The dimly lit club hummed with a low, sultry beat, bodies moving in synchronized chaos under flashing red and purple lights. Elena watched from the corner, her sharp eyes taking in every flicker of movement, every heartbeat, every breath. She wasn't here for pleasure—at least, not in the way most people imagined.
Her fingers toyed with the rim of her glass, half-filled with a crimson liquid that wasn't wine. A human might have mistaken her for just another patron enjoying a night out, but Elena was far from ordinary. She had existed for centuries, slipping between lifetimes, avoiding attachments. Love had burned her before—betrayal, revenge, and death had followed in its wake.
And yet, tonight felt different.
Elena's gaze locked onto her.
She stood at the bar, oblivious to the hunger she ignited in those around her. Short, dark curls framed a face that was both innocent and intoxicating. She wore confidence like a second skin, laughing as she toyed with her drink. Elena could hear her heartbeat—steady, strong. The scent of her blood, laced with something more potent than the average human's, made Elena's grip on her glass tighten.
Who is she?
The thought barely formed before the woman turned her head, as if sensing the weight of Elena's gaze. Their eyes met. A jolt of something—magic, fate, or cruel irony—shot through Elena's spine. The woman smiled, and it was her undoing.
Elena had spent lifetimes avoiding fate, but tonight, it had found her.
A Dangerous Encounter
Sofia had never believed in love at first sight. Lust? Absolutely. Obsession? Maybe. But love? That was reserved for fairy tales and foolish hearts.
Yet, the moment she met the woman's gaze across the club, something inside her shifted. It was magnetic, pulling her toward the dark-haired stranger with a force she couldn't resist.
By the time she reached the bar, the woman was already waiting, an amused smirk playing on her lips. "You've been watching me."
Sofia arched an eyebrow, unfazed. "And you've been staring."
A chuckle, low and rich. "I suppose I have."
Sofia leaned against the counter, close enough to see the way the stranger's dark eyes held secrets. "So, are you going to tell me your name, or do I have to keep calling you 'Mysterious Brooding Woman' in my head?"
"Elena," she answered smoothly, swirling her drink. "And you?"
"Sofia."
The way Elena's lips parted, just slightly, as if tasting the name—Sofia felt it like a touch. There was something dangerous about her, something that whispered of shadows and secrets.
And Sofia had always been drawn to danger.
The One-Night Stand That Shouldn't Have Happened
They barely made it through the club doors before lips collided, fingers tangling in hair, breaths mingling in the cool night air.
Sofia wasn't sure how they ended up in Elena's apartment. She only remembered the way Elena's hands moved like they had done this before, the way her kisses made Sofia feel like she was drowning and burning at the same time.
She didn't think about consequences. She didn't think about what would happen when the sun rose.
She only thought about Elena.
Until morning came.
When Sofia stirred, the bed beside her was empty. The air smelled faintly of rain, despite the fact that the windows were closed. The lingering warmth on the sheets was the only evidence that Elena had been there at all.
Sofia sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, her heart sinking. Typical. One night, no strings attached. It wasn't like she was expecting breakfast in bed, but a goodbye would've been nice.
With a sigh, she reached for her phone—only to freeze when she noticed something odd.
A note, scrawled in elegant handwriting, lay on the pillow beside her.
Stay away from me, Sofia.
Her brows furrowed. Weird way to ghost someone.
Shaking her head, she tossed the note onto the nightstand. If Elena wanted to disappear, fine. Sofia had better things to do than chase after a woman who clearly wasn't interested in more than one night.
At least, that's what she told herself.
But fate had other plans.
The Past That Refuses to Stay Buried
Elena stood on the rooftop of her apartment building, staring at the rising sun. The heat of it was nothing compared to the fire that burned in her veins, a fire ignited by her.
Sofia.
The name felt familiar, even though it shouldn't. Something about her scent, her presence, had unlocked a door that Elena had kept locked for centuries.
A door to a past she had tried to forget.
She clenched her jaw, the memory clawing at the edges of her mind—blood, betrayal, a promise broken. Sofia shouldn't exist. Not in this time. Not in this lifetime.
And yet, she did.
Which meant only one thing:
Sofia was more than just a woman Elena had met at a club. She was a ghost from the past, reborn.
And that meant danger was coming.
A Fate Sealed by Blood
Sofia should have walked away. She should have left that night as nothing more than a memory.
But when she stepped out of her apartment later that evening, something felt… wrong. A shadow flickered at the edge of her vision. A chill crawled down her spine.
Then, out of nowhere—
A hand grabbed her wrist.
She gasped, spinning around, ready to fight. But the moment she saw who it was, the breath left her lungs.
"Elena?"
The woman's eyes burned with something unreadable. "I told you to stay away."
Sofia's pulse pounded. "And yet, here you are."
Elena hesitated, then let out a bitter laugh. "You really don't remember, do you?"
"Remember what?"
Elena stepped closer, her voice barely a whisper. "That this isn't the first time we've met. And it won't be the last."
Sofia's heart stuttered. The way Elena looked at her—like she had known her forever—sent a shiver down her spine.
Because, for the first time in her life, Sofia felt like she had forgotten something important.
Something about Elena.
Something about herself.
And she was about to find out exactly what it was.