Prologue
“Ten! Nine!” the crowd shouted in the nightclub. Coloured lights pulsed across the dance floor, reflecting off fairy wings, flashing on demon masks. The scent of sweat and perfume mingled with spilt alcohol.
“Eight! Seven!”
In one corner, a couple dressed as a plumber and a princess chanted along with the crowd. A red cap hung crooked on the man’s brown hair, blue overalls tight upon his stocky frame. He flung an arm around her shoulder. She smiled, pulling up the strap of her bright pink dress.
“Six!”
The couple clinked champagne flutes and grinned at each other. He planted a sloppy kiss on her cheek.
“Five!”
In the shadows of the club, a vampire watched, surveying groups of girls dressed as sexy nurses, men as babies, many more as witches, werewolves and zombies; only two interested him.
“Four! Three!”
The crowd’s chorus grew excited, glasses raised, adrenaline spiked, blood pounding through their veins. The sensation washed over the vampire; he breathed it in, savouring its taste. His eyes closed, lips parted to reveal protruding fangs.
“Two! One!”
A huge roar erupted; hands raised high, party poppers exploding, and alcohol sloshed out of drunken grasps.
“Woohoo! Happy New Year!!”
Auld Lang Syne blasted from the speakers. Revellers hugged and kissed, including the couple he observed. The plumber pressed his girlfriend against a bar stool, arms wrapped around her waist. She linked her fingers behind his neck. They broke apart and he whispered, “Love you babes.”
“Happy new year, Michael,” a woman’s voice said to the vampire’s left.
He frowned.
A petite blonde in her early forties, grinned at him. Her hair tied in a pony tail and blue eyes shone in the low light. She wore a long sleeved pastel flowered blouse, tight black jeans and a pink scarf around her neck. Rings sparkled on her fingers and pentagram earrings hung from her earlobes. Like the vampire, she had opted not to wear fancy dress.
“Lucy.” His eyes widened.
She stretched on tiptoes and kissed him on both cheeks, pressing her body to him.
“What on earth are you doing here?” he asked.
She withdrew a wand from her sleeve and flicked it, a bubble of quiet surrounded them, the voices of the revellers reduced to a whisper.
“Recruitment,” she said, eyeing the crowd on the dance floor as they linked hands and sang along.
“In a mortal nightclub?”
Lucy nodded at the plumber and his princess. “I see potential.”
Michael nodded. “Ah, you have heard about our reluctant new edition.”
“Yes.”
“She must be privileged to have the leader of the Coven visit her personally.”
A frown crinkled her brow. “We did send a letter, but received no reply.” She looked out at the club. “Every head counts.”
“I see.”
They watched as a red haired witch danced her way over to plumber and princess. “Happy new year, guys!” she shouted, pulling them both into an embrace. Even through the spell Michael could hear their words, as could Lucy.
“And to you, Cassy. Let’s hope it’s an improvement on the last,” the Princess said. She pouted as her boyfriend slipped out of their arms.
“I’m sure it will be.” The witch grabbed her friend’s hand and gave it a squeeze, holding it aloft, she started dancing, singing along to the lyrics. Her friend fixed her tilted tiara and joined in.
“And what brings you to a mortal nightclub, Michael? Hunger?” asked Lucy. Challenge glimmered in her eyes.
Before he could answer, a gasp drew his attention back to the couple and their friend. The plumber knelt before the princess.
“Mel, babes,” he slurred, producing a box from the top pocket of his overalls. “Will zhu marry’s me?” He popped open the box, revealing a simple silver ring, pink gem embedded in the centre.
Michael stiffened, watching the princess; her face frozen in shock, tears brimming. Her gaze drifted past the plumber to a group of girls dressed as vampires. “I think I’m going to be sick.” She put a hand to her mouth and dashed away.
Lucy flashed a smile. “This might change the situation.”
“Indeed.”
“Good to see you, Michael.” She squeezed his arm. “Take care.” Clicking her fingers the bubble burst. The blast of the night club assaulted Michael’s ears as she walked away.
He pulled out his phone as the witch grimaced at the plumber; still on his knees, shoulders slumped.
A voice answered on the third ring. “Hello?”
“We might have a problem.”
