T
HE NIGHTCLUB WAS full. Several women stood outside chatting, hoping to gain entry. Fire codes limited the number of people to one-hundred fifty. Lilith knew that Agra, her partner and head bartender, was right. They were going to have to put in an addition soon or find another location. Scanning some of the ads in the local paper, she circled a couple of possible prospects. Tomorrow, she'd contact her real estate agent and ask her to check them out. She set the newspaper down, stood, and adjusted her blue satin dress. The material felt wonderful against the skin, but she hated the way it slipped up whenever she sat.
Leaving her office, she nodded to several of the regulars and walked over to an empty chair at the far end of the bar. Most of the customers knew it was reserved for the owner, and those that didn't were quickly enlightened. Agra placed a drink in front of her and leaned her elbows on the bar.
"Full house again, boss. When are you going to put in an addition?"
"Soon. I'm still waiting for the estimates. If they're high, I may just look for another location. Sometimes it's cheaper to buy than build."
"True. I was thinking about that. If we find another place, perhaps we could get something big enough to convert part of it into living quarters for some of the girls."
"I'm not building a whore house, Agra. It's hard enough keeping the cops out of here without attracting their attention that way."
"Actually I was thinking more about a place they could have some personal space. Kind of like a sanctuary. Some of them still live in hellholes, although literally, that would be an improvement."
"Yeah, I know what you mean. I'll check with my agent and see what she comes up with. As long as the girls understand hanky panky won't be tolerated, I'm not against investing in a boarding house."
Before Agra could reply, they felt a disturbance in the energy around them. Simultaneously, the two demonesses glanced at the main entrance, wondering who had arrived that held such power. When Yemaya and Dakota walked in, Lilith frowned and then motioned for Agra to find them a seat and serve them their usual drinks.
"Something's not right," she said. "Tell them I'll be over in a while."
Agra left the bar and strolled over to greet the two women. "Hey, Yemaya, Dakota. Glad to see you."
Without hesitation, she walked over to a secluded table occupied by three women and whispered something to them. Glancing at Yemaya and Dakota, they grinned, saluted them with their drinks, stood, and walked to the bar for refills. Agra signaled for Mudada to clean the table.
"Have a seat and I'll get you your usual."
"Thanks," Mari said, not sure what she was talking about but deciding whatever it was, if Yemaya drank it, it had to be good. Taking Maopa's arm, she guided her toward the table and pulled out her chair. The courtly gesture didn't escape Lilith's attention.
After placing a Corona in front of Dakota and glass of wine near Yemaya, Agra grinned. "Didn't think we'd be seeing you for a while. I heard there was a glitch in the show the other night, and someone said you decided to take a break."
"An exaggeration." Mari picked up the wine and took a sip. "This is really good. What's it called?"
A sudden elbow in the ribs caused her to spill some of the drink, and she gave Maopa a surprised look.
"Oh, we took your suggestion and brought in the Chablis you recommended. Only the best for our favorite customers. I'll get some extra napkins for you in case Dakota decides to nudge you again." Agra winked at the small blonde.
Walking away, she knew something was different about them, but couldn't quite figure out what it was. When she passed Lilith, Agra stopped her for a moment and whispered something in her ear. Lilith patted her on the shoulder and continued over to the table.
"Yemaya, Dakota, how are you doing?" she asked.
"Tarred," Maopa said, taking a sip of the beer and coughing.
"Tarred?"
"Tired," Mari said. "She's got a slight cold. I guess it's affected her speech." She laughed and nudged Maopa with her elbow.
"Ah. It can do that. So, what brings you here during the week? I'd think you would be trying to get away for a few weeks. I heard your last performance caused quite a stir. Some of the gossip columns are saying you're pushing the limits too much. That idiot, Jenny Collins, is even insinuating you might be suicidal."
"I don't pay attention to gossip," Mari replied. "Who's to say that we aren't on vacation? What's more relaxing than unwinding with a few friends in one our favorite haunts?"
"Yep. We decided ta check out the place," Maopa said. "On a weekday night, that is. Say, this beer is purty good, but do yah have anythin' stronger?"
Lilith couldn't stop herself from raising both eyebrows in surprise.
"Beer or mixed drink?"
"Oh, mixed I thank... umm... thank yah, I mean."
"I'll be right back."
After Lilith left, Maopa leaned close to Mari.
"Trying to talk like that grandchil' of mine is harder than I thinks."
"So I've noticed. Are you sure you should be drinking something stronger? I've heard alcohol can affect brain function."
"Good. I won't need to explain mahself. We can blame it on the likker."
"True."
Standing at the bar, Lilith watched Yemaya and Dakota chatting and puzzled over what was different about them. The unusually high energy around them would have been enough to arouse suspicion, but there was more. The darkness within the Illusionist seemed smaller, weaker, as though it had skulked into some dark corner and was trying to make itself invisible. When she had first met Yemaya, she had felt the beast's rage and frustration. She knew it was biding its time, waiting for the right moment to seize control of its mistress's body. The demoness had no doubt Yemaya could control the beast as long as Dakota was alive, but the possibility remained that it would consume the Illusionist in time. Tonight, her darkness was hiding, afraid of something or someone... and that someone wasn't Yemaya.
"Here you go," Lilith said, placing several napkins on the table and wiping up the spill with another. "Mudada's bringing you one of the house specials. I think you'll like it."
Within minutes, a short, fat woman waddled over and plopped two brightly colored drinks on the table. Giving the two customers a toothy, yellow grin, she grabbed her crotch and adjusted herself. Getting no reaction from either of Lilith's guests, she grumbled a few words and left.
"Sorry about that," Lilith said and chuckled. "She doesn't have a lot of class, but she's good at what she does."
"Not tah worry. She reminds me of someone I knowed a long time ago."
"Why, Dakota. You're going to have to tell me about her," Mari said in a teasing tone. "I never knew you liked that type of woman."
The second elbow to the ribs caused Mari to flinch. "Would you stop that? I'm sore enough without you adding more bruises to this body."
Before Maopa could reply, Lilith decided to distract the two.
"Try the drinks. They're called Royal Fucks, and it's become one of our biggest sellers."
Mari and Maopa sampled their drinks.
"This is good."
"Shore is."
"I'm glad you like it. Just don't overdo them. They have quite a kick. Now if you'll excuse me, Bertha's having a problem with someone. I'll be back later."
"We look forward to it and thanks."
After Lilith left, Maopa and Mari glanced around the room, observing the different women and their interaction with others. Two tables over, a deep masculine-sounding voice was describing how much its owner loved her Harley.
"I tell you, once you ride this baby, you ain't ever gonna want to get off her. She's sweet and purrs whenever I take her out. I clean her up every time I take her out. I tell you she's a better ride than any woman I've ever known. Just thinking about her almost makes me wet."
"If you say so." Her companion seemed totally uninterested in the subject.
"Do human women really discuss their girlfriends like that?" Mari asked. "I'd think it was too personal."
"They talks about anythang and everythang. Worst gossips yah ever knowed."
"Well, I hope this Harley finds out. It would serve this woman right if she got kicked out. Talking about her like that."
"At least she seems to appreshate her."
"I suppose. You want another Royal Fuck? Looks like you drank that one pretty quickly."
"And look who be talkin'. Yah done drunk every drop of yourn."
Mari laughed, liking the slight euphoria she was starting to feel. "Another won't hurt."
Before they could even signal Agra, Mudada arrived with two more drinks. She placed them in front of the two women, grabbed the empty glasses, and left.
"I think we hurt her feelings."
"Yeah. She shore seems tah be sulkin'."
"Did you notice the group by the dance floor? What's with the black clothes and makeup. They look like cadavers."
"Maybe they's sickly."
"Could be. They sure don't look well."
* * *
Two hours and five Royal Fucks later, Mari wasn't feeling so well. Maopa had wisely stopped at three after realizing that Dakota's body had little tolerance for alcohol. Besides, someone had to make sure they got home safe, especially after it was obvious the Earth Mother was getting drunker than a skunk.
"Yah doin' okay, sweetie?" she asked, noticing Mari's glassy eyes.
"Shoh nuff." Mari tried to focus on her lover's face. "If this room," she said with a burp, "would just stop moving."
Glancing around, she saw Mudada cleaning glasses in the corner of the bar. "Hey, Muddy. Two more Roiel fugs."
"Listen, Mari. I thank yah need tah go easy now. Yah don't know what them thangs gonna do to yah in a couple of hours."
"Oh pfffft! Whaz one more?" She burped again. "Damn. Whaz with the gas?"
"Not to worry, sugah. It's naturelle."
Sitting at the end of the bar, Lilith had watched with fascination as the Illusionist and the journalist consumed several drinks. At one point she was about to order Agra not to fix anymore, but realized Dakota had stopped drinking and was now monitoring Yemaya's intake. Signaling to Agra to make the next two drinks "virgins," she waited for them and then carried them over to their table.
"Thought you might like these," she said, setting the drinks on the table.
"There you go... Moppy. Lilly..." Feeling dizzy, Mari rubbed her eyes and looked around. "Maybe I should go... relieve myself."
"I'll show you the way." Lilith took her by the arm. "Be right back," she said to Dakota.
Steering the inebriated woman through the maze of tables, Lilith guided her into the bathroom and located an empty stall. "Do you need help?"
"Nope. No prob... lem." Patting the demoness' arm, Mari gave her a lopsided grin. "Be right back."
She banged into the door and then backed up a step before advancing toward the toilet. After turning around cautiously, she yanked down her jeans and plopped down on the seat.
Lilith turned her back and blocked the entrance to prevent anyone from witnessing what must have been a very unusual event. She could imagine what Yemaya would feel like in the morning from the drinks, let alone from having some fan or paparazzi snap a photo of her peeing.
At the sound of a flushing toilet and swearing, Lilith swung around in time to see Yemaya trying to zip up. "Here. Let me."
Lilith gently pushed away the clumsy hands, grabbed the zipper, and slowly pulled it up. Then taking Yemaya's arm, she led her back to the table and handed her over to Dakota. After watching the two for several hours, Lilith had a pretty good idea what was behind the change in the two women. Why, was a different matter.