Chapter 4 — Echoes in the Velvet Shadows

Thea Larkson

Thea Larkson stepped out of the sleek black sedan onto the cobbled street, her heels striking the pavement in precise, measured clicks. The Velvet Ember loomed ahead, its façade unassuming yet elegant, blending seamlessly with the upscale urban nightlife scene. A discreet brass sign above the entrance gleamed faintly under the soft glow of streetlights, understated yet impossible to ignore. From within, a bassline pulsed steadily, low and rhythmic, like a heartbeat just beneath the skin.