Preview: Creatures of the Night (650 words) (Patreon)

Hi! This is a thing I'm currently working on, it should be ready in a few days. It's a different genre than I'm used to writing, but I'm happy with how it's coming along, so I thought I'd give you a small preview 😊

Here we go!



I noticed her the moment she entered the club.
Unlike most other people, who filtered in in groups of twos and threes, sometimes more, she was alone: she walked in and glanced around, the subdued lighting playing across her pretty face and her short, pixie-cut black hair. It seriously looked like she’d never seen the inside of a club, and she started wandering around, looking around in wonder, without paying attention to where she was going.
And, or course, she bumped right into a guy twice her size, making him spill most of his drink.
“What the fuck, mate!” the guy shouted, audible even over the thrumming of the music. “Fucking watch where you’re going!”
The girl’s reply was drowned out by the loudness of the room, but I saw her take a step back, and raise her hands defensively; in response, the guy stepped towards her and squared his shoulders, clearly trying to intimidate her.
I felt my lips instinctively draw back, exposing my teeth. I started to stand up–
“Easy there, girl,” Giselle said, putting a hand on my shoulder. “Let’s try some diplomacy first, before murdering anyone.”
I bristled a bit, but nodded, realising she was right; I let my tense muscle relax – just a little bit – as I started moving towards the pair.
By then, the girl seemed to be on the verge of tears: she was shrinking back as much as possible, trying to make herself invisible, but the guy was relentlessly bearing down on her.
She almost jumped out of her skin when I put my arm around her shoulders.
“There you are!” I exclaimed, smiling widely. “What took you so long? I’ve been waiting for you!”
“Uh…” she said.
“Come on, let me buy you a drink! We’re here to celebrate after all,” I continued, starting to steer her away from the guy and towards the bar.
“You know her?” the guy growled.
I stopped, and turned towards him. “Yeah, she’s my friend. Is there a problem?”
“Your friend owes me a drink!” he snapped. “And drinks in this bloody club cost quite a bit!” He paused, and looked at me: his eyes were a bit unfocused, he was clearly already more than a bit drunk. “Say, you’re a pretty bird. Maybe you can–”
“Maybe she can what, big guy?” Giselle purred, leaning against him. “Buy you a drink?”
“Uh. Yes,” he said, clearly surprised by my friend’s sudden appearance – seriously, how did Giselle do it? When she wanted to, she seemed to just meld into shadow, and reappear somewhere else, graceful as ever.
Giselle giggled. “Well then,” she said, running a finger across the guy’s arm, up to his neck, and along his chin, “maybe I can buy that drink for you?”
Even with his mind hazed by the several drinks he’d clearly already put away, the dude was remarkably quick on the uptake. “Oh, yes. Of course,” he said. “I would love to.”
“Come along, then,” Giselle said, her voice deep and sultry. “Let’s find a quiet corner so we can relax and… have a drink.”
She grabbed the guy by the arm and started to lead him away.
“Don’t drink too much, Gee,” I said. “I don’t want to have to clean up your mess again.”
Giselle stuck her tongue out playfully at me, and they were off. I watched them go for a few moments, then turned towards the girl, who’d all but froze in my embrace.
“Well then. Can I get ya a drink?” I asked, smiling at her.
“Uh… Um…” she stammered.
“Oh, come on, don’t be so nervous,” I said, releasing her and stepping back. “I promise I don’t bite. Much.” I offered her my hand. “What do you say?”
She looked at me and then, hesitantly, took my hand, and let me guide her to the bar.