Standing once again on large stairs, I joke. "I don't know about you, but I'm having a Deja vu" Calling me funny, Raven fixes that White scarf around his neck. "No seriously you also did that last time! And what's up with you and the scarf?"
"Secret, anyway, I hope it won't be like last time." Walking in, I immediately felt it. Seeing a receptionist with dark bags under her eyes, while a man pushing an entire cart full of papers. We just got waved over.
Stopping at the reception, a blonde woman put's on a smile. "Welcome... AH!" Suddenly jumping she points at Raven. "Raven! The meeting room is on the third floor. You can follow Madi over there!" Pointing at a maid, Raven just smiles, which makes the woman freeze.
"It's fine, I'm not new here. Follow me, Ken." Starting to walk off, I apologize to the receptionist. Walking after him up the stairs, I asked. "Did you have to be so mean?"
Stopping, he turns to me. "Yeah, you should try to be mean sometimes. Do here respected doesn't mean much. Remember this: Respect is noted, but fear is remembered."
Reaching the floor, we saw the same scene. People running around with towers of paperwork. Walking past them, I think of what Raven told me. Fear is remembered.
Arriving at a large door, two maids on each side, pull them open.
"Raven" A deep voice calls out. Large round table with over 50 people sitting around it. Seeing a large man with a bull head smoking a cigar, I realize that he must be Depraved.
Puffing out a cloud of smoke, he grins. "And I was so sure you wouldn't show up. I hoped to get rid of a rat such as yourself." Shrugging him off, Raven takes a seat.
"R A V E N, Raven, a large dark bird. I don't know what made you think it's connected to Rodent. For crying out loud, it's not even a mammal! One would think you would know more about animals considering you're one piece of bull shit."
Snapping the cigar in his hand, the bull Crime boos, remarks. "Seems like your old mouth is back. Already done crying over the death of your love?" Feeling the air shift in the room.
A woman fully covered in black to the point when a veil covers her face raises her hand.
"Calm down boys~ If you want to fight you can go to the small arena downstairs, but no fighting in designated neutral zones. After all, you know the rules and so-"
"We're gonna cut off there Niab. No need for your outdated jokes." The room in unity says. Turnign my head to the bull, I see him snuffing out a cigarette on someone with reptile, skin.
"Yeah, he's a bastard. He's the largest slave trader in Aquaria, his biggest goods are, as you guessed. Other depraved." Turnign to Raven, I try to find the correct words.
"So, he's a slave trader that works in his own kind?"
Waving me off, Raven tells me that it's completely normal. Pointing at a guy with a scar over his face he tells me that he trades in us Pure bloods or normal humans. "So the Bull guy can be called an exotic flesh trader if you want to get really fancy."
Giving me a wink, I feel my stomach turn. How can they joke about this? Isn't death a better fate than to be forever used as a living ashtray!?
Seeing the table gets filled with another group of people. Everyone looks confirming that's everyone present. "Very well, then let's start with the main problem."
... [49 minutes later]...
"I'm telling you, it has to be made of Rubber!" Slamming his against the table another man yells. "No! A proper bathtub boat can't be made out of Rubber!"
Sitting on the ground, I see Raven with his head on the table. "How did we get here?"
Pulling myself up to the table, I can see. 3 chairs with a person passed out on them. 16 chairs fallen over, from people rocking on them out of boredom. And over 40 people are either reading something or being on their phones.
"Is it always like this?" Getting a weak nod from Raven, he asks. "Do you now know why I don't come? We never discuss something important!"
Hearing the telling about if a toy boat should be made of rubber or plastic, I stand up.
Seeing that I'm the only person that still standing around. I realize everyone else who stood by their boss's side is now long gone. "Lucky bastards ran while they could."
Waving his hand, Raven sighed. "No, you can leave. only us crime bosses are needed for the meeting, so go explore the hotel I guess!" Slamming his head against the table, again. I think of asking him if he's sure but knowing myself, I come to the conclusion that I don't care.
Walking out of the room, I could see the halls empty, devoid of all people. Walking around for a while, I suddenly hear the sounds of clashing weapons and gunshots. Going down some stairs, I arrive at a small underground arena.
No, it looks more like a gym repurposed as an arena. Seeing people jump around and clash their swords, I recognize most of them as bodyguards from the meeting room. Walking around, I see a large watching room, where a woman seems to be sitting.
Golden hair and purple eyes. Waving her hand at me, I whispered. "Lilith"
Walking in I found the room completely unprotected. "Aren't you supposed to be at the meeting?" I asked out of curiosity.
Chuckling lightly, she eats some grapes. "I asked, my double to be there, you see the meetings are incredibly boring. I instead find myself enjoying the guard fights." Standing next to her, I see three men run at a guy with wire wrapped around his hand.
Swinging his arm down, the wire wraps around the attacker's blade and cuts its wielder causing them to drop it. "I've never seen such a weapon."
Smiling, Lilith replies. "Meet my new guard, James, and Peter's replacement, The Barbed Tess." Making eye contact with him, as he stands above the defeated swordsman, I feel the urge to clash with him.