The Ashes Wake

Chapter 4: Trifica

TRIFICA

"With red eyes, Queen Palea has announced that King Tomlin passed into the void early this morning. There is an ongoing investigation for treason. Further updates will follow."

Creature Courant Newspaper clipping
6923 Year, Majira Season

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Trifica danced slowly and methodically, twisting her body like coils on stage. The silky red slip she wore felt weightless against her body. Hoots of delight rose from the crowd below her. One creature had a long mug of malt in his scaly hand, and when he tried to clap the ale sloshed into the air and fell onto the stage.

"Mind yourself," the pub owner grunted from behind the bar at the Szithorith. "The last thing I need is a wet stage."

The Szithorith ignored him and stuck his long, forked tongue into the frothing mug, returning his eyes to her.

It was her third time dancing that week. The crowd seemed to like her best, so Mister Ithacus paid her more when she came in. Trifica needed the money so she swung her hips and slinked across the stage, letting her body twist like water. Her feet were warm against the wooden stage, and perfume smoke from pipes stuffed with leafturn ferns covered the room in a hazy glow. Dim, yellow lighting made her skin look even paler and her ebony hair darker. Her eyes were red though, a sign of her present anger and hatred.

Trifica loved dancing. But she hated dancing at the pub. Every creature's eyes followed her movements-the crimson pupils of the Szithoriths, the icy blue ones of the Frozen Folk, even the occasional emeralds or rubies of a Glareum.

She tried to ignore their hungry gazes and focus on the humming of the music, closing her eyes and letting her hips and torso do the work. Just as the song came to a close, she laced her fingers above her head, palms outward, then slinked into a perfected split, the bottoms of her thighs resting against the wood. The crowd of creatures descended into a frenzy, spilling ale and shouting.

Mister Ithacus stepped up the small staircase and onto the stage, offering her a hand. A shiver went up her spine as Trifica latched onto his fingers and got up smoothly; his skin was as rough as sandpaper yet warm and buzzing, electricity running through the veins, like most Cjsks. He frowned when he noticed her crimson-color eyes.

"I'd change your attitude or the pay'll be short today. I don't want customers thinking you're in a sour mood while dancing," he said under his breathe as he led her off the stage.

Trifica refrained from rolling her eyes and focused instead on Rebekah slinking onto the stage. Disappointed boos were released from the crowd. Embarrassment for her friend boiled up inside of her and Trifica's eyes reluctantly, helplessly, turned a blue shade.

Mister Ithacus noticed and the taut wrinkles on his face relaxed. "Look, I'm only joking. Customers just need to see you happy on stage," he said awkwardly. He pulled out a few denari and shoved them into her fist. "There, okay? You're off for the rest of the night. Just be back tomorrow, same time." He moved away from her, mumbling under his breathe and shaking his head. "Knew I shouldn't have hired a Kaleid-red eyes on stage! Damn nightmare."

Trifica smiled. The pub's income was dependent on her-he'd never kick her out. She strutted through the hazy atmosphere and towards a little booth; she always stayed after for Rebeka's show.

Someone caught Trifica's arm as she weaved through the creatures.

"How about you and I get out of here, huh? Want to go for a little walk?" The creature's sharp talons curled around her bicep hard, demanding.