Ch. 30 – No Such Luck

Before the three women let Rhys celebrate his small tactical victory, they practically swept him down the hallway toward the master suite’s sprawling walk-in closet. Rhys expected to be dragged straight back out to the driveway, but as he stepped into the vaulted, wood-paneled space, his jaw dropped. Vespera’s taste was as obsessive as it was vast—half the closet was dedicated to high-end menswear. Row after row of bespoke Italian suits, tailored silk button-downs, velvet blazers, and butter-soft leather boots hung in pristine perfection.

And every single piece, Rhys realized with a creeping chill, was tailored to his exact measurements.

Without giving him a second to protest, Ariadne, Dione, and Rhea descended upon him like a whirlwind. They unbuttoned his plain flannel shirt, stripped away his sensible denim, and tossed his suburban house-husband attire into a corner. Rhys stood trapped in the center of the illuminated dressing mirror as six eager hands smoothed expensive fabric over his shoulders and zipped up dark, form-fitting trousers. They dressed him in a charcoal silk shirt, unbuttoned slightly at the collar, beneath a deep midnight-velvet jacket that accentuated his lean, muscular frame.

The three women stepped back, practically swooning as they admired their work. Ariadne smoothed the velvet over his chest, her dark eyes flashing with hunger, while Dione adjusted his collar, her face flushed with quiet adoration. Rhea let out a soft, low purr, her golden fingers tracing the line of his broad shoulders. Rhys looked at his reflection in the mirror, feeling deeply conflicted. He didn’t think he looked all that different—he was still just Rhys—but to the women, he looked like a dark prince restored to his throne.

Leaving the oceanfront estate behind, Vespera’s driver whisked the four of them downtown in the sleek black sedan. They arrived at The Eclipse, a legendary high-end club nestled in the city’s magical district. As the luxury car pulled up, Rhys looked out the tinted window and saw a velvet-rope line stretching nearly two blocks down the avenue. Wealthy socialites, lower-tier heroes, and flashy spellcasters were all waiting in the cool night air.

Perfect, Rhys thought with a surge of relief. A two-hour wait in line. That buys me all the time in the world.

“Oh, please,” Ariadne scoffed softly from the seat beside him, catching his hopeful expression. A devilish, arrogant grin arched across her dark lips. “As if we’re going to stand in line like commoners. I’ve got this handled.”

She slid out of the vehicle, gesturing for Rhys and the others to follow. With liquid grace, Ariadne led the group straight past the endless queue of groaning patrons, marching right up to the front entrance where a towering, burly bouncer stood guard. The man possessed heavy, stone-like skin—likely an earth-attuned mutant or elemental—and wore a black suit that looked ready to burst at the seams.

When the group approached, the bouncer opened his mouth to bark a warning, but as his eyes took in the sight of the three women, his brain completely short-circuited. Ariadne in her razor-thin leather dress, Rhea glowing like liquid gold in her backless micro-dress, and Dione looking like a hypnotic sea goddess in sheer blue mesh—it was an absolute assault on the senses. The burly man went visibly slack-jawed, his stone eyes widening in sheer, stunned disbelief.

Catching himself, the bouncer cleared his throat loudly, trying to maintain his tough façade. “Hold on, ladies,” he rumbled, crossing his massive arms. “Table reservations only tonight. Otherwise, back of the line.”

Ariadne stepped forward, stepping right into his personal space. Slipping effortlessly into her old villainous charm, her voice dropped into a hypnotic, velvety purr. She rested a manicured hand on the stone bouncer’s forearm, her dark eyes locking onto his with absolute, intoxicating authority. She didn’t use magic; she used raw, practiced seduction, whispering a few smooth, honeyed words about how exclusive guests required exclusive entry.

The bouncer blinked, his stone cheeks flushing a dark gray. “Y-yeah... alright,” he muttered, completely hypnotized. He unhooked the thick velvet rope and stepped aside, gesturing for the ladies to enter free of charge.

Ariadne offered a triumphant smirk and glided past. Dione and Rhea followed close behind.

Rhys took a step to follow them, but before he could cross the threshold, the bouncer abruptly stepped back, extending a massive arm like a stone tollbooth bar, slamming it right across Rhys’s chest.

“Woah, woah, hold up, pal,” the bouncer grunted, his mesmerizing trance instantly shattering as he looked down at Rhys. His tone turned sharp and petty. “Ladies get in free. You? Non-reservation cover fee is five hundred bucks. Cash or card right now, or you take a walk to the back of the line.”

Oh no, Rhys thought, struggling to suppress a massive, victorious grin. What a terrible, tragic shame. I guess I’ll just have to wait outside for two hours while you ladies go party.

Turning to the three women, Rhys feigned a look of absolute, defeated disappointment. “Ah, man... what bad luck,” Rhys said with a placating, innocent smile. “You guys go ahead without me. I’ll just stand out here in the line and catch up whenever I make it in—”

Before the words could even leave his mouth, the atmosphere turned electric. A wave of heavy, golden tension swept through the entryway as Rhea stepped up. The tall Earth Genasi didn’t hesitate for a single microsecond. With a nonchalant, regal elegance, she pulled a sleek, obsidian-black metal card from her clutch and tapped it against the bouncer’s payment terminal without even looking at the screen.

BEEP. Payment Approved.

Rhea offered the stone bouncer a blinding, dismissive smile. “It’s nothing,” she purred softly, before reaching past his massive arm, wrapping her warm, golden fingers around Rhys’s wrist, and pulling him effortlessly through the doors. “You’re coming with us, Rhys.”

Rhys stood in absolute, stunned silence as he was dragged into the club. In all his concern over Vespera and Ariadne, he had completely forgotten that Rhea—living as a quiet, baking neighbor in their suburban cul-de-sac—was an ancient Earth Genasi with generational, earth-shaping wealth. She had endless money to burn, and she was more than happy to spend every last cent to keep Rhys firmly by her side.

As they walked into the main hall of The Eclipse, Rhys was instantly swept away by the sheer, magical spectacle of the venue. The club was built like a massive cathedral of light and sound. Euphoric, sweet-smelling purple smoke drifted lazily through the air, carrying micro-sparks of ambient enchantment that made every beat of the heavy bass resonate in Rhys’s chest. High above the packed dance floor, illusionary dancers made of pure starlight and flame glided through the air, performing impossible acrobatics.

Rhea led the group straight to the sprawling marble bar on the elevated VIP level. As they moved, Rhys could physically feel the weight of dozens of eyes locking onto them. The patrons around the room stopped their conversations to stare—not at Rhys, but at the three breathtaking, impossibly gorgeous women who hovered around him like a territorial pack of hyenas, their hands constantly brushing against his back, his waist, his shoulders.

At the bar, Ariadne took the lead, ordering a round of complex, shimmering cocktails served in crystal chalices—drinks with glowing, swirling liquids and smoking rims that Rhys had never even heard of.

Rhys leaned against the polished bar, his eyes drifting out over the sea of moving bodies on the dance floor below. The flashing lights, the hypnotic rhythm of the music, the vibrant energy of the crowd—it was breathtaking. A strange, unexpected thought crossed his mind: I’m actually really happy I lied to come here. This beats being stuck in that beach house.

Then, a sudden, cold pang of reality hit him like a physical blow. Wait... happy I lied? What the hell am I doing right now? I’m playing right into Vespera’s hands. I’m letting three women corrupt me in a nightclub while my wife is at work!

He didn’t get to solve that moral puzzle. Before he could spiral into his thoughts, Dione stepped in close, grabbing his jacket lapels and pulling his face down into a deep, velvety, lingering kiss. She tasted like sweet ozone and tropical fruit, her soft lips lingering against his until Rhys was completely breathless.

“Thank you for bringing us here, Rhys...” Dione whimpered softly against his mouth, her eyes shining with starry euphoria as she pulled back. “This is... wonderful.”

Right on cue, the bartender set down four heavy crystal chalices filled with glowing, amber liquid. The drinks were far larger, darker, and significantly stronger than Rhys had anticipated.