Chapter 1

Right, Left. Right, Left.

My eyes followed the Pendulum that was standing on my office desk to my right.

Usually this was calming me down, helping me relax and ware my logical state of mind.

But not today.

My head was repeating one question over and over again.

‘What is he for me?’

“A guy I met in a restaurant.” I muttered to myself, giving the answer to my question. However, I was still not able to convince myself completely.

Sighing deeply, I tiredly closed my eyes.

Yesterday hadn’t been the first night I’ve visited The Black Cat, a bar in the capital of Seoul.

It was not far from my office. They served delicious food and at night the restaurant turned into some sort of club.

At least for mortals.

For creatures it was more than that. It was a meeting place for all kinds. It was a neutral zone.

I’ve ended up there for the first time because of work matters. Maybe it had been the food, or the fact that the atmosphere there was very pleasant, but I decided to visit more frequently the moment I left.

The logical part of my mind told me that it was mainly because of the handsome bar man that I craved to come back, but my mind and heart wouldn’t have any of that.

But even thought both of them denying it, I was back a few hours later. I told myself that I was just coming back in order to get something to drink after a day full of work, but I knew that there was something else pulling me there.

I’ve never felt my body and soul reacting towards another being like it had reacted upon seeing that man.

Casually looking around the spacious room the second I entered, I spotted a free stool at the bar.

Raising a brow as I noticed a vampire casually drinking her Bloody Mary, talking with another woman who was definitely a werewolf, I once again thought that this place was rather strange. In a good way, of course.

Nodding towards them as greeting, receiving a look that could be interpreted wrongly, I turned around and towards the bar. I was not interested and didn’t want them to get the wrong idea.

Trying not to look too pleased as the bar man from earlier was walking towards me, I tried to think of a drink he could bring me.

Not drinking much alcohol was a disadvantage in this moment, I realised.

“Good Afternoon.” The man greeted. Not only had his movements been incredible smooth, his voice as well was very pleasing. Deep, but with a certain sweetness sounding every word he mouthed. “What can I bring you, sir?” He asked, drying his hands with a towel in the process.

‘Seems as if he had been washing glasses…’ I thought to myself, starring at his big hands.

Just then I remembered that I was sill stuck for an answer.

Looking up I couldn’t prevent my brows from rising.

The man was standing there, smiling at me, making me wonder what the hell he was. There was no way this man was mortal. However, he seemed to be a creature that you weren’t able to identify at the first glance. Not like the vampire and werewolf on my left side.

“Anything you can recommend?” I asked.

He was smiling broadly and told me that he would get me something.

Deep in my thoughts, asking myself what creature he could possibly be, I was watching him how easily he handled the bottles.

“I hope you’ll like it.” He suddenly said, placing a red drink in front of me. “I’m Chansung by the way.” He introduced himself and I did as well.

“Huh? So you are Kim Minjun. Nice to meet you.” He said, looking at me as if another head was growing me.

“Is it indeed nice? You seem rather surprised.” I said, smirking as he seemed to be embarrassed at me realising that he had been indeed quite shocked at hearing my name.

“I-It is, don’t get me wrong. It just doesn’t happen that often that people like you visit my bar.” He explained, combing through the back of his black hair.

Now it was me who gave him a surprised look.

“This is your bar?” I asked, shock obviously swinging in my voice as he chuckled at me.

“Yeah, it is.” He said, looking around with a proud gaze. “It’s been inherited by my uncle and ever since he died a few years back, I call it mine.” He explained looking a little sad at the mention of his uncle.

“I see. Well, you are doing a great job with this…bar?” I asked, not sure how to call this kind of place. It was a mixture of everything.

He simply smiled and thanked me.

Just when I was about to ask why the bar was called The Black Cat, did a waiter call out for him.

Bowing towards me, muttering an apology while looking a little annoyed by the sudden request for his help, the man smoothly vanished.

I couldn’t help but sigh as a wave of disappointment washed over me.

What the hell was wrong with me? Why would I feel a thing like disappointment just because he left in order to help his staff?

“It’s rare to see someone like you in a place like this.” A familiar voice suddenly sounded behind me. A frown started to build up. I knew I had no other chance than to face this particular person.

“Taecyeon, I could say the same about you.” I muttered once I faced the tall man behind me.

“What? Are you kidding, I love this place here.” He chuckled as he saw my unbelieving gaze. “Well, I’m not working ALL the time.” He told me while he leaned next to me against the bar.

“What about now?” I asked, smiling as he slightly pouted.

“Right now I’m working…” He hummed, looking around.

“Is that so?” I asked. Suddenly my interest was sparked. I knew Taec from work, and I also knew that his working hours were over, so…what was he doing here telling me that it was work related?

“Mind telling me why you are here? Both of us know that work is over for you tonight.” I told him, sipping my drink while he frowned at me.

He mumbled something, looking around some more, before he looked at me, moving closer.

Lifting my hand, placing it on his forehead, I stopped him before coming even closer.

He swatted it away as if it was an annoying fly before telling me the reason for his visit.

“One of the employees contacted me. You know, the owner of this bar is an old friend of mine and he instructed his staff to call me if something weird would happen. A few minutes ago I got a call and since the station is not far, I immediately came here.” He explained, leaning back in order to nod at me. “By the way, I had no idea that I would meet you here.”

For a second I wondered what the one thing had to do with the other, but then I thought that Taec was weird enough. So there was no reason to wonder about the sense of the last statement or why it surprised him that much.

“So you are a friend of Chansung?” Why this was my first question was beyond me, and Taec seemed to think the same.

However, he simply smirked, not asking why I knew his friend.

“Something is wrong with you, hyung.” Taec suddenly stated and I couldn’t help but sigh at this comment.

“Why?” I asked, even though I knew that I would regret this question.

“The way you smell is weird…” He stated and I laughed out loud.

“If I didn’t know you are a werewolf I would think you are some crazy man.” I stated.

“Not only your smell is different, your whole posture is different as well.” He stated.

Before I was even able to deny it, Chansung came around the corner, stopping in his tracks once he spotted Taec.

“Yo.” He greeted, looking towards me before stepping behind the bar once more.

“Everything settled, Chan?” Taec asked, no greetings coming from him.

“Yeah, I think so.” He mumbled, glancing up at Taec and then at me.

“No need to worry, Chan. You know who he is, right?.” The cop said and patted me on the shoulder.

Slowly but steadily I was getting annoyed. They were talking in riddles, and even though I loved solving them, the way Chansung was looking at me was making me nervous.

“Minjun is a trustworthy man. On top of that he seems to li-“ This dorky giant was talking way to much in my opinion.

Placing my chin into my left hand, mumbling some words while pointing towards Taec with my right hand, he muted up.

Receiving a displeased look from him I couldn’t help but chuckle as his moving mouth.

“You muted him?” Chan asked surprised, looking at a fuming Taec who was silently cursing.

“He sometimes talks too much, in my opinion.” I stated and inwardly thought that there was no need to let the bar owner know that I was behaving differently near him.

I was sure that Taec had heard my heartbeat once Chansung had come back from wherever he had been. And he often revealed things that weren’t meant for the other person to know. Why he was such a good detective was beyond me.

“You seem to have some troubles, Chansung?” I asked, emptying my glass. For a second the young man seemed unsure what to tell me, even though Taec was nodding at him furiously.

But it seemed as if the younger wasn’t sure how much he could tell me. I shouldn’t take it to heart, I told myself. He just met me today.

Sighing deeply I clicked my tongue in order to free Taec from his silent form, breaking the spell.

“Okay then.” I started, reaching inside my blazer and pulling out my calling card. “Here you go.” Handing it to the young owner. “If there is something I can help you with, contact me. Taec may be a detective, but sometimes it’s best to contact a prosecutor.” I announced.

I then paid, said my greetings and went home.

Even though I’ve only met Chansung today, it wasn’t sitting well with me that he did not trust me. My mind told me that this was normal and that it would be weird if he did, but it was still bothering me.

I decided to go for a drink there tomorrow as well. I just had to find out what was happening.

“He made me curious, now he has to deal with my presence till I solved the riddle.”