Page 3 of Snapdragon

One thing to do first though. I take out my phone, typing a text to Frank and letting him know I’ll do the shoot.

I get up to go to the register, but the line is long so I peruse the little store section. This is probably my favorite part of the café. There are shelves of knick knacks and plants, plus a small little florist’s station.

That’s what catches my eye today, maybe fresh flowers will make me feel a little less unsettled.

I snatch up a pretty bouquet of pink and yellow snapdragons before checking out.

Waving goodbye to Rosie, I open the door to head outside when my phone dings. It’s a text from Frank:

Good. My phone has been ringing off the hook. Call time is 7:30 am.

Chapter 2

I’m struggling to hold in the biggest yawn.

It turns out that a 7:30 am call time exceeds my usual limits. I can barely keep my eyes open with the weight of the fake lashes the makeup artist carefully applied.

She’s adding the finishing touches to my look now, I realize, as I catch a glimpse of myself. It’s weird to see the combination of full glam with my natural hair.

The hair stylist has added a soft wave to my long, golden locks. Normally, I wear wigs when doing anything singing related, but I guess I’m not promoting my music today. My onstage persona is a bit wild at times, and I favor colorful wigs and fun outfits.

My makeup is giving me a far different facial structure. I’m genuinely impressed with the cheekbones the artist has made appear on my round face. And is that a jawline I see?! Color me impressed.

Luckily, the makeup artist and hair stylist have been as sleepy as me, so we’ve mostly kept to a mutual silence.

The pair gently let me know that I’m ready and they will see me onset for touch ups.

Great, now I’m actually alone with my thoughts. I can feel the grogginess of the morning start to wear away and in its place is a bundle of nerves.

I startle as the door opens, a slip of a man barging in.

“Ah! Flora, perfect! Checking you’re ready to go. I will be back around in a moment to take you to set.”

He’s gone in an instant.

Great. I wring my hands together, my anxiety rising. I didn’t even get to ask anything about what’s going to happen.

For a pretty sensitive situation, no one is really trying to prepare me at all. Frank doesn’t start work this early, so I have no one that I can call.

What if it’s on purpose? Maybe the Monster is a beast and they don’t want me to leave, so they’re tricking me onto set so I can’t say no.

They have me wearing a white, two piece set. A strip of a tube top and then a long and tight maxi skirt that shows the shape of my generous curves. I feel like a sacrificial lamb being brought to slaughter.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. I hop out of the chair, needing to move. Pacing the room, I hum a nonsense tune to myself. It’s a good distraction, as I find myself actually trying to compose something.

Inspired, I take out my phone and take a short recording of the melody.

I’m currently in the writing phase for my debut album. I’ve released an EP in the past, and a few singles too. But this is my first actual long form album.

I still get tingles when I think about the fact that this is my life now. My writing and recording schedule is mine to manage, and I get work with Alex who I admire so dearly.

It’s at that moment that the man comes back into the room, announcing that they are ready for me. I follow him down the hallway, feeling a flash of excitement along with my fear.

There aren’t many people onset. The man who retrieved me and the photographer seem to be the only two Humans on first glance.

Then there’s the Monsters. I can see two, and I pause, a stumble in my step for a moment.

The first is a tall, wiry gray-skinned man. When he shifts, I realize that he has a tail with a point at the end, too. He’s dressed in a casual pair of jeans and a shirt, but they scream wealth.