16

Humans never rid themselves of savagery.

They simply hid it better.

Khalani stepped through the gate, her senses immediately on high alert as she looked around. They were in an abandoned alley, flanked by brick buildings on either side.

A rocky surface loomed overhead, at least a mile up. In the distance, a deep beat rumbled, and laughter echoed through the air. Her muscles tensed when several figures raced past the end of the alley, but no one seemed to notice their wide-eyed group.

Winnie jumped at the resounding bang behind them as Spade closed the iron bars to the sewer. He slid the keys into his pocket.

“Listen carefully,” Spade instructed. “I’ll lead you to one of our safehouses where you’ll stay for the night. It’s not far, but your outfits are very conspicuous and will attract attention. Fortunately, at this hour, most people are either at the casino or too drunk to stand straight. So keep your heads down and stay close behind me.”

Khalani took a deep breath, trying to calm her frayed nerves as they followed Spade.

They took a right turn at the end of the alley, emerging onto a vibrant cobblestone street. When she lifted her gaze, her blood pressure spiked, and Serene’s mouth formed an O next to her.

“Wow,” Winnie whispered.

Neon lights lit up a colorful street, illuminating extravagant storefronts that seemed to pulse with a life of their own. Raucous laughter filled the air, and a myriad of people roamed around with bottles of liquor in their hands.

The men wore impeccable, silky black and white tuxedos, while the women paraded along in skintight red and black dresses that rode up their thighs and revealed an abundance of cleavage.

Khalani crossed her arms over her chest, intrinsically aware of how out of place she looked in her dusty beige pants and oversized shirt. But the people strutting on the street ignored them, taking long swigs of their drinks and bumping into one another.

As she followed Spade, blinking neon signs in front of the strange shops caught her attention.

Stella’s Sweet Delights. Queen of Hearts Bar. Othelia’s Outfits. Sultry Sin. Laken’s Liquors. Dance with the Devil.

The sights, the smells—everything was an assault on her senses.

She gazed up at the dazzling lights and buildings, a strange dichotomy to the massive stone cavern Hermes resided in.

Khalani jumped as an inebriated couple pushed past her.

The man wore a crisp white suit as he hoisted a blonde woman into his arms. Her long legs wrapped around him, and she tilted her head back in bliss while he unabashedly sucked on her chest in front of everyone.

“You’re looking a little lonely. I can help with that.” A young man with baby blue eyes and long brown hair tied in a ponytail sidled up to her, the smell of liquor on his clothing overpowering.

Khalani tried to back away, but he tossed a heavy arm around her shoulders.

But in the next moment, he was abruptly shoved away, crashing to the cobblestone in a drunken heap. Several onlookers started cackling hysterically while the guy belched and struggled back to his feet.

He wasn’t even aware of the 6’5 Captain standing over him.

“Let’s go.” Takeshi didn’t waste another second and grabbed Khalani by the arm, steering her around the couple who started ripping each other’s clothes off in the middle of the street.

Once they were safely behind the group, Takeshi quickly released her.

Spade subtly glanced back, making sure they were still following, and continued to move forward, completely immune to the scenes of gluttony, sex, and debauchery surrounding them.

The contrast between Apollo and Hermes was evident in every square inch of the city, especially in its residents. Khalani and her companions were rigid and cold, a product of their harsh environment, while these people were carefree and reckless.

A boisterous crash sounded to her right.

She flinched as an older man in a grey suit punched a short guy wearing a black top hat clean off a barstool.

A few of the women stopped to watch, the grins on their faces widening as they giggled, whispering to one another. The men openly appraised the fight, shouting words of encouragement, and no one interfered.

“Ladies’ Happy Hour is now!” a woman in a black lace bra announced from behind the bar, ignoring the havoc around her. “Buy two shots, get the third free!”

“Win your chips at the casino in style, gentlemen! Wear Deluxe Tuxedos, and you’ll have winner’s luck, mark my words!” a man with platinum blond hair shouted from the other side of the street. His silver suit sparkled like the moon as he stood outside a colorful store where hundreds of shimmering suits were on display.

“Don’t stop,” Takeshi reminded her, gently pushing her forward.

Khalani was too shocked to do anything but obey.

The endless line of stores, bars, and drunk patrons seemed never-ending until Spade turned into another dark alley.

There were hardly any people in the alley, but the few who were present all nodded at Spade as he passed. They approached a smaller building with a modest sign hanging above the entrance.

The Black Heart

Her brows pulled together as Spade approached the steel door, pushing it open, signaling them to enter. The interior felt like a warm, ancient castle that Winnie had once told her about in books.

The walls were made of stone, and the space was more expansive inside than it appeared from the outside. The large room was dimly lit, with a long bar to the right.

A few men sat on barstools, their white sleeves rolled up as they spoke in low tones.

To the left, two unusual green tables stood a few feet apart, each covered with colorful balls. Surrounding the tables were a group of men with long sticks in their hands. One man aimed his stick at a ball and shot it into a small hole at the corner of the table.

How bizarre.

The room quieted as soon as they walked in. One of the men at the table shifted his hand to rest on the barely hidden pistol in his pocket. Her quickened breathing became audible as her body tensed for a fight.

“Evening, Spade,” the bald man behind the bar greeted with a tilt of his head.

Spade nodded. “Did the drop go well?”

“Boys said it went without a hitch.”

“Good.” Spade walked past the bar and clapped one of the men sitting on a stool on the back. “Finneas.”

“Hey, Spade. And by the flush! Didn’t expect to see you back so soon, Death-Zoner.” The younger man named Finneas grinned, revealing a missing front tooth.

“Likewise,” Brock’s expression was stoic, like he was readying for war.

After a few more greetings to Spade, who was quite the popular guy, he led them to a door in the back of the room that blended in with the wall.

If Spade hadn’t pushed it open, Khalani wouldn’t have even realized it was a door.

They entered a small, circular room with two red couches pushed against the wall and a tall bar in the back. Behind it, a man with pale skin, crisp black hair, and a white suit cleaned bottles. He looked up, eyeing each of them with immediate distrust.

“Keno,” Spade said in greeting.

“Spade,” Keno replied back. “Who’s the company?”

“These are the ones I was telling you about. You already know Brock.”

Keno didn’t look impressed as he glanced between them, his gaze lingering longest on Takeshi. “Are you sure they’re the right ones to help?”

Khalani frowned. Help with what?

But Spade replied, “Absolutely.”

Keno’s lips pressed into a thin line, and a heavy silence settled over the room. Khalani half-expected weapons to be drawn, but after a moment, Keno reached beneath the bar, and she heard a soft click.

The front portion of the bar moved forward and vanished, revealing a long staircase that disappeared into darkness.

Her mouth fell open as Spade descended the steep steps, gesturing for them to follow.

Khalani met Keno’s eyes one last time before taking her first step, his expression hard and unreadable.

She quickly stepped down the stairs, thankful there was a banister for her to hang onto. When she reached the bottom, the area opened into a small room illuminated only by the flicker of candles. The air was considerably colder, and Khalani rubbed her palms up and down her arms.

“This is one of our safehouses.” Spade turned to them. “There are several bedrooms down here for members who need to hide out for the night. You’ll remain here for the duration of your stay. Well, most of you, that is.”

Her forehead wrinkled, but before she could ask what he meant, Spade gave them a quick tour of the cold space.

The safehouse was definitely not built to impress. There were no decorations, and each room had one bed, a nightstand, and a small closet.

“I suggest you get some sleep now because you won’t have a chance tomorrow.”

“What happens tomorrow?”

For the first time, Spade looked apprehensive.

“Your first assignment. At the casino.”