Through The Crowd

The inside was so definetly different than the outside interior. The walls where of cream coloring, and wooden pillars stood against them. They where dark and recently polished. Around the edges of the walls where it connected with the ceiling, where also lined with a dark wood. A swirling parters sat in each cornered edge, making it look expensive and exotic. A large red carpet covered the entry way hallway. It was soft and plush, making you sink in when you walked. It was way to lavish for my tastes. Torches sitting in metal holsters lined the long hall until it gave way to a lavish foyer.

The room was very tall, and a large crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. There where many metal arms that bowed down wards, only to come back up and reach for the ceilings. Thin metal chains covered the metal arms and suspended down towards the ground. Crystals covered the suspended chains and tinked together, making a light jingling sound. The floors where made from elder oak trees. You could tell with the many rings that sat on each perfectly cut plank. Leather seats sat on flat decorated rugs.

Despite how clean and gorgeous the inside was, it was stained with the smell of old cigarettes, cheap perfume and cologne, and alcohol. It penetrated my nose and stained the smell into my memory like a cup of spilled red wine. I fought the urge to flinch and cover my poor nose with my hands. I let out a soft strangled noise from my nose, stressing my displeasure. Nicklos's hand tightened around my waste in a comforting guesture, but it did little to help. What's more, there where people scattered everywhere in the foyer, and on the wooden balcony just above our heads, and on the stairs leading up to said balcony. It was clustered and crowded with brightly dressed skimpy women, and intoxicated cringy men.

The room was filled with laughter and idle chatter as the women went about their work. Luring men into their trap to steal their money by selling there bodies. I was staring at all the people when Nicklos changed directions, forcing me along with him. I cast a glance up at him, and he met my gaze with a stern glare. I was suppose to be focused on only him. I sighed slightly, readying myself to put on an embaressing act of possessive charm that I never once had to use in my life. I smiled, slightly stroking his chest with the edge of my finger nails. I inwardly cringed as I let a giggle slip through my lips, and made myself melt against him.

Nicklos gave another nod of approval as he led us through the crowd, pushing slightly against idle chatterers, he made our way to the stairs. But not before catching the eye of a brightly dressed hostess. I could see her out of the corner of my eye, she was perched up against a wooden pillar, like a bright yellow flower. She wore a frilly lace top that exposed her belly, and a really short skirt to match. It left nothing to the imagination as she prowled the crowd, closing in on her pray.

"We have one coming this way. Lady in yellow." I stood on my toes, whispering into this ear. His eyes flicked around until he found the hostess I was talking about. With a small grumble, he stopped for a moment. He let me go, but only for a moment before wrapping me into his arms and lifting me into the air. I let out an embaressed squeak as he nestled me into his chest. He squeezed me, quietly telling me that I had to regain my composure. Swiftly and quickly I could without looking desperate, I wrapped my arms around him, giggling loudly. I leaned in close to his ear, like I was whispering some seductive words into his ear.

"You are going to pay for this I swear on my life." I hissed. Thankfully I put the pink satin veil over my mouth before we entered, making it hard to see what I was saying.

"You have our whole life to get me back, rest assured Princess." He whispered back, clearly amused by my discomfort. I nestled my head into his neck, but keeping a keen eye on the yellow dressed female who still continued to prowl towards us, hunger in her eyes.

"She's not stopping." I muttered under my breath. Nicklos grunted in reply, but made no move to stop. But with one of his steps, she took two maybe even three. She must truly be desperate if she was practically running through the crowd to catch him. Like liquid, she melted, weaving in and out of people. It was as if she wasn't human. Just as he was about to ascend the stairs, she was in arms reach. With an outstretched hand she reached through the air aiming for his shoulder. A sense of possessive urgency over came me, making my insides boil at the sight of her hand. Like I was possessed, I slapped her hand away.

"This one is taken, find yourself another." Despite my surprise, I kept my voice cool. Nicklos stopped in his tracks, his body tensed up. His aggitation was becoming evident as he turned to face the yellow dressed beauty. She started back tracking first, intimidated by his aura, but then something shifted in her. You could see it in her eyes. She went from scared, to seductive within one second. I watched as she paced herself, and leaned close into him.

"This man's physic is too much for one woman, don't you think?" She purred lightly, her hand trailing his arm as she leaned into him. I scoffed, once again kicking her hand to the side.

"I don't think you can handle my client. He has, quite the taste in his fantasies. Now if you don't mind, we will be leaving." Nicklos nodded silently again, and turned to leave, but not before shoving her gently to the side. She was a statue as he walked us away. A cold and angry storm brewing in her eyes. Not once did she look away as Nicklos successfully walked up the stairs. I hope she wasn't going to be a problem for us on our way back down. From the look in her eyes, she wouldn't let something like this go quietly. Our plan for a diversion might just have to come in handy.

"You handled that splendidly if I say so myself. Who knew you would have such a side to you." I huffed at Nicklos's teasing words and remained silent. I don't know what had over came me in that moment, all I knew was that Nicklos was mine. I didn't want any other woman having their grubby paws on him. I just hoped that it wasn't enough to blow our cover. Praying was all I could do, in hopes that she wouldn't run off and tell someone about her encounter with us. If she blew our cover before we got to Laylia's office, it would mean the end of our heist.

Once atop the stairs, Nicklos had set me on my feet. The feel of hard wood underneath my slippers was different. I was use to having some sort of padding as I walked, but with these slippers you could feel everything. Every piece of hard chunked dirt, to the smallest of grains. It was like I was walking barefoot. So every step down the hall was filled with grainy dirt.

This hall was much like the entry way, exept it was lined with wooden dark oak doors. It was long and filled with a slight hazy as smoke filled the air. But down at the end, was our destination. Two gold doors with brass knockers. Nicklos grabbed my hand firmly in his and set off towards the doors. Hope spread through my body with each and every step. Not once could I pull my eyes away as we advanced further. My heart was beating louder and faster, but it was getting hotter too. Sweat had started to bead against the nape of my neck, and the back of my calf. A slight weakness started to gather in my legs as I pushed forward towards the door.

A building sensation started between my legs, making every coherent though in my head slowly slip away. Something was wrong with me. There was an overly sweet smell in the air, wafting through my nose, making my brain foggy with each inhale. I shook my head, trying to shake off this muddled feeling. Then it dawned on me. Didn't Hugo warn us about something like this? The incense! I stared up at Nicklos, but I felt quite faint. My body went limp and Nicklos caught me in his arms. With desperation he pulled me into his arms and into what I hoped, was an empty room.