"For war." This isn't a question. And I wonder what magic the door holds that it always seems to know the intent of those requesting entry.
"But not for war here. Just information. We are in trouble and injured and need a safe place." Fen pauses, but the door doesn't reply. Dean gives Fen a meaningful look, and Fen sighs. "Please let us in. If Sly can help me, then the Prince of War will owe him a favor."
"Your promised favor has been accepted, and will be called upon in time. Welcome to The Black Lotus," the door says. There is a series of clicks as bolts grind and move within, then the door swings open of its own accord, revealing a dark and smoky hall with walls of blood-red velvet and gold accents.
I sniff the acrid air and wrinkle my nose in disgust. "That's not cigarette smoke. And it's not weed. What is it?"
Fen chuckles darkly. "You don't want to know. Just don't breathe too deeply and you should be fine. The first time I came to The Black Lotus I had a hangover for a week just from breathing the fumes of this hallway. It's coming from the adjacent rooms, but that's not where we're going. The smoke will die down soon."
Dean, on the other hand, smiles and takes a deep breath, holding it in for a moment, before exhaling. "Ah yes, I do so love this place."
Fen shakes his head in silent judgment as we descend into The Black Lotus. There is a power here, a thick magic that wraps itself around me, pressing on my lungs, pushing into my body like an aggressive virus. Dean doesn't seem as affected, but Fen's jaw is clenched, and I can tell he feels it too.
"It's never been like this before," he says.
Dean furrows his brows when he sees our struggle. "What's going on?"
"Well, well, well… " A deep, booming voice says from the shadows before we enter the room. "It looks like someone went and got themselves all magicked up! How delightfully wicked." The body that goes with the voice seems to materialize from smoke and appear before us.
We stand at the entrance of a large ballroom draped in more red velvet and gold. Spread throughout are chairs and sofas of velvet. There's a bar in one corner and tables full of food lining the walls. Some of the food is still moving. On stage, a live band made of creatures straight from a science fiction movie play instruments that look to be part of their body, creating an eerie, organic, fleshy musical sound. I'm about to ask about them, but my eyes continue to roam the room and I realize there are more creatures than I originally realized.
In one far corner a mermaid floats in a huge tank of water. Her blue hair billows around her like an ethereal halo. She has green tinted skin and green and blue scales and is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. Her eyes catch mine. They are large blue-green orbs that nearly glow. Then her gaze shifts to Fen and she smiles, revealing shark-like teeth. When he notices her, she winks at him, and he looks away and frowns. I'll have to ask him about that later.
"Hello, Sly," Fen says.
The mysterious man's face curls into a smile. "Hello, Prince of War. You've changed some since we last met, haven't you?" His eyes turn to me before Fen can reply, and his face lights up. "And who do we have here? The epitome of loveliness and innocence, but so much more lurks beneath, does it not? The Midnight Star, returned to her people at last. So the rumors were true." He takes my hand and brings it to his lips, kissing it gently. Fen tenses beside me, but I ignore him, my eyes glued to this strange man.
"I'm Arianna Spero. It's nice to meet you." I'm pleased to note my voice is firm, and not as wavering as I feel under the dark gaze of Sly. "But it's not very nice to use this forceful magic on your guests, is it? That's hardly a proper welcome."
From the corner of my eye I see Fen grin at my cheekiness. But he still looks worried. I know I'm probably playing with fire, but it's getting harder to breathe and the magic he's placed on us is making my bones hurt.
"Forgive me, but one can never be too careful with powerful magic wielders. I assume I have your word that neither of you will use your gifts to harm any of my guests while here?" Sly is still holding my hand. His words are light, but his gaze is heavy.
"You have my word," I say.
"And mine," Fen says. He looks at me. "The penalty for breaking this rule is death," he informs me.
"Oh. Okay then."
Baron growls, but sits between us calmly.
Sly smiles down at the wolf and pulls from somewhere unknown in his silky black robes a raw steak. "Here you go, boy. Enjoy a treat."
He drops the meat at Baron's feet. The wolf sniffs it once, looks up at Fen, then back down, and devours the steak greedily.
Sly looks at me for another moment longer, then uses his index finger to draw a symbol into the air. All at once the tension I felt within me subsides, and I can breathe deeply again. I see Fen suck in oxygen and relax a fraction as well.