"Not now." The scent of blood wine still lingered in the air as Olivia turned her sharp gaze toward Gen and Ezra.
"Our next stop is Count Griffin," she announced, her voice carrying an undertone of excitement. "We need to turn this marriage into a coven."
Ezra tilted his head, curiosity piqued. "A coven?" He echoed. "How does that work?"
Gen leaned back, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Covens are essentially harems," she explained. "Given the relatively low male vampire population, a male vampire is needed to form a coven because the sole purpose of a coven is to cultivate vitality."
"And that's why coven members are more powerful than ordinary subjects," Olivia added, her tone matter-of-fact.
"Subjects?" Ezra asked, feeling the weight of yet another layer of vampire society pressing down on him. Once again, what's with these dudes?
Olivia waved a hand dismissively. "I'll explain later. They're done." She said, drawing their attention to the custodians who had just finished cleaning up. She approached them, her demeanor suddenly respectful. "Hi. I'm C7V200143. Could we get a ride to Count Griffin's sanctuary?" she asked the lead custodian.
The masked custodian nodded. "Of course," she replied, her voice soft and melodic. "Come with me."
They followed the custodians out of the room, navigating through dimly lit corridors that bypassed any places touched by sunlight. An elevator took them down to an underground parking lot where three sleek hover supercars awaited.
Ezra stared in shock as the custodians each entered a car and invited Gen, Olivia, and him to join them.
I'd had daydreams about these cars. Each one costs at least two hundred thousand credits.
He climbed into the car, his fingers trailing over the plush, leather interior. He couldn't help but marvel at the luxury surrounding him. The custodian he was riding with glanced at me. Ezra was sure she was raising an eyebrow behind her mask.
"How are you all so rich?" He asked, unable to contain his curiosity.
The custodian's smile was hidden by her mask, but her voice was tinged with amusement. "Old money," she replied simply. "Our older vampires who died during the Death Wave left a lot of cash to us. We're not as rich as a City Lord, but we're comfortable."
Her words sank in, and he tried to imagine the kind of wealth she was talking about. Comfortable. That's what rich people say when they don't want to offend poor people with how rich they are.
As the cars ascended from the underground parking lot and emerged into the daylight, the sunlight bounced off the windshields and windows, sending a beautiful rainbow of colors dancing outside.
Light entered the car, yet it didn't have any power over them.
Ezra watched in open-mouthed wonder, mesmerized by the dazzling display. Before he could fully process it, she continued. "We'd like you to join our coven. We can offer you a hundred thousand credits a week."
Ezra choked in shock. What the fuck? That had been out of the blue. Who the heck offers a hundred thousand credits a week for a fuck buddy? The number was too astronomical for him to comprehend.
"Oh? Too small?" The custodian misinterpreted his reaction, quickly amending her offer. "Two hundred thousand credits a week," she said, her tone earnest.
Ezra kept staring, unable to find his voice.
"You'd be well taken care of," she added softly, her eyes searching his face for any sign of agreement.
Ezra choked, finally managed to speak, his voice hoarse with disbelief. "I... I'll think about it."
That was the best he could do at the moment. Two hundred thousand credits? I could buy a supercar every week!
The custodian nodded, her expression hidden but her relief palpable. "Here." She handed him a business card. "Call me whenever you're ready."
Ezra leaned back, trying to digest everything that had happened. The prospect of joining a coven, the staggering offer of money, Valaren, X, the Book of Nightmares. All of it was overwhelming. What he needed was a moment alone to digest all that had happened.
He closed his eyes, letting the gentle hum of the car ground him in the reality that was now his life.
The convoy of sleek supercars glided through the city streets with effortless grace, finally pulling into the grounds of a popular four-star hotel called Star Heights.
The hotel was a towering structure of glass and steel, its walls reflecting the afternoon sun in a kaleidoscope of colors. Manicured gardens surrounded the entrance, with fountains and statues adding an air of opulence.
Opening his eyes, Ezra checked their surroundings and turned to the custodian, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Does Count Griffin live here?"
The custodian nodded in agreement. "Yes, this is one of his many residences."
"Oh."
The cars zipped to a stop in the basement parking lot, the smooth hum of the engines fading into silence.
Ezra stepped out of the car, taking a moment to bid the custodian goodbye. "Thank you for the ride," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.
She nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. "You're welcome, Ezra. Remember our offer."
Ezra nodded, not trusting myself to speak, and walked over to where Gen and Olivia were waiting.
Gen's eyes sparkled as she grinned a familiar bloodthirsty grin while Olivia stood stoic.
"Here we are," Olivia said, her voice filled with a sense of finality. "Count Griffin's sanctuary."
Ezra took a deep breath. In a few hours, their marriage would be turned into a coven. He didn't know how to feel about that.
As they made their way to the elevator, the sounds of the city above seemed distant and muted, as if they were in a world of their own.
The doors slid open with a soft chime, and they stepped inside, the cool air a welcome contrast to the warmth outside. The ride up was silent, each of them lost in our thoughts, the soft hum of the elevator the only sound.
When the doors opened again, they were greeted by a grand foyer, the opulence of the hotel put on display. Plush carpets, intricate woodwork, and sparkling chandeliers surrounded them, the air filled with the faint scent of fresh flowers.
Olivia paused, taking in the sight. She took a deep breath and turned to look at her marriage mates. "Ready?" she asked, her voice steady and sure.
They both nodded, feeling a surge of resolve. "Ready."
And with that, they took their first steps.