Chapter One: Club Isis

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Burgundy

"What's up wackadoos!" I scream while kicking open the bathroom door. Demi rolls her eyes and continues to put on her foundation. "I'm going to press charges against Lux for telling you that was a real phrase." She says.

"Are you just mad it stuck?" I stick my tongue out at Demi but she just continues to apply her makeup to her deep mocha brown skin.

"Are you going to make jokes or are you going to get dressed?" A tight smile spreads across her face and I'm not completely convinced it's real, but whatever. I just shrug and stretch my arms and wings to the ceiling then swipe a lip gloss off her counter.

"It's only 9," I say while smudging the goo onto my face, "We don't have to be there 'til 11:30 Dem Dems,like, I don't get the rush." I squeeze myself next to Demi, shoulder to shoulder, and look at myself in the small bathroom vanity and purse my plump lips together.The lip gloss is a dark berry pink and it compliments my cinnamon complexion nicely.

"The rush is," Demi states as she nudges me away, "Tonight is Mayo-Con, and the tips are going to be great, especially for faeries. Last year I made $1,200."

"Ooooo, is that a lot?" I ask, looking at Demi eagerly. Money isn't really a thing back home, in Faeland. Most faeries make due by bartering. There was one sweltering summer where Mumsy flew to the market and traded ten dresses to a Farmer Faerie for three jugs of frosted peach juice.

Demi gives me a look I can't read, then blows air out her nose, "Yes, Burgundy, it's a lot."

"Eeee," I squeal while jumping up and down, "So that means we can take another trip to the city and ride the big red bus again!?"

Demi lets out a small laugh and gives me a smile, this time I'm sure it's real, she grabs my face and places her forehead against mine. She used to do this alot when we were younger.

"Burgundy."

"Yes?"

"You...Are...sheltered as hell."

We both burst into a fit of giggles and she softly pushes me out the bathroom.

"Please get ready. If you're able to do it in 30 minutes you'd be the best cousin ever." She turns her back to me while pulling out a pack of lashes from her makeup bag then shuts the door.

"Does the best cousin award come with a medal?" I yell.

"GET! READY!" She screams back.

I twist myself on one leg and make my way to the couch, I only call it couch because that's what Demi told me it was, but to me it was just a lumpy large pillow that she had folded into an 'L' and pushed against the wall. It was a ugly,moss green, and no matter how many times Demi sprayed it, it always smelled like coffee. She called it Le Pickle. I walk past the ladder that led to Demi's bed and the knook under it that held a tiny kitchen, and after three steps I'm in the living room. A studio loft apartment in this area apparently was a steal, whatever that meant.

I stand in front of Le Pickle–which has been my bed for the past few months—and survey the area. When I moved in my suitcase had a bit of an explosion and scattered my clothes everywhere. I apologized to Demi when it happened, I packed way too much pop-n-burst powder. I look around at the variety of clothing. I lay my eyes on the perfect outfit I threw across a lampshade earlier and snatch it off.

Damn I look good, I think to myself with a giddy smile. I am doing a mock sensual dance in the full body mirror by the bathroom door and taking in how cute I look. This might be the best fit I've ever worn to Club Isis. The hot pink plus size bodysuit I have on fits perfectly in all the right places. It has a long v-neck opening that makes my boobs look fantastic. I was so scared it wouldn't be the right size or possibly a rip off, but Demi took all my measurements with a tape measure and assured me it was safe to purchase something from peddlers you never met.

I matched the bodysuit with a shiny black skirt and white fishnets. Lux, Demi's best friend, gifted me a pair of high heeled boots that were covered in hot pink faux fur and had hearts stamped all over them. They were a few sizes too big but looked so cute I couldn't say no.

While placing my crimson colored braids into a ponytail, the bathroom door opens and Demi steps out.

"How do I look?" She asks the question, but she already knows good and damn well she looks like the baddest bitch that has ever existed.

Earlier in the week Demi had gotten an electric blue buss-it-down lace front installed by Lux. It popped magnificently against her dark skin. She was wearing a short neon green jumpsuit which showcased her long and skinny legs.She put boots on too, except hers were white with black zebra stripes. She had pink, iridescent, dragonfly-like wings that matched her pink eyes which were more noticeable because she put on white eyeliner.

"You look fawking HOT," I say almost breathlessly. Demi's beauty was always unmatched,it was one of the many reasons she was accepted into The Godmother's court.

"Thanks Boo."

As she's putting on an earring, she begins to stare at me up and down. I can see her turning the cogs in her head to formulate the right words.

"What?" I ask,placing my hands on my hips. I already know what she's about to say, she told it to me last weekend too.

She sighs and begins to tread the waters carefully, "It's just tonight is a big night and..."

"And...?"

A thick air appears in the room as I wait for her to release the trigger of what she's about to say next.

Her eyes turn away from me and I can see her fiddle with the clasp of her hoop earring, "Just...Can you please listen to Slug tonight and not fight with him."

I suck in my teeth and roll my eyes, "Who cares about what Slug has to say!"

"Burg-"

"Burg nothing. The only reason he has a problem with me is because I'm fat, you're the one who told me that. "

"I know but it's just–"

"I don't care. Why should I have to listen to some short ass piece of caterpillar shit," I yell. I can feel the heat underneath my face and my hands are shaking.

Slug is the owner of Club Isis and has a huge hate boner for big people, especially bigger faeries. It took Demi forever to convince him to let me dance. I don't know how she did it but I was finally able to get an audition, the look he gave me the entire time made my skin crawl.

He apparently told Demi that fat faeries were bad for business and told her he couldn't wait to find a perfect reason to fire me.

"I don't care about Slug, his rules, or that raggedy ass ogre that follows him everywhere," I start walking towards her and emphasize my words with every step, "He.Can.Eat. Squirrel. Nuts."

I'm standing on the tip toes of my boots so we can be eye to eye. She's just staring back at me and giving me another look I can't read but then rolls her eyes and steps away from me. She walks to her purse and jacket that's hanging by the front door and yanks her jacket off the hook like it owes her something.

"Fine then, but if Slug locks you in the breakroom tonight don't complain to me," She opens the door then begins to fly outside, "Come on, our Uber will be here in five."

"Judah isn't driving us?" I ask, scrambling to put my arms and wings through the holes of my coat. Judah was Demi's...well, I wasn't quite sure what he was to Demi.

"I'll explain later, LET'S GO!"

***

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE dancing at Club Isis, but driving there is the the fucking worst! In Faeland we don't have cars. If you couldn't fly somewhere, you'd just hop on the back of a caterpillar or butterfly, maybe even a bird or a squirrel! But in the Human Realm, you have to drive a zooming metal deathtrap everywhere. No wonder their environment is dying.

I'm face down in Demi's lap and groan as the Uber driver makes another sharp turn. I feel like I can vomit at any moment. Demi's rubbing my back in small circles trying her best to comfort me.

"I'm going to be siiiiiiiiiiiick." I whimper out.

Demi just pats my back lovingly then whispers, "Save it for the club bucko."

"What's a Bucko?"

She sighs, "Don't worry about it."

We pull up to Isis just in the knick of time because as soon as I step out of the car my lunch comes right up. Chicken quesadillas are the best food I've had in the Human realm, but they taste like liquid fire when being regurgitated.

I can hear small mumbles from the street–people asking Demi if I'm ok and her telling them I'm fine. After my quesadilla is completely emptied from my stomach, Demi hands me a piece of gum which I take gratefully. It's lemon and mint flavored and it makes my tongue tingle.

"Are you ready to go?" She asks.

I blow the gum into a giant bubble then just nod my head vigorously, she gives a small chuckle then we begin walking. Even though the driver dropped us off in front of the club we actually have to fly to the back entrance and enter that way. Which I don't mind, Snealor Street is one of my favorite places to be. Snealor Street is covered head to toe in beautiful bright lights and neon signs that decorate the outside of pubs and bars. Some humans flood the streets in big crowds, basically touching shoulder to shoulder. Other humans stand in lines outside the bars, chattering and laughing drunkenly. I see a few girls not wearing any jackets and it looks like they're shivering, but Demi told me a hoe never gets cold so I'm sure they're fine.

It's the second week of November and the chilly Autumn wind wasted no time coming. Demi doesn't like the cold so she's buzzing her way quickly through the crowded street ,zooming past human heads like a hawk. I'm in no rush though. I glide slowly over the humans, who pull out their phones and flash their cameras at me–Demi calls them tourists. I look down at them, smiling and waving as I fly. The lights on their cameras follow my every movement, like a mama duck guiding her babies to a pond.

Demi has made it to the alley way before me and she's giving me a mean look as I land.

"What?"

"You've been here a million fucking times."

"And it never stops being fun!" I exclaim.

She opens her mouth to speak but it just twitches instead and she stomps her zebra boots towards the door and I follow. We walk through the dull grey hallway and make our way to the employee break room, which is really just a storage room with milk crates for chairs. The moment we walk into the room Lux runs up to us.

"It's my two best bitches in the worldddddd." She squeals as she wraps her arms around our necks then sloppily kisses our cheeks.

"Ugh, you're gonna ruin the Fenty bitch." Demi jokes while pushing her away.

"If you didn't buy that cheap dollar store finishing spray, nothing would ruin that mug bitch."

"Burn wackadoos!" I yell loudly, then we all burst into hysterical laughter, Lux then squeezes me tight again.

"Oh, Burgundy Burger, I am going to miss you when you leave us in the next two weeks."

A tense air grows heavy with this reminder but Demi's quick to change the subject and yanks her jacket off to show Lux her outfit.

"Check it out!"

"Oh. My. God." Lux emphasizes, "Le Pickle could never!"

Demi laughs and does a pirouette–her slender frame and long legs almost knocks us out–then starts twerking. Shaking her small booty viciously. Lux claps in delight, "You go bitch! Little booties matter!"

At this point I'm feeling a little left out so I shout, "Did you forget there's more than one bad bitch in this room?"

I tear off my coat, then throw back my ass like I'm angry, and shake and move my thick thighs.

"Okay, Pink Ranger, shake that rump roast!" Lux screeches while wagging her finger in a snake-like motion, making invisible 'S's.

I freeze, "What's a Power Ranger?"

Demi and Lux then look at each other and start uncontrollably laughing. Lux gives me another hug.

"There is so little time and so much to teach you." She says.

While we chat in the breakroom the other dancers start to trickle in. Lux is only the second human on the team, Slug mainly hires faeries. There's Lola and Porsha, they're best friends who have matching dragon tattoos on their thighs and are never far apart from each other. Then there's Gio, who has bright yellow wings, and is buff as fuck. Lastly is Jenny, the other human besides Lux, and she started a week ago.

When everyone comes in, Slug and his bodyguard, Rex, enter the room. Rex wasn't really an ogre but he was so burly and brawn that he could definitely pass for one. Slug was as short as a Bogg Troll, his fingers were always covered in gaudy gold rings, and he had thick inky black sideburns with a matching inky black beard. Everyone, including me even though I didn't know what it meant, called him half priced Drake behind his back,

"Okay Lady Bugs," He starts , "Tonight is Mayo-Con, one of the busiest nights for me. I need you to listen and I need you to listen good. I need you to fly like you've never flown before and I need ya' to shake that ass like you got pudding in your pants."

We all raise a brow.

"You know what I mean," Slug shouts, "And the most important thing I need you to do is: Stay. In. Your. Stations."

Slug then looks me dead in my eyes and I give him a sheepish smirk and ignore the chill I feel crawl up my spine. He creeps towards me menacingly with his pointer finger in my direction. Before I know it, we're face to face.

"Stay. In. Your. Station." He growls out, his finger almost touching my nose. It feels like he's staring at me for a century before he backs away, his finger still pointing at me.

"Everyone stays in their station, unless I say so! Understand!" He yells. All the girls murmur a pathetic yes in response–except for me. This doesn't go unnoticed, but Slug just moves on and begins to roll out our assignments for the night.

Porsha, Lola, and Lux will be bottle girls. Slugs says Demi's outfit is the perfect attention grabber so she's on the main stage along with Gio. Jenny and I will be by the bar, Jenny on one side and me on the other. After getting our instructions we start filing out the door, but before I even set a foot out the door way, Rex grabs my arm and Slug shuts the door.

"You're not going to embarrass me tonight." He says in a menacing tone.

"I don't know what you mean." I respond, trying to be as nonchalant as I can even though I feel my heart speed up faster and my hands balled into fists.

"Ya' know exactly what I mean! " If looks could kill, I'm sure Slug would blow a hole in my head.

"Listen here you rollie pollie," He starts, "I own a business and as a business owner it's MY job to know when someone is a liability. You, my dear Burgundy, are one of the biggest liabilities I have ever met in my life. Tonight, you are not going to fly in the rafters, take over the main stage, or leave your station to fraternize with my guests as if you don't work here. Capiche?"

There's a part of me that wants to punch Slug then tell him that he can drown in the 3 foot end of a pool but instead I say, "Capiche."

***

Mayo-Con must be a cult meeting or something. Isis is filled with people who are dressed head to toe in white leotards, blue capes, and black sunglasses. They all look like clones, and to be honest, I'm kind of scared. I'm dancing on a wide square podium next to the bar, it has a pole screwed in and it lights up in different colors. Our Dj has the music booming and I can feel the vibrations of the sound flow around me. That usually energizes me, but tonight the vibe is definitely off. I'm trying my best to focus on dancing but all these dressed up weirdos are just staring at me. They're not moving or even snapping their fingers. They're all gathered around the stages and just looking at us dancing.

I've never seen a crowd like this. I glide up my pole to look around the room. I see Demi and Gio dancing on the main stage. They're flying up in the air and crashing down into splits. Lux actually taught us that, it's called a death drop. Usually there is a wave of screams that follow after, but the crowd is dead silent and continuing their weird stares. This would be the perfect night to jazz things up like I usually do. Slug may think I'm a troublemaker but he's completely wrong. I just help get the party going. The crowd goes crazy when I fly into the rafters and drag Demi with me. They love it when I hang out in the VIP section with them, and they also love it when I'm juggling empty vodka bottles. I'm really that girl, and it's a shame Slug doesn't see it.

I slowly slide down my pole, flapping my wings and doing a pathetic spin. Right when I land, there's a random costumed petrean in front of my podium. He's not very tall but his white leotard–much like my top–does not hide much to the imagination and I see that most of his height is in his pants.

I give him a sly smile, "What's your name?"

Silence.

We have a staring contest for at least a minute, before he pulls out a dollar. I put out my hand to take the money but he moves right past it and places the bill on the stage by my feet. I curl my top lip.

What the fuck is wrong with these people? I think. I pick up the dollar with hesitation and I notice his head follows me the entire time. I give him a small thank you. He does not say a single word.

We have another staring contest then he slowly backs away into the crowd.

The night goes on and the Mayo-Con people don't stop creeping me out, several other people have placed dollars on my podium and walked slowly away. Demi and Gio are doing an improvised salsa dance in the air and all the creeps are placing their money in that weird way on the stage. At least, Demi is getting the tips she expected.

I can't stand this energy anymore and a lightbulb goes off in my head. I put two fingers in my mouth and whistle towards the bartender, Boogie. He was 60 years old, had a big afro, and wore a golden hair pick around his neck. Gio told me Boogie still lived in the 1970's, but I didn't know what that meant. I give him a wink and he automatically responds with a devilish smile then nods at me. I do a few spins on my pole then jump straight up into the air. Occasionally, especially when I first started, Boogie would make shots for the entire bar then throw one in the air for me to catch then shoot down my throat. Technically we weren't supposed to do this, I was still 19, and Demi had to get me a fake ID to even get into the club.

But it made the crowd go wild and everyone would get shots afterwards, maybe this trick was needed to make the night less awkward. I see Boogie line up the shot glasses and haphazardly pour Hennessy (all we had was corn ale in Faeland) into them, he looks at me and gives a wink. I wink back then prepare for take off, I float to one of the rafter beams and place my feet accordingly. Boogie then flings a glass in the air and I swoop towards it swiftly, grabbing it right before it hits the ground. I shoot back up in the sky and look at the crowd. All eyes are on me, even the crowd by the mainstage. I then do a spin tornado and gulp the shot quickly.

"Brrrr." I shake as I feel the strong taste and heat of the Hennessy flow throughout my body. I drop the glass down and Boogie catches it perfectly.

Now is time for the grand finale. I put my arms out like I'm about to give someone a giant bear hug then tuck them into my body and grab my legs. I spin in my canon ball position and then plunge down. Counting as I get closer to the ground.

1...2...3...FLOURISH!

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