ARCANUM

PROLOGUE

Cold weather. The air is always cold. Even though the sun is shining, the cold air always blows all day, all year round. Everyone who walked was wearing a thick coat with a scarf wrapped around the neck. It hasn't snowed yet, but the temperature has almost reached 0 degrees Celsius.

Despite the cold air, no one seemed bothered by it. Pedestrians are used to this cold air. They walked nonchalantly on the wet pavement from last night's rain.

They all walked briskly without turning their heads, looking straight at their destination. A man dressed in the same clothes that most people wear. A black long coat with a matching colored scarf was wrapped around his neck, covering part of his face. The collar of the coat is raised high to keep out the air. His hands were tucked into his coat pockets for warmth. He walked briskly then turned toward one of the buildings with a single neon light shining quite brightly against the gloomy atmosphere of the afternoon.

Once in front of the door, he said something to the two burly people guarding the front. The mist came out of his mouth with his every word. Recognizing him, the two guards shifted to make room for the man who was no less tall than them to enter through the door behind them.

The door opened, and the man entered without hesitation into a dimly lit hallway. Steadily, he descended the stairs that led to the closed wooden door below. The man stopped right in front of the door and took his hand out of his pocket. Raised it and knocked on the brown door 3 times.

*knock *knock *knock

In the middle of the door was a small slit that opened, revealing a pair of eyes that looked at the newcomer who had just given a signal. The man lowered his scarf from his chin, so his face could be seen clearly by the pair of eyes.

After staring at the revealed face, the small gap in the door closed. Not long after, the sound of a lock turning and the door swung wide open for the man, who was now hiding a bit of his face behind a scarf.

An exotic song echoed behind the door the man had just walked through. Walking further into the room with the red light dimly lit, he came to a long bar table and immediately sat down on the empty stool in front of him. The bartender came to take orders from the gentleman who had just arrived at his table.

"Death in the Afternoon," The man said as he took off his scarf at the bartender, who nodded and then left.

"You'll be definitely a Death in this Afternoon," An exotic voice sounded from beside the man who turned his head in the direction of that voice. A woman who wore a tight dress that clearly shaped her body with a low cut that showed her cleavage gave a seductive smile from her blood-red lips.

"Well. I think that statement is more suitable for you," replied the brown-haired man, smiling back at the sexy woman who was now standing close to him.

"Or maybe we can become each other's Death in the Afternoon?" The woman asked as she raised her hand and gently stroked the man's shoulder.

Before the man could answer or react, the bartender came and placed the cocktail glass made of Absinthe and Champagne in front of him. The man reached for his glass and smiled as the woman's hand, who dressed in red to match her lipstick, slipped into the collar of his coat. He only raised an eyebrow before taking a sip of the drink he ordered.

As soon as the yellowish-green drink passed through his lips and past his throat, he was relieved because soon, the warmth from his stomach would rise and warm his body.

After the man with the black eyes moved the glass away from his lips, the woman brought her face so close that they could feel the warm breath coming out of their noses. Before their lips met, the woman shifted her face slightly and turned her lips past the handsome man's cold cheeks aiming for his ear.

"Or we can head to heaven," The woman whispered with a slight moan. Her breath tickled the man's ear, causing him to tilt his head slightly, but then he brought his lips close to the woman's ear, who had now lowered her hand and rubbed the man's thigh at a dangerous distance with the warmest territory of his body.

"I'll love to, but..." The man replied and pulled his face to meet the eyes of the woman whose pupils had turned dark and continued, "I still want to enjoy the view here,"

The woman smirked, raised one eyebrow, and tilted her head but didn't move her hand that was still stroking the man's strong thigh. "I can give a more interesting spectacle. Even you will be able to feel the pleasure," replied the blonde-haired woman in a seductive voice.

"I believe you can do it," The man replied, rubbing the back of his finger on the woman's bare arm who was smiling.

"Then don't waste any more time," The woman replied with a sigh and closed her eyes as the fingers of the man sitting in front of her, ran to her arms up and down, making the hairs on her neck stand up.

"Not today," replied the man shortly as he stood up from his seat.

Because the woman was standing so close to him, her breasts rubbed against the broad chest of the man who was now standing in front of her.

"Ehm..." The woman groaned slightly as her dress-covered nipples felt the taller man's firm chest. But since she was wearing stiletto heels, they were almost the same height. The woman took advantage of the closeness of their bodies. She leaned forward to put more pressure on her breasts against the man's muscles. While her hand slipped back into the man's long black coat before slipping and touched the chain that was wrapped around the handsome man's neck.

"Maybe next time," The man said before shifting and stepping away from the woman and the bar counter after placing the money on it.

"Wait. At least give me your name," The woman said, holding his elbow to stop him.

"Lisandro Manoban,"