“Nope, I’m not doing this.” A couple of hours later, standing in front of a bustling nightclub. With its name ‘THE DEN’ surrounded in bright shining light. If I hadn’t known that this was a shapeshifter club, the name alone would have been a dead giveaway.

Though that wasn’t the reason, I was about to run back home. It was the crowd of people just waiting to get in. If waiting in line was this bad, how in hellfires was I supposed to navigate the crowd inside without passing out?

I began to pace back and forth. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m a Majic fixer, not an investigator. I usually step in after Magic goes haywire, not before. This is totally outside my wheelhouse that  just standing here is a  joke.”

Nee just stared. “And you just thought of this now?”

Wincing. “No, but I thought I could handle it.”

Nee just sighed. “With all your sniping and grumbling. You still can’t say no to Raven, and once again, she took advantage of that.”

Adverting my eyes. “The money was a big factor.”

The tiny fairy snickered. “Yeah, keep telling yourself that.”

I couldn’t really argue with that.

“So it’s a little too late now. So the best advice I could give is treating it like a Fixer job, and see how it goes,” Nee advised and added. “To be honest, you need the paycheck.”

“I know,” I replied. “Am I allowed to have at least one freak out before going through with it? Geeze.”

“Kera, of course, you can!” Nee said. “Sometimes I forget how hard it is for you, and I wanted to say how proud of you I am.” A pause. “At least my bigger self wanted to say.”

I managed a strained smile.“Thank you, but you know…”

“Know what,” Nee asked.

“It wouldn’t have been more heart-felt if you stop dancing to the beat,” I stated matter of factly.

Nee stopped for a moment as a blush formed on her little cheeks, “I can’t help it, this song’ calling my name.” She began to dance once again like her body couldn’t help it.

I could only roll my eyes at her antics.

“Hello, ladies. I hope that you weren’t waiting long,” Vally’s voice interrupted.

I was surprised. “Vally, why are you here?” Vally gave me a hurt look. “I mean, it’s good to see you, but umm…” Biting my lip, not knowing what to say.

Vally just laughed. “And how are you going to get into the club?”

“Um, the front door,” I answered, a little confused, wasn’t that obvious.

Vally chuckled. “I thought so.” Coming a bit closer and whispered. “Listen, sweetie. There’s no way you get into that club unless you want someone to claim you as their own. Believe me. You don’t want that.”

I shuddered “because I’m a Royal Elven.”

“That and you’re an Exile. You’re just too well known.” Vally looked around. “Come here.” She took my hand and dragged me into a dark corner.

Vally reached out but hesitated. “May I?” Vally took a strand of my hair.”You dyed your hair this reddish-purplish colour.” She winced a little, and it was not because of my poor dye job. I didn’t blame her. Elven culture takes pride in their eye and hair colour. The colour shows what clan we’re from. Doing anything to one’s hair was something that wasn’t done.  Even cutting just wasn’t done.

Ha, like that matters for me.

“Dye doesn’t really last long in my hair, but I  thought it was worth a shot,” I replied.

“It’s a good start, but you need a little bit more something.” She pulled out a hat and slightly tinted sunglasses and handed them over. “Here, wear this.”

I put them on. “I feel ridiculous.”

 Vally ignored me, checking me over. “Ha, Nee, what do you think?”

Nee flew around me. “Yep, sexy as hell. Good job. It resonates well with the rest of the outfit.”

I was wearing some tight pants, ripped just to the point of risky; a silk blue shirt and a black jacket. The whole outfit must have cost more than I make in a year. Okay, maybe two.

I shuddered as memories of being dressed as a doll came back clear as day.

Vally bowed. “Thank you! I know what I’m doing.”

“But the most important question. Don’t I look cute.” Nee made a pose. She was wearing a knee-high peach pink dress with silver bracelets dangling from her wrist.

I couldn’t help but nod. “You are very cute.”

At the same time, Vally clapped her hands. “There are no words.”

Nee beamed brightly. “Thank you.” And twirled around for good measures.

I raised my hand. “Um, how this is going to help me get into the club.”

“It’s not. At best, it will help you blend in a bit better.” Vally said, crossing her arms.

“Then shouldn’t you have given me all this earlier?” I questioned.

“Yes, but it gave me a good excuse.” She answered.

“Excuse? For what?” My suspicious raising.

A slow smiled forming on Vally’s lips. “You need a way into the club, right?”

***

I gangle of women was standing at the back door. Then someone knocked three times. A man with a shaved head opened. “Your late.”

Vally stepped out from the crowd. “Yes, Harold, we had a hard time getting through the crowd. It’s going to be busy. You must be hyped. ”

Harold just sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Naw, it just means more work, but with you girls finally showing up, I can finally help out front.”

“Enforcer’s job is never done.” Vally's voice had an understanding tone.

“You got it,” They shared a handshake. “Stay safe out there, Vally.”

“You too,” Vally called as he turned his back and walked away.

Vally turned to everyone. “Okay, everyone knows the drill. Freshen up and work for the crowd.”

There was a lot of giggling, but everyone managed a “Yes, Vally.” They rushed in after Vally.

“Ha, can I get out now?” A muffled voice said within the gangle.

Finally spilling out, I gasped. “I am never doing that again.”

Vally replied from beside me. “Ha, don’t complain it got you in. Didn’t you?”

“Yeah, but I know how Nee feels after being stuffed into a pocket for too long.” I glared. “And was the groping necessary?”

Everyone responded. “Yes!”

I shuttered, breathing heavily.

Nee appeared before me. “Breath, in and out. In and out.”

I listened, trying to calm down.

“Is she going to be okay,” Vally asked. “If there was any other way !...”

“No, she needs to learn how to deal with these kinds of things.” Nee’s voice advised. “And it’s not really you guys’ fault. Her anxiety was high, way before this.  Besides, I will help her. This is why I’m here for.”

“Ah, so noble,” cried the women.

“Ha, stop that…watch the hands. Ladies, please, the hands!”

Even with my panic, I couldn’t help but smile.

Slowly getting up. “I’m fine.”  Seeing that, Vally still had a concerned look. “I fine, it’s fine. I can do this.”

She reluctantly nodded her head. “Okay, you’re an adult, it’s your decision, but you got to know as soon as you stepped into the club floor. I won’t be as available as I like. I have to work.” Vally warned she nodded at the women fixing their makeup. “Watching them is a full-time job. So if you have to leave, do it now. It might be a waste of time. They might not be showing up here anymore.”

“I already know that, but as you said, Royal Elven is hard to miss. More than likely, someone saw them. Suppose I could just get a trace of where they have been. Hopefully, I could tract them from here.” I said with as much confidence I could muster.

“Ha, you sound confident,” Vally replied, crossing her arms.

 Giving Nee a glance.“I’m going to stick with what I’m good at.”

***

“Saying that I got this was maybe a gross exaggeration,” I commented as I had another urge to run. Seeing people laughing and dancing. The music was head-pounding loud, and don’t get me started on the smell.

“You think,” Nee stated, but she seemed to be enjoying herself, bouncing to the music.

“My eyes can’t see anything too much Mana residue.” I released my sealed eyes, probably not a good idea. Too many people Mana of every colour was everywhere. “Although I see something interesting.”

Nee gave me a suspicious look. “Interesting as in something to do with the Royal Elven or interesting something that has nothing to do with the case and only a distraction.”

Wincing. “The second one.”

Nee sighed. “Come on. I see some seats next to the bar. You might be able to find something there.”

Resisting a little. “But it’s fascinating. I have never been around so many shapeshifters before, so I haven’t noticed…..”

“Not listening.” She grabbed my hand and dragged me away. Nee was surprisingly strong for someone so tiny.

We sat down, and a waitress showed up. “What’s your order?”

“A ginger ale will do.” I asked, “Can I talk…”

“Gingerale and…?” The waitress asked.

“Just a ginger ale. I don’t drink alcohol,” I insisted.

“Okay, right away.”

“Excuse me, can you tell me…” I started to say, but the waitress rushed off to the next table. “Hellfire, I hate talking to people,” I mumbled as I slumped in my chair.

“Wait patiently. Something will come up,” Nee insisted. “Oh, can I have one of those tiny umbrellas? I love those things.”

“Yeah, sure,” I said, distracted. I really wanted to leave.

Suddenly a drink was placed in front of me. “I didn’t order…” I slowly looked up. To find a man with white teeth smiling down at me.

“Ha, beautiful, I think you’re my bond.” Was the first words out of the man’s mouth.