Nightbound

Chapter 10- Lair of Luxury

"Excuse me? And you are telling us now?" I crossed my arms and gave Nik a hard stare.

Cal straightened up, "Old habits don't die, Ryder, do they?"

We were met with dirty looks thrown from angry silver eyes. I hated when he did that. I truly hated it. First of all, this was my second day in New Orleans, second day of being aware that another world literally existed along with mine where creatures spilled from fairy tales and nightmares lurked and apparently killed. Not to mention one such devil was riding for my death as well. And this man in front of me who alleged himself as my protector appeared to keep secrets about the world he was supposed to protect me!

How could he just drag us into a lavish, refined club without bothering to fill out that this was 'no-rules' zone. I have heard of such clubs existing all around the globe, and was fortunate enough to not visit them. However, my fortune might have just ended.

"This is where your nose brought us, wolf." Nik said in a flat voice, "Unless you want to forget baby Lowell here, we can just go. I never was fond of lair of luxury anyways."

Cal turned to me, "I knew about Club Persephone, but I never thought it was one of those places. In the World of Night, you tend to not bide by the rules but I...."

"You thought this be monitored heavily due to its popularity?" I suggested.

Cal nodded while Nik informed, "Make no mistake, this place is guarded. Guarded like you are protecting the Queen of Britain—even tighter. This is where rich leagues of Night and some very thrill-loving, all-aware humans come and play." He nodded at a rich guy who smiled and waved as if they knew each other, "And this is where you can get all the information you want, if you know how to move the right lurch."

We walked in the well-light hallways which were decorated with beautiful paintings on the either side of walls. Chandeliers hung above glinted with the sconces as people strolled in the red carpet laid beneath. The air was thick of perfumes—elegant and masculine, sometimes too much and chocking. I was glad I made myself presentable to be here and noticed few looks being cast on our direction. Nik moved like he owned the place—probably because he must have dropped here once or twice while Cal was alert, eyes darting every corner with hope of finding his brother.

The woman we met outside, Katherine had disappeared to the array of people parting to different ballrooms inside the gigantic club. Katherine definitely was a Nighthunter but I realised there were so many secrets to that kind that the surface was barely scratched. She and Nik really did have a history and I was too envious to find which kind it was.

Still, a shot must be taken.

"So...What's up with you and that woman?" I asked, shifting closer to him and allowing Cal to take a wide berth of the hallway which seemed to go on forever. Lair of Luxury indeed.

"Katherine?"

"She's a Nighthunter."

Nik looked at the ceiling, "Damn! I had no idea!"

I jabbed him for the sarcasm, "Tell me."

"It's nothing. She and I go way back to my early-teens when I joined League...uh was allowed to join League—there's a lot of process and you shouldn't divulge that mind into this." He stated, "Katy and I are more or less like batchmates. We were trained in the same sections and went on many mission together before..."

"Before?"

"Before life happened, Alex." He said with a hint of past remembrance, "Before she and I had to chose our own paths. Not everything in the world can be gained together. Sometimes—many times we have to seek lone paths."