Page 4 of Disco Fever

“It’s time, Dottie.” Patty rushed into the room, carrying my large feathered pastel pink wings. All the dancers wore them as we were the angels in Eden’s Inferno. They were each handmade with real feathers and plastered in sequins, rhinestones and crystals that sparkled and flowed effortlessly as we moved. They were famous. People would travel from all over the world to watch an angel perform, and now, I was one of them.

With a deep inhale, I forced a smile and stepped back, allowing Patty to place my pink wings around my shoulders and arms, nestling them perfectly against my body. She then helped me into the matching pink platform heels, strapping them around my ankles as the tips of my wings trailed down past them and kissed the floor. My torso turned and twisted as I adjusted my hair and examined myself one last time.

“Damn, Dottie.” Patty exhaled. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen an angel as beautiful as you.” I turned to face her, meeting her smile with my own. “Go get them, baby girl.” She winked.

The music filled the air of the club, the volume of it growing as I stepped to the edge of the stage and listened, adjusting my wings as the cheering crowd of men whistled and cat-called. The dancer before me was on her knees, taking clumps of the bills they had tossed at her and rubbed them along her semi-naked body with a devious smile. Her sienna colored skin glistened beneath the lights, smothered in body glitter and the eyes of the men gathered near the stage. She wore her own set of wings, smaller than mine but far more grand as each feather was hand painted gold and dusted in crystals that caught every angle of the lighting as she moved. The dancer’s name was Jade—well, her stage name. We all had one, picked based on the energy and persona we exhumed to the owners when they hired us. Once a name was chosen for us, we had to perform in such a way that no one would question it. And hers fit her well.

Jade wore a tiny thong tied around her hips, emerald green and gold floral pasties, gold jewelry, and her platform heels. It wasn’t much, but she could prance naked on the stage and still have this wave of confidence to her. She was so beautiful. I nearly fell under the spell of her dancing as I watched her toss her long pitch-black hair around. All the dancers here were so talented, I almost didn’t feel worthy to call myself one.

Breathe. You’ve earned your place here, Dot. Just breathe.

The green lights lowered as Jade shook her ass one last time, blowing a kiss to the lively crowd as more money rained all around her. She gracefully gathered her well earned cash, tucking what she could between the tiny strap of her thong and clutching the rest to her breasts as she dallied backstage. Jade nearly ran into me, surprised to find me.

“My bad!” She smiled. “Wow, you look amazing, Dot!” The crowd cheered once more. “The crowd is hungry tonight. I got them all warmed up for you. Now go serve them that sweet dessert they all crave.” Jade winked, gently brushing past me as the lights shifted from the green to various shades of pink. The music for my set began to play, slowly coming to life as a warm wave of ecstasy washed over me.

It was time. I took a deep breath, adjusted my wings and stepped out onto the stage.

As soon as my platform heel hit the scuffed stage floor, I fell into routine. The stage name persona given to me came alive, possessing me as even my walk changed, moving in a way to enhance every bit of my features.

“Here she is, our sweet and not so innocent angel, Bubbles!” The crowd erupted as I appeared, energized by their excitement.

I stepped to the center stage, elegantly grabbing the stripper pole, all lights and eyes on me as I sparkled like a pink diamond in the night. I wasn’t sure if it was the cocaine, the music, or the idea of being watched, but my body began to burn, swaying with the beat as it throbbed in my bones.

I twirled around the silver pole, my wings gliding in the air as I spun and stopped, dropping and bending my knees with a smile. Men whistled and hollered as I softly bounced on my knees and tossed my hair. I wanted to look out in the sea of faces and find them, but I knew it was risky. Risky yet tempting.

My body bounced a little more before I snapped my knees back and took my time rising, gripping the pole as I ran mytongue along it until I was fully standing. The men went wild, throwing money on the stage as I began to feel weightless. My leg wrapped around the pole and I began to swing, my wings flowing behind me as the world blurred. I was dissolving into the music and voices, drifting between reality and fantasy. Something caught my eyes as I slowed and stopped, my back slamming against the cold metal as it pressed into my spine. My heart raced as I stared ahead at them. Patty was right. They were here, and they were watching me.

Fuck the rules. If they want to watch, then I’m going to give them a show.

My hands grazed along my body, touching all my curves as I stared back at them, removing my bra and tossing it aside with a wide smile. The crowd lost it, watching as I felt myself, touching my breasts, gliding my hands along my sternum back up towards my neck. I reached back and grabbed the pole, taking my time as I slid down to my knees and blew them a kiss. Their bedazzled masks tilted, noticing my attention was on them.

That’s right, I see you. Now keep those eyes on me, you devils. I’m dancing for you.

3

KAT

I wasdesperate for some fresh air. I wasn’t sure what was going on in my head, but I needed a moment. I couldn’t stop thinking about Bubbles and her seductive dance, the way her body moved, and how she stared right at us, daring us to keep our eyes on her—it was intoxicating. I had to know more about her.

Fawning over a woman wasn’t new to me, but this… this was something different. This desperate desire and new craving had gotten out of hand and became something like an addiction. I wasn’t just coming to Eden’s Inferno for work anymore. I wasn’t sitting in my corner, thinking about the money, or the deals, or the agreement we had with the owner. I was thinking about her. Showing up to watch her. Being present for her. The beautiful blonde fox that went by the stage name, Bubbles, had enraptured me and I needed more. The way she moved and danced, commanding everyone’s focus the second she entered a room and stepped on stage, why she was a fucking drug.

The past few nights of watching her perform, she had looked right at us. She didn’t care to listen to the owner’s rules and did exactly as she pleased and stared straight into our souls. It was like she was asking for trouble. No, begging for it. And thepart that enticed me the most? She wasn’t just looking at Dante. No, she was equally focused on usboth,and that sent a jolt of pleasure right to my core every single time I thought about it. That seductive little angel wanted both of us. And that fucking thought consumed me. I couldn’t think straight or focus on anything but her.

Pull yourself together, Kat. Fucking focus!

As I stepped outside the club, a burst of fresh night air hit me. I walked around the side of the building to an alley and ripped my devil mask off, closing my eyes as I took a deep breath, basking in the springtime air. A strange club mix of Dolly Parton’s Jolene played in the club behind me, thumping as I could faintly hear it in the background and feel it in my core. It was an odd remix, but worked somehow. I found myself mindlessly tapping my fingers to it on my thigh as I pulled a pack of cigarettes out of my bra. I gingerly placed one between my lips and lit it with the disposable lighter I always kept handy. With a deep inhale, I felt the welcome warmth and slight burn in my lungs, the instant relaxation that came with the first drag of a cigarette.

Yes. I tilted my head back and exhaled a steady stream of smoke.

The side door to Eden’s Inferno slammed to my left. At first, I didn’t pay it any attention, just continued smoking my cigarette and basking in the night, keeping to myself. Muffled voices began to make their way to me from where I assumed people were exiting the club. The voices grew, the sounds of shuffling hitting my ears as the energy of the voices shifted to something sinister. I flicked the cherry off the end of the cigarette and slowly walked in the direction of the voices with curiosity. My platform boots didn’t hide my approach, but I wasn’t necessarily trying to be quiet either.

“You thought I wouldn’t find you one day, really? Be reasonable, Luanne.” It was a man’s voice, one I didn’t recognize, telling me he wasn’t an employee at the club and must’ve been a patron. “You can change your hair, and try to pretend to be someone you’re not, but I will always find you, baby. You’re mine!”

It sounded like a lover’s spat, but something was off about it.

“Juan, please, don’t call me that. I don’t know how many times I need to tell you, but I’m not your baby anymore. And it’s not Luanne. I go by Dot now. I left you and that life behind. I’m done.” A woman spoke in reply to the man’s voice as I crept closer, listening to what she was saying.

“You listen to me,bitch.” The man spat the word as his voice raised. Normally, I wouldn’t involve myself, but men degrading women was something I didn’t stand for, especially not here. We protected this place, Dante and I, and that shit didn’t fly with us. I didn't care what the situation was, this was going to end whether it was taken elsewhere or whatever. It wasn’t fucking happening at Eden’s Inferno, not while we were here.

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