The suggestive music could be heard from a block away. Nikaelis led them all to a stone building with purple lights and fog spilling out the entrance. A bouncer with horns stood planted in front as they approached.
"Hey Kilgharrah. Miss me?"
"It's gonna cost you extra for your little friends."
"Yeah, yeah. Geez, give a kid a break," Nikaelis sighed as he handed the man a bag of white and purple powder.
The man nodded before taking his pack around the corner, granting access to them. Nikaelis turned in his spot, stopping them from going in.
"You six wait out here."
"Excuse me?" Mekhi said before stepping in front of the others.
"Don't think I'm picking favorites, but your homeboys are human. If they're exposed to the smoke in there, they'll be in a conscious coma. Still-standing and smiling like idiots, but their mind asleep until the smoke has left their lungs."
"I'm not-"
"It's okay, dude," Kevin said as he grasped Mekhi's shoulder. "If this is our best chance at finding Amiire, we need to take it. We'll be fine."
"You heard him, come on Glasses," Nikaelis said as he grabbed Mekhi's wrist and dragged him into the smoke.
The music filled his senses all at once as the smoke managed to calm him down. Multiple round stages with poles were planted in the middle of the area with a large bar in the back. Half naked women of all ages and different species were planted on stage dancing with a round booth of customers for each of them. Mekhi had no idea what kind of creatures some of them were. Some possessed tails, others had horns, a few had blue or green skin.
"Is there a specific reason you brought me into a supernatural strip club?" Mekhi called over the music.
"There's someone I know here who has ties to Salem. Been in that castle more times than I can count."
"Where are they then?" Mekhi asked, for the smoke started to make him dizzy.
Nikaelis pointed to one of the empty stages as the music and lights faded. The smoke increased, but Mekhi could finally breathe. The music shifted, and his eyes widened when he heard someone begin to sing.
Knee high boots running up thin fishnets were paired with tight, leather shorts and a small, loose crop-top. Black, purple, and red hair cut short was tossed around with every move, revealing sharp fox-eyes Mekhi could not look away from.
"Meet the most famous dancer in Markvere, Zyair Morningstar."
"That's.....a dude."
"Observant, I'm actually impressed. Most people would pick him out as the hottest babe on the block. If anyone can get you into that castle, it's him."
Mekhi opened then closed his mouth, staring at Zyair. His appearance was one thing, his voice another. Mekhi finally figured out the new smoke was coming from him. Especially when the smoke surrounded him, lifting the kid into the air.
He flew around his stage grabbing and releasing the pole when he needed to. His body moved and curved like a woman, hiding the fact he had no breasts. His voice however rattled Mekhi's head. All he could do was watch, trapped in the consistent flowing trans with every word, every move Zyair made.
This is his magic. He knew that. But he still wanted to give into his spell. To give his mind over to the smoke. He blinked when Nikaelis shoved his shoulder.
"Stay with me, Glasses. Don't let him get in your head, or you'll be his love-sick puppy for life."
The song soon ended, replaced with the natural suggestive music before. Zyair stepped off his stage, using his smoke to keep others away as he left. Nikaelis gestured for Mekhi to follow as the two scrambled through the crowd. The multiple bodies shoved them out the back door into an alley on the side of the building.
