When darkness fell, most parts of Lake City became serene as families gathered for Saturday night dinners and conversations. However, on the south side of the metropolis, the end of the day was just the beginning.
The southside was the downtown of the city and the centre of nightlife, and everything remained open throughout the night. Those looking to have the night of their life could be found here during the weekends.
On the farthest edge of this downtown area, just before one left the limits of the beautiful Lake City, there was the most exclusive of these entertainment establishments within hundreds of miles.
The Citadel.
The Citadel was a Gothic castle which rested on a few acres of pristine property. It was a place of legend, myth, and the most coveted parties. Those who had the pleasure of attending one of those soirees never shut up about them.
People often travelled from the Capital City and even further just for a chance to be part of The Citadel shenanigans. Unfortunately, gaining access to the property, let alone getting an invite to a party, was as difficult as flying without wings.
The owner of the castle was mysterious and known to be unreasonable and unforgiving to those who attempted to trespass. He had guards and the best technology to protect the castle, and the system for gaining access was almost unbeatable.
The verification and validation process was designed to prevent all manner of tricks. Issues like attempts to use an invite belonging to another were not tolerated and would result in both parties being permanently banned.
However, there was one person who did not care about these rules.
Xavier Remington.
In the darkness of the night, Xavier walked from nowhere and stood before the imposing cast iron gates of The Citadel. Four guards in combat gear stood on either side of the magnificent gate, holding heavy guns.
An annoying buzz sounded as soon as Xavier stood in front of the gate.
The sound came from the camera system, which scanned the faces of everyone before they could enter the property. The process was automated to ensure unauthorised individuals not on The Citadel database could not enter.
"Turn around and walk away." One of the guards came forward and spoke up.
However, Xavier did not turn away. His lips stretched into a wicked smile as he looked at the guards. Then, he raised his hand slightly, and the gates shook once before they opened before him.
Immediately, the guards realised they were not dealing with an ordinary man trying to get into the party but a powerful supernatural. As people who worked at The Citadel, they were aware of the existence of the non-humans.
The protocol was to use the appropriate tools provided for them to stop violent supernatural beings who had the intent to commit evil on the property. And this one was more dangerous than anyone they had faced before.
However, they did not have the chance.
As the tall man, if they could call him that, stepped across the threshold of the open gate, they felt an oppressive chill engulf their thoughts and minds. They lost the ability to think or move, but they could see the man walking to the castle like a dark phantom.
Once he was out of their sight, the guards felt free of the thrall and gulped air desperately, hoping to get their heart rates back under control. After a few breaths, they sprang into action.
One of them rushed to call the owner of The Citadel while the others focussed on attempting to fix and close the gate. Despite the frightening incident, they were professionals and needed to secure the castle.
When the secure emergency line to the owner connected, a lazy voice answered with some irritation.
"Sir, there has been a breach." The shift leader reported with contrition.
"What happened?" The indolent voice did not seem concerned.
"A supernatural being, for sure. He was too powerful." The guard hesitated before explaining. "He simply opened and walked through the gate, and it was like we became petrified. It was not until he disappeared that we could move again."
The lazy voice seemed to perk up as the owner chuckled.
"Sir, should we activate the shutdown protocols?" He asked.
"Those are small tricks to him." The man said.
"Sir?"
"Go back to work." The lazy voice hardened.
The guard wanted to protest further and explain the danger of the intruder, but the call was already disconnected.
"What did the boss say?" One of the other guards asked the shift leader. "Are we activating the shutdown protocols? It has been a while since we have used any kind of weapons, apart from during training."
There was a little sense of anticipation among the guards. The job at The Citadel was coveted and quite well-paying, but it was quite boring most of the time. The reputation made most people unwilling to break the rules and risk angering the owner.
"No, the boss said that we should get back to work." He replied.
"Just like that?" There was shock among the guards.
"Those are the orders." The shift leader said. "Let's finish fixing up the gate."
Inside The Citadel, the Saturday night festivities had already begun. The ground floor was already crowded with dancers as a DJ blasted music. Beautiful figures writhed as they swirled and swallowed colourful drinks.
Xavier Remington did not look towards them. He just walked right across the floor as if he did not notice anyone. Like in a movie, the dancers made way for him unbidden, parting before him as he drew closer.
The music did not stop, but no one seemed to hear anything except loud silence until he cleared the floor. Then, like a spell was broken, everyone could hear the music again, and the crowd was back on the dance floor.
Xavier headed down a dark hallway to a closed hardwood door. It was ornate and beautiful and had intricate sigils, reminiscent of old magick. The thick door opened before him as it did for supernatural beings who visited The Citadel, revealing majestic stairs, leading to the secret part of the castle.
This part of the castle was the reason The Citadel was exclusive and selective with its clientele. The human club was to prevent questions about the nature of the castle's business. Of course, the non-humans were also carefully investigated to avoid inviting dangerous creatures in.
As Xavier descended, he saw two familiar men waiting for him.
"Xavier Remington, as I live and breathe…"