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Madam Moonie
“There isdustin my corset,”I grumbled, glowering in the mirror. “When I take this thing off later, there will be enough pouring out that I could create a new landmark.”
Max snorted as he made his notes, running through the show checklist. He was far more organized than Andromeda, my ex-assistant, ever had been. My anxiety had decreased significantly since he started working for me.
“We have an hour until the show,” he said. “All the performers are ready. The costumes are in place and we have plenty of water and snacks. This place is hot. Why are we here again?”
“Because of themoney,” I hissed, spraying my face with a sweat resistant mist. “We know the Cinnabar Galaxy is for outlaws and space cowboys, but it’s also home to some of the wealthiest beings in our universe. And they love shiny things. And my Galactic Gems areshiny.”
In fact, the Cinnabar Galaxy had already made us more money than the last one. I couldn’t complain about that. We’d been able to get some maintenance on our ship, replenish our Swarovski crystal supply, and buy the nice champagne for the VIP seats.
Was it the nicest galaxy? No.
Was this my favorite planet? Also, no.
But I’d take wilting from the heat and dust in my corset for the earnings we’d made.
Max sighed to himself. I fought the urge to chuckle at him. The longer he spent with me, the more irritable he became. He’d gone from a shy, starry-eyed intern to my strict schedule-addict of an assistant. “I like the forest planets more. They’re always so pretty. Or the water planets.”
I wrinkled my nose. It was a fear I’d worked on, but anything a few thousand feet under water made me nervous as hell. Still, we performed on those planets, too.
The Galactic Gems were the greatest in the universe for a reason. Best performers, best songs, best costumes, and able to traverse the interstellar highway. When I’d started this troupe years ago, I’d had a dream to be a universe-renowned show. Because of everyone on our team, that dream had come true.
Max tilted his head to the side as he continued to make notes, his star earrings twinkling in the room lights. He wore a shimmering shirt with stars on it too, his eyes glittering with orange chromatic shadow.
Eventually, I’d have to give him up to the stage. I’d seen the way he longed to be up there performing. He had amazing ideas for acts too. All I could do was hope we could find someone he could train to take over so that I could maintain the quality of life I’d had recently.
Even though this place was hotter than hell, everything had gone perfectly smooth. We’d made money, every show had sold out, the venue owners were happy, and so were the performers and crew. Couldn’t ask for anything better.
Four weeks in the Cinnabar Galaxy. One more to go. After the next seven days, we’d be on our merry way to entertaining the worlds of the Augelite Galaxy. Max would get his forests.
After my brief fling with a sexy sergeant, I seemed to have developed a horn kink. It was a problem. Only one that would be solved there.
Until then, I would put up with the scorching heat of the Comet Canyon Saloon.
A knock at the door had Max and I exchanging nervous glances.
“If anything goes wrong, I’m going to lose it,” I whispered.
“Drink your iced coffee,” he teased. “There are extra electrolytes in the water so you don’t get dehydrated since you refuse to drink fluids like a normal human.”
I narrowed my eyes on him. No one else dared speak to THE Madam Moonie that way, but I made an exception, since he kept us all hydrated and on schedule.
“Come in,” I called.
The door swung open, one of my stars poking her head in. Little Miss Mercury, aka Mari, was our headlining act here. Her platinum blonde hair was still in rollers, but her makeup was finished and her first costume was already on.
I wasn’t supposed to have favorites, but Mari was one of them. She’d been with me for a long time and knew me better than most of the performers.
Which meant I knew her expression all too well. Something had happened.
“What’s wrong?” Max asked.
She winced. “Have either of you seen the news?”
I couldn’t disguise my displeasure at that statement. I tapped my ear piece, activating a projector on my vanity. “Play the news,” I commanded.
A holographic screen appeared, the news playing in the Rhombo dialect. Rhombo was the name of this planet. Our translators allowed us to understand everything said.
