I put on my impossibly high heels with trembling fingers, and chance one last look in the mirror.
I’m not Aimee, the frail little twin with no magic. I am Celestia, and she’s a badass Goddess that makes men weak in their knees with her undulating body.
“It’s showtime.”
CHAPTER 3
Aimee
Thosefirstchordsofmusic, coming from the live orchestra placed behind the stage, are always such a rush. My skin is buzzing with excitement as I hum the sensual piano notes I know by heart. My number starts with me unfurling slowly from the ceiling, my legs wrapped in golden aerial ribbons. I turn in the air once, twice, before stopping mid-air in a perfect split. I look at the crowd of Fae males and vampires gathered tonight, sitting at various tables draped in pink crushed velvet, sipping on faerie wine or blood, and watching my movements with hungry, transfixed eyes. Next, I glide my hands up my torso, almost touching my breasts, before I playfully blow some kisses to my audience.
The huge, luxurious crystal chandeliers hold golden candles that give the space an ethereal glow. Everything screams opulence at The Twinkling Meadow, from the plush cerise and buttercream sofas, to the translucent quartz flutes they servethe faerie wine in, or the walls covered in actual little gold leaves.The server girls are gliding effortlessly between the tables, like sensual dancers caught in perpetual movement. They balance on their delicate limbs, the shimmering trays filled with the best wines money can buy, as well as freshly bled human essence for our vampiric patrons.
We serve pleasure and decadent splendor here, and every little detail has to look and sound the part. Even the music. Especially us.
The beautiful, haunting sound of a cello joins the piano, sending a strong vibrato cadence through my bloodstream. I unhook my legs from the silken wraps and gather all my upper body strength to do a double cartwheel. The move is so fast; it looks like I’m floating for a couple of seconds. I grip the wraps once again and slide down a few more inches towards the ground. The release has my heart beating faster, and the crowd roaring in glee.
I let myself hang upside down from the ribbons, my chocolate locks swaying in rhythm with the music. I love seeing the crowd from this tilted viewpoint. Their hungry gazes glide down my body, from my toes to the ends of my wavy curls. Securing my legs in the ribbons, I unhook my arms so I can unfasten the shimmering veiled skirt from my waist and throw it to the audience. A vampire jumps from his seat with lightning speed and catches the garment before it touches the ground. He pockets it unabashedly. I’ve lost count of how many pieces of clothing I’ve misplaced that way throughout the years. I throw him a playful wink before using my upper body strength to return to a normal position.
Aimee might be wary of vampires, but Celestia has a show to perform, and she doesn’t treat the patrons differently based on their race.
I swing back and forth towards the edge of the stage, preparing to jump, just as the music reaches a crescendo.
When I land with grace on the wide table closest to the stage, the males erupt in vigorous claps and loud whistles. I stalk on all fours towards the male in front of me, a blond Fae with deep, forest-green eyes, who holds his breath while I climb into his lap. Winking playfully, I roll my curvy figure on top of him, and I can feel his body’s reaction almost instantly.
It gives me such a power trip to have control over this interaction, knowing full well how devastatingly attracted he is to me, but that he can’t do anything about it.
Look, but don’t touch.
That is the one cardinal rule of the Twinkling Meadow, and the patrons know better than to disobey it.
In a smooth movement, I detangle myself from him and continue my prowl around the room, looking for the perfect target for my performance’s ending.
I spot Khain a few tables in the back, his turquoise eyes drinking me in. I make my approach seem random, although I know his powerful frame well, having taken the White Shadow-bringer to my bed a few times already.
White Shadows are the most common type of shadows a Fae can possess, looking like a foggy mist that envelops one’s senses, being wielded by the kingdom’s army as a diversion tactic.
I slide languidly into his lap, making a show out of spreading my legs wide as I straddle him.
“Hi, baby,” I say in his ear as I drag my fingertips up and down his bulging biceps.
“Hi, gorgeous.” He throws me a crooked smile. He knows what’s coming, and he is more than happy to oblige as I angle his face towards me and give him a ghost of a kiss, as the last melodic notes of my performance die out.
The crowd goes wild around us, the thundering applause drowning out all other noise.I can hear several males begging for my attention, promising me the world on a silver platter, and riches beyond my wildest imagination. I ignore them all.
“Come meet me upstairs in ten,” I say to Khain as I slide off him and sashay towards the exit.
I climb the last few steps to the first floor, a bottle of the finest champagne in hand. Being the star performer of the establishment has its perks, even if they are not monetary.
I enter the dim hallway, sultry shadows dancing on the rose gold walls from the few candles burning, perfuming the air with sandalwood. Ten intricate doors lay on both sides of the hallway, and I direct my steps to the second room on the left, where I know Khain is waiting for me.
Downstairs the men are not allowed to touch us, but if they get lucky enough to be chosen by any of the girls, they can rent one room upstairs for a night of bliss.
I twist the doorknob and slip inside the room. The walls are painted a rich plum color, and a massive four-poster bed stands in the middle of the chamber. Khain sits on the velvet couch on the right side, his legs kicked up on the small wooden table in front of him. His chestnut locks are tousled, as if he’s been dragging his fingers through his hair, and his crisp white shirt is already half unbuttoned.He’s a fine specimen, as Sariah would say, with toned muscles and long legs. I can almost see my roommate giving me the thumbs up for following through with her advice, and choosing Khain as my lover for the night.
“Finally, gorgeous. Never had ten minutes seemed like a lifetime,” he says as he throws me a lazy smile and motions me to close the distance between us with a come-hither gesture.
“Oh, baby, don’t tell me you’ve missed me?” I say flirtatiously as I make my way to him begrudgingly slow. I place the bottle on the table and stand in front of him, waiting for his next move.
