His hands reached for her. Restlessness gnawed at her bones. The bass pounded in the background. The pole pressed hotly against her body. Breathing hung heavy in her lungs and whenever Soleil tried to look up, she saw into the wide smile of a dead man. Someone had jammed a needle into his skull and though she wanted to scream as blood welled over his eyes, she could do nothing but dance.
For a corpse.
The blank look in his eyes burned itself to her bones. The bloodless lips curled, and the head swayed back and forth. He pursued her and simultaneously couldn't get away from the spot.
Without further ado, Soleil held her breath and stopped. Her body barely obeyed, as if she were nothing more than a puppet. Her limbs trembled, her breath stuck to her lips. The music stopped. And her captor's head snapped to the side with a sickening crunch. His fingers stirred.
Soleil kept her breath. Something was wrong. But the chains around her neck weighed heavily. They weighed more than anything she had ever had to wear.
And then he jumped up.
The hollow sound that whirred from him brought death to the fore. It made every breath hot and heavy. Her feet remained immobile, her eyes widened. He, however, scrambled onto the stage, lightning fast, like a spider, clinging to her bare legs. His puffs of air inspected her skin.
Then he bit her.
Hectically, Soleil startled as the scream choked in her throat. The heat in her chest ate into her marrow, didn't let up even when she thought she could calm it. Her eyes darted around the room. Bright wallpaper. Under her a bed. A closet in front of her.
It took her a while to realise that she was sitting in her bedroom. The curtains were still drawn, but the fabric was thin enough to let soft brightness inside. Slowly, Soleil pressed the stale oxygen from her lungs. All this had been but a dream. An insignificant sequence that no longer existed. Still, she tightened her legs and rested her forehead on her knees. She had never seen anyone die like that before. There had never been a body in the background. Even if she had had her mother killed, it was much easier to block out words than scenes. Watching someone die or looking at their dead body differed from imagining it.
Saliva crept down her throat far too slowly. Probably the image of a dead person was only half as bad as dancing for hours until your senses were bare and your body drained. Without fun. Without strength. Full of pain. She wrapped her arms around herself. This was the last time. Never again would she dance for anyone. No more poles. No more music with a nasty beat. Only live, enjoy and forget. Not even a corpse would take that freedom away from her.
And yet, it was easier said than done. These dreams had started haunting her when she had come home after Illumi's rescue. A week had already passed since then. That was seven nights she had danced her feet bloody in her dreams. Seven nights in which a dead man had watched her while his smell had crushed her senses.
Without further ado, Soleil shook her head. Eventually, it would pass. She would forget about the mess and everything would be a little better. There was no need to worry. Only for that reason, she took a breath and swung herself out of bed.
In long strides, she followed her morning routine. The face she stared at in the mirror looked tired. Circles under her eyes marked her skin and although she avoided it most of the time, Soleil improved the problems with some make-up. Combined with a pretty white ruffled blouse and a cardigan, the ugly remains of her nightmares faded away. Sometimes all it took was a little self-care.
"You look well, my lady." In the end, Roxy met her eyes first, putting on a warm smile before taking her red hair between her fingers and changing the subject. "I don't want to cause you any stress on such a beautiful day as this, but we have found the man you are looking for."
"You know where Chrollo is?" escaped Soleil a little too loudly.
Roxy nodded. "We do. Ace passed the address on to me." Then she cleared her throat. "And she put together the pieces of the puzzle that had been so unclear before."
"What do you mean?"
"As I said, we have heard the name Chrollo Lucilfer before. But we both couldn't remember where." Roxy lowered her eyes. "My lady, this man is a wanted mass murderer and felon."
For a moment, Soleil didn't understand the problem. They were just words thrown at her. Trivial phrases. She knew Chrollo. He was a thief. Sure, a dead man in the room didn't scare him, but a murderer? It sounded insane, and Soleil couldn't help but tune it out. Another piece of information she would simply forget. Like so much that tried to accumulate in the back of her mind.
"Give me the address." Determined, Soleil held out her hand. She was ready for whatever was to come, just to see this one man again. Chrollo was worth taking a step out of her new comfort zone.
Reluctantly, Ace handed over the sheet of paper with a few details written on it: a city, the name of a hotel and the room number. Without further ado, Soleil turned on her heel. She only needed the mobile phone in her jacket pocket and the account details in her head to arrive. She would sort out everything else on the spot.
Her steps hurried straight out the front door as she pulled the mobile out of her pocket and ordered a taxi on the net. Few clicks that would take her to the place of her desire.
Her destination was getting closer.
►► TEW◄◄
The journey seemed to take forever. The place where Chrollo had settled bore the unremarkable name of Lynbrook. It was an adjoining town of Yorknew, though not known for much more than cheap hotels and good food.
Soleil's gaze clung to the outside world as her heart thumped softly. Never had she thought to return so soon to the vicinity of her old city. There was at least an hour's drive between Lynbrook and Yorknew, but it still felt almost like home.
The buildings, which stood close together like mighty fronts, lay before her in the glow of the late afternoon. Ugly grey facades that were nothing like the village she lived in. Everything looked a little worn.
The taxi finally stopped in front of a hotel that looked less shabby and seemed as if it could offer comfort. Awarded three stars, it at least offered more luxury than anything Soleil had ever visited.
Half thinking, she paid the driver before slowly pushing her way out of the car. Her heart was racing by now and the feeling of having arrived in the wrong place made her legs immobile. Every fibre of her body refused to move even one step further.
What was she even doing in this place?
Lips pressed together, Soleil tried to cling to the information she had been given. Words that still seemed terribly void.
"Imagination," she muttered softly to herself. Chrollo had a man on his heels who seemed like a threat in his own way, and Illumi was helping him. With the Zoldyck at his side, he would find Chrollo and that was probably a problem she could spare him.
A little safer than before, Soleil pushed forward. Straight through the door of the hotel, past the reception, to a lift that seemed a tad too old for its service. Still, she got in to be transported in slow pulls to the second floor.
Just as quickly as she had got in, Soleil hurried out again. The solid ground beneath her feet felt better. It made her steps more lively. So light that she reached the hotel room faster than she realised.
The door in front of her differed from what she had imagined. Although it looked like all the others, it conveyed something that settled coldly on Soleil's skin. Goosebumps spread, making her stroke her arms more than once before she adjusted her blouse and tightened her shoulders.
Then she knocked.
Her breath faltered. Chrollo would probably guess things when he opened the door. Everything about her seemed rushed. Her clothes were far too simple. There was only the blouse, the dark blue cardigan, the tight-fitting trousers, and the comfortable sports shoes. An outfit for comfort within her own four walls. Not necessarily something she wanted to face Chrollo with. But it was too late to change her mind.
Her feet made her bob up and down as she waited. It seemed no one wanted to open, and yet she was sure that someone was there. So Soleil bent forward once more to knock a second time. But the click of the lock beat her to it.
Frantically, she regained her posture as the barrier opened and a young blond man stepped up to the door. He was definitely not Chrollo. His eyes, his posture, his way of dressing differed completely from what she knew of him. It didn't even pass for a damn good disguise.
"E-excuse me...," Soleil waved it off far too quickly. "I ... must have got the room number wrong."
The friendly smile of her counterpart brought some calm. "Can I be of any help? Who were you looking for?"
He was polite and even though he couldn't possibly know everyone who had checked into this hotel, Soleil wanted to believe that Chrollo had some recognition value. So she gave him a smirk.
"Chrollo ... Lucilfer. He's ... taller than me and has black hair. I think he likes to wear something to cover his forehead and he ... wears earrings. They look like blue glass beads."
There would have been better descriptions, for sure. But she didn't have the words. Describing someone was harder than she'd assumed.
But her counterpart seemed to understand, and the smile on his features widened. "You must be Soleil."
Her heart skipped a beat when he mentioned her name. Had Chrollo mentioned her? Hands in a knot, Soleil pressed her lips together before nodding. Whatever was in store for her, the blond at least knew Chrollo and that was progress.
When he ultimately held out his hand to her and introduced himself as Shalnark, Soleil accepted his kindness and allowed herself to be led inside. The narrow entrance barely left enough room for two people, and the smell of two individuals hung between them.
Soleil allowed herself to be pushed all the way into the bedroom, where there were two beds and a computer. An open document flickered on the screen. In one bed, Chrollo had settled down - armed with a book.
"Boss, visitor for you."
Chrollo instantly raised his eyes and when he noticed Soleil, it was his brows that shot up a little. To where no bandage waited. Instead, she was greeted by the flawless forehead of a man, marked with a tattoo she couldn't place. It had something of a cross caught in the lines of a diamond.
He shut the book in his hands and half pushed himself out of bed before he had gathered the right words. "Why are you here?"
His voice still possessed the same soft characteristic that had stayed with her. Soleil thanked the seconds for her decision and still couldn't answer before Shalnark interjected.
"You're the woman who helped with our last plan, aren't you?" Curious, the blond tilted his head. "Boss said you didn't have any experience, but you'd have been good."
"Good enough to get hold of what you wanted." Defensively, Soleil raised her hands while Chrollo glanced curtly at Shalnark and the blonde scratched the back of his head.
"It's probably better if I go check out some of the information. You never know." Without further ado, he gave his boss a thumbs up before sauntering past Soleil and disappearing out the door barely later.
For a moment, Soleil listened to the silence. Chrollo was still sitting on the bed, dressed in simple clothes, which she eyed only briefly.
"My question stands." His request had something of velvet about it and simultaneously left no escape.
She had entered his territory and owed him an explanation. The rules of this game were quite simple. But her legs trembled so uneasily that Soleil seized the freedom to walk towards Chrollo. She found a seat beside him and took a breath. Just a few moments in which he eyed her and Soleil gathered her thoughts. Her information was completely null and void. All at once, it no longer mattered who was after him. Chrollo was a clever man. He probably already knew.
And yet she had to justify her appearance. Somehow.
"I... So..." She swallowed as she clenched her hands into fists. "By circumstance, I became friends with someone called Illumi Zoldyck. Recently, one or two things came up, which led to me spending some time with him. Through that, a week ago, I came across a man named Hisoka who seems to be looking for you." She paused for a moment. "Illumi is good at finding someone and I wanted you to know that this Hisoka isn't someone to be taken lightly. At least he doesn't give off the image of an idiot."
Chrollo's soft sigh took over the silence. The tension had gone from his body and as he leaned forward, nothing remained but the certainty that Soleil had been right.
"You already knew, didn't you?" she inquired cautiously, only to catch one of his blank stares.
"Hisoka isn't a man to remain unnoticed for long."
"That's true." She lowered her eyes. "After a week, I should have guessed." She clasped her hands. There was nothing to lose by being a little more honest. "But ... I thought about you more often. And this information looked like something that might open the doors for me ... to just see you again."
Soleil couldn't look at him. It was enough to notice his burning gaze on her skin. His eyes possessed this strange power to lie as fixed on you as the moon. The goosebumps on her body wouldn't let go and the pounding in her chest seemed to echo off the walls.
"Me too." Chrollo finally returned, and Soleil couldn't help but look at him.
He had averted his eyes. Instead, his attention lingered for a moment on the opposite wall. He seemed to be looking for something without finding it, so he turned his attention to her again and Soleil could feel the world grow a little warmer. "You were a pleasant partner. That's something to remember."
"I could help," Soleil replied far too quickly and far too detachedly. She was in no position to help a thief and yet, a little thrill seemed to make life all the more worth living. "So... If you ever need someone to help you put one of your plans into action, I'd be willing to assist you." She shifted her gaze. "Even if it's probably risky."
His attention lingered on her, sliding over every inch of her body, ultimately stopping at her hands, which Soleil held clasped tightly.
"I would actually have something for you," he began then as his gaze lifted back to her eyes. "Your charm would make this arrangement progress faster."
"What's it about?" She tilted her head.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" Chrollo's voice expressed no concern. Instead, it was a simple question - almost as if he saw right through her. Almost as if she was free to not find out more and instead just sleep with him to calm the tingling under her skin.
He was smarter than Soleil wanted to admit and yet she didn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing she had only come because she longed for him. Helping him out again was more valuable. It gave her time to get to know him better.
"I am," she replied thus, before loosening her hands and trying to appear more relaxed. Chrollo had the power to distract her for a long time.
"Good." As if on cue, Chrollo leaned forward to rest on his knees. "Are you familiar with the twelve royal houses?"
"I've heard of a few of them," Soleil replied, "but I could never list them all."
"The plan is to throw this country into chaos."
"What kind of chaos?"
"Just listen."
She had interrupted him, and simultaneously he seemed reluctant to be torn from his explanation. So Soleil obeyed and just listened.
"To throw this land into chaos and create something new, all twelve royal houses must fall. This is nothing more than a first attempt." He looked at her. "Assassinating them might be difficult because they keep coming back. They all have their lairs and finding each of those is impossible. So we have to destroy their reputation to make sure the tree we cut down doesn't take root again."
Soleil swallowed. Killing them all would be too much. He had considered it, and though she didn't want to think about it, Roxy's words came back to her. He was a murderer. A dangerous felon; and yet she sat beside him, certain he wouldn't hurt her. Probably she was naïve. But there was nothing about Chrollo that seemed like a mass murderer and yet there was this slight air of indifference because murder seemed normal in a world like this. She didn't know who he was killing, and she didn't care. All these people were just unknown components in her life.
Her thoughts were selfish, she knew that. There was a lack of empathy. But none of these people meant anything to her. She didn't know any of the names of those whom Chrollo had killed. And anyway, didn't they live in a world where only the strongest survived?
She could only cling to the fact that she was already to blame for the death of two people. Humans loved to see blood flow. They paid for it. They watched fights in the Heavens Arena. Others saw it on TV, in some horror films. Some watched documentaries of serial killers to be left completely enthralled. This world was sick. And if Soleil had to be part of it, she would side with those who knew how to walk through dead bodies. Wanting to be close to Chrollo was a good thing. Everything else didn't matter.
"One of these royal houses has an unwanted son. He's the black sheep in his family, not overly intelligent and far weaker than his siblings." Chrollo's eyes fixed on her. "He has a weakness for beautiful women, though no success."
"And that's where I come in." Once again, she stole his words, though this time he didn't reprimand her. Instead, he nodded.
"You'll have an easy game with him. I assume it won't be a problem for you to manipulate him into doing whatever you ask of him."
"I don't think so." At the end, she was still a stripper. Manipulation was one thing she had to master to keep her clients - even when they had seen her naked hundreds of times. "But what do I get in return? Surely more than the thrill, right?"
For a moment, Chrollo closed his eyes and let the circumstances sink in. "How do you feel about the same payment as last time?"
He didn't know. She didn't need more money. The circumstances had changed. That left Chrollo with nothing to give her when money was all he had - at least nothing he could suggest. It was the perfect set-up to lean out the window and get to know him for real.
"I..." Her words stuck on her tongue, and the throbbing in her chest made each successive breath shorter than the one before. But she only had this one chance. This one leap she had to take. "I'd rather have ... a date ... with you."
