"You succeed." She gestured to soone I hadn’t noticed – a assistant standing in the shadows. "VIP access for all four. Permanent, unless they give reason to revoke it."
The assistant brought forward four black cards, identical to the ones I’d seen other VIP mbers use.
"Welco to the inner circle," Selene said. "Don’t make regret it."
We took our cards, and I felt the weight of what I’d just accomplished.
VIP access ant access to the upper floors. To the private areas. To the locations where our three retrieval targets were hidden.
The mission had just moved to the next phase.
After the formal ceremony, the gathering dissolved into a more casual party. I found myself at the bar with Jade, both of us nursing drinks.
"So," she said. "You t Marcus."
"Briefly."
"What did you think?"
"Old. Powerful. Smart enough to know when to walk away from a fight."
"That’s Marcus. He’s been around longer than most vampires in this city. Moves from place to place, never stays anywhere long enough to put down roots." She sipped her drink. "The interesting thing is, I’ve heard stories about him. About experints he did a century ago, trying to create perfect progeny."
"You think the rogues were his?"
"I think it doesn’t matter whose they were. They’re gone now." She looked at . "But I also think Marcus was telling the truth about one thing – he saw what you are."
My hand tightened on my glass. "What I am?"
"Don’t play dumb. You’re not any standard supernatural. You’ve got power that doesn’t fit any category I know." She smiled. "But your secret’s safe with . Everyone here has secrets. That’s what makes the VIP level interesting."
Before I could respond, Selene appeared.
"Alexander. Walk with ."
It wasn’t a request.
I followed her to a private balcony overlooking the city. The night air was cool, and we were completely alone.
"You handled Marcus well," she said, not looking at . "You didn’t attack imdiately or freeze. You negotiated."
"Seed smarter than fighting soone who outclassed ."
"Did he outclass you?" She turned, and those ancient eyes studied . "I’m not so sure. I got reports of burn marks on his hand when my people found him leaving the city. Silver doesn’t burn like that."
Shit.
But...
She had eyes on him escaping and she let him? Perhaps to keep her secret.
"You used your power," she continued. "Whatever it is you’re hiding, you used it to hurt a three-hundred-year-old vampire. That’s not nothing."
"Everyone has secrets," I said, echoing Jade’s words.
"They do. And I respect that – to a point." She moved closer. "But in my domain, I need to know what I’m dealing with. So I’ll ask you directly, Alexander Cross. What are you?"
I paused and considered my answer.
"I’m soone who fell from grace," I said quietly. "Soone who lost everything and is trying to rebuild. The specifics don’t matter. What matters is that I’m not a threat to you or your kingdom."
"Fell from grace," she repeated. "Poetic. Also vague."
"It’s the truth."
"A version of it, perhaps." She studied for another long mont, then nodded. "Fine. Keep your secrets, Alexander. But know this – if you ever beco a threat to what I’ve built here, I will end you. Permanently."
"Understood."
"Good." Her expression softened slightly. "Now. You’ve earned VIP access. That cos with certain privileges and certain responsibilities. The upper floors are open to you now. Use them wisely."
She left on the balcony, and I stood there watching the city lights.
VIP access.
Mission progress.
But also – Selene was suspicious. Jade knew sothing was different about . Marcus had identified as a fallen angel and might tell others.
The complications were piling up.
My phone buzzed. Marco.
Marco: Status update?
: VIP access secured. All four of us.
Marco: Holy shit. You actually did it. When can you scout the retrieval locations?
: Give a few days to establish presence. Can’t rush this.
Marco: Understood. Good work, Cain. Really good work.
I pocketed my phone and headed back inside.
The party was still going, supernatural elite mingling and making deals. I was part of that world now. Accepted, if not fully trusted.
I found Natasha at one of the private booths, alone.
"Mind if I join you?" I asked.
"Free country." She gestured to the seat across from her. "Celebrating your victory?"
"Trying to figure out if it is one."
"Smart. Victory in this world is always temporary." She studied . "You fought well today. Against the rogue, against Marcus. You’re trained."
"I’ve had practice."
"Clearly. Military?"
"Sothing like that."
She smiled. "Secrets again. Everyone here has them. What’s one more?"
We sat in comfortable silence for a mont, then she leaned forward.
"Word of advice, from soone who’s been in Selene’s circle for years – don’t trust anyone completely. Not , not Jade, not Victor. Especially not Selene." Her voice dropped. "We’re all here because we’re useful to her. The mont we stop being useful, we’re gone. Rember that."
"Why tell this?"
"Because you’re interesting. And interesting people tend to die quickly in this world if they’re not careful." She stood. "Be careful, Alexander."
She left, and I sat alone in the booth, processing.
I’d achieved the mission objective. VIP access ant I could now scout the locations, plan the retrievals, complete the jobs.
But I’d also painted a target on my back. Marcus knew what I was. Selene was suspicious. Jade was too observant. And I was swimming with predators who would eat alive if they sensed weakness.
The ga was getting more dangerous.
But the rewards were getting bigger too.
I pulled up the system in my mind.
[Status Update]
[Power Level: 2% - Locked]
[Fragnts: 164.2/1000]
[Mission Progress: VIP Access Achieved]
[New Opportunities: Three Retrieval Locations Accessible]
[Warnings: Identity Partially Compromised, Multiple Suspicious Parties]
[Recomndation: Proceed with Extre Caution]
I finished my drink and stood.
Ti to start planning the next phase.
And maybe, just maybe, find a way to corrupt the ice queen herself.
But that was a problem for another day.
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