The Helios Hotel loomed above me, a monolith of wealth and power. Its glass façade stretched high into the night, reflecting the city lights like a beacon of untouchable luxury. I paused at the base of its marble steps, craning my neck to take it all in.
"You sure we're at the right place?" I asked, glancing at Sia. My voice sounded steadier than I felt.
"Unless there's another overpriced glass box called Helios Hotel in this city," she replied, smirking. "Try not to look too impressed, Bashega. You're gonna give us away."
"Hard not to," I muttered. The carvings framing the grand double doors caught my eye—intricate vines and roses wrought in black iron. They looked alive somehow, as if they were still growing, still twisting. I tried not to think about how much just one of those iron roses would cost.
"Fancy place," Sia said, nudging my arm as if she could sense my thoughts. "Think they charge people for just standing on the steps?"
I chuckled, a short, nervous sound. "If they do, I'm already broke."
The doorman, dressed in a suit so sharp it could've cut glass, opened the doors with a slight bow. "Welcome to the Helios Hotel, Mr. Bashega," he said smoothly. His tone was polite, but there was a subtle edge to it, like he was sizing me up.
My stomach clenched. "How do you—"
"Mr. Conrad has been expecting you," the doorman interrupted, his face an unreadable mask. He glanced briefly at Sia, offering her the same practiced smile. "Miss."
Sia raised an eyebrow at me as we stepped inside. "Well, that's not creepy at all," she whispered.
The lobby hit me like a punch to the gut. Everything gleamed—marble floors polished to a mirror shine, chandeliers dripping with crystals, and walls lined with silver-framed mirrors that made the space feel even more overwhelming.
I froze, feeling like I'd walked into another world. One I didn't belong in.
"Holy crap," I muttered under my breath.
"Yeah," Sia said beside me. "Try not to touch anything. I'm pretty sure even the air here is worth more than us."
I shot her a look, but she wasn't wrong. Every detail screamed money. The kind of money that people like me could never even dream of. I couldn't stop imagining how long I'd have to work just to afford five minutes in this place. A lifetime? Two?
The scent of expensive cologne and fresh flowers filled the air, but beneath it, there was something else. Something metallic. Something... wrong.
"You smell that?" I asked quietly.
Sia nodded, her voice equally low. "Yeah. Vampires."
I swallowed hard and followed the attendant—a young guy in a black uniform who appeared out of nowhere. His movements were so smooth he almost seemed to glide across the floor.
The tension in my chest tightened with every step.
The dining hall was like something out of a dream—or a nightmare. A massive table stretched down the center of the room, covered with dishes that looked too perfect to eat. Around it sat humans and vampires together, their interactions strangely natural.
At first, I thought the humans looked relaxed. But the longer I watched, the more I noticed the nervous glances, the way some of them gripped their glasses a little too tightly.
"Not exactly your average dinner crowd," Sia murmured, her voice low.
"No kidding," I replied, my eyes darting to a vampire woman in a crimson gown. She was leaning toward a middle-aged man who looked like he'd forgotten how to breathe.
"Tell me again," he was saying, his voice trembling with excitement. "What does it feel like? To live forever?"
The woman's smile was slow and deliberate, her canines just barely visible. "Immortality has its price," she said, her voice smooth as silk. "But for those willing to pay…" She let the words hang in the air, her gaze locking with his in a way that made my skin crawl.
"People are weird," Sia muttered, pulling me out of my thoughts.
"Yeah," I said, my stomach churning. "No arguments there."
The vampires carried themselves like predators at a feast, their elegance only making them more unnerving. But what really unsettled me was the humans. Some of them seemed obsessed, almost reverent, as if they couldn't wait to be devoured.
The attendant led us to a private room lined with racks of clothing that screamed luxury. Suits, gowns, shoes—everything looked like it cost more than my entire apartment.
"Mr. Conrad insists that his guests present themselves appropriately," the attendant said, his tone polite but firm. "Please select an outfit."
I stared at the racks, feeling completely out of place. "This is... a bit much, don't you think?"
Sia shrugged, already browsing through the gowns. "When in Rome, right? Besides, you'll look ridiculous meeting an elder vampire in whatever that is you're wearing now."
"Gee, thanks," I said, grabbing a suit at random. The fabric felt softer than anything I'd ever touched, and I tried not to think about how much it cost as I changed.
When I stepped out, Sia gave me a once-over, her grin almost mischievous. "Not bad, Bashega. You almost look like you belong here."
"Almost," I muttered, adjusting the cuffs awkwardly. "You look great, by the way."
She struck a mock pose in her gown, twirling dramatically. "I know. Now let's hope the vampires are too busy admiring my beauty to notice you're sweating through that suit."
When we entered the lounge, I felt the air shift. The room was smaller, dimly lit, and quieter than I expected. The conversations and laughter from the dining hall seemed to fade into the background.
And then I saw him.
Williams Conrad.
He sat in an oversized armchair, perfectly at ease, as if the entire world revolved around him. His suit was immaculate, dark fabric offset by a blood-red tie. His features were sharp and flawless, his skin pale enough to seem almost luminous.
But it was his eyes that stopped me cold. They were a deep, unearthly gold, glowing faintly in the dim light. They locked onto mine, and for a moment, it felt like he was peeling back my skin, searching for whatever lay beneath.
He stood as we approached, his movements impossibly smooth. His presence filled the room, commanding attention without a single word.
"Mr. Bashega," he said, his voice rich and melodic. There was an authority in his tone that made me feel like a child standing before a king. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
I swallowed hard, willing my voice not to shake. "Likewise," I said, though the word felt hollow.
Conrad's gaze shifted to Sia, and a faint smile curved his lips. "And your companion. Delightful."
Sia tensed slightly, her hand brushing my arm in what I assumed was an effort to steady me. Or maybe herself.
I couldn't stop staring at Conrad. He was elegant, refined, and terrifying. Even his smile carried an edge, a quiet reminder of the predator beneath the polished exterior.
As the door closed behind us, I felt the weight of the moment settle on my shoulders. Whatever happened next, this meeting was going to change everything.