"Are you serious? That man is a pig." Jaq's voice trembles with anger as he hears the news of what Duke has done to Cordelia.

"I know, he's despicable," I reply, my own anger rising at the thought of Duke's actions.

A buzz from the monitor catches my attention, reminding me that room three needs cleaning now that its occupants have left.

"Let's get to it then," I say to Jaq, and we make our way to the vacant room.

As we enter, we see that both occupants are still inside. The woman appears to be fixing her hair with a triumphant smile on her face, while the man is only in his boxers, tending to a few gashes on his back.

"Sorry for the interruption, we thought the room was empty," Jaq says politely when the woman notices us.

"Oh, that's quite all right. We're finished here anyway," she replies nonchalantly before turning to her companion. "Had a great time sugar, be a good boy now." She gives him a flirtatious wink before exiting the room.

The man looks uncomfortable and I can't help but feel sorry for him. "Are you all right?" I ask gently.

He glances over his shoulder at me. "I'll be fine," he responds with a small smile.

My eyes widen in shock as I take in the healing wounds on his back. "Perk of being a supernatural," he explains with a soft chuckle. "Some of us have healing attributes."

Jaq and I exchange shocked glances. A supernatural being, right here in front of us. My stepmother may have paid for obedient supernatural's, but I've never actually met one in person.

"Sorry," I blurt out, not knowing why I'm apologizing.

"It's no problem. My name is Brick Myers. And yes, I am a vampire." He introduces himself with a calm confidence.

Both Jaq and I are still in shock. A real life vampire. We knew that supernatural beings existed, but to actually meet one is a whole different level of surreal.

"I'm not going to bite you or anything," Brick reassures us with a small laugh.

Jaq and I both give nervous chuckles in response. "Nice to meet you though," I say, extending my hand. "I'm Cynthia, and this is my best friend Jaq."

Brick shakes our hands before excusing himself. "You two better get to work before we get caught slacking," he says with a gentle smile.

As he leaves the room, Jaq and I exchange wide-eyed looks. Meeting a vampire was definitely not something we expected tonight.

The clock struck midnight, signaling the start of another night at The Glass Slipper. Jaq and I had been working tirelessly to keep the place clean, but it seemed like as soon as we finished one room, another needed our attention. The rich patrons who frequented this establishment were getting wasted and living out their depraved fantasies. It was a seedy world of kink and darkness, where men and women came to indulge in their most twisted desires.

But there was something different about the regulars who came here. They weren't just seeking pleasure or release; they craved power and control over those they took to these private rooms. And the screams that echoed through the halls would forever haunt me.

As the night wore on, the air became heavy with despair. The high and mighty strutted around with smug smiles, while the others left bruised, bloody, and stripped of their dignity.

Suddenly, a man's slurred voice broke through the din. "Hey cutie, how much do you cost?" he asked, his breath reeking of booze.

"I am not for sale," I replied flatly, hoping he would leave me alone.

"Oh come on now, everything is for sale in this place," he persisted, following me as I tried to escape into one of the rooms.

I frantically tried to lock the door behind me, but he was too fast and pushed his way in. The dimly lit room gave off a creepy vibe, making my skin crawl even more as he leered at me like I was a piece of meat.

"Now I think for the trouble you have caused, I should get a free sample," he slurred as he closed in on me.

"I am not for sale. Leave me alone!" I pleaded, fear coursing through my body.

But he didn't listen. He lunged towards me, shoving me against the wall with brute force. I could feel his weight pinning me down, the stench of alcohol and unwashed body overwhelming my senses. I struggled against him as he groped me, his foul breath hot on my face.

With all my strength, I manage to break free and deliver a fierce blow to his groin. He grunts and falls to the ground, giving me a chance to run. But before I can get far, he grabs me from behind and throws me forcefully against the wall. Pain shoots through my face as it makes contact with the hard surface, and black spots cloud my vision.

As my body goes limp and darkness threatens to consume me, a deep growl fills the air. The man's weight lifts off of me abruptly and there is shuffling and muffled voices. I struggle to keep my eyes open, feeling a faint sensation on my cheek as if someone is trying to wake me up.

The room continues to spin and the pain in my head becomes unbearable. But then I smell something sweet and comforting, like fresh apple pie. Through my blurred sight, I can make out a dark figure leaning over me. His eyes are a stormy gray, like clouds on a rainy day.

I try to focus on him, but the pounding in my head intensifies and I let myself slip back into the darkness. Before I fully lose consciousness, I swear I feel the brush of someone's tongue against my cheek. And then everything fades away.