The Inferno

Chapter 1

The Visitors

“W elcome, everyone, to The Inferno.”

I watch as a staff member, an earth elemental, greets the newest customers and ushers them onto the ground floor below me.

Level one.

I scan the area, surveying the clusters of creatures who eagerly filter in for any signs of concern.

A cacophony of music blares from large speakers which float in the air, the vibrations of which cause a slight rumble against the glass barrier I lean upon and my fingers absent-mindedly tap the metal railing to the rhythm.

Flashes of strobe lighting casts vibrant neon colours across the ground floor before scaling the high, windowless walls and engulfing the faces of customers in a crimson red.

As the music builds, I watch the crowd pulse as their excitement grows. The customers match the quickening melody, swaying and touching whilst the tempo increases, and when it reaches a crescendo... the creatures come alive.

And I watch from the shadows.

Always alert.

Always waiting.

Now, more than ever.

During the last few weeks, the Entertainment District, my district, my home, had had a few new visitors . Ones which had made everyone a little twitchy, especially the business owners of such premises.

For some reason, unbeknownst to anyone in this district, these special visitors had begun wandering into our clubs, and other lucrative establishments, sporadically for weeks, with no real reason or clear intent. Not even the earth elementals could hypothesise their sudden interest and the faes hadn’t provided much information either.

But, from what I had been told, these visitors were notorious for their… spontaneity.

So now, we’re on high alert: all night, every night, every single time those doors swing open. Why? Because there’s one thing you learn from working in a club like ‘The Inferno’: power attracts power .

I glance upwards and seek out the club’s maxim, hanging upon the wall of level three. The neon letters pulse with scarlet light and the words ‘ Where power thrives, chaos ensues, and sin is born’ make my fingers tighten around the metal rail.

Three things that would entice any being, never mind the infamous visitors.

Well, we definitely had power. Chaos always followed. And sin? My eyes flicker across the various creatures, touching the very edges of their emotions as I let out a hapless sigh.

Sin was everywhere.

“Anyone have eyes on the tall, blonde, would-take-me-for-the-ride-of-my-life fae?”

As if on cue, our most sinful member, Four, breaks me out of my intense thoughts. His unnecessary use of the comms, once again, makes me rethink his need for it.

I sigh with exasperation, rolling my neck in attempt to ease the tension between my shoulders, before pressing my fingers to the small earpiece. “You need to be a tad more specific, Four.”

I stroll along the barricade of level two, my fingertips trailing along the metal railing whilst I monitor the occupants of level one, analysing each guest as they continue to file in and indulge.

“Well, how specific should I get? Body, gait, how large her…power is?” Four asks, barely managing to cover his childish snicker. I can already imagine the collective sigh and eye rolls off comms.

“Urgh! I’m not dealing with this again. How many times do we need to tell you? This isn’t what the comms are for, Four,” Five chimes in, her otherwise delicate voice drenched with irritation.

“Give it a rest, Four,” Two immediately adds, his voice echoing slightly. “We don’t all have the luxury of searching out your next romantic victim. We’re on high alert, remember? Or maybe you need to head back to the lower levels for a while, remember what hard work really is, huh?”

I turn towards the bar and see Two there, dressed in a leather vest which leaves his dark, muscular arms bare, they’re tense and crossed over his chest as he watches a new group entering his floor. When he notes me, he points to his earpiece and rolls his amber eyes, I smirk in response .

“Hey now, no need for jealousy, Five. You know my kind are all about sharing,” Four says almost too eagerly, “and Two, come on pal, I’ve served my time in the trenches! And, can I just say, you’re all jumping down my throat when you have no idea what I’m about to say, this could be a ‘Red alert’ if—”

“But it isn’t,” Six’s stern voice intervenes, lacking any mirth.

Silence follows.

Slight crackles are the only evidence that we’re still live on the comms.

“Only if we’re talking about your romantic life, Four,” One suddenly murmurs.

A mixture of laughter, a cough and some annoyed mumbling erupts through the comms. I make sure to cover my own audible response but there’s a smile lingering as I head towards the next level’s staircase.

“Ha ha ha, very funny,” Four replies sulkily, I can clearly picture the pout upon his tanned face. “You guys suck at being wingfae, that’s the last time I ask you for help.”

We all ignore Four, knowing he’ll spend a few seconds licking his wounds before his next blurt interrupts our peace.

As I move, I purposely avoid all groups of customers by slipping into the darkness surrounding the edges, until I reach the doorway and ascend the steel, winding staircase. There are six floors of 'The Inferno', each level is entered via a staircase from the previous floor. Meaning there’s only one visible entrance and exit for every level. A security design which had been beneficial on more than one occasion. Only staff with security clearance knew about the emergency exits situated at the back of each level. We also ensured there was always a transporter on the support teams, often two for the higher levels.

At this club, the level system is crystal clear. The higher you’re able to go, the more power, influence and wealth you have.

Our club resides on the very precipice of a powerful border, the border of the Council District, which means hordes of VICs come for regular visits. We’re a very popular spot for many reasons but predominantly because we offer a sinful oasis for creatures, a break from the stresses of their lives. However to fulfil those desires, especially those of the higher level patrons, we require a secure environment. Which requires powerful staff .

Each floor has its own head of security, their job is to manage their level throughout the night by keeping the other leads, and support teams, updated via the comms.

Except me.

I flit between them all.

When I unexpectedly arrived, there was no floor for me. I allow that thought to sting for just a moment.

I’m still kept busy. Due to the hierarchical system of the club, the lowest levels cost the least to enter but they often result in the most problems. Too much indulgence, too little control... so you can guess where I spend the majority of my nights.

I continue prowling the lower floors, adding a polite smile or gesture towards the regulars I recognise as I cross over levels three, two and one in a repetitive cycle. I continuously check in with the six leads over comms. The light conversation and jabs at one another continue in my ear, it’s a regular occurrence which lightens up an otherwise tense atmosphere.

“How is it up there?” I ask into the comms, nodding towards a waitress as I enter level four.

“Besides the two vampire lords eye-fucking me from every corner of the room, peachy,” Five chimes in, her soft voice and harsh words clashing, bringing an instant smile to my face.

“You did ask Brutus to swap you out from the lower levels,” I sing-song, taking the corner stool as I lean against the marble bar. The barmaid places a water down, I mouth my thanks as she scurries off and take a sip of the ice-cold liquid.

“That was two months ago, way before Dracula and Nosferatu started showing up and asking me if I ‘belonged’ to anyone,” she quickly murmurs back.

Loud laughter fills the comms and I can’t help spluttering on a gulp of water with my own laugh. The bartender raises her brows in concern but I shake my head and point towards my earpiece.

“That’s an inappropriate question,” One suddenly states, not an inch of humour in her voice.

“Please remember that vampires have very sensitive hearing, hun,” Three expresses her concern in a whispered hush.

“Five, you’ve been trained for much worse than invasive questioning from vamps,” Six responds, his tone as hard as One’s, but there’s a slight edge of humour which makes someone snicker again. “But, if you’re finding it too troublesome, you could always swap levels with me.”

Hell no.

“Hell no!” Five echoes my thoughts and I bob my head in approval as though she can see me. “As long as they keep their fangs away and distance wide but… I swear Dracula has brought in a girl tonight who kinda looks like me.”

“Now that I need to see!” Four eagerly states and I imagine him rubbing his hands together. “And I’ll give you a heads up when Vlad arrives.” Another round of laughter, including my own, and a delicate scoff fill the comms.

“I’m heading up now, Five.” I push away from the bar, thanking the bartender as I go before adding, “I’ll bring some holy water too.” She huffs.

I begin the journey towards the stairway once more. As I ascend, I’m instantly aware of the power building with each winding step. It rapidly grows, morphing into something heavier and more tangible than in previous nights.

My own power begins to purr and I sigh when I feel it seeping out and slowly sinking into the stronger emotions amplifying the air. It feeds from the most potent ones, pulling them into me and easing the ache of my shoulders as I reach the metal door.

I watch it open and I instantly smile when I see Five stood there, at the very threshold, waiting to escort me onto her level. Her pale lilac skin is smooth and tight against her small, toned body and her oval, violet eyes glow under the ambient lights embedded in the extremely high ceiling. I scan over her appearance, exaggerating the time I take checking over her.

“Still in one piece, I’m impressed.” I shoot her another toothy smile.

She rolls her eyes and waves me in, I laugh at her gesture and step forwards, hearing her shut the thick, metal door behind me. Then I watch, transfixed, like every time, as she performs intricate hand movements over the lock, reapplying an invisible barricade there.

“Yeah, yeah, I told them you were coming and they soon lost interest in me.” She stands straight and smiles smugly right back at me, her eyes twinkling whilst dusting her palms over her leather dress .

“Ha ha,” I laugh dryly in reply, knocking her shoulder with mine when she stands beside me.

Deep down, I knew she would never do anything to put me in real danger. None of them would. She nudges my shoulder back, a smile adorning her face, as we begin our nightly routine.

All levels of ‘The Inferno’ are lavishly decorated, but the highest floors scream opulence. The normally bare, concrete walls are draped with thick velvet and the already high ceilings have been spelled to seem infinite. All of the floors are open plan to make the space seem even larger, except floor six— the only level which provides ‘private rooms’. But this floor contains booths for the VICs who couldn’t quite afford the highest level, it was still an impressive feat to obtain one, the exclusivity enough to bring hordes of attention to anyone who did.

We walk along level five together, no, walk isn’t quite right… we saunter.

Two strong, scantily clad women with enough power to bring down the entire building. We continue our light conversation whilst carefully scanning the floor. We take note of those whose gazes linger too long, customers we have yet to learn the names of, and quickly pinpoint the most potent creatures.

The two vampire lords, who Five had affectionately aforementioned, are tracking our every movement. They aren’t actually lords, if they were they’d be on floor six, but they are strong creatures with powerful covens who aren’t often told ‘no’, especially when they want something. They’re huddled in a booth surrounded by their coven members, but their eyes hover over Five.

I glance down at the beautiful mage beside me, knowing I’d kill every single one of their coven members if they even attempted to take her.

But it’s best to stay polite.

In synchrony, we send a brief smile in their direction and they bow their heads politely in response, acknowledging our level of power respectfully. Good.

After our second loop around the large floor, I feel a change. My brows begin to furrow and Five, being the exceptional mage that she is, notices the tiny alteration in my features.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, her violet eyes wide as she stares at me.

My gaze flickers around the opulent room, trying to lock onto something but finding nothing .

“I don’t want to say it…” I murmur, feeling my coils bristling beneath my skin. “The moment I do, it’ll jinx us.” My brows knit together as my coils awaken and slowly creep out into the corners of the room. It discreetly slithers into the darkest areas and brings back nothing .

“You can sense something.” Five’s voice sounds far away as I continue searching. “Is it—”

“Amber alert,” a sudden message erupts over comms causing me to flinch and my coils retreat, “enter the closest secure room for a debrief. Support units discharged. Amber alert.”

Five and I instantly begin making our way to the back room each floor contains. We follow our previous loop, ensuring guests aren’t startled by the sudden change as members of a support team filter onto the floor.

Amber alerts are a warning, they’re activated by a member of security, often someone on the perimeter team, to make us aware of a situation that could become ‘Red’ or potentially... worse.

Once we are in the small back office, the roll call begins.

“One, secure.”

“Two, secure.”

“Three, secure.”

Silence.

Five glances at me. I continue staring ahead at the large, black screen hanging upon the wall but my coils of power have already bloomed and quickly spread out in search of Four.

“Four, secure!”

I’m visibly still but my eyes flare as my coils snap back into me. I square my shoulders, mentally preparing the lecture I’ll be giving Four later for making Five worry.

“Five, secure.”

“Six, secure.”

“All secure, I’m with Five,” I finish the roll call and the black screen flares to life with live video footage of vehicles. My eyes dance over the moving image.

“Enforcers have entered the northern Entertainment District.”

They’re here.

I hear Five’s quiet gasp and feel her eyes flicker all over me. My fingers curl inwards as Brutus allows us a moment of contemplation .

Brutus, the owner of this club, the man who found me, saved me, continues, “The Fallow pack have given us a heads up, they had some issues with several enforcers in the southern quarter last night. There was talk of visiting ‘Purgatory’ but it looks like they’re taking a slight detour.”

Five and I glance at each other. ‘Purgatory’ was our sister club, a club made for enforcers.

Not us.

No, the visitors, the enforcers , found clubs like ours unsatisfactory . Not enough torture or kinky sex for their liking. Too many rules; not enough anonymity. Only ‘Purgatory’, an establishment situated in limbo, half residing in the Entertainment District, the other in the Council District, offered those particular interests.

So, why weren’t they entering that way? Why were they heading towards us in the northern quarter? Away from ‘Purgatory’. Maybe they’re on patrol? But why...We were always known for being the least troublesome sector.

I feel Five’s tension and nerves grow but I contain my expression, I force myself to remain solely focused upon the screen and Brutus’ voice.

“We are now on ‘Amber alert’; comms is only to be used if secure and in severe circumstances. Remain on your floor, unless instructed otherwise or by the initiation of a ‘Red alert’.”

Silence, then, just as three vehicles pull into our perimeter, the screen turns off.

“Jasmine is our priority. She is to be kept away from the enforcers, do not let them anywhere near her. Is that understood?”

I tense when I hear my name. It always reminds me how I don’t have a number, how I don’t quite fit in with my makeshift family. Then Brutus’ words repeat in my head, “do not let them anywhere near her”.

Because if they did find me, I’d be as good as dead. Five glances in my direction but she doesn’t speak.

“Understood,” is said unanimously down the comms.

Memories of the night I was found flicker to life, all seven of their faces peering over me as I lay on the ground. The heavy rain attempting to soothe my aching and burning body. My power had sent out a pulse in warning to the strangers, knocking them all onto the floor with me. Then Six had me by the throat, ready to kill.

I had no power left to defend. I had no will left to live, I had… nothing. I remember staring up at him as soundless tears fell. I remember his face contorting with conflict.

But I felt nothing. I knew nothing.

Then Brutus approached, so cautiously for a wolf his size, like I was an injured bird with a broken wing. He held out a large, scarred hand which I nervously took.

Then I never let go.

What was my life before these seven? No one knows; not even me. Not a single memory before that night emerges from my subconscious. Whatever my previous life was, it was now simply ash.

What should have happened that night? My sudden appearance right outside the Council District should have been reported to enforcers, and the Council, but it wasn’t.

It still hasn’t. All because of him. Them. A debt I’ll never be able to repay.

We exit the back room in silence. Five continuously casts nervous glances my way but I’m too consumed by my first memory.

When we re-enter level five, I fade into the darkness the edges provide and keep myself hidden as Brutus requested.

As the night continues, I battle away my painful memories and remain cautious, lingering in the darkest areas of level five. Five has been shielding me ever since the announcement, it was an instinctive action of hers. This low-level act siphons little of her immense power as she continues to scowl at the vampires from across the room.

The comms remains deathly silent but the tension and apprehension builds like a heavy storm. All the creatures seem to feel it.

More fights begin to break out, ones that are stopped quickly; efficiently, but a small rumble is all it takes to start an avalanche.

The vampires begin to get a little too close to staff, resulting in One and Two calling for back-up. I attempt to go but curse when Five ushers me back into the corner, her magic giving me a quick sting.

Wolves begin to shift, their howls an additional melody to the blaring music. I watch from the darkness as Five steps in-between two half transitioned ones. She uses her magic to send a translucent wall up between them, which would have been more than enough if a nearby warlock didn’t decide to square up to the one and only Dracula .

I step out of the darkness, Five’s barrier melting away as my own power coils around me like an invisible shield. One flick of my wrist and the arrogant warlock is pinned against the nearby booth wall. Five’s eyes land on me but she’s busy dealing with the wolves.

“Do not start something I have to finish.” I stare at the warlock ensuring my words are clear even with the wailing music. His eyes widen and I feel his magic slowly retract whilst I keep him pinned.

Eventually, I lower my hand and place him back onto the ground.

Five’s Dracula stands there and laughs, he didn’t feel the slightest bit threatened by the mid-tier warlock but I do feel his eyes linger upon my throat. I turn, scowling at him and my power lashes out. It knocks into him just enough that he stumbles back.

“You too and keep your eyes off my staff,” I snap, casting a pointed look at Five who is holding the unconscious wolves by their scruff. “She’s mine. ”

He doesn’t like that. His lips pull back into a snarl, revealing his fangs. I step closer, I’m desperate for him to lunge, my coils curling around my arms and pulsing with the need. I’m more than ready to knock his fucking—

A high pitch ringing from the comms causes me to wince, even the vamp startles. Five turns, also wincing and panting slightly as she looks at me with worry etched across her delicate features.

“‘Red alert’. Floor six. All available staff to attend,” states a robotic tone and, when it begins to repeat, I’ve already begun my path.

Someone, a member of staff, has pressed their ‘Red alert’ button. A button that is only ever pressed in extreme circumstances, and on floor six? I quicken my pace, my eyes flashing back to Five who has hastily dropped the wolves, the support staff are quickly dragging them away as she matches my pace behind me.

When we reach Five’s exit, the stairwell for level six, she nods in understanding. We’ve prepared for this.

Flicking the tiny, second notch on my earpiece, the one that communicates with all staff, I speak, “I need immediate entrance to floor six. Additional support teams must be prepared, emergency exit for floor six ready. There must be no entrance or exit from any floors, do not let anyone in or out. I repeat, do not let anyone in or out of the club. We’re in lockdown. ”

Five is currently attempting to open the exit as quickly as she can, sweat forming upon her brow from the sudden exertion. Spells like this shouldn’t be rushed, the higher the level, the more intricate the door’s lock. Luckily, Five is experienced with working under pressure and the second it swings open, I’m running up the stairs, taking two steps at a time.

As I reach the sixth floor, the door is already open and I note a witch from the support team already there, just finishing the last mechanism to allow me entrance over the threshold.

My coils quiver as I step over. My power swells and rushes through me so suddenly I have to grasp the door frame. It urges me to stop and absorb more, to feed, to indulge , but I don’t.

Instead, I seek out Six as he prowls through the crowd to join me. When our eyes meet, I push away from the door frame and close the distance.

“Amelia pressed the alert. She entered one of the private rooms five minutes ago, but they’re using a shielding spell and one of them is a transporter,” he begins to debrief, his tall form easily keeping up with my quick steps as I head towards the private rooms. “Seek them out and then I can handle this, you don’t need to get involved.”

We glance at one another, my eyes eager to appraise him in his uniform, but my power has already begun seeking and devouring in search of Amelia. There’s a silent understanding in our eyes, and a multitude of emotions, his are telling me he’d rather we were anywhere but here, mine are telling him I would never leave.

Eventually, he breaks our contact as we follow the path my coils are naturally creating. Powerful creatures instinctively step away from my invisible tendrils which allows them to spread quickly.

My body tenses. I’ve found them. I peer up at the door and place a palm upon it. My coils seep under, slipping into the creatures inside, clawing at their vile emotions.

I frown, their powers are... minimal. Mid-tier. They’re actually weaker than the majority of creatures on this floor and floor five. My coils begin to hook into theirs and pull, checking they aren’t using a dampening spell or a stronger shield.

But I hear Amelia whimper, the feeling of lust builds, and my coils instinctively react by blowing the concrete door off its hinges .

I stand upon the collapsed door, feeling my eyes bleed out as I lock my sight upon the three men who are clearly intoxicated, weak and absolutely no match for me.

“Get your hands off her, now,” I command, my voice dark and low.

They laugh.

They look at me and they laugh.

Their loud guffaws cause my fists to clench and my coils tighten like vipers around my skin. They’re too intoxicated to see me, to truly see me, or feel my power, more power than I normally allow to be released.

My eyes dart to the mage; the transporter. His hands are wrapped around Amelia, one grips her waist, the other is upon her thigh, and when his fingers start to go higher— under the hem of her dress—

I snap.

The man’s hand becomes a bone jutting out of torn skin. A fountain of red is squirting everywhere, pouring over the table, gushing down the sides and onto Amelia, staining her white dress.

He’s wailing in agony; I watch.

My power hums in approval, the scent of blood tainting the air and sinking into my lungs. My spine burns as my coils sweep out into the liquid.

Amelia immediately scrambles off his blood-soaked lap, towards Six, and stares back in horror at the bloody pulp that was previously groping her. I use this moment to lower my darkened gaze onto the other two men, they squirm in their seats, mouths hanging open, bodies trembling at the thoughts of what I’ll do to them.

Now, they’re truly looking. Now, they’re not laughing.

I can feel their terror.

I inhale.

My coils shiver with excitement. They latch onto them.

I feed.

Make them suffer.

The voice.

My spine burns at the sound I rarely heard, the one that muttered dark and dangerous melodies… Suffer ...Oh, what I’ll do… I can’t help the curling of my lip at the horrific ideas flashing through my mind.

One of the men is attempting to stutter something, my eyes flare as I watch him .

“We-we’re enforcers,” the yellow haired one chokes, his hand rising and indicating an object gripped there.

Enforcers?

These men? Please.

Glancing over my shoulder at Six, we share a dark, venomous look before we turn to stare back at the men.

Six snarls, a rumbling in his chest that makes my power flare with excitement. The man holding the object whimpers and the other looks as though he’ll faint.

They’re lying and we hate liars.

My coil plucks the badge from his grip, bringing it to me, and I begin slowly, tortuously, pulling the ridiculous thing to pieces.

Enforcers didn’t need badges. They were units of terrifying beings who spent years enduring extensive training all to become perfect, indoctrinated machines. Their ‘job’ was to enforce the law of their ‘oh so wise’ council, and they fulfil it, by any means necessary.

Any.

Creatures like that, creatures with that type of power, didn’t need a badge to be recognised.

I peel a piece of the tacky, golden plaque from the fake leather and it makes a loud clunk as it drops upon the blood smeared table.

I smile as I do it, I ensure the action is intimidating as my eyes scale them. I want them to imagine I’m peeling their skin away from their bones, tearing their flesh and muscles apart whilst their tendons try to desperately hold on.

“Do you know what we do to liars?” Six rumbles from behind me and the sound brings back invigorating memories. I take a shuddering breath as he steps closer to me. “What we do to people who dare to touch our staff, what’s ours?” His possessive tone and proximity make my coils curve around him in a possessive action of its own.

One of the men attempts to flee but Six is there, gripping him by the throat, teeth bared as he snarls down at him. Six and I are enjoying ourselves now, we’ve been tense all night, we needed this release.