"Welcome to Revive."
The human parted the wall before us, forcing me to blink rapidly as light flooded between a deep purple velvet curtain. We were encouraged to follow, and Alec lifted the fabric higher so he could pass through with me.
The sultry purr of a solo saxophone set the tone for Revive. A smoky, sensuous quality of the syncopated rhythm introduced the intimate, dimly lit club as the instruments blended with complex harmonies. It evoked a sensational impression that sent goosebumps up my arms. The music filled both a desire and a will, the soulful, groovy style diving into the experimentation of the composition.
We paused on the threshold, taking in the new world that enveloped us. I blinked several times, adjusting to the dim light, courtesy of crystal chandeliers hanging high over the room with a sleek radiance.
Sleek modern stairs, only about six steps, descended into a sunken lounge in the center of the room. At the heart of the space sat a thrust stage that modestly dominated the intimate setting. There was a spotlight on the jazz band still playing a wild, improvised melody and another bold light aimed at the empty center of the performance space.
Luxurious booths, upholstered in regal purples and accented with gold trim, were strategically spaced around the grand stage, placing the audience on all three sides of the raised stage. Along the edges of the lower lounge, sections were made distinct by pairs of loveseats facing each other with a small coffee table-like surface in the middle. The arrangement enabled more intimate conversations while others interacted and servers manoeuvered on their feet.
The main lounge area was punctuated by dark wooden tables draped with ornate obsidian fabric, dawning subtle, illuminated crystals as a centerpiece. The patrons occupying the individual areas held glasses to their lips and between fingers, but not a single glass sat on the surface provided.
The clear glass offered a glimpse of a thick liquid that could easily be mistaken for wine if not for the identical shade of the sippers' eyes.
On the main level, the perimeter where we stood was defined from the sunken lounge by low walls that served as a banister, almost like a mini balcony. It allowed the various groups on this level an unobstructed view of the stage and the ability to survey the scene below, providing a degree of separation from the intimate lounge experience.
Opposite the railing, along the walls of our level, linen gauze curtains hung with an almost clandestine intention to entertain the privacy of demarcated discrete chambers. Shadows played with the lighting behind the curtains, highlighting the contours of the fabric and teasing the imagination with the activities inside.
A rich, theatrical voice slid in with the band, matching the flair and style of the instruments with an assured, dynamic range that called my focus back to the stage. The previously unoccupied spotlight had been claimed by a group of performers, four women and two men. Their outfits were eccentric and far from modest. All of them wore their own unique color, fabric arranged as variations of lace braziers and slim dresses or silk undergarments. They moved with such precision that they could have been choreographed by Fossi himself, a sensuality and mystique that would be greatly underappreciated by a modern crowd.
The headliner's sultry tone was remnant of a jazz hymn, and her beauty rivaled that of her audience. Burgundy locks pressed in tight finger waves until they fell just past her chin and were rebelliously bobbed with curls framing her rounded baby face—all the elegance of a free woman. Barely a woman – she looked no older than I did.
Still, she was the ultimate femme fatale, seductive and fearless. As if she had read my mind, her eyes landed on our group in the back of the room. The Volturi paid the dancers no mind, but I sucked in a breath of air as I caught a glimpse of her eyes.
She was human.
My head swung to Alec, who did not look down but confirmed, "They are all human."
Our greeter shuffled us away from the entrance as another worker, dressed identically to him, scurried past us. "Please wait here. I will inform Bastian of your arrival."
The others were content to stand and observe the vast space, but we had moved closer to one of the private rooms along the wall. The deep purple curtains that separated the inside from the public eye were, to my curiosity's delight, conveniently not properly closed. It afforded me a closer but slim look into the indulgent room. I stepped back, approaching the partially drawn curtains, my fingers lightly grazing the lavish material.
Inside, a young woman, dressed similarly to the performers on the stage but in a duller, salmon-grey color and with a bobbed haircut, was swaying in the center of the small space. Her movements were intentional but slightly stunted with an unfamiliar, timid rhythm. I couldn't see her face,
She danced for another woman, a vampire, who lounged elegantly in a navy dress on a leather chaise lounge with a bored expression. The vampire's irises were dark enough to swallow the night, the intensity of her gaze sharp and unyielding. Her presence exuded an aura of exclusion, an unforgivable contrast from the vibrant mystique of the nightclub.
The girl turned in her dance, and in my curiosity to confirm her species, I was careless. The other woman stood, and her satin dress cascaded down her long legs like a billboard model. My eyes snapped to hers, locking me in as her lips curved like the Cheshire cat, undisturbed by my intrusion—the definition of a warning sign.
She slid her hands around the dancer's body like a lover. The dancer only faltered briefly before adapting to the woman's shift, surrendering to the embrace. I frowned, both mesmerized and disturbed by the scene unfolding before me.
The woman held my stare with a mischievous glint before her tongue dragged along the dancer's throat, earning a surprised exclamation from the girl.
The sound must have been clearer to my friends, who intervened when they realized what I was doing. "Alec–" The warning was too late.
The vampire grinned sadistically, sinking her teeth into the young girl's throat. The dancer cried out, her scream silenced by the music that melded with a sudden cloud over my eardrums. The struggle was minimal under the stone arms caging her in. The dancer's desperate light blue eyes landed on me.
I stepped forward, but two arms wrapped around my stomach before I could act. Sparks erupted as I was pulled back into a rigid torso and moved into the corner. Another hand landed across my mouth as if expecting a scream while our friends strategically blocked us from casual observers. As violent and fast as it all moved for me, our actions went unnoticed by the clientele.
Alec scanned me before lifting my chin with a featherlight touch, earning my reserved attention. I frowned and complained, "I wanted to see."
Demetri let out a quick bark of a laugh, drowned under the music.
Alec's amusement revealed itself in the tilt of a smirk, my tactless reasoning adding to the list of why the others thought Alec and I were a 'perfect match'; I had just the right amount of sadism to even out all of his history. Apparently, I demonstrated a concerning lack of empathy for humanity despite being human myself. Alec's satisfaction with my comments and opinions that fell into this category was disturbingly suspicious and only seemed to prove their point.
Something I forgot all about as Alec traced his thumb under my jaw and lured my mouth within millimeters of his. My chest arched forward of its own accord, doomed to wait for Alec to close the gap.
His tongue met the seam of my lips, and I instantly parted for him as if it had been centuries since we'd indulged.
Except Alec was already pulling away. I didn't care that this was the last thing we should be doing in our current mission, in this particular predicament, while also being in public. It was meant to be a light embrace, but I eagerly demanded his return, running my fingers through his previously professionally tousled hair. Alec's chest shook as he tamed my attempt to deepen the kiss, separating with a silent laugh as his eyes took me in.
I bit my lip to keep from pouting, but the action seized Alec's attention. It was fleeting, and I would never have connected the two without this unsettled part of my mind filling in the blank of what would usually happen next. But his self-control was immaculate, so I had to tread carefully.
Alec scowled as I tested my theory, tugging my bottom lip between my teeth. His brows drew closer together, scrutinizing my expression as if he were preparing to admonish me. And that same little mischievous cell in my brain went, moan.
His eyes flashed, and his palm covered my mouth before I could even dare see the impulse through. His hand slid to the side of my throat, his thumb caressing my jawline. His pupils were dilated, and his eloquent voice followed a low growl,
"Behave."
Crimson had become a mere backdrop for his pupils. Alec's voice sent a roll of thunder through me, and I bit my lip again, unintentionally this time, in a poor attempt to hide a vexatious grin. This would be a fun new game.
Talib cleared his throat.
Alec's upper chest blocked my view as he acknowledged the guard. He grunted, placing one last sweet brush of his lips on mine before stepping aside.
The human had returned, his jaw falling open as Alec melded me into his side. He corrected himself, tearing his stare from me as he processed Alec's unflinching glare. But his expression couldn't shake the shock of wonderment. It may have been because I was human, but based on how unabashed the female vampire was in her meal a minute ago, he probably expected I would be afraid of the boy holding me.
"He is ready for you," he indicated to an area off the side of the nightclub I'd skipped over. It offered a near-perfect view of the entire room and was larger than the private areas – feeding rooms, apparently. Two large bodyguards stood on either side of the entryway, but the man inside raised his glass to us.
"Bastian said your guards are welcome to indulge in any of our offerings. All but the performers, of course."
I got the feeling the offer suggested Bastian wanted to speak to Alec and me without the others hovering. I raised my eyebrows at the attempt.
Alec gave the room and his team a swift appraisal before he slipped his hand around my waist, giving me a half gentle push on the small of my back. The young man balked as the vampires ignored him, Alec leading the way to Bastian's private room.
My mate moved me to his left side, determining it safer to be opposite the feeding rooms on our right. I didn't mind. It allowed me to observe the inhabitants of the lounge below, who were much more lively than the crowd on the upper level. There were not many group conversations, but two or three individuals here and there interacting with botox-like smiles.
We were not stopped this time around as we reached Bastian's private area. The guards gracefully divided the slightly thicker drapes for us to enter. As soon as they fell together, the echo of the music decreased by 50%. Though I am sure the fabric did little to hinder the vampires' hearing.
The man inside grinned, patting down his meticulously tailored grey pinstripe suit as he greeted us with open arms.
Visually, Bastian was a man of no significance.
His face was as forgettable as the light brown, slicked-back styling of the hair on his head. It was the touch of glittering silver eyeliner paired with the red silk handkerchief peeking out of his pocket that made him worthwhile. The red color varied in an odd pattern, with some corners much darker and heavier than others, as if it had been repeatedly dipped in water. Or some other liquid. He was a vision of provocative charm and beguiling sophistication, designed to be remembered for his glamorous mystique rather than his bland looks.
"The young Volturi Prince himself." I guess I wasn't the only one who compared them to royalty.
His eyes flickered to see we had ignored his request to leave our friends behind, but Bastian said nothing. Talib and Percy had joined the other two guards on the exterior. Demetri stood guard inside with us.
"Bastian," Alec returned diplomatically before the other man's eyes zoomed in on me. Alec made a light growling noise from his throat, a warning when Bastian's inspection took a little too long.
The other vampire gave a little jump. "Guess the protective instinct brings out the animal in us all." Bastian chimed before sighing, "You are always so angsty. Perhaps one day you will visit my clubs for pleasure over business. Revive is free of troubles and rife with pleasure – if you accept it."
He did not expect a response, as he had already turned to me, repeating a phrase we'd already heard. Almost like a mantra. "Welcome to Berlin, little human." Bastian's voice was high and light, as if he were performing. Not in a deceiving manner, but a personality trait aiming for genuine connection.
I could feel the threat building in Alec's chest, but he could play the intimidation game later. For now, we had to play nice. "Thank you for the invitation."
He held out his hand, and automatically, I went to shake it. Alec's free hand snatched mine, engulfing it in his fist as he sent a steel glare at our host.
"Of course," Bastian apologized before addressing me again. "You are an exceptionally well kept secret. If you were not standing here before me, I would never believe – and of course, one must appreciate the irony of your humanity."
I frowned as Alec grew even tenser beside me.
"A witch twin's mate…" Bastian lifted his brows as he watched us, delighted by the tantalizing enigma of our story. His energy almost reminded me of Aro, yet Bastian was lighter, exhibiting a decadent charm that drew you in. "Beautiful, but still human..." his tone was playfully exaggerated, accompanied by a melodic laugh, "and here I thought he was playing tricks."
I still picked up on the slip, "He?"
The vampire sucked in his cheek, tapping his nose. "The reason we are here." Alec's grip tightened on my waist. Bastian seemed to notice, moving on, "Come. Sit at my table. We have much to discuss."
Alec's hand transferred to the small of my back, directing me to the rounded seating area Bastian had briefly vacated. There was a hollow circular table in the center with a folder on top, but the furniture took up a minimal amount of space. Alec let me sit first before claiming the end of the booth across from our host.
"Your mate has disguised your scent well." The odd man took a deep breath, and his eyes dimmed slightly. His tongue licked across his bottom lip. "I can see why."
Alec hissed, pissed that Atlas' gift was not at full strength with Bastian, "Her presence is not an invitation for you to speak to her."
"Come now, Alec. That would be impolite!" The vampire knew he had less authority than Alec, but his charming nonchalance and devil-may-care perspective hid a cunning and well-rounded mind. Alec was aware of his tricks.
"My patience is thin," The boy warned him. The other man sighed, elegantly raising his arm over the back of the couch.
"I have taken the liberty of drawing up a potential arrangement," he slid over the folder on the table. Admittedly, despite his physical appearance, Bastian was wonderfully intriguing, his hedonistic exterior a clever show. "I believe the Volturi will be contented."
Alec caught the folder, removing his hand from my body, only to place the folder on my lap. "And if your information is useful, perhaps we will consider your proposal." I glanced up at Demetri, who nodded at me to open the file while Bastian was distracted by Alec.
While they spoke, I skimmed the first page inside the folder. It was some nonsense about the benefits his club brought – sorry, gifted – to the vampire community. Bored, I flipped the page, briefly considering the possibility that a real lawyer had drawn up the paperwork. There were only about five pages, so it wasn't long, but Alec could've read it in two seconds without me.
Said vampire never took his eyes off Bastian; the empty stare weakened the other man's aura. He tried to hide it, but Alec dug in. "Be grateful that we do not punish you for your actions, Bastian. Associating with a vampire that has broken nearly all of our laws would be a capital offense if not for your loyalty to the Volturi."
"I would never disappoint your Masters. But my patrons are diverse, and there have been whispers that I believed would be valuable to the almighty Volturi." Thinking not to pull this particular string, Bastian hesitated, which almost took my concentration away as I flipped to the third page. "I offered you information and a gift. Though I do confess, one does not come without the other."
Alec didn't speak for a second, but it was evident that the omission irritated him. He stood calmly, not straying from my side.
"Time to deliver."
A shuffle of movement came from Demetri's direction. A bang followed his abrupt absence.
I frowned at the title of the fourth page, glancing up to see Bastian pressed against the wall in Demetri's hold. Alec's jaw ticked as he maintained a cool facade.
"Alright, okay!" Bastian broke, trying to play off the threat with a tense but easygoing grin. "I did not lie, but you would not have come if I told you the full truth."
Demetri tightened his hand around Bastian's throat. "Which is?"
The man grabbed at Demetri's hand, sputtering, "I have arranged a meeting with Razin's right hand man."
Alec remained unmoved but nodded to Demetri after an uncomfortable number of seconds. The guard reluctantly released the club owner.
"Not the man himself?"
Bastian chuckled under the intimidation, brushing himself off as if he'd ever reclaim his dignity. "Razin is not as weak-minded as you wish him to be. Rank meets rank." Demetri hissed at the comment, but Alec remained smooth as ever.
"As far as the Volturi are concerned, he is lucky to receive our attention at all." My stomach turned at the thought. "Be grateful we do not investigate how you managed this arrangement."
Confident in his excuse, Bastian defended himself, "I was sought out, actually."
That's not suspicious at all.
"You know so little of your enemy," Bastian worked through his croak, regaining his momentum as an honest confidante. "I am on your side. If you and your Masters would only leave my business be, we could be quite familiar."
"Your business violates our laws." Alec cautioned, a harsh tone cutting through.
"And yet, I am still alive."
It was my turn, the response coming naturally with an even tone, "For now."
I outwardly displayed the facade ingrained in me by the Volturi over the last several months. I had tasted the power before, indulging in the lack of consequences and relishing in my mate's established prowess.
But it was an abrupt realization, to discover that I loved it. Words like hungry and aggressive are used to describe those who are ruthless in their ambition. But to have power – the power… I would consider myself a generally moral person, alleged criminal history notwithstanding. I knew right from wrong.
When does a duly elected leader realize what they've been given? There must be a specific moment when they will be forced to appreciate the potency that is aligned with their new role. Not appreciate in the sense of gratitude but an acknowledgment of a new reality. A one-term president may only know what they've had after they lose it. A royal widow, in the days before their offspring takes the throne.
This was not an awakening for me. I already knew the power the twins carried and how much of that authority was awarded to me by mere association. It no longer crossed my mind. But I was not prepared for how much I liked it. The swell of confidence and the kettling pride. I was no longer channeling Jane's confidence and authority; I no longer needed to.
I had my own.
And it scared the bajeezes out of Bastian, who stared at me like I was some sort of ghost. The weight of my humanity fell significantly from my shoulders, and I broke contact.
It forced Bastian to gather himself, "He is rather eager to speak with you."
Alec grunted, his diplomatic patience unwilling to entertain the impropriety. "Unfortunately for him, I've no interest in doing so."
The other man grimaced.
"The invitation is not for you," he tested as I flipped to the last page. The first sentence reiterated Bastian's words, while the next revealed the caveat he was simultaneously revealing. It was in the damn contract. "It is for your mate."
His words burned my ears, and my head shot up.
Alec barely held back a snarl, "Never."
"Alec," I murmured and was granted his attention without delay. I slowly offered him the documents, indicating to the paragraph I'd read. Alec snatched them up.
In consideration thereof, the Volturi will be provided with information of guaranteed value directly from Razin's second-in-command. This crucial information will only be disclosed during a private meeting between Razin's Silvertongue and Saffiya Arsinoe Civello. If the meeting is declined, the agreement will remain valid, and the Silvertongue's offer will be revoked.
Silvertongue. We had heard the word only a handful of times in the last few months, but I'd always assumed it was a descriptor, even entertaining it as an extra gift for Razin. I would not have guessed it to be a moniker for someone else.
If this deal was real, the information we might receive could give us a shot against Razin and his Resistance. All I had to do was have a conversation. I could do that. Yes, it was concerning that the vampire specifically wished to meet with me. After all, what would he achieve from such a pairing, speaking with a human who was hardly a member of the Volturi, over Alec? Alone.
A hiss of irritation came from Alec as he slammed the folder back on the table, the papers shuffling out of order. "What is this?"
"Each side must be willing to give for their take. He provides you with the information you seek, and his only request is to deliver it personally to your mate."
"He's here?" I asked, much to Alec's disapproval. He pulled me to my feet gently but bossy enough to make my stomach roll with a manageable anger.
"Don't even think about it," a savage rumble emanated from his chest.
I bit my lip, wanting to argue, but I saw the burden of frustration behind his eyes. Alec was worried about my safety, but I couldn't decide if it was impacting his judgment, considering the near necessity of the opportunity. I nodded, and relief eased his expression.
"What is your decision, young prince?"
Alec's chest tightened, but he easily maintained his control.
"He will meet with me."
The pressure mounted, and I was finding it difficult to swallow. Bastian actually looked apologetic. "Unfortunately, that detail was non-negotiable." Did that mean he had tried to negotiate the deal on our behalf? On mine?
There was still so much we didn't know, but I swallowed my curiosity for Alec's sake.
"Then, we're done here."
None of the men seemed to be expecting my answer. Bastian's relaxed face broke, and I caught a glimpse of what could have been mistaken for…fear? "You're turning him – me down?" Alec took my hand, strategically placing himself between me and Bastian as Demetri waited for us.
The club owner tried another tactic, his voice leaking slight desperation, "You surprise me, Alec Volturi." We didn't stop as Demetri forced the curtain apart until "You are nothing like your creator."
Alec sent him an unnerving stare over my shoulder. "You have twelve hours before we shut this club down. I suggest you are not present when we do, or it will be your last."
"Time to go," Alec ordered our guards. Talib and Percy had apparently caught on as Talib shoved one of the outside bodyguards through the curtains we had exited. A stunted noise suggested the guard had knocked into Bastian. At least, I liked to think so.
Alec's lips brushed my ear, filling my body with butterflies as he took the lead. And not the good ones. "Stay close."
The previously soft murmurs of conversations between vampires, young and old, had risen with the music from the stage. It was a sound phenomenon I would not have expected from supernatural creatures with emphasized hearing and one that had somehow been cut off by Bastian's private curtains, at least for my human hearing.
Amidst the crowd of vampires, we went relatively unnoticed, obscured by the collective chatter and the crimson ambiance. If I had not been so distracted, I would have been observant enough to recognize this was not the case.
It took only a second for me to realize that Alec had not been making his comment out of his usual protective nature but of heightened vigilance—a practiced know-how of when an enemy would choose to strike. Unlike me, he and the others were expecting our first obstacle.
A beady-eyed, thin vampire broke through the masses with a malicious grin, heading directly towards us.
Talib stepped forward to intercept the vampire, but the encounter sent both men tumbling over the banister and crash-landing on top of a lower-level table. So much for discretion.
Alec urged me to move faster as two more vampires emerged from the crowd. Alec gripped my hips, spinning me around to block a swing from one of the vampires and pushing him back, successfully evading our pursuers.
Demetri and the other vampire were nowhere in sight, but as I searched for the exit, a flash of navy caught my attention – the woman who had fed on one of the workers behind the curtain. I tugged on Alec's arm, stumbling back as her lips curled up, leaving us with no choice but to descend onto the sunken floor.
I turned over my shoulder to see if Percy was still with us, just as she was tackled by two additional red-eyed vampires. I backed up, reaching again for Alec, but he was gone.
One of the human waitresses nearly crashed into me, and I yelped as an arm encircled my waist just in time. The lack of sparks told me it was not Alec, and the grip was too hard for the guards who knew how not to grab me. I struggled against the grip. My fight was unappreciated, and my assailant hissed in my ear as they spun me around.
The vampire who had taken me captive tilted his head as he took me in, somewhat perplexed as his eyes raked over my body. He appeared unfazed by the Volturi crest around my neck, as if he failed to recognize its significance.
"Guess Bastian's decided to dress his meat bags with more class." His tongue ran across his fangs as he took the time to appreciate his catch.
I spit in his face.
A violent, feral sound came from his chest as he bared his pearly teeth. Before he could snap my neck, a velvet baritone voice disrupted the attack with a sober threat.
"All these humans and you chose her?" His petulant chuckle barely reached my ears. "You unlucky bastard."