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A huge banner hung froht with honour, fight with discipline, fight with vengeance

Goosebu a promise of more than just violence--a whole neorld I didn’t know existed Despiteadeeper, darker, less tame inside me We may be refined and socially acceptable on the outside, but at heart ere still aniht my own battles, but noondered what it would’ve been like to have soht beside me

"I think I died and went to man heaven," Clue whispered, her almond eyes the widest I’d ever seen Her cheeks flushed with colour as a listening with sweat and crier pleasure--even those black and bruised joked and watched co on icy bottles of water

The atmosphere in the room wasn’t feral or violent like I expected It had an old-world class about it An exclusivity A richness An unwritten code that said they’d try to win, but would never kill I found the restraint reassuring but weirdly annoying at the sahters I had no idea how Clue would find the ed tracks frohters, but it added yet another eleal club

Ar her from my side I blinked as a tall athered her close His ar around her with propriety but also tenderness "You remembered the address and password I’ Clue into a flurry of lusty giggles

My heart fluttered for her I loved seeing her smile I didn’t think I’d seen her so infatuated before Ever since I took her hoether, I’d been afraid she wouldn’t ever trust a et close Hence why she called herself Clue She wanted to be a mystery that no man could solve

My eyes flickered between the two;the spark, the need between them If lust could be seen they’d be wrapped up in a cloud of erotic colour

Where Clue was an Asian beauty, this man was an African Adonis If they ever made it to procreation, their children would be spectacular

The thought of children sent ht-year-old face filledhair, so similar toour ti like her father which I thanked the universe for every day She was er

The rabbed me After weeks of barely any sleep, constant stress, and a body huer and tears, I suffered a rabbed rip His touch ar--brotherly compared to the obvious spark between hiled herself froht I’d turned a corner walking in here I wanted to fight Not

Standing tall, I smiled and waved a hand "I’m such a floozy I shouldn’t have skipped lunch today, that’s all" I couldn’t ruin Clue’s fun I had no right Not after everything "Thanks, though"

Taking a step back from them, I forced animation into my voice "So, you’re Corkscrew? Clue has toldabout you

He lookedsure I could stand unassisted before he laughed "That’s ht, I’m Corkscrew" His black eyes twinkled as he leaned closer "My real name is Ben Clue’s toldkindness of his deep voice and the norrinned "I like that Two identities"

Just like me

Up until recently, I’d had two personas I’d spun tales and weaved stories as effortlessly as if it were the truth I wrote ical pen called lies

And it worked

I survived

Clue asked, "What’s this club called? I couldn’t see any na" Her eyes danced around the dark space, drinking in the blows and parries of half-naked men

My interest spiked and my damn heart flurried I didn’t like to ady of this place called to sohter--to becoave me equal measures of unhappiness and hope

I hated the wealth dripping from every statue, but at the same time, I never wanted to leave I wanted to steal all the positive energy and strength that existed and bottle it-- create an elixir to cure Clara

Ben s like polished jet "This is the best place on earth" Spanning his ar in the club as if it was his own, he said, "Welcome to Obsidian"

Chapter 2

I never asked for the hand life dealt host or a buried soul froe that choice was an illusion and freedoer cared about that bullshit

My past was s were eance

I surveyed hts, and the men and women seated in their plush spectator seats If I allowed e in a little pride I created this Fro