With the benefit of hindsight, Tabitha taking them to a strip club was hardly surprising. The confusing aspect of this trip was that she’d promised an end to Katrina’s mana problem, and there was still no sign of how they would accomplish that by watching scantily clad burlesque performers.

  The main floor of The Scarlet Showcase had been especially tough for Katrina. She’d been quite successful at avoiding other people for a couple years now, and even when crowds were unavoidable, they’d often been rather tame. People riding the train or waiting in line at a hospital were hardly a very excitable crowd, which had been one of the very few elements working in her favor.

  She’d learned very early that blood was far more complex than most people thought. While she didn’t understand the science behind it, and she suspected it was due to the thaumic energy that flowed through every living being, blood was able to take on thousands of infinitely subtle flavors depending on the emotions of its supplier. Fear, aggression, terror, panic, excitement, all of them had their own flavor profile, and the tastes always blended together perfectly. This was yet another reason why Kat had always been scared of her own instincts; she understood just how easy it would be to grow addicted.

  Katrina had always tried to hunt as responsibly as she could, and she often did so by seducing her targets. Yes, the sex had been exciting, but arousal had quickly become one of her favorite flavor profiles. The thrill of biting into someone at the moment of climax, feeling their arousal blend together with fear and panic; Katrina hated how much she missed it.

  Visiting a strip club, a place dedicated to fostering excitement and arousal, was no easy task for her.

  The main floor, and the performance of the Jorugumo, had been especially taxing. Not only were large portions of the audience considerably attracted to the performer, but her uniquely terrifying visage had also inspired a healthy helping of fear, and the smell had nearly overwhelmed Katrina once or twice. Thankfully, Alicia’s presence was making this trip easier, and Kat had tried to focus on the Dryad’s innocent excitement.

  Thankfully, they hadn’t lingered long. Stepping into their private room was a breath of fresh air, almost literally. Katrina could smell that the room had been empty for several hours before their arrival, and for that she was grateful.

  Now, with only three people in the room, it was much easier to focus. Alicia was a Dryad, and her potential arousal wouldn’t be an issue, and Katrina obviously didn’t care about her own blood. The focus of Kat’s attention, in more ways than one, was Alouette; the nine-foot-tall Amazon that was now beginning to dance for the two of them. Not only could Katrina smell the blood pumping in her veins, but she was also finding it difficult not to let her eyes roam over the voluptuous body now on display for them.

  Thankfully, Alicia had agreed that they could both enjoy the view as much as they wanted.

  Alouette’s dance started slowly. With one hand on the pole, she walked in time with the music for several beats before letting her body join in the fun. She flexed her incredibly strong shoulders, holding tight as she started spinning, her legs appearing to walk as she floated through the air.

  All of the dancer’s movements appeared effortless, which Kat knew was a sign that Alouette was ridiculously talented. Her body seemed to have no regard for gravity, and she was able to suspend herself any way she wanted as she moved with and around the pole. Kat now understood why this room needed a more heavily reinforced pole and higher ceilings; no doubt Alouette’s performance would be nigh impossible on a standard setup.

  The Amazon’s red sequined outfit sparkled in the dim club lighting, and Kat wondered where the polite place to look would be. The outfit seemed designed to attract attention, and she knew the point of these establishments was to titillate, but she still felt awkward about staring.

  Her train of thought was broken when Alouette spoke up. “Alright, girls, I think I’m all finished with my warmup. Now, based on Tab’s description, I think I already know the answer, but which one of you is Katrina?”

  “U-um, that would be me,” Kat said quietly. “What exactly did Tab tell you?”

  “Oh, practically nothing,” Alouette said with a smirk. She was currently suspended upside down, her powerful legs clinging to the pole. “She’s certainly got a flair for the dramatic, doesn’t she? I’ll bet you’re just as in the dark as I am.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, Kat saw Alicia nodding slowly. “She told us to dress up, and that was it.”

  A powerful laugh filled the room as Alouette continued her dance, swinging around until she was upright again. “I certainly appreciate you putting in the effort, even if you didn’t know what it was for. And, since Tab didn’t give you any information, I guess that job falls to me. You see, she told me you were having some mana problems, and that’s something I’m uniquely qualified to help you with.”

  Alouette lowered herself to the floor, angling away from the girls as she presented her toned backside. Her hips rolled back and forth, accentuating her dexterous physique, before she continued speaking. “You see, I’m a Bard. However, unlike most others of my Class, my Inspiration doesn’t work on Attributes.”

  Kat’s eyes went wide as she finally figured it out. “Wait, you’re a Regen Bard?”

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “Oh, you’re already familiar!”

  “I’m more than familiar; I’m a Regen Bard myself,” Kat said. “I didn’t think there were any others nearby.”

  “I thought the same, until just now.” Alouette released her hold on the pole, then turned to the girls and started walking closer. Each step was soft and elegant, and her body continued pulsing with the music as she moved. “We just might be the only two in Chicago! Now, I have to ask, what’s your performance of choice?”

  “Guitar, though I prefer classical, and I didn’t bring it with me.” Kat spoke out of habit, and only realized after that Alouette likely wasn’t about to ask for a performance. “What about you? I don’t fully understand how I’m getting your Inspiration right now.”

  With another step, Alouette closed the distance, and now stood directly in front of the couch. Katrina had to crane her neck just to attempt to look the dancer in the eyes, but she also noticed that Alicia wasn’t even trying. The Dryad seemed completely lost in Alouette’s body, her eyes glued to the muscles and curves on display just a foot away from her.

  Alouette stepped up, placing one leg just beside Alicia. She licked her lips slowly, then leaned forward, putting her ample cleavage on full display as she leaned towards the awestruck Dryad. “My Inspiration doesn’t come from music, love, it comes from dance. That means, whatever happens in here…”

  The dancer pivoted closer to Katrina, placing a hand on the wall just above the Vampire’s head. “Don’t.”

  She leaned closer, her breasts glistening in the pulsing light. “Look.”

  Her lips stopped just shy of touching Kat’s ear, and then she whispered, “Away.”

  Kat swallowed nervously, completely unable to maintain conversation any longer. Alouette’s sheer beauty was overwhelming her, but her proximity also made Kat fully aware of the blood pumping just beneath her skin. Thankfully, the dancer pulled away soon after she finished whispering, and Kat was able to collect herself.

  Alouette’s hands slowly returned to her own body, tracing up and down her curves, before she repeated a similar maneuver with Alicia. The poor Dryad seemed completely stunned, she hadn’t said a word since the dance started, and Kat immediately remembered just how sudden this must be for her. When they’d met, Kat had been the first person Alicia had seen for years. Kat was keenly aware of the effect she had on Alicia, but she’d also purposely avoided anything approaching this level of sexuality.

  When Alouette spoke up again, her attention was now focused on Alicia. “So, what about you, love? Just along for the ride with your girlfriend?”

  Alicia opened her mouth but couldn’t seem to find anything to say. “Uh…”

  “Aww, poor girl. I’m not being too forward, am I?” Alouette asked Katrina.

  “She’s just, well, both of us have never really done this before. I think we’re both a little at a loss of how to compose ourselves.”

  “You don’t have to do anything but watch, that’s sort of the whole point!” Alouette said, winking. She spun around quickly, then sat herself in between both girls on the couch. Her legs spread wide, over the laps to her left and right, and she leaned forward before playfully running her hands up the insides of her legs. “Now, did I hear something about lap dances earlier?”

  As Alouette had moved closer again, the smell of her blood returned. Katrina was now split off from Alicia, and her fingers dug into the couch as she tried to hold herself together. “Um, Miss Alouette, I promise I mean no disrespect, but I think it would be best if you avoid that kind of proximity with me. Status thing.”

  “Say no more, I’m here to entertain, not inflame.” Alouette’s leg quickly moved off Kat’s lap, then she planted her knee on the other side of Alicia. This meant, of course, that the dancer was now straddling Kat’s girlfriend.

  Alicia’s eyes were wide, and Kat could tell she was happily panicking from the attention. As the conversation had paused, Alouette returned her full attention to her dance, the hypnotizing motion of her body entrancing both girls. The lights of the room continued to decorate and accentuate the dancer’s lithe body, and her impossibly fluid movements seemed to defy the normal restrictions of physical form.

  With Alouette now further away, and a boundary firmly established, Katrina felt more comfortable relaxing. Now that she understood the point of this visit, the temptation to surrender herself to the sensual ambience of the night was palpable. She leaned back, resting her arms on the top of the couch, and happily scanned her eyes over the show in front of her.

  Katrina watched as Alouette turned around, now facing away from Alicia while still straddling her. Her perfectly shaped backside was even more visible, the fabric covering it seemed to have retreated slightly. Alicia was blushing with such intensity that her hair had started to blossom, which made Katrina chuckle quietly to herself.

  Laughter wasn’t the only reaction, however. As Alouette’s performance grew more personal, Katrina felt a heat building in her core, a primal instinct far more preferable than her usual thirst for blood. Her legs tensed, and she began to focus more on Alicia than the actual performance. The way her skin darkened as she blushed, the way she bit her lip while her eyes stayed glued to the dancer’s voluptuous curves. Katrina began to imagine what else might make the Dryad blush, and wishing she could be responsible for her girlfriend’s excited state.

  Would Alicia quietly gasp if Katrina explored her body? Or would she be more vocal? Would she freeze up from the pleasure, or was there an animal inside, waiting to be unleashed?

  Perhaps this strip club would prove more enjoyable than Katrina had initially thought.

  It took another few minutes of dancing before she asked for a small change. “Alouette, if you don’t mind, could we possibly move the performance back a touch? I think we should give my poor girlfriend here a break.”

  Alicia slowly nodded, her eyes wide, as the dancer laughed. “Oh, absolutely! You poor thing, you did so well, didn’t you?” Alouette said, playfully running a finger down Alicia’s shoulder. She stood up, making sure to showcase her form as she did, and returned to the pole in the center of the room.

  Kat slid closer to Alicia, then reached up to gently encourage the Dryad to look at her. “Babe, you doing okay?”

  Turning away from Alouette seemed to break the spell somewhat, and Alicia finally spoke her first words since the dance started. “Yeah, I’m… um… I’m really good. I think I like this place, Kat. Is that okay?”

  Kat laughed, then pulled Alicia for a kiss. “That’s kind of the point, isn’t it?”

  “I mean, I guess, but I don’t want—”

  Kat cut her off by placing a finger on her lips. She turned Alicia’s head to look forward again, then leaned next to her ear and whispered, “I can’t wait to get home tonight. I can give you another show, if you want.”

  Several more flowers blossomed in Alicia’s hair, and Kat couldn’t help but notice the Dryad was squeezing her legs together. Their lips met again, and this time they shared far more than a gentle kiss. They held each other’s necks as they pulled each other close, their tongues meeting. Their passionate embrace, however, was interrupted when Alouette cleared her throat.