Chapter 5 – Althea
ALTHEA
It’s been two weeks since I last came to The Mansion.
I got the call from the Dallas precinct that my application for the internship had been approved the next afternoon after that visit.
I spent that evening picking out my clothes and double-checking my digital footprint, making sure there was nothing that could be seen as questionable.
People are already suspicious when they discover who my father is, but they all seem to buy the story that we became estranged after my brother’s disappearance.
My leaving the state for college and rarely returning home keeps the facade up and makes it very difficult for anyone to prove otherwise.
I’ve been working every day since I found out I got the internship.
It’s been the longest two weeks filled with orientation programs and learning the department's structure, policies, and procedures. Oh, and the mountains of paperwork that go along with it. I almost expected there to be a form requesting the blood of my firstborn. I still haven’t been given access to the database, but all in due time.
Tonight is Halloween, and I couldn’t wait to get out of there. It was a double blessing when the person responsible for training me told me he would be going on vacation, and he’s the only one currently allowed to work with the interns, which means I have the next three days off to relax.
Naturally, I chose to come to The Mansion to celebrate.
What better way to treat myself after two very long weeks, than a finding a dominant partner to work out all the tension and stress I’ve been carrying around in my body.
I’m a firm believer that the best relief a woman can find is through multiple mind-numbing orgasms.
And maybe he will be here tonight. I already know he can give me what I’m looking for.
I saw that with my own eyes the last time I was here.
With its annual Halloween Masquerade party tonight, it may be difficult to find him.
Hell, he may not even remember locking eyes with me.
It could all have been in my head. If there’s one thing I’m certain of, there is no shortage of willing and able-bodied Doms at The Mansion tonight.
I’ll just have to find myself one to play with for the night.
Standing in front of the locker room mirror, I add my final touches to my she-devil costume.
It’s a short, red satin halter-style dress.
The satin material feels soft against my skin.
The front is low-cut all the way down to my navel, and the dress stops a little below my ass.
I almost bought the one with the tutu-style skirt that left the bottom of my ass cheeks hanging out, just a peek, but decided the length on this one was better suited for what’s underneath.
I place my mask over my eyes and adjust the strap under my ponytail.
My smoky makeup against the shiny red fabric makes my eyes pop.
I add the devil horns headband and clip it into place, then touch up my crimson red lipstick followed by the cute little black gem bracelet Jessa left in my locker with a skull and crossbones.
It had a note attached welcoming me back to the club.
One last spritz of perfume and a pair of three-inch red heels and I’m ready to play.
I find my way to the bar where Liam sits, watching Chloe with a raised brow.
If she’s here, he’s here. Which means I’m technically still following my papa’s rules about always keeping at least one of my guards with me.
It’s ridiculous that I even must have guards given my training, but keeping Papa happy has its benefits.
Like not having to go home and entertain all the idiots and their advantages of marriage proposals talk.
No, thank you.
Since my brother’s disappearance, Papa made sure I was well trained. It’s what brought him peace of mind throughout my teenage years, knowing I could defend myself and he could hide the body after.
I know a hundred ways to kill a man and have done so without hesitation.
Anyone who threatens my family doesn’t deserve to breathe.
Papa has even used my talents for his benefit many times over the years, sending me into situations that required a more intimate approach to assassinate our enemies.
No one suspects the pretty woman in a tight-fitting dress to be the most dangerous threat in the room.
Yet he still demands that I have a guard.
But Liam will be too busy with Chloe to concern himself with the likes of me.
There’s a Halloween party in full swing tonight, and Chloe took full advantage of the opportunity to wear as little clothing as possible.
Her barely-there Snow White costume consists of a shimmery blue crop top, cheeky panties, and a glittery skirt overlay, that looks more like a hula-hoop as thin as it is and the way her ass cheeks are hanging out of the bottom.
She topped the outfit off with the gold headband and a small red ball with the words ‘bad apple’ written in glitter.
She hit her mark when she chose that outfit.
Liam has growled every time she turns around to pour a draft beer for a member.
He’s not too keen on everyone seeing her ass on full display, but if there was ever a place to wear that outfit, it’s here.
Her normal uniform is a strapless, black, faux-leather short dress, but it still covers far more than this costume.
“Got to give our girl credit, Liam. She is rocking the hell out of that outfit.” I can’t resist taunting him.
“Yeah, well, she better hope her ass is prepared to take the punishment for it.” He says it loud enough to catch Chloe’s attention. His raised brow and stern look only serve to make her smile. “You knew my rules about that outfit and what I said would happen if you did it anyway.”
Chloe leans over the bar, resting her breasts right in front of him, eliciting another growl. With the biggest smile and her voice full of sass, Chloe replies, “You say punishment like it’s a bad thing.”
“Fuuuuck.” Liam groans, gripping her neck and kissing her hard.
“And that’s my cue. You two have fun.” I barely hear Chloe telling me to have fun as I slip through the Dungeon doors.
I glance around the room, taking in all the decorations and the beautiful couples done up for Halloween.
Some are dressed in costumes that look like they were made to be worn on a stripper stage, not at a public party, but then again, this is a private venue where clothing is optional, so maybe not.
There are fairies, princesses, devils, and angels.
Most of the men took the easy way out and have brought masks or had their faces painted in some way.
Fun, cute Halloween decor adorns the front bar and meeting area. There are little pumpkins and smiling ghosts on the tables, with a few spiderwebs strung about. The fog machine and the dim lighting on the dance floor give it more of a nightclub atmosphere than a kink club.
Walking past the crowd of people in the bar, I notice two men who look very familiar. There’s a third with them, and they are in deep conversation. They’re all wearing leather cuts that say Shadowmancers MC on the back. I remember seeing the same patch at the state fair.
Those are not costumes.
The one with the patch that reads President appears to be barking orders at the other two.
I remember him rushing through the fortune teller’s tent just before getting my reading done.
I’m still not clear if what I saw and heard were real that day.
Chloe still swears nothing happened. She said we sat there holding hands while a fog machine went off from somewhere under the table.
According to her, Hex never uttered a word.
But I heard him very clearly.
The three of them continue talking. I recognize the Sargent at Arms patch on the one in the middle, whose face from the side appears to be painted. When the pissed-off blond one storms off, I decide to take the opportunity to say hello … and maybe ask some questions.
“Hex? Right?” I call out, standing less than a foot away from his back. He turns to face me, and this time his face paint is very different and, if I’m honest, scary as hell.
He looks me up and down. His lips slowly curve at the edges into a sinfully sexy smirk. Anyone around us might assume we’re here to meet one another, given his red and black face paint resembling a demon, and my she-devil outfit.
“Well, now. Miss Althea Drakos. How are you, darlin’?
” he asks, his Louisiana accent thick and sexy.
Hex reaches for my hand, bringing it to his lips and kisses it softly.
His eyes meet mine, and a low growl can be heard from somewhere behind me, but I’m too transfixed on the flirty demon in front of me.
I wonder what he could do for me.
The way he says my name makes the hairs on my arm stand up.
“How did you know it was me?” I ask, knowing he can’t see my face and I didn’t introduce myself by name.
His smile widens, and Hex drops my hand but doesn’t answer my question. “You here with someone, sweetheart? If not, do you want to be?” Another strange guttural noise sounds nearby. I turn to look over my shoulder but find everyone behind me engaged in their own conversations.
Weird.
“They take their sound effects seriously in this part of the bar,” I joke. “I just saw you here and wanted to say hello and to ask you …” I pause, looking around to be sure no one is listening. The President, Soul, narrows his eyes, studying me closely. It’s a little unnerving.
“What’s got you flustered, sweetheart? How can I be of service ?
” The way Hex says service sounds more like a sexual offer than a friendly one.
He looks over my shoulder at something, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think he was stirring shit with someone.
But when I turn to look behind me again, there’re only couples having drinks and enjoying their conversations.
Soul slaps Hex in the chest with the back of his hand, drawing laughter from Hex as he’s warned to “Knock it off. He’ll fucking kill you, and I ain’t gonna bring you back.”
That makes Hex laugh even harder, but he quickly tosses his hand up in a show of surrender. “All right. All right. I’ll stop.” I watch their exchange, but before I can ask what’s going on, Hex turns his question back to me. “What did you want to ask me?”
“Uh. That night at the fair.” I don’t know why this is so difficult to ask, but I can’t seem to get the words out. “When you, um, when you …”
“When I read your fortune,” he finishes my sentence for me.
“Yeah, that.” I nod. “Was that … did that really happen? I mean the smoke and the voice … well, I guess what I mean is, was that a fog machine and some kind of parlor trick?”
There. I asked.
Hex tilts his head, studying my face for a moment. Shock fills his eyes, but he lets it pass. Leaning in close to my ear, he whispers, “It was very, very real.” He picks my hand up, placing it against his chest, stepping forward to close the gap between us.
Hex’s eyes narrow; clouds form within them, large and fierce. He holds my stare. I couldn’t look away even if I tried. My mind is telling me to step back, to put some distance between us, but my feet feel like they’ve cemented in place.
Hex places his lips beside my ear, speaking low enough only I can hear him, and says, “Death in human form is coming to meet you, and he’s been watching you all night.”
My pulse begins to pick up. My eyes fill with tears.
“Do not fear him—but embrace him. He will lead you to the truth. He holds the key to your past and the ring to your future. Do not deny the pull between you.”
My breathing comes in short pants.
“Remember, you can trust him to protect you, even against his own instincts. Death doesn’t know love, only pain. But you will give him both.”
Hex pulls back, releasing my hand. I take a deep breath and wait for my pulse to slow down before I try to speak. His eyes are clear, and his demeanor is … serious .
“I know this is strange to you, but you’ll understand soon enough. In the meantime,” Hex kisses my cheek softly. “Enjoy your evening. He’s waiting for you.” I’m still rooted in place when Hex follows a now quickly moving Soul with a small woman dragging behind him.
What the hell just happened?
I glance around, and everyone is still in the same place they were moments ago, but it feels like so much time has passed. I don’t understand.
“I need a drink.” I tell no one as I turn to go back to the bar with Liam and Chloe. “Chloe, be a doll and get me a double, would you?” Suspiciously, she eyes me but doesn’t question. She likely assumes I’m nervous. She does not know what happened the last time I was here, what I saw.
What I craved.
She hands me the double shot of whiskey, and I down it in one gulp and pass the glass back.
“You good?” Liam asks. “Did those bikers upset you?”
“No, they’re friends. We were just saying hi,” I lie.
“Those aren’t friends. They’re the guys from the fair, right?” Liam is too observant sometimes, the asshole.
“I know Hex a little. I’ve spoken to his grandmother several times in the past.” Okay, that’s a lie.
It was three times, and all of them at the fair while she read our fortunes, but I’m not getting into that with Liam.
If I do, I’ll have to explain what just happened, and why Hex and I seemed so familiar to anyone who may have seen our exchange, and that is a big fat fucking no.
Because I myself have absolutely no fucking clue.
Deciding I need to work off some of this stress, I turn and head back out of the bar.
I bypass the gyrating bodies on the dance floor and head for the Dungeon. I’m looking for someone to inflict pain and make me forget everything. All I want to feel tonight is the sting of a whip, and the euphoria that follows.