Chapter seventeen

Chapter seventeen

Astrid

“Oh My God!” my mouth hung open as I scanned the crowd before me. Neon lights flashed from every corner, almost blinding me.

“Crazy, right?” Leon said beside me, his voice a bit distant like he was deep in thoughts. I wanted to ask him what the matter was but decided against it.

“Yeah,” I grinned.

The crowd seem to part as we made our way towards what I assumed was the VIP section. I tried to ignore the feeling at first, and concluded I was just reading too much into things, but I couldn't deny it anymore when a waiter literally jumped out of our way and took a slight bow.

I leaned towards Leon and tugged on his sleeves.
“Am I assuming things or is everyone staring at me?”

“No, you're not. This club belongs to the Shadows. And since you're Alexander's daughter, you're kind of a big deal around here. Like the Beyonce but of the underworld.” Leon chuckled.

I didn't find his joke funny so I just shook my head. I pretended not to notice the stares and just followed Leon quietly. It's not like they were appearing before me asking for autographs. They were simply staring.

I tried not to think about how this people were highly trained assassins that could take my life within the blink of an eye. The thought made me inch closer to Leon a little bit.

I hated to admit but Cornelius was right. Sarcasm wasn't going to save me in this world. I needed to train harder if I was going to survive.

I didn't know why I was thinking of the asshole when the reason I came out here was to forget him.

“Shots?” Leon asked when we settled in the VIP section. There weren't many people here, and they didn't stare at me like I was a freak.

“You won't ask if I'm old enough?” I arched an eyebrow. I was referring to the first time we drank together at our parents wedding. That time felt like a lifetime ago but it's only been a few weeks.

“Oh, come on. It was just that one time. Let it go.” He chuckled. I rolled my eyes at him.

Leon placed our order while I let my gaze wander to the dance floor. It wasn’t as packed or chaotic as the nightclubs I was used to seeing back home, this place had a different kind of energy.

The music was just as loud as any other nightclubs but it didn't reduce the elegance of the place. There were more people making out than there was on the dance floor. I wanted to go to the dance floor but refrained myself. I was a terrible dancer. I'd do nothing but embarrass myself out there.

Hattie was the better dancer and the one who always ensure I don't make a fool of myself. A smile tugged at my lips as the memories of my best friend filtered into my mind. The smile quickly dissipated as the thought of never seeing her again crossed my mind.

The chances of me seeing Hattie again was close to none. Even if I could see her, I wasn't going to drag her into this twisted world with me. A heavy lump formed in my throat.

“You look more miserable than when we left the house. Fresh air not working?” I tore my gaze from the dance floor and turned to my stepbrother. Our drinks had arrived and the server was setting it in front of us.

“No, not really.” I shook my head.

“Do you want to dance or just sit here and drink?”

An idea crossed my mind, promoting a mischievous smirk on my lips. I leaned forward, my arms resting on the table.

“How about we play a drinking game instead?” I said.

Leon blinked, clearly taken by surprise. “A what now?”

“Drinking game. Never have I ever. First to get drunk loses.”

He continued staring at me like I had sprouted horns.

“You've never played a drinking game? Did you not go to high school?” I scoffed in disbelief.

“I assure you, my high school experience was a lot different from yours. And no, I didn't drink in high school. I don't like losing my inhibitions.”

My mouth fell open. Did he never go to a party? Or just a regular night out with friends? Does he even have friends?

I guess if I had grown up as the son of an assassin leader, I wouldn't have much of a social life either. It makes me wonder what my life would be like going forward.

I pushed back the haunting thoughts and forced a smile on my face like I always did.

“Well, you don't seem to be against losing your inhibitions tonight, so let's get drunk and play some games!”

Leon smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. Something was clearly bothering him. He's been distant and checking his phone regularly since we got here. Whatever the problem was, I would make sure to get it out of him with alcohol.

“This is how the game goes. I'll say ‘never have I ever…’ done something. You'll drink if you've done it, if not we move to the next question.” I said and he nodded.

“Never have I ever been extremely boring on a night out.”

Leon arched an eyebrow before laughing, his tension easing slightly. He brought his glass to him mouth and knocked down the content.

“Seriously?”

“Yes sir, your turn.” I smiled sweetly.

“Hm! Never have I ever pissed someone off and regretted it.” He laughed at himself before drinking to it.

“You've never done that?” He asked in a surprised tone when he realized I hadn't touched my glass.

I shook my head. “When I piss people off, they probably deserved it for pissing me off first.”

But just as I said that, I suddenly remembered the wedding day when Cornelius carried me out of my room without shoes and messy hair. I did feel a tiny bit of regret while facing the humiliation.

“Never have I ever wanted to murder someone but just… can't.” I knocked back the content, seething with rage and a tiny bit of embarassment.

“Who do you want to murder?” Leon asked immediately with a serious face.

“Cornelius.” I scoffed.

Leon looked confused for a second before the realization dawned on him and he chuckled. “Lots of people want to kill him, he's a lucky bastard for been alive this long.”

I nodded. I realize that Leon hadn't touched his drink.

“Why aren't you drinking?”

Leon gave me a small smile before he said, “I've never wanted to kill anyone I couldn't kill.”

The words shouldn't hit me the way they did. It didn't matter how normal this scenario feels like, it was far from it. It was just another reminder that my life was fucked. But I would be damned if I didn't enjoy it.

I leaned forward, intent to carry on with the game we were playing when pandemonium broke out. The sound of a gunshot filled the air and everyone broke out in groups, trying to save themselves.

Leon's gaze hardened. One minute, I was sitting across from him, glued to my seat in shock, the next he grabbed my arm and was leading me away.

“Stay behind me.” he ordered in a calm but stern voice.

Few seconds later, the sound of a gunshot soon became gunshots. I didn't need someone to tell me, I knew exactly what was happening. The Serpents had found me again.

Leon pulled out a gun from under his shirt and aimed. I didn't even know he was carrying a gun. It was almost impossible to imagine that the guy who had sat across from me and played a silly drinking game, but now has a murderous expression on his face. But that didn't even bother me now.

I tried to feel something other than coldness as the gunfire increased. I wasn't even scared, I was just…frozen. A chilling realization that I might not make it out of here alive today.

But I wasn't going down without fighting. And since I had nothing to defend myself with, I nodded a weapon. I spotted a small knife in Leon's back pocket and pulled it out.

“Astrid.” he called sternly.

“I'm not following you behind like a lost puppy, Leon. If I'm going to die, I'm not going down like a coward. How hard can it be to kill someone?” I said in a sarcastic tone.

Sarcasm might not be the best choice now, but the other alternative was to let the feeling sink and then the fear would creep in. I wasn't going to let that happen. Fear would get me killed faster.

“Just stay close.” Leon said when he realized he couldn't argue with me further.

We made our way towards an exit, Leon shooting every masked person we come across. Three unknown men had stepped in front of us to cover us from the shooting. They must be members of the Shadows.

We were almost at the exit now, but I couldn't calm down. What if there were more of them outside? They seem to be pouring in with just one motive. To kill the Heir. Me.

I didn't now how but I immediately spotted him. The masked man with his gun aimed at me. I couldn't move, couldn't think, I forgot how to breathe altogether. Everything faded to the background as the masked man pulled his trigger.

And suddenly, I was falling to the ground, a heavy weight collapsing on me. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth and a painful groan made me snap out of my trance.

Leon.