Chapter 8
Vi led the way, a confident swagger in her step as she gestured for Ivy and Caitlyn to follow her into a dimly lit building. The place had an air of mystery and indulgence. The hallway stretched long and narrow, lined with walls adorned in deep purple wallpaper, the edges curling slightly with age. The soft, ambient glow of dim lighting added to the haze of purple smoke that wafted through the air, leaving a faintly sweet and intoxicating scent.
The rooms along the hallway buzzed with activity. People lounged on plush couches, speaking in hushed tones, their words mingling with the occasional bursts of laughter. Others inhaled the purple smoke from ornate pipes, their eyes half-lidded as if lost in another world.
Vi turned to the pair, a mischievous grin plastered across her face. "Alright, this is the kind of place where secrets are spilled—sometimes deliberately, sometimes not. Just act like you belong here, like you work here, and keep your ears open."
Caitlyn, wide-eyed, scanned the scene in disbelief. "Work here? Vi, this place—"
"Is exactly what you think it is," Vi interrupted, her grin widening. "Relax, Caitlyn. You'll blend right in if you loosen up. Ivy's got it covered, right?"
Ivy rolled her eyes, exhaling sharply. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't get in my way, and I'll be fine." She seemed completely unbothered by the sultry atmosphere, her movements smooth and calm as she adjusted her hood slightly, blending in with the dim environment.
Vi raised a playful brow, eyeing Ivy knowingly. "Well, I know Ivy's a sucker for the ladies, so she'll fit in just fine."
Ivy shot her a sharp look, muttering, "Thanks for that, Vi."
Unfazed, Vi turned to Caitlyn, her grin now laced with curiosity. "What about you, Cupcake? Man or woman? What's your type?"
Caitlyn's face immediately flushed, and she stammered, "I—I don't think this is the time to—"
"Too late!" Vi interrupted, grabbing Ivy by the arm and shoving her unceremoniously into one of the nearby rooms. Ivy stumbled slightly but regained her composure, glaring back at Vi, who only laughed and waved her off.
Inside the room, a low table sat surrounded by thick cushions, and a woman lounged lazily on one of them. She was striking, her hair dyed in soft streaks of lavender that shimmered under the room's dim lighting. Her gaze locked onto Ivy with interest, a sly smile curving her lips.
"Well, aren't you a pretty one," the woman purred, motioning for Ivy to join her.
Ivy sighed, casting one last glare toward the doorway before turning her full attention to the girl. She settled onto the cushion across from her, forcing her usual sharpness to melt into something more disarming. "So, what's a girl like you doing in a place like this?" she asked, her tone light and teasing.
Meanwhile, in the hallway, Vi clapped Caitlyn on the back, steering her toward a tall, slender man who stood leaning casually against the wall. Caitlyn, still flustered, tried to pull herself together. "Vi, I—"
"No time to overthink it," Vi said with a grin. "Good luck, have fun" she winked.
Caitlyn hesitated but then turned to the man, forcing herself to meet his gaze. He raised a brow, his thin lips curving into an amused smile as he gestured for her to step into another room. With a deep breath, she followed, determined not to let her discomfort show.
Back in Ivy's room, the lavender-haired girl leaned closer, her voice low and sultry. "You're new here, aren't you? Don't worry. I don't bite... unless you want me to."
Ivy smirked, leaning back slightly to keep her composure. Great, she thought. This is going to be interesting.
Her focus momentarily drifted, her mind running through the reasons Vi had dragged them into this place, the stifling haze of purple smoke blurring her thoughts. But then the woman's voice cut through, low and teasing:
"You seem distracted, sweetheart. Something on your mind?"
The words pulled Ivy back into the moment, catching her off guard. She blinked, realizing the woman had leaned closer, her violet-streaked hair cascading around her face like a soft frame. Ivy straightened, forcing a smirk to mask her momentary lapse.
"Maybe I just wasn't expecting the company to be this... charming," Ivy said smoothly, letting her voice drop into something flirtatious to fit the role.
The woman chuckled, her sly grin widening. "Oh, you're good. But not that good. You don't belong here, do you?"
Ivy's heart skipped a beat, but she didn't let it show. Instead, she leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand with a feigned air of confidence. "What gave it away? My shy smile? Or maybe it's the way you can't stop staring at me?"
The woman's laughter was soft but genuine, and she reached for the ornate pipe on the table, taking a languid drag before exhaling the purple smoke in swirling patterns. Her gaze didn't leave Ivy's as she spoke. "Let's just say I have a talent for spotting outsiders. But you're interesting enough that I don't mind."
Ivy let out a soft laugh, playing along. "Interesting, huh? I'll take that as a compliment."
The woman tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to read Ivy's thoughts. "So, what's your story? Someone as sharp as you doesn't just end up here by accident. You're looking for something, aren't you?"
For a brief moment, Ivy hesitated. The woman's perceptiveness was unnerving, but Ivy knew she couldn't break character now. She leaned back casually, shrugging. "Maybe I am. Or maybe I just got tired of the usual scene."
The woman smirked, clearly not convinced but seemingly content to let it slide. "Well, whatever your reasons, you've got my attention. And trust me, that's not something I give easily."
She couldn't help but feel a small surge of pride, though she knew better than to let it distract her. Ivy glanced briefly at the door, wondering how Caitlyn and Vi were doing. Then her attention was pulled back once more by the woman's voice, smooth and enticing.
"So, what about that little act back there? You didn't seem too thrilled about being shoved in here. Who's pulling your strings?"
Ivy's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second before she recovered. "No one pulls my strings," she said firmly, her tone sharper now. "But sometimes, you've got to go along with the plan to get what you want."
The woman's lips curved into a knowing smile, her eyes glinting with curiosity. "Interesting answer. I like you. Stick around, and maybe we'll both get what we want."
She let the words hang in the air, her mind racing to figure out just how much she could push this interaction without giving herself away. Ivy knew one thing was certain, though—this woman was going to be more of a challenge than she had expected. She tilted her head slightly, letting a small smirk play across her lips as she reached for the ornate pipe in the woman's hand. Her fingers brushed against the woman's for just a moment before she took it, studying the delicate carvings along its surface. She leaned in closer, her voice low and teasing.
"What do you mean by that?" Ivy asked, exhaling softly as if savoring the intrigue in the air between them. She held the pipe lazily in her hand, her posture relaxed but her sharp gaze fixed on the woman.
The woman's eyes sparkled with amusement, a slow smile spreading across her lips. "Oh, you know," she said, her tone laced with playful mystery. "Two clever women in a place like this? I'd say the possibilities are endless."
Chuckling, Ivy took a calculated drag from the pipe and exhaling a thin stream of purple smoke. She let it linger between them before responding, her voice smooth and confident. "Endless, huh? You're either very bold or very reckless to say something like that to a stranger."
The woman leaned closer, her lavender-streaked hair falling forward as she rested her chin on her hand. "Maybe I'm both," she said, her grin widening. "Or maybe I just know how to spot someone worth the risk."
Ivy held her gaze, her smirk deepening. She could feel the tension building between them, an intoxicating mix of flirtation and unspoken curiosity. It was a game, one Ivy wasn't entirely sure she was winning, but she wasn't about to back down.
"And what makes you so sure I'm worth it?" Ivy asked, her tone challenging but still laced with charm.
The woman's smile didn't falter. "Call it intuition," she said with a shrug. "You've got that look about you—someone with secrets, someone who knows how to play the game. I like that."
Her brows lifted slightly, surprised at the woman's perceptiveness but careful not to let it show. She leaned back slightly, taking another slow drag from the pipe before passing it back. "Well, I'll take that as a compliment," she said lightly, though her mind was already racing.
She accepted the pipe, her eyes never leaving Ivy's. "You should. I don't hand them out lightly."
The room felt smaller now, the air thick with smoke and the weight of their exchange. Ivy was fully in the role, but she couldn't help the faint flicker of genuine intrigue beneath the surface. She leaned forward again, resting her elbows on the table between them.
"So," Ivy said, her voice dropping to a lower, more intimate tone. "If I'm so interesting, what's stopping you from telling me your secrets first?"
The woman laughed softly, the sound warm and rich. "Oh, darling," she said, leaning in close enough that Ivy could catch the faintest hint of her perfume. "Where would the fun be in that?"
A small smile playing on Ivy's lips as she leaned in closer, trying to maintain her composure. She had to keep her guard up—this was all part of the plan, after all—but there was something about the woman's charm, her playful confidence, that was hard to ignore. She rested her chin on her hand, letting her smirk deepen as she responded. "I guess you're right. The fun's in the chase, isn't it?"
The woman grinned, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Exactly. And something tells me you're not the kind to shy away from a little excitement."
Though Ivy's mind remained sharp, calculating. She couldn't afford to lose herself in this banter, no matter how disarming the woman was. Her job here was to blend in, to extract whatever information she could while keeping Caitlyn and Vi out of trouble. Still, she couldn't help but be intrigued. The woman spoke with such ease, her words layered with meaning that hinted at deeper intentions. There was a confidence to her that Ivy found both alluring and suspicious.
"And what kind of excitement are we talking about?" Ivy asked, letting her voice drop just enough to match the woman's playful tone. She needed to keep her talking, to see if she could tease out anything useful without tipping her hand.
The woman leaned back slightly, taking another drag from the ornate pipe. She exhaled the purple smoke in a languid stream, her gaze never wavering from Ivy's. "The kind that makes you forget why you walked in here in the first place," she said, her lips curving into a sly smile.
Ivy raised a brow, amused by the answer but also wary. This woman was clearly adept at playing games, and Ivy wasn't sure yet if she was being toyed with or genuinely drawn in.
"That's a dangerous thing to promise," Ivy said, her tone light but her eyes sharp. "I don't forget things easily."
"Good," the woman replied, her voice soft but deliberate. "I wouldn't want you to."
Ivy's heart skipped, just for a moment, but she quickly pushed the feeling aside. This was all part of the act, she reminded herself. She had to stay focused. Still, there was something about the way the woman looked at her, like she was seeing straight through her defenses, that made Ivy's pulse quicken.
She glanced briefly toward the door, wondering how much longer Vi would take. Then, turning back to the woman, Ivy decided to press a little further. "You talk a good game," she said, letting her smirk return. "But I can't help but wonder—what's in it for you?"
The woman's smile widened, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Oh, darling," she said, her voice dripping with charm. "The real question is: what's in it for you?"
Ivy couldn't help but laugh, caught off guard by the boldness of the reply. She leaned back slightly, crossing her arms as she studied the woman. "You're good," she admitted, her smirk softening into something almost genuine.
The woman raised her pipe in a mock toast. "And you're fun. Let's see if you can keep up."