When the carriage door opened, unleashing a blast of toxic Monkshood air. Elliott wrinkled his nose as he stepped down with Paul. The sharp tint of opium in the air made breathing itself feel like inhaling fire. Stepping off the carriage with measured steps, Edgar and Nathan joined Paul and Elliot on the cobblestones.
Facing the four boys was a house, made of plain red-brick work, with no windows but a massive front door, closed and guarded by two impossibly large human men with sight. On the left side of the house which was the Opium Den Nathan referred to was the dark forest which was the boundary of Monkshood.
What lay after was blood drinker territory.
On the right side, another bunch of trees served as a small shelter for the several supernatural creatures who occupied it.
"What's going on in there?" Elliott questioned, his hand pointed towards the group of creatures settled among the trees.
"This whole area belongs to the Opium," Nathan explained, his eyes moving around as if trying to scan every little thing his eyes could capture. "Apart from getting services, a lot do like to refresh themselves with some fresh air. In fact, there's even an outdoor drug serving point."
"I'll cover outdoors with Elliott," Paul said in his usual commanding tone. "Nathan can cover inside the Opium with Edgar," Paul paused to quickly glance at Nathan. "I do hope you remember the ones who attacked Merlin."
At that Nathan gave a light smile. "My memory is my most superior power, be wary of questioning it."
With a pat on Edgar's shoulder, Paul walked at a steady pace towards the trees followed by Elliott who had the bag of clothes hung over his shoulders.
Edgar sighed and looked at the warlock boy standing next to him, as beautiful as the moonlight. The last thing Edgar wanted was to be alone with Nathan.
"Shall we get going, Edgar?" Nathan asked, with a playful smile on his face.
Edgar nodded and followed Nathan who walked towards the house. Along the path were a steady stream of drunkards, some with women leaning on their arms, the women's brightly colored dresses stained and dirty and their cheeks highly rouged. Somewhere, someone was singing. Two girls were kissing each other as they leaned onto a brightly lit lamp. Edgar stopped in his tracks. Never in his life has he seen people of the same gender making out. One of the girls had skin in the color of the earth and hair as dark as the night. Edgar sensed that she was a werewolf. Her strong muscles were shown off by her sleeveless jacket, and she was as tall as Paul.
And her partner was, as Edgar's sense of smell confirmed, a vampire which made him even more confused.
"A lot of the night creatures here are young ones," Nathan remarked, startling Edgar as he realized Nathan was standing ahead of him.
"They don't really care about a lot of things," Nathan continued as Edgar jogged to catch up with him. He was now close to the front door of the Opium. "For example, they don't really care vampires and werewolves are supposed to be rivals and that their leaders actually hate each other. All they care about is living life because we only have one life and should not waste it on stupid rules."
Nathan and Edgar were ignored by the two human men on either side of the door as Nathan pulled open the door revealing the interior of the Opium Den filled with various creatures doing various things. A heavy sweet smell hung in the air.
"Keep close to me," Nathan commanded as he grabbed Edgar's hand and marched toward a bar serving point-like area.
All the chairs were already occupied by a group of vampires who shot a look at Edgar as Nathan approached the lady who was serving drinks for the vampires. Edgar's hand tightened involuntarily on Nathan's as the vampire gazes never left Edgar.
The woman was in a long red dress, fitted so tightly to her body. She had black hair piled on her head and her scarlet horns made Edgar's eyes widen.
"No, Razique," she said. "Everything's over. Did you not receive my letter?"
"I did receive it," Nathan said, almost in a whisper. "But now I'm here looking for soul prisoners."
She narrowed her eyes. "What are you up to?"
"Are they here tonight?" Nathan questioned, ignoring her scrutiny.
At that, she threw her head back and laughed.
"Not yet," she stated before pulling Nathan away from her vampire customers who were now playing some sort of smashing each other game, completely disregarding them. Edgar supposed they were tired of staring at him.
The woman continued to whisper, "But they were here yesterday. Two women, both covered in masks."
Edgar felt Nathan's body tensing over her words. His hold on Edgar's hand tightened like a vice.
"They booked the third floor for four hours but came out in two and a half," the woman went on. "No drinks. No drugs. Nothing!" She finished throwing her hands up in the air.
"Do you think they'll return tonight?" Nathan asked.
"I cannot be exact but if they are, they'll arrive in a few more hours," she answered.
Nathan thanked the woman and walked up the stairs, still holding Edgar's hand.
"You seem quite familiar with this place," Edgar mentioned while staring at the disturbing art hung on either side of the staircase.
He heard the smile in Nathan's voice, "Why do you think so?"
"Well, firstly, the two men by the door ignored us as if we are frequent visitors. Secondly, that woman seemed to find you quite trustworthy in order to give up all those details about her clients."
They reached the third floor and Nathan released Edgar's hand and spoke. "Any night-dweller, is allowed in here except the ones who previously caused trouble. And for the woman, she's a warlock and she supplied Merlin with drinks. She used to babysit me when I was a kid."
Edgar smiled unknowingly, trying to imagine what Nathan could have looked when he was younger. He too wanted to ask him about Razique but it didn't feel right to ask about it. Instead, he looked around. The whole floor was empty. No furniture. No paintings. Nothing.
"We are going to visit the roof," Nathan said, moving his hands, and creating circles of blue sparkles. "So we can spy on their schemings."
He raised his hands and the blue sparkles created a portal in the roof. Then he offered one of his hands. Edgar took hold of it and the blue sparkles floated them through the portal. In the blink of an eye, they sat on the roof of the building. Once they steadied themselves on the roof the sparks disappeared along with the hole. The roof was like it was before.
Nathan spelled the roof again to make it transparent for their eyes. That way they could witness whatever was bound to take place beneath it.
Edgar looked at Nathan as he sat next to Edgar, his knee brushing Edgar's. Edgar couldn't help but wonder how utterly brilliant it was to be a magic user.
"We will have to wait a bit until the clients arrive, so let us get to know each other to kill the time. How old are you?" Nathan asked as he laid himself on the roof.
"Seventeen," Edgar answered, "Why do you ask?"
"Because a lot of things seem to surprise you," Nathan pointed out, "And it isn't common for a werewolf your age to be shocked by the supernatural as you are"
Edgar too laid down alongside Nathan. He stared into the night eyes, at the spiraling clouds for a moment before purposely placing his hand next to Nathan's, their fingers touching. He didn't know what compelled him to do it, he had no idea what he was doing. Was he trying to flirt with the warlock boy? Or was he trying for something else?
What an absurd thought, of course, he's not flirting. He had a lover who held his entire heart, but he was confused by the way Nathan was making him feel.
Choosing to ignore his louder thoughts, Edgar stated, "Paul and I were sent to school in London with normal human boys. Father and mother always thought it was best to stay away from the supernatural world. So now that we are literally in the heart of duskworld, everything is so strange and confusing."
Nathan entwined his fingers with Edgar's and his heart skipped a beat. He could hear Nathan's pulse racing as well. Of course, he's a werewolf and he had a strong hearing. He wondered if Nathan was feeling the same way.
"Do you feel the fire?" Nathan asked and Edgar knew exactly what he was referring to. Nathan was burning Edgar. And Edgar was burning for Nathan.
Before he could say anything, Nathan turned Edgar and drew the werewolf toward him.
They laid face-to-face, chest to chest. Prickles of heat ran up and down Edgar's skin, bewildering him. This was Nathan, a boy. A boy whom Edgar met yesterday. He's only known him for a day but he's never felt this way with Elliana. In fact, he's never felt this way about anyone.
"Edgar," Nathan whispered. Edgar glanced up at him. Nathan's eyes were dark, and his cheeks flushed. As Edgar raised his face, Nathan brought his down, kissing Edgar's lips.
Edgar froze.
They were kissing.
Edgar was kissing Nathan.
Edgar was kissing a boy.
He ought to pull away. He's only ever had a real kiss twice in his life and both were with Elliana. Elliana who was his lover, to whom he should be faithful. He should stop kissing the by this instant.
But he didn't want to. Nathan's mouth was soft and firm; one of his hands held the back of Edgar's neck gently, guiding Edgar's mouth to his. With his other hand, he cupped Edgar's face, running his thumb gently across his cheekbone. Nathan's lips tasted like sweet honey.
Nathan must have been so sure Edgar would pull away for he went still as Edgar put his arms around Nathan and pulled even closer until there was no space left between their bodies. Edgar was burning. Edgar knew Nathan was burning too, Edgar felt it. Hesitantly, with greater force Nathan kissed Edgar again and again, each time with increasing urgency, cupping his face with Nathan's fingers which create sparks of different colors. Nathan's hands moved to Edgar's back, pressing Edgar against him.
And something exploded downstairs.