Chapter nine

I walk through the door and as expected, five other women are inside the dimly lit room. Three of them turn towards me as I step into the room while the rest pay me no mind.

The only source of lighting being a small chandelier that is clearly on its lowest setting. There are sofas provided for our comfort and a bar, presumably to soothe our nerves.

The women are strewn over the sofas in a lackadaisical manner, all with a glass in hand; well at least the three that are currently staring at me. The remaining two are on their feet; one is pacing and the other is standing still, staring at the door opposite the entrance which we would walk out of in a few minutes.

One of the three women throws her head back and chuckles in a mocking manner. "The Eirene Clan has to be extremely shameless for them to send the same person again."

"The term 'once bitten twice shy' clearly doesn't apply to them." Another woman quips.

"I heard that last time she wore some kind of dinner gown. Like a virgin nun," the third one says with a laugh that is obviously forced.

The others smirk at that, taking a sip of what looks like champagne but I'm not sure. They were staring at me as I was their prey that would crumble under their power. I'm trembling in absolute horror. Illiterates.

I ignore them as I look around the room, finally finding a secluded corner and perching myself on the sofa in quiet solitude.

"Settle down children. Your stupidity is showing," the woman standing still says without looking at them and they all spit out their drinks. One of them starts to choke. Things are starting to look up.

I like her. Smiling to myself I fold my hands and wait for the drama to unfold. Last time was a blast, it helps take my mind off my confusing thoughts.

"Do you know who you just called stupid, stupid?!" The one in a robe with the Leventis Clan's symbol shrieks as expected. Powerful comeback right there. I'll call her the shrieker.

The other two seem to have become her minions and I thought it couldn't get worse but…

"Yeah! What she said!" The one choking finally speaks up and I have to resist the urge to facepalm. This one will be the choker.

"Don't try to copy me, be original for goodness sake. Uuurrgh thirsty bitch." The shrieker contorts her face in disgust, eyeing the choker like dirt.

I look at the third one and she does not disappoint.

"Let's just settle down. We're not here to fight, we should be supporting each other. Girl power, if you know what I mean," She says with a conviction that her words would actually mean something and once again, I am not disappointed.

The choker and the shrieker turn to face the peacemaker, they look like they're about to pounce on her and I don't blame them.

We are here to fight, it might not be physically but we all want the same thing.

The door I came through opens again and the last woman enters. About time.

As soon as the door closes behind her, the other door opens and HE walks in.

I was not prepared for that. None of us are.

The pacing woman comes to a halt, the still woman becomes more still if possible and the three clowns scramble to get to their feet.

We, including the newcomer, immediately stand in a row and bow from our waists, eyes to the floor.

Silence fills the room, the loudest sounds being our stuttering breaths and my pounding heart.

His intimidating aura fills the room, almost suffocating me but a sweet scent enters my nostrils, calming me in a way I never thought possible.

Slowly, we all straighten but keep our eyes to the soft rug beneath our feet.