Making his way down the casino stairs to the portal room, Norbert had no issues with anyone other than the guards asking him to remove the helmet. Holding the metal helmet under his arm, he made the last revolution of the staircase before the door opened up, the single flight of stairs leading to the bottom of the room and the portal frame that was standing there.
Crates were being moved out of them. The room was already reasonably full, yet more and more crates were still getting partially pushed through before being taken by workers on this side.
Coming up to the portal, Count von Count in tow with Obsius on Norbert’s head, having moved up after removing the helmet, her spot now clear from any uncomfortable metal.
“Morning, just wondering when this will be done so we can get to Libitina?” Norbert asked the man near the portal as he looked down at a checklist, quickly tallying up and marking crates off when they arrived. The writing tool danced up and down the page so quickly that Norbert did not know how he was able to keep track of any of it.
“Several rotations—it just happened. But it's coming from Libitina, so just scurry on through the backside,” the man told Norbert, indicating with his clipboard to the back side where nothing was coming through.
Norbert stared at him for a moment. “Is that really safe?” Norbert asked, looking expectantly at Count von Count, hoping he would voice some concern.
“This entire thing isn’t safe. It's an illegal, illegitimate portal connecting up who knows how many places over only a few know how far. Crossing countries' borders like this is very much not legal.” Count von Count told Norbert. The vampire walks through the portal from the other end.
Turning back to the man Norbert was talking to with the clipboard, nothing came as he was dismissed. Breathing out, he didn't see another way, and at least Count von Count didn’t convulse, as crates still came through without being interrupted.
Breathing out slowly, Norbert stepped around to the back, looking at the portal before stepping through. Norbert felt his body extend again, jittering around as he finally went to the other side.
Stepping several times away on instinct, he felt his stomach now jostled around, the food and beverages he consumed fighting with him for a moment before it all settled.
He looked around, seeing all the Grimm around him, happy that he hadn’t been sent elsewhere to another city and needed to find his way back. Seeing the other side of the operation, this room mostly empty, the crates that would have been here now moved off.
Turning around, his eyes going up the cavern and the steps, Count von Count was already moving off and heading to the spiral staircase. Norbert ran after him as he looked about, the vampire's words bouncing in his head.
Partially up the staircase, Norbert had caught up, having moved Obsius to his shoulder and his helmet now properly fastened to his head as he reached out to the vampire. Count von Count looked back around, smiling at Norbert, tapping his nose twice and leaving Norbert in confusion.
Coming to the landing, the guards were behind them as Norbert continued across the hallway, passing through the invisible hole and coming out the other side, the casino once more full of people.
Scanning the crowd, Norbert sees Count von Count exiting, having a quick word with the bouncers, and pointing to Norbert before exiting. He sees them stare at him, neither of them moving as Norbert stands still. The two groups stare at each other, wondering who will move first.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
"You've come back, coin flipper. Are you ready for a game?" a voice shouted across from one of the tables.
Norbert turned in the direction of the voice as he saw the dealer smile at him. Sighing, he gave a slight wave as he walked to the exit, where the two security guards still stood.
"How long until you let me leave?" Norbert asked them.
"A cycle or two wouldn't hurt." The security guard on the right told him. Looking up at the man, Norbert saw he was one of the big guys as before, easily towering over Norbert. Reaching down to his waist with his right hand, Norbert taps over the dagger and knife. Norbert watching as the security guards slightly tensed up, Norbert snorting as he moved his hand away, giving a wave to the security guard, walking to the counter in the centre of the room to collect several chips.
Coming down the line, Norbert changed the few coppers he had left, wanting to increase the amount he had of them for the chips. The woman stared at him, giving a slight wave and a smile. Norbert smiled back, surprised to see a human, until Norbert saw a slight slit down her cheek, noticing the jaw structure was slightly different, allowing it to be open wider.
Smiling at the banshee, not wanting to seem rude, he plastered a smile, walking towards the table he was called out to. Seeing it was still empty like the first time Norbert sat down, the roulette wheel staring back at him, the ball sitting in the 0 position.
Placing the chips down in his area, Norbert turned to the dealer. "Busy night?" Norbert asked, not knowing if it was day or night. The crossing of distance and being trapped underground did not help it at all.
The dealer smiled back. "It's somewhat quiet, but I feel it will change for a short time."
"How so?" Norbert enquired, Obsius having jumped off his shoulder and currently strutting around the table's ring, examining. Whenever someone that isn't staff appears there, something interesting is bound to happen, mainly when someone listens to a simple dealer such as myself," adding a slight bow to the end of his explanation.
Norbert changed his vision to magic, getting creeped out by the ghoul in front of him; the skeletal and half-dead flesh became more apparent as his vision changed more and more. He was focusing on Norbert's face, seeing the crooked nose that had been broken and re-set poorly many times before. His eyes cannot move from the split down the man's left side of his face; Norbert saw the bone split, the flesh and slight darkness within the crack, calling to things unknown within Norbert.
"Even more interesting, it seems." The dealer spoke out, Grabbing Norbert’s attention. Realising he had been staring at the crack in the man's face, shaking his head, Norbert felt the need to speak.
"I thought I recognised you from somewhere. But I guess I was wrong." Norbert gave the half-hearted explanation away, feeling the need to progress further, wanting to get this interaction over as quickly as possible and get him used to what he was used to: winning coins from the casino.
***
People once more surrounded Norbert, the other seats filled as others tried to tap into his luck. The drinks were not coming this time as Norbert continued to wear his helmet. Flipping the coin one last time in the air, catching it as he moved the chips across, the pile of silver chips worth half a gold coin laid out in front of him.
Taking his innings one last time, Norbert stood up and looked to the security guards by the door, indicating with his head to leave. Receiving a nod in confirmation in return that he could now leave without being obstructed, Norbert turned to the table.
“And with that, I shall take my leave. Have fun, and until next time I pop up in one of these places!” Norbert shouted aloud, his voice echoing around the entire room. Leaning forward, he picked up the chips he had earned, happy to have some smaller coins on him rather than the few gold ones he still held.
Heading to the counter, Norbert smiled as he approached the same attendant as last time. The chips were placed neatly on the counter in piles of ten, as Norbert placed nine there and several ones for the copper chips.
The attendant nodded and quickly counted them, giving Norbert the equivalent change. Norbert smiled as he added the coins to the pouch. She gave a half wave with his fingers to the banshee before him. Watching the woman smile slightly at Norbert before the next customer came along, wanting to take some chips out and try their luck.
With his coin pouch bulging with small change, Norbert headed towards the exit; the two bouncers let him past without even a half look; Norbert was just another person leaving their premises.
Wondering which way to go, Norbert thought it would be best to pick up his sword from Vivienne. He spun his feet around as he headed down the side street, which would lead him to the main path to the witch’s mansion.