The days flew by and before they knew it, it was Friday. All the participants for the plan agreed to meet at F.A.U Headquarters to prepare for the party and fine-tune the remaining details. After they all agree on what action to take should the plan fall through, Astrid is led to their dressing room where a succubus named Alice.
"Oh, so you're the one that's captured the attention of all the eligible bachelors of the office." She says as she looks at Astrid from head to toe, multiple combinations of outfits appearing in her mind to suit her.
"I wouldn't say captured the attention of all of them. I don't need their attention." She says with a shrug of her shoulders as she looks around the dressing room.
"Whether or not you need it is not up to you. They have given you their attention willingly." Alice says.
"Unfortunately." Astrid responds with a sigh.
"Now let's brush that aside and get you ready for the night." Alice says as she takes Astrid by the hand pulling her deeper into the spacious dressing room that Alice likes to call The Closet. Knowing that complaining won't do her any good, Astrid allows Alice to lead her to the various beauty stations to get her makeup and hair done while she gets her outfit ready. Once she was finished with her hair and makeup Alice sends her into the dressing room where her outfit and required.
She changes into her dress and is happy with the look but she can't wear her protective sleeve. With a sigh, she takes it off and looks at herself in the mirror. The midnight blue thin-strap dress hugs her curves just right with black red-bottom heels, diamond stud earrings with a dark blue smokey eye with light pink lipstick with a glossy finish highlighting the natural color of her lips. Her hair was styled into a high ponytail with the ends jerry curled but the thing that draws attention is her scarred hand. Though already healed it didn't erase the memories that caused her hand to become that way. The scarring starts from the center of her chest covering her collarbone then her shoulder, it overtakes her whole arm down to her fingertips.
A knock on the door gets her attention snapping her out of her painful memories. Looking at herself one last time in the mirror she forces a realistic smile on her face as she takes a deep breath then exits the dressing room shocked to see Victor, Henry, Ralph, Walker, and James waiting along with Alice engrossed in conversation.
"Didn't know you were waiting. Sorry." Astrid says getting everyone's attention as she places her other set of clothes into her bag where her purse, phone, and glasses reside. She slips on her glasses and checks her phone for the time but she then notices the silence in the room. She looks up to see everyone staring at her in shock, curiously, and in admiration making her look at them confused.
"What?" She asks snapping them out of their silent staring. Henry steps forward his eyes taking in her curves and exposed skin making her skin crawl as she notices the lust in his eyes while she simply stares at him blankly.
"You're beautiful." Victor says getting her attention making her blush at the bluntness of his compliment.
"Thanks Vic." She says with a small smile on her lips.
"Damn girl. You fine." Alice says making her laugh while Ralph stares at her with a blush on his cheeks.
"She's right." James says nudging Ralph shaking him out of his stupor.
"Your arm." Walker says getting everyone's attention as she stares at it and Astrid doesn't feel uncomfortable in the slightest.
"What about it?" Astrid asks looking her in the eyes.
"How?" She asks and Astrid gives her a vague smile.
"That's a story not easily shared." Astrid says and Walker nods in understanding.
"It adds to your beauty." Ralph says finally finding his voice making Astrid tilt her head to the side as she looks at him with a gentle smile.
"Thanks, Ralphy." She says making his blush deepen causing her to laugh. Her gaze returns to Henry who hasn't said a word.
"I didn't see it in your memories." He says making her tense up as she meets his gaze.
"What?" Astrid asks.
"I didn't see what caused you to get that scarring." He clarifies referring to the night he looked into her memories without her permission.
"And?" She asks irritated.
"I want to know what caused it." He says making Astrid roll her eyes at him.
"Not gonna happen." She says looking him in the eyes and he flinches at the harness of her gaze. She checks her phone again for the time and then looks up at Victor and Ralph.
"Time to go." She says and both men nod at her but she pauses to take a proper look at them in their outfits. Ralph has on simple black boots with light blue jeans with a matching denim jacket and white jersey underneath while VIctor is wearing white sneakers with a blue dress shirt with the first three buttons undone with black jeans. Ralph keeps his messy half neat hairstyle while Victor has his hair neatly styled.
'Opposites.' Astrid thinks as they head to the parking lot more than ready for the night to be over.
The trio arrives at the sorority to find the party in full swing. They park the car in the empty lot next to the building and then make their way to the entrance where a bouncer is checking for those with invitations. Astrid approached commanding the attention of everyone there then hands her invitation to the bouncer while Ralph and Victor stand quietly behind her.
After reading over her invitation, he steps aside to let them in, still entranced by Astrid's beauty. They enter the house and are immediately greeted by the man that gave Astrid the invitation in the first place.
"I'm glad you made it." He says as he runs his eyes over the length of her.
"Thank you for the invite." She says in response and looks him in the eyes with a charming smile. He looks at Ralph briefly but when his eyes land on Victor, his lip stretch into a crazed smile.
"I never got your name." Astrid says reclaiming his attention.
"Alex." He says with a smile as he places a kiss on her hand.
"What's the party for?" Astrid asks her curiosity making him smile.
"To scout new potential members." Alex says and Astrid nods to show she understands.
"Please, help yourselves to the refreshments. I still have to play a good host." He says before he disappears into the crowd. The trio finds the refreshment table and helps themselves but other members of the sorority keep an eye on Victor as they have chosen him as the vampire that they need and on Astrid their chosen human sacrifice.
The night wears on until the trio ends up in the backyard, regrouping after exploring the sorority house and gathering information. Before they can discuss it, Alex approaches them with a charming smile on his face.
"You've been chosen." He says looking at Astrid as he speaks.
"Chosen for what?" She asks.
"To become powerful." He says smiling as he looks at Victor.
"You mean the ritual?" She asks Alex is shocked that she knows about it.
"How do you know about it?"He asks her.
"Once some of you members get intoxicated they don't know how to shut up." She responds with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Why me?" She asks.
"Not just you. Him also." He says pointing at Victor.
"Why?" She asks.
"Because I want you to become mine and we can use someone like him." He clarifies as he takes her hand on his and brings her wrist to his lips.
"If you want I can show you a piece of the power." He says with a smirk on his lips.
"By all means." She says and he smiles as he unleashes his power though he struggles against her willpower for a while before he bites into her wrist letting her blood's sweet taste wash over his tastebuds making him immediately addicted to it. The more he drinks the paler Astrid becomes as she sways on the spot as she tries to pull her hand away until Victor pulls him away forcefully careful not to widen the wounds on her wrist as she stumbles into Ralph's waiting arms as though she's drunk.
"Astrid?' Ralph calls as he tries to get her to focus but fails as she faints.
"What did you do?" Victor asks Alex fighting the temptation to snap his neck.
"She'll be fine but you haven't had a taste, have you?" He asks Victor as he licks his lips as he stares at Astrid's limp form. Victor lets him go not wanting to make a scene and with a look at Ralph, they both leave the party and head back to HQ worried about Astrid who seems to be getting paler as the seconds go by.
Luckily when they arrive at HQ and head to the in-building clinic they let out a sigh of relief as Astrid is treated for the poison that Alex released into her bloodstream. The doctor reassures them that's she'll be ok and send them to rest.