Bella Nightgaze

[CashCow]

@Ranger Of The North- ¯ \_(ツ)_/¯

A bit long, sorry! Also I'm sorry for my inactivity, I lacked inspiration.

He didn’t let her ask much more questions after that. He merely just dragged her along, only talking to her to sooth her fears.
“Don’t worry.”
“‘Don’t worry’? Do you realize how unbelievable you sound right now?”
“We’re really close to Annecsen. Do you see the tall skyscraper in the middle?”

“Yes… there we can report the train crash, and… that monster.”

“Right,” said Isaac with a smile. He held his hand out, allowing her to curl her’s into it. Feeling warm after a long day, they stepped into the town.
“Where are we going?” Bella pondered, observing all the buildings around her.
“The club.”

“Why there?”

“That’s where everybody is.”
The club was a small, black-brick building with a large neon said that simply read ‘club’. He ushered her inside, with Bella instantly taken aback by the sudden atmosphere.
The dark lighting was set aside by the bright fluorescent neon lights of purple, green, white, and blue hanging from the ceiling. All around her were people in very revealing clothing, moving their bodies intensely to the heavy music.
Bella narrowed her eyes, wishing to leave as soon as possible.
“What? Not your scene?” Isaac laughed.
“Definitely not.” Bella replied, removing her hand from his and setting them both on her hips.
“Right. Well, we should talk to Umber. He’s the barkeeper here,” he replied. “Follow me.”
He started off towards the crowd, earning Bella significant discomfort. 
She uneasily followed, placing her footsteps in tune with his. As they entered the sweaty mass of people, she became aware of a hideous stench, that of human sweat and illegal drugs. She could see everyone who was dancing was covered in the moisture that their skin excreted. She wanted to be rid of this place, immediately.
Soon she realized how out of place she looked, surrounded by woman in tube tops and men wearing close to nothing at all. She was undoubtedly the most formal looking in an elegant white dress (now dirtied and tattered from long days walking in the woods) which earned significant looks from the people dancing. On her way to the bar, she got bumped into several times, wincing as the sweat landed on her clothes.
Finally they were through, and Bella felt an immense wave of relief. Isaac turned back to check on her, his pale olive skin looking darker in the heat of the club. “Sorry about that,” he whispered to her, seeming quite humorous. Bella wondered how he could be so upbeat, having experienced that horrible monster in the woods. Even though the club was as hot and musky as possible, she still got cold shivers recalling the memory.
They approached the barkeeper, a large and sturdy dark skinned man with a heavy afro and beady green eyes. They grew wider as the two approached, his mouth curling into a smile. Bella realized this must be Umber.
“Isaac, you son of a…! I haven’t seen you in forever!” He spoke in a mousy tone. Something about his voice was off; it was almost cartoonish, and undeniably fake sounding.
“I have some matters to discuss with Ephraim.” Isaac responded, suddenly cold and intimidating.
“That’s gonna be hard. That joker ain’t here no more.”
“Where is he?” Isaac demanded.
“I ain’t gon’ tell you, son! The last time you saw each other, it didn’t go down to well, ya’ know? You almost got your wings torn off!” Umber laughed, pulling a shot glass close to him and using a small white towel to clean it out.
Isaac winced. “This is serious. One of his monsters is loose.” he responded.
Suddenly Umber’s face twisted into stone. “You can’t be tellin’ the truth. Those buggers ain’t never been let out, ever. Don’t pull my leg like that, sucker. I ain’t down to play games.”
“You think I’m lying? Tell me, Umber, do I look like the type to be joking right now?” Isaac veered forward, only inches away from the barkeeper’s icy face.
Umber took a few steps back, throwing the towel down. “Fine. I’ll tell you. But these words ain’t something to be heard by other people. They especially not for that little side chick you got right there.” Umber motioned to Bella rudely.
“Right. We’ll talk in the back.” Isaac turned to meet Bella’s gaze. “Wait for me here, OK?” he said, the frostiness that lingered on his face now gone.
“What is this all about? You know where the monster came from?” she pondered.
“I will, soon. Just trust me okay? And stay here.” With a final sympathetic look, he disappeared into the back of the club, taking Umber the barkeeper with him.
It was only seconds after Isaac was gone that Bella felt a warm hand wrap around her shoulders and pull her to their side; with a gasp, she turned to meet the gaze of a strikingly attractive latino woman with glittering gold eyes and dark black hair, streaks of vibrant purple twirled into it.
“Lousy barkeeper,” she spoke with a smooth, slick voice accompanied by hot breath reeking of liquor. “Always disappearing like that, just when I need my beer.”
“I’m sorry, but… may you please remove your arm from my shoulder blades?” Bella asked, trying to remain civil.
“Let me tell you something, girlie, mkay? Kay? You better run from that boy.”

“I’m sorry?”
“Run from him. He’s no good, no good… I ain’t supposed to interfere with his jobs, but ya know, you seem cool, okay? So stay away from him. He’ll stab you in the back, okay? Okay?”
“Will you please back off?” Bella responded, forcibly removing the woman’s arm.
“Fine, fine, but you just remember, Zemira knows everything about that there Isaac. You know, we used to date…” she gave a chuckle and backed away into the crowd once more, raising her arms up above the mass of humans and giving a loud whoop.
Bella shivered. It doesn’t matter, likewise. Once the whole monster-train situation was dealt with, she’d go back to her parent’s homes, and live happily and beast-free.
She looked up as Isaac raced towards her, emerging from the back of the club. He approached her quickly, looking rushed and panicked.
“Who was that?” he demanded, staring into the crowd.

“Just a girl… she said her name was Zemira?” Bella questioned.
Isaac cringed. “What did she tell you?”

“Nothing important. Why?”

“Don’t listen to her. She’s a useless drunk.” Isaac spat.
Bella, taken back by his ferocity at this, gave a nod. “Okay.” she said gently.
Isaac softened. “Let’s get out of here, alright? I know where to go next.”

[Ranger of the North]

Oh oh
that was tense 0.0