The Knight Prince

Chapter 8

    The rhythmic, pounding music hammered throughout the nightclub as vibrant strobes blasted in a laser-light show, pumping to the beat, along with the boisterous dancing mob. The atmosphere hung with a slew of colognes and perfumes, mingling with sweat and heady with intoxication.

    Near the bar, Ari scanned the two-tiered nightclub, overwhelmed with the crowd, as she hunted for a singular face. Michelle. She had told her to meet her here, that she wanted to talk. But this place was packed, and people were in constant motion whether it be in the middle of the vast rectangular dance floor that centered the room or within the lounge areas where the tables and booths bustled with patrons. The upstairs wasn’t any better with its dimly lit, crowded balconies rendering a serious game of Where’s Waldo. Why Michelle wanted to meet in this place was confusing, but even so, Ari repeated her forage, eyes roving again over areas she had already searched, hoping to spot her auburn-haired sister-in-law.

    While looking up at the second level, her attention settled on the panels of smoky glass. As her eyes slid over the obscured windows, butterflies lurched to life in her stomach. Intuitively, she played with the bracelet on her right wrist, inwardly screaming at herself to stop staring, yet she couldn’t seem to break away. Ari wasn’t sure if the uneasy feeling was because she couldn’t see who was on the other side, or if she should be afraid of who was on the other side. 

    Probably both.

    Maybe coming the nightclub was a stupid idea.

    Jewel’s boisterous scream managed to shake her out of the trance, as well as probably rupturing her left eardrum. “You rock, Ari! s**t! Kiki and I have never been able to get into Grimoire no matter how well I oiled my t**s!” Grabbing Ari’s hands, she did a happy dance in her six-inch heels. “I can’t believe you VIP’d us!”

    “How did you get this hook-up?” Kiki joined in with equal enthusiasm. “Was it Adrian? That dickhead actually show his face? Call you?” She looked around as if the fine ass hottie would suddenly pop into place. 

    Ari shook her head and tried to keep her lips from drooping.  Kiki had noticed how she had been pining away for her dark-haired, emerald-eyed obsession, or her cupcake date as she calls it, ever since he'd left the café.  Together, they would even drool over his picture on social media together and found her new sites to stalk him. Yeah, Kiki was her peddler and she had become crazy-addicted to him. 

    “No, it wasn’t Adrian,” why did his name taste bitter in her mouth and make her heart stutter at the same time. No! She wouldn’t allow herself to wallow anymore. Crushes were such a waste of time!  “After two weeks of no-shows, I can confidently say there is and never will be an Adrian in my life. So, let’s drop that name out of our conversations, OK?” and spare my bruised heart, Ari pleaded as she pulled at the hemline of her dress for the nth time, which she was convinced didn’t fit her exactly right. Well, Jewel, who loaned it to her, said it fit her perfectly.

    Or, to quote her specifically, “That makes your body bangin’ hot!”

    With her roomie being about the same body type as herself, curvy and a bit endowed in the breast area, she had no reservations about borrowing a club dress when Jewel offered. Though after going through at least five or six outfits, her faith in finding something she felt comfortable in began to wane.

    When she finally decided which one was the lesser of the evils, Ari settled on a deep blue silky dress simply because it felt amazing on her skin even though the sleeveless v-neck still revealed a bit too much of her cleavage and the hem rode incredibly high up her thighs. The stringy tassels that flared around the bottom helped her feel a little less insecure, but seriously, she was afraid to bend over!

    As they walked to the bar to get drinks, Kiki prodded, “Then how are we here, Ari? Who do you, newbie Upstate girl, know that could get us into one of the most exclusive clubs in the city?”

    Jewel grabbed the small tumbler of alcohol she ordered, sipping at it before saying, “Maybe our girl here did get a sugar-daddy after all? Another billionaire flirting with you in the café?”

    “Ugh, no. And I told you, stop with the Adrian references.” Aria rolled her eyes as she reached for her own glass, looking at the amber liquid and wondering if she should gulp it or sip it. Not being much of a drinker, she looked to her roommates for answers, watching them. But even that was confusing. Kiki tipped back her head, downing the contents of the small shot glass of clear liquid in one swallow, yet Jewel gingerly nursed at hers. Since her cup looked similar to Jewels, she opted for the sip.

    “Then come on. Spill it. How did you get us in here?” Kiki urged Ari as she tapped the counter, getting the bartender’s attention for another round. “You’re keeping us in the dark.”

    For the sake of everyone’s safety, keeping them both in the dark was the point. So, Ari hid behind her drink for a bit, looking over the rim of her cup, her attention chasing anything in the room apart from the ladies beside her. Yet, Kiki’s squinty eyes drew her back in. When Jewel caught on, her equally invasive stare pinned Ari to the floor, stirring the war of butterflies in her stomach.

    “Ok, I’ll tell you. Stop with the inquisition!” Ari took a breath, letting it go slowly as her eyes lobbed between her roommates. “I’ve been sworn to secrecy here. So, the most I will tell you is that it has something to do with Michelle.”

    “Mish?” Kiki nearly dropped her glass, the liquid sloshing all over her hand as she fumbled. “What about her? Where is she?”

    “She find out about Xavier?” Jewel’s eyes opened wide. Ari looked at her for a second, wondering how much she knew about her brother’s disappearance.

    “Michelle’s here. Somewhere,” Ari informed them. The phone call from her sister-in-law lasted all of twenty seconds this morning, and all one-sided. She said ‘Meet me at Grimoire. Tonight. Ten o’clock. It’s dangerous so don’t tell anyone.’ And here she was, telling someone. Feeling guilt eat at her gut, she grabbed her cousin’s free hand, squeezing it. “But she only wants to see me, so you can’t tell anyone. I’ve been trying to call her since I got to the city, and she finally got back with me.”

    “Is she ok?” Kiki lost interest in the drink, abandoning it to the counter. “Why hasn’t she been home?” Her eyes jumped out beyond them, searching the crowd. “Where is she?”

    “I—I don’t know exactly, but she’s here. But she just wants to meet with me.” Her eyes begged her roommates. “And I don’t think she’ll approach me while I’m with others.”

    “What the f**k is going on, Ari?” Kiki was close to losing her s**t, at least that’s what the angry swirl in her eyes informed Ari. “Why can’t she come home? Why won’t she see me, too?”

    “I don't know. And I’m sorry, Kiki. But those were her terms.” She saw how much that hurt her cousin, which in turn hurt her too. But she wasn’t in control of this meeting. “ I swear I’ll tell you everything after I talk to her,” That wasn’t completely true, and the lie immediately made her feel sick, but she knew she needed to tell Kiki something to get her off her back. “So, I need you both,” her eyes flicked to Jewel, “to go dance and have fun. I’ll meet back here with you soon. Promise.” Jewel had gone silent, realizing the family feud and keeping her distance, yet her attention was glued to them with absolute interest.

    “No, I don’t like this. This doesn’t feel right.” Kiki shook her head; her short brown bob hair kissing her cheeks. “And my mom will have my ass if something happens to you.” Ari’s heart pounded just as fiercely as the bass, knowing it was risky to do this alone. For two years, she had been saturated with her witch mentors’ words about those who hunted her, about the consequence of being caught. For two years, she knew how being special wasn’t any great honor, rather a target on her forehead. A death warrant.

    With fingers absently stroking her bracelet, “I’ll be fine,” the words shook off of her lips. “Please, just go. We can meet back here, ok?” Her eyes hunted the club, hoping to see the vibrant redhead standing in the inebriated, wild horde. It was obvious Michelle didn’t want to be seen.

    “Fine,” Kiki conceded. “But please, don’t leave the club. And I’ll be watching this bar like a hawk until you come back.” Her finger bopped Ari’s nose, before pointing at her. “And you better come back.” Snatching up the shot glass again, she gulped it quick, before slamming it on the counter. “Or I’ll come looking for you.”

    “Deal,” Ari nodded.

    After she watched the club swallow Kiki and Jewel within its masses, Ari slid onto the stool at the bar and finished her drink. With each second that ticked by, while she sat by herself and staring into her empty cup, anxiety roiled her stomach and gripped at her chest so tightly that she nearly felt breathless. 

    Out here, in the open, the horror stories of the hunters seemed to grow real teeth, ripping into her comfort.

    Anyone could be out in these crowds. People who wanted her dead. Her fingers fished for her bracelet again, pressing, squeezing the beads into her skin as if it would help them protect her any better. Her mentors were sure of the wards, were sure it would mask her true nature. But had they really been put to the test?

    “You look petrified,” the bartender, Mako according to his name tag, said as he placed a drink, much like the ones Kiki had been inhaling, in front of her. “And the guys in this crowd will eat you alive.” Ari’s attention slid from the drink to the tall, lanky Asian behind the bar. “Loosen up,” he nodded at the drink, “it’s on me.”

    Ari nodded, didn't even question her savior, as she seized the glass and popped it back just as she saw her cousin do. If it numbed the tangled mess in her stomach, then bottoms up! Yet, the abrupt swig prompted an immediate coughing fit as the liquid felt like someone took sandpaper and raked it down her throat.

    Through squinty eyes, she peeked up at Mako, who was laughing his ass off. As she stewed over a few choice words to share with the bartender, the air nearly sucked from her lungs when she heard her name called behind her over the cacophonous club. But the man did not call her by the name she grew up with, the name that was put into place as a bulwark between her and the hunters. They called her by her true name.

    “Ariana Kerry?” said a deep, foreboding voice.

    Ari couldn’t help but stare at Mako, as if he could pull another chivalrous act out of his hat. He must have realized her panic, because the banter died from his lips as he moved more squarely in front of her. His eyes jumped from her balled fists to her face.

    “You ok?” he whispered. Was she ok? That depended on who stood behind her and what they wanted. And how did they know her real name? Had the hunters found her?

    As she licked her lips, fishing for an answer for Mako, the man spoke again. “I’ve been sent by Michelle.” 

    Holy s**t! Right! Michelle! Duh! Get it together, Ariana! She mentally chided herself as a tidal wave of relief flushed over her body.

    Ari nodded at the bartender, “Thanks, Mako,” as she slowly turned on the stool. Immediately, her eyes darted upward, her breath hitching, as she gawked at the guy. A titan of a black man, he looked like he was straight out of WWE with his tank top proudly showcasing a swell of upper body muscles guaranteed to even make The Rock cry.

    “The name’s Nico,” he introduced himself. “Please, come with me.”  

    Nodding, Breathless, shaking, Ari slid to her feet. Her body shook so much as she began to follow behind this colossus of a man, she just knew that Kiki’s heels were going to slip out from under her. And it didn’t help her nerves either that, as they walked through the club and up the stairs to the VIP section, several curious stares shifted their way. Ari did her best to keep herself focused on Nico’s back, but her eyes had a mind of their own. Though she wished she hadn’t sought them out, because their stoic faces and chilling eyes only fueled her anxiety.

    Why were they staring at me?

    When they came to a large, black door, Niko opened it, but did not enter. Instead, he tilted his head, prompting her to go in. Ari peeked inside the room, noticing only a few things in the dimly lit room. But what caught her complete attention was a grouping of leather couches, situated in front of large, tinted windows overlooking the club below, bearing a single occupant.

    Recognizing the flaming red hair, even if it was the back of her head, Ari wasted no time in crossing the threshold and racing over to her. As Ari rounded the couch, catching her sister-in-law’s attention the moment she did, she rose to meet her.

    “Michelle!” Ari nearly cried, throwing her arms around her. Michelle immediately hugged her back with thin, trembling arms. "What is going on? Do you know where Xavier is?”

    Michelle pulled her down to the couch, her eyes already brimmed with tears and ready to burst. She let out a tortured exhale before words finally came, “I need you to listen closely. It isn’t safe for you in the city.” Ari stared at the freckles lost within the wrinkles of Michelle’s forehead, knowing she was genuinely worried, just as the aunties were, just as Kiki was. But no one seemed to understand she needed to be here. Every fiber in her body had driven her to come to the City, and she knew it had to do with finding her brother. As if, he was calling out to her somehow.

    “I know,” Ari glowered, not wanting to hear this lecture from her sister-in-law, too. “But I just couldn’t sit back and worry about my brother. I needed to come and help him.”

    “There isn’t anything you can do now,” her chin trembled. “He’s gone, Ari. Gone or will be soon. The scryers can’t find him. So that means the hunters have him in a warded prison or banished him.” Michelle slammed back into the couch.

    “Banished?” This was something new. “Banished him to where? Outside the city? Outside the country?”

    “No, Ari. I mean, banished, like, never coming back.” Michelle eyed her, her brow furrowing. “Banished, like, forever gone. To the Prison realm. To Hell.”

    “To the what?” Ari shook her head. “What does that even mean?”

    “Didn’t anyone tell you? Dammit, they should have told you!” Michelle’s dam broke, tears bleeding free. “With witches like you, like Xav, and other supernatural people too, if they have the Taint in their blood, they are irrevocably condemned to the same punishment of their parents. The children and grandchildren of the Fallen First are condemned to live in the Prison realm, in perpetuity.”

    “But why?” Ari shook her head, “Why would the children be punished because of their parents? Because of their blood?”

    “Because of stupid laws that the stupid gods have all collaborated on and enforce.” Michelle seethed. "Because they didn’t want things that powerful to be on the Earth realm.” She braced Ari’s shoulders. “Because of what you can become scares the s**t out of them.”

    “What can I become?”

    “One bad ass witch,” Michelle smiled through her tears. “And I can’t let what happened to Xavier happen to you, too. You’ve got to go into hiding, with me. Xavier’s coven has been protecting me and they are ready to protect you as well.” She looked out ahead of them, at the floor to ceiling smoky glass windows that blurred where beyond blurred with technicolor lights. "This place is filled with them. Some of them even own this club," her voice was small. "His coven is here now, in the crowd, watching over me. Over you."  Her haunted eyes shifted to Ari, "But there are more than witches out there, too. We've got to be careful."

    “But you’re not a witch, Mish. The hunters won’t be after you, right? What do you need protection from?”

    “No, I’m not a witch.” Michelle’s already pallid complexion paled even more. “But Xav was kinda an important guy in the coven. I don’t know how much you know about things, but he was a Master, Ari.”

    “I know what a Master is. It’s the same as a Mistress,” Ari nodded, grateful she was paying attention to her mentors in Witchy 101.  “A Master or Mistress leads the coven on a local level.”

    Michelle nodded, “Xavier knew things. I know things. Things we can’t let the hunters find out.” She grabbed Ari’s hands. “If they find out you’re here, if they find out you’re Xavier’s sister, you’ll be in danger.” Her eyes were wide, wild. “You need to come with me. To be safe.”

    “So you’re saying… Xav is gone? Like gone—gone?” As her words were sinking in, Ari tried to swallow even as the ache started to crawl up her throat. “They banished him and that means he’s gone?” Her brain struggled to wrap around what she was suggesting. “And baby Jaxson, too?”

    “Yes, both of them,” Michelle used the back of her hand, swiping at her wet cheeks. “He and Jaxson aren’t ever coming back, Ari. There’s no way, once you’ve been banished, to come back.” The older woman’s admission burned her ears, squeezing her heart.

    Banishment sounded just like death. This meant Xavier and her nephew were dead. Gone. Although she had extended family, although she knew she had people to lean on, this revelation left her feeling alone. And Michelle… s**t. She lost her entire world, too.

    Ari wondered, did this mean her father had also been… banished?

    “But the covens are dealing with the hunters,” Michelle said coolly. “The Grandmaster came when he heard about Xavier and he’s very angry.” She assured her, “We’re getting our revenge, Ari. We’re killing the fuckers responsible for Xavier and Jaxson.”

    “And where are these hunters at?” Ari’s expression hardened, her teeth gritting. “Because I want help,” her eyes bore into Michelle. “I won’t let them get away with killing my brother!”