Tyme Essence: Chapter 2
Karissa POV
I stood in front of the mirror in my dressing room, putting on the last of my makeup. I looked like a deprived Catholic School girl in this costume, not that it wasn't appealing (and believe me, if I were a guy, I'd go for me) but I hated having to dress like this to gain most of my attention. Wasn't working in this god- forsaken hellhole that claimed to be the hottest club in town enough? Obviously not.
Tonight was supposed to be different. I wasn't singing one of those tantalizingly seductive numbers to lure that thrill seeker to my rooms after my performance, but a fast and only semi-seductive song that would probably just get a guy into it without making his tongue hang out of his mouth like a limp noodle. I was going for a whole different perspective, preferably one that could get me a record deal with some sort of recording company.
Tai knocked on the door and poked his head in, smiling wide at the image he picked up, "Looking good, my demoness.you'll be the talk of the city if I have my way."
I must have blushed because he got that 'how cute' look on his face before blowing me a kiss and shutting the door. I shook my head and pulled my hair into a half ponytail, letting two curly red strands fall in my face as I tied a fluffy black scrunchie around it. I turned back to the mirror and checked the outcome of the entire hour or so of preparation. It seemed flawless. Or at least it would to the hundreds of people in our audience tonight.
I stepped into the strappy stilettos and buckled them about my ankles, then turned a full circle to see the skirt flare up around my legs. An innocent little demon was what I looked like. A lone seductress from a brothel in Paris maybe, or perhaps a cancan dancer from Italy, it all seemed the same in my eyes.
The stage call was in three minutes, just enough time for me to get to the stage behind Tai. Maybe tonight he'd let me go to bed alone and sleep until the twilight of tomorrow without another soul in my rooms. Maybe this performance will be seen by a famous talent scout and I'll be whisked away from this life of slummy shows and sluttish costumes just to draw the attention of the wandering eye.
I stood behind the curtains as my employer and friend introduced me to the crowd of newcomers and old acquaintances, my hands toying with the now silent microphone. I eyed the back of my announcer's head, my gaze fixated on his blonde hair that glimmered in the stage light. The audience clapped as he finished his speech, him turning to me and whispering as the curtains rose.
" Your spotlight, your stage, your reputation, my love, now do this right or you're mine."
I looked away from his as he exited the stage, leaving me to the rising curtain and applause from the crowd. Was it frightening? No, it was just another notch in my belt, just another tick in the book under this category, just another night in the spotlight. At least it was, until I saw him.
He sat at the bar surrounded by a group of guys. His brown hair was in one solid bag in front of his eyes as he looked at me with such utter shock. He appeared angry, then almost forlorn at the sight of me. That really isn't the reaction I usually give off. His emerald eyes sparkled in the light as I made contact with him, raising the awakened microphone to my lips and taking the first breath to utter the first note of my new start.
Karissa POV
I stood in front of the mirror in my dressing room, putting on the last of my makeup. I looked like a deprived Catholic School girl in this costume, not that it wasn't appealing (and believe me, if I were a guy, I'd go for me) but I hated having to dress like this to gain most of my attention. Wasn't working in this god- forsaken hellhole that claimed to be the hottest club in town enough? Obviously not.
Tonight was supposed to be different. I wasn't singing one of those tantalizingly seductive numbers to lure that thrill seeker to my rooms after my performance, but a fast and only semi-seductive song that would probably just get a guy into it without making his tongue hang out of his mouth like a limp noodle. I was going for a whole different perspective, preferably one that could get me a record deal with some sort of recording company.
Tai knocked on the door and poked his head in, smiling wide at the image he picked up, "Looking good, my demoness.you'll be the talk of the city if I have my way."
I must have blushed because he got that 'how cute' look on his face before blowing me a kiss and shutting the door. I shook my head and pulled my hair into a half ponytail, letting two curly red strands fall in my face as I tied a fluffy black scrunchie around it. I turned back to the mirror and checked the outcome of the entire hour or so of preparation. It seemed flawless. Or at least it would to the hundreds of people in our audience tonight.
I stepped into the strappy stilettos and buckled them about my ankles, then turned a full circle to see the skirt flare up around my legs. An innocent little demon was what I looked like. A lone seductress from a brothel in Paris maybe, or perhaps a cancan dancer from Italy, it all seemed the same in my eyes.
The stage call was in three minutes, just enough time for me to get to the stage behind Tai. Maybe tonight he'd let me go to bed alone and sleep until the twilight of tomorrow without another soul in my rooms. Maybe this performance will be seen by a famous talent scout and I'll be whisked away from this life of slummy shows and sluttish costumes just to draw the attention of the wandering eye.
I stood behind the curtains as my employer and friend introduced me to the crowd of newcomers and old acquaintances, my hands toying with the now silent microphone. I eyed the back of my announcer's head, my gaze fixated on his blonde hair that glimmered in the stage light. The audience clapped as he finished his speech, him turning to me and whispering as the curtains rose.
" Your spotlight, your stage, your reputation, my love, now do this right or you're mine."
I looked away from his as he exited the stage, leaving me to the rising curtain and applause from the crowd. Was it frightening? No, it was just another notch in my belt, just another tick in the book under this category, just another night in the spotlight. At least it was, until I saw him.
He sat at the bar surrounded by a group of guys. His brown hair was in one solid bag in front of his eyes as he looked at me with such utter shock. He appeared angry, then almost forlorn at the sight of me. That really isn't the reaction I usually give off. His emerald eyes sparkled in the light as I made contact with him, raising the awakened microphone to my lips and taking the first breath to utter the first note of my new start.