Under the Umbridge's guidance and spirituality, I arrived at the address they had given me within their eyes. The building had a singular floor and a professional look to it, giving off an aura of wealth, secrecy, and establishment within society. A wooden sign hung on a lamppost above the front door.

  "Detective and Protection Agency" was written in neat fonting.

  "This is the place?" I tucked my hands into my pockets, analyzing the space.

  The Umbridge nodded their head, pointing to the door knocker. "Let them know you're here."

  Hearing this wording, I felt a little puzzlement stir within me. Looking back at the enigmatic figure, I scoffed. "Did you somehow arrange an appointment for me?"

  "I'm a Spiritual Creature; how could I do such a thing? They'd be very confused if a black cat wandered into the building and began speaking fluent English."

  "Right... you're most likely just signaling me to let them know I'm here to begin with." The Umbridge's explanation made me feel a little stupid.

  I walked down the small cobblestone trail leading to the door, peering through the windows which were not obscured by curtains. The inside of the building wasn't very homey, giving off a more prestigious, serious vibe to it. I knocked three times with the knocker.

  A few moments later, the door opened. A man with curly red hair, freckles, and a gaunt jawline stepped out to greet me, nodding their head without saying a word. I smiled at them as I entered the building. The walls were dark-colored with a fireplace burning in the corner. A lady sat behind the reception desk, her appearance haggardly. Small dark circles accentuated her sleepy blue eyes.

  Walking over to the reception desk, I adjusted my black vest and greeted her with as much pleasantry as I could. "Hello. I was hoping I could hire protection for myself?"

  On the way to the building, the Umbridge had filled me in regarding their intentions. If I were to survive an encounter at the bar and report the criminals to justice, I'd need someone to cover my back and protect me. Even if I was a Seeker, I wasn't entirely all-powerful.

  The lady looked me up and down with a tired look on her face, resting her hand on her chin as she scoffed.

  "Y'have horns, shouldn't that be enough protection? You'll be scaring everyone away."

  I scoffed, my hands diving into my pockets. "I'm just a teenage boy looking for safety; I have a dangerous predicament I'll need protection for tonight."

  The tired woman standing behind the reception desk arched an eyebrow. "Why are you going then? You can just avoid it entirely and not be a dumbass."

  The attitude in her voice took me aback, but I refrained from using negative emotions, which made my stomach bubble a bit—backlash from the potion. Taking a slow, shaky breath, I continued speaking.

  "Unfortunately, it's something that can't be avoided so easily. You see, the people looking for me are a bit... egotistical with their worldview. If they see me, they'd tie me to a pole and beat me to death."

  The woman behind the desk chuckled deeply, rolling her eyes as she leaned back in her chair. "Did someone get into their parents' alcohol? No one's out to kill you, dummy."

  She looked into my eyes. "Additionally, you're far too young to be hiring people to have your back."

  My eyes widened as I turned around. The Umbridge was sitting at a table, sipping on some metaphysical tea. When they looked at me, they shrugged.

  "Did you know about this?" I telepathically communicated with them.

  The figure shook their head. "No."

  Looking back to the haggardly woman, I suddenly had an idea. "What if I have a parent of mine sign a waiver or something? Wouldn't that give me ample permission due to it being their decision?"

  The woman arched one of her eyebrows, leaning up. "Due to the complexity of the situation, that'll cost you extra."

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  "Actually, I have everything covered." A voice sounded behind me.

  I turned around, catching sight of a man with elven ears, crimson hair, and clad in casual attire. Kael strode over, placing an elbow on the reception desk as he smiled.

  "He's all mine, Jessie."

  The woman with eyebags scoffed, handing him a sheet of paper. Seeing all of this, I felt immensely shocked.

  "Since...when..." I wasn't able to finish my sentence, caught off guard by the number of contradictions and mysteries being presented to me.

  Kael finished signing the waiver, looking back to me as he opened his pouch, taking out a few golden coins and sliding them across the counter.

  "I get jobs quite easily," Kael replied with a charismatic smile, playfully raising both his eyebrows.

  "Y-you just walked in, and they let you get hired?" I whispered.

  At this moment, the area around us seemed to grow hazy for a moment. The eyes of the tired clerk glazed over, flickering with a faint crimson hue. Kael had activated the spiritual invisibility in the middle of the agency.

  After a brief silence, Kael sighed softly. "Something altered me, you were in danger, so I came over."

  "I... I wasn't in danger."

  "In this world, anything can be considered dangerous."

  The world abruptly returned to normal, the sounds and people gradually gaining life again. Kael pointed to the corner of the agency, where I saw a rounded table and a deck of cards. Sitting around the table was a group of men, chattering and laughing amongst themselves.

  "I'm going to fancy myself a game; I recommend you join in."

  "A-alright..." I made my way over to the table, pulling out a wooden chair and sitting down beside Kael.

  The others at the table all looked at him, smiling as they reached into the deck of cards. I watched in silence, but a sudden, chillingly cold hand on my shoulder caught my attention.

  "Y'gonna get a hand, kid?" A man with an unkempt stubble, untrimmed fingernails, and fluffy black hair handed me a deck of cards.

  "How do I play exactly?" I looked at Kael who sat next to me, a flicker of vulnerability crossing my expression.

  The crimson-haired man scoffed, pointing directly at me as he surveyed the table. "Look at him; he doesn't know how to play."

  Just then, the table erupted with laughter. One of the men suddenly picked up their glass of water, tossing it in my direction. The water spilled from the cup, soiling my shirt and vest. The man who had tossed their cup leaned back, placing their head over their hands as they mockingly chuckled under their breath.

  "Fuckin' panty."

  The sigil on my left hand and forehead began to burn as my gaze darted to Kael, flaring up a little. "You just l-let him do that?"

  Kael didn't seem to pay mind to my words; it was as if he hadn't even acknowledged my presence. He picked up a card from his deck, placing it onto the table and smiled.

  "I begin Hadesdeck with a loser, a signature failure, a blessing to nobody."

  The card Kael had placed down showed an image of a man with a depressing appearance. He leaned back against a wall, slumping down in a pile of his own feces, urine, and vomit. The corners of his eyes pricked with tears as unseen viewers tossed rotting fruits and vegetables in his direction.

  The man to his left scoffed, reaching into his own deck and placing down another card. It showed an image of a man with crimson eyes, skin as pale as snow, with neatly combed black hair. He was sinking his fangs into the neck of a beautiful, nude woman.

  "The vampire, the antithesis of trickery, the goddamn bloodsucker."

  Kael and the other played exchanged glances, the latter's lips curling up. "You know what vampires do to losers?"

  "Losers, holding everything against the world, quickly submit to this attack. He doesn't resist, he lets the vampire bite him and suffers a slow, painful death."

  Kael slid over the 'Loser' card, letting the other man slide it into a deck set aside. There was a small metal sign in front of the deck, signaling to everyone that this was the desolate desk. The man across from Kael reached into his own deck, taking out a card. When he placed it on the table, everyone saw the face of the card.

  A mountain, stretching to a seemingly infinite height, had a large throne atop it. On the massive throne was a figure, their appearance illusory and semi-transparent. In their left hand, they carried a sceptre, in their right hand, they carried a massive book.

  "The Right Hand of God, the mightiest of cards in the deck. Enacting divine judgement, he swoops down and murders the vampire, cleansing the Loser of his corruption, setting everyone free." The man exclaimed, reaching into the desolate deck and taking the card into his own deck.

  He then looked at me, chuckling. "Now, what are you gonna do? Vye for the position of Game-master, or submit and take a card from your deck?"

  "Game-master?" I asked, feeling a bit of curiosity.

  "This blimey fool doesn't know shit about this game," He commented, making the entire table laugh out loud.

  "I don't trust an idiot to rule the decks, so just pick a damn card and put it down."

  My chest began to heat as the burning of my sigils intensified. In the edges of my mind, I could hear ravings and whisperings. I shook my head, attempting to lodge them out. My hands trembled slightly as I reached into the desk.

  A sudden surge of unexpected pride entered my being as I chuckled deeply, taking out a card from my deck. I placed it on the table, showing it to everyone. The card was white in color, with a few words scrawled in messy handwriting.

  YOUR MOTHER IS A WHORE, was written on the face of the card.

  At this moment, I felt my blood run cold. Looking up at the man across from me, I saw his face visibly contort, filling to the brim with rage.

  "That's a rule card, and you use it to write slurs?" Offense was evident in his tone.

  The unexpected pride I had felt diffused. I had only felt confident in having a good hand, not in calling his mother a slur. I didn't even know that card existed!

  "I-I didn't write that!" I abruptly scooted my chair back, moving to stand up. Before I could, a cold hand grabbed my thigh, applying a noticeable amount of pressure.

  The man beside me scowled at me, but his lips betrayed with a cold smile as he glanced at the game-master.

  "He's tryna' run, y'see this?"

  With a sudden pull, the man grabbed my arm and laid it on the table. His hand clamped down on my wrist with enough pressure to cause immense pain. I cried out, wriggling and squirming in an attempt to let myself go.

  Kael watched from beside me, not making any movements.

  I watched in horror as the game-master reached into their pocket, taking out a pipe and a lighter. "Wanna know why this game is called Hadesdeck?"

  Those words were like ice on my skin, making me freeze. I writhed and struggled more, pulling and pulling, but the man's grip was unrelenting.

  The game-master lit the pipe and held it down against my wrist, pressing deeper and deeper into my flesh.

  "Losers and cheaters get a little taste of hell!"

  I immediately turned to Kael, tears pricking the corners of my eyes as I looked into his starkly indifferent expression. His gaze was more cold and calculated, his hands neatly clasped over his chest. He didn't seem to care that I was suffering. Suddenly, a tidal wave of anger rushed over me. With an abrupt, almost inhuman yell, I threw my head back, crashing into the nose of the man who held my wrist.

  With him disorientated, I grabbed the pipe that remained scalding on my wrist and tossed it aside, planting a fierce punch to the game-master's face. The entire agency building habitually ducked under their tables, covering their heads.

  Everyone else at the table remained frozen. All eyes in the room were locked on me.

  Kael, who had remained silent the entire time, repeatedly clapped his hands together in slow applause.