“Hey chief, that’s the place?” Keen asked

“It should be.”

“Wow, that looks like quite a classy one!” I commented.

  I was with the boss and Keen, on the way to the mysterious bar that Miss Barbara told us about. She said that it was a place where men disappeared but it looks too good to have that reputation. 

From the outside, it looks like an establishment where rich people go out to have some elegant fun with some classical music by the side. Not something broke University students like me would try and go to just to get out later upon seeing prices that are half of our monthly allowance per drink.

“If you’re worried about money, I got you covered,” the boss assured.

“Sweet, free drinks!” I cheered but then I noticed someone was not so happy about the news. “Hey Keen, why do you look so glum?”

“Why won’t I be? I don’t like bitter things.”

 “Oh? Sounds like an excuse that is heavily used by children.”

“What’s so good about it anyway? Alcohol just makes you feel dizzy as fuck.”

“It is good for a social get together. It unleashes the fun side of each person. It gets even better when everyone is getting wasted.”

“Clouding your mind with alcohol will just lead to making mistakes,” he muttered.

“But that is what youth is all about, making mistakes that will destroy half of yourself just to see developments that will make you brand new!” I emoted as I raised my right arm while I put my left hand on my chest.

“Would you just shut up? It’s not like I understand you anyway, you brat.”

“I have been pouring my soul here for a speech of a lifetime and you’re giving me that? You better take some remedial lessons.”

“Boys, that’s enough. We’re here.” The boss told us as he entered the establishment. 

Keen and I stopped talking and followed him.

Wow! It was even classier than how it looked outside. It was filled with bright yellow lights and chandeliers. The chair looked so comfortable and the tables were shiny clean. There was also a stage with a piano on it. 

The bar shelf was filled with a line up of expensive looking liquor. I was thriled to savour some of the ones I can’t afford. We went and sit beside the bar counter. Keen was in the middle while the boss and I were beside him.

“What can I get you sirs?” The bartender greeted with a smile.

“I’ll have a taste of the most luxurious one you got!” I uttered excitedly.

“Hey brat, have some shame.” Keen whispered as he looked at me with his fierce eyes.

“It’s fine, I’ll have a hard one.” The boss uttered.

“Tsk, I’ll take something that is not too strong.”

“Right away.” The bartender then turned his back to prepare.

“Hey, why did not you just order milk instead?” I asked Keen.

“Who orders milk in a damned bar?”

“I thought you do not like alcohol?”

“I don’t but why would I order milk? What do you take me for, huh?”

“A dog, arf arf!” I teased Keen as I imitated a dog pose.

“You! I’m gonna fucking smash your face one day.”

“You always say that but you never did it even once. You are just a dog with all bark and no bite.”

“Fuck! Hey chief, would you tell this brat to shut the hell up?”

The boss was just looking at us while giggling silently. It was actually the first time I saw him break his serious face.

“Hey, Chief?” Keen asked with a confused look.

“Sorry, I was just happy that you guys get along so well.”

“Well a dog is a man’s best friend!”

“Does it fucking look like I get along with this brat?”

“Aw, what a shy puppy you are!” I said while tapping Keen’s back.

“I’m gonna fucking punch you later.” Keen replied while he looked down with his fist clenched.

  “Sorry for the wait, here you go.” The bartender came back with three glasses. 

The one for the boss had a bronze like color and Keen’s was light brown, both in simple glasses. Mine looks like the sea with a sliced lime at the lip of a tall curvy glass.

“Fuck, the difference in appearance is too great, like heaven and hell,” Keen uttered as he saw our drinks.

“Feel free to order one too if you’d like,” the boss suggested.

“No, I’ll pass.”

I was just silent while playing with the glass as the blue liquor swirled around. I knew I’m the one who ordered it but now that it was here, I felt guilty maybe? 

Maybe I should not have abused the boss to have him get me this. But since that was already done, I better try it. I took a sip and it tasted... complicated? It’s not bad at all but I thought that I rather had a cheap hard one or a beer instead.

“Hey brat, what’s with the face?” Keen asked me after I tasted the booze.

“I just thought it might have been better to just have bottles of cheap brandy and take it home for a long time supply.”

“I still have to spend a lot either way, huh.” The boss gave a slight smile then took a sip off his drink.

“Ugh!” Keen gave a sound of someone that took something horrible after he drank his drink bottoms up.

“You really do not enjoy liquor do you? Drinking everything from the get go is a sign of being a newbie!”

“Fuck, I just wanted to get it over with.”

“That’s exactly why you are a newbie! You need to savor every sip as it goes down to your throat until the burn is in your chest.”

“Cray’s got a point. You got to act like you enjoy it or you might stand out.” The boss interrupted. “So, what do you think?”

  “It was terrible.” Keen answered with disgust, he might have thought that the boss was asking about the drink.

“It looks like a pretty nice place. Way too luxurious to be an establishment where crime is committed, or maybe it was set that way so there with be limited suspicions.” I answered while keeping my voice down.

“I see.” The boss answered as he took another sip.

“Hey there!” A beautiful lady, clad with jewels and necklaces in a sexy violet dress approached us. ”New customers?”

“Yes, we just happen to try this bar out.” I replied with a smile.

 Keen and the boss just nodded to the woman as a greeting.

“Oh how delightful! What a bunch of pretty boys!” The woman uttered as she wrapped her arms around my shoulders. I can smell her perfume very well which is too strong for my tastes.

“Not as beautiful as you are, madame. What a nice place you have here”

“Why thank you! You are really adorable, aren’t you. You look so young though, are you sure you are old enough to drink?”

“No worries madame, I drank wine as a substitute for milk as a child.”

“You’re quite the talker too. You must know, right? Young men should not mess with older women, they are more dangerous than they seem.” The lady whispered slowly in my ear.

“Don’t worry madame, I eat dangerous women for breakfast.” I replied with a whisper.

“You’re too funny! In fact, I like you. Maybe I’ll do a special performance tonight as a welcome for this pretty boy.” The lady unwrapped her arms and winked at me before she turned her back.

“We will be looking forward to it” I replied as she walked away.

I was laughing inside with the cringe of my crappy lines. It was my first time that a woman was so close to me that my heart was not able to stop pounding. In order to hide my nervousness, I acted quite boldly.

“Fuck, what the hell was that?” Keen looked at me with a sort of disgusted and confused look.

“Nice job, I didn’t know you’re quite the charmer,” the boss complimented.

“How was flirting with a woman a nice job?” Keen asked again with the same look on his face.

“Even I can’t say lines that bold. How about you Keen?”

“I’d rather fucking die than do that.” 

I guess I really got overboard this time, huh? Maybe I should practice more at home sometimes so I can be prepared if ever things like this happen again.

A voice of a woman singing and a piano filled the place through the speakers. We looked at the stage and we saw the woman I was talking to a while ago. 

She was playing the piano while singing as she put her whole soul into the song. The light at the whole bar got dim and a spotlight lit on her. All the guests had their eyes glued to her magnificent mature appearance.

Everyone was silent as all the focus was on her. She had a beautiful voice which was deep and had texture but still pleasing to the ears. The song was slow but it was not boring. The way she performed as well was sight to behold. Even if one was deaf, one can definitely tell that she was doing an excellent job.

After the song ended, the crowd gave her a round of applause as acknowledgement for her great performance.

“Good evening!” She greeted everyone with a wave of her hand with a lively energy.

“We have adorable new guests with us today! I’d like everyone to welcome them! There they are!” The woman waved her hand at us. 

The spotlight then focused on our location. I just waved my arms back with a smile in response while Keen just covered his head in shame and the boss was just silently laughing at the side. 

That was embarrassing, definitely embarrassing! But I had to get my act together. I gave out a sigh of relief as soon as the spotlight returned to her. 

“As a welcome to our lovely guests, I’ll be performing a special song! Make sure to enjoy!” 

The woman started playing again. This time, it was even slower than the first one but her voice was way higher. It felt like something similar to a lullaby? I did not know exactly why but it kind of made me a bit... sleepy? Or maybe I am just unused to drinking expensive liquor? All I know was that it made me incredibly drowsy.

I did not want to fall asleep in a public establishment so I bit my inner lip to wake myself up which helped but not by much. I looked at the other guests and they were all sleeping soundly. I checked on Keen and the boss, they were also unconscious with their face lying on the bar counter. I tried to wake them up but it was no use.

I felt like I was about to pass out as well. It might have been because of her singing. Damn it! I looked at her again and I saw her appearance changed. White wings grew from her back and her legs became similar to a mermaid’s yet she continued to sing. So the incidents that occurred were definitely the fault of a Possessed!

I tried to stand up but my legs felt so weak that I fell to ground. I bit my lip again but it did not help this time. I was starting to lose consciousness. Is that the only choice I have again?

I placed my hand on the demon’s mark in my chest and used every last bit of my energy to call out the power of the demon. My horns and nails grew which pierced my gloves. I was able to transform in time and my drowsiness was instantly gone. 

They will pay for trying to do a cheap trick like this.

“It’s play time!” I was overcome with joy.