Zane - Confessions of a lycan

Chapter 7

Zane

Surveying the surroundings while walking through Nolan's gentleman's club reminded me of the underground, illegal speakeasy bars that existed in the 1920s. The dark interior of brown leather, dark wood and burgundy red velvet, with glass shelves starting at bar height all the way up to the ceiling, filled with elegant liquor bottles, gave the club an elegant and exclusive look.

I could see Lycans, werewolves and vampires scattered around the room, but there were also several humans.

Some I could even recognize as high-ranking politicians and bureaucrats. I would remember to commit it to memory, because this tangle could reach any length if we were unlucky.

It was illegal to reveal magical creatures according to our constitution. The punishment is severe and the people who have learned about our existence will have their memory cleansed with the help of a witch.

But humans had a fragile mind, and a wiped memory didn't always end well. Some have gone mad.

Since the great purge in the 14th-15th century, where humans hunted witches, werewolves and vampires, the laws in our world have become stricter. Many lost their lives during those difficult years, and we had to fight in the shadows not to reveal more than what had already come to light, to make people believe that we only live in their imagination.

However, time has shown that mistakes are easily repeated and when the Salem witch trials happened, our world was shaken once more, and the death penalty was procured for those who revealed our identity from that day on.

Lucien and I walked side by side as we followed José and Edward through a side door that led to another hallway. Where we were met by a guard in a suit and earpiece. Judging by the rotting smell that hit us, he was a vampire, just like the owner of the club.

"Password" José, who was at the front, replied "monkeycat."

That has to be the silliest thing I've ever heard.

The guard nodded, stepped aside and showed with a hand gesture that we could continue.

José grinned as if someone had just opened the door to Candyland. I couldn't wait until the day I got a chance to punch it in. fu*king i***t. He looked back at us and blurted out "I hope you gentlemen are ready to bring out your heavy wallets, because this is no cheap fun. But worth every penny, I promise." He said it with such cockiness that I found it hard to hold back a growl.

Everything about this slimy man pushed my buttons. How my father could stand a man like this at court was beyond me.

Looking towards Lucien, I could see that he showed total calmness with a cold half-smile resting on his lips.

How he pulled it off I didn't know. But he should get an Oscar for his acting.

"I look forward to learning what sweet secrets you have kept from us, Lord Gualtiero. I promise my appreciation for this invitation will be immense." The double meaning in Lucien's comment wasn´t lost on me and I could't help but smile a little.

José looked incredibly smug at Lucien's statement. I could't help but wonder how smug he would feel as we crush this whole damn organization.

We arrived at an elevator where a tall vampire with long black hair in a low ponytail, dressed in an expensive, well-tailored suit and designer shoes was waiting. Judging by the power he was emitting and the way he carried himself, I would say that this was a man who held a high position in what we about to step into.

"Good evening, gentlemen. Lord Gualtiero, Officer Wilson, nice to see you again. My Lord Kieran, I didn't know this was a scene that suited you, had I known I would have invited you much sooner” The vampire extended his hand to Lucien, which he took and shook in a polite handshake. "No offense taken and please call me Lucien. I'm not a man in the habit of living my life out in the open, but a bird has whispered in my ear that this is the place to come if you want to spice it up a little extra.”

“Then you've come to the right place. But please introduce me to your friend. I don't think we've met before?"

The vampire faced me with red eyes that had a cold glint in them.

Lucien swept his arm towards me. "This is His Highness, Prince Zane, Duke of the Northern Woodlands. Zane, this is Vicomte Nolan Eleazar, owner of Nolan's gentlemen's club, son of Count Alvaro Eleazar and Countess Katherine."

So this was Nolan. I could see surprise in his eyes when Lucien introduced me but he quickly hid it behind a nonchalant facade.

"I apologize your highness for not recognizing you". Nolan started to bow but I just held my hands up to stop him.

"None of that, we're all friends here. Call me Zane."

"You do me a great honor, your highness". I just raised an eyebrow and gave him a hard look. I had no patience for a*slicking.

He seemed to understand how I felt because he quickly punched in a code and his handprint on the elevator control panel.

"If you please follow me, and I will take you down to tonight's event."

The elevator pinged and Nolan showed us into the mysterious basement.

We found ourselves in a hallway that curved both ways in the same dark wood and burgundy tones as the rest of the club.

At the wall in front of us were several doors spaced a few meters apart.

"Lord Gualtiero, Officer Wilson, I'm sure you'll find your own way to your usual booths. In the meantime, I'll show Lucien and Zane where to make themselves comfortable and how to participate in our event before the show starts."

José bid us goodbye while Edward just nodded stoically at us before they both walked towards separate doors and disappear inside. We turned to Nolan, who showed us the way to a door further down the hall.

As far as I could see, the corridor and doors continue without any indication where they lead.

"This is where you two have to go your separate ways. You will both be assigned to a room which can be locked from the inside. In each room there is a panel where you have to identify yourself and add your account. Of course, we have the highest possible security where all transactions are untraceable. After the auction, all data will be destroyed after 24 hours. It will be as if you were never here. Use the panel to bid, but the amount you bid must be available for transfer. Have I made myself clear enough? Any questions?"

Shit, we wouldn't be able to sneak in and catch some motherfu*ker red-handed in a room while they bid because the doors were locked. In any case, it wouldn't have worked because I had seen at least 3 security cameras from 3 different angles since we got down here. So sneaking around and checking out the place wouldn't work.

"If we win a bid, how do we collect what we purchased?" Lucien asked, interrupting my thoughts.

"Ahh, good question. If you continue around the corner in this hallway, you'll come to a red door. knock 3 times and a guard will open. Normally, I'd wait in there to deliver and sign the purchase. But tonight, my associate, Mark Bancroft, will be the one handling the business." "Thank you, I think that's all the information we need for now."

"Good, I hope you both have a nice evening and find something to your liking."

We said our goodbyes and Lucien and I gave each other one last dark look before going into our separate rooms.

That we would be separated was not the plan. Staying together was safer, especially when we were in unfamiliar territory.

But sometimes you have to go with the flow and see where it takes you.

Closing and locking the door behind me, I looked around the small room for the first time.

The wall opposite me was made entirely of glass. In the middle was a large comfortable armchair in brown leather with a table next to it where there was chilled champagne and appetizers. On the left side was a stand with a panel attached.

I walked over to try to look out through the glass, but the window must be covered with a curtain because it was pitch black.

I settled into the armchair and entered my personal details, then it was just a matter of waiting.

The thought of what would appear on the other side and that I wouldn't be able to save everyone today hit me.

That whatever happend, I had to get up and walk out of here tonight and turn my back on those who are suffering.

That thought, that feeling, almost made me wince with guilt...

Sh*t it was happening. The curtain was slowly rising.

Behind the glass wall I could see an oval room. In the middle there was a dance pole with a chain attached to it.

The chain led all the way up to a collar and the collar was attached to a blonde girl who was just skin and bones.

Dressed in minimal red underwear, she stood in the middle of the room and stared lifelessly straight into the wall.

I thought I was going to throw up..