"We'd like to meet the owners of the club." Daniel and Derek flashed their IDs at the entrance of Black Opal as they waited for the bouncers to allow them inside.
Elise and Kai stood behind them as they scrutinized the place. This time, they were more alert and careful as they waited behind the police officers. Although they were just assisting them in the investigation, it was still their duty to accompany them even if they'd be recognized by the people who worked in the club.
"May I know the reason?" One of the bouncers questioned and glanced behind him, signaling his companion to alert their Bosses.
"We're investigating a case and we have a few questions we wish to ask them," Derek replied as he looked inside the club from where he was.
As expected of a club on a Friday night. The music was blasting off and the smell of smoke and booze filled the air. The crowd was unbearable and Elise felt sick just by looking at them.
"Follow me." The guard stated monotonously and Elise quirked her brows in wonder as she examined him.
Even though she was suspicious, she followed them inside the club. Unlike the previous time when she had entered the dance floor and bar, this time, however, she took the stairs with the others. Falling behind the two officers and Kai, she ran her gaze around the dance floor and the bar and her eyes met the bartender, the one she had met a few hours ago.
The man gave her an incredulous look. But she just returned it with a nonchalant gaze as she continued to survey the place. From above, she found nothing strange.
Glancing at the bartender again who had stopped working as he gawked at her, she followed Kai to the next level and the level above. The crowd dwindled as they reached the last floor and other than a few guards, there was no one on the floor. Even the music was barely audible and Elise was surprised to see how sophisticated and clean the place was. The air too smelled nice and she sucked in a deep breath as she continued walking.
The guards glanced at each other as they stood still while the one leading them pressed a button on the wall. It seemed like an intercom and a few moments after he pressed it, the door opened.
Elise tilted her head and with her eyes narrowed she surveyed the place. The guard stepped aside giving way for them and Elise once again followed the three men inside. On her way, she didn't forget to observe everyone she saw until she met the infamous twins.
Elise was not nescient. She knew the Sephyr twins and the power they held in the country. She had seen their pictures and interviews quite a lot of times. But it was the first time she was meeting them and the air of dominance around them astonished her. It was anything she had experienced before. Even the President of the country fell short before them.
Elise stood closer to the door as she scrutinized the twins. She was here to assist the police, as an audience. She wouldn't butt in unless required.
"To what do we owe this pleasure of you guys visiting us?" One of the twins started and Elise noticed how distinct the two brothers' eye colors were.
Was that blue or green? She thought and wondered if their surname had anything to do with their eye color.
"We are here to investigate about Craig Tyrell's disappearance and the explosion that happened in his warehouse. We hope you'll cooperate with us and answer a few questions for us." Derek led the conversation while Elise remained silent.
As she studied the place, she noticed a blank wall behind the twins, and her brows contorted into a frown. 'Another room? Where does that place lead to?' She mused before her eyes fell on the twins, only to find that one of them was already looking at her.
Quirking her brows questioningly at him, she fixed her gaze on him, not budging under his intensity. Elise didn't react even when the man's lips arched up into a smirk. She just stared back at him steadily while she waited for him to succumb first.
"Of course. We're more than willing to cooperate with your investigation." The other brother said and Elise glanced at him before returning her gaze to her prey.
"But may I know why you're looking for us?"
"Before that..." Elise interrupted and everyone turned towards her. In a room filled with men, Elise was the sole female. Yet, she didn't feel any nervousness or fright. Instead, she was a valiant warrior who cared about nothing insignificant and marched forward with an intention in mind.
"Would you mind telling us who is who?" The twins were not identical. Yet, the world was still confused with them and mistook them for each other. Moreover, the brothers had a penchant for acting like each other to confuse the crowd.
Her question didn't come as a surprise to the twins and this time, both of them smiled at her.
"I'm Azael and this is Reuel." The man who had previously smiled at her replied and Elise nodded.
"I hope you aren't tricking us. Otherwise, it'll do you no good."
"No, officer. We aren't. Trust us." Azael replied while Reuel watched her like a hawk. The twins gave her a mysterious look which Elise ignored. However, she didn't ignore the alarms that were going off in her mind.
"It better be the truth." Elise glanced at Derek who took it over from there. However, before he could ask his first question, Reuel interrupted.
"It's basic courtesy to introduce yourself as well. Isn't it?" Even though he was speaking to all four of them, his words were meant for Elise and she sensed it too.
There was something odd in the way the twins were behaving with her. They seemed abnormally focused on her and there was a strange glint in their eyes which she couldn't comprehend.
"I'm Derek and this is Officer Daniel." Derek introduced.
"I'm Kai and this is..."
"Let her do it." Reuel stopped Kai before he introduced Elise to them, making her frown in return.
A stunned silence filled the room and Elise was close to losing her temper. The twins were making it difficult for them just as expected. But what agitated her was that they were awfully interested in her and that was bad.
Glaring at the two, she held her stance as she stood in her place. "I'm Officer Winslow from the NCI."
Elise tried to play smart. But the twins were having none of it. One of them stood up and approached her and Elise had to strain her neck to look at him. The man was freaking tall, taller than anyone she knew.
"It's rude to not tell us your first name when we did, darling." He commented and Elise scowled in return.
How did it matter if she said her first name or not? It was in no way related to the investigation. She was in the mood to get back at them but held herself from losing control.
"I'm Elise Winslow from the NCI."
"Elise," Reuel whispered, his hot breath hitting her face and neck before he returned to his seat.
"It's nice meeting you, Elise," Azael added once his brother had taken his seat and Elise felt her chest tighten. There was something dark and deep in his tone, an evil promise that she couldn't comprehend. It felt as if she had entered a dangerous place with no way of escape and what creeped her out was her intuitions were never wrong.