Louis entered an underground bar which started in the midnight till the early morning. Mostly youths would be seen enjoying themselves in the loud DJ music.
Without waiting, Louis made his way to the bar counter. He came to a stop before a middle-aged bartender with a neatly trimmed moustache, who was expertly mixing a cocktail.
"I’d like to see the Mistress," Louis urged.
The bartender paused, lifting his gaze to meet Louis’s eyes. "Do you have an appointment?" he asked while continuing to stir the drink.
In response, Louis slid a black card across the counter. The bartender took it, studied the insignia, then gave a subtle nod.
"Follow me," he said.
They moved past the bar and into a private elevator tucked behind a door. As the lift ascended, the music below faded, replaced by an eerie silence. They emerged above ground in a secluded area where a luxurious villa stood, home to Glenice Pavoni, more infamously known as The Mistress.
The bartender stopped in front of an ornate door framed by ivy-draped stone. "Wait here," he instructed Louis before stepping inside.
Moments later, he returned, holding the door open slightly. "She’ll see you now," he said.
"Thank you," Louis said and went inside.
Glenice was rested in the recliner with a red wine glass between her fingers. There was tattoo carved on the right of her neck, which disappeared inside her dress. Even her left wrist had a tiny tattoo etched on it.
"Why has a werewolf come to see me at this hour?" Glenice asked, tilting her head slightly.
"I’ve been searching for an experienced witch well-versed in ancient magic for a long time," Louis replied. "After asking around, I learned that the Mistress is the one who might have the answers I seek."
"Not many know about my true identity," Glenice remarked as she took a slow sip of her wine.
"I’m aware," Louis said, choosing not to reveal how he’d come by the knowledge.
"Who gave you the card?" she asked, rising gracefully from the recliner, her long dress trailing behind her like a shadow.
"A close friend of your old companion from Elarion happens to be a dear friend of mine," Louis replied cryptically.
Glenice arched an elegant eyebrow. "Leena?"
"Yes," he confirmed with a faint smile.
"And what exactly do you want to know?" she asked, placing the wine glass gently on a nearby table.
Louis reached into his coat and pulled out a small, folded piece of paper. He handed it to her in silence. Glenice unfolded it and frowned as her eyes scanned the contents.
"What is this?" she asked, puzzled by the crude sketch.
"That’s what I need you to figure out," Louis said.
Glenice narrowed her eyes at the mark, inspecting it carefully. "It’s not a tattoo," she murmured to herself. Her gaze lingered a moment longer before recognition dawned. "I remember now... this is a type of mark that appears only when someone has been cursed."
She paused before continuing into a more solemn voice. "But this isn’t an ordinary curse. It’s tied to destruction... and pain. There’s mention of it in ancient texts, but the magic needed to invoke such a curse has been lost for centuries."
Louis frowned to hear that. He wondered why Gabriel wanted to find out about it.
"I see," Louis replied and took the tiny paper from her, folding it back.
"Why is a werewolf looking for it? Is there someone with this mark?" Glenice asked.
"I don’t know. I’ve been ordered to search for it. Thank you for telling me the truth," Louis said, bowing his head slightly.
As he turned to leave, Glenice warned him, "If there is truly anyone with this mark, then they must have done something bad in their past life."
Louis absorbed the information and again thanked her before walking out of the room.
~~~~
Amelie’s eyelids moved as she found herself before a large waterfall. She covered her eyes with her hand feeling a radiant light glowing when she suddenly heard a baby’s crying.
Amelie lowered her head and saw a young girl seated on the ground.
"Mama!"
Just then, her eyes shot open and a smile formed on her lips. "What kind of dream was that?" she mumbled and felt Gabriel’s arm resting on her belly. She tilted her head and saw him lying on the mattress on the support of his abdomen.
Raising her hand gently, Amelie traced the outline of the giant wolf tattoo etched across Gabriel’s back. Her fingertips skimmed over the ridges of his firm muscles. Her gaze shifted to his face, and she leaned in to press a tender kiss on his lips.
Gabriel’s eyes fluttered open the moment their lips met, locking with hers.
"I didn’t mean to wake you," Amelie whispered.
Without a word, Gabriel slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her close, nuzzling his face into her chest. Amelie’s breath caught as his hand slid down to rest against her thigh. Her cheeks flushed a deep pink.
"Good morning, babe," he murmured affectionately.
"Good morning," Amelie replied, her smile blooming. "Honey," she added in a much sweeter tone.
Gabriel tilted his head up to look at her.
"I think we’re going to have a baby girl," Amelie said softly, her fingers absentmindedly tracing circles on Gabriel’s chest.
"Huh?" Gabriel raised a curious brow, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "And what makes you say that?"
Amelie smiled as she recalled the dream. "I saw a waterfall. And then I heard a baby crying. When I looked down, there was a little girl sitting on the ground, calling out, ’Mama.’ I was just about to pick her up when I woke up."
Gabriel’s expression softened. "That’s such sweet dream," he murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"Hmm," Amelie replied with a smile. "It feels so good," she murmured.
"Yes, it does," Gabriel agreed. "I am eager to hold the baby in my arms and heard her call is Mama and Papa," he added.