Page 63 of The Tenth Muse

Duh!

“Hell yeah!” I grab Donella’s hand and they help me down from the board. They quickly explain our situation to the chimera at the door and then we’re ducking through a blue archway to step onto a green velvet carpet. Donella hones in on her pattern hunting and I am left to take in the beautiful sights and sounds of the theater as I trail behind her.

Attendees dressed in rich tones of gold, green, and black gather in small groups in the lobby, waiting for the doors to open. Feathers adorn just about everyone, but in different colors and lengths. Folks dripping in jewels weave through the crowd, stopping for photos and autographs. There’s a woodsy aroma hanging thinly in the air and soft music plays from somewhere upstairs. It’s warm in here, probably from all the bodies pressed together and I adjust the collar of my shirt as I follow Donella. We walk through a series of doors and hallways, until we come to stairs leading to a lower level.

“We’re almost there,” Donella says over her shoulder. She reaches her open hand back for me and a buzzy static shocks me through our connection. Donella doesn’t seem to notice so I ignore it too, following her down the steps.

At the bottom of two flights of stairs, another chimera stands between us and a dark blue door. A red ball of light bounces up from the floor and a view of the security chimera we met outside comes into focus. They speak quickly in another language and then the chimera in front of us steps aside and opens the door. We both nod our heads in thanks as we pass through.

It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dim lighting but pretty soon I am taking in the backstage scene. Robes and shoes are on just about every couch, daybed, and chair. Mirrors line the walls and a few performers hum to themselvesin separate areas, likely going through their routines before their turn on the stage. It’s even hotter down here and I’m uncomfortably aware of my body and sweat starting to drip down my back. I know performers usually like to keep both their vocal chords and muscles warm to avoid straining something, but I didn’t realize they might get ready in a sauna. Donella leads me forward, seemingly unphased by the heat, past changing curtains, a mic garage, and what looks like a break room, to the final door at the back.

“They’re in here, you ready?”

“Yeah.”

Donella knocks on the door and it shimmers before sliding open from the middle. A beautiful woman sits at a mirror adjusting her lipstick. It’s burgundy, which compliments her lilac skin tone well. She’s sitting in a pink chair, surrounded by pillows and her black lingerie shows through her pink translucent robe.

“Hello, um, Courtney, is that right?” For once, Donella might be just as caught off guard as I am.

The woman says something in her language but once Donella explains where I’m from, she switches to English.

“And what are you looking for?” Her voice sounds like velvet and cashmere had a baby, but her mouth doesn’t move to form words, it’s just out there in the air.

“Two bugs,” I say, stepping toward her, “they’re about this long and dark brown.” I move my hands to show her the length but her eyes catch mine and stay there. For a moment, I can’t tell what she’s thinking, her stare both intense and somehow blank. Like she’s looking into my soul and staring past it at the same time.

Finally she smiles and motions to the other side of the room.

“They’re over on the counter in that green cup with the white lid. I’m glad you came for them, they were causing quite theracket.” As soon as she’s given me directions, she turns that intense stare on Donella. I move my feet quickly, wanting to escape this odd interaction.

But once I’ve grabbed the cup she mentioned, and confirmed the two witches are in there, I turn around and am struck again by Donella’s silent beauty. She’s got those eyebrows furrowed again. And her horns are—glowing? She’s saying something to Courtney, her hands gesturing in wide curves.Have I ever noticed how nice her hands are before?

It’s too hot to hear what they’re saying, I’ve got to move closer to her.

Donella’s tail is twitching rapidly, I wonder what it would feel like on my?—

“You don’t know the circumstances,” the heat around me breaks but, with Donella scooping me to her by my waist, it’s back with a vengeance but in my core this time.

“Let us deal with this on our own.”

I’m just now clocking the anger in Donella’s voice, what happened? My brain has never been that fuzzy before, it was like time slowed down and I was moving through a fog. A very overheated fog, but an out-of-character fog nonetheless.

Donella turns us both around and we are out of the door in the next moment. I get only a glimpse of Courtney, smiling, all her sharp teeth on display as the door snicks shut behind us.

The theater is quieter as we retrace our steps, the patrons likely being seated and waiting for the show to start. I couldn’t care less though because I’m suddenly very interested in the tension forming in Donella’s jaw. Their hand around my waist with a firm grip. The way they use their shoulders to enter each room first. It’s all very protective, and broody, and hot.

I can barely feel the breeze on my heated skin when we make it outside. Only two moons shine tonight but it’s still plenty enough for us to make our way to the board. Donella guides meforward to step on before her but I turn quickly and lean against it instead to face her.

“Donella.” my eyes move from hers, down to her waist, and back up. “I don’t even know what I’m trying to say right now.”

Real smooth.

“I’m sure. Listen, I’m sorry Lellies, I wasn’t thinking before. I shouldn’t have let you go in. This is a succubus club. I can only protect myself so much, I can’t even imagine what you’re feeling right now.”

They’re quiet as those words sink in. A succubus club. Of course succubi would exist. Why wouldn’t they, in a realm of gods and demons and monsters? No wonder I couldn’t think clearly down there. But now that I know what that foggy feeling was like, I can tell it’s not affecting me anymore.

“That was potent in the extreme, and kinda scary, but that’s not this.” I grab their elbows and pull them closer. “I like you, I liked you before all this.” They hold my elbows as well, their grip shaky. “You’re kind and patient and sexy, I just didn’t say anything before.”

Donella looks away, looks back at me, and looks away again. I get on my tippy toes so I can reach her forehead to mine.

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