NOVEL NEXT Ch 2.66: Robbery
Elaina did her best to ignore the sights, sounds, even the smells as they made their way across the floor. As they ventured in those became more potent, a vulgar mix of colognes and perfumes that almost masked the overwhelming smell of booze. But she was focused, and their goal was clear. Another guarded door, this time by a man and a woman with a line in front of about ten people.
She couldn’t hear what was being said, not over the noise of the music and those damned metal ball counting machines, but it was soon their turn, after the previous two walked away looking dejected.
“Hi, we’re here for the event,” Flora said.
“Thirty each,” the woman replied.
“”What!” Tira screamed. “Bullshit, we know it’s supposed to be twenty!”
“For most, but not you four. Special instructions.”
Tira looked completely taken aback by the comment. “That’s fucking robbery, you can’t just—”
“Be careful with your next words, the man said, stepping forward. The woman was taller than average, but this man was a veritable giant, physically imposing enough that even Tira seemed dwarfed, both in height and threat. “This is a law abiding establishment, and we do not take kindly to accusations that we are anything but.”
Dwarfed or not though, Tira didn’t flinch. She glared at him with intensity Elaina had only seen in her twice before, once when fighting Myriala, and once when she found out what Waine had actually done to her in the forest. But even if she wasn’t physically scared of the man, she didn’t make the mistake of arguing further.
“It’s okay,” Carly said. “I have the extra money.”
“I only gave you mine and Tira’s though,” Flora said.
“You can pay me back later,” Carly offered as she pulled two coin pouches out of her larger bag. “I ended up bringing the full amount myself just in case.”
Elaina could tell Tira was struggling to hold herself back, but ultimately she managed it, stepping aside as Carly handed the money over.
“Enjoy yourselves,” the woman said, taking the money and opening the door. “First round is standard poker. Tables seat eight, two winning players move on to round two, and games start when a table is full. I recommend not dawdling, as if the last table doesn’t fill up, those players will lose automatically.”
“Glad your pricing isn’t the only thing that’s fucked then,” Tira said as she pushed forward. “Come on, you heard the lady.”
It didn’t seem like losing out on the last table would happen though. While the room was smaller, and definitely quieter, it was still filled with table, most of them only half full.
“That was bullshit,” Tira grumbled as they walked through the door.
“Why’d they even do that?” Elaina asked.
“They want us to know they’re out for us. And they’re mocking us to do it.”
That drew an unhealthy feeling to Elaina’s stomach. Wolves’ den indeed. “Shouldn’t be too much of a problem to find a table,” she said, scanning the area. There were plenty of tables with four participants seated, and more besides with only two or three. “Where should we—”
“What the fuck are you doing here?” The voice was familiar, and when Elaina turned to find the source she saw the familiar face it came from, leading a familiar group of five people. She groaned internally, but she supposed she shouldn’t have been surprised that Waine Ferris and his crew were there.
