Lauren, Crystal, Ryan, Reed, Clio, Julia, and Bas Cibor arrived at Club Fantasia. Clio approached the door man with her riding crop and caressed his face with the flat part of it.

"I'm here to play loveboy, and I brought some treats." Clio said as circled him. "Are you?" The door man smiled.

"Welcome back, Dominatrix!" The doorman greeted and lifted barrier. "Club Fantasia is always open to you."

"Thank you!" as she smacked his bottom with the riding crop and then waved the rest of the group in behind her. The doorman looked up at Bas Cibor as he passed by and smiled as he watched him walk inside.

"Come here often I take it?" Ryan asked.

"There are a lot of sources of information in here." Clio replied.

"Have to remember that one." Ryan replied.

They snaked through a long, indistinct hallway that led to a wide opening that overlooked an auditorium-sized dance floor filled with dancers, ringed by several large bars that were also packed with lines five deep. There were two DJs on facing platforms 30 feet above the dance floor, pumping their arms up into the air to the rave music they mixed. There were dancers, two at a time in cages also raised above the dance floor who also fired up the crowd on the dance floor as they moved in tandem with the beat of the music. Machine-generated smoke filled the air and club lights flashed everywhere.

"Wow! What a club!" Crystal said.

"Quite!" Lauren had to shout. Suddenly, a man approached the group and focused on Bas Cibor.

"Hey, big boy! I need a spanking. Care to oblige me?" The man said. The group realized Bas Cibor had quite a few men and women checking him out. Bas Cibor just stared at the guy.

"Can you speak? Or do you save talking for later?" The man said and winked. Bas Cibor let out a small smile.

"Maybe later?" Bas Cibor replied.

"I won't be far away." The man winked and then moved away. When he left Lauren looked at Bas Cibor who met her look.

"Staying in character, Milady." Bas Cibor said.

"Of course." Lauren replied with a smile.

"We need to get eyes on Orsen and Chas quickly." Clio said.

"The picture Tamsin showed us of Chas helps, but you're the only one who knows whom this Orsen looks like." Julia replied.

"They may be out here somewhere or in the back rooms. The problem is one cannot just saunter back there. You have to be escorted." Clio said.

"And this club is packed! How are we going to find them in here?" Crystal asked.

"Best way is to dangle as much as attractive bait as possible. We should split up into smaller Fae/Human teams." Clio said.

"Sounds like a plan." Ryan replied.

"Lauren, big guy here and I are on one team, Crystal and Reed another, Ryan and Julia a third." Clio said. Crystal looked a bit worried being separated from Lauren. Reed saw it.

"Don't worry, you'll be safe with me." Reed assured. Crystal looked to Lauren.

"More than safe." Lauren reassured. Crystal nodded.

"You guys can focus on the bars and the side lounges while Lauren, big guy here and I will focus on finding Orsen. We'll need to make ourselves obvious so we can get invited back into the backrooms quicker. Can't get in there without an invite. Lauren, you will be the bait." Clio said.

"Where ever Milady goes I go." Bas Cibor said immediately.

"I'm not sure I can guarantee that." Clio replied a bit nervous.

"Bas Cibor, we talked about this." Lauren reminded. Bas Cibor straightened up.

"Yes, Milady." Bas Cibor replied. Lauren turned to back to Clio.

"He will be fine." Lauren said.

"Keep the comms open." Clio said as she tapped her ear. Everyone nodded quickly checking their earpieces. Reed then led Crystal into the depths of the crowds.

"Shall we?" Ryan said as he offered Julia his arm and then they too disappeared into the crowds. Clio then rubbed her hands together.

"So how shall we do this?" Clio asked, but her answer came quickly when Lauren stepped out into the middle of the dance floor and began to dance by herself.

"Well, that's one way." Clio commented.

Lauren threw her hands up in her hair and danced provocatively as she slowly let down her hair and shook it about. She immediately gained several dance partners who gyrated around her.

"Well, she's certainly garnering attention." Clio said as she scanned the crowd.

"This is not becoming of a Companion to The Princess Royal." Bas Cibor commented.

"It's only role play." Clio reminded. After a couple songs a man approached the gaggle that surrounded Lauren. The gaggle made way for him and then quickly fell away. Lauren met the man's intense stare as he came upon her and fell into sync with her.

"That's Orsen." Clio said.

They danced for two more songs, and as the third song began to play the man put his arms around Lauren's waist. Bas Cibor proceeded to advance but Clio stopped him.

"She's okay." Clio said.

"His hands are on her person." Bas Cibor replied scandalized.

"She's okay." Clio reiterated. Lauren and Orsen then danced to three more songs and then Orsen took Lauren by the hand and led her to one of the bars. He ordered two drinks, handed one to Lauren and they fell into conversation. Clio raised one of her fingers to her ear.

"Lauren has made contact with Orsen. Anybody having any luck with spotting Chas?" Clio asked.

"Nope." Reed came back.

"Still haven't seen him yet." Julia replied.

"Okay." Clio said then put her hand down. She looked at Bas Cibor who watched Lauren like a Doberman Pincher. They stood there and watched Lauren and Orsen in conversation for about 30 minutes when the same man that initially approached Bas Cibor came up again.

"Are you still playing coy, big boy?" The man said.

"Go away you little cretin!" Bas Cibor shot back and shifted his eyes orangish red.

"Well, if you insist!" The man replied then turned and walked away. When Clio and Bas Cibor turned back to observe Lauren she was gone.

"Dammit!" Clio said. Bas Cibor scanned the crowd quickly. After a few moments he pointed.

"She's there!" Bas Cibor said.

"That's the way to the back rooms." Clio replied. Bas Cibor plowed a path through the crowds in pursuit. Clio could see Orsen holding Lauren's hand as they went. They saw Orsen flash something at the doorman who guarded the controlled access door to the back rooms. The doorman opened the controlled access door, let them through and then shut the door behind them. Clio quickly stopped Bas Cibor.

"I need you go find the others and meet me out back." Clio said.

"Milady is in danger!" Bas Cibor was about to push forward but Clio halted his advance by putting her hand to his chest. Bas Cibor quickly looked down at her hand and then back at her.

"I will take care of this. Go find the others." Clio replied.

"But her Milady?" Bas Cibor protested.

"Trust me, I've got this. Now go!" Clio said as she turned him and pushed him back into the throes of the crowds. Bas Cibor did as he was told and moved quickly into the crowds to go find the others.

Clio turned back around, straightened herself, pulled a silver card out of a small pocket inside her very small skirt, and raised the silver card into the air. The doorman nodded his head and opened the controlled access doors. Clio winked at the doorman and walked through as the doors closed behind her. Clio ventured down another long hallway and reached another doorway where another doorman sat. She raised her silver card again and he let her through the second set of doors. She walked down a short hallway and reached the opening that spilled out into another but far more intimate bar setting. The lights were low, soft music played, fueling the mix of conversations. Clio looked around. No Lauren or Orsen. Clio checked the lounge areas and the gaming room. No Lauren or Orsen.

Clio decided to venture into the secluded back rooms. She approached another door that was guarded by a doorman, flashed her card and was let through. Each of the secluded rooms were not really secluded. They were more like lounges that had privacy curtains, but most of the curtains were open so others could either observe the occupants or join in. As she went, she saw a blend of conversations, intercourse, and Fae feedings. Clio shook her head as she slowing but intently moved along each room, passing observers standing in the hallway as she searched for Lauren.

She reached the end of a hallway and turned a corner and suddenly heard a familiar voice. It was Lauren's. Clio followed the voice to a room at the far end of the hallway and saw that Orsen was pulling Lauren close trying to kiss her but Lauren was trying to get him to talk instead. Clio was thankful Bas Cibor was not with her or Orsen would have been a dead man.

Clio decided to shift into dark, airy smoke and blended in the dark shadows to keep her presence discreet all the while keeping an eye on Lauren.

"Like I said I usually like conversation first." Lauren said as she pushed back. "Should we have another drink?"

"If you wish." Orsen replied then proceeded to refill Lauren's glass of champagne.

"What else would a human as beautiful as yourself like to talk about?" Orsen asked.

"How do you know I'm a human?" Lauren asked.

"I can smell you, and what a beautiful smell you are." Orsen said then scooted closer to her.

"Thank you!" Lauren said as she scooted a bit father back.

"It's truly is a compliment. Not too many humans I have brought back here have been as lovely as you are." Orsen said.

"Oh? What type of humans have you brought back here?" Lauren asked.

"Lost souls, mostly. Humans who think they can become part of this world." Orsen replied.

"There are humans who are part of this world." Lauren stated.

"Humans are chattel, really."

"You consider humans chattel?" Lauren queried.

"What else would they be?"

"That's quite the attitude. Given the efforts of DRM to improve relations between us." Lauren replied.

"DRM?" Orsen queried. Lauren's eyes narrowed. Clio's widened.

"No matter. Such efforts will matter not when the reckoning arrives." Orsen said as he put his glass down.

"What reckoning?" Lauren asked.

"A reckoning where we no longer have to hide." Orsen replied as he took her glass out of her hand. "I am done chatting."

"Well, I would still like to learn more about this reckoning." Lauren said.

"You will know here soon enough." Orsen replied.

"How?" Lauren asked again.

"Like this!" Orsen replied as he seized Lauren by both arms and bared wolf fangs and lunged when Clio emerged from the shadows, quickly shifted back into humanoid form, and blew a gust of lava dust into Orsen's face. Orsen fell back gripping his face while Lauren quickly shot up from the couch and got behind Clio. Orsen recovered then bared his teeth and was about to lunge again when a woman came up behind Clio, brushed her aside, launched herself at Orsen, knocking him back onto the couch. She gripped his neck with both hands, forcing his head back. She took one of her hands, forced his mouth open, leaned over him and proceeded to suck him dry of his chi. When she was done, she stood up.

"You know, if you are going to play the game, play it hard!" The woman said. She then turned and faced Clio and Lauren and pulled back her hood. Lauren's eyes went wide.

"Aoife!" Lauren exclaimed.