Paradise Lost is a hidden gem in the city, known only to those with the right connections or information. The entrance is discreet, with a nondescript door leading to a world of decadence and secrets. It's an underground pleasure house, but also the front for a clandestine organization, the Garden of Flowers.

This brothel is not an easy place to find or enter. It took Dimitir an entire day to determine its location and another half day to figure out how to get admission. He had to pull some strings and bribe some "friends" to figure out all that. He found that it only stays in one place for a few weeks before packing up and moving somewhere else.

Paradise Lost caters to those with specific cravings, offering a blend of pleasure and debauchery. Its patrons come for the delectable temptations and sensual escapades. One can assume that the establishment exploits its wares—namely the men and women employed there. However, this exploitation is a small, consensual sacrifice for the greater good.

To the uninformed, Paradise Lost appears as a den of vice. In reality, it serves as the front for the organization pioneering social and political change. The Mystique Rose, the mastermind behind this operation, has crafted a perfect façade where the blaring music, nudity, and overflowing liquor dull the senses of its patrons, mixed with substances that loosen their tongues and reveal their darkest secrets. Secrets that are exploited by the Garden for its goals and ambitions.

Dimitri followed Grandma Seraphina's instructions and arrived at Paradise Lost. He has a specific purpose: to find information about Belladonna 618. In his hand, he carries a bouquet of nine red spider lilies bound with a white ribbon. He assumes that it implies his association with (Y/n) since her designation is Lycoris Radiata.

As he approaches the entrance, the bouncer, a hulking figure with tattoos snaking up his arms, eyes the flowers and nods, letting Dimitri in without a word. The sights and sounds of the club wash over him as he steps inside. He moves through the crowd with purpose, his eyes scanning for signs of someone who might provide the information he needs.

The club is a labyrinth of dark corridors and dimly lit rooms, each more opulent than the last. It's a place of sensory overload, with blaring music, pulsing lights, and an atmosphere thick with the scent of exotic incense. The patrons are a mix of the city's elite and the underworld's most influential figures, all seeking to indulge in their desires away from prying eyes.

A small woman wearing nothing but lingerie stopped him in his tracks. She had a feline grin and enigma in her painted eyes as she gazed at him. "Greetings, Mr. Aidoneus. Iris 444 is awaiting your arrival. Please follow me."

"You knew I was coming?"

"Little birdies fly here and there and whisper songs to us." answered the woman, her voice almost lilting. She guided him through corridors where obscene noises erupt from each door that they pass. Some are sexual and filled with elation while others sound more like torture chambers.

Dimitri ignored the noise as he warily followed the guidance of the woman. All his senses are on high alert. He is in a foreign territory after all.

"May I ask for your... Designation?" he asked the petite woman.

"Belladonna 618." Dimitri paused and suddenly grabbed her arm rather harshly. His face was menacing like a provoked tiger ready to pounce on its victims. "You're coming with me."

The woman suddenly erupted into laughs and giggles leaving him confused. "You should have seen your face... You look so crazy!" She laughed and snorted some more, nearly falling on the floor with her subterfuge.

"What?" he hissed, teeth gritted with rage.

"I'm not Belladonna 618. I'm Hibiscus 1789." The woman revealed nearly making him livid. "I was just messing with you because you looked kinda mean like all Slavic men. Still hot though. Is that why Lycoris Radiata 927 keeps fucking you even though you can turn her into a Black Dahlia?"

Dimitri wanted to retaliate for her disrespect but he knew that eyes were watching them from the shadows. Violence would be counterproductive to his mission. Now is not the time to lose his composure.

"What exactly is a Black Dahlia?" he asked, taming his rage and regaining his composure. He let go of her arm and continued to follow her through the winding corridors.

"Traitors to the organization. Out for slaughter for the blades of the Belladonnas or torture in the hands of the Purple Hyacinths." Her tone was still lilting providing an ominous edge to her words. "Whichever the Matriarch saw fit."

"Do you know her name?"

"If I tell you her name I would become a Black Dahlia. We're not allowed to say the names of members in front of nonmembers unless, of course, we are given special permission by Irises or someone higher. Otherwise, it would be considered as compromising the identity of other Nymphs." She turned her head to look back at him, her eyes glinting with malice. "You'll have to ask my boss."

Dimitri merely hummed in reply. This woman is really getting on his nerves. She is rude and annoying, nothing she said was helpful. Avoiding conversation is the best way to avoid conflict.

Soon enough they reached their destination. Hibiscus 1789 opened the door for him and bowed theatrically as he entered. He gave her a final glare before watching her smirking face disappear as the door closed.

In the dim light, Dimitri notices Iris444, a striking woman known for her beauty and her role as a liaison within Paradise Lost. Iris444 is aware of everything that happens within the club and is trusted by the Mystique Rose herself. She wore an extravagant wide-brimmed hat, a glamorous blazer in cobalt and white, and some matching pants. Gems littered her outfit and Dimitri noted how she looks exactly like a glamorous pimp.

"Welcome, Mr. Morozov," she purrs, recognizing him immediately. "You must be here for something special."

Dimitri presents the bouquet to Iris 444, who accepts it with a nod of understanding. She sat down with him on the sofa and proceeded to pour him some wine which he accepted.

Dimitri is not afraid of being poisoned. Hecate had guided him in the process of mithridatism, which essentially teaches the body to handle poison by introducing small tolerable amounts to build immunity. Additionally, he regularly drinks a concoction that would neutralize the effects of most poisons and some types of venoms. This has proven to be quite helpful during missions. Still, if (Y/n)'s little stunt taught him anything, it's that the Garden is creative with its products.

He took a few sips before putting the cup down to be polite. Nothing happened to him but this did not lower his guard.

"I won't waste our time. I need to know where Belladonna 618 is to save (Y/n). She holds the antidote to the poison that (Y/n) had ingested, Briar's Spindle."

"Ah," said Iris 444, savoring her wine. "So how did that come to be?" Her eyes held a dangerous glint. A lesser man would cower under her imposing stare but Dimitri is no lesser man.

"The details don't matter. I need to know how I can save her. I will pay you how much you want so please provide me with the necessary information."

Iris 444 ignored his offer. "Were you torturing her or doing something... untoward for her to take such drastic options?"

Dimitri wanted to slam his fist on the table but restrained himself. The simple implication that he would do something so unholy to (Y/n) without her consent makes his blood boil. He tamed the beast inside him and maintained his stoic disposition.

The walls have eyes and the walls have knives. He won't fight with the Garden which his beloved so dearly loves.

Now is not the time for interrogations though. (Y/n) is dying and if he can't find that elusive Belladonna, he might plunge into insanity and do whatever God knows he's capable of. "I wasn't. We were intimate but it was consensual."

"She tried to kill herself... Like many victims of sexual assault." Iris 444 eyed him warily.

"I believe it was to protect your organization, not her honor. I told her that I knew she was part of the Garden. Now I ask that you help me to protect her."

"Hand her over to us then."

"I won't do it," Dimitri's tone has become dangerously low. "(Y/n) is mine."

Dimitri stood from his seat. "If you won't help me then I will have to use some other methods to persuade you."

"Are you sure you are in a position to be making threats right now? Your own organization is in trouble while you're here distracted." Iris 444 leaned against her seat, smirking as if she knew something he didn't.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that your people are being massacred as we speak while you prance about to save a little flower. Don't get me wrong, Lycoris Radiata 927 is precious to us but is her life really worth more to you than the organization that you built?"

"I don't give two fucks about your threats. Where is Belladonna 618?"

"I'm afraid your questions will have to wait," Iris says, her voice now cold and urgent. "Your organization is under attack."

Dimitri's heart races as she shows him security footage on a hidden monitor. The footage reveals chaos at several of his bases, with armed men storming the premises and his people desperately trying to defend themselves.

"Who is responsible for this?" Dimitri demands, his voice a mix of anger and desperation.

Iris 444 tilted her head upwards, meeting the intensity of his gaze. "An old friend of yours, Joseph Stravage."

Dimitri's eyes widened. Joseph Stravage was once his brother-in-arms, one of the Gods of Death who helped him build the foundations of his empire. Joseph was an excellent assassin and had respectable intelligence. However, he was prone to violence and brash decisions..

One day during a mission, all of his targets had gathered in one location. He planted explosives on the building, successfully eliminating his targets but his impulsive decision led to so much collateral damage. A residential building nearby caught on fire killing many of its inhabitants along with many innocent children sleeping in their beds.

When Dimitri confronted him, Joseph wasn't even guilty of the innocent lives he had taken. Brahm was one of the people he killed, the man who raped and killed his mother. He said that no price was too high to pay for the death of that bastard.

Dimitri was appalled by his lack of humanity. As a leader, he had marked his face with a brand of shame and cast him out of the organization. He couldn't put it upon himself to kill his once brother so he let him go, wishing that he found his own repentance.

He was still young back then and much too soft to his allies. Now, he will ensure that no mercy will be granted to those who stand against him.

"You need to go. Your building, where (Y/n) is, hasn't been hit yet, but it's only a matter of time." Iris 444 said, cutting his train of thought.

Without another word, Dimitri rushes out of Paradise Lost, leaving Iris 444 and his unanswered questions behind.

🌹

Dimitri raced through the dimly lit road, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. The distant wail of sirens filled the air, a grim reminder of the chaos unfolding within his organization. He couldn't afford to lose focus; (Y/n)'s life depended on him.

As he approached his building, the familiar sight of his fortress-like headquarters came into view. The entrance was heavily guarded, his loyal men standing vigilant. Dimitri's heart pounded in his chest as he rushed inside.

"Where is she?" he barked, his voice carrying an edge of desperation.

Cerberus stepped forward. "She's safe, boss. We moved her to the panic room as soon as we got word of the attacks."

Dimitri nodded, a small wave of relief washing over him. "Good. Keep her there and don't let anyone in except for me."

Cerberus nodded and hurried off to reinforce the defenses. Dimitri made his way to the control room, where a large screen displayed live footage from his various bases. The sight was disheartening; several of his strongholds were under siege, the once-impregnable fortresses now scenes of carnage and chaos.

"Report," Dimitri commanded, his voice cold and steady.

Nyx, the head of security, turned to him, her expression grim. "We've nearly lost three bases but some reinforcements from other Lords are pouring in. The attackers were well-coordinated and armed to the teeth. We believe that they're using our stolen inventory. Casualties are high but  we're still trying to account for everyone."

Dimitri clenched his fists, his jaw tight. "And Joseph Stravage?"

Nyx nodded. "He's behind it. Our intel confirms he's leading the assaults personally."

"That bastard," Dimitri muttered under his breath. "I should have killed him when I had the chance."

"We can't dwell on the past now, Aidoneus. We need a plan," Nyx urged.

Dimitri took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus. "First, we need to secure this building. I want every available man reinforcing our defenses. No one gets in or out without my explicit permission. Understood?"

"Yes, boss," Nyx replied, immediately relaying his orders to the rest of the security team.

Dimitri's mind raced as he tried to piece together a strategy. The attack on his organization was a direct threat, not just to him but to everything he had worked for. He needed to find Belladonna 618 and secure the antidote for (Y/n). But he also needed to stop Joseph Stravage before more lives were lost.

He turned to the screen, his gaze fixed on the chaos unfolding at his bases. "How did they manage to coordinate such an attack without us getting wind of it?"

Nyx shook her head. "We have a mole, Aidoneus. Someone inside our ranks is feeding information to Stravage."

Dimitri's blood ran cold. A traitor in their midst made everything more complicated. "Find them. I don't care what it takes, just find them."

Nyx nodded. "Already on it. We're conducting a thorough investigation."

Dimitri's thoughts shifted to (Y/n). He needed to see her, to make sure she was truly safe. "I'm going to check on (Y/n). Keep me updated on any developments."

He hurried through the winding corridors of his headquarters, his footsteps echoing off the cold, concrete walls. Reaching the door to the panic room, he keyed in the access code and stepped inside.

(Y/n) lay on the bed, her face pale and her breathing shallow. The sight of her in such a vulnerable state made his heart ache. He approached her slowly, kneeling by her side and taking her hand in his.

It's been two days… He's running out of time.

"(Y/n)," he whispered, his voice soft and filled with emotion. "I'm here. You're safe now."

"I'm not going to let anything happen to you," he vowed, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "I promise you, we'll find the antidote. We'll save you."

He stayed with her for a few more moments, holding her hand and whispering reassurances. But he knew he couldn't linger. Time was running out, and he needed to act.

“Hecate, I'm entrusting her in your care. Make sure to keep her safe.”

“I will, Aidoneus.”

As he walked through the desolate hallways, his mind replayed back to his conversations with (Y/n), trying to find hints about the Belladonna.

"If you decided to be a better man, then... the one who holds the antidote is... Belladonna 618. You already know her name. You're smart after all... you'll figure it out."

He already knows her true name meaning she either told him or his people had discovered it.

"If my Belladonna gets hurt... I will kill you."

(Y/n) must be very close to this girl. That kind of affection is built through years of knowing each other.

"Oh, you have so little faith in me... my darling~ Should I introduce you to the Belladonnas? The best one just came home."

Someone who just returned...

Someone very close to her...

Someone whose name he already knows...

The clues swirled in his mind, her voice echoing through his thoughts. His brain began listing the names of her closest friends, measuring their compatibility with the descriptions he had.

Jessica? No.

Monica? No.

Belinda? No.

Elizabeth? No.

Abegail? No.

"Where the hell am I supposed to go now? My bitches went to pick up Eidanne from the airport and I guess they're getting drunk in the club now. Jessica posted an IG story about it."

Eidanne...? Who was she? Dimitri doesn't have any records about her.

"Maybe your archives aren't complete. My family is bigger than you think." Seraphina had said.

Do they erase Belladonnas from family trees?

Who was Eidanne?

Ah. His thoughts seem to click into place. She was that chubby girl who was always clinging to (Y/n). For some reason, she's always going away to participate in international competitions that's why she's seldom there...

Fuck.

How did he not figure this out sooner?! The answer was so obvious! Leaving the panic room, Dimitri ran back to the control room.

"Belladonna 618, her true name is Eidanne Belfrier."

Trismegistus looked up from his station. The hacker nodded before typing away at his computer.

"I found her. She's at her house. Here's the address."

"Good. We need to move quickly. I want a team ready to go within the hour," Dimitri ordered.

"Of course, boss." Tristan's voice was weak and despondent. "I'll call Alecto, Tisiphone, and Megaera for the job. I think they'll be enough."

Tristan had lost his usual vigor and eager response. Dimitri didn't fail to notice this.

"I'm sorry, Aidoneus." he began, tears falling from his eyes. "If only I was smarter, sharper... I could have prevented this."

"Now is not the time for regret, Trismegistus. Now is the time for actions. You are not completely at fault here. I should have paid more attention to what you were saying."

Dimitri's eyes met his. "I'm sorry for failing as your leader."

"I'll do better this time." Dimitri left after that, not wasting any more time on sentimentalities.

Before leaving, Dimitri made a quick call to Hela, one of the Lords who commands a large number of assassins. "I need your help. Joseph Stravage is back and he's attacking our bases. How many of your people can you send?"

Hela's voice was calm but concerned. "Not too much. We have an ongoing operation in Cairo. I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you, Hela. I appreciate it," Dimitri said, ending the call.

Fuck... He doesn't have enough people to quell this uprising. If only he had more allies to turn to but right now he needs to focus and use his resources well. He can't afford to fail.

"Aidoneus," Nyx approached him, a despondent look on her face. "One of our bases has fallen... Everyone in it is dead."

A/n:

I think this chapter has a lot of loose ends. I'll edit this later. The pacing may be a little too fast.