Orion Night
Chapter 1 – Pissing About with Alchemy

The high ringing of a bell echoed through the small corner shop apothecary as its front door was opened to admit its first costumer in weeks. The owner of the dingy shop snapped his beady blue eyes to the door way and wearily eyed up his visitor.

He had jet black hair falling in front of his eyes and framing his face, with the rest gathered at the base of his neck in a low pony tail tied up with a blue ribbon. Earthy brown eyes with amber speckles returned his gaze unwaveringly as he approached the counter. When he looked closer the shop keeper spied a five point star tattooed in the corner of the right eye of the well toned man.
He wore a black waist coat over a white tailored shirt that the shop keeper presumed were buttoned up at the wrists with cuff links though he couldn’t be sure due to the trench coat he wore. Black skinny jeans and dark green trainers completed the look perfectly.
The shop keeper stepped forward to meet the man at the other side of the dusty counter. He was only a little taller then the shot bold owner, at a maximum of 5’5.

“Mr Covell I presume?” came the dark man’s musical sounding alto voice, snapping the shop owner out of his musings.

“That would be me,” he confirmed with a tip of his head, “And who would you be? ‘Cause if you don’t mind me saying we don’t get many well dressed folk around these parts, what would your purpose here be?” Mr Covell finished with narrow eyes. The man just smirked as he answered.

“Sharp aren’t you? It’s Zackharias Faxon and I’m here to pay for and pick up a package for one Doctor James Coogan,” he said dryly. Mr Covell scowled at the name.

“If he weren’t my best customer I’d tell him to stick his orders where the Sun don’t shine!” he growled as he slunk away into the back room.
Zack simply rolled his eyes, knowing it probably had something to do with the Doctors overly complicated and specific orders that he needed to fuel his alchemic dream of turning lead to gold.
Grumbling alerted him to Mr Covell’s re-entry of the room, package in hand. He held out a hand for the money and carefully counted it all before allowing Zack to tuck the package inside his jacket and exit out into the street where a taxi was waiting for him.

With a tired sigh he proper his head up with one hand and gazed out of the car window as he crossed his legs. The driver turned a little and flung one arm over the back of the front seats.
“Where to bub?” he questioned. Zack glanced at him through the corner of his eye before giving a lopsided grin, revealing a sharp looking canine tooth.

“The Orion Night Hotel, Birmingham city centre,” he answered softly, turning his gaze back out side as the car pulled away.
They drove past derelict houses on the verge of collapsing into themselves. Past dead of dieing trees. Past children in tattered clothing trying to earn money with buckets of soapy water to clean with. Past the occasional lamp that was actually working to some degree.
Gradually the scenes were improving. Houses looked habitable. The trees were green. Children were playing instead of working.
They finally came to the city centre when the cab turned a corner to reveal elegant and slightly intimidating skyscrapers. The rays of the sun glanced of each and every window and bounced to the clean road and walkways below where expensive cars were being driven and people in expensive suits with brief cases rushed by.
Zack scowled at the unfairness of it all. Those with parent of different species were forced to grovel for a living while those of single being decent were treated like royalty? It was times like these that reminded him of why he joined The Noir Order.

The Noir Order was founded in secret by one Graham Westwood a thousand and fifteen years previously as a way to combat the oppression forced upon people after the Revolution and a new government was formed, with the Sirkbar Company pulling the strings. Graham (being a vampire) only looked about fifty four despite having grey hair with bright blue eyes. He was the secret owner of the Orion Night which he had stationed as head quarters a) because as it was in England’s second city is was less obvious and b) because that was where Sirkbar was secretly stationed. Graham thankfully had a position in Parliament and so relayed all he knew to his brother Charles (he appeared to be in his forties but was really 731) who took charge of the order in it’s entirety while managing the hotel behind the scenes.
When Zack had been only 70 (or 6 to the eyes of the world due to his light elf and vampire heritage) his parents had been murdered by the company for opposing their rule.
Graham had found him out in the streets and taken him to live with Charles which was where he had been from then on before becoming an active member of the order.

“We’re here,” said the driver in a gruff voice, pulling Zack back to the present. He passed forward a $20 note and made to get out the car when the driver’s voice stopped him.
“Hey, err, you’re vampire right?” he said timidly. Zack smirked and nodded, not bothering to correct him.
“So how old are you really? I mean, you look about 24 but from what I hear your lot age slower then humans,” he finished quickly. Zack hauled himself out of the car and began walking up the marble steps to the hotel. The drivers face fell but lit up again when Zackharias called over his shoulder.
“I’m three hundred and twelve, and keep the change!”

Zack turned his full attention to the grand building in front of him.
Over 80 floors of gleaming granite walls and crystal glad windows loomed over him. He examined the hotel sign that was almost imprinted on his brain.
The words “The Orion Night Hotel” were circled with small five point stars and a crescent moon that flashed white and yellow at night.
Tearing his eyes from the sign, he swiftly strode up the last of the steps to the hotel doors which he pulled back and stepped into the reception area and welcoming lobby.
To his left was a bar area with finely crafted tables and soft leather lounge chairs that were dotted around for the use of customers. To his right there were six elevators with intricately designed boarders and an ordinary door to the stairs.
Directly ahead of him at the other end of the room was the reception area which had a chandelier hanging over it.
Behind is where several doors which all opened up to the same room which held a small staff room, room keys and some hotel details as well as plenty of computers.
Stood at the marble engraved reception counter was a young woman, who looked about eighteen, in a white shirt with a black blazer over the top with the hotels logo on it and a sleek black skirt on. Her dirty blonde hair was cut short with mid-length bangs and a jaggedly cut fringe and she had brown eyes.
Zackharias approached the counter and got there as the girl finished with a posh and snobbish looking woman who had a fur scarf around her neck. The girl lazily eyed Zack up and down before leaning on one hand and meeting Zack’s eyes.

“So, finally come to your senses have we Zackie boy? Come to sweep me of my feet, carry me to your room and have your wicked way with me?” a small smirk found it’s way o her lips as Zack raised an eyebrow at her.
“Actually Lula…” Lula got a hopeful look, “No,” she scowled and pouted and put her hands on her hips.
“You bloody tease!” she cried, “Actually I could make that statement very literal,” she grinned widely to reveal pointed canines like his own, only more pronounced.
“Zack!” a voice from behind Lula called. They both watched as a girl with ash blonde hair skipped forward.

“Hi Jesu,” Zack said smiling. Jesu was dressed like Lula only she wore trousers and the back of her hair was clipped back.
“Hey Zack have you-“ Jesu let out a surprised yelp as someone jumped onto her back and pushed her to the floor before promptly standing on her shoulders.

“HIYA!” the new arrival said happily. She was dressed just like Lula though she has rectangular glasses with thick red rims over green eyes. She had slightly messy white blonde hair that was layered and cut short.
“Hey Coco,” Zack chuckled, “You might want to get of Jesu before she suffocates,” he said at the sounds of muffled screams of protest.

“Oh right,” Coco said sheepishly as she strode off of Jesu, “Honestly she’d have been fine down there,” she added sincerely. Jesu scowled at her before addressing Zack again.
“Anyway, have you read that new manga Za-OW!” she exclaimed as Lula whacked a frying pan of her head.
“What have we told you about talking about manga or anime?” Lula said sternly.
“Only after nine pm,” Jesu whimpered.
“Good girl,” Lula patted her head.
“Anyway, what can we do for you?” Coco asked.
“Need my room key and basement key please,” he said in a business like voice. Coco tapped her chin in mock thought.
“And what do we get in return?” she said slowly.

“Well… I heard the kitchens accidentally ordered to much blood and don’t know who to give it to,” the girls eyes lit up,” And I mean, who am I to keep three vampires from blood-sicols!” Lula deftly chucked two keys as him which he caught with ease.
“Deal!” she exclaimed.

Zack made to walk away before he paused and addressed them again.
“You wouldn’t happen to know where Dr. Coogan is?”
“Where do you think?” Lula said dryly.
“Pissing about with alchemy in his lab knowing him,” Coco shrugged, unconcerned.
Zack smiled again, “Thanks,” and made his way to where the elevators where.

End of Chapter