We followed Antolio through the center of the club, stepping into a private room. At the center, a glass table gleamed under the glow of a magnificent chandelier, its crystals refracting the light in a mesmerizing dance. The chairs surrounding the table were luxuriously upholstered in soft white plush and gold details. As I took a seat, I watched with fascination as Lutia separated herself into three identical copies, each moving with the same fluid grace but carrying slightly different expressions. Her ability intrigued me, sparking a question I couldn't resist asking.

"It's incredible what you just did. Do you mind if I ask—how many times you can multiply yourself?"

Lutia's central form smiled, while the others remained silent and still, like shadows awaiting instruction. "If I want my clones to be independent, three is my maximum. However, I have managed to create up to twenty copies before—though that was for a rather... lively occasion. My master once hosted a hunter's bachelor party, and let's say they required a bit more... entertainment."

"So, you run the club for Vantos?" I asked.

"I do whatever the master asks of me. Including... banishing people into the void if it pleases him. But honestly? I dislike fighting. It's far more enjoyable to be under warm blankets, surrounded by a few eager werewolves looking for a good time."

"And all the staff members—the servers, the bartenders, the bouncers—they're...?"

"Copies of me, every single one of them. It's a lot easier to manage the club when everyone here shares a single mind. Efficient, wouldn't you agree?"

She turned her gaze to Antolio, who had been quietly observing the interaction. One of Lutia's copies leaned closer to him, her fingers playfully brushing his arm. "Isn't that right, my hairy friend? Don't you just love the kind of attention Lutia can bring you?"

Antolio began to sign rapidly, wearing a big smile on his face. Derrick chuckled after translating his message. "Antolio said, she is a lot of fun, but she is also very expensive."

Lutia's eyes glimmered with amusement as she leaned closer, her fingers brushing the cool glass of the table. "I believe the young master has no issue affording my services—for himself and his loyal men. My offerings are the best in all of Adams. Satisfaction... is always guaranteed."

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room shifted abruptly. A sharp clap echoed through the space, causing Lutia to straighten immediately. The door to the private room swung open, revealing a figure cloaked in elegance and mystery.

Vantos entered the room, immediately drawing Lutia's attention. He wore a shimmering robe of deep, iridescent purple that seemed to shift colors with every step he took. The fabric was adorned with complex patterns that danced across its surface, the edges trimmed in threads of gold and silver that caught the ambient light, casting a soft glow. His fingers were covered in rings of various precious stones, each one reflecting a different hue—deep sapphires, vibrant emeralds, and fiery rubies that sparkled brilliantly as he moved.

"That's enough, Lutia. From this moment forward, you will serve these men at my command," Vantos said, his eyes irradiating with a red hue. "No games. No seductions. The one in front of you will not fall for your enchantments. After all, he is of primal blood."

Lutia's eyes gleamed with a predatory hunger as she turned towards me. "Well, that's too bad. I was willing to be quite... generous to the young master. I've never had primal blood before."

"I apologize for her indecent behavior. She gets too excited when she finds something unique," Vantos said, turning back to Lutia. "Return to the hunters on the bar, there are some individuals that might want to start a fight. Get rid of them."

"As you wish, master."

Suddenly, Lutia merged with her three copies, their forms blurring together like liquid glass. The air around her seemed to shimmer, and within moments, she had transformed into something entirely different. Where the alluring woman once stood, there was now a magnificent, oversized lynx. Its fur was a deep, smoky purple, swirling as if it were made of mist, constantly changing with the light of the room.

I stared, unable to hide my astonishment. "I have never seen anything like her," I said, turning to Vantos. "What is she?"

Vantos's eyes followed Lutia's smoky form as she padded silently toward the door. "Lutia is a Void Lynx, a greater-class familiar. The lynxes of the void are rare creatures, bound to the shadows between worlds. She possesses abilities that few could imagine—and fewer still could hope to control."

"And how did you come to possess such a powerful familiar?"

"I found her in the depths of Tartarus. In one of my... unannounced visits to the prison realm. She was caged, bound by ancient wards that had drained her of nearly all her strength. I freed her, in exchange for her loyalty. But our conversation should steer towards the reason for your visit, young master. Are you finally going to entertain my offer?"

"I'm not here to sell you my blood if that's what you're referring to."

"That's too bad," Vantos said. A sigh of exaggerated disappointment escaped Vantos's lips as he turned his attention to Antolio. "Ah, my favorite wolf! You're the only dog I'll feed for free. And look, you've even brought your sidekick along. Congratulations on making it past the door, Derrick. I trust I don't have to remind you of the club's rules."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"There's no need for reminders, Vantos. I'll try to behave myself," Derrick said.

Vantos's gaze roamed around the room before settling back on me. "A primal blood sitting in my club. I never thought I'd see the day. But here you are... And it's a shame you won't part with even a pint of that precious blood. Do you know how much we could make? The demand for primal blood is... insatiable."

Antolio signs in front of Vantos, grabbing his attention. "Ah, I almost forgot you can't talk," Vantos said. "Let me fix that for you."

The man kissed his index finger and placed it over Antolio's lips. For a moment, there was silence. Then, Antolio's mouth opened, and we all watched in awe as his tongue grew back into place, the once-missing piece regenerating in front of our eyes.

"Don't forget, the spell only works within the confines of my domain. Once you leave, your voice will vanish like a wisp of smoke."

"That is much better, Vantos. I appreciate it." Antolio said. "It feels...weird, being able to talk. It's been a few months since my last visit to the club. Business is not good on the neutral side of Adams. There's fear in the streets. Everyone is panicking about the upcoming war of the clans."

Vantos listened, nodding slowly. "Yes, I've felt the same pressure even here, in the heart of my domain. The culling is coming, whether we like it or not. The balance of power is shifting, and no one can escape the consequences. But what really blows my mind, is why I can't read your mind," he said, pointing directly at me. "You, my friend, are an entire box of mysteries. No wonder Lutia's charm didn't work on you. Primal blood... I knew it resists most enchantments. But your mind—there's something different about it. Something... shielded."

As Vantos continued to speak, my attention was momentarily drawn to the bar outside our private room. A figure seated there had been watching us intently. The man was dressed in a hunter's cloak, the hood pulled low over his face, masking his features. There was something about him—an aura that was heavy, oppressive, and strangely familiar. It reminded me of the unsettling presence I had felt with Utica.

"There's someone in your club staring at me. Do you let anyone walk in here?"

Vantos's eyes flicked toward the bar, landing on the hooded figure. His expression darkened, but only for a fraction of a second. With a dismissive wave, he snapped his fingers, and the glass walls around our room began to cloud over, filling with swirling grey smoke. The once-transparent walls became an impenetrable barrier, cutting off the hunter's prying gaze.

"This is much better," Vantos said. "No more eavesdroppers. Now, we can speak freely. I must warn you, young master, you are navigating dangerous waters in Adams Town. With the culling almost upon us, the alliances that form in the shadows can shift like sand in a storm. Trust no one—not even me. Everyone here has a stake in the coming war, and they will do whatever it takes to tip the scales in their favor."

"Vantos, the young master has a few questions for you," Antolio said.

Vantos approached Antolio, placing his right index finger gently on Antolio's forehead and his left on his own, as if forming a connection beyond simple words. "Wait, don't say anything, I'd like to find out on my own." Vantos's eyes fluttered shut and then snapped open as if he'd glimpsed something unexpected.

"I see... those are dangerous places you've been, my friend." He paused, tilting his head. "But tell me... who is the grey werewolf chained in the cave?"

"That's what we're here to find out. It's one of the reasons we came to you. We need answers, and we need them quickly."

"Unfortunately, I can only see fragments from Antolio's mind, and you... you're completely closed off. I can't read your mind, young alpha. So, I'm supposed to rely on your... honesty?"

"I assure you, Vantos, my intentions are not violent in nature. We came to you on Antolio's recommendation, trusting his judgment. I've heard you're a skilled alchemist."

"Well, that all depends on who's been filling your ears with such tales," he said, his eyes flicking to Antolio. "But if it's coming from my loyal friend here, perhaps you've been listening to the right voices."

"I've heard that you know how to craft a potion that can prevent a human from fully transforming into a werewolf. We need to reverse the transformation of the grey werewolf you saw in Antolio's mind. We believe he is the key to find out who kidnapped him, but time is running out."

"Ah, the Monkshood potion... yes, it can suppress the beast within, to keep the man from losing himself entirely to the wolf. A small dose will keep the beast at bay, allowing the human to regain control. I also have the wolfsbane potion. This one will kill the werewolf in a matter of minutes. It depends on what you want."

"Will the Monkshood potion work on a permanent werewolf transformation?"

"I cannot provide you with a definitive answer to that question. But if you manage to get the beast to consume it, I am confident it could suppress the transformation temporarily—perhaps long enough for the man to regain control. But understand this: it is not a cure. You'll still have to deal with the beast once it manages to resurface again."

"So, it's a gamble? You're saying there's no guarantee it will work?" Derrick said.

"In this world, my dear friend, there are very few guarantees. But if you wish to extract information from this creature without killing him, the Monkshood potion is your best option. He paused, as he looked at me. "Of course, creating such a potion requires rare ingredients... and effort. I would need something... in return."

"Name your price," I said.

Vantos paced around the room slowly, deep in thought. "Money holds no interest for me. The real question is, what are you willing to trade for it, my dear Tobias."

I already knew that bargaining with Vantos would be no easy feat. Warlocks of his kind, as Derrick and Antolio had warned, rarely swayed from their terms, and they always saw the value in something beyond the obvious.

I reached into my leather bag, pulled out the vial of essence, and placed it on the table. Vantos's reaction was immediate; his eyes widened as he leaned in to take a closer look at the vial. The intensity in his gaze grew as he watched the enthralling liquid swirl at the presence of his hand.

"By the Gods!" he whispered, his voice low and reverent. "Do you even realize what you hold in your hands?"

"I know it's valuable, or you wouldn't react this way. Beyond that... no, I don't. Care to enlighten me?"

I watched as Vantos' desperation grew with an almost obsessive intensity. He snapped his fingers, and a luxurious chair materialized behind him. He sank into it, adjusting the folds of his deep purple tunic. But even as he settled in, his gaze never wavered from the vial.

"What do you want for it? Jewels, gold, or money perhaps? Please tell me!"

"I want two things, Vantos. First, I need to know what this essence is. And second, I require the Monkshood potion to reverse the grey werewolf transformation."

"If I disclose the nature of this essence, you'll likely refuse to part with it. And that would make our little exchange... rather pointless."