Chapter 16

The underground world is not exactly a nice place. However, to many, this hell on Earth was hidden heaven instead. To many, it provided and supported many activities that would usually not be available to them even if they earned all the money in the world. The underground allowed for anything to be possible as long as you had the money and the proper connections.

The Waltz of the Dead was part of the underground world. However, in order to operate and function in this modern world, they are seen as a talent agency known as the Waltz of the Dead. They even had actors contracted under them. The so-called actors are actually the retired killers that once belonged to the underground world or the Waltz of the Dead itself. Many of them becoming highly demanded villains and bad guy actors. The others that had the skill ended up becoming stuntmen under the agency, the Waltz of the Dead, as well. If acting was not really their thing.

That is why to the outside world, Andras Mabuz was simply the owner and president of a talent agency that specialized in catering to the action genre of the film industry. However, he remained on the discreet side of all of it, not being that present in the media and the general public eye. Despite all of this, he does hold interviews from time to time and open auditions for new recruits to keep up the image of a talent agency. Though most of it is always being organized and conducted by the lower killing record killers.

Andras Mabuz had gathered and taken advantage of anything and anyone that he could to make the waltz play as harmoniously as it was being now.

One thing that he had to do at the expense of getting his killer organization was to become a member of the Black VI. The Black VI consisted of 6 underworld individuals all under 'a helping hand' alliance. The first member and the leader of the group Black VI is Luca Agro. He is the head of the biggest Italian mafia family, currently prospering. It was majorly through his generous support that Andras was able to successfully create a sole organization dedicated to the killers in the underworld that would not unconditionally chain them for a lifetime as other organizations majorly did. Also at the same time, it supported them with their contracts, but it also allowed them options and a way to peacefully retire as well. 'Killers are more than just a tool' was the drive behind the whole establishment of the Waltz of the Dead.

Andras coming from a family of killers felt quite personally attached to his objective of the establishment. He always wondered during his walks through the woods, when he had himself all to himself, about how if the Waltz of the Dead existed much before then his parents might quite possibly be with him at this very moment and not 6 feet under him.

At this moment, Andras was on his way to attend the monthly meeting that was compulsory to the members of the Black VI. As they usually did not have constant contact with each other, it served as a time to show one's condition and status to each other. This was also the time when, if needed, they could ask for a 'helping hand'.

The meeting places always rotated between a handful of locations at random. This month's meeting was at the underground club that was run by a branch family of Luca's. The private room had a dark atmosphere as the 5 individuals drank from their filled glasses and sat in silence on the grand leather sofas that furnished the room. One of them had yet to arrive.

Then the door was knocked on and a server let in Andras Mabuz. Wilhelm who was following him closely stopped at the door and slightly bowed his head as he stayed outside, not daring to follow Andras into the room that held the biggest heads of the underground crime organization.

The door was closed and Andras took his seat on the sofa not too far away from the door. There was already a filled glass waiting for him. He took it up to his lips and took a little sip. He was aware that they were all waiting for him as he had made them wait, but Andras looked to be in no hurry as he placed down the drink in hand gently not making a sound. Then with his frosty silver eyes, he took a quick look around the faces in the room and his eyes stopped on Luca's face for a moment longer than others. Then he retracted his gaze and toothy smiling, he said with a charming tone, "Sorry to make all of you wait. Matters ran longer than expected." They all made a face of understanding and did not waste time on the matter any longer. The latest news of the underworld was being discussed and someone was either talking or listening carefully, but Andras seemed to be completely out of it as he kept on taking little glances towards the clock on the wall.

Luca had noticed the detached feel of Andras, but it somehow felt different to him than his usual moodiness to get out of the meeting as soon as possible. He had done quite a bit in supporting this man in order to have him as his ally by being a member of the Black VI. Remembering the years that had gone by and all the memories that they had with each other, Luca felt a bit nostalgic.

When he had first met the man before him, Andras Mabuz, he was nothing but a measly teenager. Even though he had been a total newbie in the underworld when he had met him, the boy had an aura much beyond his age and his skills could be compared with someone who had been on the job for at least a good 5 years. Just with a look, anyone who had a good pair of eyes could tell that he was going to become somebody that one shouldn't reckon with blindly. Luca had approached him wanting to put him under his contract and mafia family as a killer. The boy had refused him completely and instantly on the spot without a slight hesitation. His interest in the boy grew even more from that day and he kept an eye on him for the years to come. When he saw him next it was 5 years later and the dark boy was not there anymore. All that one could see was a cold-blooded killer. However, this time he was approached by Andras instead. He asked him if he still wanted to contract him. Obviously, he had said that he did, knowing fully well that this young man of only 21 years had already dominated the contract killing sector of the underworld. Andras had worked for him for a single year, but with his help so much of his problems had been resolved quietly that his empire grew rapidly and nothing could have made him happier. Then suddenly on the exact one year mark, Andras asked to be released from his mafia family's contract. He was hesitant to let such a great tool of his advancement go, but having thought it through completely he knew if he didn't then Andras might just kill all of them to be free of them.

Keeping a wild animal against its will was asking for death, that is something he had learned well from his father whom he succeeded after he died of old age in his own home, unlike many other mafia bosses.

A few months after, he got word of how Andras was up to something. Getting his informants on the case, he learned of his plans. The plans for a killer organization that Andras was seeking to establish in the underground world as a sole and unaffiliated existence that would be home to killers for hire. He was amazed by the idea. He knew it wouldn't be the first time someone thought of such an organization, but it would be the first time that such a plan would see ripening as he would lend a helping hand that Andras Mabuz, the keeper of hell, wouldn't be able to refuse. For his support that led to the successful establishment of the Waltz of the Dead, Luca requested for Andras to become the 4th member in his group alliance, the Black VI. As the terms were quite lenient and it did not chain anyone to anybody and it was more like a gentlemen's club kind of thing, but underground crime edition, Andras complied by becoming the 4th member.

To date, Andras had already lent a hand to each of the members once and he seemed to have no plans of increasing it. Luca was an obvious exception to that rule though.

The six heads had spread throughout the private room, some playing a game of pool. There were only 30 minutes left and then he could leave the meeting, which was more of a gathering, and finally go back home to Mallori. Suddenly he noticed that Luca had gotten up and taken the seat directly next to him, on purpose. Andras saw the shining mischievous glint in Luca's eyes, and he knew that the man, who was in his mid-30s now, was going to talk to him.

Before Luca had even said a word, Andras sighed deeply. Luca smiled and ignoring his sigh completely he said, "I heard about it."

"About?" asked Andras as he feigned ignorance on the matter that Luca was addressing.

"The steel company, of course. Some of those shareholders owe me quite a bit."

"Paid upfront cash," replied Andras as he took a big gulp from his glass.

"Oh, and they don't give me back my money? I will see them happily." Luca said in interest as his eyes darkened and a bit of a killing intent surrounded him. However, he waved it away as he looked at the silent silvered eye Andras and then said, "Can you come with me after? I need to go somewhere and I forgot I was supposed to bring an extra someone with me." Andras recognized the tone in Luca's voice.

A kill was needed.

Unconsciously, he looked at the clock again and he knitted his brows together in annoyance. Luca observed Andras who liked nothing better than a good kill actually hesitate in replying to him. Curious he asked, "Do you have other matters to attend to?" Andras did not bother to reply as he sighed internally thinking that he could finish it up quickly and then go home. He knew that if he refused, he would garner Luca's attention and interest on his other personal matter. Emptying his glass, he replied with a darken low voice and murderous face, "Will join you."

After Black VI's meeting had ended, Andras had dismissed Wilhelm to return to the Waltz of the Dead as he had matters to attend to. Wilhelm wordlessly complied and left. Andras got into Luca's car and they were driven to the next location. They entered the casino walking side by side. As they walked past the groups of people that were playing at the tables, a few of them turned and slightly nodded their head at Luca.

They went into a back room where a group of 4 men were already seated and were chatting with each other without a care in the world. Luca took the lead in talking. He excused himself for being late and then took his seat. Andras made sure to take the seat furthest away from him. Then the conversations began. These arrogant stuck up people kept on blabbering one lie and shit after another for quite longer than Andras would have liked. Luca was obviously not believing all their shit but was simply nodding as he seemingly listened to them.

In truth, he didn't need Andras to come personally here for this. But he could feel that he was in more of a hurry than usual and he felt like messing with him and seeing if he could figure out what Andras was in such a hurry to get to. Then seeing that Andras was getting more and more impatient that even the ignorant and slow people in front of him felt a shiver run down their spine as they took a little sneak glance towards Andras who was seating at the back, Luca knew he was running out of time. Trying his best to formulate a theory towards what it could possibly be, Luca had a realization.

He smiled widely out of nowhere and all the blabbering stopped as the men saw that the mafia boss in front of them had a weird expression on his face. What he had realized was that it might not be what, but who instead. With the ridiculously happy smile on his face, Luca checked Andras from head to toe taking him in completely. Feeling satisfied with what might actually prove itself to be true, Luca got up from his seat. Then looked at Andras whose killing intent was not only towards the targets but a bit towards Luca himself as well. He had to admit that he did indeed waste his time more than needed on purpose, not paying it any mind, he said, "So it's time it seems." And simply with that, he left the room and a click of a lock was heard.

The dumb arrogant group of men finally realized their fate when they saw the grim reaper that stood up with a gun in his hand and a big frown on his face that told them that he really was not in a good mood.

Counting to 30, Luca opened the door and reentered. Andras stood at where he was standing before, not having moved a single step, he had in his hand his little notebook. Not looking away as he flipped through his notebook, he asked, "Their names?" Luca shrugged his shoulders as he sat back at where he was seated before, like the 4 people dead on the ground were simply invisible to him. Andras glared at Luca. Luca knowing he was really playing with the devil here, decided to push his luck a little further, "You tell me who she is, and I will tell you their names." He searched carefully for any reaction on Andras's face. But he stayed the exact same as before as he simply kept the same facial expression as if he had not heard him utter a word. What Luca didn't know was that even though there was no external reaction towards his words due to Andras really pushing the amount of self-control that he had. He could not possibly control his internal turmoil. In truth, his heart was beating quite fast at the mention of her. Luca seeing that there was no reaction was a bit let down but did not let it get to him. There was only silence between them for a few seconds before, a server knocked on the door. Luca got up from his seat to open the door, knowing that it was most probably the cleanup. As he passed Andras with his notebook still in hand, he pointed towards the corner table to the left of the room. There Andras found files on the people he had just erased. He took down their names, and then quietly said to himself, "228 kills" As Luca let the server go and get the cleanup team, he slightly heard Andras's hushed voice and he said, "I see that you are almost reaching your limit." Andras did not reply and just turned around to walk out of the room, and go back home. Just as he was about to take one step out, Luca tried to grab his shoulder, but he reacted quickly and grabbed his hand. He tightly grabbed Luca's outstretched hand and pushed it back to his side and then with a slightly tilted head and a glare, he said, "You are pushing it, Luca Agro."

Whenever Andras said his name fully, it made his heart shudder in fear, knowing he could end up being a simple name between the many others in his little black notebook. He knew he had already pushed this dangerous man way too much for the day. He would have to continue this some other time, it would seem. Luca gently smiled towards him then he replied, "My bad, I got excited. Let me give you a ride back to your house." Andras did not listen as he waved his words away and walked out saying, "I'm going home."

Luca was left speechless hearing his words. He had referred to his house as 'home'. Andras had never done that before. An evil cocky smile appeared on Luca's face as he mentally said to himself, "So the girl is at your home, Andras." Then he noted to himself that he should clear up his schedule one of these days to invite himself over and check it out first hand. Remembering the glare and the undisguised killing intent, "Let's give it a week. Before he really kills me.", he said to himself laughing loudly as he exited the room and headed out.