So... Hi! Once again I dramatically rise from the ashes to upload a new chapter! Will I disappear into the void afterwards? Yes. Yes I will. But the good thing is, this time I have written a two parted chapter! So there is plently to read. Get yourself comfortable. Grab some tea, put on some nice music and enjoy!
Chapter 16 part one
Good evening Arcadia Oaks! A quick update on the latest news here on local Joes radio. An unidentified body has been found beaten to death in the alleyway of mohagony lane, making this the third kill in this week! Police notified that they still are looking for suspects. Be careful out there, dear listeners! Maybe we really are dealing with our first serial killer-'
Barbara absent-mindedly stared at the rain drops sliding down the window of her car, the streetlights reflecting in the little specks of water, almost as if little liquid crystals covered the glass. She had stopped listening to the radio a while ago, letting her mind roam for a moment.
The doctor wore her usual green scrubs, her red hair a bit ruffled up after a long shift at the hospital. Luckily there were no surgeries today, however the line of appointments had never seemed to end. This time of year always brought more patients to the hospital. People should really eat more vitamins, she tiredly thought as she let out a yawn, holding out her hand in front of her mouth. Blinking away the water from her eyes, she leaned her head back into the headrest of the driver's seat, listening to the rain tickling down on the roof of her car.
Her eyes glanced towards the entrance of new trollmarket once more, waiting for the trollhunter meeting to end. She unfortunately couldn't attend most of the gatherings because duty called. Saving the world is great and all but someone had to pay off the mortgage.
From what Barbara understood, it was a difficult puzzle to try and fuse the emerald and the shadow staff together. Merlin probably would have a solution, but because they had to keep him in the dark, it was up to Blinkous and the others to figure it out. Jim barely joined the meetings though, using the nights to search the area's for Bular, but until now, he hadn't found any trace of the man.
Barbara let out a worried sigh, stroking a strand of red hair away from her eyes. It had been two weeks since another major threat had popped up in her son's life. Things were stacking up on her son's shoulders. She barely got to see him, only occasionally crossing paths with him in the house if she had to get up for an early shift and Jim just arrived home at sunrise. Barbara was proud that her son took his job seriously, however it did rise concern in her that it was the only thing he was focused on. It almost looked like it consumed him completely, not listening to his mother's concerns that he should take a break. She understood that danger was on the horizon, but the look in Jim's eyes just felt… off.
The doctors trail of thought got cut off when she saw Walter walk out of the warehouse, a tired and annoyed expression on his face as he held his leathered suitcase above his head, trying to shield himself from the rain. As always, he wore his cerulean turtle neck sweater together with his hazel coloured coat, strutting towards the car like a true gentleman from the 18th century. The moment his eyes fell on Barbara, his sour expression turned soft, a light smile appearing on his face as he opened the door to the passenger seat, entering the car.
' Still no luck?' Barbara asked with a smile, her eyes gleaming a bit through her glasses after Walter gave her a kiss on the cheek.
' Unfortunately so. Still no soul portal.' Walter answered with a sigh, placing his suitcase on the floor between his feet. ' It would probably go more swiftly if those buffoons stopped arguing.'
Barbara raised a brow. ' Are they still fighting? It's been a week!'
Walter nodded, scrunching his nose as he leaned his head back into the car seat. ' Be prepared for another war on the ride home, during dinner and the rest of the evening… probably tomorrow as well.'
The doctor sighed, rubbing her eyes for a second. ' You would think they talked it out like adults by now.'
The changeling chuckled, showing some teeth as he gave her an amused look. ' Trolls that recently turned into humans? They are basically teenagers if you think about it. We should count ourselves lucky they haven't challenged each other to a fight to the death yet.'
' Guess you are teaching at yet another high school.' Barbara laughed, teasingly patting her partners leg.
' You have no idea.' Walter heavily sighed, closing his eyes for a second, enjoying the calm environment in the car. The silence got cut short when the door behind Strickler opened, Draal's voice angrily filling the air.
' Stop telling me to shut it! I have the right to talk, you damned bastard!' Draal irritatedly said, flopping down in the seat, his weight shaking the car a bit before he shut the door behind him. He wore his usual denim jacket with a white sweater underneath along with a red fisherman's hat, his clothes a bit damp by the drowsy weather outside. His frown faded for a second when he looked up to see Barbara, giving her a warm smile as he put on his seatbelt. ' Hello the Barbara!'
' Hi sweetheart.' Barbara greeted him back, unable to hide a slight chuckle. It did kind of felt like she was picking them up from school.
The door behind her opened, cold air entering the car once more as Angor entered the car, wearing his usual disguise when he entered or exited the building, needing to keep a low profile. He wore a baggy, black hoodie, one Barbara had picked out in the thrift store. His hair was tucked inside his black beanie and his golden eyes were hidden behind a pair of round, black sunglasses, little raindrops stuck on the surface. His disguise did not hide his scowl though, two white eyebrows scrunched together deeply in frustration.
Yanking the black beanie from his head, thick white lock sticking out everywhere, the assassin glared at the guard, continuing their argument. ' That 'right to talk' of yours is disrupting my right to concentrate and actually solve the problem, idiot!'
' By the Gods…' Strickler sighed, rubbing his aching temples with a deep frown.
Barbara pushed her lips in a thin line, turning the keys to start the engine. The headlights popped on and soon the four of them were on the road, the wipers shifting left and right as the woman kept her eyes on the road. She'd rather had listened to a song on the radio or have a nice conversation with the others, but the two men in the back seat kept on arguing.
' —I can't deal with how you twist everything into some kinda attack! Not everything's a war, y'know! Just… ease up for once, will you? ' Draal growled, his arms crossed as he looked outside of the window.
' How thoughtless of me,' Angor spat, eyes narrowed as he shoved the sunglasses up onto his head. 'I didn't realize my imprisonment was such an inconvenience. '
' That ain't what I meant, you paranoid prick!-'
Barbara silently sighed as she took a left turn, trying to ignore the fighting man behind her. It was expected to get irritated with each other when they were stuck 24 hours a day, but after a whole week of constant friction, it started to effect Walter and her as well. She had no idea what caused them to fall out this badly, but it started to get on her nerves. Wishing the ride would soon be over once they arrived home.
' Don't mistake yourself for my superior, guard. ' she heard Angor sneer.
' If I really was your superior, I'd've kicked your stubborn ass to the curb by now! ' Draal roared back.
' Good! I can not wait to get out of here!'
Barbara turned another left, driving through the centre of Arcadia town, the side walk filled with people hidden under colourful umbrella's.
' Unbelievable!' Strickler suddenly interrupted, angrily turning his head to face the men in the back. ' Can the both of you just play nice for ONE MINUTE?!'
Both men didn't even give the changeling a single glance, too busy glaring nuclear war towards each other.
' Hard to play nice when I'm saddled with you, ' Draal snapped, jaw clenched and shoulders drawn tight.
Angor's eyes narrowed, a low growl rumbling deep in his chest. 'Oh, absolutely,' he sneered. 'I'll be the picture of a model prisoner, just for you.'
' ENOUGH!' Barbara suddenly yelled on the top of her lungs, finally snapping. She harshly hit the breaks, the car coming to a screeching stop in the middle of the road. Ignoring the horns behind her, the car's behind her pulling into a stop in shock, the woman turned around, giving the two men in the back seat a glare that made armies flee in fear. The three men immediately shut their mouths, looking at the doctor with a bit of embezzlement. Barbara didn't get angry fast, but when she did, you'd better listen. Merlin would know. For a good few agonizing seconds, it was dead silent in the car as the woman's eyes took her time, giving each of them their own special glare.
' If the both of you can't make up and want to act like children instead, so be it!' the woman hissed, her eyes still switching from one men to the other. With an annoyed huff, she turned around again, grabbing her purse and taking out her phone.
' Barbara, what are you doing?' Walter hesitantly asked. She may not be angry with him, but never touch the oven when it's burning hot, some say.
' Putting them in a time out.' Barbara stated, frowning at her screen as she scrolled through her contacts. After finding the name she wanted, she clicked on it before placing her phone against her ear.
' Hey Nomura! I got a favor to ask...'
Samuel: Mura, where are you? I hope you are not standing me up ;)
Nomura: Hi Sam, work suddenly came up. I can't come tonight, sorry.
Samuel: Bummer! You really can't cancel? I was looking forward spending time with you.
Nomura: I wish. I have to babysit some stupid troll tonight. I'll make it up next time! ;)
Samuel: It's ok. See you next time!
With a sigh, Nomura turned off the screen of her phone, placing it on the black marble counter of her kitchen island. She adjusted her purple blazer that she wore over her little black dress, still wearing her high heeled black boots she had planned to wear for the evening. Her half short raven black hair was neatly styled and tucked behind her ears, black eyeliner and mascara decorating her lime green eyes with some matching dark purple lipstick. All in all, she had put work in her outfit that evening and now it was all for nothing, because just when she had decided to leave, she had received a call from Barbara.
According to the doctor, Draal and the prisoner couldn't get along as of lately, so she wanted to give them some time apart to cool down. Not that Nomura was surprised. She had some experience with the assassin back in the prison house and he wasn't exactly fun to be around. Too moody in her opinion and she was well aware she wasn't a pocket full of sunshine either.
At first the changeling wanted to immediately decline Barbara's request. She finally had a night off from guarding the Prison house and she had made plans with a friend, but after a moment of reflection, she remembered that Draal never had a day off from Angor either. Deciding that, because he was her friend and well, guess that meant she had to be friendly sometimes, she accepted. One night wouldn't hurt. At least it wasn't Gunmar she had to deal with.
Leaning both her hands on the kitchen counter, a red ruby on a golden ring softly glowing around her finger. The changeling stared back at the golden eyes staring right at her, keeping her in sight like a hawk. Angor Rot was quietly sitting on her auburn, designer sofa across from her kitchen, wearing all urban black clothing and an expression that could set the place on fire. The assassin didn't try to hide the fact he didn't trust her, but it didn't bother Nomura that much. She didn't trust him either.
They hadn't shared a word since Barbara and Draal had dropped the assassin off at her apartment. The whole 'transaction' had been tense as well. All three lake house residents had been damp from the dreary weather outside, standing in front of her door, no happy expressions shared in the moment.
' It's just for one night, Draal.' Barbara had assured the guard, motion her head to give Nomura the ring. Draal had been hesitant, keeping his hands close as he looked at the assassin for a second. There was something unreadable in his eyes, Nomura had noticed, raising her brow as she had silently waited for the transaction. The prisoner simply glared the other way, deeply frustrated but keeping quiet. What was he going to do? Run away?
With a deep sigh, Draal had taken the ring off, placing it in Nomura's hand. ' If anything happens, call me, yeah?' he asked the changeling, not able to hide the worried expression in his amber eyes.
Nomura had simply rolled her eyes before putting the ring around her finger. That man was just like his father sometimes. Too concerned with the people around him. For a few seconds the ring had been too big until it glowed brightly, it's size slowly morphing until it fitted neatly around her finger. Wiggling it around a bit, feeling the smooth material, Nomura gave the guard an assuring but slightly sinister smirk. ' Don't worry, Draal. I know my way around evil bastards.'
Draal gave her an irked look, not that pleased that the changeling call Angor 'evil', but he kept quiet, frowning deeply but accepting the situation. Taking a step back, the guard had crossed his arms, sternly looking towards the assassin. ' Angor, try to at least beha-'
The assassin cut him off with a deep, furious growl, bearing his teeth towards the bigger man before putting his hands in the pocket of his black hoodie and stalking passed Nomura inside the house. The other three watched him leave in embezzlement, not expecting the sudden explosion from the man.
' Fine.' the guard grunted, a hint of hurt in his eyes as he ran a hand through his blue hair in frustration. Letting his hand flop to his side, the guard walked away as well. ' Bye Nomura.' he muttered before heading back to the car.
Well this is going to be fun, Nomura sarcastically thought, looking at the guard leave.
' Well, uhm… Thanks again, Nomura!' Barbara said with some hesitation. She smiled warmly though, truly appreciating that Nomura came to her aid. ' Nice outfit, by the way.'
Nomura had simply nodded, giving her a small smile back. With a wave, the doctor left, heading back to the Lake house, leaving Angor behind. With a sigh, the changeling closed the door.
' Alright, here are my rules if you don't want your head sliced off.' Nomura stated with her hands on the counter, breaking the long silence between her and the man sitting on her auburn sofa. ' Do not break anything. Do not steal anything. I want to keep my collection in pristine condition, got it?'
With a sharp wave, the changeling motioned towards the many ancient artefacts she had collected through her years of being an historian. They were originals that came to her liking, but it still meant that she had to take care of them professionally. Under no circumstances was an aggressive troll going to even place a finger on them.
The assassin kept glaring at her, crossing his arms as he leaned back into the sofa. He neither accepted or denied her demand, so the changeling had yet to find out if he would comply.
' You can sleep on the sofa.' Nomura continued, lifting her chin to motion towards the piece of furniture he was sitting on.
' I will remain awake, impure.' the assassin grunted at her, showing a bit of his teeth.
Nomura narrowed her eyes, not amused by the name he called her. Typical narrow minded troll behaviour, she angrily thought. ' Neither am I.' she said with a sneer.
' I do not care.' Angor Rot bit back.
The changeling scoffed before massaging the side of her temples. Of course the prisoner decided to immediately rebel. This was going to be a long night, she regretfully thought.
All of a sudden she heard the ringtone of her phone sing on top of the kitchen counter. Looking down, she saw the name ' Samuel' written on the screen. Nomura clicked on the green button before placing the device against her ear. ' Bit busy right now, Sam.'
' Nomura!' she heard Sam happily yell, cheerful music on the background. ' I have an idea! Why don't you bring the troll with you!'
Nomura sighed on the phone, her eyes menacingly staring at the silently looming assassin again. ' I don't think that is a good idea.'
' I know, but I don't mind taking the risk.' Samuel playfully mused.' We can keep him busy together. I don't mind!'
The changeling bit her lip, contemplating on what to do. It was a foolish thing to do. Nomura was aware of the dangers that surrounded the assassin. Mostly stories, but one look at Angor Rot and she wouldn't be surprised if those myths were true. However, she really did want to go on her date. It was just a couple of drinks and the changeling secretly thought it charming of Samuel that he would even endure the 'third wheel', just so he could see her.
Nomura doubted that Angor Rot would want to come along, but at the same time, what else were they going to do? Glare at each other the whole night? He had to go where she had to go, so it wasn't like she had to convince him or anything. She had her own life to enjoy and after finally being free from Gunmar's agony, she wanted to enjoy it fully. She had just met this great guy who didn't mind at all that she was a changeling. You can't find a lot of those. It would be a waste not to go.
The concerns about taking a dangerous criminal that momentarily worked on their side were certainly there but at the same time, she once also had been a dangerous criminal. If something bad happened, she could take him.
A slow smirk grew as she stared at the assassin. Angor raised a confused brow, not liking the sinister look she was giving him. Oh, he is not gonna like this, the changeling mused in thought.
' You know what, screw it.' Nomura replied to her friend on the phone. ' Safe a drink for me, I'm on my way.' The changeling pushed the red button, lowering her phone as she kept smirking at Angor.
' What are you plotting?' the assassin lowly growled, scowling deeply.
Nomura menacing smile grew even bigger, showing her black snake leathered purse before putting her phone inside of it.
' We're going clubbing.'
Angor had been in awful places. Rings, piles of rocks, Gunmar's roommate and even a fridge once, but he had never expected Nomura to take the crown at dragging him into hell.
At first, he didn't mind the fact that they went outside of her lair. He'd choose even a rainy, cold night over being cooped up inside four walls anyway, or being stuck with 'the big idiot he wasn't going to think about' but the moment they stood in front of their destination, the little glee he felt went flying right out of the window. It seemed they arrived at some kind of tavern that the changeling called a 'night club', loud, pulsating music emanating from inside. In front of this so called night club stood a bunch of flesh bags waited on a red carpet, a thick red rope standing on metal poles acting like some kind of fence to keep them in line. The fleshbags wore clothes that reminded the assassin of the abominations that Barbara had picked out for him in the thrift store. Glittery stones and a lot of unnecessary shiny equipment. They did not look equipped for the cold weather as well. This was no place for battle, the assassin guessed. Everyone was way too unprepared.
Instead of standing in the back of the line, Nomura walked passed the velvet fence and addressed a big man in a black suit. The man seemed to recognize the woman, smiling as he nodded his head.
' He's with me.' Nomura had told the man, motioning her head towards the assassin. The big man, who Angor assumed was the guard of this place, looked the assassin over. Angor just glared back, but he remained silent. Better not to start a fight too soon, he had no clue what kind of situation he was in at the moment. The guard narrowed his eyes a bit, not that comfortable about Angor's demeanour, but stepped aside either way, allowing the both of them to enter.
The assassin followed the changeling with a silent sigh. He had hoped the guard would just deny him to enter, but alas, they made their way towards the noise and commotion. Guards were truly an annoyance.
Bright, colourful lights of red, blue and green hit the assassin's squinted eyes, his shoulders immediately going rigid when he noticed the huge amount of fleshbags in the room. Nope. This was not his scene, the assassin thought, feeling the intense urge to bold out of the building. The only thing that kept him from running for the hills was the fact that Nomura could easily drag him inside this hell hole again.
The entire room pulsed with the beat of the music, every surface vibrating with the energy of the crowd. The dance floor was packed shoulder to shoulder, bodies swaying and jumping in perfect sync with the driving beat, while smaller groups sat in various booths that surrounded the dance floor, happily talking and laughing while they held colourful drinks in strangely shaped glasses.
The changeling clearly wanted to torture the assassin, he noted, trying his very best to not bash his face into the wall. The club was a sensory overload—lights, sounds, and movement blending together in a dizzying display of pure energy and he absolutely loathed it. He wondered if Barbara had plotted some scheme with the changeling as punishment for going against Dra- the name he wasn't going to think about. Well, whatever they had planned, he could take it, Angor thought with a deep scowl. He had gotten much worse. Bring it on, wench, he menacingly thought.
Grinding his teeth, the assassin reluctantly pushed through and followed Nomura through the crowd, doing his very best not to get into contact with any annoying fleshbags. The woman had spotted her friend sitting in one of the booths across the dance floor. The man's eyes had already been searching through the crowd and when he spotted the two heading in his direction, his eyes lit up, waving excitedly. Nomura gave him a hug, the two apparently quite happy to see each other.
' This is Antonak.' Nomura said with a bit of annoyance when remembered the man standing next to her. Her date gave Angor a bit of an odd look, blinking in surprise for some reason. He had expected a different kind of person. Probably someone who didn't look like a cat with glowing golden eyes, stuck in a bathtub full of ice cold water, giving them a look as if he was going to blow the place up any second.
' Uhm, hi! The name's Samuel. Nice to meet you!' Samuel introduced himself, lifting up his hand.
Angor Rot eyes scanned the man in silence. It took only one look from the assassin to tell that this was a full blooded fleshbag. The man had short, curly red hair, brown eyes, a neatly kept beard and a simple, blue polo shirt. He was slightly shorter then the assassin and clearly had no warrior build. Kind of boring, the assassin concluded but surprisingly no threats were detected. Although he wondered why this Samuel pointed his hand towards him.
' You're supposed to shake his hand, Antonak.' Nomura advised, giving the assassin an annoyed glance.
Angor looked at the changeling with narrowed eyes. ' I am not touching the fleshbag.'
Nomura's eyes widened in anger, ready to give the assassin a piece of her mind, but Samuel interrupted her, placing a hand on her shoulder. ' It's okay, Mura!' he assured her with a kind smile. ' You told me troll culture is different, I don't mind!'
Nomura decided to calm down a bit but not before giving the assassin a warning glare, her lime eyes threatening that if he would not behave, she really was going to slice of his head. Angor just stared at her with pure boredom. It seemed Nomura had found herself a companion that knew about troll kind. Strange. This Samuel has no fight in him. Truly dull…
The fleshbag offered to get them some drinks, turning around and disappearing in the busy crowd while Nomura went and sat in the booth. Angor simply followed her, sitting on the other side of the table. The two of them sat in silence, the both of them not that keen on talking to each other.
Angor decided to just look around, analysing the strange scenery. His ears started to adjust to the pulsating music. It was a sound he'd never heard before, thinking it strange and almost alien like. Although, this whole modern fleshbag society was alien to him because well… he missed a few centuries. It didn't seem to be that dangerous in here. The air was filled with momentary distraction, all the fleshbags and apparently a changeling showing no signs of wanting confrontation. They were simply enjoying themselves, it seemed. Such a waste of time. Still, it was interesting enough to look at. At least he didn't have to think about he who shall not be named.
' So what's the deal with Draal?' Nomura suddenly asked.
The assassin closed his eyes for a second, fighting the urge to slam his head against the table. This woman truly was a sadist, he concluded. Luckily for him, he was used to this kind of folk. With a cold glare, he looked in her direction, seeing the woman lean her elbows on the table, shamelessly staring back at him.
' None of your business.' he growled at her.
' It became my business when they dropped you off at my place and Gods help me if this becomes a reoccurring thing.' the changeling sneered at him, a scowl growing on her face as she grimaced at him.
The assassin's scowl deepened as well, crossing his arms as his anger grew. She had no right to intrude and he refused to think about what happened. It wasn't like he was enjoying himself in this hell hole. ' I remain silent. Stop bothering me.' he replied, his eyes shifting towards the crowd again.
Nomura tilted her head, giving him a thoughtful look. ' Really? You looked pretty upset when Draal gave me the ring-'
' I said NO!' the assassin angrily growled at her, looking back into her direction with a furious glare in his eyes, baring his teeth. ' Go entertain yourself with your fleshbag toy and leave me be, impure!'
Nomura narrowed her eyes as she stayed silent, heavy tension in the air between while they glared each other down. It seemed Angor had ticked her right off, her hands balled into fists, trying to keep her own anger in control. ' Call me an impure one more time.' she coldly threatened him, her words slow and filled with venom.
' Or what?' Angor shot back, a cold smirk appearing on his face. ' You are going to kill me? Stand in line.'
' I'm back y'all!' Samuel happily announced, oblivious of the situation as he suddenly appeared in front of the booth with a tray filled with many tiny glasses. Placing it on the table, he clapped his hands together with a big smile. ' Let's have a drink!'
His enthusiasm did not reach the other two, his smile faltering a bit when he noticed Nomura and Antonak glaring bloody murder at each other. ' Something wrong?' he asked, a bit of concern in his voice.
' No.' Nomura replied, pulling her eyes away from the assassin, placing her hands on the edge of the table, pushing herself out of the booth. She took one of the small glasses filled with a clear liquid, placing it against her lips before bending her head backwards, drinking it in one ago. Letting out a sharp sigh, she placed it back on the tray before grabbing Samuels hand. ' Come on, let's dance.'
The human gave Angor one confused look but complied, letting Nomura pull him towards the busy dancefloor. They disappeared in the crowd, but Angor felt no pull of the ring, indicating that Nomura at least respected the limited range of the prison. The assassin gave one more menacing look in their direction before looking the other way, leaning back into the bench with his arms crossed. He tried to push away the anger he felt, but the moment the changeling had dropped the guard's name, the gnawing feeling returned, a certain pain tightening in his chest.
She had to start about Draal…
Flashes of a sunlit forest came to his mind. Amber eyes looking down at him with an indescribable expression while big, warm hands held the assassin in place. The scent of warm earth after rain — grounding and quietly magnetic. For a moment, the assassin had lost control, swept away by some strange enchantment but then he quickly snapped out of it when Draal leaned down and...
' Tsk!' Angor scoffed, rubbing a hand over his forehead, trying to drown out the rising tension in his chest. He didn't want to think about that traitorous bastard. Or how he himself reacted like an absolute dumbass, walking straight into his trap. It had been foolish of Angor to just believe whatever Draal said to him.
The guard's kindness didn't matter. His warmth didn't matter. Or how he himself felt around him. Whatever that feeling was. He couldn't afford himself to be this vulnerable. Draal had showed his true colours. He was a liar. A threat just like everyone else. Just like Gunmar. Why else would he have-
Damn it. Draal was just so… maddening.
The assassin's hand shifted down, resting on his tightly shut eyes. He let out a shaky breath, trying to keep the gnawing feeling under control. His grasp on his sleeves loosened, His eyes fell on the tray of potions on the table.
Angor kept staring at the glasses. He assumed that it was human glögg, being in a glittery tavern and all. It looked different, similar to water in tiny glasses. Still, it smelled different. The assassin barely drank any glog back in the day. He had no soul to drown, so there wasn't much use for it, but now, things had changed. He had gotten himself into this entire mess completely sober, so in the end it didn't matter on bit. All he wanted was not to think. Not to feel. Not to be anything. Like things used to be.
He placed the small glass on his lips, downing the liquid in one go. The liquid burned in his throat, but the assassin pushed through, swallowing it and roughly putting the glass down. With a sigh, he run a hand through his hair, leaning his head a bit as his eyes fell back on the tray once more.
Time had passed like an eternity, though Angor assumed it had only been an hour or so. The music still pounded in his ears, making him wonder if it would cause any lasting damage. Human bodies were fragile, after all.
Leaning back against the bench, he closed his eyes, trying to focus on the haze swirling in his mind. It was pleasant, letting thoughts drift by like waves, washing away anything unnecessary or irritating. All racing thoughts turned into nothing but incoherent words trying to reach him under water. Eventually it stopped, leaving Angor be for now.
A few empty, tiny glasses stood in front of him. It had burned his throat for a moment but slowly, it numbed his insides enough for him to relax a bit. This so-called club had become somewhat bearable. Now he just had to wait for Nomura to finish playing with the fleshbag so they could return to her apartment.
With a sigh, he opened his eyes and leaned his elbows on the table, glancing toward the dance floor. Nomura and Samuel, the fleshbag, were clearly enjoying themselves. Apparently, the woman could smile—she even laughed as Samuel danced wildly offbeat, arms flailing in the air, his feet stumbling across the floor. It seemed he was trying to amuse her, carefree and ridiculous.
Angor shook his head slightly and rolled his eyes. The fleshbag reminded him of someone else, and he wasn't going to entertain that thought. Resting his cheek on his hand, he shifted his gaze to the upper balcony. It was quieter up there, occupied only by a handful of strangely dressed humans who looked just as bored as he was.
His attention caught on a short, stocky man walking along the balcony with confident steps, passing by the other patrons. From what Angor could see at a distance, the man wore a gray suit, his blonde, neatly trimmed hair beginning to bald. Nothing remarkable—just another face in the crowd. But before Angor could look away, his eyes widened as he spotted the massive figure following behind.
Trailing the suited man was a giant, hulking boulder of a figure. His short, raven-black hair framed a face with a rough stubble along the jaw. He wore a dark leather jacket over blue jeans, his massive black boots stomping against the balcony floor. Angor wondered if the structure could even support the man's weight. His blood-red eyes burned into the back of the smaller man as they made their way toward the hallway connecting to the balcony.
Angor blinked in disbelief as no other then Bular disappeared into the hallway. Lowering his hand, he let it flop onto the table. What the hell was that bastard doing here?
Without hesitation, he slid out of the booth, intending to move with swift precision. Instead, he miscalculated, turning his attempt at a smooth exit into a stumbling mess. He barely caught himself on the table, regaining balance despite the way his mind swayed. Blinking a few times, he tried to steady himself. The room seemed to dance a little bit.
With an irritated growl, Angor pushed through the haze, heading towards the crowded dance floor. The constant bumping of shoulders and irritated glances only fuelled his annoyance. He despised this place.
Finally, he reached Nomura and the fleshbag. She shot him a questioning look, though she didn't seem particularly pleased to see him—probably still mad that he had called her impure. Whatever. He wasted no time.
"Bular's upstairs," he said, his voice barely carrying over the relentless pulse of the music.
Nomura frowned, stepping closer. "What?"
"Bular's upstairs!" he repeated louder, scowling at her slowness.
She still didn't catch it, shaking her head in frustration. Angor rolled his eyes. He had no patience for this. Without thinking, he grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the hallway beneath the balcony.
"What the hell! Let me go!" Nomura protested, slamming her hand against his bicep in an attempt to break free. He ignored the pain, forcing his way through the crowd until they rounded a corner into the hallway. The music dulled, and the space was far less congested. Finally, he could hear her furious objections.
"How dare you drag me away like that! I swear to the gods, you are such an ass—"
"Bular is here," Angor cut in, releasing her arm and turning to face her, his expression grim.
Nomura's anger froze, her eyes widening in shock. "Bular? Are you sure?"
Angor nodded, tilting his head upward. "I saw him on the balcony. We need to get up there."
She stared at him, silent and contemplating. The revelation stunned her. The troll she had once served for centuries had suddenly appeared in a place she frequented. It raised too many questions—questions that needed answers.
"Hey, jerk face!"
Both Angor and Nomura turned to see Samuel stomping toward them. Despite his thin frame and unsteady stance, he clenched his fists, determination in his eyes.
"If you hurt this lady, you'll have to deal with me, buddy!" he stammered, fists trembling slightly.
Angor raised an eyebrow at the weak posture. It was almost amusing. He was about to critique the man's stance—explain how to position himself better if he wanted to last more than five seconds in a fight—but Nomura cut him off.
"It's alright, Sam," she said gently, placing a hand on his arm. "Antonak and I need to handle something upstairs. Can you stay here where it's safer?"
Sam lowered his hands, his expression shifting to concern. "Is this… troll business?"
Nomura nodded, offering him a reassuring smile.
Sam hesitated before nodding back, though he shot Angor a distrustful look. "Call me if anything goes wrong."
Nomura chuckled softly, brushing her fingers against his cheek. "I'm stronger than you think, Sam. But thank you. You're sweet."
"Yes, yes, very heroic. Now let's go," Angor interrupted, rolling his eyes. He was reminded—yet again—of someone he refused to think about. Turning away, he strode toward the stairs, attempting to walk in a straight line but occasionally failing. Stupid, poorly built floor.
Nomura waved Sam a final goodbye before following, her expression turning serious as they ascended toward the upper level.
The hallway on the upper floor stretched out before them. Angor halted for a moment, quickly scanning his surroundings. The passage was narrow and dimly lit, the walls bathed in shifting neon hues that pulsed in sync with the bass-heavy music from below. The air was thick with cigarette smoke, curling toward the low ceiling and mingling with the scent of spilled liquor.
A row of doors lined the corridor, each glowing in a different shade of neon—electric blue, toxic green, blood red. No numbers, no labels, just color-coded secrecy.
Further down, a lone bouncer loomed in front of a crimson-lit door, arms crossed, his broad frame an impassable wall. His dark shades obscured his expression, despite the low light, and the only movement he made was the slow, deliberate way he cracked his knuckles, one hand after the other. Behind him, muffled voices filtered through the door—low, deliberate, laced with tension.
Angor narrowed his eyes. He had found Bular.
"That bouncer is going to be a problem," Nomura murmured beside him, equally aware of the situation. A direct attack would be unwise; in a place like this, the human likely had allies. Not to mention Bular would notice any disturbance at his door.
The assassin blinked slowly, his dazed mind somewhat disoriented. This could complicate things but luckily, this was standard procedure. Sneak in unnoticed. Spy and obtain information. If he could keep his focus, it would work out.
The assassin's gaze flicked along the walls, searching for another way in. The neon-colored doors were his only option. If he could get into the room next to the blood-red door, he could use some of his 'tricks.'
"Distract him," he instructed Nomura. "I'm going through the green door."
She shot him an irritated look. "Who put you in charge?"
Angor responded with one of his bone-chilling smiles, pointing a sluggish finger toward his own face, his usually sharp eyes a bit dazed. "Do you prefer me to make a new friend?"
Nomura grimaced at the unsettling expression. Why was he acting so strange? His words seemed slurred, swaying a little to the right. Whatever, it didn't matter now. "Fine," she sighed, smoothing her little black dress before fluffing the ends of her neatly styled hair. "Just don't do anything stupid."
With a dazzling smile that could fool the wisest of men, she strode toward the bouncer, hands on her hips. With a playful twirl, she stopped in front of him, her small frame barely reaching his chest.
"Oh my God, hi!" she chirped, placing a hand gently on the man's arm. "How are you? I think we haven't seen each other since college!"
The bouncer stared at her in confusion, a slight hint of shame flickering in his eyes as he tried to hide the fact that he had no idea who this pretty lady was. "Uhm… hi? I guess so? Which class were you in?"
From the shadows, Angor observed, noting how effortlessly Nomura had the man distracted. Without hesitation, he slipped toward the toxic green door, quietly opening it before vanishing inside.
The room was empty, bathed in eerie green light that discolored the low, white leather sofa stretching against all four walls. A glass coffee table sat in the center, the assassin almost tripping over it as he rushed into the room. Which was obviously a stupid object in his way. Under no circumstances did he drunkingly overlook and nearly fell face down on a fragile, extremely loud if shattered, glass table. Shut up.
Wasting no time, Angor climbed onto the couch, resting on his knees as he pressed his ear against the wall. Muffled voices drifted through, indistinct but deliberate.
Pulling back, he closed his eyes and pressed his hands together. Ignoring the swirl of thoughts in his mind, he summoned a sparkling energy between his palms, murmuring, "Hera num zan…"
With a sharp breath, he placed his hands on the wall. The energy spread across its surface, and within seconds, the wall became transparent, revealing the room beyond. Two figures sat in the red room, the transparent non existent on their side of the room.
Angor narrowed his eyes, growling softly when his sight got greeted with the ugly smug in the other room.
Bular sat across from a smaller man, his expression twisted into a scowl. The troll looked worse for wear. His massive frame barely fit in the cramped room, broad shoulders hunched forward as if the weight of his existence had become too much. The dim red neon light cast sharp angles over his face, accentuating the deep lines carved into his skin.
His eyes, once burning with raw rage, now were dulled at the edges like a blade left too long unsharpened. His leather jacket bore the creases of wear, faint scratches along the sleeves, a dark stain near the collar—Angor could easily guess what it might be. His knuckles, half-curled into fists, were bruised and raw, as though he'd already dealt with one problem tonight and was expecting another.
"I have dealt with your problem. Now deal with mine," Bular growled.
The short man leaned back into his white leather seat, scratching his chin. "Your work is much appreciated, my friend," he said smoothly. "Obviously, I'll compensate you."
Bular's glare remained unchanged. "But?"
The man chuckled, taking a long drag from his cigar. "No buts. This is your third job this week. I just can't help but wonder—why is a troll so desperate for fleshbag currency?"
Bular's cold grin widened. "A mere impure like you doesn't need to know my reasons."
The changeling chuckled, exhaling a thick plume of smoke. "Gunmar is dead. The changelings are free. What's left of us, anyway."
Bular said nothing, letting the changeling believe whatever he wanted. Instead, he grabbed a large leather bag resting beside him and stood.
Angor quickly ended his spell, pushing off the couch as he listened to Bular's heavy footsteps leaving. He waited until the troll was farther down the hall before yanking open the door, slipping out after him. Without hesitation, he bolded after the giant boulder of a man disappearing downstairs, a satisfied smirk on his face when he finally could bash in the face of that man.
Unfortunately in his pursuit, he slammed face-first into the invisible barrier of the ring.
"Fuck!" he hissed, stumbling back as pain exploded through his nose and cheekbone. Shaking of the pain, trying to see things clearly again, he cursed the magical prison. Right, in the heat of the moment he had forgotten who he was stuck with for a second. He turned in search of Nomura. He spotted her still talking to the bouncer, back turned toward him.
The bouncer noticed Angor first. He took in the assassin's scratched nose and dark expression, immediately tensing. "Hey! What are you up to?" he barked, stepping toward him.
Angor barely spared him a glance. "Come on! He's getting away!" he snapped at Nomura, pointing behind him towards the stairs.
But she didn't move. Her expression had shifted, her gaze flicking between Angor and the bouncer.
"Angor Rot," she warned, voice deadly serious. "Don't move."
He frowned. "Why?"
She didn't answer, but he saw what she was staring at. The bouncer had a strange black weapon raised, aiming it directly at him.
Angor narrowed his eyes. What kind of weapon was that?
"Whatever you do, don't make him pull the trigger," Nomura sternly warned, taking a step back herself.
The assassin scoffed, slugglishly stepping forward. Whatever it was, he doubted the big man could ever win against him in combat. Opening his arms, he smirked cockily towards the bouncer, inviting the man to try. "Dare to – hic- challenge me, fleshbag?" he growled dangerously, his dazed golden eyes threateningly glaring at the big man.
A sharp bang rang through the hallway. Something shot past him in lightning speed, hitting the wall on the far back of the hallway.
Angor's breath hitched. He barely had time to react, his arms still opened wide. That was… fast, he thought as his smile faded. He quickly looked behind him, spotting the hole in the wall behind him. Whatever flew past him, it had been so fast and powerful it punctured the wall. His skull probably would've looked a lot worse if he got hit, the assassin realized with amazed eyes, wondering where he could get one of those. Turning back around, he looked at the bouncer.
Just before the bigger man fired, Nomura had grabbed his arm, ruining the bouncer's aim, her hands still tightly wrapped around the bigger man's sleeve, her lime green eyes glaring bloody murder at Angor.
"I told you not to move! Do you actually want to die?!" Nomura hissed from the other side of the hallway.
"What's this ruckus? Come on, fellas. This is my nightclub."
The red door swung open, revealing a short man in a gray suit, a cigar clenched between his teeth. His eyes landed on Nomura and widened in shock.
"Nomura?" he uttered, motioning his hand towards the bouncer, ordering him to lower his weapon.
She looked back, equally stunned, her grip loosening on the bouncer's suit. "Zean?"
Angor let his hands flop down in frustration when he realized Nomura wasn't going anywhere. Swaying left to right, he angrily glared at the two changelings. It seemed, for a second time, he had to let Bular get away.
Nomura sat on the white sofa, scowling as she glared at the man across from her. His short, neatly trimmed blond hair was the same as she remembered. His dark grey eyes stared back at her, unreadable. He wore a tailored grey suit that must have cost a small fortune, with polished black shoes to match.
She recognized him immediately—Zeus, a former brother from the Janus Order. He had worked in a different branch than she had. Accounting, if she remembered correctly. A far cry from what he was now—making shady deals in the back of clubs and surrounding himself with armed guards. The fall of Gunmar had changed a lot of things, it seemed.
Crossing her legs, Nomura rested her hands on her knee and tilted her head slightly.
"Haven't heard from you in a while."
Zeus chuckled, lighting a second cigar—his first one smouldering out in the ashtray. He leaned back, crossing one leg over the other as his sharp gaze swept across the room's dim, crimson glow.
"Likewise," he said, tapping the ash into the tray. "Last I heard, you were banished to the Darklands."
"I got out," Nomura replied flatly, her expression darkening at the mention. She crossed her arms, her venom-green eyes locked on him. "So, you started your own business, I see?"
Zeus smirked, reclining against the sofa. "The nightclub? Oh, yeah. Figured, why not? Gotta keep myself busy somehow."
"The other business," she pressed, refusing to let him steer the conversation elsewhere.
Zeus's smirk faded. He exhaled a slow trail of smoke, irritation flickering in his gaze. "And what of it? There's more money in the underworld. I like my things."
"Clearly." Nomura's eyes flicked to the thick cigar between his fingers.
Zeus leaned forward slightly. "And what's your business doing inside of mine, Nomura?"
"The man you were with," she said without hesitation. "Where is he heading?"
Zeus shrugged, barely sparing a glance toward the door before returning his focus to her. " Not my concern. He did the job. I paid him. End of story."
"How did he find you?" she pushed, her body angling slightly forward.
"I found him," Zeus said without concern. "He was lurking in an alleyway. Looked strong. Seemed like he could use the work, so I gave him a job."
Nomura leaned back, inhaling slowly. The Trollhunters had scoured all of Arcadia but found nothing. And yet, somehow, Bular was still here.
"You have to do something for me," she said, her voice measured.
Zeus arched a brow, tapping his cigar against the tray. "Who said I do favours?"
"I need you to hire that man again. Offer more—enough that he can't refuse. I'll cover the cost."
Zeus let out a short laugh, unconvinced. "That's quite the sum. You really want this troll that bad?"
Zeus leaned back, swirling the amber liquid in his glass, his smirk lazy, but his eyes sharp. He was testing her, waiting for her to flinch. Nomura didn't. She sat motionless, looking right back at him. The only tell was the faint tightening of her fingers against the glass—so small it could have been missed.
Then, she spoke. ' His name is Bular the Butcher.'
Zeus's glass stilled mid-swirl. The reaction was barely there—a fraction of a second, the briefest flicker in his expression before he masked it behind a slow, measured sip. But Nomura caught it. And she knew—she had him."
A long silence followed.
It took him a moment to process what she had just revealed—who he had unknowingly been working with. Slowly, he shut his eyes and took a deep, deliberate drag from his cigar. When he opened them again, a new look had settled there. A cold, smouldering hatred.
One she could sympathize with.
One she felt herself.
Zeus exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, then leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His voice was quiet but firm.
"In that case," he murmured, his tone laced with steel, "I'll give you this one for free."
That was it for part one! I kind of felt like writing a club scene even though it would be hell on earth for Angor. Normally I don't like adding extra characters to a story, but I needed Samuel, Zeus and the bouncer to get the story going. No worries, they won't play a big part in the story, just to connect some dots. Alright, enought talking. Go to part two, you goof 3