The Crown in the Storm ✔️

Inebriated

I put on a pair of glasses to finish the look.
"You look unrecognizable..." Rania said, trying to muffle her laughter. I glared at her. She had made me a vixen. I usually shied away from heavy makeup but Rania had piled it on. I looked at my doe-eyed, bold lip look and pouted.

"Ready to go?" Zaroon asked, from behind the door. I adjusted my top and fluffed my hair.
"Wonder what he'll think..." Hania muttered, her voice low.
Ignoring them I stepped out into the corridor. Both Zaroon and Salaar paused to look at me while Izzy groaned.
"Could you have tried to make her look a lot less conspicuous? We want to avoid attention" he said, his eyes darting to Hania. She crossed her arms at the comment.
"It's a club party... for young people. I look fine" I said.
"For young people... how old are you again?" He said with a slight laugh. We walked towards the car Uncle EJ had procured for us. Two guards stepped out of the shadows to open our doors.
I went over the plan in my head. Uncle EJ would be on the commlink, making sure to listen in to the conversation and make notes. Zaroon and the guards were to wait outside while Salaar and I went in. Aziz's friend was going to meet us at the door and he would introduce us to the group leader.
"You'll do great," Rania said kissing my cheek.
"Good luck," Hania said, patting my hand. Her eyes were guarded.
"Good luck Eli," Izzy said giving me a brief hug. "Knock them out" he whispered before he moved back, his smile back in place.

The drive to the place was nerve-racking. I was hoping and praying that Salaar could charm his way into the inner circle. The party was being held in an old university complex. The abandoned gym had been decorated to feel like a club. Students of all ages milled about, their expressions were eager.
"Great... hormonal twenty-year-olds" I muttered to Salaar.
"What else are they supposed to do? They have no jobs or careers"
"So partying is the answer? And we're the bad guys"

The car was parked in the furthest spot, away from the entrance. At Zaroons signal, we all placed our earpieces into our ears. He switched the main communication device on and ten seconds later I heard Uncle EJ's voice crackle in my ear.

'Hi... is this on? Can you hear me?'
'Can you hear me' I whispered.
'Yes, but speak louder'

I rolled my eyes. After the checks were completed, I grabbed the passes Aziz had given to us this morning and stepped out of the car. Salaar reached out to grab my hand and I slapped it away.
"You're my fiancée... I have to hold your hand" he said his hands held up.
"Trust me... the ring is enough," I said gesturing for him to walk to the entrance. He rolled his shoulders and we walked ahead.
"Oh Woah. Hi... uh, Aziz told me you guys were rich. Hi, my name's Jahi"
"Very nice to meet you," I said, ignoring his outstretched hand. Salaar shook his hand.
"My name's Sher and this is my fiancée" apparently I didn't have a name. Jahi nodded his eyes still on me.

'Sir, there's movement near the back doors... a black van is moving in' Joe, one of the guards, echoed in my ear.
'How many people?' Zaroon asked his voice tense.
'Three'
'Any weapons insight?' Uncle EJ asked.
"Nope..." I released a pent up breath.

"Are you okay? Trust me... it looks intimidating, but I'll teach you the ropes" Jahi said, puffing up his chest and leading us into the building.

'Why is Aziz friends with this guy' Uncle EJ commented.
'No idea' I muttered.

The entrance to the gym was lit up with small fairy lights along the walls. Jahi pushed the main doors open and we were swept into the most extravagant club setting I had seen in my life. The whole place was lit up with dark lights. Long single lights hung low from the ceiling. The stands had been placed to one end, stacked together to form a cubic formation. A fake balcony was placed in the middle with a black curtain obscuring the exit door. There were tables packed with food placed to the side. The whole gym was packed with people. The music blared out loud and bodies danced around one another. Happy, carefree.