Lucious arrived at the private estate belonging to one of his oldest friends. He paused at the three-storey Victorian mansion Alexander had converted into a nightclub sometime in the mid-nineteenth century. A red neon sign above the entrance had curving letters moulded into the words 'Russian Roulette' irradiating the place like a Christmas tree in this dark hour.
He approached the beginning of the queue where a bouncer guarded the main door to the club. "I'm here to see Alexander."
The man whose nametag read 'Dean' sized him up with one look. "And, you are?"
"Expected. Be a good fellow and step aside."
With his patience wearing thin, Lucious released the hold on his mental shields. He let his energy leak out and tightened it around the bouncer. An extra century of being alive gave a vampire more power over the young.
Dean sensed the intrusion and took an uncertain step back. He beckoned for Lucious to pass. "I hope you're not here to cause trouble."
Lucious ignored him and ambled inside. Things hadn't changed much since the last visit. The plum-coloured reception room seemed darker with sparsely spaced low-wattage bulbs embedded in the ceiling. The loud boom of rock music guided him to where Tanya, Alexander's sole childe, sat with a fashion magazine on her lap.
Without looking up, she pointed at the price list on the wall.
"Tanya, where is he?"
She dropped her copy of Vogue at the sound of his voice and bounced out of her seat. Without warning, she launched herself at him, trapping him in a tight embrace.
"I have missed you. You have not called in forever," she whispered into his ear.
Lucious peeled her arms off and moved out of her reach. "I'm sorry, I've been busy."
Flicking her blonde hair back, she pouted. "That is what they all say."
When he didn't offer anything, she sighed and gestured to the hallway on her left. "He should be in his office. You know the way."
He started for the door, and she grasped his arm. The palm of her hand pressed onto his chest and her long nails dug in through the leather of his jacket. Yet, he felt nothing when she flirted with him. No matter how many years had passed, he had accumulated no romantic feelings for her.
"Come see me after you're done or if you need anything." She winked.
Lucious wanted to shake her off and head over to Alexander. Fighting that urge, he gave her a light peck on a cheek.
"Will do, luv," he whispered back.
"You're such a tease," she said, retreating to her desk.
Lucious took this chance to find Alexander's office. He followed a long dimly lit corridor cluttered with posters of bands he had no interest in. Once he reached the steel door at the end of the windowless path, he stopped.
Raising his hand, he knocked once. The sound reverberated through the thick metal. Upon hearing an invitation, he entered the room and groaned in annoyance at Alexander's intimate scene playing out.
Alexander was notorious for having multiple partners in bed. Today was no different. A lean, pale man rested between two just as naked women on a king-sized bed.
With a groan, Lucious diverted his attention to the interior of the office. The ebony desk was overflowing with paperwork, more posters, and balance sheets. Black marble tiles gleamed beneath his booted feet. They contrasted against the ivory furniture in the room. Those were the only two shades Alexander approved of—something that existed outside the standard colour range, like vampires among humans.
"Don't be shy," Alexander said. "You can come and join us if you like."
Lucious shook his head and plopped into an armchair across from the desk.
Alexander whispered something to the girls, and they climbed off the bed. He found a pair of white suit trousers on the floor and tugged them on. Once half-dressed, he nudged a short-haired brunette's side. "Allow me to offer you some dinner then."
The young woman glanced over her shoulder at Alexander as if asking for permission.
With a semi-interested expression, Lucious watched her gliding towards him. She looked too young to be here. On her slender body, he counted a dozen bite marks and grimaced.
Lucious lifted his hand in protest. "No, thank you. I already ate."
The brunette ran her hands over her small breasts. "Are you sure, honey?"
"Quite." He dismissed the human by diverting his attention to Alexander. "We need to talk."
His friend raked his fingers through his short platinum hair. Pale-grey eyes assessed Lucious from underneath his dark brows. He barked something in Italian, and the girls scattered to gather their clothes. It did not take long until they ran out of the office, muttering their displeasure under their breath.
As Alexander strode over, Lucious tried recalling their last meeting. Although he visited Ireland a decade ago, he didn't drop by the club. His interest lay with the lead he was chasing which, in the end, led him nowhere. The last time they spoke face to face had been close to fifty years ago when things went south with Zafira—a time best forgotten.
Lucious rose from his seat and extended his hand in the form of a handshake. "It has been too long."
"It sure has." Alexander ignored his hand and drew Lucious into a tight hug. "As always, all manners and awkwardness. You Brits need to learn to relax more."
Immobile from the embrace, Lucious patted Alexander on the back.
Alexander chuckled and released him without another word. He opened his drinks cabinet in his desk. "Shall I bother offering you another drink?"
"I think I need it after everything that's going on."
"And, what is going on?" Alexander found two crystal glasses from his second drawer, filled them mid-way with amber alcohol from a decanter and handed one over.
"It would seem you already know."
"If I knew, I would not risk my immunity to hide a fugitive from Eliza and the rest of the Council. Come with me."
They passed through a set of double doors into a spacious living room. Its walls were hidden by bookcases and antique daggers resting in their glass cases.
Alexander sat on the white leather Chesterfield sofa. "I'm listening."
Lucious took the invitation and relaxed into an armchair across from him. He placed his drink on the glass coffee table and clasped his hands together over his stomach. "Where do you want me to start?"
"Why not begin with why you didn't go to the witch you wanted to see? I got an earful of how I wasted her time and that she's on the verge of cursing us both."
"It's because I found her."
Alexander's dark brows drew together. "Found who?"
"The witch, or whatever she is, that created the connection between us." He recalled the way she looked—almost too innocent for her own good.
"And what? You let her go?"
Lucious grinned. "I got her name and phone number."
Alexander downed his poison of choice. "To be honest, I don't know why you didn't take her with you. I would have influenced her and fuck her until she told me who she was working for."
"I am not into kids, Alexander."
Alexander's brows shot up. "Hum, a young witch with tracking spell capabilities? This I have got to see."
"It's not a tracking spell. It's something else."
"Alright, I'll bite." Alexander lifted his laptop from the seat next to him and nestled it on his lap. "Tell me her details, and I'll see what I can find out about her."
Lucious did as instructed. While his friend worked away on his computer, he finished his scotch.
Ten minutes passed, and Alexander blew out a hefty sigh. "She doesn't belong to any Wiccan circles in the databases I possess. She is a...student and is almost normal."
"Almost normal?"
"Looks like our little witch got a lot of therapy as a kid, but her records are sealed. I can't gain access to that information from here. Want me to send someone to retrieve the data?"
Lucious rubbed his chin with interest. "Why don't we ask her in person? I have an idea."