There were at least ten men standing in or around the checkpoint between East City and South City. Of the ten men, three of them wore gloves as well as bandoliers fitted with half a dozen small vials of ocean-blue liquid. Six of the others carried automatic rifles strapped across their chests but remained otherwise relaxed as Yasmine, Alec, and Flipp approached. The last member of the ten men was the reason she'd come this way in the first place.

Krasus Vayshe was what she, and just about everyone else, would call problematically handsome. The Lieutenant Colonel of the Federation Military Police in the Secure Zone was only a head shorter than Alec. He had dark brown hair that always seemed just a little unkempt, just enough beard to make you call him daddy, and violet eyes. Those very same violet eyes narrowed as she approached. He glanced down at her waist and his neutral expression slipped into a frown.

"Carrying again Yasmine? I thought I warned you about that," he said, waving for the men with rifles to stand down.

"Uh… what are we doing?" Flipp asked anxiously.

"Just watch," Alec rumbled, patting the smaller man on the shoulder.

"No, answer my question!" Flipp insisted as Alec proceeded to ignore him, contenting himself with a game on his tab while Yasmine took care of business.

"That any way to say thank you?" She asked, putting her hand on her hip.

"What am I thanking you for this time?" He ground out, stepping around one of the barricades to approach the smug woman.

Yasmine threw her thumb over her shoulder, "Bliss bust, at least four cylinders worth, burned it all."

"Am I going to be cleaning up any bodies today O'Haire?" He asked, sighing.

"Nope! Wasn't necessary," Yasmine said.

"You going to tell me where to find them?" He pressed.

"Nope! Not your problem anymore. Let it be," Yasmine clipped back.

He reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose. The man looked like he needed a break. He shook his head and gestured to the checkpoint around them. "You're going to have to wait just like anyone else, O'Haire. That mess on one-oh-two has all districts on lockdown."

"Oh come on," Yasmine crooned, "You know me and mine have nothing to do with that parade of gimps in the outer ring."

His eye twitched as he held her gaze, eventually he let out a sigh and scratched the back of his head. "Fine, but if you start anything in Southside in the next twenty four, I'll have you on illegal transit. Got it?"

"Deal, I'll be a good girl, officer," She teased and started to move past him.

He grabbed her arm, "How's Shayde?"

"She's at school, Krasus, calm down. I made her breakfast before going out. Can't just ignore a job from him, you know?" Yasmine hissed. "Now quit making a scene or I'll tell her you were a jackass today. You want to visit or not?"

He winced and turned away, scratching his nose. He cleared his throat and raised his voice for the others to hear. "Last group! Let them through!"

"Dinner sometime?" Yasmine asked quietly.

"I'm off tomorrow," Krasus mumbled.

"See you then," she said with a wink and walked past him, gesturing for the others to follow.

Alec moved quickly, stepping past the guards with a playful wave that garnered no response beyond the steady stare of trained soldiers. Flipp practically clung to the big orc, staying just a few feet behind him until they were well out of earshot and firmly within the boundaries of South City. The moment he felt comfortable enough to speak, he cleared his throat and came to a complete stop before pointing back the direction they had come. “What the hell was that?”

“What was what?” Yasmine asked, flipping her thumb across the screen of her tab.

“Back there! With the MP’s! You just whispered something! What the hell? Did you threaten him or something?” He demanded, “That guy was a Lieutenant Colonel! Didn’t you see his…” He trailed off when Alec burst into laughter.

The big guy walked over and clapped a hand on his shoulder. “You’re funny! I like you! Nah, if Yasmine threatens someone, they’ll wet themselves,” He guffawed and turned back to Yasmine who was still playing with her tab.

After a few awkward moments of silence she looked up and met Flipp’s eyes, she sighed and shrugged, “He’s my boyfriend, we started dating after he arrested me a couple times. No big deal,” She said and walked over to join the two of them. She leaned forward a bit and got in Flipp’s face, “Now that you know. If he suddenly gets in trouble, I’ll know it was you, and I will fry you inside and out, slowly, starting with those baggy ass eyes of yours. Melt those puppies right out of your skull. Understand?”

Flip visibly shrank back just in time for her to smile and turn around, shoving her hands into her pockets. Alec moved to keep pace with her, “How is Shayde doing by the way?” He asked, scratching at his chest.

“She’s learning to play the guitar actually,” Yasmine said, “Noisy kid, gotta love her spirit though.”

“Still can’t believe you adopted that brat,” Alec said thoughtfully, “You never struck me as the motherly type.”

“Oh please, I’m a great mom!” Yasmine shot back, “I’ve got a doodle-covered fridge to prove it!”

The conversation continued in that fashion for a while after that, the two friends bickering with one another while Flipp tried to hold onto his grip with reality. He stayed close enough behind not to lose them as the sidewalks became more and more populated. Unlike East City slums where folk kept to their own places and tried to avoid going out too often, South City was a bustling hub of life and commerce. Often dubbed an entertainment district, it was the home of one of the most iconic locations in the city: The Victory Arcade. Although these days it went by another name; The Square.

The Square was four square city blocks of open pavement at the dead center of the South City wedge. The entire square was surrounded by buildings packed so tightly together that there were only two ways to enter. Through the north or south gates. As the three of them approached the South Gate, Yasmine drew out a cigarette and squinted at the big red archway. Just outside of the arch a pair of Federation soldiers were standing on either side, watching folks come and go but not interacting.

“According to the old man, once upon a time the gang that controlled the Square would set up tolls on the north and south gates,” Yasmine said, taking a drag.

“No kidding? Shopping must have been a bitch then,” Alec said.

Yasmine shrugged, “From the sound of it, people had bigger problems back then.”

“This is The Square, huh?” Flipp said, taking in the gates with awe in his eyes.

“Are you serious?” Yasmine laughed, turning to him, “You’ve never been to The Square?”

Flipp’s face turned a little red and he coughed, leaning over to cough a few more times before wiping his lips on his ratty shirt, “I don’t get out much.”

“Noted,” Yasmine said, “Well here it is! The Square! Congrats,” She teased, picking up her pace and passing the soldiers without so much as a wave. They paid her no mind, even with the weapon strapped openly to her hip.

Stepping through the gates to The Square was like stepping into another world. It even came with its own flash of light if you arrived at the right time of day. With the tall buildings that made up the majority of South City blocking sunlight in at least one direction or another, when one stepped into The Square the sudden patch of open sky could be blinding. Yasmine raised her hand over her eyes and squinted along with Alec. Flipp let out a small grunt of surprise that drew a chuckle from the pair.

The Square was separated into three parts. The Western wall of buildings, the eastern wall, and the open square itself. With any arrival at The Square, the open space was the first thing someone saw. Hundreds of stalls, vendors, and tents were packed tightly together creating a confusing network of shabby alleys and pathways that could leave even the most experienced browser of local goods confused and lost. As a result of that, street children often picked up the role of guides and would escort newcomers at the risk of a lost wallet or purse.

To the right, the Eastern wall was filled with shops and businesses of all shapes and sizes though it was dominated by a single building set at the very center of the strip. What used to be a shopping mall had been converted years ago into the Scarlett Casino. The red tinted outer walls and stairs that had been magicked to look like gold were eyecatching and dazzling. On the other side were more shops and yet another dominant building. Looming over its neighbors was what looked like a squat, borderline cubic, near-windowless hotel. A single set of raised steps ascended from the path around the central bazaar ended at a pair of huge doors guarded on either side by a bouncer.

“The Box,” Yasmine said, gesturing to the offensively plain building.

“I heard it was beautiful,” Flipp said, “It looks…”

“Like a box?” Alec laughed.

“Oh,” Flipp mumbled, flushing a bit.

“It’s what’s on the inside that counts,” Yasmine said sarcastically, feigning a princess fall into Alec’s outstretched hand. The two stopped, looked at one another, and burst into laughter.

“How long have you two known eachother?” Flipp asked as Yasmine stood up and brushed herself off.

Yasmine glanced at Alec and shrugged, “Man we were like, what? Shit, I was ten wasn’t I?”

“I just remember you being short,” Alec chuckled.

Yasmine rolled her eyes and started walking again. They had made it just around the corner of the central bazaar when someone called out to them. Yasmine turned and frowned, letting out a sigh and pointing to the box. “Let’s just go, hurry up,” Yasmine urged, pushing at Alec’s back while Flipp turned to see what all the fuss was about. Two people approached from the side, one was a man in what had to be the strangest get-up he’d ever seen. The dark-haired man wore a dark tunic underneath a slim breast plate and wore what could only be described as gauntlets on his hands. He marched with a grim expression on his face and his dark-ringed eyes narrowed. His right hand rested on the hilt of a mace.

To his left, a brunette woman in glasses walked with significantly less determination. She had that borderline-cliche librarian look about her, pencil skirt and white blouse underneath a tunic similar to what the man wore. The two of them came to a stop next to Yasmine and Alec, Flipp taking a few cautious steps back.

“I’m talking to you, Yasmine O’Haire,” The man demanded, “Look at me.”

“You want my time, pay for it, Hardy boy,” Yasmine said, turning to face him anyway and crossing her arms. She leaned against Alec who had rounded at the mention of the word ‘Hardy’.

“Oh Hi Jacob! And is that Lyssandra! Lookin’ good!” Alec beamed, waving at the dour armored man and the stern woman.

“Mister Karzai,” Jacob Hardy said as his way of returning the greeting, his lips thinning a bit.

“Good afternoon Alec,” Lyssandra chimed in, offering him something that looked almost like a polite smile.

“Great, we all know eachother, zhuhe,” She twirled a finger in the air, “Get to the part where you lecture me so I can get back to ignoring it and going about my business.”

Jacob’s face reddened and he took a step forward, “You cannot just go around flaunting your psionics like that, O’Haire! You are not a member of the council, you are an ordinary citizen of this city! Your flagrant disregard and lack of caution could bring the Federation’s wrath on all of our heads! Can you not understand what you are doing to your people?”

Yasmine scowled, “It’s none of your or the Council’s business what I do with my powers. They’re mine. I was born with them. You can take your ‘we must police our own’ holier than thou bullshit and shove it. I don’t play by your rules.”

“It’s that kind of attitude that caused the purge in the first place,” Jacob retorted, “People like you are why our entire race is locked away in this city!”

“You don’t know a damn thing, Jacob, get lost, I’ve got business with this guy and you’re cutting into my pay time,” Yasmine said, gesturing to Flipp.

“We will be speaking again, at length, O’Haire,” Jacob growled and turned on his heel, “Lumar’s light guide you back to the path of justice, if anyone in this city needs it, it’s you,” He spat and marched away. Lyssandra stayed behind, pinning Yasmine with a measuring look.

“Good seeing you again Miss Hale,” Yasmine said, “It’s too bad you won’t take my offer.”

“I’m afraid I don’t see the benefit in working for you, Yasmine. I am an agent of the Psychic Council now,” Lyssandra said. “I am not opposed to dinner though, should you find the time for once.”

“It has been a while, hasn’t it,” Yasmine sighed and smiled her way, “Miss having you around.”

“Likewise,” Lyssandra said and inclined her head, “I better go before Leader Hardy becomes irate.”

“See ya,” Yasmine said and watched the woman go, hesitating a bit with the view.

“Damn shame,” Alec grumbled, “She’s good people.”

Yasmine crossed her arms and scowled, “She’s wasted on Jacob,” she scratched her head, “Now I’m pissed off, let’s go already I want a drink.”

Flipp just stood there, dumbstruck, he looked between the retreating forms of Jacob and Lyssandra to Yasmine and Alec, “W-what? Who? Why?”

“Council. Agents. Because I quit. Happy? Let’s go,” She snapped and stormed off in the direction of The Box, physically pushing a wayward shopper out of the way when he got too close to her path.

“I think I might be getting in over my head,” Flipp mumbled.

“Nah, that’s just Yasmine. She’s reliable, just a bit fiery,” Alec laughed and pat the mage on the shoulder, “C’mon, we don’t want to lose her!”

The steps leading up to the main doors of The Box were carved out of an off-white stone that clashed just enough with the surrounding gray architecture to make it stand out. At the top of the steps, two men were standing on either side of the large doors. Both of them wore dark uniforms beneath plated vests and each sported a pistol along with what looked like a sheathed pirates saber strapped to their belts. One of them, a gruff looking dark haired man turned to look at Yasmine.

“Been a while O’Haire,” He started only to get a rather rude gesture back from Yasmine.

“You and your brother can go fuck yourselves, Shawn,” She spat, “Fucking gods damned Hardys,” She rambled, pushing through the doors and disappearing into the building.

Shawn Hardy, one of the more well-known bouncers of The Box, stood staring at the door in utter confusion. He whipped his head towards Alec who shrugged in commiseration, “Sorry man, your big brother got to her first. You know how it is.”

“Right,” Shawn rumbled before glancing at Flipp, “Who’s he?”

“He is Flipp Moran and can introduce himself,” Flipp said before slipping into another coughing fit. Shawn looked up at Alec who shrugged again, “I’m fine, allergies, I’ll be better once we’re inside.”

Shawn looked at Flipp’s hands and frowned, “You a mage?”

“Yes,” Flipp confirmed.

“Kinda small to be a mage, aren’t you?” He chuckled only for his expression to abruptly harden like granite, “Don’t start shit in the box, I don’t care if you’re Yasmine’s guest. I’ll beat you.”

Flipp swallowed, hard, “R-right, I’ll keep to myself, I assure you.”

“Then we’re good. Go on in,” He said, gesturing to the door.

The first thing anyone experienced when they entered the box was the smell. It was a heady blend of aromas that assailed the senses from every direction. Tobacco, liquors, sweat, lust, spices, exotic foods, and various perfumes fused together to create an odor unlike any other. Most people who entered the box would describe the scent as ‘living’.

The entry hall to the club was a single narrow hallway decorated with expensive crimson wallpaper lined with black trim. The floor was made of dark marble tiles that gleamed beneath the dim lights that hung overhead. At the very center of the hallway, a basin of water sat made of the same dark marble. The water was remarkably still, even as Flipp approached it he noticed that the water did not even so much as ripple. He glanced at Alec who raised an eyebrow.

“Put a coin in,” Alec said, “You got change on you?”

“Been relying on cred cards instead,” Flipp admitted.

“Eh, I’ll loan you,” Alec said, dropping a ten cred piece into Flipp’s hand. Flipp turned and dropped the coin into the water. To his surprise, even the act of breaching the surface didn’t disturb it at all.

“What is it?” Flipp asked.

“An altar,” Alec said, “To Demsell Morrigan.”

“An altar to a mad god, out in the open? Just like that?” Flipp demanded incredulously.

“Well, apparently Kurda was actually going to commission a well instead of a water basin but his wife just about lost it when he suggested they dig up the front hallway,” Alec said.

“That’s not what I meant!” Flipp blurted.

“I know, but you should probably just wait till you meet the guy,” Alec said with a shrug, dropping his own coin in and walking past to the doors at the other end.

“Meet? Kurda Thorne?” Flipp stammered.

“Well yeah, Yasmine’s his favorite person, I’d say your chances of meeting the boss are pretty high today,” He cocked a lazy grin, “Excited?”

“Meeting a legendary crime lord? Oh, yes, sure, thrilled,” Flipp said sardonically and sighed, “Let’s just go.”

“Good man!” Alec laughed, and pushed the doors open.

It was like another world. The main room of The Box was over three stories high with the upper levels sporting raised platforms where folk could eat and drink while watching the show on the ground level. At the dead center was a ring of darkwood counters that surrounded what appeared to be the trunk of a tree that Flipp had never seen before. Not that he had seen many trees in the Secure Zone. Attached to the trunk were curved sets of shelves where thousands of glittering bottles shone beneath lights embedded in the wood above them.

Around the bar itself, tables were spread out in a carefully contrived pattern that allowed for ease of movement while maximizing the number of people who could sit at any one time. The tables were packed with people of all races. Aelves, dwarves, humans, gnomes, goblins, raemuzel, farfolk, the list went on it was like The Box was a tiny version of the greater city.

Further away from the bar, open floor was filled with dancers and spectators who were watching one of the two stages on either side. Flipp swallowed hard when he took in what was happening on stage, he’d never seen a female orc so flexible before. He stared in awe for several seconds before getting poked in the back with an oversized finger. He turned and saw Alec grinning down at him. “You good?”

“Yeah, yeah I’m good,” Flipp said, “Lot to take in.”

“Yeah, I get it, come on, the VIP stairs are through that door over there,” He said, pointing at a door far to their immediate right. Flipp was relieved he didn’t have to make his way through the huge crowd in order to get where they needed to go. Alec held up his tab, “Yasmine’s already got us a room.”

They made their way through the door and into a dimly lit hallway. Flipp considered casting a spell to create a bit of illumination but something told him it wouldn’t be of any help. He squinted, noticing that his field of vision was restricted to just the closest pair of doors down the hall. As they moved further down the next set of doors came into view. He wondered if it was some kind of privacy measure. He continued to follow Alec down the hall until they arrived at the tenth set of doors, there, Yasmine was standing outside of one on the right and talking to someone.

“Oho, you’re in luck!” Alec laughed.

“What?” Flipp asked, squinting to get a good look at the man. He was outrageously beautiful in that way one would describe a prince out of an old story. Golden-blonde hair that glittered a little when he turned his head, blue eyes that shone like the sky, he wore a baby-blue ribbon in his hair that kept it tightly behind his head. His clothes were an immaculately pressed and tailored dark grey suit that had been stitched with baby-blue trim. He wore at least one ring on each finger and gestured wildly as he spoke with Yasmine who laughed and leaned against the door.

“Who is that?” Flipp asked, but he had a feeling in the twisting pit of his stomach that he already knew.

“Kurda motherfucking Thorne,” Alec whispered and clapped Flipp on the back. “Come on let’s go say hi!”