"It is the way of prophecy. Only to be understood when it has happened and it is too late to change it."

-Ragnar Lothbrok-

CHAPTER 8: AUCTION DAY

7 A.M.

Clandestia rushed down the hallway, ignoring the peculiar looks from some of the hotel's staff.

She didn't care that she was still in her nightgown and her hair was all over the place.

If she was right, Neon's predictions had already been out by this time.

She was about to enter Neon's suite when she heard Dalzolene voice. She stopped in her track and followed the direction of his voice. He was standing outside a conference room which she bet that all the bodyguards were gathering inside.

Perfect timing! She thought to herself as she promptly approached the head bodyguard. He was too occupied with a phone call that he did not notice her presence.

"Sir, would it be wise to let her attend the auction tonight?" He asked.

The person on the other line was practically shouting: "No! Stop her immediately!"

Clandestia patiently waited for him to finish the call. The other person on the line must be her uncle, Light Nostrades.

"But little Miss's really looking forwards to attending it!" Dalzolene almost squeaked. "And we can't handle her if she angers, Sir!"

Clandestia smiled wryly. She agreed. Neon could be quite a handful.

"OK, Sir. I understand." He sighed, using his thumbs to massage his throbbing forehead.

He turned around and met a pair of amethyst eyes gazing up at him patiently.

"Lady Clandestia?" He gasped. "What sent you here so early?"

"You've got Neon's predictions, right?" She wasted no time asking him.

"Yes."

"Do you know what's gonna happen at the auction?"

Dalzolene eyes went wide in revelation. If Lady Clandestia's asking about this, it could only mean one thing...

"You got a prophecy dream, didn't you?" He asked and her reaction instantly confirmed it.

Her eyes clouded as she struggled to find the words and he knew very well her dilemma. Unlike Lady Neon, she's not supposed to talk about her premonitions.

"Who are you sending to the auction?"

"All of them, except Scuwala." He breathed in. After a brief silence, he asked: "So… what's the casualties?"

"Four." Her eyes darkened as the dreadful word rolled off her lips.

Neon's ability produces vague fortune poems which requires decoding. Clandestia is different, whatever she sees in her prophecy dream, it'll come true to the exact details.

"You can warn them of Neon's predictions… maybe just a part of it?" She suggested with a hopeful look. Her eyes were scanning for his reactions. She knew his predicament, too.

"Actually we all should just give up on this year's auction and leave Yorknew now." She said gravely.

"Lady Clandestia." He sighed. "Sir Light said to get those items for Lady Neon no matter what it takes."

In other words, they planned to sacrify the bodyguards.

"If it's about Neon, I can convince her…" She whispered.

But Dalzolene promptly cut her off: "Lady Clandestia." His palms tenderly reached out to hold her shoulders and he gave her a firm look. "Please just take care of Lady Neon."

He left her standing dumbfounded in the hallway without looking back.

The slender girl clenched her fists until her nails dug into her flesh and drew out a faint trail of blood. Dalzolene was right, what's the use? She bitterly thought as she dragged her feet back to her room.

She was not any different from Dalzolene. There would be nothing they could do. That was how it had always been like to be in a mafia family.

7 P.M

A group of the Nostrades bodyguards gathered around the entrance of the hotel.

Three of them wore full tuxedo suits. They were Iwancolef, Baise and Tochino.

"Remember: don't get into any kind of trouble!" Dalzolene emphasized. "Talk only to your partners."

"Yes Sir." The ones in suits replied in unison.

Dalzolene turned to the other three. "Kurapika and Melody guard the main entrance while Basho covered the back."

'Yes, Sir!"

"Phones and weapons are not allowed inside the auction hall." He explained. "So those who guard outside the avenue are to report to me every 30 minutes."

Dalzolene nodded his head in approval. "Well then, Good luck on the mission!"

The bodyguards promptly scattered out to the pre-assigned vehicles waiting for each group at the main entrance of the hotel.

As Kurapika was about to enter the car with Melody and Basho, he felt eyes on them. He instantly turned his head and surprisingly, it was Clandestia that stood a few meters away watching them.

As their eyes met, she hurriedly walked up to him.

"Kurapika." She smiled at him and waved her hands cheerfully at the other two already sitting in the car. "You guys are heading to the auction?"

"Yes, Miss Clandestia?" He answered.

"Luckily I got here on time. Neon was giving us a really hard time." She smiled.

He was now scrutinizing her. Did she come all the way down just to see them off?

As if to dodge his penetrating look, she changed the topic: "Oh, you haven't used the Beetle watch yet?"

"I'm not in need of it yet." He simply said.

In fact, he was considering returning it the other day but somehow, he couldn't bring himself to say it now.

"I see." She chuckled. "Just wanted to say… you guys take care!"

"We will, Miss." The corner of his mouth slightly curved into a ghost of a smile.

Kurapika gave a short bow and promptly slipped into the driver seat.

The carefree smile on Clandestia's face vanished the moment their car pulled away.

"So… I heard something about… a watch?" Basho inquired. Humor filled his voice.

There he goes again.

"None of your business." Kurapika retorted apathetically.

"Ok. Ok," Basho sighed and quickly gave up.

Kurapika turned to Melody who was sitting in the passenger seat beside him. She had been quiet from the moment Clandestia showed up.

"What do you think, Melody?" Kurapika asked simply.

"The Lady seemed to have something on her mind." She said.

Her blond co-worker raised an eyebrow.

"I simply mean… she's hiding something." She clarified. "-Definitely."

What could Clandestia be hiding? He did feel like she had something else to say back then. His face darkened at the thought.

"But… the confusing thing is-" Melody quickly added. "-Her heartbeats showed no malice."

They fell into a prolonged silence all the way to the auction avenue.

A/N: ScarletEyesChainUser: Indeed, Clandestia is 17 in Yorknew arc so the age gap is several years apart. Still, Levi is such a sweet, sensitive young lad. I can't help wanting to ship them. But of course, the age gap might not work. lol!