Chapter 2

“IDs,” the bouncer at the door ordered gruffly as he looked them over. Taking their IDs, he verified their ages while his senses verified their Mythic statuses. “First time?” he asked them.

At their nods he stated, “Talk to the bouncers if you've any trouble. Ajax Rollin, a Lycan, is working the bar tonight and he can answer any questions that you have. Also, yes, High Queen Theanna is here tonight.” He shook his head as Sophia giggled in excitement. He couldn’t wait to tell Thea she had a fan club! “I'm Sam, by the way, your first Daemoni.”

Lina blinked in surprise. She knew there were Daemoni working as bouncers but she didn't expect one to be working the front door instead of a human. Looking up at Sam, it took her by surprise to see that he wasn't as high up on the Daemoni hierarchy as she would've expected. Sam was very handsome, with a shaved bald head that was tattooed and his towering height.

Avalina could see that he was menacing when he needed to be but his ready smile gave him a relaxed look. She also couldn't help but notice that his muscles seemed to have muscles but what gave away his hierarchy ranking was the fact that he still maintained his solid black eyes. Only those Daemoni of the higher ranks were able to fully mask their Daemoni looks.

Mythos was obviously everything she'd heard about it and more. “A Lycan works at the bar?” she found herself asking, a ray of hope starting to bloom.

“Indeed and I call him friend. Things are different where you're from I'm guessing,” Sam chuckled.

“You could say that,” Sophia piped up with a roll of her eyes.

“What realm are you from?” Lina asked.

“Ikisat. That was my Prince that you just saw entering,” Sam smiled at them. He found the newest Mythic visitors were secretive but harmless and most definitely cute. “Well, let me be the first to say welcome to Los Angeles and of course welcome to Mythos!” Sam smiled as he opened the door for them.

“Thank you!” Sophia answered as they entered Mythos with wide-eyed smiles. Giving their eyes a brief moment to adjust in the darkened club, they looked around trying to find where the bar was. While music could be heard, it wasn't overpowering and Sophia realized that she and Lina could actually talk without screaming.

The scents and smells that assaulted her, though, were almost overpowering. There were so many types of Mythics that combined with regular nightclub smells it was almost impossible to separate them all. Covering her nose to block some of the scents she looked around until she found the bar.

“There's the bar,” Lina pointed out almost at the same time as Sophia found it. As they headed that way, she added, “If Ajax is a Lycan, maybe he can help us.”

“Yeah, that's what I was thinking as well. Besides, it couldn't hurt to get a drink. Phew. Lina, how are you handling all the Mythic scents? It's almost making me dizzy.”

“Don't think about it. I bet we can get a slice of lemon or lime to help,” Lina said as she led her sister. As they got closer to the bar they saw a tall, muscular man with long reddish-brown hair pulled back into a ponytail.

“I bet that's him” Sophia said to Lina after which she called out, “Ajax!”

The man looked around trying to figure out who called for him, when his eyes stopped on Avalina. With a charming smile, he greeted, “Hello ladies, how can I help you this evening?

“My name is Sophia and this is my sister, Avalina. We've heard that you're a fellow Lycan. Think you can help a girl out with the scents?”

Ajax chuckled as he produced a small bowl of lime slices. “I take it y'all are new here. We don't often get many Lycans here for that main reason. Well, that and because of the Daemoni. Tensions can still run a bit high in that arena but Filtairn Marrok, our clan leader and High Queen Theanna have been dealing with that.”

As Sophia took a slice of lime and happily inhaled the sour scent, Lina asked, “Since Filtairn is your clan leader, do you know how we can get in contact with him? It's rather urgent that we see him right away.”

“I do. Why would you want to see him?” Ajax asked as he looked at them suspiciously.

“We need his help. Our business is with him,” Lina replied shortly, looking at him dead in his gorgeous golden eyes.

“Ok, I see. Well, you're in luck. One of his lieutenants is supposed to be showing up in the next hour or so.”

“Great!” Lina sighed in relief. “In the meantime, I'll take a Jack and Coke over the rocks. She'll have a Coke.”

“Aww Lina, that's not cool. Come on,” Sophia pouted.

“We can't take the chance, you know that,” Lina pointedly warned with a dangerous look into her eyes.

“Fine. Coke for me.” Sophia rolled her eyes as she turned to look at the crowd.

Suddenly, they heard a pretty female voice call out, “Oh Ajax!” Turning to look to see who it was, they saw a human female with red hair. The purple stripe was a unique touch that Sophia really liked. It looked quite stunning on her.

“Kira, my love! What can I get you? Another round?” Ajax answered her with a big smile on his face as he moved closer to her.

“Yes, please! Can you also order us some appetizers and send it to our area? We’ll be dancing but the guards are there,” Kira requested with a smile.

“Absolutely! Anything in particular you want?”

“Nah. You know what we like. I'm just trying to prevent the great curse of the Hangry Queen from appearing again,” Kira laughed.

“Yes, let's not let that one show its ugly face again,” Ajax laughed with a fake shiver. “Hey, is the rest of the gang joining y’all?”

“Probably, but you know how it is. Always something happening these days. I'm gonna head back to the dance floor now. Thanks for taking care of us, handsome!” Kira smiled as she blew him a kiss.

Watching Kira as she headed to the dance floor, Sophia noticed a breathtakingly beautiful woman dancing. Her pink hair was done up in a loose bun with loose wispy curls. She wore a fantastic outfit that showed off her curves and as she danced the fringe moved to expose her bare waist with her flat muscled stomach, a beautiful tattoo, and ruby studded belly button piercing that glinted in the dance floor lights. Her high stiletto black sandals and black diamond jewelry finished up her killer look.

“Ajax... who’s that tiny lady with the pink hair?” Sophia couldn’t help but ask as she watched her. She also watched as more than one guy, wanting to dance with her, tried to approach but were stopped by the largest bouncers she'd ever seen, each being at least seven feet tall with tattoos and solid black eyes similar to Sam. She was obviously someone very important.

“Theanna Prince, High Queen of the Dark Realms,” Ajax smiled, knowing what hearing the name could do. “Those are members of her Royal Guard keeping guys from dancing with her.”

“That’s High Queen Theanna?” Sophia gasped. “She's so tiny!”

“She is indeed but oh so deadly when she needs to be. If you want, I can introduce you to her after a bit. She’s a good friend!”

“Yay!” Sophia clapped excitedly. “She's so gorgeous!”

“So Sam... I'm surprised that they don't have a higher ranked Daemoni manning the door,” Avalina commented to him as she looked at him appreciatively. Ajax was one fine looking Lycan.

“Don't let the eyes fool you. He does that for the sheer effect it has. He's actually a High Commander Guardian Daemoni of Ikisat. Liam, the owner of Mythos, trusts him implicitly with the front door.”

“Speaking of Mythos, it DID NOT look this big on the outside. What gives?” Sophia asked as she took note of the very large, multi-level club.

Ajax chuckled. “Dimensional pocket. Lilith, Liam's wife, found it. The entrance is a doorway into a place in between realms, a dimensional pocket. It's how unprotected humans forget what they've seen inside Mythos.”

“Oh now that’s totally cool! I've heard of them existing but haven't ever been in one. No wonder this place is one of a kind,” Lina smiled in response. “So, have you always lived in Los Angeles?”

“Well, our clan compound is about an hour away from here. I grew up there with my brother, Janik. Didn't really come into Los Angeles until my adult years. After a few rebellious years, Liam snatched me up and put me to work here. Where are you ladies from?”

“Northern Canada. This is a bit of a change for us although we do like the weather a lot better,” Lina smiled. “It seems like the rumors of Mythos are true. This is quite an interesting place.”

“Makes for some busy nights that’s for sure,” Ajax chuckled.

“By the way, I just have to ask, who’s that super hot guy on the cell phone sitting in that guarded section?” Sophia asked as her eyes remained locked on her latest target.

Ajax chuckled. “Don’t even think about it, cub. That's the Daemoni Prince of Ikisat, Damian. He’s so far out of your league he’s out of my league. Besides, he’s definitely not available!”

“Well, I don’t see anyone with him now or when he walked in. You snooze, you lose, I say!” Sophia huffed as she pointedly stood up.

“Sophia... don't,” Lina pleaded. She knew this was a really bad idea, but she feared that her sister once again wasn't going to listen.

“Don’t do it, cub. You’re just going to embarrass yourself,” Ajax stated as he shook his head.

Sophia harrumphed as she headed towards the VIP section.

“Your sister doesn't like to listen, does she?” he asked Lina.

“Unfortunately, no,” she answered with a deep sigh. “I'm sorry. This isn't going to go well, is it?”

“Probably not but it'll be entertaining to watch,” he added as he produced her drink.

“Thanks, I think I'm going to need that!” Lina lamented as she brought the glass up to her lips to take a long drink of the sweet, yet burning liquid. As she did, she watched l Ajax. He was gorgeous and made her wolf purr with joy. His scent was clean yet smelled of woods and grass. He obviously enjoyed letting his wolf run free, something she also enjoyed. Once this weirdness with Sophia was settled maybe she'd hit him up for a run or two.

Turning her attention back to her sister she muttered, “Let the train wreck commence.”

As Sophia approached the VIP area and tried to enter, two enormous guards wearing black t-shirts and jeans along with deep scowls stopped her. Looking around them, she smiled her most seductive smile and called out, “Oh Mr. Daemoni Prince...”

The man looked up and seeing her said to the person he was talking to on his cell phone, “Let me call you back, Darius. Ok, tomorrow then. Night.” Nodding to the guards, they stepped back to let her in. “Yes?” he asked with a raised eyebrow as he looked her up and down appraising her thoroughly.

“I find it incredibly sad that you’re all alone, come dance with me,” she flirted as she tried to subtly strike her most seductive pose. She watched with excitement as a smile formed on his handsome face at her when suddenly she felt a hand with claw-like black nails and blackened fingertips caress her shoulder as it moved forward around her neck. Feeling a mixture of fear and nervousness, she watched as the smile on the Prince’s face turned dark as she felt a presence behind her breathe softly near her ear.