Club Damned, Part 1

And the winds blew through Night Town, and she loosened her corset to get into the Town Car.

“Please stop here,” she asked, after some time passed.

Moist gravel crunched. Lana clutched her gargantuan golf umbrella and tightened the plastic wrap around her mask.

“Yes. Here.” Lana handed the driver a crisp Benner and stepped out.

***

The chateau was lit exquisitely. Ridged shimmering crystals. Large to small chandeliers cascading in each hall. Nance, the coordinator, led her to a room at the back of the second story.

“This is mostly a B&B now,” she explained. “And event facility.”

Lana nodded. “What should I expect tonight?”

“You know the group that is running this, right?”

“Correct.” Lana smiled. There was no need for further detail that sub Amanda and she had had a relationship.

“And you know that you may encounter some well-known people tonight. But this is a private party. Please no photos.”

“Of course.”

“Personal climate control is here for just this room. Don’t get distracted if you...hear anything from any of the other rooms. I trust you know the nature of these things.”

Lana smiled.

“This is Rodrigo. He will be your private security patrolling this entire hallway, but will be just in sight if you are able to step out of your room, and he will come by every 15 to 20 minutes or so.”

“Hi.” Rodrigo extended his hand. He was elaborately suited. “What mask will you be wearing, just so I know?”

Lana held it up.

“Perfect.” They had wanted all employees to wear masks at the party as well as patrons. Some said the building owner was rumored to come around and serve hors d’oeuvres during these events in the most drunken hours, and that he was stone-cold sober, despite being highly encouraging of debauchery.

Nance exited the room, and Lana began to shuffle the flyers for Club Damned that covered her table. Soon everything was arranged. Finally, Lana adjusted her corset and straightened her dress. It was nearly 9pm. The preshow was to begin, and VIPs would get access to the entire building.

They arrived. The first two hours were almost sleepy, as champagne gingerly circulated. Since her room was private, she never bothered with the mask. At hour 2, Amanda wandered in, sporting a chest harness, an intensely rhinestoned bra and no panties besides rope.

“Hi,” said Amanda, slightly nervously.

“Hello.” Lana got up from her post and walked towards the door. “Do you want me to shut this for a break? I’m allowed to. They gave me a ‘will return’ sign.”

“Sure.”

Lana shut the door.

“That’s a nice corset, Lan.” Amanda walked towards the back of the room to a single-person armchair, wiggling her ass.

“Thanks. So, um, how are you? It’s been a while.”

“It has.” A long pause. “I’m glad you made it.”

“Me too. Thank you for connecting me with Sir Frank.” The pauses felt aeons long. It had gotten awkward towards the end, though the physical attraction had been intense. That was the whole reason. “What’ve you been up to?”

“I finally found an office job, and I went weekend warrior at the Dungeon. And I’m usually out for events, of course.”

“Great, great.”

“So, you read palms, huh? I remember when you were doing the phone psychic stuff. But I thought you just made most of that up.”

“Sometimes. I did sometimes. Yeah, I learned to palm read. People really like it at parties.”

“Is it real?”

“Yeah. I mean people say it’s accurate and stuff.”

“Can you do me at the end of the night? If I’m not dead asleep?”

“Sure. Come back here at like 2:30.”

“Ok. I gotta go now. Bye!” Lana was already angry at herself internally for allowing Amanda to talk her into something again. The ones like that in the relationship always had the power. There had always been something naïvely manipulative about Amanda.

**

Two more hours passed. It felt like fifty clients. Awful propositions, a triad that couldn’t keep their hands off one another. It didn’t really creep her out, though there were certainly reasons to say no, on or off the job. It didn’t register much at this point. Just part of the flow, just part of the wallpaper. Another break came around. She walked to put her sign up and shut the door. Just then Juancarlo stopped dead in his tracks in the hallway.

“I know you. We’ve met before.”

“Oh. Yeah. Are you gonna kiss my hand or something?”

“I’d rather do more.”

“I’m honestly surprised to see you here. I thought you were done with this scene.”

“If I were drinking tonight, I would offer you whiskey.”

“That was a non sequitir. And you're not supposed to drink if you're playing. I know that much.”

“You are a piece of work.”

“So are you, and that was another non sequitir.”

Juancarlo smiled. Lana raised an eyebrow, and held the door a person’s width cracked.

“After you.” There was the slightest tint of flat sarcasm in her voice.