Bloodbound Desires

I pedaled as fast as my legs could take me, the wind ripping at my clothes. "f**k, I'm going to be late again!" I exclaimed, frustration dripping from my words like the sweat trickling down my forehead. My heart pounded each pedal stroke pushing me to defy time itself. The city streets morphed into a chaotic kaleidoscope of lights and sounds, blurring together in a disorienting frenzy. Tonight, the stakes were sky-high, and every tick of the clock bore down on me. It felt like I was hauling around a backpack full of bricks. Nocturna, the club where I toiled tirelessly to pay the bills was undergoing a transformation. Robert, a shadow of his former self after his brother's mysterious death, was surprisingly letting it go. What once had been a cherished family heirloom, was being passed on like an abandoned relic. I couldn't help but reminisce about the days when Robert's brother reigned supreme over the club, exuding a passion and dedication that filled the air like a contagious energy. But Robert's love for the club seemed to wither away alongside his sibling. A profound sense of grief had swallowed him whole, turning his once fiery spirit into a mere flicker of what it once was. I couldn't fathom the depths of his sorrow, but I understood the way loss could twist a person's heart. Upon arriving at the club, drenched in sweat and lamenting the lack of twenty extra minutes in my morning routine, the reality of my tardiness sank in. My legs trembled from the mad dash through the bustling streets, while nerves prickled at the thought of facing the new owner. The club's entrance throbbed with the beat of music and the flicker of neon lights, drawing me into its realm. I sprinted towards the locker room, exacerbating my already sweaty state. There, amidst the flurry of preparations, I found her. Nora, my confidante, my partner in both mischief and support. She stood before the mirror, frantically brushing her dark locks, as if her life depended on it. Her eyes met mine, and she couldn't help but let out a tut of disapproval. "You need to get a new alarm. Late again, my friend," Nora scolded, as she hugged me and gave me a big kiss. "Save it, Nora," I cut her off, playfully swatting her shoulder. "Right now, a shower is higher on my list than a lecture.""Alright, alright." She raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eyes. " But let me tell you, you better shower up, girl. You don’t smell good and you’re sweatiness nearly messed up my make-up.” She made a show of waving her hand in front of her nose, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes, brushing off her teasing remark. Ignoring her, I sprinted to the shower, the urgency hitting me like the relentless beat of the last song at the end of a long, cash-strapped night. I flipped on the water and climbed inside the shower, ready to wash the city's grim off my heated skin, I thought about the balancing act that awaited me with studies and work. A loud thud from outside the shower snapped me out of my thoughts. "Cut it out, Nora," I yelled. No one answered, but a figure darted to the left to the door. Ready to chew out whoever was here, I cracked the shower curtain aside. The mirror directly across from me was just starting to steam and showed the whole room. There was no one in here and the door was closed. I'd have seen if someone had snuck inside no matter how fast they tried to be. I let out a forced chuckle, easing back into the cascading water until I was clean.As the steam dissipated, revealing my reflection in the foggy mirror, I confronted the length of my dark hair. With purposeful movements, I twisted and secured it into an elegant bun, allowing a few rebellious tendrils to frame my face. Each detail, carefully chosen, was an opportunity to prepare for the night that lay ahead—a night filled with secrets, possibilities, and the enigmatic allure of the unknown. I stole a final glance at the clock, its hands ticking away with infuriating nonchalance, when suddenly Nora burst into the room, breathless and wide-eyed. Her words spilled out in a rush, barely coherent yet brimming with excitement. "Eva! You won't believe what just happened!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with anticipation. Caught off guard, my curiosity piqued, I couldn't help but ask, "What's going on, Nora?" "There are rumors about our new boss. Darkwood." Nora's voice was barely above a whisper. "They're saying he's … well, not exactly human." "OMG, are you serious?" I couldn't contain my laughter. You've got to be joking!" Nora shook her head, her conviction unwavering. "Well, whatever he is, he's hot. Like steaming, sizzling hot! Oh, what if he's a vampire? That would explain his allure." She fanned herself dramatically, her eyes shining with a mix of excitement and absurdity. I couldn't help but play along with her wild imagination, indulging in the comedic possibilities. "Well, in that case," I said "I better be extra punctual tonight. I wouldn't want to be on the menu for our charming vampire boss." Nora rolled her eyes, her lips curling into a playful smirk. "Oh, please. Like a vampire would bother with a snack when he's got a buffet of unsuspecting partygoers to choose from!" We shared a moment of laughter, the tension dissipating into the air like mist. Nora's knack for turning any situation into a joke always took the edge off me. It was a skill she developed while we shared cramped quarters at the orphanage. Vampires didn’t exist, we both knew that. We weren’t little girls that believed in such crap! All this time we held onto a shared dream, the promise of more than just survival of doing something great with our lives.For now, it meant we were working in a club, but we knew it was temporary. Getting ready, I dived into Nora's treasure trove of makeup, slathering on as much as I could to enhance my features. At my transformation, I felt armed to face the night's shift. We hoped that our hustle would impress the new boss enough, convincing him to keep us on. With the new boss, the unsettling thread of a staff shake-down and us on the chopping block. Jobless wasn't a look I wore well. This would be a shift unlike any other. Nora's talk of vampire floated in my mind and I shook my head, chuckling. Once thing was certain – curiosity about the new boss would have to wait until sunrise. Nocturna!