Violet Eden Chapters 04 - Endless

staring into space.
    ‘What are you thinking?’ Griffin asked. He’d come to respect and appreciate Steph’s geeky tendencies.
    ‘We should talk to Dapper. If anyone would know where to find a reference to this stuff, I have a feeling it would be him,’ Steph said.
    ‘Dapper?’ Dad asked.
    I couldn’t hold back my smile, looking at Dad and Evelyn. Lincoln seemed amused, too. Not only were they about to meet Dapper for the first time, but my parents were also about to be introduced to Onyx.



CHAPTER SIX
    ‘Today there exist in temples book chests which we ourselves have seen, and, when these temples were plundered, these, we are told, were emptied by our own men …’
    Paulus Orosius
    ‘I sn’tthis the restaurant we came to on your birthday?’ Dad asked as we all piled out of the cars and into Hades. Dapper had painted the door again in what was becoming a monthly occurrence. It was now a high-gloss lime green, deco-chic.
    ‘One and the same,’ I answered, suddenly worried about how Dad would react if he discovered that Hades had become a second home to me. ‘Actually, Dad, I … I’m not sure you should come up …’
    ‘Not open for negotiation,’ was all Dad said.
    I glanced nervously at Griffin.
    ‘He deserves to be included,’ Griffin responded.
    ‘Okay, but just stay away from Onyx,’ I pleaded.
    Evelyn shot me a sideways look. ‘Was he the one on the flight back from Santorini? The one you stripped?’
    I nodded, uncomfortable discussing my ability to strip exiles of their powers against their will. All Grigori could remove exile powers, but usually the exile had to surrender to it– which they never did. I looked at Griffin. ‘Gee, Griff, did you leave anything out?’
    He shrugged. ‘It wasn’t like you were getting set to give her the history.’
    ‘Should we be prepared for conflict?’ Evelyn carried on.
    Steph snorted as we walked towards the bar area. ‘Only if he doesn’t like your wardrobe selection.’ She looked at Evelyn’s outfit of dated navy pleated pants and black oversized jumper. ‘Which, no offence, is a possibility.’
    ‘Steph,’ Salvatore chastised. ‘Apologies, Signora Eden.’ He bowed his head and pushed Steph forwards.
    Evelyn looked herself up and down. ‘I haven’t had a chance to catch up with the latest fashions yet, between the lack of consciousness and threats of imprisonment.’
    ‘You look fine,’ Dad said, a blush tinting his cheeks.
    Unfortunately, he was right. Evelyn was tall with striking features highlighted by her intense fire-blue eyes and there was a gravitational force about her that seemed to attract people.
    Onyx was working behind the bar, showing off his impressive physique in a tight black T-shirt and torn slim-fit jeans. Dapper was serving a group of girls to his right. Working in sync, the two of them had the entire bar covered. I was struck by the professional attitude Onyx seemed to have adopted as he expertly flipped a coaster onto the bar with one hand just before landing a glass on it with the other. It was quite a change. Almost as different as his casual attire, which had girls draped over the bar eyeing him up instead of crying and running away at some insult he’d launched in their direction – as had happened in the past. Onyx, however, didn’t seem to care for or return their interest.
    Dappersaw us nearing and scowled as he tossed a bar towel over his shoulder. It made me smile.
    Onyx, in complete contrast, beamed. He quickly motioned for one of the floor staff to relieve him and before we reached the bar he was pouring himself a drink.
    ‘Just when things were becoming predictable,’ he said, winking at me. ‘I should never have doubted you.’
    Dapper moved over grudgingly, taking in all the women drooling over Onyx – I could’ve sworn his eyes blazed before he began jabbing a finger towards Spence.
    ‘Don’t think I don’t know you got into my stock earlier tonight. I catch you pilfering again and not only will you never set foot in this place again but I’ll haul you down to the cop station myself and press charges. You hearing me?’
    Spence grimaced. ‘Hear you.’
    Dapper nodded with a grunt and then addressed the rest of us. ‘Whatever this is, let’s get it over and done with.’ He motioned towards the unmarked door that led to his apartment. ‘Try not to frighten away any of my patrons on your way.’
    ‘He’s not coming with us, is he?’ Evelyn asked Griffin, gesturing to