by Erin R Flynn
“What they’ve got on the shelves is good prices, but the customer service sucks, so maybe not even an account there. I could bring receipts for reimbursement? Or do like a PayPal debit card that you can just add more money to because I’m going to have to go to other stores for things and stuff to make headdresses. Get bulk glitter.”
“Do you have enough to get through this weekend?” I asked, realizing she was really nervous about this whole thing. I figured because it was expensive, not like house paint, though that wasn’t really all that cheap either.
“No, I’m out almost. I was going to go Thursday since I have the silver for tomorrow, but that’s it. I wasn’t sure what to do, as we only have the white, gold, and silver robes.”
“We can use white for other colors because coordinating that would be hard, but yeah, we do need more for backup. I think the design worked well.”
“I’ll inform my queen when I call for the wigs,” he assured me as he had me spread my legs wider so he could get intimate places.
No, that wasn’t weird at all.
“Do you like making headdresses and the extras?” I asked Gayle, relieved when she nodded enthusiastically. “Do you want to do more?” Again, a nod. “Would you want to do it with some young male helpers?”
“Huh? You lost me,” she admitted as she worked on my thighs. “Oh, like the boys? Would they want to do that?”
“I don’t know, but they wanted cooking classes. They like the puzzles. I think at least one would find it fun to help you. Or even if not, we have that big, empty storage room in the basement, and this headdress doesn’t itch like the wig did. You’re right that we probably need to fancy up some of the outfits for the dance numbers, and it would be smart to have kind of a stockpile of beads and sequins and whatever else shows need.”
“I’ve always wanted my own workroom,” she confessed as she finished my front and moved to eye makeup. “And I do get along with the boys. It would be nice to give them some arts and crafts type of time like they’d have in school or should have and missed.”
“Good, get with Hagan since you’re doing it for the sirens and really me, and now the boys. I’ll talk with Simone about making you official siren costume coordinator or stage something so you get paid more for doing all of this, and we’ll get you the supplies here,” I rattled off as she finished me.
“I don’t need more—”
“Yeah, Gayle, you do,” I assured her. “And tell me what all else you guys need, okay? This is new for Simone and me too, so if we can do it better, we will. I barely know how to put on my own makeup, and I trust you to help us with this.” I kissed her cheek, and we hurried off to get me in my litter, the other four guys already gathered.
I wasn’t as nervous this time, the speech going fine, so did the carrying out and unveiling of me. Sitting in the chair, no big. What did throw me was when Vlad lined up first.
“It would make it look as if it was you if I didn’t participate,” he said under his breath. I got it. He was trying. Fine, whatever. I took huge gulps because he’d made me cry at my own preview, but he enjoyed the orgasm it gave him too.
I really could never win sometimes.
Deciding to try something new, this time when Brian came up, I didn’t feed from him but gave him power. He almost fell over with the little bit I gave him and his eyes were a bit too wide when it was done, but he managed to get to his feet.
And when Remus came, I found myself giving him some power too. He was friends with Noah, running Noah’s business so Noah could help me and had been on my side. Plus, he was just a good guy, and I had a lot of power juicing me up with all the leaders at the preview.
After a lot more feeding, I swallowed down what my siren needed plus a bit more to boost my own level and saved the rest for after the show. I didn’t make it through everyone again, feeling ready to burst and tired, but with my power flooding the room, I knew people enjoyed it.
The second I was backstage and off the litter, I turned Hagan to me and gave him some, then Reagan, skipping Goran and Zlat because damn, they were powerful enough, and gave the rest to Noah and Dain who were waiting backstage too. I slumped against Dain when I was done, a bit fuzzy.
“You can’t keep doing this to yourself,” he growled as he swung me up in his arms.
“I’m still new to being this and feeding. I can’t be the only one who doesn’t do so much, or everyone will know which one is me. I get a bit of a boost each time, and I’ll be able to do more without feeling so winded. I went through worse in the Navy and FBI training. It’s just, wow, a lot of power in and out and it’s overwhelming.”
I actually let Noah shower me because I wanted to talk to him about that storage room downstairs since it was right by his bedroom. He groaned as I filled him in about my conversation with Gayle, but he thought it would be something good for the boys, even if they found they hated it because they really, really wanted to help out with the club more since they couldn’t with the training facility and both were on my plate.
Done and done.
He promised to talk with Hagan and Reagan about ideas and maybe organizing the dressing room better because all we really had were the mirrors, counters, chairs, and a rack for hanging costumes and clothes. Yeah, we might need more than that to put on real shows.
I was actually surprised all of this hadn’t come up before, but then again with the training in Japan and then crash choreography with rehearsals to get at least some of the numbers going, there hadn’t been much time leftover. Live and learn and add as needed, right?
Noah managed to get me to our table without looking like he was practically carrying me, food waiting for me even. I ate and ate and asked for either sports drinks or Nina’s tea, which Hagan said he’d stocked some in the office. As he went off, I took a break in between plates.
“Why are you so much worse today?” Brian asked.
“I took more and held it longer so I could share backstage,” I muttered, leaning into him like I was snuggling but actually tired. “Plus, Vlad upset me. Everything is worse when you’re upset.”
“I’m sorry he keeps hurting you,” he whispered gently and kissed my forehead. “Did you give me energy too?”
“Yeah, let me know how you feel. I wasn’t sure it would work on a human, but it’s chi, so why not?”
“I feel like I could climb Everest. Or maybe like a few years younger. It’s cool.”
I thanked Hagan when he came back with tea and dessert before I could even ask. Sugar might not have been the best long term fuel, but I needed to get through the short term too. When he went to move to the other side of the table, I grabbed his arm. “I didn’t get to talk to Hinata about our idea. I don’t know if he’ll come here or if he’s done, but I want to make that a priority.”
“I’ll speak to him and see,” he agreed.
“What idea?” Jason asked, sliding in next to me and close so I had support on either side and didn’t like tip over.
“The pack was abused pretty badly under Engle. We’ve got some in counseling that’s helped, and Simone teaches self-defense classes twice a week, though that’s changing with the cold weather. But paranormals can’t just walk into a regular gym; we had to have our machines at home be specially fitted for us. And there’s no way a human would let any of us in a dojo. We’re not even allowed at government training, everyone’s so scared of us.”
“You want to set up a shifter dojo?” he asked, mirth in his tone. “And you’re asking the Japanese Alpha? Isn’t that a bit—”
“Intelligent as we have one in Tokyo,” Hinata said from behind us. I turned enough to see the worry in his gaze. “Are you ill?”
“You know what Engle did to most of the women in the pack, right?”
“Yes, had them infected by your weakest wolves or some on their first shift so he could keep all the females subservient.”
“Yeah, that’s a pretty succinct way to put it,” I agreed, waving Jason to get out so Hinata cou
ld sit. “I’m trying to use my extra gifts of my bloodline to help fix that.”
“You give them some of the power you feed off the show.”
I nodded; there was no reason to deny it. “It’s tiring and something I’m not used to. Been a lot on the plate, lots of games to play.”
He sighed heavily as he sat down. “I didn’t know you were at odds with your master vampire. And I’m sorry about that, but you don’t know how it is, Sera. Your most powerful wolves adore you, love you even. Mine respect me, but if they saw a chance would take over if they got the power Alpha comes with. I hold Tokyo, not some shit town or city. You know. You hold Chicago.”
“I get it, but I hate that shit between friends.”
“Honestly, I thought you’d flood the room with power and just show everyone why I should.” He cursed under his breath. “But then when you flooded the room with power during your show, they would have known it’s you.”
“Yeah, basically, though most suspect.”
“Yes, they do, but suspect isn’t the same, and most won’t say anything on a hunch.” He pushed my plate closer to me. “Eat, you’re pale. Now, your delicious Beta tells me you want to open a paranormal dojo?”
“Martial arts studio, whatever,” I agreed. “Take Jesse. He’s young, not that strong as a wolf, but he’s got strength. Instead of the beatings he took to ‘toughen him up,’ why isn’t he getting real training? One of the only reasons I’ve stayed in control of my wolf and this much power even when I completely neglect my wolf is that I’ve had training and learned breathing, control, and whatnot. I want my pack to be healthier on that front too.”
“And you have no one here?” he checked, raising an eyebrow and glancing at Jason who had sat down across the table from us. “Was this your amusement?”
Jason remembered the conversation from earlier and looked to me. “You can answer when we’re here alone, as there’s no posturing. Don’t be your Jason self though and fucking poke people because as Alpha, he will bite you.”
He nodded and focused on Hinata. “Yes, I thought it was a bit cliché to ask the Asian guy if there was someone who could train martial arts like tourists who ask us if we all really carry guns because that’s what they see in movies. Plus, I’m not a very big fan of so much segregation. We’re all just people, and I think it’s a bit much from both sides. I was picturing munchkins going to paranormal karate because they’re mini weapons or something.”
“That is how some speak of our children, which is why we agree to the segregation, as they are targets,” Hinata informed him before looking back at me.
“I have warriors here, and I need them for the FBI training facility. I can’t be selfish as Alpha when there are huge problems across the country and maybe more we could get involved with now that we’ve got help. I’m not saying you don’t have warriors, nor that warriors can’t work with kids, as Noah’s great with my brothers. But for day in and day out, it takes a certain type of person to work with kids or younger people. I’m not that type of person.”
“You want me to trade one of my wolves?” he checked, and I shook my head.
“No, not at all. I’m asking if someone you know, wolf or not, that has the right training and temperament and wants to do something like that, but as you said, you already have one, so you don’t need another. It’s more a help wanted idea, and we’re asking our friends first because it would be successful here. I’m not trying to poach your pack, Hinata.”
“I understand. I will ask around.”
I thanked him, glad at least something else was crossed off the list as we kept adding more, and more, and more to it.
10
We asked all the staff and dancers to stay after the preview for a meeting along with the people we trusted most… And Vlad. Honestly, he’d overheard part of it, and he did have business experience and a lot of opinions, so fine, Simone allowed it because we’d be able to tell if he was lying anyways. But that meant his party stayed, and that included Tristan, which was uncomfortable enough for me.
“Who’s the new man?” Noe asked as Simone and I moved onto the dance floor so we were in front of everyone sitting in the booths closest to us.
“Oh, um, Jason’s not new, well, not old, but known me the longest,” I stuttered, shaking my head. “Not why we’re here.” I glanced at Simone, and she waved me to take this one, upset we’d let this slip through the cracks or didn’t understand what was going on. “It’s late, and you’re all tired from doing such an amazing job the past two nights, so I’m going to be blunt.”
“When are you not?” someone teased me, and I relaxed a bit.
“Yeah, that’s fair,” I chuckled, playing with my hair. “Look, Gayle told me the wigs were hers, the body paint she bought, and she made my headdress for tonight. The robes we got from Queen Laila, and we’re getting more, and Dain says she’s got some wigs from previous shows.” I let out a heavy breath. “Simone and I haven’t ever done anything like this, so we’re going to miss stuff.”
“Like apparently making our employees and dancers provide everything for themselves,” she grumbled, everyone still able to hear her though.
“Yeah, like that. I thought Simone or the choreographer was handling costumes, and she thought I was for the goddess bit and the choreographers for the rest—basically we missed how that part got done. If I’m right, you got some of the costumes from the choreographers?”
Lillie Reed raised her hand and then spoke. “The choreographers came with a ton of costumes from their old Vegas shows the fairies and other dancers weren’t using. We sort of mixed and matched and coordinated somewhat off what we had and filled in from there. But that’s actually how most burlesque shows work from what we saw. It’s not like theme stuff as when we host.”
“But we weren’t comfortable using bottoms for most of the costumes,” Beth, Noe’s hawk admitted. “I mean, some burlesque shows get pretty naked, and that’s fine, none of us care if we were completely nude, but well—”
“Real dancing is hard to do when boobs are free,” I filled in, smiling when several of them nodded. “Okay, so let’s start from the beginning. You guys do not have to provide your own costumes. That’s bull, and honestly, you don’t get paid enough for that. So anything you have bought, get us receipts and a list for reimbursement or at least a list with what you believe you paid. We’ll cut some slack on that this time since it’s our fault.”
“But if you tell us you paid a hundred bucks for a thong, we’re not stupid, or you are for spending that much,” Simone added, and that was fair. “Now, we’re a bit lost, because I think we are going forward and should, as the numbers seem to be a hit and the club overall. The spacing is good, so it’s not a full show you can’t talk through. People can get drinks, talk with other tables, or dance themselves to the background music.”
“The pacing was well done, and yes, you have a hit with the performances,” Vlad offered, keeping his face blank. “The only criticism is they fall a bit flat in flare, and I don’t mean talent.”
“You mean props and like bling?” I checked, glancing at Simone when he nodded. “I barely wear jewelry. That’s not something that should be left up to me.”
“There’s a Charming Charlie right by you in Highland Park that does all those kinds of flashy, bright costume jewelry looks that would be good fillers,” Gayle interjected and stood. “Sera offered to let me have a small workshop in the storage room of the lower level in her house so I could make headdresses for the goddess show and the boys would help since they’re getting caught up and don’t have an art class.
“I think if we focus on the costumes for Friday and Saturday, we can get the flare done and her headdresses for the rest of the week, but I think we’re going to need some props.” Everyone seemed in agreement on that. “And work on the makeup. Some of you are putting on normal mascara, and that can’t be seen up on stage. You need stage makeup. Everyone could see every feature and Sera’s eyes clearly, right? Fak
e lashes and big makeup.”
“Yes, her show had lots of flare,” Vlad agreed with a chuckle.
“And speaking of makeup, Simone and I have come up with something on that too,” I segued, rubbing my tired neck. “Gayle knows actual stage makeup, so please let her help you or do it, but you also shouldn’t be providing your own makeup for shows. Use your own brushes or whatever, I don’t know how that all works, but the rest we will get.
“How, we’re not sure, but I’ve talked with Hagan and Reagan, and they’re going to IKEA tomorrow to get some drawer sets for the dressing room. Please take care of it all, and we need to know what you need. Do we go buy every color of nail polish at Target?”
“You are hopeless,” Simone chuckled, shaking her head. “Ulta, woman.”
“Actually, I have my cosmetology license,” Beth offered. “I can use it at a real beauty supply store that only sells to professionals, so it would be way cheaper, but I’d have to pay cash, as I don’t have that kind of room on my debit card to cover what you’re talking about.”
“I am free tomorrow and could meet her and Gayle wherever to facilitate,” Goran offered, and I thanked him. “I would also suggest ordering some organizers on your Amazon account, as they would be here by Friday morning instead of spending the little time you have left shopping around at stores.”
“I can send you links when I get home tonight,” Gayle assured me, Beth saying the same.
“Okay, good, then we just need to talk about bulk stuff. I mean, stockings, right? Makeup sponges? What else? How have you coordinated so far?”
“We went with themes,” Gayle explained. “Bad Romance we’re all in leather. There was a ton of shoes. I mean thousands of dollars in shoes.” I nodded that I heard her; Laila had done us a solid. “I would suggest a better sorting system, as the costumes and whatnot are kind of everywhere backstage.”
“We have a shit ton of storage down on the lower level with the dungeon. We figured we wouldn’t think of all we needed,” I assured her. “So we need clothing racks for costumes not being used. Shelves for shoes. What else?”