Backfire

 The air was filled with the strong stench of alcohol that made Abrielle feel a bit Nauseated. She was dumbfounded by the bartender's words. Did she look like she was looking for a man? Right now, she was ready to do everything to escape one that had a guillotine blade over her head, ready to chop it off at any moment. 

 "I don't want a man but a drink instead." She said, and he chuckled, probably thinking a girl with her appearance was not a fan of strong alcohol. 

 "Alright, Missy, what drink do you want me to give you?" He finally turned towards her. He had a glass in his hands he was wiping with a clean cloth. 

 "I want a long drink, dark lime salt to be specific. " After hearing Abrielle's request, he froze and then dropped his glass on one table. "Are you sure that is the drink you want? Do you know what exactly you are asking?" His voice was firm. 

 His reaction was because what she was asking for was not a regular drink. "Yes, I want it with an extra barcodi.." Abrielle replied affirming my answer to the password. 

 The bartender smiled and then glanced behind me. "The drink you order is special and served in the VIP area." The bartender explained, and then a lovely girl approached her with a bright smile. 

 "Please follow me, my lady." The female waitress instructed Abrielle. She nodded at the waitress and followed her towards the back door. It led to a dark eerie room with a staircase in it. 

 "This way," the waitress instructed, then started making her way up. Abrielle was nervous. Her hand clutched her skirt, but she still followed the waitress. This place was oozing dangerous vibes, and everyone here was a hardened criminal, but she, a weak noble lady with a vicious heart who was only good at scheming, came all the way here. 

 At the end of the stairs, there was a wooden door which creaked open and led to what seemed like a lounge room. It was empty as expected. The waitress then walked to a wall lantern next to a sea painting then pulled it down. 

 A creaking sound echoed, and dust particles started falling from the ceiling. The stone war parted, revealing a hallway. It was a secret tunnel. The waitress glanced at Abrielle and continued to venture down the secret tunnel. 

 It was a dark tunnel illuminated by a few candle lamps on the walls. At the end of the tunnel was an iron door. The waitress cryptically knocked on the door then it was open from the other side. 

 Someone said from the gaps in the door. "What is the order?" 

 "A lady wants a long drink with an extra barcodi." The waitress explained. The gap was shut then a loud creaking sound echoed as the door was pulled open. 

 "Your drink will be served inside." The waitress beckoned Abrielle to go inside. Abrielle nodded then went through the door. 

 The room was like an office with rows of shelves and people going through several documents. It was really busy; there were some dangerous-looking fellows, too, having a drink in the bar section. 

 "Welcome to the shadow claw guide my lady. Would you want your drink first or rather get an appointment immediately?" Someone walked up to Abrielle to welcome her. She had no intentions of getting a drink and wanted to get down to business. Only God knows how low Sarah could fool Cedric before they found out she was gone. 

 "An appointment, please; I have a tight schedule." She requested. The man nodded, "Follow me, my lady." 

 He led Abrielle to another room that looked like a confession box where she could not see the face of the next person. 

 After taking her seat, the door was closed. From the other side of the wooden partition, she heard footsteps. 

 "Welcome to Shadow Claw Guide, the consultation fee is 4 gold coins." A male voice boomed from the other side. Abrielle slipped her hand into her pocket and brought out 4 gold coins. It was a ridiculous price, but this was the Shadow Claw Guide, the biggest mercenary association in the black market. 

 They were involved in any type of dark dealing, and Abrielle, in the original plot, has commissioned them to do her some favours, although she didn't go to the contact office herself but has a general idea of how they operate. 

 After counting the coins she passed it through a small opening in the wooden partition for the other side to get it. 

 "What do you want us to do for you? Is it a request for information services or an order?" The mysterious other voice enquired. 

 "It is an order I have a dangerous one as at that," Abrielle said with a strong voice this was the fastest way to get the job done 

 "The more dangerous a request is, the more expensive it is. We are at the shadow claw guide are not shy of any request." The confidence in his voice gave her hope. 

 "My request is simple but a bit dangerous. I want the head of the first prince of Darconia. Cedric Von Drakkar."She requested and the other side went quiet. 

 The same gap in the partition was wide open, and the other party was a blurry man with rough scars on his face staring at Abrielle in shock. 

 "Are you out of your mind?" He asked Abrielle, stunned to see it was a young lady making such an absurd request to kill the bloodlust demon, Cedric. The man was rumoured to have conquered an entire kingdom in a matter of just a few hours. 

 This was unconventional for her identity to be exposed to the other party but he was too shocked by the request. "Are you going to accept it or not?" She snapped at him. 

 His eyes narrowed at her then he clenched his jaw. "You are wearing a maid uniform from the imperial family, and the first prince was seen at Moonstone Harbour earlier today." He stated, which made Abrielle's brows furrow, confused by what he meant. 

 "What are you trying to insinuate?" Abrielle mentioned as a faint feeling of dread seeped into her heart something was wrong. 

 The man rang a bell to alarm the guide and then his voice boomed. "We have a spy." Abrielle's pulse spiked. She was not a spy but an honest customer. 

 The door to the booth was burst open, and two hefty-looking mercenaries broke inside, blocking her way out. 

 Things took a drastic turn, Abrielle was not expecting she would be mistaken as a spy. All she wanted to do was to make a simple request to kill Cedric. 

 "This is a misunderstanding. I am not a spy." She said as she quickly got up from her seat. The men approached her with steady steps and she was forced to back away until there was no space between her and the wall anymore. 

 "You should have thought carefully before coming to the lion's den, little spy." One of the men scoffed. They didn't believe her a single bit. She never expected her plan would backfire. 

 One of the men unshielded his sword and used the hilt to knock her out. She fell unconscious on the floor with no idea of what was happening around her.