The smoke twisted in its artistic way, forming curls in the gloom, illuminated only by the age-speckled club lights.
Along the wall was every hue of amber liquid in their inverted bottles; every vice that Lacey tried her best to avoid.
Ecstasy was exactly as she remembered it. It was still evening and the crowd wasn't pulling even half of the crowd it would during happy hour. She was worried the rumours may have had quite the impact on the club. No wonder Aidas was worried, she thought as she tucked her hair in between her ears nervously.
Ecstasy curved into the room, dark in the barely lit room. Through the windows, the diamonds of lead panes, trickled the sallow light of street-lamps. The smell although changed overtime, or maybe it was just too early. Once it was of cigarette smoke only, the perfume that clung to clothing, skin and furniture alike.
But this time it smelled different... Almost clean and airy.
She leaned on the bar, her dark brown hair spilling over one shoulder of her cotton blue dress. She lolled her head to one side, pushing out her red lips just a little. She wasn't drunk yet but she liked to give the impression that she was, waiting for Derek her favourite bar tender to notice her from across the table.
Another bartender was there to take her order in a flash. Even while she was still trying to catch Derek's eye from the other side of the room, she could see the newbar tender's eyes dropping only momentarily to her low-cut neckline.
"Candy? Is that you?"
Derek called out the same time the other bartended opened his mouth to take her order.
"In the flesh Derek!!"
She exclaimed raising her hands. Derek looked shocked to see her, but nevertheless still gave her a side hug since the bar stopped them from hugging fully.
"Where have you been? You just disappeared and we didn't know what was going on!"
"Oh I'm sorry. I feel so bad for leaving without telling you guys but I had a lot of things to take care of."
Derek raised his eyebrows, giving her a look that showed that he didn't believe her. He made no comments and turned towards the shelf to find her favourite drink. The new bartender scurried away.
"You should have seen Kitty. She was a mess when you left. And Oscar wouldn't give her your number. He kept claiming you had none."
Lacey cringed. She had refused to give out her phone number, home address and generally anything about her personal life to anyone who worked at the club. Because she felt it was so demeaning that she didn't want to be reminded about such a past. Or even have friends or things that did.
"Oh My! Kitty?"
She asked again. Kitty was the only one nice and close to her. But they were only friends in Ecstasy. Their friendship ended the second they stepped out of the doors of the infamous club.
"Yes. She was scared something had happened to you. Well, I guess you need a drink before you see her then."
"Oh yes. I definitely do."
Lacey said as she accepted a shot of tequila from Derek.
"I see you still remember my favourite."
Lacey commented with a glint in her eyes and Derek nodded.
"Always. "
She looked around the general area of the club, eyes searching for a familiar face.
"They're in the back. Dressing room I think."
She nodded her head and slowly set down her drink. She was nervous seeing them. She didn't know what she was going to say or do when she saw them. Especially Kitty. They would all be curious, but she couldn't be able to tell them what was going on. Especially since Aidas made her swear to keep her mouth shut.
"Thanks Derek. I'll be on my way."
She said as she reached for her purse to pay for the drink and Derek raised his hand to stop her.
"It's on the house. Don't worry."
"Awwn. Thanks Derek."
She left the bar area and started walking towards the dressing room. Everything was exactly as she remembered. She wasn't especially expecting much of a difference either, she had barely been gone for a month.
Pepper was the first person to see her. She had her curly ginger hair in a black headband and a high ponytail and she was wearing ripped leggings with a large sweatshirt. Lacey noticed she had a new lip piercing and it looked really good on her.
"Oh well, look what the cat dragged in."
Pepper drawled and the others quickly turned to look at her. Many of them were quietly ogling her.
Lacey smiled awkwardly, she rarely got along with Pepper.
"Hi guys!"
She squeaked.
"Oh My God Candy is that you?!!"
Kitty screamed from the opposite side of the room as she ran towards her with a sock in a hand.
Lacey stretched her arms wide for her and received her warn hug.
"Where the hell have you been? Stupid Oscar wouldn't tell us why you left!"
"And he also didn't give out your number when I asked for it."
She said as she pinched Lacey's cheeks.
Lacey shrugged.
"I got a new job. That's why. But Oscar called me back for one more night."
Kitty nodded.
"Oh that's good! The crowd really misses you too. Besides this is the biggest opening night we'll be having in a while. we need all the hands we can get."
Kitty said as she dragged Lacey to the front of a dressing mirror.
"How have you been Kitty. You look really hyper."
Kitty nodded.
"I am! The big Boss is giving us a raise if we do great at the opening. Let's just say I really need the money."
"Woah! A raise?"
She raised he eyebrow suspiciously. Aidas seemed to be doing a lot of damage control. Way more than she expected.
Kitty nodded as her expression became guarded and she glanced around.
"The rumours have really done a number on the club. Some reporters have come here sniffing around and I guess a lot of clients just don't feel this place is a safe haven for them anymore."
"I can understand. But I thought an investigation has been done. So why are the rumours still out there?"
Kitty shrugged.
"My guess is that the big boss has pissed a lot of people off. An investigation isn't going to get them off his back soon. Ecstasy is their target."
She felt bad for Aidas. He had other establishments but she believed he was more emotionally attached to the club. She wondered who was working so hard to bring it down.
She didn't want to believe Aidas's accusations that Hunt had a hand in it. But Kitty was right, he did have a lot of enemies.
"So you're back."
Pepper said as a way of greeting as she appeared in from of Lacey. Lacey nodded.
"Yes, just for opening night."
Pepper shrugged as she feigned ignorance.
"Everybody already has positions on stage. Maybe you should just stay backstage and observe for a while before I find someplace to slot you in."
Lacey frowned as she turned to Kitty who was holding in a laugh.
"What's up with her?"
Kitty shrugged.
"Ever since Oscar put her centre stage, she's been a pain in the ass. Pay no attention to her."
Dancing centre stage was Lacey's former position.
"Trust me. I don't even have the time. What have you guys been working on?"
She asked and Kitty gave her a brief breakdown of everything they were going to do and what was going to happen.
It seemed pretty easy. In fact, it was pretty easy if she put her mind to it.
She changed into flexible dance clothes that consisted of leggings, a sport bra and a tank top. Then she tied her hair in a bun and decided to go for a quick practice on the poles.
The other girls were discussing their wardrobe and placement on the stage. Since Pepper already wanted her backstage, she didn't feel the need to join in their conversation.
She didn't want to make them feel like she was there to steal their jobs. Especially with the two new recruits who stared at her wearily.
The stage was empty, with nothing but the lights on and soft music playing into the background. She waved to the DJ who waved back and increased the volume of the slow music. He was probably testing and getting ready for the night just like she was.
She wrapped her arms with her usual bandages before taking on the poles.
Aidas walked into Ecstasy after a very nasty fight. He wiped the blood off his lips with the spare handkerchief he kept in his back pocket. He hated getting messed up. Which was why he rarely fought, unless he had to.
But a quick visit to the undergrounds had escalated more than he cared to admit. And he was pissed off.
He hated that Hunt Adler kept messing in his business and he hated that they were both running for the same post in office.
If asked to choose, of course the public would go for their golden boy Hunt Adler. Because compared to Hunt everyone believed Aidas Vladimir was shady, despite being one of the foremost job creators in the city. His string of establishments produced thousands of jobs for the people in the city everyday, but of course compared to Hunt who was the city's sweetheart with the founding family Aidas would never win.
He had to find a way to get dirt on Hunt quickly. The situation with the club had made him lose three points and he was looking for ways to regain it quickly.
He stormed into the club with his face full of rage, ignoring the bumbling bartender's greeting till his eyes caught someone at the far end in the room next to the wide dance floor.
It was Lacey. She was dancing.
He paused for a while as he watched her, she was in the middle of a swing, her feet were gracefully above the ground and her eyes were closed as she landed softly.
He was about to leave when she elevated herself again, her legs climbing up against the pole with her hands suspended in the air. There was something so graceful and perfect about the way she moved that kept him enthralled.
Slowly she opened her eyes and their eyes met and for a few seconds their gazes locked and it seemed as if they were frozen in time.
Lacey could see Aidas's eyes from afar.
His eyes were a gorgeous blue, but their expression was guarded. He took a few steps closer and she struggled to concentrate on her pole.
He could hear the sound of her heart beating rapidly in her chest as he drew nearer to her. Her eyes avoiding his gaze as she continued to dance like she was performing a ritual.
He was spellbound as he watched her and every inch of his body yearned for her touch as he imagined her warm fingers on his face.
He blinked once.
Then twice.
No, he couldn't do it.
No matter what happened he had vowed to himself that he would at least try and maintain a cordial relationship with Lacey. Despite the fact that there was so many things about her that intrigued and excited him, Aidas didn't date humans.
It was his personal rule.
But Lacey wasn't human either. At least not fully human. He could smell it in her blood.
Something otherworldly.
Something like him, but different.