Love And Deepspace

Captivating moment: Part 2 (Sylus)

I'm surprised Sylus takes me back to Linkon.

The motorcyle stops in a busting downtown area. I follow his into a building, and the elevator brings us to a magnificent, spacious lounge.

There's only one card table in the center of the room. Five people are already seated and playing cards.

A single glance is enough to tell me that one of them, a regal-looking old man, is an important figure in this game.

"Mr. Sylus, i thought you always preferred to be by yourself. Yet you brought a plus one this time." Kovi said, when he noticed me. "Nothing is impossible." Sylus said,

Everyone player's eyes focus on me. I force myself to stay calm and politely meet the sharp, emotionless gazes.

Sylus pulls out a chair for me. He sits to my right.

It doesn't take long for me to understand that when Sylus said they were playing cards, he actually meant he's be talkimg business with the people at the table.

"We're in the last round of betting. I assume you're ready to make a decision, Mr. Sylus." Kovi said, Sylus rolls a chip across his knuckles. Now i know that whenever he fiddles with something, his mind is quickly making calcutions.

"What if i want to raise the stakes?" He ask, "the key to playing cards is knowing when yo quit." Kovi said, "i always like to put everything on the line." Sylus tosses the chip in his hand into the pot. Then he pushes all his chips in front of him. "All in."

Kovi's eyes darken. He slightly raises his hand from the table. I hear a faint click of a firearm being loaded.

I immediately feel a chill run down my spine. I glance at Sylus. He looks at me with a a faint almost amused smile. He's waiting to see how i'll react.

"What about you, miss? It's not too late to fold." Kovi said to me, although i have no idea what business they're referring to, i can't lose face. I put on a relaxed smile. "You don't know what cards i'm holding, sir. Don't worry about me." I said calmly.

I push forward the chips on my side. "I'll call." I said, "you're bold for a novice." Sylus said, "ignorance is bliss." I replied convedence "Mr. Sylus's guest doesn't seem to know the rules." Kovi said,

"Oh, but sue didn't break any now, did she?" Sylus ask, "and Mr. Kovi, if you can't make up your mind, perhaps someone else should play."

A hushed silence encopasses the room, but the tension is palpable in the eerie quietness. A silent struggle is about to occur.

"....i'll call." Kovi said as the three of us reveal our cards one by one. In my hand, the two cards and three community cards from a straight flush. "Impressive." Sylus said in a low tone as he gave me a grin at made me smile.

I tug the corner of my mouth to create the most natural looking smile i can muster. I make eye contact with each person at the table.

"Beginner's luck, i suppose. Thank you for going easy on me." I said a bit nervously,

Kovi's eyes gleam like a venomus snake. The corner of his mouth is about to twitch.

My gut tells me this seemingly spacious room is rife with chilling, murderous intent.

"All's fair in gambling, Mr. Kovi. Isn't that part of the rules?" Sylus ask, "Sylus, why did you bring a girl to meddle in our affairs?" Kovi ask,

Kovi's bodyguard stands behind me. As he's about to move, i quickly react, pushing back my chair to knock him down and started beating him up.

The bodyguard is on the ground now. I hold the pistol he had on him.

I swiftly remove the magazine from it, and the bullets scatter onto the carpet.