Doctor of Darkness 2 - Hot as Fire

Selena POV

I am sitting at a rustic wooden bar, a freshly tapped Kozel in my hand. Above us a medieval cross vault, below us the 300-year-old, historically valuable, red-glazed tiled floor.

In absolute contrast to this, there were comfortable leather seats all around us, and everything was bathed in colourful LED light. The waiter spoke to me in English, with such a strong accent that I really had a hard time following him.

Around me, there was a babble of voices in Czech, English, German and here and there also Russian or Polish. The bar was full of people, lively and pulsating with energy.

‘What do you think, Selena, is he coming?’

Kian held on to his black beer, of which he might have taken a sip. His hair and eyes were as dark as his drink and they showed the first signs of nervousness.

‘Don't worry, he'll come. Master Hao will not ignore a coin bearer when he asks for a meeting.’

My friend nodded while he continued to scan the crowds. We are in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, waiting for the master of the Sadakos. For five months, actually since the moment I woke up after the fight with Johann, Dragan, Marcus, Vlad and I have been busy travelling through Eastern Europe and raiding one of Johann's hideouts after another.

It was exhausting and seemed to take forever. Besides, it was getting closer to November and we were all starting to get tired. Therefore, a creative solution was needed.

It took a lot of coaxing to persuade Tohoshinki to give me the contact of the Sadakos' clan leader after all. The kidnapping of innocents must finally come to an end!

Now I had been sitting here for half an hour, enjoying a delicious beer and eating a tasty garlic soup. As I watched the bar, Kian moved and tapped me on the shoulder.

‘There they are.’

I just managed to turn around as the serious, partly scarred face of Hao Shinshi appeared in my field of vision. I immediately stood up from the bar stool and showed my respect with a slight bow.

Hao was accompanied by two men, tall, coarse and presumably tight-lipped. None of the five of us smiled, and after a moment of silence, Hao returned my greeting by bowing slightly with his men. The first step had been taken.

‘It is an honour for me to meet Misaki Ishimaru. I have heard a lot about you when your grandfather was still alive.’

I suppressed a frustrated snort and put on a fake smile. I could vividly imagine the stories...

‘And it is an honour for me to meet Hao Shinshi. Unfortunately, my grandfather did not have the time to tell me about you, but I think we can ignore that in view of our personal meeting today.’

‘Indeed. Please follow me, Miss Misaki.’

He didn't like my comment but covered it with the typical Japanese friendliness. We crossed the room, passing the partying and drinking people, before we sat down at a table with a round leather couch. Kian sat on my right while Hao sat on my left. His two guard dogs stood in front of the table and blocked the gazes of the other guests.

‘So... I was really surprised by the message from you. What does the last Ishimaru want to discuss with me?’

Hao's eyes flicked over my body and he didn't even try to hide how much he liked the sight. I had deliberately chosen a skin-tight, green dress today. I wanted to appear harmless so that his men wouldn't search me, and so far it had worked.

‘The Sadakos have been quite active in Eastern Europe lately, Mister Hao.’

The smile disappeared and an ice-cold look was thrown at me. One that could be deadly.

‘What does the Ishimaru clan have to do with this?’

'Nothing... But I do personally. For months, my family and I have been busy raiding hideout after hideout and always finding new ones. This has to end. Now!’

‘Hahahaha...’

His laughter was so cold that it could freeze the blood, but it didn't affect me. I remained firm and didn't back down, no matter how hard he tried to intimidate me.

‘I think our conversation is over. We don't let ourselves be meddled with in our business, especially not by a half-breed whose family has almost been wiped out.’

Before Hao could stand up, I drew my tanto, which had been hidden in a belt bag under my dress on my leg. I held it to his crotch. Immediately, all movement froze and with narrowed eyes, the man sat down again. I smiled sweetly at him.

‘I knew you would come to your senses, Master. Let's just cut to the chase! How much?’

‘How much what?’

‘Name your price. What do I have to pay to get the Sadako clan to stop and go back to Japan? How much will it cost me to get the list of the last locations so that this charade can finally come to an end?’

There was silence and not even Kian dared to breathe. For a moment, Hao just looked at me blankly. I almost feared that my plan would backfire, but then a broad smile formed on his face. Creepy... I liked him better when he was serious.

‘Thirty million dollars.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘My employer has disappeared anyway. We're just fulfilling the rest of his order, for which he's already paid. So...’

I nodded and took the dagger away again. I leaned back into the leather bench, relaxed.

‘What do you say?’

‘Cash or as a transfer?’

‘What the...?’

A gentle breeze was all that could be felt as Dragan and Marcus appeared out of nowhere. With their vampire-like speed, my love had arrived right behind me and placed his warm hands on my shoulder. One of his fingers immediately began to play with a lock of my hair.

Marcus sat opposite us, holding a glass of wine. Hao had jumped up and was pale, but Dragan's other hand immediately asked him to sit down again with little effort.

‘Who are you? What kind of game is this?’

‘We are the ones with the money. So, cash or bank transfer?’

Hao looked back and forth between me, Kian, Marcus and Dragan, confused. A gentle smile spread across my lips as he took a mobile phone out of his coat and held it out to Marcus.

‘Wise decision, Mister Shinshi.’

Marcus grinned and even winked at me while he scanned something on Hao's mobile phone and then tapped away on his smartphone. A blonde lock fell onto his face. His hair had finally grown a little, to the relief of the female staff in the castle.

‘Done.’

Marcus looked at Dragan, who was still holding my shoulder, and they probably nodded at each other. Hao looked at his phone and widened his eyes.

‘Then... I'll withdraw my men. Thank you for the business.’

I put my hand on his arm and held him tight.

‘Don't forget the list... Please.’

With a brief hesitation, he took out his phone again and held it out to Marcus a second time. The two seemed to be sending something to each other via Bluetooth. After a minute, everything was done and he nodded to us in confirmation.

‘Excuse me please.’

Hao Shinshi disappeared, closely followed by his two men. Dragan took my hand and pulled me out of the restaurant. Kian and Marcus followed us a few steps behind. Summer was now over and a slightly cool autumn breeze blew through the streets, while our footsteps echoed from the walls.

‘You smell of garlic.’

A broad grin spread across my face as I squeezed his hand firmly in agreement.

‘Does that bother you? I thought the garlic thing was just a myth?’

Dragan pulled me to his chest and buried his face in my neck. His hair was open and some of it fell into my eyes. Almost immediately, my pulse quickened and an expectant tremor overwhelmed me.

‘Believe me, Selena, not even the smell of death could keep me away from you. I would find your scent among a thousand others...’

His lips touched my skin and the warmth of his body flooded over me. This man...

‘AAAAHhhhhhhhh help!’

Almost simultaneously, we both turned around and saw a man running towards us with a badly bleeding wound.

‘Monster... There are monsters!’

Marcus grabbed the man and hit him in the neck, knocking him unconscious. It didn't take a minute for gurgling and bawling sounds to reach my ears, followed immediately by the smell of death.

Ghouls. Not many, but more than 20 of them. Dragan stood next to me while Kian and Marcus came to our side. Kian gave me back my tanto.

‘Those things are popping up everywhere.’

‘No use complaining, we should hurry before the police show up and ask too many questions.’

The four of us ran towards the ghouls, and I already sighed inwardly. The dress was brand new... I'll never get the stains out!

Selenas POV

‘So, Ognjen, how are you?’

In front of me on my desk stood a small gnome with red hair and a long, red beard. He was one of a handful of goblins who worked in the castle.

Gnomes were small, perhaps 50 or 60 cm tall, and felt most connected to their element. Ognjen is a fire gnome and, according to his element, he belongs to those who are responsible for fire. Lighting candles, heating water... all those things.

But they also liked to play tricks here and there, especially in the living quarters for humans and guards. In appearance, Mr Ognjen resembled a hardened old man. So these creatures are not so far removed from the descriptions in children's books.

‘No better, Doctor. My flame is getting weaker and weaker. I don't know what else to do...’

A certain desperation spoke from him, which was completely understandable. Gnomes are natural beings. They are born from their element. In the few books