Lucia's POV

Is this the end?

I sat still, staring at the laptop in front of me. I should be happy that my favorite character Aurora is finally getting her happily ever after. As an author I should feel fulfilled that the story is finally coming to an end but why does the ending of the story feel so wrong?

But why do I feel so unsatisfied with the ending?

Without thinking, I allowed my fingers to hover above the keyboard. I highlighted the entire text, followed by a sharp intake of breath.

I clenched my fist, trying to hold myself back from doing anything crazy.

Why can't I fucking let the story be? It's every reader's perfect typical kind of story with the perfect ending. Aurora walks away from a life with the monster that brought nothing but darkness into her life and settles for a life with the perfect gentleman.

No blood, no darkness, just peace.

It's the perfect happily ever after but it just didn't feel right. I couldn't help but wonder what could possibly go wrong if she embraces the darkness instead. What ending awaited her?

Couldn't there be a happy ever after for her amidst the darkness?

“Fuck!” I cussed, angrily shutting my PC down before I did something really stupid, like delete the entire story. I really can't believe I'm considering wiping my entire three months of hard work because of a simple displeasure with the storyline.

I took off my glasses, getting out of my seat to make myself a cup of coffee. I should feel less miserable after some coffee. My phone suddenly rang, stealing my attention.

I picked up the phone, frowning as I saw the caller.

It's my manager, Alice. I wonder why she is calling me right now. She can't possibly be aware that I'm about to do something really stupid that'd screw the both of us over, can she?

I continued staring at the phone ring without making an attempt to pick the call till it stopped ringing.

“Well that went well,” I shrugged, dropping the phone but it suddenly began ringing again, startled; I unintentionally picked the call.

“I swear Alice, I don't know what premonition you have this time around but I'm not about to do anything crazy,” I rambled, not thinking and immediately covered my mouth with my hands, horrified.

I can't believe I just did that. I might have as well just told her I was about to delete an entire story.

“What?” Instead of Alice's judging voice, I heard Sage's voice and she was laughing. I pulled the phone away from my ears, checking the caller. It's definitely Sage’s number. I sighed in relief, grateful it isn't Alice. I would have to give a truck load of explanations to Alice if it had been her on the call.

“What the hell were you about to do, Lucia?” She chuckled and I rolled my eyes.

“Well you know, something crazy that'd make Alice kill me and entertain you.”

“Well, I'd prefer something that would give Alice a heart attack instead, like deleting your almost completed story and starting from the scratch,” Sage said and I could swear she was grinning even though I can't particularly see her face.

I fell silent, not giving her a reply and she gasped. “No way, you weren't……….”

“It's definitely what you're thinking, Sage. I was really going to delete the entire story and start from scratch.”

Sage whistled, enthralled. “I guess I'm in luck. I'm really going to see Alice have a heart attack sooner than I expected. This is fucking going to be entertaining to watch!”

I frowned, putting the phone in-between my shoulders and ear as I moved to the coffee maker. I really need that coffee now. I can already feel a headache coming.

“Shouldn't you be advising me not to do something crazy like deleting my story?”

“Uhh, boooo!!” She replied.

“What's the fun in that? I won't get to see Alice have a heart attack plus you've been complaining non-stop about how the story sucks from the scratch. I still don't understand why you pushed through writing it.”

“Tell me about it,” I sighed, taking a sip from my coffee.

“Look, why don't you come out with me and we can have a good time. No story, no Alice but lots of booze and hot Mexican men.”

“You know I can't go clubbing, Sage. My fan book fare is tomorrow. Alice will chew us both out if she finds out I went clubbing when I should be getting all the rest I can.”

“If no one spills the beans, how is Alice supposed to find out?” She asked and I fell silent, giving it some thought. A little clubbing shouldn't hurt and who knows I might find the perfect ending for Aurora or a whole new storyline.

“If we're going clubbing you're going to have to figure out what I'm going to wear,” I frowned, staring at my wardrobe with no clue of what would be perfect for clubbing.

Sage chuckled, “if a day ever comes where you figure out what to wear yourself, I'll repent and return back to the church.”

“Haha, very funny, Sage…….”

*******************

We stood in front of the club and I suddenly began rethinking my decision once I saw how wild and crazy everyone was. I definitely wasn't expecting this.

What the hell was I thinking agreeing to go clubbing in the first place?

Sage did a perfect job of dressing me up to fit in but she did nothing to boost my confidence. I felt so little in the midst of all these people.

“Don't start getting second thoughts about leaving, sweetheart,” Sage linked her arms with mine, grinning.

“How did you know?” I frowned as she dragged me along into the club, pushing our way through.

“I know you so well, Luciana Vega, enough to recognize your poop if you littered on the road,” she replied, and I rolled my eyes.

“You didn't have to use that example to drive your point home.”

“It's exactly what I needed to use for you to understand how well I know you like the back of my palm,” she winked at me and I sighed. Now that Sage has her claws on me, there's no way I'm getting out of here so easily. I'll just have to see through my bad choice for the night. It might not be as bad as I'm expecting it to be.

“Two shots of tequila please!” Sage yelled over the loud music and the hot bartender across the counter nodded, acknowledging her request. Sage is right about one thing, this club has the hottest Mexican men ever. Let me not even start with the hot bartender right in front of me.

“Here,” Sage pushed a shot into my hands.

“Can't I get something fruity instead?” I asked, skeptical about taking anything alcoholic.

“Seriously?” she arched her eyebrows at me, bored.

“Who the hell takes fruit juice at a club?”

“Me?” I replied, my voice coming out low and the hot bartender chuckled, my cheeks turning crystal red in embarrassment.

“See, even the bartender thinks you're a wuss.”

“I'm not a wuss,” I argued, getting defensive.

“Oh yeah, prove it then,” Sage folded her hands across her chest with a smirk I knew so well plastered across her face.

I knew her as much as she knew me and I'm quite aware of what she was trying to do but the bartender—I stole a look at him to see him watching me curiously. I can't have him believing I'm really a wuss. Sage knows this and she is using it to her advantage.

I gulped the drink in one go, coughing right after. The drink fucking burned my throat.

Sage burst out laughing, finding it funny and the bartender is doing a crappy job of acting obnoxious to what just happened.

“Fuck you, Sage!” I cussed, stomping away and leaving them to laugh their hearts out. I had no idea where I'm going but I'd rather be anywhere else than hang around them and be the subject of their amusement.

Amidst the noise and chaos, I found the perfect spot to hide away and still enjoy the view of the club. I sat back, watching everyone and taking notes of every single thing. The wildness was exhilarating. Although I was not a part of the chaos, observing everyone from this distance is just as good for me.

“You're in my spot,” A huge man stood over me, frowning.

“Your spot?” I arched my eyebrows at him, glancing back and looking around.

“What the fuck are you looking for behind you?” He growled, irritation seeping through his words.

“Forgive my rudeness but I'm trying to figure out where exactly your name was written to make this your spot,” I replied, returning his frown with a frown of my own.

What the hell was his problem?

He fell silent, keeping his hard gaze on me intimidatingly. I relaxed back on the couch returning his hard gaze with an indifferent look of mine even though I was trembling within.

The only time I've had to deal with this was in my book? Staring right back at this hawk of a man is something Aurora would do and it always worked out well just that it was just a story.

What if he loses his cool and pulls out a gun to shoot me in the head?

What if he's a vampire?

A million thoughts ran through my head but I didn't tear my eyes away from him for a second and with each second that passed between us, I could feel something sizzling between us.

“What's your name?” He asked, finally breaking the silence.

“Luciana,” I replied, keeping my voice low but audible enough for him to hear over the loud music.

“Let’s have a drink and I could let you share this space with me as well,” he demanded, not particularly asking like a normal person would. I should be annoyed and probably blow him off but that'd give him a more valid reason to actually shoot me in the head.

“I do not share drinks with men whose name I do not know,” I replied, smirking.

Someone should really stop me from pushing things. I might not know who this strange but handsome hulk is but everything about him screamed danger. I could see the darkness seeping right out of his eyes but the crazy thing is, rather than scare me, it drew me in and made me curious about what is beneath the darkness.

“I'm Domenico Salvatore,” he replied, his dark eyes trying to penetrate into my soul.

“But I preferred to be called Ace,” he added.

“Nice to meet you Nico……”