow breath and then flashed me a crooked smile. I could feel his wish coming. It was on the tip of his tongue. “I wish I could win every game I played.”
I tried not to wince. That was a horrible wish. One that would get you in trouble in a place like this. They’d think he was scamming them somehow.
There was nothing I could do now that he’d said the words, though. I had to grant him his wish.
“As you wish,” I said. Hardy grinned as he stopped one of the cocktail waitresses walking by. “Darlin’, let me get a round of drinks for everyone at the table.”
She didn’t question him. Instead, she looked to see what everyone was drinking.
“And, don’t forget my friend here,” Hardy said while slapping me on the back. “He deserves a drink too.”
I shook my head. “It’s okay. I don’t drink.”
It wasn’t that I didn’t drink; it was that there was no point. While I was on an assignment, I couldn’t get drunk even if I tried—and believe me, in the beginning, I’d tried often—so what was the point?
“You don’t drink?” Hardy flashed me a look that told me he called bullshit. “Nonsense, boy.” He shifted his gaze to the waitress. “Give him the same as me, scotch on the rocks. Top shelf.”
“Thanks,” I said to Hardy as the waitress walked away with everyone’s order. What else could I say? After all, he had the money to blow.
“You’re welcome. Even if you don’t want to think of it as a thank you for what you’ve done for me tonight,” he whispered, leaning in to me. “Think of it as a way to kick off Halloween right.”
His last words jarred me. Wait. Tonight was Halloween? I’d assumed it was close but had no idea it was tonight.
Hardy had the dealer toss him some new cards. I watched as he won the next round of blackjack. He glanced at me and winked. The drinks came then. I accepted mine and took a sip. It tasted good, but I knew there wouldn’t be any effect to go along with it. Hardy lifted his glass and said something about him feeling like the luckiest man alive. I crammed my hand in my pocket, my fingers brushing against the slip of paper I’d tucked away earlier. My mind filled with the words written on it.
“What time is it?” I asked Hardy, feeling like a fool because this monster ball thing couldn’t possibly be real. Could it?
“Almost midnight,” Hardy said. “Now drink up.”
His words looped through my mind, causing a sudden urge to step outside and glance up at the moon to rush through me. I tried to ignore it, but it wouldn’t disperse. Instead, the urge became harder to ignore. I set my glass on the table beside Hardy.
“I’ll be right back,” I said before making my way to the exit.
Foolish didn’t even describe how I felt about myself, but I needed to know. Slips of paper didn’t fall from the moon into my hand every damn day. Especially not ones that were an invitation to a ball for monsters. And, after everything I’d learned about the supernatural world over the last few years, it would probably be in my best interest not to dismiss this as nothing. Instead, I should think of it as an opportunity. If it was real, then I might have a little fun tonight myself.
I headed outside, making my way to the alley between the casino and the place beside it. There, I had a perfect view of the moon. While I had no clue how much longer it was until midnight, I didn’t care. There was energy buzzing through the air that let me know something was about to happen.
I could feel it.
The moon brightened, drawing my attention to it. Another glowing beam of light flickered and flashed until it was too bright to look at. My eyes squinted shut on instinct, and when I opened them, I was no longer in the alley beside the casino. Instead, I was someplace new. It was still an alley, but it wasn’t familiar. I had no idea where the hell I’d landed.
“This is interesting.” The words slipped from my mouth in a hushed whisper.
I adjusted my suit jacket and started toward the end of the alley. It was pitch black, but that didn’t stop me. There was something there. Something enticing me to head that way.
And why not? I doubted there would be anything more evil waiting in the shadows than the Sin Demon I was currently bound to.
A red door was the first thing to come into view. It was followed by the brick building it was attached to. While there was nothing spectacular about the building or the door, there was one thing that captured my attention—the gigantic gargoyles perched along either side of the tall red door.
Was it me, or were their eyes following me?
When I was a few feet away, the gargoyles morphed into something more real and less statue-like. I paused and stared, waiting to see what they would do. They flew down on massive black marble wings to flank either side of the door as though they were bouncers to the place. They both looked buff enough for the job, that was for sure. When they looked my way, one of them motioned for me to step forward. I did, noticing the two were the mirror image of each other. Twin gargoyles. That wasn’t something I saw every day. It was also pretty badass.
“Ticket, please,” the one on the right said. He had an accent, one I placed as New York or somewhere around it.
I reached into my pocket for the slip of paper that came to me by moonlight. Which was the same way I’d traveled here, I guess. Who the hell hosted this thing? A witch? “Ticket. Right. I do have one.” I handed him the scrap of paper, hoping it was what he was asking for. “Here you go.”
The instant he took it, the giant red door swung open, and his twin motioned for me to step inside. I ran a hand through my dark hair and then took a step forward into the unknown. At one point in my life, I might have been scared shitless to step through the door, but not tonight. Not now. Defying Dickhead and having a little fun—a taste of freedom for the night—was too much of a draw for me to care what waited beyond the door.
As soon as I stepped through, the door slammed shut behind me. A long decrepit hallway was before me. Dim lights flickered above my head, but they didn’t give off enough light for me to see much of anything.
And then they went off, and I was plunged into darkness.
I frowned. “Well, this is fun.”
What was I supposed to do now, continue forward in the dark?
I placed one foot in front of the other, deciding that was exactly what I’d do. There was no way in hell I wouldn’t see this thing through. There had to be something I was missing. After all, the ticket had said it was The Monster Ball.
After three or four steps forward, there was a change in the air. I kept walking. When thumping music found its way to my ears, a smirk spread across my face.
“Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about,” I muttered.
A rainbow of lights became visible in the dist
ance, and I took a step forward, feeling the pulsing music pull me. When I came to the entrance of a large rectangular room lit by fiber optic lights resembling a giant cloud, my smile widened. This was going to be one hell of a party. The lights in the cloud changed color to the tempo of the beat. Fog hovered in a thin layer over the concrete floor as I moved further inside the room.
Whatever kind of magic lighting this place up was badass.
A dance floor filled up most of the room, and from what I could tell, all types of supernaturals had been invited to this party. There were people dancing, there was a bar nearby, and since this place was magical, I had no doubt that alcohol would be something I could actually feel the effects of.
To my right, I spotted a bar. It was crowded, but there was an open stool at the end as a couple dressed in black leather left for the dance floor.
I headed that way.
The bar looked industrial in style from a distance, but when I was closer, I could see that the top was made of cement marbled with glowing crystals. Each pulsed in sync with the music like the large cloud overhead. Even the blue shelves behind the bartenders flashed with the beat.
This place was insane.
I leaned against the counter and eyed the selection before sitting. Not all of the bottles were filled with alcohol. Some were filled with blood. I’m not sure why this surprised me as much as it did. This was The Monster Ball, after all, and vampires could be lumped in that category easily. A beautiful woman with golden blond hair that swept down her back and green eyes shifted on the stool beside me to wave at the male bartender before she slipped off her stool, nearly bumping me. I tried not to stare at her breasts, but her dress left nothing to the imagination with its plunging neckline. She was incredibly tall—six feet at least—but I’d never let a woman’s height scare me away before. I flashed her a smile, but she didn’t notice. She was focused on making her way through the crowd.
My gaze drifted. Three beautiful women near the bar caught my eye next. They were each dressed to kill in skimpy outfits and heels. The one in a deep purple dress eyed me and licked her lips. She was cute, but there was something a little too wild glittering in her eyes. She was the type of woman who would chew me up and then spit me out. Still, I held eye contact with her as she and her friends started up a set of rainbow stairs. My gaze followed the stairs to a loft suspended above the gigantic room I was in. Green panties flew over the balcony, catching my eye. A grin twisted at my lips.
This place was amazing.
“What can I get you to drink?” a female voice asked, pulling me from my thoughts. I glanced at the bartender standing in front of me. She had long pink hair, stunning brown eyes, and freckles. I’d always been a sucker for freckles. I flashed her the smile that used to get me laid more than any other back in my non-genie days, but it didn’t have quite the effect I’d hoped for on her. She narrowed her eyes instead of returning my smile. Energy that felt earthy and mysterious pulsed in the air surrounding her. Was she a witch? “Look, playboy, I’m here to work, not be mind-fucked.”
Ouch. Beautiful, and she had a mouth.
“Noted.” I leaned against the bar and shifted my gaze back to the wall of bottles behind her. “Let me get a…”
“Since you seem indecisive, how about I make you my specialty?” Freckles asked.
I locked eyes with her again. “And, what would that be?”
“It’s called Witchy Woman.”
Of course it was. I’d been right about this one. She was a witch. A sense of satisfaction worked its way through my system—I was better at telling what type of supernatural someone was than I’d thought. “All right, um.” I glanced at her chest, searching for a nametag and not finding one.
“Eyes up here, buddy.” She teased. “And, my name is Onyx.”
“Ryan.” I flashed her another smile, and this time, she returned it.
“So, how about that drink? Care to try a Witchy Woman?” She arched a brow.
“What’s in it?” I asked. If it was something fruity, I might have to say no.
“Do you really care?” She asked, calling me out. She was definitely the type who could see right through to someone’s soul.
“Not really, no,” I chuckled. It was the truth. As long as I could feel something—even a tiny something—by the bottom of the glass, I was cool. “Let’s have it.”
Onyx grabbed a cup and went to work. I planned on watching which bottles she grabbed for so I’d know how much of a buzz the drink would give me, but she didn’t reach for anything. Not with her hands at least. She used magic. And not every bottle she poured into my drink came from a shelf. One came from the male bartender standing at the opposite end of the bar. He had long brown dreads and wore a charcoal-colored tank. At first, he looked annoyed by her magical move, but when she flashed him her beautiful smile, he simmered down real quick.
“And, here you go.” She held the drink out to me. “A Witchy Woman on the rocks.”
“Thanks.” I winked as I took it from her and then tipped it back. It was good. A little too fruity for me, so I knew I wouldn’t have another, but it was good nonetheless. At least there was enough vodka in it to taste. I liked that she’d poured it strong.
“No problem. I’m here all night,” she said before moving to a man dressed in a gray suit a few stools down.
I took another swig of the drink she’d made and glanced up at the loft again. I stood, debating heading up those rainbow stairs to see what the hell was going on up there when a female with a soft yet husky tone spoke to me.
“First time at The Monster Ball?” she asked. Something about her voice had me eager to give her my undivided attention. She sat two stools over. The olive dress she wore nearly matched her eyes.
“Am I that transparent?”
Her full lips twisted into a grin as she wrinkled her nose. It was the cutest thing I’d ever seen. The freckles that spread across the bridge of her nose amplified the cuteness factor tenfold. “Sort of.”
“I’m guessing you’re not a monster ball virgin,” I said as I moved to the open stool beside her. The soft scent of lilac floated from her, and I fought against the urge to get closer. “Come here often?”
A dumb question, but I couldn’t take it back. I really needed to rein myself in. This woman had me dumbfounded. She laughed at my dumb question, and I felt like I’d won a fucking medal. How did she have me so mesmerized? What was she?
“Not often, no. I mean, it’s an annual event.” She tucked a few strands of her long brown hair behind her ear and smiled. “This is my second year.”
“Okay, so you’ve got a little more experience than me with this whole thing.” Why the hell did everything I say sound perverted as shit? It was like all I could think about was sex while near her. “I guess so.” She took a sip from the red drink she held. Was it blood? Was she a vampire? “Not too much more experienced, though.”
No, it wasn’t her that had me thinking of sex—it was her voice. Every time she spoke. There was something about her voice. It went straight to my dick.
What was she?
In an attempt to figure that out, I scanned the length of her with my eyes. Well, I tried. They never made it past her boobs. The dress she wore was strapless and therefore hugged her in all the right places while showing off her petite form.
“You know, normally a guy asks me my name before ogling my breasts as much as you.”
Her words snapped my eyes back to hers. I pulled in a breath. If I wasn’t careful, I’d screw up any chance I might have with her. I had to get my shit together.
I held up my drink. “Sorry. Blame it on the alcohol.”
Her beautiful green eyes narrowed. “Right. It’s all because of that fruity drink you’ve been sipping for two seconds flat.” She burst into a fit of laughter. “I’m sorry, but your drink looks prettier than mine. I’m used to guys drinking whiskey or rum. Straight.”
“Either would’ve been fine, but it’s been a while since I’ve
had any alcohol so I wasn’t picky with whatever was handed to me.”
She took a sip from her drink. “Why’s that?”
That voice. It did things to me.
“It’s complicated,” I said.
She dipped her gaze to the crazy marble bar top. “I’m sure I could relate. Complicated seems to be my middle name.”
I started to ask what she’d meant but then remembered where I was—The Monster Ball. She probably would understand if I told her details. When she brought her big green eyes back to mine, I went for it.
“I’m a genie. That’s what makes my life so complicated.” I ran my fingers through my hair, never allowing my eyes to waver from hers. She didn’t react. Not really. I wasn’t sure why this surprised me. “And you are?”
“Intrigued.”
I flashed her a grin, impressed with her non-answer. She was definitely the kind of woman to keep me on my toes.
I took a swig from my drink. “Glad I’m holding your interest.”
“You have been.” She shook her head and smiled to herself. “I mean you are.”
“How many of those red drinks have you had?” I laughed.
“This is my second, but like you, I don’t get the chance to drink much. Tonight is a special occasion.” Her eyes fell to her cup, and the smile pulling at her perfect lips faded.
What darkness was she glad to be escaping from?
I took the final swig from my cup and was glad it was gone so I could get myself something stronger. Since hers was nearly gone as well, I nodded toward her cup. “Can I order you another?”
“Sure, thanks. It’s called Shifts and Giggles, and that guy makes it.” She pointed to the bartender with the long brown dreads I’d noticed earlier when Onyx had used her magic to swipe a bottle from him.
“Interesting name. Okay, I’ll see if I can get his attention. Be right back.” I headed in that direction.
I could feel her eyes trailing after me while I walked to the opposite end of the bar where the guy with dreads stood, cleaning a glass.
The Monster Ball Year 2 Page 7