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HAYLEY
Disobedient Donor
OPAL SITS ON the leather couch pushed against the wall of the huge gym we practice our routines in every day. Her eyes shine red and tears leave streaks down her usually perfect makeup. She was the one to find us around Quartz’s dead body, and I’ll never forget her reaction. She’s always been so strong, but losing Quartz was harder on her than us. He’s only been part of our performance a year. She knew him longer because she spends every day with the donor children for fun and she chose him to join us. My heart hurts for her.
I’m just thankful the private performance didn’t turn out worse than that. Opal said there was a glitch in the security feeds. I’m lucky the Greys ran when they did. Quartz’s death saved me from one of the bastards. He ripped my bottoms and wanted more than I was willing to give.
I shudder at the thought.
I still can’t believe that Alexander’s guests had the nerve to disobey him and get too rowdy with us or that he isn’t as upset as Opal. He basically reminded us that shit happens and we’re resilient. The show must always go on...but maybe tomorrow.
This is the fourth time in the last five years for a show to ever be canceled. I’m sure the whole hotel and Strip could hear Opal and Alexander fighting, but he finally relented, chalking things up to the fact that the new guy needs training.
And while Alexander was quick to replace Quartz in the show with another guy, who still looks like a teen, Opal grieves. I’m glad she stood up to Alexander about everything. I’ve never seen her so angry and reactive, but it was enough to get him to leave her in control of what happens tonight.
If only she wasn’t crying. I don’t know what else to do for her besides trying my best in rehearsal.
I adjust my harness and stare at the top of the silk rope where Mya stretches her legs into the splits. She looks stunning above me, gracefully spinning and moving as if the rope is a part of her very being. The others practice a floor routine, and I prepare to scale up the rope to join my best friend.
“All right, my gems. I think we’ve had enough for the day. Great job, everyone.” Opal’s voice hitches, and she remains in her seat. She’s usually hands-on in her directions, but losing one of her gems hurts her as much as it hurts all of us. “I want you to spend the rest of the night doing anything you want. Just stay out of trouble, okay?”
I frown at her words. I can do anything I want? The others look as confused as I am, because we have a schedule.
“Go swimming. Play with the kids. Walk the casino. Do something to keep your minds off this bullshit, okay?” Opal adds. Whoa. I can’t believe it. We’re usually told to remain in our rooms.
Mya slides down the silk rope and lands on her feet. “You sure you don’t want us to stay?”
“Nope. Master Alexander is gone, and you should enjoy a bit of freedom. You deserve it after everything.” Opal shifts her gaze to me and purses her lips. “I have some arrangements to make and will be within reach if you need anything. Just love up on each other for me, okay?”
Extending her arms, she waits for each of us to give her a hug. She spends an extra minute with Pyrite, and the two of them cry in silence. I blink the tears from my eyes and turn away, not wanting to intrude on a moment where they need each other. Quartz was Pyrite’s best friend. They have been inseparable since Quartz joined our team.
“I don’t know about you, but I love the idea of going to the pool and soaking in the hot tub,” Mya says, draping her arm around my shoulders. “Want to join me? Maybe there will be someone hot to flirt with.”
I smirk at her and shrug my shoulders. “Yeah, sure. That could be fun.”
There once was a time where the pool and hot tub were outside, and humans could enjoy lounging in the sun. But then all humans turned into blood donors, and Alexander remodeled, enclosing all hotel amenities to be safe for vampires. It’s always weird for me to see old pictures of the Aris Hotel. But the walls of tinted glass do help make it feel like we’re outside. I’ve never been, so it’s not like I miss it. I’d probably burn the same as a vampire in the sun’s rays.
“Could be? Come on. It will be amazing.” Mya guides me toward the showers to get cleaned up. “I know exactly what we can wear.” We don’t have bathing suits, but we have plenty of costumes that can withstand getting drenched in blood, so it’s easy enough to pick some similar.
“You want to look good enough to eat, don’t you?” I say, laughing.
I raise my eyebrows at her devious smile. When Mya’s given an inch, she will take a mile. But it’s easier for her. She purposely doesn’t show off to ensure she never gets a solo part of the performance and just adapts to every situation thrown at her. It helps that she chose to join the show. Unlike me, who was born into it, she traded her freedom to ensure her family would be safe. That’s where we’re different. She had the choice. As for me? I don’t even know what that feels like. Everyone’s always made the decisions for me.
“Hell yeah. We never get to have fun with someone we like. And who knows? Maybe there will be a hot personal donor one of us can entertain.” Mya drags me faster to the showers, and she rushes to rinse off and change.
Handing me a black, rhinestone-studded one-piece, we both change and fly together from the gym. She grins at me the whole time we race through a short section of the lobby, surely gaining everyone’s attention, but I keep my gaze trained at the floor, refusing to look around.
“You have no idea how nice it is to hear you laugh, Hayley. It feels like it’s been forever,” Mya says, slowing down as we reach the glass door to the pool.
I sigh a small breath, trying to maintain my smile. “It’s been a weird few days.”
“Alexander has been tough on you,” she mentions, hooking her elbow with mine. “I think those new guys get under his skin. I overheard him talking to Opal last night, and he fears that you’ve given them the wrong impression.”
I cock my head and look at her. “I’ve only been doing what I was told. I knew he was punishing me. He wouldn’t let me wear my wig last night.”
Mya blinks, her eyes widening with my words. She knows what wearing my wig means to me, and the fact that I couldn’t channel my alter-ego made last night even worse. It’s easier to think of things happening to Ruby and not me.
“Oh, babe. I’m sorry. I had no idea,” she says, throwing her arms around me. “Maybe there’s something I can do to get his focus off you.”
