The air felt stifling. The evening dragged on, slow and sticky like caramel being spread over a cake by a baker. Felicia didn’t care for the party, no matter what the other waitresses said about past years. Sometimes, it seemed like the staff eagerly awaited these guests, almost as if they were under some kind of spell.
Last year was a carnival, someone had told her once. The party was bursting with color and great tips. The atmosphere was so intoxicating, we couldn’t help but want to dive into the dance with those mysterious strangers.
Rena, unlike Felicia, was full of energy. She beamed with a bright smile, vibrant and lively, as if she’d just woken up after a night of enchanting dreams where all her wishes came true.
“Phew,” she exhaled as she approached, “this place is amazing! Such a cool vibe!”
Felicia glanced around, unable to share her friend’s excitement. To her, everything felt gloomy, and every person she saw seemed to radiate danger. A shiver ran down her spine. She wasn’t sure if it was just exhaustion, some gut feeling, or something else entirely. Her mind buzzed with dozens of stories from the news, books, and the internet—tales that often started with a strange premonition and ended in disaster.
“You’re not happy about something,” Rena stated more than asked. “Did someone upset you?”
“Nah,” Felicia brushed her off, “I’m just tired, I guess. Plus, I keep running up to the second floor for the party hosts. They need something every five minutes.”
Thanks to the music, it was impossible to pick up the frustration, even anger, in her tone. Still, Felicia quickly forced a smile. The owner of the venue approached.
“A well-deserved ten-minute break,” David announced casually, “for Rena, but not for you, Felicia. The guests are asking for you again.”
David looked worried, as if his life hung in a precarious balance. A new song started—a violin piece—and couples on the dance floor began to waltz. The man paled, as though he knew something bad was about to happen. A chill ran through Felicia too, while Rena, among the three of them, looked dreamy and unfazed.
“I’m on it,” Felicia nodded and stood up.
David grabbed her elbow and led her aside, a little farther from the main hall, into a corridor.
“They like you,” he whispered. “They really like you…”
“So what? The venue’s policy—”
“These aren’t ordinary guests,” he interrupted. “They respect the rules, but… keep your distance, okay?”
“Who are they?” Felicia sighed. “Crime bosses? Aristocrats? Or is it a mix of everything in our little hall?”
“Just be careful,” David glanced around nervously. “Do your job, but don’t agree to meet them outside the venue. Things ended badly in the past.”
That was it. His words planted a seed of panic in her soul, wrapping it in a cocoon of anxious thoughts. Felicia furrowed her brow and looked at him.
Great, thanks a lot! How am I supposed to work when all I want to do is bolt out of here? When this stupid gut feeling keeps dragging my mind back to those novels I’ve read? Especially that one where everything started with a quiet little party just like this. And then there are those dreams…
He seemed about to say more, but their conversation was cut short. A tall man in a dark suit approached. His face was pale, and Felicia instantly disliked him. When she met his dark eyes, a wave of dread washed over her. A cold shiver ran through her body, and for a moment, she froze.
“The host wishes to see you immediately,” the stranger said with a smile. “The party is in full swing…”
“We’re coming,” David replied, taking Felicia by the elbow. “Right now.”
What’s going on? she thought, but a sharp pain shot through her head. This is weird…
A fog settled over her thoughts. Felicia kept herself together, though the moment she climbed to the second floor with David, carrying drinks, passed in a blur. It was as if she slipped out of reality for minutes, seconds at a time, then snapped back like a swimmer breaking the surface of water. The music felt overwhelmingly loud to her; the gentle melody of the cello sounded like a swarm of buzzing bees. Felicia barely managed to set the drinks on the table, struggling to keep her balance. Her body felt feverish, and her head spun. David let out a small gasp and steadied her. The dark-haired man helped her sit down and handed her a glass of water. She felt a little better, but the haze in her mind didn’t lift.
***
The owner’s office at the restaurant didn’t impress him with its grandeur, minimalism, or the luxury of its furnishings. The vampire paced back and forth in a fury, trying to restrain himself. After all, this was no ordinary evening. The Festival of the Reunion of Moon and Sun was not something to be taken lightly. An ancient tradition celebrated by some of the oldest beings on the planet, it was, in truth, a tribute to the forces that sustained their existence. A mystical veil, one even oracles couldn’t fully comprehend, stretched over the fate of every vampire and werewolf. Each of them felt this energy, which burned with a unique intensity on this day. It was like a second New Year, only Mesolis held far greater significance. The last day of the year they celebrated like ordinary humans, but it paled in comparison to Mesolis.
Vincent was shaken for two reasons: he was furious with the werewolf and terrified of the wrath of his clan’s elders—his father and grandfather.
“How could you mess this up so badly?” he growled through clenched teeth at Maximilian. “Giving a human the initiation elixir without consent… on a day like this!”
“And whose fault is that? Mine? You’d have to be a complete idiot to bring something like that to one of the most important celebrations of the year!”
The werewolf didn’t back down. Though the two friends had drunk quite a bit, their enhanced metabolisms kept them sober, unaffected by the alcohol.
The waitress lay unconscious on the couch. Vincent leaned over her to check if her heart was still beating.
“She’s still breathing,” he said grimly. “If she makes it until morning, she might pull through…”
“Initiations on the night of Mesolis are forbidden,” the werewolf said, stepping closer. “Why the hell did you bring something like that to a restaurant? Have you lost your mind?”
“Forbidden, yes, but for a vampire, the mixture boosts strength for the coming year,” Vincent muttered. “How was I supposed to know you’d mix it up with water?”
“For the hundredth time, I’m trying to figure out: what would happen if we didn’t have this peace we’re not allowed to break? Who’d be the first of us to die?”
“Think about the consequences of tonight instead. If a regular human dies and we break the rules, then… My father will have my head, his grandfather will have his, and your pack leaders will slam your tail in a door.”
Vincent had never been this nervous, not even when his clan learned of his past failures and mishaps. But tonight… tonight, the stakes were different. He’d give anything to avoid drawing wrath upon himself.
“Perfect,” Max creaked out, his voice like an old door. “The eclipse is coming soon, and we’re going to miss it.”
There was a knock at the office door. David entered after being given permission. The owner of the venue wasn’t in control of the situation; he submitted to those stronger than him, to those from whom he sought initiation as a vampire. He was ready to follow any order and offer any help. Vincent sighed heavily, composing himself. He couldn’t reveal too much in front of mortals. Max straightened up as well.
“Is she okay?” David’s voice trembled as he spoke, the owner of “White Star” visibly shaken. “She…”
“She’ll live,” the vampire said firmly. “Just a momentary weakness. It happens. She’s overly sensitive to our energies—I felt it right away.”
He kept the rest to himself. There was no need for a mortal to know the full truth. Yes, vampires were often seen as terrifying creatures who drank blood and hunted humans, but that was a thing of the past. Higher powers had stripped them of such abilities, and modern life helped minimize the need for hunting through blood donors and animal flesh. Many restrictions loomed over the heads of those endowed with special powers.
“I think she’ll sleep until morning. Felicia, right?”
“Yes,” David nodded. “I can give her a few days off.”
“A week,” Max interjected thoughtfully. “After something like this, she needs a good rest. Plus, we’ll have to send some of our people to check on her condition.”
Vincent maintained a serious expression, or so he thought, and stood tall.
“I’ll make sure she’s taken home safely and unharmed,” he said. “She’ll be fine.”
As long as she survives, he thought. I don’t want to anger the higher powers or my clan by breaking the rules. If it’s decreed that there be no casualties, then that’s how it must be.