"Five six seven eight!"

With those simple words from Junior Xiong, the band roared vivaciously. Emerald had to blink back the spots that came into her eyes when the lights flared on cue. She leaned against a pillar, simply watching the routine play forward.

"Enjoying it?" Tyrian Callows yelled at her from above the music. Emerald gave a vigorous nod. "Good, good. I'm sure you'll enjoy it a lot more when it actually starts." Emerald wanted the man to stop interrupting the jazz, but Tyrian was her manager, so she humored him.

"I'd enjoy it a lot more if I was up there."

Tyrian's entire face formed a scowl as he took a swig of his drink from the bar. "Have patience."

"I should say the same to you. The 'real show' hasn't even started and that's your what? Fifth drink?"

The sharp scowl deepened and became more harsh. "You really should be more grateful for all I'm doing for you instead of sassing at me."

Emerald went to retort, but the trumpets faded away as the drums and piano began a steady, thumping beat. Two spotlights focused on direct points on the stage. Emerald began to chew on her lip, before she harshly reminded herself future stars don't have ragged lips. The 'start' of the show Tyrian had mentioned had arrived. Arising from below stage would be the Politan Sisters. They had been advertised in posters around the block for at least a month now, and Tyrian used his special connections to get them tickets. Said Emerald needed a treat for all of the good work she'd done. So there Emerald was, watching them in all of their glory as they arose-

There was only one of them.

Rising onto stage was only the one sister, Neo. The second spotlight reserved for her sister hung empty. The present half of the sister act stamped along to the beat, grinning down to the audience in her signature innocent yet sultry swagger. There were murmurs of confusion rippling through the club, but they all still applauded her appearance anyhow. Emerald knew in shows there'd be reason performers were missing, so she decided not to question it. It was clearly a last-minute decision due to the confused looks of the band-members, who kept marching on with the music like true champs. Whoever did the lighting got a little on-tune snap from the singular sister to shine both lights on her.

"As Neo began to really move to the music, it was apparent there was supposed to be singing. That was one of the things about the sisters. Naomi sang while her mute sister Neo provided most of the choreography. Even without words, the way Neo moved with the backup dancers that caused her tassels and pink-and-brown bob to flick made it clear the song was provocative yet fun.

"While Emerald was enraptured by the jazzy tune and wonderful dancing, Tyrian was stressfully tapping his foot against the beat. "I paid for both sisters, dammit."

"Paid? I thought you got us in as a favor?"

"Never mind." Emerald followed his instructions, letting her mind go back to the show. Back to the experience. Taking in the sassy music, the choreography, the staging, lighting, acting, costumes, the way the whole club smelled like old booze and sweat. Emerald couldn't tell if her mind left the space entirely or became practically one with it as...

"And all that jazz." Now it was Emerald draped across the piano. It was her wearing the black mini dress with matching gartered stockings. Her short green hair styled in a symmetrical bob. Her legs were the ones wrapping around her co-dancers. Her voice poured out of her mouth like liquid gold. The magic of the club was hers to control, and hers only as she...

"Let's head out of here," Tyrian's drunken voice cut through her mental performance.

"Alright, let me grab my coat." It took a moment for the coat checker to find Emerald's black (faux) fur evening jacket along with her matching felt cap and gloves. When she was done Tyrian bustled her out of the club and into the cool Atlas air. She immediately bumped into a large man in a blue uniform with many like him right behind.

"Our apologies, officers," Emerald quipped. The squadron pushed passed her and Tyrian without a word as they headed into the club.


Tyrian didn't really walk Emerald back to her apartment building. He more-so hurriedly stumbled in front of her while she watched to make sure he didn't fall into traffic. When they actually got to the building, Emerald invited him in, feeling the traffic prediction would become true if he stayed out. He accepted the offer instantly.

Emerald actually had to prop him with her arm to get him up the multiple stories of stairs to her apartment. After reaching the halfway mark her own alcohol-influenced brain had the idea to just drop the heavy load. The moment she thought this a witness came out of her apartment, none other than Cinder Fall out for her midnight cigarette.

"Evening Mrs. Black," she smiled as she passed. The fox hugged her fur wrap, which Emerald knew was faux due to the fact that Cinder lived in this apartment building. Emerald returned the grin to the best of her acting abilities while she passed without responding.

When they got to Emerald's apartment, she flung Tyrian onto Mercury's bed by the door, knowing her 'husband' wouldn't care. Hopefully. She placed all of her outside apparel onto her coat rack. "So what's the plan for tomorrow, boss?" She asked, heading to her room.

"Wake up with a splitting headache, for one," he grumbled, making Emerald chuckle. Suddenly, as if regaining complete maneuverability, he got up and stalked towards her. Emerald's gut reaction was to step away from him. "You know what might help?" He pushed into her room after her.

"What?" All of the times her and Tyrian were alone together, this had never happened before.

"Waking up with a beautiful girl like you by my side," confusion flared through Emerald. She bumped into the corner of her bed, which caused her to stumble. Tyrian caught her.

"Logically that makes no sense. But good luck finding one anyways," she ripped free of his grasp.

"Are you refusing?"

"Yes."

"Oh," he paused as if to contemplate this. Then simply stated, like a two-year-old describing a fictional story, "I could ruin your career forever."

Emerald felt the blood in her veins freeze. "What?"

"It'd be easy. Warn anyone holding auditions of a terrible dark-skinned girl named Emerald Black, or Sustrai, depending on her mood, who would do terrible things to me. What things? Well, I'll have to think of those later."

"No," much to Emerald's shame she could feel tears prick in her eyes. She prayed her voice was even as she spoke and that maybe her words could dissuade him. "If you've done this to the other girls you've worked for, we can speak against you. Our collective word against yours."

"Girls? Emerald, what girls? You genuinely thought I was a manager? Some guy you met randomly at a club? Damn, I was hoping you were a desperate whore, not a desperate idiot." He seemed to find drunken amusement in the situation.

Emerald felt her knees weaken and her chest churn with hundreds of emotions at once. She was trying to keep it together, because he was right, she was stupid. She trusted Tyrian, had faith he'd deliver her to her deserved fame. "What about the auditions?" She blurted.

"I found calling flyers on billboards in old coffee shops, that simple."

"You're lying!" She was officially crying, her voice thick and wobbly. It had been a long time since she felt this powerless in a situation, she even vowed never to feel that way again. Her vows always meant something

"No. Now excuse me, Emerald, I should be leaving before your husband gets home."

Lying!" She was backing up again. Her shaking hand instinctively reached for her bureau
"Goodbye, Emerald. Good luck on all of your future endeavours." He cackled while turning for her bedroom door.

"You son of a bitch!" Grasping under piles of nylon stockings, Emerald's hand met freezing steel. She clutched on to the pistol and whipped it in front of her. The tears pooling from her eyes and streaming down her quivering face blurred her vision, but she aimed. And fired one shot. Two. Three. Until Tyrian Callows finally crumpled to the floor. She herself went limp and fell to the ground. "Son of a bitch!"