Fire and Ice || M. Tate-Hale (1)

Chapter 12

TW: s!rippers

Malia was groaning in frustration. "Is this really necessary?" Willow looked at her exasperated. "Do you want to save your friends or not? The place that I'm talking about has a very strict dress code." Malia eyed her suspiciously. "What kind of place requires a...a stripper outfit?"

"You'll see. There." She finished up, pulling the eyeliner pin back. She had adorned Malia with medium golden hoops. She had given Malia slight smoky eyes, and lined them. She also gave her a layer of a nude lip. She sat back, admiring her work in the sample makeup section. "Now all we have to do is slap one these bad boys" she tears a stick on price tag off that says "clearance" "and smack it on. They'll never know the difference." "They" being the Belk employees.

Malia's eyes widened. "Wait...you wanna steal?" Willow laughed. "No dumbass. I'm just going to put them in the bargain makeup section. Now we're going to walk out. Keep your head down." She instructed. I can't believe this. Malia did as she said, pushing her hair in front of her face as Willow linked their arms, sending a polite wave and smile to the clerk. The clerk smiled back.

When they got outside, Willow unlinked their arms, ignoring the disapproving look Malia cast her way. "Now, we get clothes." "What?!" Malia whipped around. "Cmon, it's almost night!" Willow smirked. "Yes, that's the point." "So there's a dress code for makeup and clothes?" Willow shook her head. "Just clothes." Malia's eyebrows shot up.

"What?!!! You made me put on makeup for nothing?!" Again, Willow shook her head. "No, not for nothing. Some of the people there are dangerous. Just trust me." Malia scoffed. "I can defend myself." "Oh yeah? With what claws? Hm? What fangs? What super senses?" Malia hung her head, knowing she was right.

"Ugh. Fine."

~~~

Malia stared at herself in the floor length mirror, unsure what to think. She stood there in a dress that barely covered her thighs. It was black and backless. The front was a dipping V, and the sleeves were long. Willow walked back in then, in a dress of her own. She gave Malia a once over, eyebrows raising. "You look good. Now that's what I'm talking about!"

Malia stared at Willow. Willow's hips and breasts were outlined in thin, tight leather. The dress clung to her, falling to just above her knees. The back had a zipper, which stopped just above her butt. It had thin tank top sleeves and sported two cutouts along the stomach in the shapes of triangles. One directly above her abdomen, and the bigger one, which was just below her breasts.

"And why are we dressed like prostitutes?" Willow moved in front of her, adjusting Malia's sleeves. "Because, like I said, strict dress code. Put your clothes in here." She held out her book bag. Malia did. "Now, let's go." They walked up to front desk, where Willow slid the cashier 5 fake 100's. Malia's mouth fell open. "Wha-" Willow's hand clamped over her mouth.

"Quiet." She whispered. The cashier did not look twice at the money, loading it into the register, and handing them back change. "Your change is $83.34, would like a receipt?" "No." Malia watched in amazement as they walked out of the store, with a brand new $83. "This should be enough for drinks." Willow continued, oblivious of Malia's shocked look. She yanked Willow to the side, causing her to stop her sentence.

She gripped Willow's arm tightly, staring at her. "How did you do that? More important, why did you do that?" Willow rolled her eyes, annoyed. "Firstly, ow. You're gripping my arm. Secondly, do I look like I can afford $400? 3rd, it's really cold out here, and you're pulling my braids." "Sorry." Malia let go, allowing Willows waist length braids to fall down.

"I'm serious though." "Illusion. One of the only magics I'm good at. I'm not refined to one type of magic, which means I wasn't born a blood witch. That's basically all I know about my magic. It's pretty unpredictable. Anyways, we need to go. Follow me." Willow led her to an alleyway door with a neon sign with "Pandemonium" on it. A big guy stood, guarding the door.

He was bald and had many tattoos and a septum piercing. He had on a black t-shirt and jeans. He looked at her expectantly. "Password?" "Fallacia." His eyebrows raised. "She one too?" Willow nodded. "Were." "You know better. Remember what happened last time?" "I know, I know. Trust me, she's under control." Malia scoffed. "He-" Willow clamped her hand over her mouth.

"Whatever. Oliver's up top." "Thanks." She smiled as she pushed past him. Pandemonium was a big place, every corner packed with dancing women and men, and the bar packed with people. Music blared from every corner, bases vibrating the chandeliers. It was two stories and dimly lit.  Colored lights cut across the floor. But what struck Malia the most was the podiums with poles that held, you guessed it, strippers.

Malia ogled at the full on nudity. The one closest to her was a tanned woman, with long curly black hair. Her outfit consisted of very little, a two small stars that covered her nipples, and a small, blue, sequined thong. Her heels were black and leathery with straps. They were about 6 inches. People frolicked on the steps leading up to the floor, some holding drinks, some dancing. On the top floor, people peered over the railing in fancier, more covering clothes.

Malia realized with a start exactly where Willow had taken her. "Why the fuck did you bring me to a strip club?!!" Willow rolled her eyes. "Relax, they're not real." Malia stopped abruptly. "What?" "The strippers. Here, let me show you." She stepped behind Malia, gripping her shoulders. "Look." And Malia did. She gasped. Slowly, one by one, the strippers faded, revealing bored women on their phones, sitting on the podium's, in normal clothes.

"None of this is real, here, look over there." Willow whispered in her ear, close enough in proximity for Malia to hear her over the music. She directed her head toward the bar. The "alcohol bottles" were actually rows upon rows of water bottles, but put in different sized bottles. "What-how-?!" Willow chuckled, releasing Malia's shoulders but not moving.

"The human mind is a very weak thing, easily manipulated. Add illusion magic to it, it's a done deal. Mortal's will believe anything." Yeah. Malia nodded, oblivious. "Wait, hold on. Backtrack. Mortal? So, witches are immortal?" Willow laughed. "Not exactly. We don't live forever, but we certainly can live longer than humans. There are spells and simply depending on your magic."

"Wow." Malia said nothing else. "Cmon, we have to find Oliver." She slipped out from behind Malia, taking her body warmth with her. Malia stared after her. She eventually followed her up the steps, when they got stopped by bodyguards. "Let them through. I know her." A husky voice carried through the air, ringing with authority.

The bodyguard stepped aside. "All yours Oliver." Malia got a good look at Oliver. He had pale skin, and dark green eyes. He had slicked back black hair. And he sported a butler-type mustache. "Oliver, my man! Long time no see!" Willow dapped Oliver up, laughing as he pulled her in quickly. Malia felt a twinge of something she couldn't quite put her finger on.

"Wow!" Oliver pulled back. "Look at you! It's been a long time." He gave her a once over. "Wow. Nice seeing you again cuz! What can I do for you?" "I need a spell. Can you take me to Bella?" Oliver fake mocked a gasp. "Dang, only came here for your girlfriend?" Willow's face soured. "She's not my girlfriend anymore." Oliver's eyebrows went up. "Interesting. Nonetheless, she's this way." He led them down a hallway, walking into a room labeled "boss only."

The door opened, revealing a woman hunched over a table, working on something. Her green eyes snapped up as they walked in. Malia's mouth fell open.  "You've got to be fucking kidding me."

A/N: Who's Bella? And who is she to Malia? Stay tuned for the next chapter featuring chaotic Millow and Pack