XVI
The Cat's Den Downtown Metropolis
The rest of my car ride with J'onzz and Jimmy was pretty quiet. If they spoke, they kept their conversation to themselves. A fact I didn't mind. There was so much to see. Compared to home, Metropolis was a city forged by the gods. It was a city of glass and steel. Helios himself would be envious of his own reflection off these buildings.
The car had stopped in front of a towering building. It had a fountain surrounded by a metal globe in front of it.
"Did you have to come this way Jimmy," J'onzz hissed.
Jimmy sighed, "There is an accident on 23rd Street. It's not like I wanted to drive past that shit hole…"
As the metal globe turned around I noticed it had lettering.
"The Daily Planet…" I read. "What an odd name…"
"It is an ally's headquarters," J'onzz replied.
Jimmy grumbled under his breath. He said something about not being the one to tell Ultraman about this.
"Not like she has x-ray vision to see us…" J'onzz replied.
Something in my gut told me something was off. If this Daily Planet was an ally, they surely don't behave like they are.
"Will I meet this ally?" I asked.
"Let's hope not," Jimmy said as he started driving once more.
Following Jimmy's outburst he drove us the rest of the way in silence. 20 minutes passed until we finally pulled down an unmarked alley. As Jimmy drove a few feet into the alley a woman in a tight black dress was waiting in front of a lone red door. Her arms were folded across her chest.
"Took you long enough," she said as our car came to a stop.
The woman walked up to my window and knocked on it. I jumped back from the window as I watched the woman lean into it. She placed her hands on either side of her face. The windows in the car were so dark she wasn't able to see me sitting there.
"So where is this beauty you've brought me," she said as she took a step away from my window.
Jimmy looked at J'onzz.
"This is a bad idea…" he said.
"Just roll down the window Jimmy," J'onzz replied.
Jimmy shook his head. Suddenly the window in front of me started to go down. The woman in black eyes finally met mine. Her jaws dropped.
"Where have you been hiding her J'onzz?" she said. "She's perfect!"
"I haven't been hiding her," J'onzz replied. "She's new here…"
"New, new…" she said as she pulled the door open.
As she opened the door she looked me up and down. Suddenly she reached for my wrist.
"They don't make 'em like this any more," she continued.
I pulled my arm away from her.
"My mother made me this way," I said.
I stared back at her. I didn't care for her.
"Well I'll have to thank her for giving you them titties," she replied. "Now come with me…"
I looked at J'onzz. Was this the woman I was supposed to be helping?
He sighed, "Forgive her Diana, she doesn't have manners."
The woman gasped.
"You bring me goodies and expect me to care about proper protocol?" she asked.
Jimmy laughed.
"Shut up Olsen," she hissed.
J'onzz got out of the car and hugged the woman. He kissed both of her cheeks twice before he turned his attention back to me. He stepped in front of her and offered me his hand.
"Diana this is Selina," he said as I took his hand. "She's one of Ultraman's business associates."
Stepping out of the car I towered over Selina. She looked up at me and smiled.
"Hello,"
"Oh that accent," she squealed. "Where are you from? Brazil, Trinidad…"
"Themyscira," I replied.
She raised her eyebrow.
"Never heard of it," she replied. "But it doesn't matter…"
In mid sentence Selina started to walk back towards the red door.
"... the Amazon…" she muttered. "Yes… yes…"
I looked at J'onzz.
"Go on," he said. "I'll be right behind you."
I took a few breaths before I followed behind Selina. Through the red door I walked with J'onzz trailing behind me. The door slammed behind us. It caused everyone in the building to stop and look at us. I felt all eyes on me. Several men and women winked at me. While others scoffed. A naked man walked past me and brushed up against my arm.
"Fresh meat," he growled.
The people around us burst into laughter.
"Fresh meat everybody…"
"Cut it out Ollie," Selina snapped.
The man who brushed up against me took a deep bow.
"Forgive me my lady," he said. "But fresh meat is so rare here…."
J'onzz stepped in between us.
"Ollie…" J'onzz said.
"Look it's Ultraman's fuck toy," he continued.
"You mean his other fuck toy," another voice shouted.
"Yeah that's right," Ollie added. "I know he has several…"
J'onzz took several deep breaths. I placed my hand on his shoulder.
"J'onzz," I said.
The man named Ollie leaned over J'onzz right and looked right at me.
"What brings you here thicc princess?" Ollie asked.
"I'm helping Ultraman," I replied.
Ollie laughed.
"Do you hear that guys," he laughed. "She's here to help Ultraman…"
Selina hissed, but Ollie kept speaking.
"... I'm sure you've helped Ultraman a lot," he continued as she leaned closer to me. "I'm sure you took his two dicks like a real…."
"OLLIE!"
A woman's voice shrieked. Ollie took two steps away from J'onzz and me.
Selina laughed.
"Come on newbie," Selina said.
J'onzz pointed to Ollie and mouthed something to him. Ollie immediately straightened up and kept his gaze on the floor as I walked passed.
"What did you say to him?" I asked once we were far enough away from Ollie.
J'onzz didn't reply. He just kept walking forward.
"1, 2, 3…. Again," a voice echoed.
It sounded like the voice from earlier the closer we walked toward the main stage. Selina flung open the red double doors.
"Welcome to the Cat's Den!" she said.
She sauntered down a grand staircase and down towards the man stage. There was a blond woman with a riding crop in her hand. She was walking across the stage.
"1, 2, 3… Again…." the woman shouted again.
Selina shouted, "Canary!"
The blond woman looked up.
"Cat," the blond woman replied.
"I've brought you a replacement," Selina said as she stopped in front of the main stage.
The blond woman knelt down and looked Selina in the eyes.
"Who?" the blond woman said.
Selina pointed behind herself to me. The blond woman looked up.
"Oh a thicc one," the blond woman replied. "I might have use of her…"
The blond woman stood back to her feet.
"Hey you!" she called out to me. "Come up here and show me what you've got…"
I looked back to J'onzz for reassurance. He nodded so I leapt up onto the stage with ease.
The blond woman took a step back and gave me the stage. Suddenly a spotlight lit me up.
"Hit me with a beat," the woman shouted.
The music flipped through a few tracks until she said stop. I closed my eyes and let the rhythm take me. I pictured the dances from home, the ones used to Dionysus. I let my hips sway from side to side as I did that night. I caressed my body. I imagined I was back at home with Alexia on that drunken night. It was my first time with anyone. She cupped every inch of my body with her war worn hands. I tilted my head as if her lips kissed my neck. However my image of her faded. I felt pure heat against my neck. Her calloused hands were replaced by something hotter. I gasped from the sensation. As I opened my eyes I saw crimson eyes staring back at me. Suddenly I heard Selina's voice shout.
"Take it off," she shouted.
I watched the hungry red eyes look down at me. Slowly I slide the straps off my shoulders. His eyes grew brighter as the tops of my full breast were exposed. I wanted him to see me all of me.
"Now turn around…."
I did as I was told. I turned around and slid my hand up my back. Reaching for my zipper I pulled it down. As the zipper went down I imagined Ultraman standing behind me. His hands slowly pulling the zipper down as his hot breath breathed against the nape of my neck. I let my dress fall to the floor.
"Diana,"
My mind imagined him growling my name. I took a step out of my dress and looked over my shoulders. Those eyes were still there hungry for me. I cupped my full breasts and rolled my hips as if he was behind me.
Suddenly the music stopped. The crimson eyes in the crowd faded. I looked down and realized I was completely naked. Immediately, I covered my breasts with my hands. My face flushed. What had I done?
"And she's shy too…" Selina shouted. "Oh they'll eat this shit up."
"That they will…" the blond woman added.
She stepped out from behind me.
"I'll get her an outfit," she added as she wrapped a coat around me.
"Good, good," Selina said.
Looking down from the stage I saw someone walk up beside Selina. From the look on her face she wasn't happy.
"Did I do something wrong?" I said as I felt the blond woman touch my arm.
"Probably business related kid," she replied. "Don't worry your little head about it. You just worry about dancing later."
The blond woman pulled me off the stage and off to a dressing room. She told me her name was Dinah. As she left me in my dressing room I looked at the outfit that was laid out for me.
"It's some gold strings…." I said.
