The night dawned, cold and bleak in Mikea�s dingy little room above the club in which she was currently performing. She stepped up to the mirror on the dressing table, giving herself a final, harsh, close examination of her appearance. One last time before stepping out, she runs the brush through her longish platinum hair, as she peers at her stage make-up in the quickly darkening room. Muttering softly to herself, �The show must go on�� she steps out the door, quietly turning the key in the lock behind her. Her shoes click rhythmically on the floor as she walks stage-ward. Pausing just behind the curtains, she waits for her cue; she picks the lint from her clothes, reflecting on what it�s taken to get her to this point. The M.C.�s voice filters back through the heavy velvet curtains, signaling her cue to move onto the stage. With a last tug at her dress, she sashays out towards center stage, the lights dimming, the unseen band playing soft accompaniment, her voice husky, and warm, like a well aged whisky pouring over the crowd, she sings, in the soft, speak-easy, bluesy, jazzy style of the era. One set, then another goes by, finally the night is over, and Mikea retreats to her room over the club. The soft hiss of silk on silk gives Mikea pause as she unlocks the door to her dressing room, turning, she calls out softly, her voice throaty, �Who�s there?� Silence follows. �Hello?� Once again, that soft sibilant hiss of silk on silk is heard. �I�m sorry for startling you,� a soft musical voice comes from the shadows, �I was hoping to catch you and tell you that I think you have great potential. I�ve been watching you quite a while now.� The woman steps from the shadows, extending her hand to Mikea. �I�m Eve. Eve Arpeggio.� With a smile, and some small amount of mistrust, Mikea extends her small hand. �Mikea Mellisande, thank you, I appreciate your vote of support.� She turns the key very slowly in the lock on the door behind her, her hand resting uneasily on the doorknob after withdrawing the key. Without warning, Eve moves up closer to Mikea, her hand caressing the significantly smaller woman�s cheek. �Yes, I do believe you�ll do.� With that, not pausing to give Mikea a chance, Eve sinks her fangs deeply into her neck, starting her on the path to darkness� |
| The Gilded Cage |
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| The Kiss of eternity has been delivered� |
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