Chapter 2

     Friday afternoon had finally come, and Isabella and Ashley were shopping for dresses to wear to the party that night. Isabella was well-known for her frivolous spending habits. She never bothered to look when she pulled a card from her wallet to pay. She just trailed her manicured nails absently down the rows of endless cards and chose at random. Standing at the register, pure ecstasy flowed within her as she felt the smooth surface glide across her fingertips. She held it gingerly as she slid the thin piece of plastic through the machine.
    Turning her head, she could see Ashley jumping up and down, twirling the skirts of her scarlet red dress. Her eyes were bright and gleaming with excitement; her lips spread into a wide toothy grin. The blonde flung her arms around her neck, sending a flurry of curls into the younger girl's face.
    She stepped back a moment to look her friend in the eyes; her own were wide and sweet. "Do you really think it looks good on me?" She absentmindedly bit her lip as she waited for an answer.
    "It looks beautiful on you. You’re beautiful," Isabella reassured the insecure woman in front of her. Ashley twirled away smiling, finding herself in front of a mirror where she turned left and right scrutinizing herself. Her excitement was incredibly contagious, and Isabella could hardly help but feel excited herself. Isabella had already chosen a dress that matched the green of her eyes, and she could feel her own lips stretch into a smile and the feeling of anticipation for the night ahead of them.
    Upon discovery of the time, the two rushed to Isabella’s loft where they got ready. It was dark by the time they headed out, and the sky was lit with the city’s lights. They hailed a cab, and Isabella settled herself on the seat wrapping her coat tighter around her. She watched the lights streak across the window as the driver sped away to their destination. At night, the city felt like a dream. The luminous streets, humming  vehicles, patter of feet on the pavement, all felt so surreal.
    They knew they had the right place when they could feel the music beating out into the streets. The rooms were filled with writhing, twisting forms making it hard to move around. Some techno song that Ashley recognized began beating its contagious rhythm, and with a squeal Ashley pulled Isabella into the crowd to dance. After the song finished and another came beating out of the speakers, they made their way to the more open outskirts of the crowd.
    Strobes of light flashed across the room, and speakers beat out their rhythm from all sides. The majority of the floor was covered with a throng of people all writhing and grinding themselves amongst each other. Girls either swayed their hips in time or swayed from too much liquor. Either spectacle looked appealing to the guys with wandering hands and beer-goggles, their fingers just barely keeping their grip on the bottlenecks of their beers.
    This scene was hardly one that Isabella preferred. She didn't like the choice of liquor, and she didn't like the lot this sort of party attracted. She much preferred higher end nightclubs and A-list parties. She scowled when she saw the unsightly dancers doing everything but sex on the dance floor. She gripped the neck of her beer tightly and took a swig of the alcohol, closing her eyes to the sensations of the rhythm.
Leaning against a counter covered with alcoholic beverages and the remains of multiple plastic cups, Isabella and Ashley sipped their drinks as they waited for Jeremy.
    "This isn't the kind of parties you usually go to," Ashley said over the music.
    "I know," Isabella almost hissed as a drunk staggered and nearly toppled over her.      "This is more like a bunch of drunks and s***s in a frat house."
    "So why are we here?"
    "One of Jeremy's guys texted me about his party and asked me to come. I thought it would be better than this," she sighed heavily. "At least we can enjoy the music."
    "Finally! There you guys are," Jeremy peeled himself away from the mob.
    "When did you get here?" Isabella yelled over the music as she handed him a beer.
    "Just a few minutes ago."
    Isabella opened her mouth to say something else when someone shoved into her rather forcefully sending her into Jeremy.
    "Hey! Watch where you’re going!" Jeremy yelled.
    Isabella heard the guy scoff at Jeremy's outburst and continued through the crowd. She could only get a glimps of the back of his dark brown head and black clothes.
    "Man, some people are just jerks. Are you okay, Izzy?" He turned his attention to the girl in his arms.
    She was still staring at the spot where the crowd had swallowed the guy up. She couldn't help but hear the alarms going off in her head and the funny feeling in her gut.
    "Izzy? You okay?" he began to sound a bit concerned.
    Coming to her senses, she jerked her head up, "Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks."
    "Then would you like to dance?" he bowed over-extravagantly and extended a hand to either of them. "Ladies?"
    The girls giggled and took his hands. The music and the dancing pulled them into a world of flailing limbs and stomping feet most in sync and some off beat as the world they entered twisted and gyrated to the rhythm. Before long, they were gasping for breath, tired but not willing to stop. Jeremy pointed to his watch signaling his departure, and the two girls watched as he disappeared among the crowd.
    Ashley turned to Isabella, "I think we should go, too. I'm beat, and I have to be up early tomorrow. If you want, you could stay."
    Isabella frowned furrowing her eyebrows seriously thinking about it but decided against it. "It's all right. I'll leave. I'm tired, too." She pulled open her clutch to make sure she hadn't lost anything when she noticed something horrifying. "My wallet is gone! I had my key in there."
    "No!" She exclaimed. "I'll help you find it."
    She shook her head. "Don't worry about it. You have to be up early. I'll stay and look."
    Ashley looked unsure, "Will you be okay?"    
    Isabella smiled to reassure her, "I'll be fine. Go."
    She watched as her friend was absorbed into the crowd before she crouched low to the ground, scanning the floors through the ever-flickering strobe lights and trying to avoid being squashed. A half hour of searching proved fruitless, and she was about to give up when a flash of memory reminded her of something. The creep that bumped into her must have stolen her wallet.
    She stood on her toes trying to scan the top of the crowd without luck. She was too short. She found an empty chair by the wall and stood on the seat, and by pure chance she managed to spy a flash of dark brown hair and black clothing in between flashes of light. She could only hope it was the same guy. Scrambling off the chair and shoving her way through the crowd she tried to take pursuit. Isabella felt suffocated, claustrophobic. Someone puffed cigarette smoke in her face sending her into fits of coughing.
    She was lost in a violent, rolling sea of never ending bodies. She ended up spun around, dizzy, and with complete disbelief of her luck she caught sight of the black-clad figure again.
    His movements were lithe and smooth. Like a mist under night’s dark shroud, she thought. He turned and twisted effortlessly amongst the crowd going unseen and unheard. It was by pure chance she had caught sight of his movements once again. He melted into the shadows, and she followed after him.
    Isabella rounded a dark corner that she was sure he had gone; a quick and subtle hand shot out silencing her cry and pinned her out of sight.
    "Stealth is not your strong suit," his voice, thick with a mixture of European accents, was low and amused through faintly upturned lips. "I wouldn’t scream if I were you."
    He released his hold on her. She held her head low glaring upward at her assailant. He was a handsome sort and black was very becoming of him. His skin was tanned olive with dark hair that hung into his hazel eyes. Breathtaking feral eyes. She feared becoming entranced. He kept his head level as he cast his gaze down at her. She felt like a mouse in a trap being toyed with waiting for the cat to finally strike.
    "Usually the custom is to introduce yourself," smugness aired from his words.
    His hands loosened themselves on her shoulder as he slid one down the length of her torso. She shivered at his touch; her skin hot with rage and something else. He pulled it away and it reappeared in front of her face holding her wallet.
    "I believe this is yours, Miss Marquis."
    "How dare you!" she hissed.
    Her rage did not faze him the slightest. His lips were turned upward in a mocking smile, and his eyes looked hungry. He delicately tucked the wallet into one of her hands, closing the distance even further between them. His hands were placed on either side of her head with their bodies mere inches between. It was close enough that she could faintly smell the alcohol on his breath. It wasn't enough for him to be drunk.
    She composed herself, steeling against the sensations caused by his close proximity. "Who are you?"
    "I asked you first," he smirked.
    "Isabella Marquis. And you?"
    "It's a pleasure, Miss Marquis," he replied with false gallantry. "I am Lucius La Croix, but that is my father's name. You may refer to me as 'Luke.'"     
    She lifted her chin and fixated her gaze with the ferocity and the dignity known of the Marquis family. "Well, Mr. La Croix, what on earth possessed you to steal my wallet?"
    "If you must know, when I came to this party I had spotted the most beautiful girl in the room and took it upon myself to meet her, but as you've noticed, I'm a bit of a shy bloke, so I took the coward's road." His eyes drifted to other parts of her face, a smirk forming on his lips, "I have to say, my plan seems to have worked."
    One of his hands found its way to her neck, combing through her dark, wavy tresses on the way. It slid towards her shoulder as he whispered, "I'm beginning to question your manners, Miss Marquis. One would normally thank another when paid a compliment."
    His flesh would have been punctured had her sharp gaze been tangible. The rest of her face remained still. "If you would excuse me, it is really getting late, and I would love to be home right about now." She began to move away from him, but his hand held her shoulder fast.
    Isabella turned on him with the most menacing glare she could muster, the signature of both her brother and herself, expecting him to falter and release his hold, but he did not waver in the slightest. This infuriated her to no end, but it was not portrayed on her face.
    "No, no, Love. Don't look at me like that," he cooed. "I was only about to offer to walk you home. It's dangerous at this time of night for a lovely lady like yourself to tread the streets of New York alone."
    She snorted, "So I should let a philandering thief escort me home? Excuse me if I insist on declining your most gracious offer." With that, she tore his hand from her shoulder and determinedly made her way out of the building.
    She only took pause when she heard her name being called, an action she soon regretted.
    "Isabella, I'm sorry for my discourtesy. Please forgive me, or at least let me earn it by walking you home," Luke was at her side, his brows furrowed into a guilty expression. Nothing of the cocky womanizer was left to be seen. He was replaced instead with a boy who resembled a sweet-mannered gentleman rising suspicion for him rather than forgiveness.
    The humming of a motor and the sound of tires on the road alerted to her of the cab coming her way. Her fingers itched to flag the cab down before Luke could dissuade her further. Her arm had raised itself halfway before she fought all her senses and replaced the limb by her side. She made a mental note to chastise herself later as she watched the cab drive by in a yellow blur. A breath of air she unknowingly held was released in the finality of her decision.
    The heels of her shoes clicked as she turned to face Luke. Monotonously she addressed him, "Alright, Mr. La Croix. You may walk me home."
    A smile sprang to his lips as he offered his arm to her, "Then allow me."
    A faint smile flickered on her face as she took his arm, but inwardly she was just hoping that she would not be kicking herself about it later.

Author's Note

I guess I'm a little worried about the fluidity of this chapter. I hope you enjoy nevertheless.