Page 12 of Sin and Salvation

The Black Hearts had helped me, so I would help them.

And then I would get the fuck out of here.

* * *

“The club opensin half an hour. You’re running behind.” Dina, the club’s general manager, was a stern-faced demon, but Kylaea had told me she was a marshmallow deep inside. All bark, no bite.

Somehow, I wasn’t sure if I believed that, especially since Dina steered me towards a dressing room table and plunked me down in it.

“You call that makeup? You’re going on stage, honey, not working in an office.”

I hadn’t even been aware there was a dressing room behind the club specifically for the girls to get ready, so I’d done my best upstairs in my room.

As soon as I looked in the mirror and saw myself contrasted against Kylaea, who sat two chairs down, I realized my error.

I’d done my best according to the standards maintained in Maxime’s realm: tasteful nude eye makeup, light mascara, sheer gloss.

Tyri sank into the chair next to me, giggling. “That is not gonna cut it. Here.”

The table in front of me was absolutely strewn with cosmetics. All of it was tailored for the demons I’d seen back here; some had pale violet skin, others yellow eyes.

But Tyri picked through the explosion, somehow selecting shades that would work on me. I tried to relax as she made me close my eyes, and I felt her brushing makeup on my eyelids. She chattered the entire time.

“You’ll get the hang of it. Trust me, you’re not the only girl to walk in here, brand spanking new, and hook a job that fast. Kylaea can give pole lessons after-hours, and until you learn how to be a little more heavy-handed with the black shadow, I’ll be in charge of your makeup.”

I tried to crack an eye open, and Tyri poked my nose with a brush. “Nope. Close them. You can see my flawless handiwork when it’s finished, and not a second before. Anyways—” There was a pause, and I heard the clatter of cosmetics as she rummaged on the counter. “—we’re going out to eat sometime, and you’re going to come with us. Seriously, what have you been living on? Salads? Dust? Air?”

“Mostly salads—”

“Ew.” She swirled something across my cheekbones. “I’m a carnivore, myself.”

I screwed up my nose and almost sneezed as a puff of powder made its way through my nostrils.

It was so weird and alarming, how these other demons treated me… and yet so nice. I realized that I would take Tyri and Kylaea’s overbearing friendliness any day over the cold machinations of Maxime’s interns.

And on top of that… they wanted to feed me. Which meant, as far as I was concerned, that they were my new best friends.

I was sick of Maxime’s rules. Sick of salads. Sick of diet shakes.

I had freedom, and barbecue, ahead of me.

“Okay… you can open your eyes for a few seconds while I put on the finishing touches.” Tyri moved so she was between me and the mirror. I couldn’t see myself at all, and my eyes began watering as she brushed on more mascara, forcing me to look at the ceiling. “I swear to the Devil, if you tear up and ruin this masterpiece…”

“I won’t!” I blinked rapidly until the tears dissipated. Never again would I allow another demon to put mascara on me.

Tyri capped the mascara and looked at me critically. “Perfect. I’m really not surprised the prez took a liking to you. Usually you’ve got to wait for audition nights.”

I blinked again. “What do you mean? They don’t… usually do that?”

Tyri shook her head, leaning back against the counter. “They’re usually not even here. They come in maybe one night a month, but they don’t stick around the whole time like they did with you. In fact…” She looked around furtively and leaned forward again, as though she were about to impart a great secret.

“I’ve never seen them like that before,” she whispered. “They don’t get lap dances from us. Ever. The Sergeant was all over you… and even the VP. So I’m gonna share a secret: most of us regulars look out for each other. Kylaea and I are going steady with our own guys who come in, so you won’t find problems from us, but… it’s not the sort of thing you want to rub in some of the girls’ faces, get me?”

I nodded, my stomach twisting in knots again. I’d been so awed by the warm friendliness of Kylaea and Tyri, I’d completely forgotten that these girls weren’t all going to be my friends.

Incredible, how quickly the survival instincts that kept me going had slipped away.

“But enough of the bad. Time for the good. You can look at yourself now.” She moved aside, letting me look in the mirror.

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