Hunger

Chapter 17

"If that big-nosed bastard wants to have a pissing contest then we're going to see who's dick is bigger!"

"BB, you don't have a dick!" Laynie seethed at her as she followed Columbina back downstairs. "And would you please, please, please stop saying such things about that guy's nose!? I've heard he's all too happy to kill people over the stuff you just said. I'm surprised you're still breathing and alive for me to yell at you, Bina!"

Columbina had barely stepped into the greenroom before throwing off her robe and tossing it aside. No, the star shaped pasties she'd chosen with the little tassels were not going to do. She peeled them off as she paced back to her vanity table, not caring who got a good look at her at this point.

"I trusted you to run them away from this place. Not agree to strip for them! And not-not for free, Columbina Trine!"

"He took my blood, Marlayna!" Columbina rounded on her, irises flashing. Blue-violet fire licked at the edges of her eyes. "That guy took my fucking blood and then acted like..."

Like the mere taste of you was the most erotic thing he'd ever experienced...

Her hair began to float away from her shoulders as anger shot its way through her. Her friend flinched, taking a step back, as did everyone else. They were looking to her for guidance, some kind of salvation from this turn of events she wasn't sure she was even fit to give them.

Marlayna had begun to cry again, a sight that angered her further. Angered her because she'd had a lifetime's worth of sordid men reducing innocent women to tears and she wasn't sure yet how or if she could salvage this situation.

"I'm going to figure something out," she announced to the room, "In the meantime you're all going to go out there and do your best. Well, come on then! Can't keep our esteemed guests waiting!"

There was hesitation for a moment, a few curses, some of them directed at her but she ignored them. Right now, if they all knew what was best for them, they were going to do what Buggy told them to do.

"My evening has gone to complete shit," she commented to Laynie as her friend slumped in a chair beside her, "I'm about to go recoup my losses."

"By doing what?" Marlayna had put both hands to her face, dragging them down and staring at Columbina like her brain had melted straight out of her ears.

"By doing what I do best. Tempt terrible men with something they're not going to get. Gift them with Columbina and then steal myself away. And I've got a funny feeling that stealing from our blue-haired friend out there is something that'll drive the rest of his mind right into the fucking ocean."

And as Columbina did her best to make herself into something she hoped a pirate captain would be all too happy to abduct, she mentally contradicted the confidence in her voice. Sacrificing herself hadn't been part of the setlist this evening but if she could somehow convince Buggy the Clown that she was the most desirable temptress he'd ever crossed paths with maybe none of the others would share her same fate.

She was either a Succubus or she wasn't. And if he wanted a taste of her that badly she was going to make sure it would stay with him forever.

***

"And that's how Foxy the Silver Fox learned that sending me, a bisexual up to the crow's nest was a bad idea! I mean, seriously, please don't trust us to be the lookout guys for your ship. How the Hell am I supposed to spot potential enemies when number one, everyone's hot, and number two, I can't sit properly to save my own fucking life?"