<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Staring down at her phone, she unlocked the screen and flicked passed the various alerts and notifications that she’d been ignoring since leaving Mandeville. They weren’t important, not as urgent or pressing as the task at hand. There was a considerable amount of Vampires within the club, and while it wasn’t terribly surprising that there were powerful individuals among them it did change things. Ava scanned over the message again, a sigh escaping her as the stakes were heightened. If there was a blooded Vampire in their midst, it made the need to be cautious all the more imperative. Though she was armed she was far from prepared, she noted mentally with a curse. As she retrieved the latest message from the Hunter, her brow raised in response to the He-Man reference. Curiosity brought her fingertips to the internet, and she was forced to stifle a laugh when the character appeared in her search results. Shaking her head, she realized the smile that begged to curl onto her lips was difficult to will away. <br/>
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The amused glimmer, the enthralled expression; she was more smitten with the man on the other end of the phone than any of the well-dressed, big spenders flaunting their status and wealth to attract beautiful women. She knew it would do no good to appear like some infatuated school girl with a crush when she was supposed to be pretending to be interested in someone else. Ava looked over her shoulder, able to see the Vampire pace leisurely back and forth from a distance, the phone still to his ear. He must have felt her eyes on him, his attention diverting momentarily to give her a cheeky wink. She had to resist the instinct to roll her eyes, instead offering him a wave and smile of her own, lacking in sincerity but passably alluring enough. She turned back, and from her spot in the VIP section she had a fortunate vantage point that allowed her to see much of the nightclub. At first glance there didn’t seem to be anything out of the ordinary, not on the surface. It appeared to be the same as any other club. People danced, drank, and socialized, but the number of Vampires along with their preferential treatment suggested that there had to be something amiss. <br/>
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“They’re being chosen . . .” She muttered to herself, staring at the entrance. Her eyes followed the next group of girls as they entered the club, watching them as they were lured to the dance floor by the hypnotic sounds of the music that played. They were only swaying to the rhythm for minutes before they were approached, much like she had only been standing at the bar for mere seconds before Ezra showed up. The line outside was like an a la carte buffet, and either Vampires were selecting men and women from the outside as they walked in or they were using some other means. Ava couldn’t recall seeing Ezra while she was standing in line, and given how many bottles they’d gone through she could tell they’d been there for a long while. She began to doubt the theory on that alone, but she kept looking. Scanning the crowd she finally caught sight of Wes, the gesture of his head met with one of her own. That tug on her lips pulled again, a short-lived smile that faded as a hand pressed to her back. <br/>
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“Sorry about that. Business,” he explained vaguely, dangling a fresh drink before her eyes. <br/>
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“I understand.” Ava took the drink though she was distrustful of the contents. “It’s a wonder you’re able to find time to take it easy.” <br/>
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“People tend to find time for the things they want.” His words were pointed as he drew her in, “That happens to be you at the moment . . . There are some quiet areas behind the DJ booth. What do you say? Find some place quiet to go and chat?” He flashed a smile to tempt her. <br/>
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“Sure. Just . . . Let me run to the Girls’ room, and I’ll be right back.” Ava slipped away from his hold gently, setting the drink down to head in that direction. Blending into the masses she pulled out her phone again, pausing when she caught sight of a couple moving behind the DJ booth and into the dark where none of the swaying lights couldn’t reach. Without thinking she began to gravitate toward the hall, trying to see through the veil of blackness. She could barely make out the faintest slivers of light beyond the door frames that lined the back wall. Her footsteps paused when one of the doors swung open, a reddish glow spilling into the corridor briefly before shadows moved, growing larger as they moved closer. Ava turned just as a pair exited the room, pretending as though she were checking her phone while she stole glances over her shoulder. She could only make out the stagger of feet on a limp body. Strappy heels dangled on ankles too weak to support themselves, being led away from the thumping music and expensive drinks to go . . . some place else. <br/>
</span><br/><div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><b> 1 New Message From: Whatever</b><br/>
<b> Need to go behind the DJ booth. Meet me by the bathrooms.</b> </span>​</div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><br/>
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Ava stayed hidden, using the crowd to her advantage to conceal herself from the watchful eyes of the patiently waiting Vampire in the VIP section. Her hunch renewed, she began to think that it was possible that there could have been other operations like this, luring unsuspecting men and women to dark corners to be used for sustenance. It was just as possible that Scarlett had stumbled upon it, that she was somewhere at the mercy of bloodsuckers. Though she would have liked to think that Scarlett was too sharp for such a ploy, she was often blinded by a good time. She just hoped whatever trouble she might have been in, that it wasn’t too late. </span>