You see, this whole thing really started someplace else.

So, picture this: a trendy, hot club in Vegas, all neon lights and pounding music. The place? Twilight. Which, knowing what we know now, is probably the most fitting name for a club catering to a paranormal crowd.

The music? Hip hop, pulsing so hard you’d swear your own heartbeat was syncing up to it, forcing your pulse to race. Add some dazzling lights that made it nearly impossible to focus on anything longer than a second, and you’d find me there, leaning against the bar, sipping on something green and fruity, scanning the crowd for something - anything - remotely interesting.

Now, I’m not much of a club guy. Never have been. Too loud, too dark, too many overpriced drinks that don’t pack enough punch, and too many sweaty strangers who forget personal space exists. Give me a good book, a movie, maybe a new game, and that’s my ideal night. But hey, sacrifices must be made, especially when it’s your best friend’s bachelor party, and there’s no way a party in Vegas doesn’t end up in a place like Twilight. And, well, if anything interesting was going to happen, it’d be here.

Sure enough, she walked in.

Her name was Charlie, though she liked to go by Jinx.

When she entered the club, I could feel something different about her. It wasn’t the obvious things -the wavy auburn hair, gorgeous diamond face, athletic frame, and the sort of dress that made the whole place go quiet for a beat. No, it was something else. Call it an aura - bright, intense - like a beacon fire.

Now, I’m not the type to go in for metaphysical nonsense. But sometimes, I just know things about people, like I can see what they’re going to do next. I’ve got no proof it’s a real ability, and if anyone asks, I’ll deny it, but Charlie moved like she was on a mission. She practically radiated energy, magnetic enough to catch every eye in the place. And while that made sneaking around difficult, I had to hand it to her - hiding in plain sight is often the best cover.

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She had this energy like she’d walked in with purpose and didn’t need anyone’s permission to go after it.

Later, I’d find out she was there looking for her missing brother, Jacob, who she’d traced to Club Twilight. At the time though, she only knew he was working for the club owner - nothing more. The part she didn’t know? Twilight’s owner was a vampire lordling with serious ambitions – Mr. Ice was a vampire with a little more power than most of the leeches you find running these places and a shady henchman named Lester who did his dirty work. While Lester wasn’t exactly top-tier material, his boss had potential, which made the whole scene feel a little too close to “impending showdown” for my taste.

She moved through the crowd like a snake gliding through water, sinuous and unbothered by the chaos around her. Anyone in her path? She’d either weave around them or give them a look that said, move. Her focus was locked on the “Employees Only” door at the back, and even as she got closer, I noticed she had a few shadowy admirers, stalkers, tracking her every step.

The bodies on the dance floor made it hard to keep her in my sights, but I saw her slip past the two distracted guards as if she belonged. The black door swung shut, and she was gone.

I kept my eye on the door, debating whether to follow her. But, of course, the moment I had decided to head back there, my buddies pulled me into a round of drinks, distracting me long enough that I didn’t catch her coming back out until she was practically in my face, stumbling right into me.

“Hey,” I said, reaching out instinctively to steady her. My hand brushed her arm, and I caught sight of scratches down her skin. “You alright?”

She shot me a look - the kind that could freeze a vampire on the spot. “Mind your own business,” she snapped, wrenching her arm free and heading for the exit without another glance.

“Charmed,” I muttered, watching her weave out through the crowd, clearly wanting to disappear. I tried to follow her, but my friends, sensing an escape attempt, closed ranks around me, and the girl beside me clung to my arm, gushing about how glad she was I’d shown up for the night. My focus was anywhere but on the conversation. Over her shoulder, I saw three goons weaving through the crowd, trailing after Charlie. I excused myself, told my friends I needed some air, and headed for the exit as fast as the pulsing throng would let me.

Finally outside, I spotted Charlie just as she ducked into a side alley with her three unwanted shadows hot on her heels. I cursed under my breath and hurried to catch up, half-expecting the worst. By the time I reached the mouth of the alley, she was backed against a dead-end wall, her face set, fists clenched, with the goons blocking her path.

And I’ll be honest - I almost felt sorry for them. Almost.