AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Shit. I hadn't planned for this. Thinking quickly, I let my hand hover over my pocket, whispering a subtle incantation. A soft, sparkling mist swirled around my fingers, shimmering in the dim light.
The bouncer's eyes widened slightly. "Alright, go ahead." He stepped aside, the unspoken understanding of the supernatural clearing my path.
Inside, the club was a labyrinth of shadows and pulsing lights, the air thick with the scent of sweat and something more primal. I headed straight for the bar, avoiding the spots where I knew Kyne and Delilah usually hung out.
I ordered a drink, something strong to steady my nerves. As I took a sip, I felt a presence beside me. Turning, I saw him – a man, or rather, the ghost of one. He was watching the crowd, a look of longing on his face.
"Hello," I said, my voice cutting through the music.
He jolted, his eyes snapping to mine. "You can see me?"
"Yeah, one of the gifts of my line," I replied casually, taking another sip of my drink.
His smile was wistful. "Most people can't. It's... nice to be able to talk to someone."
I studied him, intrigued. "What's your story?"
He shrugged, a ghostly mimicry of the gesture. "Just another lost soul. I used to... well, it doesn't matter. I'm Rayze, by the way."
"Rowan," I said, extending my hand before realizing the futility of the gesture.
Rayze laughed, a sound that seemed to echo from another world. "Sorry, no handshakes in my current state."
I chuckled, feeling a strange sense of ease around him. "So, you know this place well?"
"Better than most," he said, his eyes scanning the room. "I've seen things you wouldn't believe. The owners, Delilah and Kyne, they keep it interesting."
My ears perked up at the mention of their names. "You know them?"
"In a manner of speaking," Rayze replied cryptically. "They're... acquaintances."
Acquaintances. That could mean anything. I needed to know more, but I had to be careful. "Sounds like there's a story there."
"Many stories," he said with a smirk. "This place is full of them."
The music changed, a pulsing beat that seemed to vibrate through the floor. "Want to dance?" I asked, a sudden idea forming.
Rayze raised an eyebrow. "I'm not exactly corporeal, but sure, I'll give it a shot."
We moved to the dance floor, the crowd parting around us – or rather, around me. Rayze was right beside me, yet somehow both there and not there. It was surreal, dancing with a ghost, but I found myself getting lost in the rhythm, the worries about Danny and the club momentarily fading.
As we danced, Rayze leaned in, his voice barely audible over the music. "You're not like the others here, Rowan. There's something about you."
I met his gaze, a mix of curiosity and caution in my eyes. "Maybe I'm just a good dancer."
He laughed again, that otherworldly sound. "Maybe. Or maybe there's more to you than meets the eye."
The song ended, and we slowed to a stop. I was out of breath, a sheen of sweat on my skin. "Thanks for the dance, Rayze."
"Anytime, Rowan. It's been a long time since I've felt this... alive."
Rayze and I navigated our way through the pulsating crowd back to the bar. The energy in La Societe de la Nuit was electric, a mix of the supernatural and the all-too-human. I could feel the beat of the music reverberating through my bones, a relentless rhythm that seemed to sync with the erratic beating of my heart.
Rayze leaned against the bar, his ghostly form more pronounced in the dim light. "Fancy another drink?" he asked, his voice barely rising above the music.
I shook my head, the alcohol I'd already had swirling pleasantly in my system. "No thanks. I should probably head out soon."
His translucent form seemed to flicker, like a candle flame caught in a draft. "Can I see you again, Rowan?"
