Winter Swan

After Ingrid left, Kail was about to light another cigarette when he frowned.

"She ruined it."

He murmured to himself and picked up his coat. He needed something to cheer him up.

"Welcome, Kail. You honor us with your presence."

Madam Camila smiled seductively and greeted him.

Kail entered the exclusive Karl Johans club in Oslo. The inside was decorated with Persian carpets, luxurious chandeliers, red velvet curtains, and Wedgwood one china vases. With high ceilings and dark floors, the beauty of the place was intimidating.

Behind the curtains, women's laughter could be heard from the private rooms. Unlike the other average clubs, this place promised pure carnal pleasure. This was why Kail visited this place sometimes when he felt frustrated.

Kail spoke to the hostess who was very excited to see him.

"You are so good at flattery, Madam."

"Only for our VIPs, haha."

Madam Camila winked at him and offered him her hand. Kail kissed the back of it and asked, "How's business?"

"Not good. The economy is affecting us badly."

"Liar. I know for a fact that your club is busier than ever. Don't get so greedy, Madam."

"Haha, you can never make too much money. But I enjoy welcoming important guests more than making money. Come more often, Kail. Your presence makes my place so much better."

Listening to Camila, Kail took a sip of strong whiskey.

There was only one reason for Kail to come here. At Madam Camila's club, you could get women of all races and looks. Blonde, redhead, black hair, light and dark skin, various eye colors…

But today was different. Instead of asking to bring in a woman, Kail continued to just drink his whiskey.

The private room draped with thick red curtains was quiet and warm. It was deep in the night and from the window, Kail could hear the harsh snowy wind outside. The room seemed like a completely different world than the rest of Oslo.

Kail wondered the real reason why he liked this place. Perhaps it was because he wanted to be isolated from the rest of the world. When he continued to drink without a word, Madam Camila glanced at him and asked, "Did something happen? You seem different today."

"No, I just remembered something."

With a very noticeable white cast, Kail smiled mysteriously. Madam Camila kept glancing at him.

"What happen to your arm?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I got injured by an annoying girl."

"Haha, but the Kail I know wouldn't get hurt by a mere girl."

At Madam Camila's words, Kail remained quiet and took another sip. When he finished it, he turned to her and murmured as if he were talking to himself.

"It really was just an annoying girl."

"Are you sure, handsome?"

"Hmm, I have a question for you, Madam. How many people do you think are certain of the things that they are about to do?"

"What do you mean? I'm afraid to give you a wrong answer, haha."

"Like I said, a belief that what you are about to do is the right thing to do. How many people do you think have that kind of certainty in their actions?"

"Well, I guess it varies from person to person. Based on my experience with the vast number of people I have met in this business, the one thing I know for sure is that people can be easily seduced. Even the strongest person with a firm belief will surrender if placed in a desperate situation. Their beliefs will be destroyed, and they will do things they normally would never do. They would give poor excuses to rationalize themselves. Personally, I prefer people who do whatever they want without an excuse or regret. There is no one who can't be seduced."

After listening to her opinion, Kail remained silent. He still had a strange smile on his lips as he drank another glass of whiskey.

He murmured, "I think I've talked too much today. Don't I sound like a drunk person spouting nonsense?"

"Haha, not at all. In fact, you look more human today than any other day. I would never allow an average Oslo drunk in my place, but if it's Kail, you are always welcome. My place is always wide open for you."

"Alright then. I will continue to chat. Madam, have you ever seen an elk get hit by a car?"

"Elk? When I opened a store in Stockholm, I saw elks often even in the city. But unfortunately, I have never seen one get hit by a car."

"When I was younger, I saw elks all the time. The place where I lived was even colder than here and everything froze up often. Elks with large horns got onto the roads frequently and I saw them get hit by cars many times. They would bleed and die slowly. There would be red blood everywhere and until they died, and they would blink at me."

"Oh, really? Elks… That's interesting."

"And… it looked like they wouldn't change their path even as they faced the last moment of their lives. Even if they were put in a desperate situation, they didn't turn back. When I came out to the human world from that remote place I used to live in, I have never met a person that reminded of the elks. I've never met anyone who would quietly walk towards his or her death. I have never seen anyone who wouldn't run away, or at least try to run away, from an unpleasant situation. Until recently."

Madam Camila seemed to be astonished as she asked, "So you met someone like that?"

"Oh, I did. I don't know what will happen next, but I am curious about her."

Kail became quiet again. After thinking for a few minutes silently, he turned to her and continued, "I saw the bloody elk crying in my dream. I need alcohol and a woman on a day like this. I need to erase that stupid image from my mind."

Madam Camila moved quickly. She gathered all the girls from the club. Every one of them was eager to be with Kail.

He picked one girl and it was an unexpected choice. Madam was surprised by his sudden change in taste, but she didn't say anything.

He and the woman walked up the stairs flanked by gothic columns and entered a private room.

On the bed, the woman moaned seductively. She had long black hair, pale skin, and large black eyes — she looked very Asian.

She moaned louder but Kail looked down at her emotionlessly and opened her legs. Sex was just a way for him to relieve himself and nothing more, but it was clear that his body was becoming excited by her appearance.

He was about to insert himself when he grabbed her face roughly. The woman felt his strength and flinched. Looking down at her large black eyes, Kail asked with a rough voice, "Your name?"

The woman looked up in confusion before answering.

"Gabriella."

Despite her black hair and black eyes, she wasn't Asian. When he realized that she was from South America instead, Kail immediately lost interest.

"Get out."

Kail ordered coldly, but the woman looked disappointed. She tried to touch him, but he grabbed her hair and threw her out of the room. When she whimpered and tried to hold onto him, Kail threw her a few bills.

After he closed the door and was alone in the room, Kail clenched his teeth.

"Dammit!"

He came here to satisfy his needs, but that girl's face kept popping up in his mind. This was the worst. Looking down at the woman that wasn't "her," his body lost interest.

Silje Kim Pettersen.

He couldn't stop thinking about her.

That annoying Asian girl. From the beginning, Silje frustrated him. She fell from the sky into his arms and she never looked away from his glare like the others.

She fought back against him.

He looked down at his cast. He cut her wrist because he was angry, but her face wouldn't disappear from his mind.

He wanted her.

His sudden desire for her surprised him. This was very rare for him to covet a girl like this. He hadn't felt this intense about something in a very long time.

Why? Why did he want to have her?

Perhaps it was just a whim. An impulse.

The way she looked at him… Despite being in the worst situation, her eyes looked defiant. The only Asian girl at school with her black hair and deep red lips, her unique beauty mesmerized him. It only took a few seconds of being near her. That was enough for him to want her. Every moment he spent with her kept playing in his mind in slow motion.

This was strange. How could he feel desire for that annoying Asian girl? He didn't like this at all. Perhaps that was why he hurt her. Because he was angry at his feelings for her.

He must've finally lost his mind!

Kail frowned, but her face kept popping up in his mind. He couldn't understand this situation, this intense craving for her.

He thought of her black hair and long slim legs. And most of all, her angry glare at him.

And just like that, the mere thought of her was enough to give him an orgasm.