Ultimately, the results didn’t matter as Elias grudgingly found himself being led for the second time by the young lady with wavy hair.

What the hell? She had to be cheating. We even went best of 15. I don’t understand. There’s no way someone wins flawlessly like that. She must be cheating. 

He hadn’t even had a chance to consider what he wanted, as the shock rendered him completely speechless. Nonetheless, he had lost, indicating that he had to at least entertain her, whatever that meant.

After a few more turns, they arrived at a set of white cobblestone stairs, well-known as a tourist attraction. The pearly white buildings surrounding the beautiful backdrop created a spectacular setting for photo taking.

It quickly ended when they began crossing the complementary-styled bridge, which crossed one of two main waterways within the city of Roćeira.

The city’s main waterways are like large winding rivers, with various smaller canals stemming from them and running throughout the city. The southern district fared better than the northern half, without any apparent explanation other than the city’s natural construction. These waterways became hubs for entertainment and transportation, with gondolas being a popular mode of transport.

As Elias followed her, he couldn’t shake the feeling that her pace was perfectly calibrated, not to let him catch up but to maintain an exact distance between them.

With how things were progressing, he couldn’t help but assume she wasn’t too fond of him. While she wasn’t entirely standoff-ish, she felt just out of reach, as if someone was disappointed and wanted space.

Elias paused in front of a storefront that had caught his eye. He couldn’t help but look through the glass at the mannequins sporting this season’s late summer fashion. The design was eye-catching, contemporary, yet simple and elegant. You know something looks appealing when you see it.

While most of the clothes seemed tailored for the female demographic, there were some male offerings, albeit tiny and tucked away in the corner. It was disappointing, to say the least.

He turned to notice that the young lady leading him was waiting, her attention on the mannequin that had caught his eye.

“Right. Sorry, didn’t know we were in a rush...”

They continued onward, only to ever stop again when they arrived at their destination. 

As Elias looked up, a bold sign caught his eye: “The Red Mermaid.” Intrigued, he raised an eyebrow, wondering what type of place they were about to enter. Noticing Peskott’s unwavering stride as she entered without hesitation, the mystery deepened.

***

Upon entering, the place was dimly lit, visible only by the candles on each table. The candles created a red veil of light that fell like a transparent curtain on the guests.

Many were deeply engrossed in their conversations, while others had more pleasant company guiding them away. Some were playing cards, while others were drinking, having a good time, smoking, and laughing to their heart’s content. 

The atmosphere was simply delightful, with people thoroughly enjoying themselves. The venue was enchanting, adorned with regal decor, stylish furniture, and deep crimson walls. Elias followed the leader through the booths and crowds to an open table near the stage. After taking their seats, a waitress approached shortly after.

“Hello, is there anything you would like?” She said, bowing deeply.

“May I have the lemon tea?” Peskott responded.

“Of course, and for you.”

She directed her gaze to Elias.

He appeared a little surprised. Wasn’t it expected to be given a menu? Did they have such a wide variety of options that he could just request something, and they would have it ready? If so, that’s quite impressive. Do they have magicians in the kitchen?

Elias was quite flustered because he didn’t know what to order. With nothing on his mind, he simply asked for water.

“Wonderful, I will be right back with your orders.” The waitress bowed again before taking her leave to get their drinks.

As Elias waited, he glanced around the room before turning to Peskott. His gaze settled on their table, where he noticed the silverware and napkin were not up to her standards. She couldn’t help but adjust them to the correct positions, taking the time to even completely refold the napkin.

It would be easy to say that it was unnecessary, but after her due diligence, it was far more appealing. The final result felt more refined and adequate for the place’s aesthetic.

The lights began to lower as the stage became the new main focus while the roar of the crowd all around began to quiet to a slumber. Large curtains began to move in waves to showcase the stage. There, a man with a prominent golden saxophone began playing a soft, methodical tune.

As he played, the tunes danced through the air, catching every corner, kissing the lending ears swayed by such a melody. 

It wasn’t long before he was accompanied by a partner. It was a woman who descended the spiral staircase that stood at the other end of the stage.

She sauntered softly and elegantly towards the center. Her steps rhythmically seemed in tune with the tone the man played. Her dress trailed along while one leg was exposed, displaying some thigh. The white and gold of her art deco-style dress complemented the air of the music and the energy. 

The gold interwoven into her curly hair stood majestic as if a painter had sculpted perfection. The whole thing had a very glitzy, debutante glamor vibe. However, no matter how pompous the presentation was, it didn’t feel eccentric or over the top. Instead, it felt just right.

While on stage, her beauty shone like a star in the night sky. Her looks were dazzling alone, but once she smiled, it went to swoon all members of the onlookers. 

Once she had captured everyone’s attention, she began to sing. While this may seem impossible, her voice was even more radiant, captivating the audience in awe.

All eyes were focused on the presence on the stage, making it opportune for the waitress to return with their orders. She placed them on the table, glancing at the new arrangement. She seemed rather impressed and took a mental note.

“If it concerns your safety, I can see that nothing harms you.”

“Pardon?” Elias questioned.

“I am saying you can leave everything to me.”

“So you want me to put my faith in you. Sorry, it’s hard to put my life in another’s hand, not to mention I don’t know you.”

His words greatly vexed her, so her nearly unbroken, poised, stoic stare shifted, causing a twitch in her eye as if she had malfunctioned.

Peskott stared at him for a moment. Her thoughts were drowned out by the captivating tunes and voice that carried off the stage to the people.

“Is that so...Very well, you must be capable of handling yourself much like Junior believes. Even if that proves false, skills can be taught and learned. You may not be the person they want you to be, but that can be remedied through some exercises.”

“What do you mean by that exactly? Surely, you’re exaggerating. I can go to the cops or something. Tell somebody.”

“Their world is much larger than you think. With great reaches to the dark corners that sit in plain sight. You don’t know it yet, but you will. As I said, perception is reality. And if you prove to be a liability to them rather than an asset, they will terminate you.

There she goes again. Who are they?

The waitress returned with the receipt. 

Peskott paid in cash before scanning the tiny piece of paper, folding it, and pocketing it. The receipt contained more than just today’s purchases. It contained coded information about other transactions—personnel transactions that needed personal attention.

“Are you ready?”

“For what?” Elias asked.

“I told you we are tackling the root of the problem.”

Peskott had already risen to her feet. She moved away from the table and towards the exit in the back. The performance on stage was still in session, but she had more pressing matters.

Elias gazed at the stage one more time. It shimmered under the spotlight, every eye fixed on her. This was her moment, and she was the dazzling star of the show.

He let out a sigh before getting up himself. His shoulders slung down as he made his way to the dark recesses of the back. His eye was caught by the waitress who served him. Her lips moved, but any sound that could be heard was drowned out by the rising applause from the performance on stage. Despite that, Elias took note, her words reflecting in his mind as he got to the door marked exit.

Good luck.