The Sorcerer's Gate

one

The predawn light had settled over the city of Telarm and Jaxtyn would begin his shift at the shipyard hovering over two more dead bodies. They were found at the edge of the coast and remained still as the sea washed forward and back over them like they were mere shells or horseshoe crabs.

This time, the autopsy would reveal that they were not beaten or bruised like the ones found before. However, Jaxtyn would not need the autopsy to know that both of the women, both of the corpses, had their eyes gouged out. Later, the newspapers would leave that crucial detail out, perhaps for privacy and protection to the families of the victims or another reason altogether that Jaxtyn did not wish to dwell on.

Aster had work that day in the evening so Jaxtyn was not able to deliver the news to his wife. As she walked through the city, her route was a sightseeing location full of junkies and homeless citizens. Strangely, there wasn't a person in sight. The streets were quiet, windows were boarded up, and businesses had shut down early. The only light in the darkness was the porch light entryway to The Menage.

Her long black hair was tied loosely, half-up, half-down. Her pale complexion differed from Jaxtyn's tanned skin, being outside for work every day near the sea. Aster came out of the house for work in the evenings, after the sun was long gone. Her complexion looked more sickly in contrast to a lot of the citizens of Telarm.

Aster recognized some regulars along the block waiting to get inside so nothing appeared out of the ordinary. As she made her way toward the back entrance, her ID card rang on the buzzer with a BING, unlocking the door. Hairspray and burnt hair flooded her nostrils as she passed her coworkers, some in multicolored wigs and lavish costumes. Roan had a red wig teased to the ceiling with curls flowing in every direction. She was contorting her body at the hallway mirror perhaps already practicing the role that matched her sequined, rough and scratchy Magician's costume.

Aster peeked in and out of dressing rooms trying to see where June, the head coordinator was at. It didn't take long before June popped out of a room and collided into Aster's path.

"You're late," June said as she carried a large stool, sitting it down in front of a woman. The woman's face barely shifted as June assisted her into the tall, life-size martini glass. Another woman appeared and began to wheel her away with one hand as the other messed with the woman in the glass' bra where both of the breast cups were enlarged olives. The woman in the glass tried to pull down her matching sage tutu to cover her ass but to no avail.

June yelled orders down the hall towards them, then faced Aster and said, "Get dressed. You're in Room 5 in five."

"The Cabaret Room? I can't sing," Aster said moving towards the rack of clothing thrown helplessly onto the moving cart. Good luck with finding any material for tonight, she thought. Other girls were still picking and prodding at belts and other accessories that hung on the cart like they could somehow locate an exit beneath all the fabric and tool.

June shot Aster a bored look, "It's your lucky day. All you have to do is lip-sing, but I'm sure you'll find that more difficult than actually performing. Now, shut it with the backtalk. Four minutes."

Aster picked through the cart cautiously like a machine being told how to function. She didn't really believe at all she'd find anything this late until showtime. Maybe something of use is hiding if I just keep looking, she thought. Suddenly, she felt a light nudge at her abdomen to discover two hands holding out a microphone, some jet-black bloomers and a matching bra with red fringe at the trim and tassels on the nipples.

The hands that belonged to Vi ushered Aster into the nearby dressing room. Vi closed the curtain behind them to create an illusion of privacy. Aster began slipping into her costume as Vi touched up her bleached brows with a toothbrush. She forced her short, moonlight hair to stay put behind her ears with her fingers.

"She was bitchin' long before you got here. Something's off tonight. The street was a total twilight zone," Vi said.

"Fuck, what if she docks my pay?"

"Money trouble again, huh?"

"It's nothing to worry about. Jaxtyn has this strange feeling he's going to get laid off soon so I need to pick up some extra shifts."

"I'm sure he loveddddd to hear that."

"I haven't... exactly- told him, yet," Aster said cringing and delaying eye contact with Vi.

"Why does he dislike The Menage so much? I mean despite the ugly men licking at the windows or jacking off to a martini glass. I think this place can be a real hoot, don't you think?"

"Don't say hoot. He's just very-"

"Possessive?" Vi shot Aster a cheeky smile and flicked Aster's nipple tassel, awaiting her response.

"I guess. He's been on edge lately. I think he's worried with all the murders," Aster said as she pulled up her bloomers onto her figure.

Aster could've sworn Vi's countenance seemed to twitch or stir but Vi remained looking at her own reflection in the mirror with a blank stare.

"I mean who wouldn't be? They're killing women. That's ought to raise some alarm," Vi said pushing her headband farther back onto her head and blowing the large feather that clung to it away from her face.

Aster motioned to open the curtain and leave the dressing room when Vi halted her.

"One more gift," Vi said as she placed a glittery pill into Aster's palm. Aster spent no time placing the pill into her mouth and swallowing it.

They exited the dressing room and entered back into the society that was the lobby. Vi waved Aster off and entered the Ooh La La Room. June seemed to spawn again in front of Aster unexpectedly, delivering a "Thirty seconds," as she dramatically tapped at the watch on her right wrist.

When Aster entered The Cabaret Room, the harsh, fluorescent lights came to life stinging her eyes. June's voice ricocheted off the walls of the room, bringing Aster's attention to the various speakers along the ceiling.

"Twenty-five seconds. First customer entering soon," June said.

Finding her spot on the single chair that laid astray in the dull room, Aster took to it. She noticed other coworkers handwriting that previously accompanied the room marking up the walls. June used to paint over them for a while but grew tired. There would only be more written over the coverups the following night.

The writing ranged from compliments to mindless scribbles. Some girls wrote down engaging messages to keep one another going. Some appeared to be reasons why they were working here of all places. Other markings were little illustrations like a pair of breasts.

COINS COINS COINS

I have to get out of this place!

Pretend you can see him through the mirror and look disgusted! That'll teach the pig!

This room reeks...

Feeding my family

W.W.

At The Menage, each room is an illusion. On this side of the mirror, lay four plain walls and a single chair. On the customer's side of the mirror, the client sees the girls in the environment they paid for. In this case, a luxurious Cabaret and it's fancy, boisterous singer. The window or mirror that separates the girls from the customer is a one-way mirror. The customer can see them. The girls can't see anyone but their own reflection and humiliating costumes taunting them on the glass.

"You're on! Look alive!" June's voice shouted through the speaker.

June's voice refused to snap Aster out of her trance and came more as an alarming noise. Aster suddenly felt a sense of danger in the noise of June's voice. The pill seemed to already be kicking in.

There are various spots of red tape all over the floor and walls where each girl is meant to hit their mark at different times to stay true to the illusion. As she swayed her head, attempting to keep it right in place, she realized the markings seemed to be dancing. Once she hit the first mark, it jumped forward a foot away. Soon the music came blaring in through the speakers. She brought the microphone up to her mouth and began to sing.