Inhibition

Chapter 8

Now, when Cat had heard “club”, she’d been thinking more of a rundown old warehouse that stunk of alcohol and looked as if the homeless lived in it during the day. Of course, Cat had never been to an actual club, but that was the image that she had concocted inside her head, based on too much television and not enough reality. Oh experience, what a wonderful thing to have.

Instead, Aubrie and Cat strolled up to a posh looking building, with windows that you could see through and warm lights outside. Yes, there was a heavily muscled guy at the door that seemed the stereotype for bouncer, but in actuality was just there to make sure nobody did anything stupid. Like using magic in a fight. No music spilled out into the night to shatter the quiet, but that could easily be explained by magic.

For all intents and purposes, The Faery was run by the adults of the Academy. Drinks were provided by the teacher’s families, as was the food and music. Everything was perfectly organized, and completely allowed. Full consent was given by the adults for people to do pretty much whatever the hell they wanted to, short of being caught killing someone. Emphasis on the caught. Nobody finds any evidence? Then it never happened.

This was a weird place.

Aubrie and Cat walked casually up to the door, and were waved right in. The music hit them as soon as they stepped through the door. Cat had been right about the magic sound barrier. Something was keeping the obnoxiously loud music in.

Inside, it was a lot more like Cat had imagined it. There was a central dance floor with a stage on the opposite end. The door led onto a raised platform that had a bar right at the entrance. Tables lined the sides, complete with comfy chairs. Spiral staircases led up to a balcony of sorts, on both sides that overlooked the dance floor.

A huge chandelier, the old fashioned kind made of refracting glass, hung up in the middle of the ceiling right above the dance floor. It was huge, multiple tiers and level with the second story balcony at the bottom. Pink, blue, and yellow light reflected out from it, almost pulsing around the otherwise dark club, acting like strobe lights. The distinct hum in the air told Cat that it was magic, not electronic lighting that gave the effect.

Music came from nowhere and everywhere, blasting through the club and energizing Cat. She could feel the pulse of it, the rhythm beating at her like the pulse of a heart. It was exciting. Grinning, Cat turned to Aubrie. The look on her face said that she was experiencing it too.

“Great, huh? There’s nothing like a Mag party. Trust me.”

Aubrie led her onto the dance floor, and they hit it like the crazy people they were. Despite her clumsiness, and ditzy-ness, Cat did have a sense of rhythm. Even in heels, she found she was enjoying herself immensely. She’d lost Aubrie in the crowd at one point, but Cat wasn’t worried. She just kept dancing, moving to the music.

Cat knew that guys were giving her approving looks, admiring her body (She did look hot tonight), but no one was approaching her. What she didn’t know was that no one was approaching her because of the death glare a certain someone sent the way of any guy that took so much as a step towards her.

When Cat finally exhausted her limits, she made for the bar counter. She didn’t know if the same “no money needed” rule of the stores she’d been to already applied here, so she didn’t order anything. She just sat on one of the stools, her feet dangling, and took the needed breather. Dancing was tiring. Cat had forgotten how much so from her limited experiences.

This time Cat knew he was there before he spoke, so when he tried to scare the bejesus out of her, she merely waved at him over her shoulder. He came around her side, absently admiring how the dress looked on her. Cat was, sadly, doing the same to him. He might have been a jerk sometimes, and completely socially retarded other times, but he was one serious hottie. Especially now in his dark jeans and tight muscle T-shirt that showcased every ridge of muscle he had. And he had a lot of muscle. Cat wondered how he did it . . .