23. Levi

Fifteen minutes later, Levi stepped out of the doors and looked around. There were no cars waiting by the valet service. Where was he?

"Excusez-moi, mais êtes-vous, Levi?" Excuse me, but are you, Levi? a man asked, standing next to a taxi.

Levi looked around. Peabody was nowhere to be seen.

"Oui, je suis," Levi responded. Was Peabody waiting for him inside the cab?"I'm looking for my friend." Levi switched to English.

"Mr. Peabody asked that I give you a lift to his place. He was sorry, but he had something urgent to take care of, but said that he would be at his home when you arrived. I'm here to take you to him now. So, please, hop in." The man's English was shaky, but Levi had no trouble understanding him.

The man stepped around the car and opened the back door.

"Après vous," the man said, gesturing for Levi to step inside.

A moment of panic rose. Something didn't smell right. Why was Peabody sending him over in a taxi? Probably because now, there's nothing connecting him to your disappearance.

No way.

Peabody was too gentle a man to ever hurt anyone. Levi was going to prove that to everyone tonight. Sure, be naive. See how long you last when he decides to drug you, then wear your skin as a hat. Another chill ran down his spine.

What was he getting himself into?

"Is everything alright, sir?" the taxi driver asked, no doubt wondering why Levi was still standing next to the door instead of getting in.

"Umm, oui. Yes, everything is alright," he said, ducking his head and stepping into the car.

He took one last glance at the structure he had come to call home. The lights and laughter and music filled every inch of the brightly lit windows. He loved this place and the people who came with it. They were his family. He hoped that he would get to see them again… soon.

Levi reached into his back pocket and pulled out his cell phone as the taxi left the chateau. He debated texting Chase but feared that Chase would try and stop him from doing what needed to be done. No. Matteo could let Chase know when the time was right.

Forty-five minutes later, Levi got out of the taxi and made his way up the cobblestone pathway leading to the front door—French elegance at its finest.

Adjusting his shirt and jeans, trying his best to calm his nerves, he reached for the large copper knocker attached to the door and gave it a swing.

The knocker was in the shape of a large frowning face and looked like it had been pulled out of an Alice in Wonderland story—another one of Levi's favorite books. He half expected the damn thing to start talking to him. Perhaps warn him to run away and never try anything so bravely stupid again!

On the third knock, the door opened, and a smiling Peabody stepped into the light.

"Oh, you made it!" he cheered, stepping back and gesturing for Levi to come inside.

"Yeah, I was surprised that you didn't wait for me by the valet." Levi stepped inside and looked around the spacious foyer.

The house looked like it had been built at least a hundred years ago based on the wood paneling and massive chandeliers that hung from the ceiling.

"Yes, sorry, mon ami. I had some urgent business to attend to at home and couldn't wait around for you. Why don't you follow me into the living room, and we can get a bit more comfortable."

Levi nodded, then followed Mr. Peabody through the foyer and into a large sitting area that Levi could only assume was the living room. There was a large stone fireplace built into the frame of the house. The craftsmanship was like nothing Levi had ever seen before. He crouched down in front of the fixture and ran his fingers over the chiseled carvings.

"Wow. Incredible," Levi whispered, lost in the beauty of century-old craftsmanship.

Even though he lived in a French chateau covered in old-fashioned pieces of art, Levi never really took the time to admire the details and hard work that went into every room and every piece of furniture. He really needed to stop and take time to admire the beauty that surrounded his life. He was living the life of a fairytale; he should at least appreciate what he's got.

"Can I get you a glass of wine?" Peabody asked, already pouring Levi a glass from an open bottle on the glass coffee table.

"Oui, thank you," Levi said when passed the glass. "To us," he cheered, raising his glass slightly, being sure to keep his eyes locked on Peabody's. Breaking eye contact with those you salute was considered bad luck. And right now, he needed all the luck he could get.

"Yes, to us," Peabody replied, swallowing a sip of his wine and giving Levi another strange grin.

Peabody placed his glass down on the table and adjusted his argyle sweater vest.

Levi paused and stared at the man's navy blue and white checkered sweater. The man wasn't wearing that outfit when he was at the club. Odd. He must have changed when he arrived home.

Moving away from the couch, Peabody took a seat in the armchair across from where Levi was sitting.

Strange.

"Wouldn't you rather come sit closer to me?" Levi asked, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the distance growing between them. Even in La Maison, there was never this much distance between them. What changed?

"Oh, I'd rather sit over here and take you all in. You know, I find you one of the warmest people at the club. You are always so friendly, always smiling, always making sure that everyone is included."

Levi couldn't help but smile. That was so sweet to say. "Thank you, Mr. Peabody! That's so nice of you to say. You've always been such a gentleman, and I appreciate how you respect each of us at La Maison."

"This is why I think you will be an amazing addition to our close circle of friends," Peabody added.

Levi felt his head begin to get fuzzy. He looked over his shoulder. "What do you mean? What friends?"

"You'll meet them all soon enough. I've been telling them all about you these past few days while you and your friend were watching me from across the street."

"What?" Levi asked, his vision suddenly becoming blurry and his body beginning to tingle.

Something wasn't right.

The glass slipped from his hand and spilled onto the living room carpet. The red liquid painted the fibers next to the glass.

Panic set in. Something was very wrong. He couldn't focus. Some…

The wine!

There was something in his wine!

"What's…" Levi slurred, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out his cell phone.

"Don't worry. Everything will be alright. I'll take good care of you, mon ami. Just relax and let the drugs take you."

Levi watched as the blurry blob rose from the armchair and made its way toward him.

He couldn't… where was… he needed…

The room went black, and he felt himself fall into the abyss.