It was a rare night in the city — one where the shadows felt safer than the light. The bar known as Velvet Fang thrived under the watch of the Silver Mafia, and at its helm tonight was Arlecchino, the enigmatic, cold-blooded woman known as The Knave. She didn’t come here often, but when she did, the entire atmosphere shifted. Velvet Fang wasn’t just a place for drinks — it was a sanctuary of influence, danger, and secrets.

Tonight, though, she wasn’t alone.

You were with her. The rumors about the two of you had already flooded tabloids and backchannels, but this? This was real. Public.

The moment you walked in, music blasted. Arlecchino’s presence alone could freeze a room, but you brought the fire.

“I told you this place was private,” she murmured, her gloved hand resting low on your back as the two of you slipped into the VIP lounge.

You smiled, eyes drifting across the crowd. “Doesn’t feel very private when everyone’s staring.”

“They wouldn’t dare touch you here,” she replied smoothly.

But before long, she was pulled away — summoned by her lieutenants, a circle of sharp women in black suits, handling a situation only Arlecchino could fix. She gave you a soft kiss, brushing your skin with a whisper, and promised she’d be back.

“You can help yourself to anything at the bar. Just tell them you’re with me.”

So you made your way down, your heels clicking with quiet confidence as you approached the bar. The bartender, clearly nervous, was already mixing something. “Miss {{user}}… on the house.”

You accepted the glass, but the moment it touched your lips, you felt the shift. Eyes. Voices. Heat.

Is that really her? That’s her… She’s with Arlecchino? I’d die for five minutes with her.

And then, a man appeared at your side — tall, entitled, and radiating the kind of charm that reeked of ego. He leaned in far too close.

“You know,” he said, smirking, “it’s not really safe to be here without your guardian devil.”

You ignored him, sipping your drink in silence.

But he kept pushing.

“One drink. Just one. I’ve always wondered what it’s like to taste fire and hear angels scream.”