Chapter 3: The Scarlet Starlet

Sixteen-year old Ariella sighed deeply as the ice-cold pillar she was leaning on cooled down her boiling skin brilliantly. She watched, her eyelids half shut, as the rest of the Diamond Dogs strutted their stuff, looking as though they could dance and sing forever without stopping.

Carmine stood a little off to one side, set apart by her loud Spanish trilling and raven tresses flying in a messy halo around her. Sugar stood a little closer, her eyes surveying the choice of men on the menu for later, absently twirling a stand of her frequently moaned about hair in her fingers. Men surrounded Belle, as usual, her angelic looks winning the crowds yet again. Karita twirled in the middle of it all, her eyes lost in some distant dream. Ariella grinned; she hoped Karita would forgive her for Teddy's indecent behaviour.

"Aww, is the little one too ill to be a dancer with the big girls?" Nini sidled up to Ariella, her eyes flashing with the ever-constant spark of bitchiness.

"Shut your mouth Nini. Why are you bothering to come and annoy me? Doesn't anybody want you?" Ariella threw her best evil glare, and Nini stalked off, determined to grab a man as soon as possible. Ari set herself back against the pillar and contemplated her past few weeks at the Moulin Rouge.

Ariella Nicole Morgan was not exactly what you'd call a complex person. Born into a middle-class family, she'd lived in a small town in Wales with her mam, tad and two sisters until she was fifteen. Bored with small town life, Ari had saved up for months until she finally had enough for the boat ride to France. When she'd finally got there, it had taken her breath away. Paris was alive, pulsating, throbbing with life! Bohemians filled the streets with their songs and dances, and Ari had never felt so much at home. She was the odd duckling back in Wales, people didn't know how to accept the girl who longed to sing and dance and who collected anything new and unusual. Here, Ariella was warmly welcomed.

After a month of searching, Ari had stumbled upon the Moulin Rouge, the kingdom of night time pleasures. Ruled over by the fat yet eccentric Harold Zidler, it hadn't taken much to get hired. Now she shared a room with her closest friend, a fellow dancer by the name of Carmine, and she had gained a reputation as the 'Scarlet Starlet', due to her lengthy legs and flyaway copper hair. As she leaned against the pillar, Ariella could feel the eyes full of lust watching her, inspecting her, checking her over to see if she could end up being a good fuck. Ariella sighed; being one of the youngest was a pain in the ass, she wasn't used to so much dancing. Sighing, she waited for her breathing to become normal again.

"Hey, how's the picking for tonight?" Ariella jumped as Sugar's breathy voice softly floated over to her. Sugar giggled and brushed back her hair from her face, peering at Ari with a cutsey grin on her face.

"Sugar! You scared me then! Nah, there's nothing much really, just the usual bunch. I bet you I'll end up with that old bloke with the funny teeth and bad breath."

Sugar winked "That could pass for any of them, chica. I'm off to get myself a tasty bit of meat, fancy a look about?"

Ariella shook her head, her soft curls flaming in the mad light. "No thanks, I'm just gonna keep to the dancing and wish upon a star."

Sugar laughed, her voice bubbling like the laugh of a fairy. Swiftly she was away, singing and throwing about her skirts and acting like she had no care in the world.

Rolling her eyes at Sugar's pixie-like behaviour, Ariella picked up her heavy skirts, which were beaded with various good-luck charms and unusual ruffles from the market, making it twice as heavy. Weaving amongst the ballerina-like dancers and two-left-footed men, Ari searched desperately for someone who was young and at least moderately attractive. Twirling around, Ariella stopped dead when she saw a young boy, ages roughly the same as her, with black hair and deep chocolate eyes gazing at her. When their eyes met, the connection was immense, like an electric bolt. Gliding over to him, Ariella threw herself onto his lap and purred into his ear.

"I stand in the distance, I view from afar. Can I offer some assistance? Should it matter who you are?" Ariella gazed into the boy's eyes and spoke levelly, "I will be yours truly if indeed the price is right."

The young boy looked like his face was a giant cherry sitting on top of a tuxedo with black hair. He shyly looked up, and met Ari's fierce green-eyed gaze.

"W-Who are you?" Ari snuggled into his next and softly hummed.

"Just call me the Scarlet Starlet. So, you want to go someplace fun?" Ariella giggled as the young boy squirmed in his seat.

"Yes, I mean, please, I mean sure."

Giggling, Ari eased out of the boy's lap and threw a kiss on his lips. The current was positively alive, and Ari felt like she'd struck gold. Grabbing his anxious hand, Ari glided between the crowds until she reached the door, which separated the party goers from the paying customers. Carmine stood nearby, chatting to a dashing young man, and Ari wolf whistled. Carmine raised her head and grinned.

"Aries, you off to the room?"

"Yeah, don't mind do you?"

"Be my guest" Carmine winked and Ari ran ahead, pulling the boy with her. She turned her head and cocked it to one side, her red hair falling in delicate curls around her face.

"Hey baby, what's your name?"

"J-Jonathon. Jonathon Parker."

"Hmm…Johnny hey? No need to worry 'cause...I'm a professional."

Songs Used:
Confide in Me – Kylie Minogue
Meet Me in the Red Room - Amiel