The singer’s sultry voice sang a tune about longing as she stopped near the club floor and the spotlight illuminated a pair on a lounger. These two were the real stars.
The same succubus guarding the door earlier was wrapped around a seated man. She still wore her red gown with him shirtless, and possibly naked, the spotlight fell short of his lower half. Little mystery existed about what was happening in the dark from his flushed skin and him rocking up into the motions.
The whole club seemed to freeze and zero in on the pair. The succubus caressed his shoulders, whispering filthy words into his ear while those sparkling silver eyes stared right into the crowd. His head reared back, trying to reach her and begging for a kiss.
This insane feeling consumed the room, so much energy and desire swirling together. I could almost see it. It had to beright there,just out of sight and out of reach.
The singer extended a gloved hand, sweeping her arm out over the couple, and all the chemistry and magic between them burst into view.
Her energy matched her dress, a rich red as the succubus’s influence caressed him and washed over him, combining with the yellow energy of the man and creating an orange haze around them. The woman finally accepted his kiss, her lips pulling away slowly and showing the line between them, an orange mist that she pulled inside her as she fed.
Shit, my cock twitched in my pants. The chick on stage still did nothing for me, but there was something undeniably erotic about sharing this part of yourself and feeding your desire to another.
The spotlight dimmed as one performance ended. Wild applause filled the room before the house lights turned up to a dim glow, showing the ritzy retro nightclub that reeked of sensuality and opulence.
Right.Time to go.I needed to get moving before it became clear how much I did not belong here at Bliss.
Besides, with so many high roller types in the room losing themselves to alcohol and the equally intoxicating charms peddled here, it would be so easy to do a little sleight of hand. Swipe a wallet here or use my magic to liberate a diamond bracelet there. Like taking candy from a very impractical baby who for some reason wore wallets and fancy jewelry.
…but stealing was what the old Rob did.
I used to be a user and an opportunist, getting high on anything from strange magic to booze and drugs, not caring too much about stealing and right and wrong as long as I could get my hands on easy money and magic.
Then I got in over my head with some seriously twisted mages doing, like, crimes against humanity level messed up dark magic. As if that suck sandwich weren’t enough, one of the few decent people I knew, Aaron Honeywell, almost paid the price for my mistakes. It opened my eyes. I was heading down a dark road full of terrible people. If I kept going, I’d either become one of them or meet a grisly end at their hands.
I needed to change and be a good guy. Or at least abetterguy.
My mission here was a good deed. Well, a favor and it didn’t even pay. So that practically made it charity.
I found another private area near the bar, with much less traffic behind the scenes this time. Slapping a bandage on the back of my hand, it turned a weak, watery blue. The enchantment to avoid detection should buy me about 10 minutes of snooping without arousing suspicion.
My search went at warp speed. “Break room, supply closet…” A whip sound echoed from behind a closed door. “Sex room.”
Finally, I hit pay dirt.
Of all the places to hide valuable items, this cramped office seemed like a terrible choice. Shoved in a crate with other junk was an old metal ring that looked like a rusted piece of nothing. Designs were etched into the outside that matched reports about my targeted item.
Lifting it up to study the art, I held my breath when touching the rough, cool metal. Nothing happened. Nothing except I pulled another band up with the first. That part surprised me.
Though chunky and a tad rusty, the thick metal bands looked like… were these freaky ancientsex handcuffs?
Whatever I held, nothing registered magically. If these things had any power, I couldn’t find evidence of it.
My mission involved confirming that the item was here in the possession of this den.Check. Then to see if I sensed anything that my contact could use.Check.
These things seemed worthless, but it was still possible they were valuable even without magic. They were old as hell, which meant antique, which meant money. Hmmm. Locating this item and checking it out, that was good and all, but wouldn’t taking the cuffs beeven better?
Nope, no, stealing is wrong. Bad Rob!
It felt like I was being watched while I contemplated my next move. Maybe God seeing if I’d fail this latest test and be irredeemable once and for all. Dammit, I was trying to be a better guy. Did that count for something? I still needed to eat.
I wavered there, just long enough, too long.
The door to the office opened. That was about when it all went to hell.
~
Rob
