I've been thrown into the portal, appearing in the middle of a dance floor in a nightclub. My ankle is still bleeding, so the first thing I do is limp my way to the nearest bathroom in a panic.

I grab a bunch of paper towels and sit in an open cubicle over the toilet seat to wrap my ankle and apply pressure.

I inspect the damage, it felt a lot worse than what was done. I theorise that Oni could have hacked off my whole foot if he wanted to, but he just pierced my skin with one blade, and it's a rather shallow cut from a frozen claw which was rendered almost immobile by the spell. He just managed to snag me back.

Only to throw me into Onyx's very own Lycan Nightclub. Why? Just to torment me, apparently.

The door slams open and when I look up to see who it is, I expect the worst.

"Selene," it's just Silvia! She pushes the door shut behind her, her long blonde hair is in perfect waves over a shimmering red dress, she wears black high heels and lots of beautiful bracelets, "I saw you straight away. What the hell happened to you? And how did you get here?"

"I'm trying to get away from Lycans and their whores," I tell her direct, "I don't know how long I've been running for my life since demons became real, but I need a god damn break – Juniper and Geraldine are with Sardonix. Do you know if he'll kill them? Or hurt them?"

"No he won't," Silvia immediately shakes her head, "No way – my son doesn't kill for fun... at least not anymore. I've taught him otherwise."

"Well that's reassuring," I can't help but be deeply sarcastic, "...Oni, he..."

"What did those bloody Sentinels do to you?" Silvia seems to be on my side, looking worried.

"They tried to eat us, Silvia," I laugh a bit, hysterically, "Apparently they have an uncontrollable appetite for witches... and the cherry on top? Is they have no souls to consult, to know when to stop and fucking think before they kill."

"I'll talk to Cleo about their behaviour," Silvia notices the door opening from a female trying to enter, and she kicks it back shut, keeping everyone else out.

"You're only thinking about their behaviour? Seriously? They're fucking insane," I drop the bloody paper towels and I stand back up, walking to the sink to wash my hands with soap, I avoid looking into the mirror at all costs, "Will Onyx kill me?"

"Onyx doesn't kill bitches that he likes –" Silvia explains gently, but I can't handle being referred to as a bitch.

"I'm not his bitch," I hiss through clenched teeth.

"If you calm down," Silvia uses a more firm tone, "I can help you. I'm the Lycan Queen – Onyx is the Lycan King. We keep demonic order and mayhem contained, as best as we can."

"I burnt down the Lycan Temple, I doubt very much that Onyx will want me to live without some kind of horrific punishment, if murder isn't his first choice," I finish cleaning my hands and I turn to Silvia.

"How did you end up here?" Silvia asks, confused.

"Oni made a portal and threw me in, to hurt me, I think," I explain, looking down at my gothic ballet shoes in shame. I can't believe I had hope at one point that he would keep to his word and protect us.

"Honestly, don't be offended Selene, but I think you're confused," Silvia actually laughs, "Where did you get the idea they wanted to eat you?"

"When he admitted it, after I accused him," I explain, glaring into her eyes, "How is that funny?"

Silvia outright rolls her eyes and places her hands on her hips, shaking her head, "Oh my God... Selene," she looks me in the eye, "Never. Admit. Fear. Lycans drool over that shit."

"What the fuck does that mean?"

"They enjoy your terror," Silvia states it like it should be obvious and accepted, "You gave him a reason to play on it, trust me, you'd be dead if they wanted you dead. Lycans don't play with their food when they're hungry. But they do play silly games with their whores."

"I'm not his whore," I whisper.

Silvia finally relaxes her stance, and looks a little sympathetic as she looks me over slowly, "...you kind of remind me of myself when I first got involved with Lycans... I was scared of the feelings they evoke too... eventually the lust overrides the fear – and it's possible to have a lot of fun with them. However, when you fight it, it can get very... very... intense. You'll lose your mind. Then eventually, if you can accept you'll probably always be a little crazy for them and love them – you'll slowly regain your sanity. But the more you resist the harder it'll be. You just got to let the feelings flow, trust me."

"You're not making any sense," I look away from her, holding the sink behind me, after sucking in a deep breath, I hold it anxiously.

"Okay, I'll take pity on you, since you're so new to this. I'll escort you out the side exit, before Onyx sees – although the bleeding is going to be a problem. They would have already smelled the blood by now –"

"Fucking demons," I murmur.

"Listen. Sardonix doesn't tend to settle in one spot, right now he's in the Momento Mori Hotel, I can reunite you with your friends. I'll ask him to provide you accommodation, and I'll ask him, as a mother and a Queen – to leave you three alone. Transitioning to living with demons as your new reality, I know how hard it is. You just need some time," Silvia sounds believable. However, even though I don't like what she's suggesting about my 'new reality', I want to see Juny and Gerry as soon as possible.

"...okay... get me out of here," I don't want to argue or delay this any longer.

Silvia starts to use her phone, I assume to order me a taxi. Then she explains, "I'll go and cause a distraction, wait a minute, then leave the restroom and head out left, don't look around, don't look anyone in the eye, just leave. A cab will be there to pick you up and take you to the Hotel in five minutes. I texted Sardonix too, I told him to cool down for 24 hours. We have a code, when I need him to tap into his human compassion... well, you'd be surprised how he listens to mama..." I don't care.

I just smile awkwardly and nod.

Silvia puts her phone down and heads out, farewelling me, "60 seconds, Selene, then leave."

Once Silvia exits, a line of drunken girls who have been waiting to use the restroom, pile in.

I turn away from them and pretend to fix my hair with some running water, readjusting my belt over my gothic dress.

"I have two minutes until they start to train me in the back, I can't believe I got the special invitation on my birthday approved," one of the girls is squealing and hugging her friends, "Wish me luck, I can't fucking wait to get fucked."

"Oh my god, you're so cute when you speak shamelessly like a desperate virgin, Stacy, chill out, you need to remember to take notes for us, okay?"

"Make sure you set up the camera, we want to know how bad they fuck –"

"Don't make it sound like a chore! I will anyway, come on, girls, have some faith in me."

I turn around from the sink to see the young girls crowing around the birthday girl.

I can't hold my tongue.

"How old are you all?" I blurt out.

They all turn to me, giving me their suspicious smokey eyes.

"I'm 18 today," Stacy raises a brow at me, "Who are you? Why do you care? Do you have any advice, actually?" she looks me up and down, sees the blood at my ankle and pauses, her mouth open and lip now wobbling in shock, "...oh shit... are - are you okay?"

"Don't fuck any Lycans, just leave," I warn her.

"O-oh, they... they hurt you?!" Stacy whispers, turning pale quickly.

"She probably just fell over on a piece of glass," her friends try to reassure her.

"You need to leave," I don't have time to explain.

"Yeah well, I'm not down for getting cut," Stacy chuckles nervously as her friends all look either angry or indecisive.

"You signed the contract, and we paid for this gift," one of them whispers, "You have to go."

"Is it a gift, or is it a curse?" Stacy moves past them to stand by me, "Nah, I changed my mind, girls. I'm not doing this. I don't want to get hurt."

"I'm leaving, do you want to come with me so you don't go alone?" I ask.

"Yes, thank you... and fuck this," Stacy looks apprehensively to her friends, "Are you girls coming? Come on. Fuck this place."

"I'm staying," one of them stands back, another stands back with her.

One looks between Stacy and the others, undecided.

"Let's just go," I grab Stacy's hand and pull her with me to the exit.

If we could walk out together, I feel like I could hide behind her as well.

Surely 60 seconds had passed.

We walk out together of the restroom and I keep my head down, moving toward the exit.

It's a bit crowded, so we have to move slowly.

Eventually we make it to the exit unharmed and we slip out into an alley.

No cab is here just yet, but it can't be too much longer.

A few people out here are smoking, hanging out in the fresh air.

I let go of Stacy's hand and turn to her, "Happy birthday, by the way. Who did your friends pay to take your virginity?"

"They all said they paid for the boss, but I didn't believe them. They probably got one of the cheaper Lycans," Stacy shrugs a shoulder.

"Who's the boss?" I ask, carefully.

"Oh, obviously Onyx – but yeah right, as if they could afford him. He's really expensive. Apparently virginities are like, special to them or something. I thought they just gave like, crazy good experiences, why else would they be so popular around town? I didn't know they hurt girls, though..." Stacy rambles off, while I feel myself paling.

If Onyx was paid for, he'd be her escort for the night.

If he had an eye on her, or had her smell, he might come out here.

I look down the alley way, hoping like hell that the cab shows soon.

"Want to walk to the road?" I ask, a bit hurried, "We might have better luck closer to the main street."

Stacy takes out a cigarette from her bag, hesitating, "...my phone... shit, I think I left it with Josie."

"Don't go back in there –" however, my words have no effect, in a panic she's already turned and disappeared back into the club.

I wait outside for a moment, my conscience is torn.

Headlights show down the alley – the cab, it's just turned in.

I don't have much time then.

I could just leave, and leave Stacy, but she might come back out here and see I'm gone, head back in and end up meeting a horrible fate.

I didn't trust Onyx with virgins.

My instincts – ha, it was more like logic – were pretty simple when it came to him. Once he gained rights to a soul, he'd take every inch, there would be no lenience and no mercy. If he didn't recruit her into the pack as a whore, he might even kill her for the spell power that came from a virgin's innocence. So my answer is simple, I can't leave her behind when I said I'd leave with her.

I hurry back into the club, but I can't keep my gaze down this time. I look through the sea of moving bodies, and I see Stacy in her white dress, chatting to her friends as they hand her back her phone. She's hugging them before she leaves, but she's taking too long. I have to urge her to hurry.

As I move toward her, a woman with red lipstick, her blonde hair tied up in a bun, thigh high black boots and a short black dress – catches my full fucking attention.

On the side she's tilting her mouth into a handsome tall man.

They kiss as they dance together.

When she pulls away, saying something to her man, I confirm her identity.

That fucking bitch.

Carmen! The damned tutor who led us to the demons in the first place. Luring us into isolation. Calling the Lycans forward. Setting into motion this real life hell.

Before her interference, we were fine enough.

Now, my life was a living nightmare. All thanks to her. If Carmen had gotten her way, we'd be dead meat in hell, used and devoured by Satan's Demon Army. She deserved to die –

"Hey, sorry, I got my phone back," Stacy bumps into my side, giving me a trusting smile, "Come on, let's run."

Carmen, as if sensing the stare of hatred and rage from me, turns her head out of her boyfriend's shoulder and looks straight at me.

She stops dancing and her eyes widen.

I'd fucking kill her right now!

As I run for her, I'm intercepted by Silvia, who is close by. She sees the attack incoming and steps immediately in my path, clutching my shoulders with her sharp nails.

"What the hell are you doing? LEAVE," Silvia glares into my eyes, "Go. Now!"

"H-hey," Stacy appears behind me, sounding terrified, "Can we go now please? I think he's coming. I think he saw me. Please!"

Fuck.

I don't have time to fight Carmen. But I knew where to find her.

I shouldn't have been drawn in. I quickly turn from Silvia and grab Stacy's arm again, this time we run for the exit.

The cab should still be there waiting.

I don't look for Onyx, I'm just hoping like hell he doesn't notice me.

We navigate the crowd, zig zagging in and out of the groups crowding around near the exit, until we finally get a straight line to the door.

A few feet from it, the bastard intercepts us.

He is a tall giant man, the boss, he steps in front of our exit, his shoes are shining, suit perfectly clean – red eyes not so clean.

Demonic intent is all he vibes, as Stacy and I come to a grinding halt before Onyx.

"Happy birthday," Onyx speaks professionally to Stacy, who instead of looking mortified, starts to look cloudy eyed – her shoulders relaxing and her mouth hanging open in shock.

Her friends are on the right, smiling and looking victorious.

Oh my god, of course they did.

They escorted Onyx to her.

And Stacy looks quickly swayed back into staying.

I watch as her cheeks start to flush, and she bites her lip and looks down submissively, swaying nervously as she puts her feet together, and whispers, "H-hey."

So far Onyx had been staring at her, making sure she came into line. One look is all it takes.

I look over my shoulder, hoping I can escape another way.

However, there is someone else at my back.

A fairy in a sequins dress, wings flared curiously. Cleo looks up at me with familiar upturned eyes and black curling hair hanging in ringlets over her pretty fae face.

"Hey, Selene, what are you doing here?" Cleo smiles.

"Your sons are all psychopaths," I tell her straight, glaring into her soul, "Fuck you, clueless Lycan whore, you bred monsters, you're fucking disgusting," Cleo stops smiling, and looks hurt, stepping back as if I slapped her.

I stop talking when a hand goes over my eyes, blocking my vision and pulling me back into a hot chest, while I feel a sharp edge against my throat.

Not a claw.

It's a real, sharp, straight blade. Held by the hand of the boss, who's come up to intercept me.

"This is my Club, and I don't tolerate disrespect to my Favoured Bitches," Onyx snarls in my ear, truly pissed off, "If you utter another breath out of place, I'll slit your throat for the sacred blood you burned. You owe a heavy blood debt to us, witch. You're not leaving until we work out a contract of repayment," Onyx removes the blade from being so stringent against my jugular, and he asks, abruptly calm, "Do you understand?"

"I understand," I whisper, gulping, agreeing.

"I'll deal with you in the back," Onyx keeps his hand over my eyes, as I hear people move around us, "The mutts who've contributed to this mess, will not escape punishment either. I'll be marking you as my slut, and whether the double Lycan marks drive you truly insane, is not my problem. Either Oni will win your favour or I will. A King. Or the petty lonely thief who likes collecting shiny bones and fucking shades... who do you think will take your heart, Selene?"

"I don't really care who wins, I just want my freedom," I murmur quietly.

"...you'll get a chance to walk freely, but the price for trust to be let loose again, is eternal hellfire servitude to demon lust... and it's nothing you'll hate, in fact, when you do eventually submit, you'll finally understand how suited you are to the life. However. You have a real dirty mouth talking to my Princess like that, luckily I can fuck that out of you. You're just nasty because you're scared of being seen as a brainless wet bitch."

"No. Always my thoughts will be my own... my thoughts are my own," I whisper it twice, as if that will change my reality.

"We'll see," Onyx uses the flat side of his blade, to press lightly against my cheek, "If you run before we make amends for your spellcasting, I'll take an eye, will you please proceed, and walk into the back for judgement – with the lovely virgin Stacy? She seems to like you, so you can be her emotional support witch," oh, he has a sense of humour. Isn't that nice.

I nod.

He finally removes the damn weapon from my face.

I'm free to follow the Lycan King... ha, 'free' to walk straight into eternal hellfire servitude. Great.

Silvia is watching on, she looks rather calm, as she 'reassures me', "Look. He has a point. Damage of property. He's just getting a price to even it out," Silvia shrugs, "As long as you don't do anything stupid, you'll get out of here alive just fine. And I'm not telling you to worry about Onyx, by the way. If you disrespect my Lycan again, or any pack member or favoured bitch, I'll be the 'disgusting whore-slut' who slits your throat and watches you drown on your own blood."

Silvia doesn't yell it, or hiss it. She just states it like fact, brushes her hair gently over her shoulder and walks back to the bar, where Carmen is waiting.

Seeing Carmen again makes my blood instantly boil.

Fuck her.

I turn to where Onyx is headed. I follow.

Fuck him.

Fuck all of them.

I follow for Stacy, definitely not for a morbid curiosity of what contract Onyx wants to administer for repayment, definitely not for a burning uncontrollable fire of morbid-excitement spreading through every cell in my body, definitely not for any of that, nor for the numbing tongue in my mouth, nor the weakness in my hands nor the sweat beading on my skin.

That was all rage. Definitely. Not.

You know.

A different feeling, or whatever else it could be.

I'd never fall for this demon bullshit.

Never.

I'd never. Fall. For. Any. Of. That.

All. I. Had. To. Do. Was. Think? Straight.

Think straight, think straight, think straight. Follow his boots, Stacy's clacking high heels and flouncing dress. Just think s –

In the flashing strobe lights, as Onyx turns a sharp corner, I turn early and I smack face first into a wall, whiling thinking very straight, I assure you.

I immediately push myself back upright, steady, and I look to see Onyx's back, as he navigates the crowd, around the wall I just smacked into, he moves down a dark corridor... which leads to the back of the club.

All at once the music seems to fade as I round the corner.