Natasha bet aggressively. Victor called. I called.
The turn. Not my suit.
Natasha bet again. Victor folded. I called, even though I probably shouldn’t have.
The river. My suit.
I had the flush.
Natasha went all in.
This was the mont. I could fold and preserve my chips for later hands. Or I could call and either win big or lose everything.
"Call," I said, pushing my remaining chips forward.
Natasha flipped her cards. Full house.
Fuck.
I showed my flush, and she smiled as she collected the pot. "Nice try. But in this ga, nice tries get you eliminated."
I was out, which ant I owed the eventual winner a favor.
But it also ant I was free to move around while everyone else was still playing.
"Unfortunate," Selene said. "But you played well for an amateur. Help yourself to drinks while we finish."
I moved to the bar, positioning myself with a view of the collection room door. The wards were visible now that I knew to look for them – subtle but present. Elena would need to know the exact configuration to bypass them.
"Taking ntal notes?" Jade appeared beside , also eliminated from the ga. "That’s the collection room. Selene keeps items from clients there – things being authenticated, sold, or held for safekeeping. Very secure."
"What kind of items?"
"Magical artifacts mostly. So mundane but valuable. There’s a stolen painting in there right now – that’s one of your targets, isn’t it?"
I glanced at her. "What makes you think I have targets?"
"Please. You got VIP access suspiciously fast, and you’ve been casing the upper floor all night." She sipped her drink. "Don’t worry, I’m not going to rat you out. I’m just observing."
"Why help ?"
"Who says I’m helping? I’m just... providing information that you may or may not find useful." She gestured subtly to a cara in the corner. "Selene has surveillance everywhere. Magical and technological. If you’re planning to steal from her, you’ll need to account for that."
"Noted."
"And one more thing." She lowered her voice. "Whatever you are, whatever you’re hiding – it’s making Selene more interested, not less. She loves puzzles. And you’re the most interesting puzzle she’s encountered in years."
"Is that good or bad?"
"Depends on whether you can keep her interested without letting her solve you." Jade moved away, back toward the ga.
I watched the poker ga continue. Natasha was dominating, her vampire instincts giving her an edge in reading the remaining players. Selene played conservatively, more interested in observing the dynamics than winning.
And I used the ti to morize every detail of the VIP level. Cara positions. Ward locations. Blind spots. Escape routes.
By the ti Natasha won the ga – claiming favors from five other players, including Selene – I had a ntal map that would make Elena’s job much easier.
"Well played, everyone," Selene announced as the ga ended. "Natasha, you’ll have to let know what favors you’re calling in."
"Oh, I will." Natasha’s smile was predatory. "I’m sure I’ll think of sothing interesting."
People began to disperse, so heading back down to the main floor, others settling into private booths for conversation. Selene moved to where I stood at the bar.
"Walk with ," she said.
Not a request.
I followed her to the balcony – the sa one where we’d had our previous private conversation. The night air was cool, and the city spread out below us like a carpet of lights.
"You were mapping my space," she said without preamble. "Don’t deny it. I know that’s what you were doing."
My hand moved subtly toward the ergency beacon in my pocket.
"Yes," I said. Simple truth seed safest.
"Why?"
"Because I’m curious. Because I like to know my surroundings. Because old habits die hard."
"Old habits from what?"
"From a life where not knowing my environnt could get killed."
She turned to face fully. "You’re planning to steal from ."
It wasn’t a question.
This was the second ti he had been found out by his target even before he could attempt it. This made him wonder if he was terrible at his job, or if these supernaturals were just that observant.
"I’m considering my options," I said carefully. "But I haven’t decided anything yet."
"I see." She moved closer. "Here’s what I think. I think you’re working with filthy rcs. I think they sent you in here to scout for jobs. And I think you’re very, very good at playing the charming newcor while actually being a professional rcenary."
"And if that’s true?"
"Then I’m impressed by your boldness. Walking into my territory, gaining VIP access, all to steal from under my nose." Her smile was cold. "But I’m also obligated to make an example of you if you actually try it."
We stared at each other, and I could feel the power radiating off her. Five hundred years of existence, countless battles survived, absolute control over her domain.
If she decided I was a threat, I was dead. Simple as that.
"I have a proposal," she said finally.
"I’m listening."
"I know people want things from my collection. It’s inevitable – I have valuable items, and others want them. Usually, I catch thieves before they succeed and make examples of them." She paused. "But you’re different. You’re interesting. And I value interesting people."
"What’s the proposal?"
"Complete one job for . Prove you’re as good as I think you are. Do that, and I’ll consider letting you have what you ca for."
"What kind of job?"
"The kind that requires soone with your particular skills. Soone who can move through supernatural spaces, who can handle themselves in a fight, who isn’t afraid of crossing dangerous people." Her eyes glinted. "I have a competitor – another vampire who’s been trying to move into my territory. He has sothing that belongs to . I want it back."
"What is it?"
"A ring. Very old, very powerful, very personal. He stole it from thirty years ago, and I’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to retrieve it."
"And I’m that opportunity?"
"You’re soone I don’t mind risking. If you succeed, you’ve proven your value. If you fail, well..." She shrugged. "It’s no loss to ."
[New Quest Offered: Selene’s Retrieval]
[Objective: Steal ring from rival vampire]
[Reward: Permission to take items from Velvet Room collection]
[Risk: High - Dangerous target, personal stakes for Selene]
[Analysis: This could be the opening you need with Selene]
[Recomndation: Accept, but negotiate terms]
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