(Angel Grove)
The sun dyed the sky of Angel Grove in warm hues. Trees and flowers bloomed, each competing for sunlight as bees drank deeply from their nectar. Nature performed its duty, as it always did.
That tranquility was disrupted by the revving of a car. A black jeep weaved through a secluded part of the city, its engine growling with intent. The car was naturally MJ's.
The girls had been riding for hours on their road trip. As for their destination—currently unknown. MJ still kept it a secret from Gwen and Kira.
Although they hadn't expected such a long journey from midnight until now, there were no real worries. This wasn't their first time. They had gone on dozens of road trips before.
And it wasn't boring or bland like one might expect. They ate junk food MJ bought and sang along to white-girl tunes blasting from the jeep's radio. It was fun.
But as morning hit, Gwen and Kira were fast asleep. Only Mary Jane remained awake. She had to drive them—and more importantly, they were the goods she had to deliver. She couldn't afford to slack off.
Gwen's head rested perfectly against the backseat, with Kira's head on her lap, both girls deep in sleep. Their breaths were low and steady, showing how comfortable the nap was—perhaps even hinting at pleasant dreams. It felt as though nothing could ruin the ambience of the moment.
Mary Jane's eyes stayed fixed on the road ahead. Her hands steered the wheel with fluid precision, while her fingers tapped lightly against the leather, betraying her anxiety. At intervals, she glanced back at her friends, as if afraid they might vanish.
An hour passed on the sparse road. Then a magnificent structure appeared before MJ—a castle. Medieval. Ancient. So grand and weathered that one might mistake it for a royal family's abode. Yet, despite its majesty, it was eerily silent, exuding an aura that could unsettle the weak-minded.
Seeing the familiar building, MJ let out a sigh of relief. She had finally reached her destination. All that remained was to bring Gwen and Kira to Necrolai.
"I'll finally be able to feed," she beamed internally, licking her red lips and swallowing. It was almost as if the blood was already before her—all she had to do was drink.
Parking near the castle in a modest, space, Mary Jane stepped on the brake, stopping the jeep with a slight jolt.
Gwen's eyes fluttered open instantly, her impressive awareness—Spider-Sense—reacting to the sudden change. Kira wasn't far behind. Her entire constitution was like that of a pterodactyl; she noticed everything, even in sleep.
"Are we there yet?" Kira asked, yawning as she struggled to open her eyes.
Gwen, fully awake in contrast to Kira's grogginess, stared ahead in shock. "Yeah… I think so. You might wanna look at this, Kira."
Silence followed those words. Then—
"Uhn… fine," Kira groaned, annoyed that her beauty sleep had been interrupted. Still, curiosity won out. She leaned forward, wanting to see what had caused such a reaction from Gwen.
As her head snapped up, Kira froze. Before her stood one of the most magnificent buildings she had ever seen.
"Am I lucid dreaming?" she muttered, rubbing her sleepy eyes twice to confirm she was awake. The sight was simply too unreal.
Gwen wasn't much better, but Kira's words made her chuckle softly.
Studying the structure more carefully, Gwen understood Kira's shock. This "secret place" was far beyond what they had expected. She had assumed it would be some rich kid's party—like most of their secret outings—but this… this was something else entirely.
Mary Jane laughed at their reactions, clearly pleased. "Haha, chill, girlies. The fun hasn't even begun yet. Let's get inside first. I promise you, this is going to be the best time of your lives. Trust me."
Gwen and Kira exchanged glances, then nodded. Despite the many questions burning in their minds, they chose to believe their friend—for now. There would be time to ask later.
Mary Jane stepped out of the car first, her skin-tight black dress outlining her figure. Sunlight reflected off her face as she looked back at Gwen and Kira, white teeth curving into a smile.
"Let's go in," MJ said, tilting her head toward the castle, inviting them to follow.
Gwen and Kira didn't waste any time climbing out of the car. Since it was parked outside the castle grounds, they had to walk a little farther. That was when something strange happened.
Gwen shivered. Her Spider-Sense tingled violently. Her head snapped up toward the castle, vigilance clouding her eyes as her thoughts spun. Hmm… someone's watching me.
She scanned the area, trying to find the source—but found nothing. Still, the reaction didn't go unnoticed by Kira and MJ.
"Gwen, what's wrong?" Kira asked, worry lacing her voice.
Gwen stiffened, momentarily flustered. Not wanting to alarm her friends, she improvised.
"It's nothing," she said quickly. "Probably because we were in the car for so long. The morning wind just got to me." Her face strained as she tried to mask her earlier reaction.
MJ frowned. She knew Gwen was lying. She had felt the gaze too—one that was all too familiar.
She glanced upward toward its source and subtly bared her teeth, unseen by the two beside her.
Almost instantly, the gaze retreated, as if intimidated by MJ's silent show of dominance.
Seconds later, the three muske—cough—friends reached the castle gate. It was black, towering, and adorned with mysterious carvings, its height making them feel insignificant.
Sensing the aura emanating from it, Gwen and Kira grew uneasy. After days of training at the base, their sensitivity to such things had sharpened.
They were certain they didn't like this aura—but they still intended to enter.
The gate creaked open automatically, as if sensing their presence.
Screech!
The gate emitted a loud metallic screech as it opened, the sound grating and ominous—like stepping into a boss room in a horror game.
MJ maintained her smile and led them both inside.
A large, spacious courtyard unfolded before them. It was so wide that one could easily build several basketball courts within it. Rows of cars were parked neatly at each end, while a sleek black helicopter rested ominously in the middle.
Gwen and Kira kept their composure, but their minds churned with thoughts known only to them.
As they approached one of the entrance doors, they noticed a tall, pale man stationed there like a statue.
"Hmm… the bodyguard's pale too. Just like MJ. Is this some cult?"
The thought flashed through Kira's mind.
Each stop made the entire "secret" feel shadier, but she had no concrete proof yet. Still, she was certain they'd find out soon.
Reaching the entrance, MJ handed the pale bodyguard a black card engraved with a strange bat insignia.
The moment he saw it, his expression shifted to one of respect. He bowed slightly and gestured inward.
"Please, follow me, Mistress."
MJ nodded and stepped inside. Gwen and Kira followed instinctively, but the guard raised a hand, stopping them.
"They're with me," MJ said, her voice carrying unmistakable authority.
The guard didn't dare hesitate and immediately stepped aside. From the card she had given him, the authority of the Mistress clearly outweighed his own.
Gwen and Kira exchanged stunned looks. They had never heard that tone from their friend before—domineering, cold, and unsettlingly unfamiliar.
Shaking off their thoughts. They walked in.
The moment they entered, it felt as though they'd entered an entirely different world.
The atmosphere was gloomy and archaic. Candle-lit chandeliers hung at intervals along the vast hall, casting flickering shadows along the walls.
Handsome men and women with sharp, distinct features filled the space, socializing casually. In their hands were glasses of red wine or ornate pastries. Even stranger—they were all dressed in black, and every single one of them had pale skin.
Then, as if their arrival triggered a chain reaction, the entire hall fell silent.
Dozens of gazes snapped toward them—no, toward Gwen and Kira.
The emotions behind those stares were overwhelming: hunger, disdain, envy, pity… and far more unsettling things layered beneath.
It all happened in an instant, but as trained heroes, Gwen and Kira noticed everything. They instinctively glanced at each other, their thoughts unspoken. Meanwhile, MJ completely ignored the stares, as though everyone present was beneath her notice.
"M-J… are you sure we came to the right place?" Gwen whispered. "I'm pretty sure we look like clowns right now."
MJ smiled, as though she had been expecting the question. Her tone was relaxed, almost playful.
"Oh~? What makes you think I'd bring you to the wrong place, Gwen? Don't you trust me anymore?"
Kira chimed in quickly. "Come on, babe, we trust you. It's just that we kinda look out of place in such a gloo—uh, I mean luxurious setting."
Gwen nodded. That was exactly it.
"No need to worry, girlies. We're not staying on this floor, if that's what you're worried about," MJ replied smoothly. "We're heading somewhere more private."
That eased their tension. If they weren't staying in the ballroom, then it wasn't so bad.
MJ led them toward an elevator tucked into a corner of the hall. As they passed attendants, couples, and various guests—men and women alike—each one bowed respectfully to Mary Jane. Gwen and Kira could only sigh internally. Their friend's social standing here was far higher than they'd imagined.
Minutes later, they stood before golden elevator doors. They stepped inside, and MJ calmly input the number for the lowest floor.
HUMM!
The doors slid shut, and the elevator descended with a low mechanical hum.
Five minutes later, it opened onto a floor drenched in darkness—dark enough to unsettle even the bravest.
Gwen and Kira narrowed their eyes at the oppressive atmosphere but said nothing. No questions. No complaints.
In fact, part of them was curious—anticipating the place MJ promised they'd never forget.
"Let's go. We're almost there," MJ said, her eyes flashing red for a brief moment—unseen by the two behind her—as she led them toward a rocky stairway lit only by flickering fire lamps.
Kira frowned slightly and finally spoke. "Uhm… is there a party going on down here too?"
"Yeah," MJ replied without hesitation. "It's exclusive to VIPs."
The lie rolled off her tongue effortlessly.
Kira said nothing more.
Minutes later, a handsome man of average height appeared ahead, standing calmly in the middle of the path, a smile playing on his lips.
"If it isn't our little cub," he said pleasantly. "Did you have fun last time? And oh… are these your precious friends?"
His gaze lingered on Gwen and Kira behind MJ, slow and assessing.
"What do you want, Deacon?" MJ replied coldly.
It was Deacon Frost.
Deacon raised both hands slightly, his smile turning placating. "Now, now… no need to be so cold. What happened back then was necessary. It wasn't my fault—it was an important custom. You know that."
MJ let out a quiet snort, her expression filled with open disdain. She didn't bother replying. Instead, she walked past him without sparing him another glance, Gwen and Kira following closely behind her.
Deacon turned his head, watching their retreating figures for a moment before shaking his head slowly.
Then his gaze shifted, locking onto Gwen and Kira's backs. His expression darkened, eyes glinting with intrigue.
"It seems we're having new additions to the clan…" he muttered under his breath.
Then, after a brief pause, another thought crossed his mind.
"Taking untrained humans as sheep… I wonder what the Queen is planning."
As the thought faded, so did he—his form dissolving seamlessly into the surrounding darkness.
--- ✦ ---
It's a new week, guys. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. This chapter might be boring, but it's a very important piece of later plot lines. I hope my readers can bear with me. I am also trying to update two chapters in a day, but it's not easy since I have to edit also. I'll try my best to do that soon.