Chapter 42. Ariel - The mask

Chapter 42. Ariel - The mask
Michael, to his credit, doesn’t react to my words. Thank fuck! 
It’s been stupid to come straight to him, since it endangers both of us, but desperate times call for desperate measures. 
I am done being in this place, done with Ivan, Noctyros, Mack, and whoever else is a piece of shit. The only ones I worry about are the girls, especially Mindy, but if I’m here, I can’t do anything to help them. 
Once I’m away from here, I can go back home, and let my dragons know everything that has happened. 
My heart trembles in my chest each time I think about them.
Khai.
Killian. 
Asher. 
Elijah. 
I feel the urge to wrap my arms around me. God! I miss them so much, my soul is in constant pain. 
When I return home, I’ll make things right with them. 
Home.
Home is where they are. 
Michael lifts his empty glass. “Can I get another drink?” he asks in a calm tone, while I feel like dying inside each more with every second I spend on this ship. 
It’s only my fault that I’m in this situation. I should have never gotten into that car and come to Chicago. I should have never ran away from my men without giving them the possibility to explain themselves. 
I look around, scanning the room for Varek. He’s not around, which is perfect. “We have to go now, while my shadow is not around,” I urge Michael.  
“I need time,” Michael says. 
“Time’s up!” My voice comes out as a hiss. 
Michael’s gaze washes over me. He guesses that something has made me this agitated, as he says, “How bad is it?” 
“I’m supposed to dance, so everyone in here can see me in my naked glory.” My voice cracks, just a bit. 
I can’t break right now. Later, when I’m away from here, I will have time to rage and curse the sky for what happened to me. 
Michael lets out a breath through his teeth. “We are going to get ourselves killed, but fine. I’ll get you out of here tonight. But get me that drink. I will need it. And while you are at it, get yourself one as well. You need it more than I do.” 
I take the glass for Michael. By some small miracle my fingers are not shaking. 
“Keep acting normal. If Ivan starts to suspect we are up to something, this is over before it starts,” Michael warns me. 
He pulls out this phone while I go grab him a new drink. 
On the way to the bar, I bump into Valek. 
“I was looking for you,” he says, while he looks at the glass in my hand. “Mindy will take over your tables. Get ready to dance. You have ten minutes.” 
Noctyros already informed Ivan who told Valek that my job here changed. 
I look over my shoulder, hoping to catch Michael’s attention, but he’s busy with his phone. I am so screwed. 
“Can I at least get Michael his drink?” I ask. 
“Mindy will take care of it,” Valek replies. 
It’s a small, windowless space tucked into the lower deck—barely wider than a hallway, with the low ceiling and constant hum of the engines reminding me I’m trapped at sea.
Two vanity desks are bolted to the wall, their mirrors ringed with dim, flickering lights. The surfaces are cluttered with makeup palettes, open lipsticks, and perfume bottles that have seen better days.
On the opposite wall, metal rods hold an array of lingerie swaying slightly with the ship’s motion—corsets, thongs, and fishnet sets in deep reds and blacks. A couple pairs of stilettos roll lazily across the uneven floor with each subtle rock of the vessel.
Valek follows me into the room. 
I arch an eyebrow. “Are you going to watch me while I change clothes?” 
Valek gives me a look that says, ‘You have nothing I’m interested in.’ 
“I wouldn’t call clothes what you are about to put on. And yes, I am here to watch, to make sure you don’t do anything dumb.” 
I huff. “What is that supposed to mean?” 
Pure rage flashes in Valek’s eyes. “It means that you are going to get your ass out there and dance and do whatever else Ivan tells you do to, because if you don’t and Mindy–”
He stops talking. 
“You like her, don’t you?” I dare to ask. He says nothing but there’s no need. “If you like her, then why don’t you get her out of here?” 
Valek snorts. “You think it’s so easy? No one walks away from here and hopes to get away with it. Ivan is… powerful.” 
I tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear. “It’s not Ivan that you fear, but Noctyros.” 
His brows shoot up. “How do you know that name?”
“He told me when I met him earlier.” 
My revelation surprises Valek. “You met… Noctyros?” 
“Yeah. He wanted to have a little chat after I made sure Norm won’t have any more kids. Talking of that, I really need to wash my hands. I touched his balls and they were gross!” 
Valek is still fixated on Noctyros, as he says, “If you spoke to him, then you know why I can’t risk Mindy’s life by trying to get her out of here.” 
If Valek is afraid of Noctyros, he has to be very powerful. If he’s a total sycophant who has no regard for anyone.  
Either way, I should be very careful.
“You’d rather have her here, and watch while others pay to sleep with her?” I inquire.
“She’s safe here.” 
I snort. “She’s forced to sleep with men.”
A muscle ticks in his jaw. “You have five minutes left.” 
“You’re a coward,” I say, disappointment laced in my tone, before I go to one of the vanity desks and search for the body paint. 
I don’t find it, which has me cursing under my breath so I look at the lingerie and pick a corset that won’t reveal too much. The corset matches the blank, laced panties I’m wearing.
“Turn around,” I tell Valek. 
To my surprise, Valek does as asked. 
I strip quickly and up on the black corset. Fortunately, it fastens in the front—no fumbling, no help needed. I take a look in the mirror and my heart almost stops. I look like I’m about to fuck every man on this damned ship. 
“I can’t go out looking like this!” 
Valek turns to look at me and… blinks. “I see nothing wrong with how you are dressed.” 
He sees nothing wrong because he’s been on this ship for who knows how long and he’s used to seeing naked women. 
“I’m not the type to get naked in front of a crowd,” I whisper. 
“Then dance so damn well you won’t have to get naked,” he says. 
I can do that. 
“Fine,” I breathe. “Let’s get this over with,” I say as I walk over to the door. 
Valek moves to where the lingerie is. “Wait a moment.” 
He looks for something for a couple of seconds. 
“Here,” he says and gives me a mask.

For anyone asking - no, this book is not abandoned. The reason why it takes me a bit to update it is because I'm trying to finish another story and after that, this one will become my focus point. A lot is about to happen ;) PS - who misses the dragons? I do.