We walked into a foggy hallway with a metal staircase going all the way up to the third floor. It was chilly. My skin tingled, and the ladies next to me both had goosebumps. Blood rushed to my head as my heart hammered away in my chest. I couldn’t tell if it was fear in me or the two attractive women holding my hands that made my heart bounce around wildly.
“Where should we take him?” My server asked the other woman.
“He seems to be a VIP guest. Probably a good friend of Dr. Percy’s,” she said. “I think it’s best we let the two friends catch up.”
The women walked past a door to our left, I heard giggling and a consistent loud buzz coming from the other side.
“What’s in there?” I asked.
“We’re not going in there. No need to concern yourself with anything happening.”
“It sounds interesting. I’d like to take a peek if possible.”
“You can go with Dr. Percy later if you’re still curious. We’re supposed to take you to him right now.”
They continued to guide me until we went up the metal steps. We stopped at the second level, and they took me to a dark wooden door. It had a brass knob with a diamond-shaped plate behind it; I couldn’t believe the detail. Art deco lines symmetrically running along the edges, something from the 1920’s.
The woman to my left pulled out a black skeleton key and inserted it into the lock. It clicked open, and both women ushered me in. There was a circular plush couch, with three people seated. Two of them were sitting close together, a man with his arm around a woman. The other guy was large, buff, but wore a tight-fitted suit. To my right was a bar, liquor bottles lit up by bright blue and red light on glass shelves. A man stood behind the counter, mixing together a variety of liquids. He wore blue glasses and a white suit.
We stepped to the couch, where the ladies let go of my hands. They took off their masks and set them by the bar. They were stunningly beautiful. My server stepped over to the bulkier man, and the other woman sat next to me, her leg entirely up against mine. She whispered in my ear, “My name is Sheila.”
The hairs on the back of my neck rose.
I looked at the couple and recognized them as my neighbors from across the hall at the inn. Mickey and his girlfriend.
“We brought you your friend, Dr. Percy,” the woman to my left said.
The man behind the bar slowly grinned at me. “Splendid. Yes, my good friend. How are you this evening, Edward? Is everything to your satisfaction?” Percy asked.
As I breathed in to talk, Mickey whipped his head in my direction and gazed at me. “Hey, I know you. You’re the fella that has been staying across from me.” He turned to his girlfriend. “You remember him, sweetie, don’t you?”
His girlfriend scanned be up and down and smirked. “Yeah, how could I forget? Such a handsome man.”
“Lori, could you have a little respect for yourself?” Mickey snapped.
Lori didn’t seem fazed. “I don’t get mad at you ogling the other girls here at the club.”
“Edward. How are you?” Percy rose his voice.
“I’m doing all right. This is some nightclub you have here,” I said.
“Can I fix you something to drink? Although as someone who’s a government agent, it’s probably unwise to be drinking while on the job.”
“You’re right. It would be unwise to have any alcohol.”
“I thought as much. Sorry you can’t properly indulge with us, but your company is tremendously appreciated. However, it’s getting late, and I know you have an affinity for coffee. Would you like me to fix you a cup?”
“That won’t be necessary. I’m wide awake.”
Percy nodded and poured numerous drinks for everyone from the mixer. He brought over the tray and served everyone a cocktail. Percy gave nothing to me but smiled warmly. He sat across from me.
“I think some introductions are in order. This is my associate Leonard and his partner Amber, and you’ve already met Mickey and Lori. And you should’ve met Sheila by now.” Percy snickered. “It’d be awkward if you hadn’t.”
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“Can I ask you a question, Vincent?” I said.
I took all the air out of the room. Dead silence.
Percy’s lips fell into a flat line.
“You must think you’re pretty cute,” Percy said.
“I’m sure it’s similar to how you’re feeling.” I was referring to him openly telling me I was a government agent when he knew damn well this was the first time we’d ever met. I wondered how he knew that, but the instinct I had about Percy was that his intelligence was nothing to dismiss.
He’s been doing his research, and I wonder how long he knew I was in town. Perhaps his cohort Mickey informed him about me.
Percy smiled again. “Do you know why I’ve chosen the name Perseus?”
“No.”
“You sure you don’t know?”
I shook my head.
“You’re not as sharp as I thought you might be, Agent Wright.”
“That’s a little rude,” I said.
Percy’s upper body bounced as he laughed silently to himself. “Aren’t you curious why my name is now Perseus?”
“I’m dying to know,” I said monotonically.
“As you may have gathered by now, I have an affinity for Greek mythology.”
“Makes sense.”
Percy paused. “Why does that make sense?”
“I’ve noticed the tattoos around here.”
“At least you’ve kept your eyes open. Did you want one?”
“A tattoo?”
“Yes. But it has to be a Greek mythological creature.” Percy pointed his finger in the air.
“Where would I even receive the tattoo?”
“Downstairs.” Percy’s lips curled up. “Did you want one?”
“No, thank you.”
“Should you reconsider, let me know. I’ll give you one free of charge. Not by me, of course. I have an artist here that can help you with that.” Percy snickered to himself. “I can barely keep in the lines for a coloring book. Could you imagine the disappointment if I was inking your skin?”
“I’m still waiting on why you changed your name.”
“We have all night to chat, don’t we? It’s still early yet. Only midnight. Although I’m sure, it’s past your bedtime.”
I cracked a smile at Percy. If I kept a cold hard stare and my responses short, I’d be giving him what he wanted, and it wouldn’t get me far. This was a mental game of chess. Every word had to be calculated. “You’re right. It is past my bedtime, and I guess I’m a little tired.”
“I can fix you up a coffee,” Sheila said next to me.
“Sure, why the hell not,” I said.
“Attaboy. Cut loose, you’re among friends,” Percy said.
Shelia slowly stood up from the couch and sauntered behind the bar. She pressed a button on a chrome pitcher and turned back to me. “I think you’re going to love this coffee.”
“I order it from the same supplier as the cafe in town. Only the best for my guests,” Percy said.
“I appreciate that, thank you.” I felt the slightest tinge of energy smelling the freshly brewed coffee in the room. She poured it from an oblong carafe, unlike anything I had ever seen.
Sheila came back around and set the specialized mug on a saucer at the table in front of us. She sat down next to me, again our legs touched, and she put her arm around me.
“Don’t you want to have some?” Percy asked.
“It’s hot. I wanna wait for it to cool down.”
“You’ve never had coffee from my invention. Please, take a sip. You’ll find that it’s the perfect temperature already. I know the struggle; I’m a busy man. I don’t have time to wait around for my coffee to cool down.”
I feigned a smile and picked up the saucer, and held the mug just beneath my lip. There was water vapor pluming out, but It didn’t feel overwhelmingly hot. I took a sip. It was delicious and at a perfect temperature.
“This is very good. Thank you,” I said.
“Ah yes, you were curious about my name change. Allow me to explain. In Greek mythology, arguably one of the greatest heroes and monster killers was Perseus. There’s one story in particular that resonated with me. You see, I’m a bit of an inventor. I studied anatomy, physiology, biology, but along with that, I always had a fascination for mechanical engineering as well. Technological advancements never ceased to amaze me.” Percy shook his head. “I’m sorry, I’m digressing a bit too much. Like I was saying, there is a story of Perseus killing Medusa, chopping off the monster’s head. Later, it became affixed to a shield that would be wielded by Athena. The Aegis. Do you follow me so far?”
“Yeah,” I said, taking another sip of coffee. “You invent things like... Special light bulbs.” I wondered how Percy would react, but he didn’t flinch. Just a nod.
“Sure. That’s one of them. But I’m sure my old friend wasn’t able to tell you what I’m currently working on.”
“What are your current projects?”
Percy’s lips curved up wider. “Why don’t we go upstairs? Unless you like the room to yourself with Sheila here. You two seem to really hit it off.”
“That’s okay. I’m curious to see what you’ve been working on.”
“I bet you are, Agent Wright. I bet you are,” Percy said.
The hollowness in my voice made my skin crawl.
“Let’s go upstairs then, to the red room.” Percy grinned and stood up.
Shelia held my left hand as I had the coffee mug in my right. Mickey and Leonard gestured for me to walk in front of them. Pulling my hand forward, Shelia guided me behind Percy.
“Why is it called the red room?” I asked.
“You’ll see why in just a moment,” Percy said.
He walked past more doors and went up to the third floor using the metal staircase. All I heard was clang clang clang clang going up the steps.
Making it to the top, Percy opened the first door in front of us. He ushered us inside, and Sheila took me to a couch on the right. The room was painted dark red, and the carpet was dark red as well. Three brown couches were on each side of the small room. A standing brass lamp in the corner gave more light than I had seen in the club, but it was just an ordinary bulb plugged into the wall.
Leonard and Amber sat on the couch directly across from the entrance. Mickey and Lori whispered to each other as they sat across from Sheila and me. Percy closed the door and waltzed in.
“Do you see why it’s called the red room now?” Percy asked.
I nodded.
“You probably thought I did had something to do with blood, I’m guessing?”
“Why would I think that?” I asked.
Percy smirked. “I’m going to be right back. Sit tight.” He stepped out of the room and closed the door. Mickey and Lori were only focused on their conversation while Amber and Leonard stared forward like a pair of drones.