Starblood (The Starblood Trilogy) (15 page)

The music changes, Star and her group leave the dance floor and cross to a table of drinks not far from where Lilith stands. The blonde and Raven fall onto the couch together, giggling. The other two stand behind stools and move their bodies in time to the music. They cradle drinks, but their movements are too controlled to spill the liquid.

Violent lyrics repeat over a metallic drum beat. Lilith smiles, thinking back to the man by the factories: her first kill in this brave new world and sweetest so far. The others feel less exquisite in her memory, but the next one … She nods and smiles, watching Star enjoy the evening. She will take her time, become the corrupter of spirit rather than flesh.

Three of the girls return to the dance floor as soft keyboards wash across the nightclub. The square of wooden boards fills. Bodies crush together. Some stand still, others sway slightly as the soft vocals sing of regret and the passage of time. As the pace builds behind the voice, the movements of the dancers become more exaggerated then the bouncing starts again. Faces filled with joy blur with their rapid rises and falls.

Star faces Lilith this time, her face as rapt as any other.
Is this worship? To which god do these souls lay themselves bare, offering their tributes of sweat?
Lilith does not join them. The music confuses her. She enjoys the role of voyeur for the moment.

At midnight the music slows. The strains of a great organ replace the keyboard. The music sways as do the bodies still clinging to the wooden boards, after others have deserted them for drinks or rest. Star remains. Lilith watches as the woman’s body curves and arches, her thinly veiled arms rising above her head then twisting, like ivy, down to frame her face then descending further to cross her chest. The ritual is repeated again and again. Lilith looks at Star’s face; her eyes are closed. Star looks as if in sexual ecstasy, writhing in pleasure at an unseen touch.

Entranced, Lilith joins the dancers. She sways across the floor like a snake. Like
the
snake.
Well it worked with Eve.
When Star opens her eyes again Lilith dances beside her. Her body matching Star’s deep curls and twists, the pheromones in her scent mingling with the dry ice.

Chapter 23

Sarah stops bouncing and starts to sway her hips like a belly dancer on slow play. Johnny O has taken his place back in the DJ’s booth and the harsh whisper of
Moonchild
fills her head.

She closes her eyes and lets the melody fill her body. Her hands flutter around her face like falling leaves. She hears Freya move away to join Raven. She doesn’t have to check whether Donna will still be dancing beside her, she knows her friend too well.

As she dances she feels her heart quicken. Her nostrils strain to grasp the meaning behind a heady new scent. She licks her lips. Feeling hot, she realises she is panting. She opens her eyes, trying to break the spell.

It takes a moment to focus. Faces and bodies swim past her through the swirling mist. Donna is there; she too seems to be responding to something. Her hands stroke her breasts, lingering in ways not permissible in any other public place, but acceptable here in this safe haven.

A movement to her right catches Sarah’s eye. The most beautiful woman she has ever seen moves so gracefully she could be liquid or air swirling and changing shape. The woman is tall, as tall as Raven, but slender. Her clothing reflects the purple glow of the lights and something else, some mystery upon which Sarah cannot quite focus. Her dark lips smile at Sarah. Blinking, Sarah smiles back and the mysterious woman moves closer. The scent gets stronger. It is incredible.

Sarah has never felt attracted to a member of her own sex before this moment. She appreciates beauty whatever its source and can comfortably admire a woman’s figure or face. Never before now has she felt such an overwhelming desire to suck on a woman’s tongue or undress her and touch every part of her body with eager hands.

The woman bends towards her and whispers in her ear. As she does Sarah stops breathing. She becomes a giant aural organ and lives only to listen. The woman’s hot sweet breath tickles her ear and cheek as she speaks.

‘Would you like to get a drink?’

As she moves away again the sense of loss is profound. It takes a few moments for Sarah to understand the question. When she does she stretches up to whisper back. Her fingertips touch the latex collar wrapped around the woman’s throat. It feels like sensual quicksand, pulling her hands into the woman’s body.

‘I’d love to,’ she answers.

The woman walks away. Before she follows Star remembers her friend. She pulls on Donna’s elbow and shouts into her ear.

‘I’ll be back in a minute.’

Registering Donna’s nod of understanding she rushes after her quarry.

‘What’s your name?’ Sarah asks.

After a moment’s pause, the woman answers. ‘Lilith.’

‘Lilith,’ Sarah repeats the name. The word feels familiar in her mouth.

‘What’s yours?’ asks Lilith.

Which name should I use?
Sarah suddenly seems such an ordinary name, and she feels extraordinary this evening. Anything could be possible on a night like this. ‘Star,’ she says.

Lilith smiles and nods in approval. ‘What do you drink?’

Star feels she has drunk enough already. She doesn’t want to spend the rest of the evening heaving in swampy toilets.
Will Lilith think less of me if I don’t ask for alcohol?
She checks herself.
Is this the new friend I want to make—another Raven, who I constantly have to impress?
‘Red Bull, please.’

If Lilith is disappointed she shows no sign of it as she turns and heads for the bar. A moment later she returns and they are together again. Lilith passes the drink to Star who cradles it in her hands.

‘Can we find some seats?’ Star asks.

Lilith motions for her to follow. She walks to a couch filled with people and bends over the mousey girl at the end of the row. She whispers something in the girl’s ear. The girl nods and passes the message to the next person who does the same in turn. When the Chinese whispers are complete the group stand up as one and wander towards the dance floor.

‘How did you do that?’ Star asks, amazed.

Lilith shrugs and sits down, leaving room for Star to join her. Star sits on the couch. It is soft beneath her, far more comfortable than her usual vinyl stool. She sits so close to Lilith she feels the woman’s arm brush hers as she reaches for her drink. The sensation leaves her breathless. She sips her own drink trying to stay calm.
Does Lilith want me too or is she looking for a friend?
She stares at the table, shivering and sipping her drink.
What should I say?
Please not something lame.

‘I haven’t seen you here before,’ Star eventually says. ‘Are you new to town?’

They are words and they might get Lilith talking. She desperately wants to hear the woman’s rich voice again. They seem so cliché, she should have thought of something better.

‘I am, but I’m very glad I came here tonight.’

When Star looks back at Lilith’s face it shines with pleasure. Her smile is wide and welcoming. There is not a trace of judgement in her eyes.

‘So am I,’ Star answers.

‘It’s too noisy to talk, don’t you think?’ Lilith asks. ‘Would you like to dance, or go somewhere more quiet?’

The choice. Star’s throat swells and she finds it hard to swallow. The music is amazing tonight and being here with Lilith feels like a dream.
Would the dream be broken outside this room? If I ask to dance, and our bodies move as one on the dance floor for the next two hours, will Lilith make the same offer a second time?

‘Where do you wanna go?’ Star asks.

Lilith smiles again, a beautiful smile, which washes over Star, telling her everything will be wonderful.

‘I have a room near here. It’s nothing much but it’s warm and quiet.’

Star shivers as she exhales
. This is it. This beautiful woman is offering me her body and I really don’t know what I want to do. This is crazy. Why is everything so muddled?

‘I have to let my friends know I’m leaving,’ says Star.

‘Give me your cloakroom ticket if you have one. I’ll get your coat.’

Star rushes across the dance floor. She bumps into dancers as she passes them mouthing apologies at their fierce faces. She cannot feel her feet on the floor. It’s as though she is gliding, skimming the ceiling with her hair. The bodies below seem insubstantial.

She reaches Raven’s table and three frowns turn to meet her.

‘Where have you been?’ Raven asks. Her voice sounds cold and her words are clipped.

‘You said you’d only be a minute,’ Donna says, shaking her head.

‘I–I’ve met someone. We’re leaving,’ Star replies.

Raven stands up. Her eyes narrow to see through the fog as she looks around the club.

‘Who?’ she asks.

‘The woman in the latex bodice. I was dancing with her earlier. She’s gone to get our coats.’

‘Really?’ Raven asks. ‘Why are you leaving then?’ She stares into Star’s eyes. ‘But, but you’ve never been with a woman. Let me see her.’

As Star walks unsteadily towards the cloakroom, her three friends follow her. Lilith waits by the stairs, Star’s coat draped over her arm.

Raven nudges Star and whispers. ‘She’s gorgeous. You have to tell me all about it tomorrow.’

The three walk away from her back to the music.

Chapter 24

Satori looks up from his books and feels a shiver of dread. Gasping, he holds his chest. Something is wrong.

He clears a space to meditate. Even though he tries to empty his mind, Star’s face lingers there, unwilling to give him peace.
Is Star in trouble?
He dials her mobile number. It rings but she doesn’t answer. It is eleven thirty, plenty of time to get changed and check out the club. She’s probably there.

He decides to take care over his appearance. Star never seemed happy when he arrived at the club in his old clothes. He straightens his hair and chooses a pair of skintight jeans and the red silk shirt which she always loved. It is almost midnight by the time he leaves, and when he reaches the bus stop the last one has just left. He looks for a taxi but the rank is empty. Unwilling to wait any longer, he walks along the main street towards the club, hoping to catch a taxi on the way. His walk is brisk and he reaches the club at half-past-twelve. The bouncers nod at him as he passes them.

Without stopping to check his coat, he bounds up the staircase and into the mist. It seems foggier than usual this evening and he can hardly see a thing. He walks towards the dance floor, she isn’t dancing but he can see two of her friends. Donna and Freya are swaying to
Suspiria
. They look tired and listless. Searching for Raven and Star, he spots Raven slumped in her usual spot near the dance floor. He crosses to her and pats her hand.

Her eyes flicker open and she smiles at him. ‘Satori.’

‘Where’s Star?’ he asks.

Raven’s eyes swim in their sockets, as though she is finding it impossible to think and focus on his face at the same time.

‘Star?’ he asks again.

‘Oh, Satori. My darling Satori. I’ll never know what you see in that girl,’ she answers eventually.

He feels his temper rise and struggles to control it.

‘Is Star here tonight?’ he asks.

‘She was,’ Raven answers, her words thick and slurred.

‘Was? Where did she go?’ he asks. Panic breaks his voice into squeaks and whispers. Raven slumps back down with a contented smile on her face.

‘Satori, why her?’

He leaves her question unanswered and rushes to the dancers.

‘Donna, Freya,’ he asks, summoning a look of humility he hopes will charm them. ‘I think Star’s in trouble. Where did she go?’

Donna frowns and shakes her head. Freya looks to her friend then back at Satori and shrugs.

‘For fuck’s sake, Donna. I know you hate me. Although fuck knows why, but this is Star we’re talking about. You love Star for Chrissake, why won’t you tell me where she is?’

Freya touches his shoulder. ‘She left with a woman.’

‘Who?’ he asks. He looks from one girl to the next. They do not answer. He runs back to Raven.

‘Who did she leave with?’ he growls into her face. Raven’s eyelids flutter. He looks around him. He wants to scream, but he needs to stop panicking. He cannot think if he isn’t calm. Shaking, he tries to force the fear down from his chest and through his stomach, out of his body. It sticks and digs into his gut with tearing claws, twisting and writhing inside him.

The bouncers, maybe they know
.

He jumps down the stairs, taking three at a time, and greets them at the bottom with a strained smile.

‘Did you see where Star went?’ he asks.

‘Your girl? De one wid de curls?’ the taller one asks.

‘Yes, yes,’ he nods frantically.

‘Ah, yes, she go dat way,’ the doorman replies, pointing towards the bridge which leads to Vermelho Road.

‘Thank you,’ Satori shouts over his shoulder as he runs.

The bridge casts deep shadows over the road as Satori tears under it. It is an age-old landmark and one which separates the city of commerce and the city of vice. He’s been along this road before. It’s where everyone goes to purchase mind-altering substances when the travellers aren’t in town. He has never been here alone. The first houses are barricaded. There are no signs of life, their purpose simply that of a portal, transporting and delivering. The lights of Vermelho Road shine a few metres away. He pants and runs harder.

He sprints into a street full of life. Noises and smells surround him. The stench of exhaust fumes mixes with fried chicken. Music crashes through car and house windows into the road. Everyone is talking or shouting. Lining the street on either side are women, young and old, dressed in short skirts, furs and high heels. Their makeup heavy and their faces tired. In doorways stand groups of men, mostly black, chatting and watching the cars crawl past.

He approaches the first woman. Her short hair is blonde and her lips vivid red. She stubs out her cigarette as he walks towards her.