The motto of their country is one of the finest existing: Liberté, égalité, fraternité — Liberty, equality and brotherhood.
It is for the liberty that they are not afraid to march, because those that don't protect their freedom are people destined to live in chains. It is for the equality that they are not afraid to speak, because people who are silent are destined to be forgotten. It is for the brotherhood that they march side by side, because people divided are people destined to be subdued.
~
At Bercy, at the same time, Nathan is attending a concert with two colleagues of Drakkar, whom escorted him as if they were his bodyguards. On the other hand, Drakkar has been clear: he could go to the concert only if he agreed to be accompanied by those two muscular beasts. He couldn't say no, he always wanted to go to a concert of that duo which he loves viscerally. It is a dream for him to be there with tens of thousands of other young people who sing and jump lost in the pleasure of the musical vibrations.
What a night to remember!
~
At that moment in the villa of Amelie there is a masked ball going on. The ballroom is full of people all dressed in eighteenth-century dress, as she requested. A sextet is playing a minuet while almost all the guests dance in sync, smiling and commenting on that lovely evening. Amelie is sitting on a wrought iron throne next to the great windows watching her friends having a good time and enjoying themselves like children.
A man invites her to dance and she willingly accepts, beginning to move with incredible gracefulness for her age.
«What a lovely evening, Amelie, you did it again.» says the man making her twirl.
She chuckles.
«Oh, isn't thanks to me that these evenings awe so unfowgettable, dawling, it's thanks to my fwiends.» She looks out of the window at the Moon in the sky, and then at the big painting of Sibylle on the wall. That beautiful painting of a man dressed in black sitting on a throne with a naked woman at his feet. She smiles. «It is a lovely evening indeed, but I feel that the weal magic will come at dawn.»
~
That night is really a lively night, a strange night. Paris smells of excitement and laughter, smells of Spring and hope. It can be heard in the whispers of lovers who hug on the streets, it can be seen in the eyes of the couples dancing on the banks of the Seine.
At two in the morning, in the Palace, it's beginning the Iris weekly event: an open meeting, a dinner with people from all levels of the Club. It begins this late because the Club started the ‘vampires month’, in which for the following four weeks the events won't start before 2am and it will extend till dawn.
In the large Baroque ballroom there are dozens of people all dressed with extreme elegance. At least half of them are wearing fine masks. There are people sipping champagne; chatting and laughing sitting on velvet sofas; talking in front of the great windows. At the bottom there is a small group of people that sings a love song, accompanying an elderly couple playing the piano divinely. There are people watching Asterix and Obelix engaged in a complicated rope bondage on two naked girls, tied face to face one against the other. The two girls are having a lot of fun, laughing and talking with the people around them who ask them many questions about the sensations they are feeling.
There is also Tarasque — elegantly dressed and masked — sitting comfortably on a black armchair, which looks more like a throne, with Nymphe cuddled to him while he holds her in his arms as she kisses gently his neck.
There are people kissing passionately, touching each other intimately, but when the atmosphere becomes too intimate they walk out going into other rooms to have their privacy. In fact it is not allowed to have sex in that place; that isn't a room for orgies. For that there are other rooms.
Sibylle enters the ballroom with Claude. He is dressed in a blue suit while she is wearing a sequin red shirt, shiny blacks pants that accent her perfect legs, and a pair of elegant high-heeled red shoes.
Tarasque loses his beautiful smile as he sees Sibylle with Claude, and Nymphe pauses her kissing as she sees Tarasque looking that way, she turns her head too and when she sees Sibylle she greets her with a smile. Sibylle smiles warmly as well.
Even Asterix and Obelix greet Sibylle with a smile, returning immediately to focus on the two naked girls standing.
«Caligula», says a masked middle-aged gentleman going near Claude, «welcome! What a beautiful woman. Funny though, I know you prefer blonde girls with—»
«This is my wife.» interrupts Claude, more to avoid embarrassing revelations than for sincere pride.
The man looks speechless for a second.
«Oh, what a surprise! She doesn't look like a wife.» he tries to remedy with those stupid words.
Sibylle remains unmoved.
«Tell me: how a wife looks like?» she asks.
«Well, you are very beautiful, madame, and ah—», he looks around in embarrassment. «Excuse me, I must go.» he says before to run away.
«You scared him.» giggles Claude amused.
«I haven't done anything.»
«Oh, yes, you did. That look of yours could intimidate anyone.»
Sibylle stares at him.
«So, you like blondes?»
«Bille, please.»
Fortunately for him a lady dressed in a elegant black dress enters the room followed by five waiters — also dressed impeccably — who push crystal carts.
«Mesdames et messieurs, dinner is served.» announces the lady.
Everyone goes to take a seat with a cheerful murmur.
Asterix and Obelix untie the two girls, help them to get dressed and go to sit at the table with them.
Claude pulls out Sibylle's chair and then sits in front of her. Sibylle is fascinated by the luxury of the table: fine china plates, crystal goblets, black iron candlesticks, narrow glass vases with red roses inside.
She counts the people sitting at the long table: thirty.
The waiters serve the dishes with formality, then vanish, leaving them alone. A quintet at the bottom of the room begins to play a jazz music to accompany dinner. The buzz that rises is very intimate. Elegant comments, cute giggles and polite phrases is what can be heard.
At the end of the dinner the waiters clear the table in silence, smiling often to those who thank them for the service telling them that dinner was exquisite. Here's what Sibylle loves of that place: there is never a hint of arrogance from the members. Not even from those of the Black Onyx Pact. Especially from those of the Black Onyx Pact, who in fact are the most polite of all.
All guests get up, returning to enliven the living room.
Claude is soon absorbed in a conversation with the gentleman who approached him when he arrived, so Sibylle takes the opportunity to go and talk with Tarasque and Nymphe. And soon also Asterix and Obelix join them. Sibylle hears that the two young men have been chosen as members of the Black Onyx Pact. She is really surprised and deeply happy for them. She congratulates and hugs them tight.
«How is Silk?» asks Sibylle after a while.
The two exchange glances.
«Silk understood that both of us felt something for her and she decided not to see us anymore, fearing of ruining our friendship.»
Sibylle doesn't know what to say, but she is genuinely sorry. Suddenly, Tarasque gets up going quickly at the door. Sibylle turns around and sees Drakkar just entering the room. Many persons approach him to shake his hand and to exchange a few words, and he is always kind to everyone. He is dressed in elegant black suit and — obviously — he is wearing a dark mask.
Tarasque comes to him and gives him a big hug, then says something to his ear and they both come to the others. Sibylle feels the heart beating faster and begins to twitch her hands. Nymphe's hand squeezes her shoulder, realizing her agitation.
«Good evening.» greets Drakkar.
Oh, that voice— So warm, so masculine, she really missed it!
He gently extends his hand palm up in a mute request to have her hand to kiss, as all
the men in the Club greet the ladies. Sibylle places her hand on that big of his and he moves it slowly to his lips, keeping deep eye contact with her. When Drakkar's dry lips touch lightly her skin, she feels a shiver running through her spine.
«Sibylle.» greets him in a husky voice. «You're beautiful, as always.»
“And you are a dream!”, is what she thinks, but instead of telling him, she merely smiles.
The man turns to greet Asterix and Obelix, shaking their hands.
«I heard the news, my compliments.»
The two thank him with a smile.
«Will you come to our initiation ceremony, next month?» asks Asterix.
Drakkar and Tarasque giggle.
«We must. Me and Drakkar are your patrons.»
The two young men wince of surprise then thank them again.
Drakkar puts a hand on Asterix's shoulder.
«There's a boy who needs a job. He is like a brother to me, and is as willing as clumsy. Can you find something for him?»
Asterix nods and Obelix replies:
«Sure. Take him to the Nightclub one of these nights, we always need help at the bar.»
Drakkar thanks them and turns to look at Nymphe, bending down to kiss her on the forehead.
«Congratulations to you too, Nymphe, I know that soon you will enter the Diamond level.»
«Yes, I can't wait!»
Tarasque holds her to his side.
«And we also have something to tell you.»
All listen carefully.
«We made a formal request to the Order to see approved our Master-slave relationship within the Club, and they accepted it. From today Nymphe is officially my little slave, all mine and mine only. At the Summer solstice night there will be the collaring ceremony, and we want you to come.»
«Oh!» they exclaim before sincerely compliment them.
Nymphe has a bright smile, a smile of joy. Drakkar looks at her and caresses gently her face. He is happy that his best friend found someone like her. She is sweet and nice, he is incredibly happy for them both.
«It's a serious matter, Nymphe, are you sure of this decision? You won't be allowed to meet any other men within the Club D. You really will be his, you'll be like a property to him. In fact, it's almost more like a marriage.»
«I'm more than sure, that's what I want.» whispers Nymphe.
Tarasque looks at her, smiles and gives her a tender kiss.
«And also», adds Tarasque, «only for few close friends – which means you four only - we want to make a dinner at my place. But we won't be in the role, we'll be Jérôme and Sophie, so you'll see that when we don't play the cruel one is her.»
Everyone laughs, accusing him of lying.
Drakkar looks at Sibylle.
«Congratulations to you too, you finally got what you wanted.»
Sibylle purses her lips.
«Thank you.» that's all she says.
Claude arrives to them.
«Come, dear, I want you to meet my friends.» he says, taking her by her waist and ignoring the others.
She feels embarrassed because of his rudeness.
«Please, excuse me.» she murmurs uncomfortably, before walking away with him.
The quintet begins to play beautiful music for the next hours and people go to dance elegantly; often exchanging dancing partners, in a playful way. When the musicians end all the people clap happily. The quintet plays now some Medieval-like music, and — unexpectedly for Sibylle — three comedy acrobats dressed as jesters enter the room jumping up and down.
All welcome them with applause, it's clear that they already know them. The three jump on the table and everyone instantly become quiet while they start their irreverent show, in which they mock the various levels of the Club D, pretending to be members in the most embarrassing possible ways. All people are around them, also interacting with nice and funny comments.
Sibylle laughs merrily, fascinated by their brilliant impertinence, but soon she feels two piercing eyes staring at her and turns to see who might be so interested in her: Drakkar.
The man slowly brings the balloon glass to his lips, sipping the cognac with natural elegance while looking at her.
«“Oh, I don't know if I can have a rendezvous with you: you are at the Diamond level and I'm just at the Jade!”» says one of the jesters in the middle of the room, imitating an hilarious woman's voice.
He moves aside the small hanging bells of his hat as it were a tuft of hair. The other jester approaches and touches him on the shoulder.
«“Don't be afraid, my dear», reassures him with theatrical intonation, «no one will ever know of our secret rendezvous here in the Club M.”»
«“Club D”.» corrects the one mocking a woman.
«“I like to exceed, so I doubled it.”» replies the other.
Everyone laughs. Or at least: those who already know what the D of the Club means laugh. So Sibylle doesn't laugh because she doesn't understand the joke.
«“Oh, dear, but in this way we'll break all the Club's rules!”»
The other raises his chin and chuckles.
«“And who will notice that?”»
The musicians play a suspense music now, to accompany the entrance of the third jester. All the guests burst into laughter when they look at him: he removed the jester's hat and is now wearing a black ski mask, then he attached to his costume — just above his heart — a sticker with the figure of a bull. Sibylle opens wide her eyes: he is imitating Drakkar! With the tattoo on his chest and all!
The jester walks slowly and firmly, arms folded, in the delirium of people laughing hard. Drakkar cannot hold back a smile too and shakes his head in a gesture of incredulity.
«“I heard the words ‘break’ and ‘rules’ in the same sentence, what do you have to say in your defense?”» says the one imitating him.
The other two jesters look terrified, stutter something, then run away across the room chased by the third one imitating Drakkar.
All incite the two to escape while others applaud loudly and others again seem unable to contain the laughter. The two jesters run in front of the real Drakkar turning their back to him while the third joker walks to the other side, pretending not to see them. The two smile a sigh in relief, then they sniff the air like two hounds.
«“My dear, don't you smell the scent of a male? The scent of a nocturnal predator? Of an alpha male wolf?”» asks the one acting the part of a woman.
Both turn slowly to look at the giant man behind them — Drakkar — who is waving the cognac in the glass, watching them with a stern look, playing along. They emit a scream and run out of the room, followed by the third. They all return to thank the audience taking a long bow, receiving an intense applause, then they leave. Ten minutes later calm has returned, on the other hand is almost dawn. Many people sit and chat on the couch, talking about everything. Other dance embraced, moving at the sound of a sweet music that now fills the room. Sibylle exchanges words with everyone, but often looks at Drakkar, who is always surrounded by people from all levels, and all seem to have very important things to tell him.
The woman goes near a glass window and opens it going out on the beautiful terrace. There is a small fountain, many vases and some iron arches wrapped by colorful climbing flowers. She goes to the marble balustrade to enjoy the view of the dawn embracing the sleeping city.
«Are you talking to Paris?»
She closes her eyes hearing the warm voice of Drakkar, then turns to look at him and smiles.
«Yes, I spoke to her with my mind.»
That austere mouth of his upsets her.
«Sibylle, may I talk to you privately?»
She is very surprised by the tone of his voice, which sounds unusual serious and uncertain.
«Yes, of course.»
He extends his hand.
«Sibylle?» calls Claude worried, appearing near them.
Drakkar turns to look at him as if to shield her with his body, then looks down
at the man with his natural intimidating way to do.
«Caligula, I would like to have a word with your wife.»
He isn't asking, he is telling him, and in fact Claude tightens the lips and nods.
«Only a word.»
Drakkar takes Sibylle's hand and leads her out of the room. Claude looks at them leaving the room and makes a disapproval expression.
«Why so worried, Caligula? What are you afraid of?» teases Tarasque appearing next to him.
Claude looks at that sly smile he hates so much.
«I'm not worried at all, I don't fear anything in my life!»
«Too bad, is a big mistake not to fear anything. It makes you stupid enough to risk more than you can lose.»
He accentuates the smile and goes back to Nymphe, who is intent to talk with Asterix and Obelix.
Drakkar guides Sibylle in front of a big blue door with two large door men standing at its sides. The two bow respectfully their head to Drakkar and open the door without saying a word. Sibylle remains speechless when she enters the room furnished in oriental style, full of red carpets, velvet sofas, satin cushions, veils falling from the ceiling. She is amazed because there is a refined orgy in progress: there are many people moving sensually. The men are all dressed in elegant suits and wear dark masks while most of the women are naked, they just wear exquisite jewelry and lingerie. They kiss, touch, sigh, lick, moan, groan, smile and cry their passion in a natural way.
Drakkar walks among them like an ancient demon passing near his human slaves, prey to the pleasures of the flesh. The man opens another door and invites her to enter, and when he closes it behind them he leans against it with his back.
Sibylle looks at the room: it's a conservatory, a breathtaking conservatory. Through the glass walls and ceiling, one can admire the private park of the Palace dimly lit by the light of the rising day. There are few red couches and white armchairs, glass tea tables and various tall plants. It seems like a little jungle in there.
The Black Onyx Pact Page 35