CLUBBING-PART 2-E

Astrid and all her colleagues met at the entrance of Club Ignite. Vanessa and Aaron wore matching couple outfits of leather pants, leather jacket, silver rings, and chains adorning them. Bettany wore a sleeveless top and a leather skirt with ankle-length boots and a cute ice cream shaped purse. Lewis wore a burgundy t-shirt and black pants. Alex looked dashing in a silk black shirt with silver buttons and linings, and his hair combed back. His dark red pants complimented his eye colour well.

All of them went into the club and started looking for a table for them to sit and drink.

`You look good, Astrid', Alex stared at her nervously

`And you look like Count Dracula yourself', she giggled.

`How about a bite then?', Alex mimicked and Astrid giggled further.

Matilda played the host and ordered drinks for everyone.

`Do you drink alcohol?' Matilda enquired.

`I have not tried it before', Astrid shrugged her shoulders. Matilda nodded in understanding and called the waiter to order.

`Bacardi Lemon, go light on the Bacardi', Matilda completed the order with side dishes of fries, a mixture of vegetarian and chicken quesadillas, some nachos, and a basket of fried shrimp.

Everyone was hungry and Astrid dug on her food. She took a sip of the Bacardi and almost spit it out. Alex grinned at her and added more soda to dilute the drink. After drinking 2 glasses of Bacardi, Matilda ordered a jug of Long Island Tea and Lewis finished half of it before Aaron pushed him away from the jug. Both got into argument and Matilda slapped their hands away before pinching their ears.

Matilda read the menu and ordered 2 more rounds of drinks for everyone, Astrid chooses Blue Lagoon Vodka and Bombay Sapphire Paradise. Alex, on the other hand, was the heaviest drinker of them all. He drank half a bottle of cognac and he was still steady. Astrid realized that Alex brought his own bottle of liquor and did not drink from the club. I wonder why?

After eating and drinking for 45 minutes everyone slowly dispersed into the crowd to dance. Vanessa and Aaron disappeared almost immediately. Bettany pulled a reluctant Lewis to dance with her. Matilda who was flirting with a vampire flipped her hair and stepped into the dance floor, all the while maintaining eye contact with the vampire.

`She sure knows how to get them' Astrid stood and pointed to the washroom at the back of the bar. She walked slowly pushing herself away from the bodies dancing to the beat of the music. She gargled her mouth and applied a fresh layer of lipstick. Just as she was about to exit, the washroom her phone rang. She looked at the strange numbers and swipe the screen accidentally cancelling the call. It rang again, but Astrid was already getting tipsy, so she rushed to meet Alex.

`You should answer your phone. It has been ringing nonstop', Astrid looked at the phone and answered it.

`Hello?'

`Astrid, where are you?' a concerned voice asked. Ace could hear loud music blaring in the background and figured she must be at a club somewhere. Ace stopped running on the treadmill and wiped his forehead clean.

`Is she in trouble?' Hadwin stopped his bench press and removed his shirt.

`Are you alone?

`No, I am with Alex, he is a vampire just like you', Astrid whispered.

`Where?' Ace gripped the phone tighter.

`Alex, what is this place? Ace wants to know',

`Who is Ace?' Alex questioned while narrowing his eyes.

`Ace of a spade. Or was it Ice..?', she mumbled incoherently, thinking about a card game. Damn, I am a light drinker.

`Shall we dance?' Alex tried to divert her attention from her phone.

`I'm clumsy' she pouted. Ace did not like her tone of voice, for she seems to forget he was still listening to her talking to someone. 

`We can dance as we like, no one will bother us', Alex stood up and pulled her hands.

Astrid followed him and she forgot to turn off her mobile.

`Hadwin pass me your phone'. Ace opened a site after several minutes later, he hacked into her phone. His group of IT men had developed a programme where he can go through people's phone through their phone numbers alone. It has always been useful to him and now he couldn't thank them more.

`Can I be of help?' Hadwin pulled puppy eyes to tempt Ace. `I need to apologize to her for my clumsiness last time we met',

`Aren't you grounded?', Ace speed-walked to his garage and selected a Maserati. He grabbed a hoodie on his way.

Before Ace could say anything Hadwin deposited himself in the car. Ace didn't argue. He was more worried about the other vampire dancing with her.

He sped off and reached Club Ignite in record time. Ace threw his keys to the valet and both brothers ran into the club.

(30 minutes Before the Wagner brothers' arrival)

Choice of Music

Starving by Hailee Seinfeld 

Running, by Naughty Boy

Castles by Freya Riding

Astrid heard one of her favourite songs and she felt adrenaline course through her bloodstream, enough to make her tingle and start dancing. She could dance barefoot on the grass, with stars adorning the sky and immerse herself truly, with unrestrained joy. And she did the same here, she closed her eyes and pushed all her worries and fears away. She felt like a rosebud, kissed by the first dew of the dawn, flourishing to taste music.

Alex was mesmerized by the sight of her dancing without care and held her waist and matched her every step, eyes never leaving her face. He could feel her warmth radiating with the change of music. His eyes scanned the floor and saw Matilda winking at her. He allowed her to lead him, twirling her arms, intertwining his steps, and moves with her, in tune to the beat.

Astrid relaxed into Alex's arms when he gently moved them closer, his breath near her neck. 

`I never knew you danced so well', Alex spoke into her ears.

`Thank the Youtube', Astrid smiled at him. 

After several changes of song, sweat trickling on her back and a sudden urge to pee, Astrid excused herself and wobbled to the toilet while catching her breath. Alcohol and music do wonders to me, she thought.

She had to walk behind the bar, towards a narrow passage before reaching the toilet. Surprisingly, it was clean but there was a short queue. She passed by a few people and looked down to avoid attention.

She was in for a surprise because a burly vampire who was observing her on the dance floor leaned on the wall waiting for her to come out.

Ace and Hadwin split into half and started scouring the club. After 7 minutes of searching, Ace found her bag and grabbed it. Where did she go? He could feel his anger spiking. What is she was drugged and taken away somewhere? Fuck her cursed.

Hadwin searched the entire dance floor avoiding the flirtatious looks he was getting. He looked under tables and almost got hit by a woman.

Hadwin rushed towards Ace, but his elder brother had a better idea and dashed towards the toilet, the last place to check before scouring the building.

`Excuse me', Astrid tried to walk through the passage, but a big guy was blocking her path.

`Yes', he eyed her with lust and desire. He did not budge. Such a cute girl, he thought.

`I need to go back' Astrid held the wall for balance.

`You can always come to me', the burly man turned to face her and straight away gripped her shoulder.

`What are you doing!!?. Let me go you piece of shit!' she shouted, fear evident in her eyes. Not this. This can't be happening to her. Not again.

`Save your energy, we can struggle all night', he closed the distance and pinned her on the wall. She panicked and her heartbeat drummed wildly. He was so close to her she could feel his onion lace breath and his dirty sweaty palms gripped her wrists tightly.

She could not believe her bad luck so she struggled and kicked him but he was too strong. She was getting tired of the dance and now this. She looked around her but saw no one.

`GET AWAY FROM ME!. ALEX! MATILDA. HELP ME', Astrid screamed her lungs out.`GET AWAY YOU ASSHOLE', she spitted on his face to spite him.

`You bitch', he let go of her hands and circled her neck.

At that moment Ace saw her pinned against the wall against a heavily built man, and his heart dropped. He sprinted to her and punched the vampire hard on his face. The burly man immediately released Astrid who was shell shocked at Ace Wagner coming to her rescue.

`ARRGGH. WHAT THE FUCK!' he shouted. Ace punched his face again and heard a satisfying crack of a bone.

Astrid was a mess. Hot tears were rolling off her cheeks. She was upset. Hadwin saw his brother punching a man and rushed to help him. Ace signalled Hadwin to beat the crap out of the guy and Hadwin gladly obliged.

Ace spun towards Astrid and gently held her cupped her face. He used his thumbs to wipe her tears away. He saw a red bruise forming on her neck.

`Ace, is that you?' Astrid could not believe her luck. Relief washed over her, and she immediately hugged him tightly, crying in his arms. He really came. He must have meant it when he said he wanted to hang out with her.

`Shhh... It's ok. I'm here. I won't let you go okay', he smoothed her hair repeatedly and hugged her back.

`Promise?' she raised her pinkie and he intertwined their pinkies together before answering.

`Promise'. She held his shirt tightly and snuggled into him. And just like that, he earned her faith, that he is safe to be with.

`Hadwin, that's enough. Let's go' Ace covered Astrid with his hoodie and carried her. She unknowingly circled his neck and placed her head at the nook of his neck, inhaling his intoxicating minty cinnamon scent before her eyes fluttered shut.

Hadwin beat the vampire until his lips cracked and his face turned to a bloody mess. Both the Wagner brothers were gym aficionados and a human or a vampire punching bag is a refreshing change. How dare he touch her! Both the Wagner siblings rushed and walked to the valet booth. They did not want to create any scene nor wanted to be recognized.

Matilda and Alex noticed Astrid was missing only to catch a glimpse of her in a vampire's arm. Both rushed to the Wagner brothers and called her out.

`Astrid! Astrid! Who are you guys? Where are you taking her', Alex shouted.

Astrid stirred in Ace's arms and he whispered soothing words into her ears and held her tighter. Astrid calmed down, mumbling Ace's name. Ace glared at Matilda and Alex. Hadwin stood in front of Ace in a protective stance. Matilda and Alex did not miss the bloodied fists and gulped. They had a premonition with whom they were dealing with.

`She is safer with us. Who the hell are you guys?' Hadwin eyed the vampire and the human with disdain.

Matilda was quick to diffuse the situation by apologizing and introducing herself. Matilda observed both the vampires looked alike. Were they siblings? Before she could ask further, a Maserati parked by the curb. In a flash, Hadwin slide over the hood towards the driver seat, and a bouncer opened the passenger door for Ace. Hadwin drove off without an explanation leaving Matilda and Alex baffled.

Matilda blew a small whistle. `I think I know them.' Matilda clearly saw the number plate of the Maserati which spelt WGNR15.

`Yeah, Wagner brothers', Alex sighed dejectedly.