CHAPTER 32: CH 32: WOW.

Levi walked out of his room with one thought,

’Damn, I look good.’

"Wow, you really took dress to impress seriously."

Jace said as he leaned against the wall in the corridor.

Jace was clad in a similar crisp tux but only with a cherry red shirt underneath.

"This shit looks expensive, Why’d the division spend so much on tuxedos?"

Levi asked.

"Because even though we’re supposed to be soldiers and warriors even we deserve nice things," he said as he wiped off imaginary lint from his sleeves.

As they still discussed in the narrow corridor, someone else came into view.

Her dress was a soft crimson, smooth as silk and cut just above the knee—short enough to turn heads and make any man look twice.

The neckline dipped gently, framing her collarbones with effortless grace, while the back swept low in a clean curve that stopped just above the waist and made Levi question how he didn’t notice it earlier but Claire was breathtakingly beautiful.

The fabric hugged her lightly, flowing with each step like it had memorized her rhythm. A single silver clasp held the dress at the nape of her neck, catching the light like a magnet.

Her heels were nude, barely-there and silent, and her hair was pulled into a loose bun with a few strands left to frame her face.

With every step came a quiet sway of her hips that seemed almost deliberate.

Jace and Levi held their breaths as both their brains managed to short-circuit yet resonate at the same time.

Unconsciously, they both opened their mouths but what came out in unison was "damn."

She finally closed the distance between them as she snapped her fingers repeatedly in their faces to shake them out of thought.

They shook their heads.

She smirked like her wicked plan was successful, she pointed a finger at the corner of her red glossed and glittering lips, mocking Jace, "you have a little something, there."

Jace, swiped his mouth, returning to his stoic expression.

Levi, huffed and tugged on his jacket, "so, you guys ready for this?"

There was no response from either, leaving an eerie silence between them.

At a beat, Claire spoke, opening her palm to reveal three sets of comms.

"Just in case we need to keep in touch and so no one else knows about it."

The two guys gave a slight nod before taking the comm and placing it into their ears.

"So who else is coming with us?"

Levi asked, a question directed for Jace.

Jace turned to him, "Other than the three of us, we have Selene, Mr Manhattan, Zack— the lead scientist and two other elites."

Levi raised a brow, "There’s Zack but there’s no Umbra? Why?"

Claire answered instead, "Because Zack’s a brilliant scientist who’s discovered more things about the Vampire anatomy than any other scientist.

But Umbra’s more of a failed science experiment, she’s always being sent on constant missions just so they don’t have to keep her around and she never argues."

Jace dragged a hand across his face.

"Although that was very insensitive, it is true—"

"How old is Zack? He looks like a teenager and acts like one too."

Jace answered, "looks aside, he’s beyond brilliant and the story of Zack is one for another time."

They glanced at each other, a silent preparation for what was about to happen.

Then walked through the halls together, each step heavy with purpose yet as elegant as royalty.

---

They finally reached the garage area where an already dressed up Mr Manhattan stood beside Zack.

Mr Manhattan had on a long yet stylish coat that covered most of his frame, his hair was dragged back and his beard well trimmed if it wasn’t for his eye patch he would’ve looked normal.

Zack next to him, sported a white shirt and a form fitting vest and a tie that complimented everything and yet his curly hair was still disheveled as he fidgeted with his glasses.

In front of them were two night black SUVs with tinted glass and made a material that seemed more than bulletproof.

Then she came.

Selene stepped in the garage like dusk—quiet, smooth, and impossible to ignore.

Her dress was a deep sapphire blue, almost black under low light, but catching glimmers of silver whenever she moved. It was sleeveless, with a neckline that dipped in a soft curve.

The back swept low, revealing the clean line of her spine— and flawless skin, framed by two thin straps that crossed just below her shoulders.

The hem of the dress stopped just above the knees leaving the eyes enough time to stare before hypnotised by silver heels that shimmered faintly with each step, silent and sharp.

Her hair was pulled into a low twist, neat and deliberate, with a single strand left loose to soften her jawline. A pair of small diamond studs sat on her ears—nothing flashy, just enough to catch the light when she turned her head.

With every step it felt like the world slowed down and let him notice every single detail about her.

From the ivory skin to the golden brown hair, the upturned emerald green eyes that seemed to draw him close like a moth to a flame and finally the slight freckles on her cheeks partially covered with blush.

Before long she covered the distance between them leaving Levi continuously staring at her with the thought, ’Wow.’

The girls were really dressed to impress tonight.

Levi shook the thought out of his head, today was for finding answers only and nothing more but as she walked up to him he lost all composure.

A jasmine smell that made him float off this plane of existence for a silent second before slapping himself mentally and coming back down.

’Focus, Levi focus.’

"Alright, we’re all here and we all look good," Mr Manhattan said with a cold tone, "now let’s move out."

Just before they opened the doors of the cars, Levi ’mistakenly’ steps on Mr Manhattan.

"Oh shit, my bad," he immediately apologized, feigning sincerity, "I’m so sorry."

Mr Manhattan said nothing but threw him a casual smile that said, "I’m fine."

Levi stuck out his right hand, with the ring, sporting a deceitful smile, "Are we good?"

Mr Manhattan met Levi’s grip with his at the centre.

A firm handshake with more than just one purpose.

Mr Manhattan tried to pull back his hand, but Levi held him a second longer.

’Shit, it’s not done yet—"

Before he could finish that thought, he felt the circumference of the ring shrink slightly and let go.

The cold shiver that was once crawling up his spine dissipated.

’This is gonna be a lot harder than I thought.’