Chapter 3

Temptation

The Venus Fly Trap was the most famous Night Club in Notia – the fame was a sad one, though, as the establishment, like the name implied, had the habit of sucking in people and swallow them whole. Since it lay in Epentar Street, it belonged to the Yason district in Notia and was off-limits for anyone who wanted to live the next day.

I didn't care, though, since I knew that it would be the ideal place to get some answers: The Venus Fly Trap was run by Carian Lora, one of the four Yason top members.

The club was, although it was mid-day, reasonably filled with customers. As we entered the place, all eyes were on us and it probably was only thanks to Haren's imposing stature that no one was pointing his gun at us. The interior of the club was exclusive and luxurious – it often was in life that the most beautiful façade hid the most hideous inside: On the red chaise longues, men with lots of money, but no souls, were sprawled, amusing themselves with women with too much make up on their faces and not enough heart. Under the light of the gold lustres and behind closed satin curtains, the most dangerous men in town were plotting their newest crime or sharing the money of their latest coup and the fancy drinks in their hands had more than once contained poison.

I approached the bar, where I had spotted a familiar face – the bartender was none other than Chris Arcway, a crafty and handsome fellow and probably the most unconcerned person in all of Notia. I had dealt with him a few times when women had accused him of having not only stolen their heart, but also their money. But all in all he was neither on the bright nor on the dark side of life, only on his own. Chris took everything Notia offered – he would have scooped up vomit from out of the gutter if it was worth a cent.

"Still working for the Yason?" I asked him.

He gave me a lopsided grin. "Still don't know which places are good for you and which arenot?"

"I could ask the same question to you. It is a surprise to me that you are not in the ground of the river by now – the Yason do not take lightly to outsiders."

Chris shrugged, unconcerned. "Who says that I'm an outsider?"

"Let me guess – you let yourself in with a Yason woman… Couldn't you get something better?"

He smiled suggestively. "Women are like wine, Captain – unless you haven't had a real bad one, you can't tell the good ones apart."

I frowned at his remark. Maybe it was because I wasn't much for wine - it didn't burn in the throat like whiskey did and was solely made for enjoyment, not for forgetting – so I didn't know if he was right. Or maybe it was because I refused to compare someone like her with something as profane as alcohol.

"Well, speaking of bad women – is Carian in the house?"

"Just arrived for your welcome." Chris motioned towards the great staircase dominating the club where Carian was just making her grande entrée, floating down the stairs in a long, tight black evening dress, her chiselled face half hidden behind an expensive looking feather fan.

Azel gasped behind me. It was a common reaction of men when they saw Carian – she was probably the most beautiful woman in town, but also the most dangerous. She was a Venus Fly Trap in person.

"Oh, what an honour…" Upon seeing me, Carian approached the bar. "Captain Calintz, the intrepid fighter for justice visits my little refugee… What can I do for you?" She laughed brightly and fell on one of the soft cushioned bar stools, crossing her long legs seductively.

"You could answer some questions," I told her, sitting down opposite of her.

She said nothing and put the fan down on the counter, now showing the full glory of her glossy brown hair, her creamy white skin, the red lips and the dark eyes with their thick lashes. Out of her handbag she took a long cigarette and a slim, golden lighter, which she offered to me.

"You are a gentleman, right, Captain Calintz?" She smiled before she took the tip of the cigarette between her lush lips, waiting for me to light it.

Although I couldn't suppress a grunt of displeasure, I followed her wish – it was better to play her game for a while, if it just would give me the answers I was searching for. Satisfied with my obedience, she took a deep breath and then blew out the smoke out in little rings, the smell of tobacco and her expensive perfume filling the space around us.

"Thank you. I'm afraid that I can't help you with your questions, though. You do know that this place is off limits for the likes of you – unless your Major has given you off and you want to find some… distraction from work." She did not take her eyes off me and took another deep draw on the cigarette. "Tell me one reason why I shouldn't rush my henchmen on you and your little sad group, right now…" She pointed with the tip of her cigarette behind me, where Azel and Haren were remaining in a state of constant unrest and alarm.

"Tell me one reason why I shouldn't come with a squad of policemen tomorrow and tear this place apart?" I grumbled. "I'm sure we would find some interesting things here… Illegal things."

She put her head back, exposing her long, white neck and uttered a high laugh. "Are you making threats? You should never forget that the Venus Fly Trap is famous for things not only the Yason appreciate quite a bit - you would be surprised just who visits this place on a regular basis. You would never get a search warrant unless you wanted to arrest some of Notia's highest celebrities."

I growled – she was right. Carian had seen the defeat in my face, as she suddenly smiled sweetly and put one of her hands on my knee.

"Don't look so angry – I'm not your enemy. We are both only creatures out of flesh and blood… I can make you forget your pain…" Her words were like poisoned honey and her manicured fingers with the blood red, razor sharp nails crept upwards.

"Sorry, but I'll have to recline…" I told her coldly. "They say you treat your men like cigarettes – sucking out their strength and will, blowing the sorry rest of them out, and if they still have life left in them you press it out with the sharp heel of your shoe, until they are lying cold and dead in the gutter."

She took another draw of her cigarette and blew the smoke right into my face. "But at least they get to feel my lips before that…" she whispered, "I'm sure that I could make you feel better than she has ever done." She was peering at me through the misty tobacco clouds with a predatory look and a cruel grin on her beautiful face.

I slapped her hand away from my knee. "Talk about her again like that and your pretty face will rot in prison, Carian. The Yason were responsible for her death and now you are after a young lady who witnessed one of your murders… I will not let you have your will this time!"

"I don't know who you are talking about." Carian rose from her seat and pressed out her cigarette in a tray. Then she bent forward -- her lips were nearly touching my face. "But know that I always get what I want."

"Does that mean that you still intend to kill Serina?"

For a moment it seemed to me as if Carian's eyes widened in shock, but in a matter of seconds, she was back to her cold, calculating self. "I still don't know what you are talking about, but if this Serina interfered in Yason business, that's just too bad for her. You know from experience that it is not possible to protect people from their righteous punishment… Think of your little bitch…"

"Don't take the word "righteous" in your mouth, you whore!" Rage got the better of me and I grabbed her roughly at the arm, feeling the alarm of my companions behind me – Carian was staring at me like a snake, her look changing to one of triumph as I loosened my grip – she knew I couldn't hurt a woman, even if she was a member of the Yason.

Unfortunately, Haren was less restrained. "Damn, Captain! How long will you listen to the lies of this Yason scum -- if you won't do anything, I'll show her what righteous punishment is, meself!" he thundered behind me, ready to draw his gun.

"Try it." Carian snapped her finger and in the matter of seconds four 'Turibos', Carian's special bodyguards – uncouth and highly dangerous ruffians, had appeared behind her. Chris was obviously used to such scenes and ducked behind the counter – I surely would not get any help from him. Inertly I cursed myself. We had played and set too much – in this kind of establishment, in the middle of the Yason district, one could only lose.

"I think you want to leave now…" Carian's voice sounded like steel now.

"The hell we'll–"

"Haren, that's enough–" I silenced him and turned once more towards Carian. "We'll go. But know that I will watch you from now on… If I find out that you have sent a killer into Serina's flat, I'll make sure that she goes to court with her accusations. It'll be the end of you and the Yason's rule in Notia!"

She uttered a disdainful snort. "That will never happen. You know nothing, Calintz – not even the things you should know. But it's not my turn to enlighten you." She turned to the brutes. "It seems that Captain Calintz has forgotten how to act in front of a lady. Give him and his men a lesson they will not forget!"

Before I could grab my gun, one of the Turibo already had me at the arm and another one was advancing on me. I did the only thing I could in this situation and sent the incoming brute to the floor with a full left punch that left me inertly wincing in pain – the scar on my left shoulder still hurt sometimes.

"Hands off the Captain!" Haren had the attacker at my arm at the throat, dragging him back.

"You are really trying my patience…." Carian scowled and from out of nowhere, more Turibo appeared – we were severely outnumbered.

"Captain!" I heard Officer Azel's voice – as I turned around I saw him nervously trying to finger out his weapon – a Turibo was faster and brutally twisted his arm around. Azel cried out in pain as I rushed to his aid, giving the attacker a punch the other would never forget – especially when looking at his nose in the morning. My "heroic" action had brought my own person in a rather unlucky position, though – one Turibo threw himself at me from behind, whirling me around at my shoulders, while another one dealt me a well set fist in the stomach that left me gasping for breath and blurred my vision. Behind me it seemed that at least Haren was still fighting, but I knew that he alone had no chance… I cursed that I had taken the two with me and tried to reach for my gun –

And then I heard his voice–

"What is going on here? Stop this at once, Carian!"

Unknown energies revived my strength and with a head knock, I was able to get out of the grasp of my attacker. "Get out of here!" I shouted to my companions with my last breath.

"But what about you, Captain?" Azel's voice was pain-stricken and Haren's cry of rage suggested that he was not fond of my idea, either.

"Let them through…" It was his calm and dark voice, again. My field of vision was still limited, but good enough to see him now, standing there in his fancy tuxedo, with his smooth grey hair, the–

"Captain! What are you waiting for?" Azel was shouting from farther away now.

"I'll follow! Start the damn car!"

He was still standing there, watching me unmoving. Guilt filled me – I had forced Eonis to lie for me and had now lied again to my companions. I wouldn't follow them. Not before I had dealt with the man before me.

"Orha Duren – you will pay for Reith's death!" I growled and lunged at him with my last strength. His dark eyes were watching my advance, calm and nearly sad…

The next thing I felt was a punch in my face and everything went black.