I Want to Die, But I Am Immortal

Adam stood before the grand entrance of the five-star hotel. The handout he had found in Philips's room had led him here.

He looked up at the towering structure a monument to wealth and luxury. This was the place. He walked inside and approached a man standing near the reception desk.

The man was dressed in a suit.

"I want to go to the auction house," Adam said.

The man's professional smile did not falter but his eyes grew guarded.

He looked Adam over for a moment a silent assessment. "I am sorry sir," the man said.

"You must be mistaken. There is no auction house here. This is a small five-star hotel."

Adam had expected this. An operation of this scale would not advertise itself openly. The invitation from Philips's room was proof that something was happening inside these walls.

He knew these people would not let him enter so easily. They had their protocols their layers of secrecy. He had to prove he belonged.

Adam's expression remained unchanged. He reached into his pocket. The man watched the movement his body tensing slightly. Adam slowly pulled out the single folded document James had stolen from Philips's room.

He unfolded the thick cardstock and held it out for the man to see. It was the invitation letter.

"You people were the ones who called me," Adam stated simply.

The man's eyes fell upon the invitation. His professional composure shattered instantly. He stared at the elegant script and the embossed family crest a symbol he recognized with a jolt of pure shock.

He knew what that crest meant. He knew that these letters were sent only to a handful of selected families. These were families that ruled the underworld from the shadows.

To the outside world they were legitimate business empires but their true power was hidden deep beneath the surface of society. This boy in front of him held an invitation to their private world.

The man's entire demeanor shifted. He snapped into a deep bow his head bent low.

"I am sorry sir," he stammered. "I could not recognize you. Please forgive my ignorance."

A small smile touched Adam's lips a flicker of satisfaction that went unseen. His plan had worked. The key had opened the first lock.

The man straightened up but kept his head slightly bowed. He walked a few steps ahead then turned and bowed again.

He gestured towards a separate corridor away from the main lobby. "Sir the auction is on this side. It is going to start soon."

The man began to walk forward leading the way. Adam followed him.

They turned a corner leaving the public area of the hotel behind. The corridor here was dimly lit and lined with more men.

They were all dressed in black suits their faces were stoic and they stood with a rigid discipline.

Adam saw them and understood immediately.

As Adam and his guide approached one of the men in black stepped forward.

He held a mask in his gloved hands. It was a golden bear.

The first security officer turned back to Adam. He bowed slightly as he spoke. "Sir you should wear this mask. It is to keep your identity secret."

Adam looked at the mask. Anonymity would be an advantage in a place like this. A small smile formed.

This opportunity was becoming even better for him. He took the mask from the man and fitted it over his face.

The officer who had guided him turned back to the other guards. He gave a sharp nod of his head a silent command. The men standing before a large ornate gate moved in perfect unison.

They pulled the heavy doors open revealing nothing but profound darkness on the other side. The security officer turned to Adam one last time. He pointed into the blackness.

"Please sir," he said. "This way."

Adam heard the man's instruction. He stepped forward into the dark.

The darkness was total for a moment. Then it gave way to a vast, dimly lit space.

After walking for a while Adam found himself in a very big hall. A raised platform stood in the center of the room. It was empty.

Round tables were arranged in a wide circle around the platform. Chairs were placed neatly around each table.

Many men were already seated. Every one of them had a mask on his face. Each mask was a different animal.

The room was kept intentionally dark. Adam knew a normal person would not be able to see the masks clearly. They would just be shapes in the shadows. A normal person would not see the other people clearly at all.

But Adam's senses were not normal. They had become very high. Adam could see everyone very easily. He saw a man in a wolf mask lean over to speak to a man in a crow mask. He saw a man with a boar mask tap his fingers impatiently on a table across the room.

Adam was very surprised. He was looking at a secret world hidden in plain sight.

The security guard who had led him in suddenly shouted. His voice echoed in the large hall.

"Sir you are our special guest."

All the heads in the room turned toward Adam. He could feel their masked gazes on him.

The guard continued his announcement. "We treat the person whom we specially invite in this way."

After saying this he pointed toward a single empty chair. The chair was at a table set apart from the others. No one else was sitting there. It was a table for one.

Adam looked at the chair. He then looked at the other tables. At those tables different people sat together in small groups. They talked in low voices their masked faces turned toward each other.

Initially Adam thought that all those people knew each other. He assumed they came as groups from their respective families. But after listening to the guard he understood.