Chapter 7 Club Orpheus
Chapter seven
Club Orpheus
Magnur
Idrove us deeper into the city as the sun began to set, the streets transitioning from the clean commercial district to the grittier but increasingly trendy arts district. I had been to the Orpheus Club countless times, but always alone and strictly for business.
"So who exactly is this client?" Jade asked, her fingers toyed with the hem of her dress where it rested against her thigh, drawing my eye repeatedly from the road.
"Leon Orloff," I replied, navigating around a delivery truck double-parked outside a gallery. "He's a vampire, old world. Came to this country during the first wave of supernatural immigration in the late 1800s. Opened the Orpheus Club about thirty years ago, when integration laws first passed."
"A vampire sex club owner," she mused, sounding intrigued. "And you design for him specifically?"
"For his performers," I clarified. "Leon has exacting standards for how his staff presents themselves. Everything must be perfect, durable, and unique."
I pulled into a small parking area behind one particular warehouse, unlike its neighbors, this building had a certain presence, an energy that vibrated just at the edge of perception.
Protective wards, subtle but powerful, designed to discourage those who didn't belong while welcoming those who did.
"We're here," I announced, killing the engine. "Follow my lead, stay close. The clientele is varied but strictly vetted. You'll be perfectly safe, but you may see things that surprise you."
I retrieved the garment bags from the trunk, slinging them carefully over one shoulder before offering Jade my other arm.
We approached the loading dock entrance, unmarked except for a small brass plaque inscribed with a simple lyre symbol, Orpheus's instrument.
Standing beside it was a figure that could easily be mistaken for a particularly ambitious piece of industrial sculpture: nearly seven feet tall, with skin like polished granite and eyes that glowed faintly in the dim light.
A stone golem, one of Leon's most trusted security measures.
"Magnur," the golem acknowledged, its voice like gravel shifting. "Been a while."
"Atlas." I nodded in greeting. "Delivery for Leon, plus one guest." I handed over a black card embossed with the same lyre symbol.
The golem's eyes flicked to Jade, scanning her for danger.
"She's clear," Atlas announced after a moment, returning my card and stepping aside. "Enjoy your evening."
I guided Jade through the entrance foyer into the main space, watching her reaction from the corner of my eye.
Her lips parted slightly, eyes widening as she took in the club's layout.
The warehouse's original open plan had been maintained, with the central area sunken slightly to create a natural performance space.
Around this central pit, plush seating areas in various configurations provided options for every preference, some open and exhibitionistic, others partially concealed by gauzy curtains or partitions.
The upper level wrapped around the main floor like a horseshoe, accessible by two curved staircases.
Up there, private rooms and more intimate alcoves allowed for activities requiring additional privacy or specialized equipment.
From our vantage point near the entrance, we could see most of the club's occupants, a diverse mixture of humans and non-humans in various states of dress and undress.
A pair of fauns with gilded horns reclined on a velvet chaise, their hooves draped over the edge as they fed each other jewel-like fruits.
Near them, a human woman in an intricate rope harness was being suspended by a multi-armed demon.
In a nearby alcove, a vampire fed delicately from a willing human's wrist while a small audience watched with varying degrees of arousal.
"Magnur, my dear friend!" A smooth cut through the ambient noise as a figure detached itself from a nearby conversation group. "Right on time, as always."
Leon Orloff appeared to be in his late forties, though I knew him to be at least four centuries old.
His hair was black with distinguished silver streaks at the temples, his eyes a startling pale blue that almost glowed against his olive skin.
He wore a perfectly tailored black suit with no tie, the top buttons of his shirt undone to reveal an antique pendant that doubled as his daylight amulet.
"Leon." I inclined my head in greeting.
His eyes shifted to Jade, a smile spreading across his face that revealed just the tips of his fangs.
"And who is this vision?" he asked, though his knowing look suggested he already had some idea.
"This is Jade," I said simply, my hand moving to the small of her back in a gesture that clearly communicated our connection. "Jade, this is Leon, owner of the Orpheus Club."
Leon took her offered hand, bending over it with old-world charm. "Enchanted, truly," he murmured, brushing his lips across her knuckles without quite touching them. "Magnur has been designing for me for years, yet this is the first time he's brought anyone. You must be quite special indeed."
"Or just nosy," Jade replied with a smile that held just the right blend of confidence and warmth. "I wanted to see what kind of club required custom lingerie."
Leon laughed. "Magnificent! I love a curious mind," he said to me with a wink.
I handed over the garment bags, which Leon passed to a silent attendant who had materialized beside him. "Everything is as we discussed," I told him.
Leon unzipped one bag just enough to inspect the top item, his fingers traced the stitching with the appreciation of someone who understood quality craftsmanship.
"Perfect, as always," he declared, clearly satisfied. He gestured to the attendant, who disappeared with the garments. "Your payment has already been transferred, with the usual bonus for prompt delivery."
"Thank you."
Leon's pale eyes shifted between us. "Well now," he said, clapping his hands together once. "You're here, the night is young, and I owe you more than a check. Have some fun."
"We should be going," I started to say, still mindful of Jade's safety.
"Nonsense," Leon interrupted smoothly. "I insist. In fact, I have something special to offer.
" He leaned closer, though he knew perfectly well I could hear him at any distance.
"The Azure Room is available, my private viewing suite.
Complete privacy for you, while still able to observe everything.
The perfect introduction for your lovely companion. "
I hesitated, glancing at Jade, I wasn't sure if immersing her in this environment was wise.
The last thing I wanted was to overwhelm her or push her into something she wasn't ready for.
But when I looked at her, I saw no fear, no hesitation.
Her eyes were bright with curiosity and interest, her lips slightly parted, the scent of her arousal subtly intensifying.
"Would you like to stay?" I asked. "Are you comfortable here?"
"Yes," she confirmed, her fingers squeezing my arm gently.
I turned back to Leon, who had been watching our exchange with the patient interest of someone who had all the time in the world. "We accept your generous offer."
Leon's smile widened, revealing his fangs more fully this time. "Excellent. Follow me."
He led us through the club with the confident ease of someone who knew every inch of his domain.
I kept Jade close to my side, my hand still at the small of her back, feeling the heat of her skin through the silk dress.
The crowd parted for us—a natural response to Leon's presence and perhaps mine as well.
I noticed the appreciative glances directed at Jade, the way eyes lingered on the curve of her hip draped in burgundy silk, the bare expanse of her back.
Instead of the jealous rage I might have expected, I felt only that strange pride again.
Let them look. Let them want. She was leaving with me.
"The Azure Room is my personal favorite," Leon explained as we climbed one of the curved staircases to the upper level. "Positioned to overlook the most interesting areas of the club, but with complete privacy for its occupants."
We reached a door that appeared to be made of solid sapphire—a stunning panel of deep blue that seemed to capture and amplify the ambient light.
Of course, I knew it wasn't actually gemstone but a specialized material Leon had commissioned from a fae artisan, designed to appear opaque from the outside while providing perfect visibility from within.
Leon pressed his palm to its surface, and the door swung inward silently. "One-way visibility," he explained to Jade. "You'll be able to see everything happening in the club, but no one can see you unless you choose to be seen."
The room beyond was intimate but not small—perhaps twenty feet square, with a sunken seating area centered before the "wall" that overlooked the main floor.
Plush velvet furnishings in deep blue surrounded a low table stocked with crystal decanters and glasses.
The lighting was subtle, controlled by a panel near the door, allowing occupants to adjust from complete darkness to a warm glow.
"Refreshments are in the cabinet," Leon continued, gesturing to a discreet panel in the wall.
"The room is soundproofed for your privacy, but there are speakers to pipe in the music if you desire.
You control everything—what you see, what you hear, whether anyone knows you're here.
" He smiled, showing just a hint of fang.
"That's the essence of Orpheus—complete control over your own experience, never anyone else's. "
I watched Jade absorb this information, noting how she moved immediately to the viewing wall, placing her palm against its cool surface. From our vantage point, we could see the entire main floor—all the performances, interactions, and intimate moments unfolding below.