Behind The Door

Sitting on the bar with a drink in hand, Zuri took careful sips while thinking of her next move.

A beautiful lady slid on the vacant seat beside her but she did not pay attention to the newcomer. She had more problems to take care of but a minute later she regretted her decision.

"Am I unattractive?"

Zuri couldn't help but take a peek of the woman beside her who was facing her slightly. The woman was probably an actress and her voice appeared to be from someone who was a total stunner.

Instead of answering, Zuri took another sip of her wine.

"What's a girl gotta do to get some drinks around here?"

From her peripheral view, Zuri saw the bartender appear with a bottle and a glass and placed it in front of the woman beside her.

"Took you long enough."

The woman snatched the bottle from the bartender who was about to pour her a drink.

"Still rejected?"

Zuri could hear the woman drink from the bottle. Her gulps were so loud, she could not unhear them.

"Shut up."

Zuri tried to assess the situation and tried to sneak another peak but just when she was about to do it, the bartender caught her eye and gave her a slight smile. She looked away and focused back on the red swirling liquid in her glass.

"Maya, Maya, you should take up another annual activity."

"Go away."

From her peripheral view, she saw the girl called Maya shoo the bartender away with a wave. Zuri couldn't help but feel distracted with everything going around her. She was thinking of looking for her target but the next thing she knew, someone was breathing down her neck.

She felt goosebumps with each pant which appeared to be moving upwards. The breathing stopped close to her ear. She could feel something soft touch the underside of her ear, followed by the sound of a deep breath.

"You smell ...different."

Zuri was on tenterhooks, her hard was beating so loud on her chest.

"You're not from here."

The whispered words gave her an unusual reaction. Tonight, this was the second time this happened — the man in the mansion and this woman. She moved her body away and the woman simply grabbed the bottle to take another gulp.

"What's a seductress like me and a beautiful woman like you doing in a place like this?"

Zuri raised an eyebrow when she heard Maya's words.

"The most exciting people are on the other side of that door."

Zuri couldn't help but follow the direction that Maya pointed to her. The room was on the second floor of the manor. When she looked up, she saw a large door.

She had no idea it was there if the woman did not point it out to her. Perhaps listening to this woman had its uses.

The door appeared to be engulfed in fire. She couldn't deny how impressed she was of the aesthetics of this place. The place felt like it was set in hell and everyone was dressed for the occasion.

In the middle of a large door flanked by two fire pits, Zuri saw a lion. But this lion was larger than the animals she saw in real life. She could see something protrude from the back of the creature.

While the lion was distracted, someone dressed as a demon tried to sneak through the door. But before he could make it inside, the beast rolled on its side, opened its mouth wide, and attacked the intruder.

"Aaaaahhh!!!!!!"

"Roar!"

"Nooo!!!"

Zuri could hear the savage tearing of the flesh.

"Stooop!"

The shout echoed in the hall and a few heads turned towards the direction. When the please stopped, the lion threw what appeared to be a leg in the crowd. Someone jumped to grab in without hesitation as if it was a prized possession.

The beast opened its mouth in a wide smile as if beckoning anyone brave enough to come closer. The animal smiled in a sinister way and looked straight at her. The eyes were glinting with menace and she saw his tongue come out while studying her.

Zuri felt a hand wrap around her shoulders and Maya spoke in the same warm and enticing words.

"Don't worry, I can get you past that five-legged lion."

The coaxing words calmed down her erratic heart.

"Whole."

Maya added in a teasing tone.

"So..."

The slurred words were attractive enough to distract Zuri from the sound of a beast digging into someone's flesh.

are you ready to play?"

She took a deep breath and grabbed the bottle in front of Maya.

She couldn't help but lean her body away from the bottle. The smell of alcohol was just too strong.

"First, I need a drink."

Zuri gulped a copious amount of the liquid, ignoring the acrid taste in her mouth.

"I don't..."

The warning came too late. Zuri coughed after she swallowed the liquid. May took the bottle away from her hands and placed it back on the counter.

"Come on!"

Zuri stood up slowly. She expected to feel dizzy after a strong dose of alcohol but she felt sober. When she glanced back on the bottle, it was only then that she read the label which said "Guiltless."

She couldn't help but check out Maya as she followed behind her. With her tight black outfit, it was clear to see that she had a body to die for. The way she sashayed through the hall caught the attention of many guests.

"Buer, don't lust after her."

Maya's voice awakened Zuri's musings. Before she knew it they were in front of the blazing door. Zuri couldn't help but wonder how much money went to creating the artificial fire which appeared to be surrounding the door.

The creature in front of her was a beast. It appeared to be a real lion with a costume fashioned after a demon with five goat legs.

'Could this creature be made in the lab or was simply wearing a hideous costume?"

"Rich people and their weird hobbies."

Zuri muttered the words under her breath as her eyes studied the place. She could see limbs strewn all over the floor. She could hear some sizzling sounds from the fire from time to time, and she didn't want to guess what was grilling on the fire.

Maya stepped on the fire without a second thought and knocked on the door. The beast called Buer eyed Zuri and stalked her slowly. She stepped closer to Maya but Buer moved closer and was now sniffing her skirts. Zuri cringed and when the door opened, she rushed inside not waiting for Maya to make a move. She had no time to survey the hall either, all she wanted to do was get away from the beast.

She could only breath normally after she heard the door closed behind her. Recovering from the scare, she felt like she was transported to a different world.

The room had walls of fire, bright enough to illuminate the place and at the same time, cast a sinister vibe all over the place. The dark floor felt hot and she felt overheated while navigating the place.

The place was not just a room, it appeared to be one large area.

Before she could look for Maya, a horde of demons wearing nothing but a small piece of cloth to cover their privates bumped into her.

"Move it!"

"Don't block the way!"

"Scram!"

The demons pushed Zuri away from her path. She had no idea where Maya was and all she could do was stand up to find her way around the place which looked like one, sinful, gambling den. And there were guests littering the floor and putting bets and playing games of chance.

As she continued surveying the place, she saw a familiar face tailing after a man with a winged demon costume. She was certain that the man was Frederick.

Frederick was one of her father's business partners and among the biggest investors in the business. If the man was here, her father should also be around here.

"Frederick!"

Zuri called out the man's name without qualms and the man slowed down as if to find the one looking for him. But before he could, he fell off the ground and the other demons laughed. It was a disturbing sight.

Did this man actually have a demon fetish?

Is this place...

If it was, her job will be easier.

Her father's death will be passed off as a natural death.

That's for sure.

After all, rich, powerful people hate ratting out their secrets.

Behind the shadows of her hood, Zuri hid a sinister smile.

'Now, where was the old man?'