Midnight Veil

QUEENS, NIGHT

Queens at night is truly a sight to behold. The city comes alive with the hustle and bustle of its eclectic neighborhoods, each offering a unique vibe and energy after dark. From the trendy bars and restaurants in Astoria to the vibrant nightlife scene in Long Island City, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The neon lights of Times Square reflect off the East River, creating a dazzling display of colors against the Manhattan skyline.

As ordinary people stroll through the streets going about their business, a whole other world awakens in the dark.

A man exits a dollar store and takes a swig from a can of beer. He catches a glimpse of something and looks up. A large group of bats fly over the rooftops at high speeds followed by 3 big creatures that look like wolves. The man looks down at his beer.

"What did they put in this thing?"

~~~

The bats dive into an alleyway and reform into a man. Exhausted he takes a deep breath before he turns to start running again but a woman drops in front of him.

Her eyes flash yellow, "This is as far as you go, Mark,"

Mark looks behind him and sees two men, also with glowing yellow eyes, blocking his way.

Mark jumps up and tries to fly away but nothing happens. He falls back to the ground and looks at his hands confused, "What!?!"

"Did you really think the boss would send us empty-handed," She chuckles showing him a rock with a rune engraved on it. She signals for the guys to get him.

"Okay hold on a second, Jules," Mark says panicked, "All of this because I killed a couple of humans? We already own this city. Why care for the humans?"

Jules growls, "That's not for you to decide, plus that's not the only rule you broke, is it?"

Mark pales as one of the guys grabs him and breaks his neck.

~~~

"Where are we going?" A girl asks the guy with her as they walk towards a building. She looks up at the bright neon sign that reads Midnight Veil.

"Somewhere we can let loose," He tells her. They walk in.

She gives him a puzzled look, "It's a hotel,"

They walk through the lobby, the guy greeting the woman at the front desk with a nod, heading for the elevator. Once inside he presses the button for the basement.

The girl chuckles getting nervous, "You're not a serial killer are you?"

"Why would you think that?"

"I don't know maybe it's the fact that you are taking to the basement of a hotel that I don't know?"

He laughs taking out a red card from his pocket and shows her, "We are going to a secret underground club,"

She breathes out a sigh of relief, "How did you find it if it's a secret?"

He shrugs, "I have my ways," the doors open and they walk out into a narrow hallway with a door at the end guarded by a bouncer. The closer they got to the door the more they heard loud music coming from the other end of the door.

"Card?" The bouncer asks and the man gives it to him. The bouncer chuckles lightly and hands it back to him. "Enjoy your night," He smiles at them. The girl catches a glimpse of his unusually long canines before her senses are overloaded by loud music and flashing lights when the door opens.

On a bench in the VIP section, two people can be seen making out heavily. The girl hops on the guy's lap and deepens the kiss.

Thalia walks over to them and groans in disgust, "Oh come on, Bella, " The two separate quickly, "You couldn't take it to your room?" she glares at the guy who looks away.

"I'm sorry mum," Bella apologises.

"You're walking on thin ice here Jack. Don't think you won't go to the Rack just because you are dating my daughter and are one of my Hybrids, " Thalia tells him sternly.

Jack gulps, "It won't happen again, ma'am,"

Thalia nods, "Good, as long as we understand each other we're good," She sits next to Bella, "Now go grab me a drink,"

Jack bolts out of there real fast. Bella turns to her mother with a frown, "Did you have to scare him like that?"

Thalia smiles, "Of course I did. It's my job as your mother and it's fun,"

Jack returns with a bottle of Bourbon, two glasses, and a can of Coca-Cola. He sets them on the table and takes the seat in front of them.

Bella sighs as she takes the can, "When are you going to let me drink? I'm 19 already,"

Thalia takes the glass that Jack poured for her, "When you reach the legal drinking age," She takes a sip.

"Since when do you care about human rules?" Bella asks.

"Since this one applies to my very human daughter," Thalia retorts.

"Incendia," Bella mutters and Thalia's drink goes up in flames.

She groans putting down the flaming glass and picking up the bottle, "Very funny, Isabella,"

She gets up and walks to the railing. She makes eye contact with the DJ and nods. He nods back picking up a party horn and sounds the dinner bell.

Screams ring out from the crowd, only to be drowned by the loud music, as the vampires and Hybrids start to feed.

Two of the girls working the bar enter the VIP section. One offers her neck to Thalia who sinks her teeth in and the other walks over to Jack. When she had her fill she gave the wound a lick and watched it close.

Thalia sees Jules walk in dragging a bound and gagged Mark.

"The man of the hour has finally arrived," Thalia says as Jules drops him at her feet followed by her two men. She crouches down and removes the gag.

"I-i-I know I broke the rules and messed up, " Thalia nods at that, "But I promise you it won't happen again. I--, "

Thalia cuts him off by gagging him, "You know I created places like these all over the city for a reason. You decided that wasn't enough and drained 25 people putting the city into panic," She stands up and goes back to her seat, "Now that is not unfixable we tell the NYPD to tell the people that they are looking for the serial killer and a week later they put the blame on a random criminal from the streets and you spend a few years on the Rack. Simple right?" Mark nods, "But then you went ahead and broke the most important rule of all, killing one of our own when you were caught red-handed,"

Mark whimpers as he stares at the rage behind Thalia's eyes. Jules grabs his head and his eyes widen.

"That is a crime punishable by death," Jules rips his head off. His body slumps over and Jules drops the head next to it. One of the guys picks up the body plus the head and departs.

"Any word from Ashley?" Thalia asks.

"Just that she's found a way to open the tomb," Jules answers.

"That's one good news at least. Still nothing on the Mikealsons?"

"All that we found was rumors of Elijah which we are looking into as we speak," Jules tells her.

"Good keep doing that and while you are on it start spreading the word of a Doppelganger in Mystic Falls. That'll draw him out," Jules nods and leaves. "we will meet again soon Klaus Mikealson,"

End Of Chapter