As they left The Black Swan, Marcus led Samantha down a narrow alley adjacent to the bar. The neon glow from the main street faded, replaced by the soft flicker of gas lamps that seemed oddly out of place in the modern city.
"Where are we going?" Samantha asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
Marcus glanced at her, his expression unreadable in the dim light. "You asked where we can talk. Well, this is the only place I can think of. "
They reached the end of the alley, where an ornate iron gate stood, its black paint chipped and weathered. Marcus placed his hand on the cold metal, and Samantha heard a faint click. The gate swung open silently, revealing a hidden courtyard.
As they stepped through, Samantha gasped. The courtyard was a world unto itself, frozen in time. Cobblestone paths wound between manicured hedges and flower beds. In the center stood a magnificent fountain, its centerpiece a statue of a swan with wings spread wide.
