My hands trembled, fingers fidgeting with the fabric of my coat. My heart felt life a heavy stone pushing down on my lower organs. I watched the city unfold through the window of our carriage, peeking through purple curtains and impatiently awaiting our destination. My anxiety could not escape my lover's eyes, whom was sitting in front of me, starring me down with quite a bit of annoyance.

- Pull yourself together, Allan.

- I'm sorry, Sir.

Duke's voice jerked me out of the train of my thoughts right on time, before it crashed. I looked at him surprised for a second, but my sight rested at the fabric of his pleated pants. Posterior to an awkward silence between us, the man sighed and finally reached into the inside pocket of his royal blue coat.

- Hand.

He said a tad harshly, but once I opened my palm he placed a small, glass bottle, filled with bright yellow liquid onto it. After examining the bottle I looked up at my lover dubiously, but the man only tapped his jawline with two fingers, without breaking the eye contact. I took my black gloves off and opened up the bottle to smell it. Almost immidiately my body relaxed, releasing a quiet hum as my lungs exhaled. With a gentle smile I put the strong, but pleasant smelling oil on my fingers and rubbed it on both sides of my neck.

- Thank you. Did you make it for me?

- No. I helped to treat Baron Richard's son, and his wife gave me jasmine flowers as a gift. You seemed to enjoy them last time.

I looked into his eyes, but they quickly dodged my gaze. He looked unbothered and cold, yet I couldn't help but to let my cheeks flush gently with peach colour.

- Don't look so pleased,I told you I didn't make them for you.

- You remembered.

He gave me a short glance, his posture stiffened for a brief moment as I called him out before he collapsed again and avoided my sight until we arrived at our destination.

After approximately fifteen more minutes of travel we could already hear the city roar. London never slept, something always happened around here. The shops were ready to close, however pubs only stared to raise from dead, and so did street musicians. Eventually our carriage stopped, the door opened with a little creek. Duke left the vehicle first, his posture strong and confident, eyes shimmering and taking in the beauty of The Royal Opera House. I immidiately followed him outside, a little less gracefully for I was shorter than my master. I straightened my dark green coat and joined him to the building.

We've met two fair skinned gentlemen in black tuxedos in front of the opera. They checked our tickets and wecomed us with a smile, but it seemed like something was off about them. Although I could not put my finger on it, I definitely felt this way before.

We went inside an enormous, brightly lit venue and was greeted by insufferable buzz of the fashionable, aristocratic crowd.

With a snap of the fingers, the dread in my chest grew ten times bigger making me lightheaded. I pressed my back against a golden pillar trying to gain some stability and decided to wait it out. This is where I noticed, Duke wasn't the only demon here. This building was full of them, skinny tails swiping the floor under the long coats and dresses.

- Do you see them anywhere?

Asked Duke, scanning the party for the members of the Cannibal Club. I looked around breifly, but even if I was trying, I cound not see a thing. My vision was getting blurry.

- No, sir.

I answered sheepishly. My reply was followed by a groan soaked with annoyence and frustration from my Master.

- What is it now?

He barked, looking me up and down. Noticing my paper white face, Duke decided to look around once more as if to make sure nobody sees us, and take off his gloves to examine my forehead.

- Sit down somewhere, I'm going to go look for them. Don't you emberras me.

- Sir Duke Arundell, you're here.

Long haired demon starred at me in bewilderment hearing the raspy voice behind him. He quickly turned, and met a gaze of a tall, skinny man with bushy black mustache covering his mouth. After they shook hands, his eyes met mine. I stayed quiet and bowed politely.

- And who is your... companion?

- This is my assistant, Allan Williams. He's a smart mutt. Allan helps me with research.

At my lover's words I dropped my sight onto the marble floor. They stung my heart quite a bit, but what other treatment have I expected? Every single person in this building was better than me. Pure blood aristocrats, royals, judges, politicians.

- I heard of your father, boy. Good doctor, but definitely had few screws loose to fuck a pureblood werewolf.

They chuckled, as I cringed and bit my lower lip. As demons were getting to know each other, I clenched my cold, sweaty palms into fists and looked around the room once more, as if looking for someone. Someone to get me out of here.