WONDER ( Twisted Forbidden Tales ) Book Three

The Tweedle Club Part Two

“Well, well, well, look who we have here. To what do I owe the esteemed pleasure of the infamous Mad Bandit and Dark Rabbit visiting my humble establishment,” said Enzo, with an air of nonchalance.

“Let’s cut the pleasantries here, Tweedle, and cut down the quick. I’m here to verify something with you. Considering you were waiting, so leisurely, you already know what it's about.” I said already at the point of my skin crawling, the longer I stayed in that place.

Enzo's eyes met mine as if trying to see through the mask that covered my face. His eyes started their perusal from my face and slowly down as he took in the Mad Bandit’s appearance before him.

Happy tensed and then hissed at Enzo, diverting his attention from me to himself. I couldn’t help stroking him as thanks for a moment. Enzo would get his just do sure enough, but now was not the time. Nothing about this place ever came without a price. As easily as we entered the Tweedle Club, it did not mean that it would be easy for us to exit it.

Enzo looked at Happy in arms and smiled, then straightened up his languid stance at the VIP lounge door, straightening his clothes as if he had all the time in the world. He let out a sigh as if he was bored before answering me. As I expected, he had already decided on something, but he would have to think twice if he thought either of us would give in.

“Your repetition does proceed, you Mad Bandit. Impatience fits you well. However, this is still my territory and I can't just give out the goods without any reward for myself. No matter if it’s a verification, information, work, or pleasure, here in Dream City freebies are just not the Tweedles style.” Enzo said with a wink, taking a not-so-subtle glance at Haku.

Disguised as the Dark Rabbit now, Haku fit the taste of the Tweedle twins and, in one swift move, I blocked Enzo’s sight. Haku’s hands were balled into fists at his side, uncomfortable from Enzo’s stare.

Around him, the VIP section buzzed with whispered conversations and stolen glances, each patron vying for their moment in the spotlight. Yet through the chaos, he remained unfazed, his gaze fixed on the door before him, a silent challenge to whoever dared to approach. Enzo pursed his lips and then knocked on the door to the room behind him with a specific set of tempo beats.

“Tsk, what a pity, though I like a bit of. But being completely unwilling brings no fun time for me. I guess it’s plan B then.” He said with another sigh as he turned to face the door. The sigh he let out was far from boredom but a more warning that put Haku, Happy and I even more on guard.

With a click, the door unlocked and slowly opened to reveal the lounge inside. The interior is dimly lit, the walls adorned with graffiti art that seems to pulse with life. Plush leather couches line the perimeter, offering a comfortable place to relax and observe.

“Is is just me or does his plan B sound even worse than his eyes on me,” Haku whispered as he watched Enzo enter the private lounge and then turn back around to invite us inside the room when we did not follow him in as he thought we would.

“Follow my lead and stay by my side at every move,” I whispered to Haku as I took the first steps inside the lounge before us. Haku was justified in feeling the way he did. I knew more than anyone about the Tweedles Alphabet plans and what happened once they sank their claws into you.

I found it ironic how Enzo portrayed not liking unwilling victims. It was one thing when one had a clear head, but a whole different story when one was drugged. He played around with his choice of words as if smart people could not pick up on the underlying meaning. My hatred for them only grew fiercer thinking of all the innocent people who had been subjected to their sadistic games.

The interior of the room is dimly lit as I walk inside, the walls adorned with graffiti art that seems to pulse with life. Plush leather couches line the perimeter, offering a comfortable place to relax and observe. The private lounge of the Tweedles was much more spacious compared to what a normal lounge should be.

Happy wagged his tail in my arms, his green glowing cat eyes were glued to someone, a woman sitting in the dimly lit lounge, her slender frame draped in barely-there attire that leaves little to the imagination. Despite her diminutive stature, she commanded attention with her tall and fit build, her curves accentuated by sultry movements as she lounged on the plush seating.

Her black, wavy hair cascades over her shoulders, streaked with glimmering gold highlights that catch the dim light, enhancing her enticing aura. Her dusky olive skin seemed to glow under the nightclub's neon lights, adding to her allure. Her features, though conventionally attractive with a delicate nose, full lips, and piercing eyes, exude an unsettling quality, deceptive in their kind expression.

The woman was none other than Zuri Tweedle, Enzo’s twin sister and the woman I hated even more than I did her brother. Her eyes, now a mesmerizing shade of ruby red, seem to hold secrets and desires as she scans the room with a predatory gaze. Landing on Happy with deep interest that resulted in a stare down between the two for a moment, then her eyes landed on me and then Haku.

“Zo, is this the big gift you mentioned? The Mad Bandit and the Dark Rabbit have come to play. This is such a welcome surprise. Where should I start? Each of them is quite the supreme selection, especially this intriguing cat.” Zuri said with a purr. Her lips, painted a deep crimson, curled into a seductive smirk, revealing a hint of sharpness beneath her sensual facade.

Happy hissed again, then let out a sharp meow that strangely sounded like a deep scolding to my ears. It was clear he didn’t like the Tweedles. If he were human, I wondered how he would handle them or what his words would be if he could talk.

“Cool down sis, this lot doesn’t have that type of play in mind. They’ve come for some information, but we have yet to agree on a deal. I thought things could change later on” said Enzo as he poured himself a glass of wine, but did not sit with his sister in the lounge. Instead, he stood watching us after saying his piece, waiting for the decision we would make before making his moves that were always for his benefit.

The atmosphere crackled with anticipation, the air thick with the heady scent of perfume and desire. The silent battle had begun as the mix of Enzo’s fog and Zuri’s scent surrounded us. They were up to the same old tricks I saw, I thought, as anger surged in me while the Mad Bandit cape cloak sprang to action. Blocking the underhanded tactics of the twins in their attempt to secretly drug us.

Did they not think that I wouldn’t prepare for something like this? I am not Alissa now, but the Mad Bandit. Glancing over at Haku his cloak had also sprung into protection mode, I let out a sigh of relief and donned my Mad Bandit smile. Tweedle's drugs were not ordinary in the slightest. If it weren't for my chemical knowledge and learning the arts of Magic from my mentor, I wouldn’t be able to enhance the Mad Bandit cape cloak and Haku’s Dark Rabbit gear to have a defense against it.

But to my surprise, the drug seemed not to affect Happy, whose constant hissing soothed me strangely enough. He jumped down from my arms, landing on the table and weaving through the various bottles and glasses on the table, some empty and some with alcohol with feline grace. His eyes are glued to Zuri as she sips from her glowing glass of wine, the liquid shimmering with dark intentions, her gaze flickers with interest as she watches the spectacle between us unfolding before her.

Zuri seemed unbothered by the chaos and violence that was about to erupt like a seething volcano in the club and remained fixed on her target, which was Happy. A sudden thought came to mind as to why she was so interested in a cat, but right now I had bigger fish to fry. Enzo had played dirty and never intended to verify what I came here for. This meant that their hands were deep in the string of missing people, therefore giving me a more welcome outlet to what I had been holding on to since we arrived here.