Hunger

Myobi stood in front of the mirror, fiddling with the hot curling iron and wincing from the ache in her arms that throbbed with every movement. With a sigh, she released her auburn locks from the metal clamp and watched in disgust as the curls fell softly off her shoulders in a Disney-esque fashion. She bent down to adjust her obsidian thigh-high lace up boots and let out a groan of agony as she straightened to a standing position. She braced herself on her shaking arms placed on each side of the sink and gazed back at her reflection.

“Dammit, I need to feed. And I need to do it immediately.” she mumbled in frustration as her arms continued to wobble on the counter. Although in agonizing pain in her powerless state, her piercing green eyes, plump burgundy lips, and flawless smooth skin stared back at her as if looking through an issue of Sports Illustrated. Her lip snarled in disgust but even then, her beauty didn’t falter. She was aware of her beauty, because without it she would not be able to survive, but she would be damned if she was going to admire it. Damned? She’s already damned, she thought as she slung her purse over her shoulder and shut off the light.

She made her way towards the nightclub district, her boots confidently clicking on the sidewalk to the beat of the music pumping through the doors. As Touche’s silver logo came into view, she mustered up the strength to walk faster to the entry. The stocky cliche of a bouncer wearing all black and sunglasses peaked over the top of his shades with lust glazing over his bloodshot eyes.

“Perfect. Tonight is just what I need.” she whispered under her breath as a string of couples and hook-ups groped each other against the cold brick wall to her left. With her eyes closed she inhaled deeply, a smile creeping across her lips as the sexual aura oozed off the couples and eyes bore down on her olive colored dress that hugged every curve of her body. She gently wrapped her fingertips around the bouncer’s muscular shoulder, the shakiness in her limbs slowly subsiding.

“Hello there, Byron.” she purred into his neck, watching goosebumps quickly form. He swallowed hard and ran his hand through his thick dark hair as he tilted his head in her direction. Her long eyelashes curtained her eyes as she deliberately gazed up and down his body in a painfully slow manner. She stopped at his powerful jawline and softly traced it with her index finger, forcing him to let out a soft moan.

“Myobi, you know damn well that I will always let you in free of charge.” he shifted and straightened his posture, leaning in to whisper “now unless you’re finally going to take up my offer of coming home with me tonight, I suggest you get that fine ass of yours inside before I lose my job for pinning you against this wall.” he resumed his tough guy composure and opened the front door, filling the sidewalk with music that drowned out the protests of those still in line. She clicked her tongue and gave a playful wink before entering.

“You’ll always be my favorite, baby.”

The dark club blasted rap tunes, making them almost unrecognizable after being laced with synthesizers and strong bass. The mass of bodies writhing against each other became its own entity with a drunken haze of lust, moving up and down like waves of an ocean. The erotic vibes of the crowd ran through her being as she held her hand out to test the energy and grinned once the shaking had settled to just her fingertips. A warm hand gripping hers startled her away from her thoughts.

“Hey there hottie!” an athletic built boy with wiry blonde hair stood in front of her with a goofy look on his face “with your hand out like that, I thought it was an invitation.” he chuckled and she quickly withdrew her arm. She squinted and tried to scan him when he spoke again “The name’s Alex, can I buy you a drink?” his eyes became fixated on her voluptuous cleavage that was trying to squirm out of her top. She grimaced slightly as she felt the alcohol flowing through his veins but gave a defeated sigh when she sensed a strong pulse beneath the belt line. She tucked her curls behind her ears and took a step in his direction, feeling the pulse on his lower half growing stronger.

“Hey Alex, I’m Myobi.” she said, biting her bottom lip and gazing at him with a look of innocence she wished she still had. The already smug smile of his grew to immeasurable lengths as she grabbed the collar of his polo and led him to the bar.

She firmly planted her fingers on his chest and shoved till he was seated on a bar stool. Without skipping a beat, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself until her body was planted on top of his. His eyes widened in disbelief as she tactfully positioned herself to cradle his throbbing member between her thighs.

Completely bewildered he stuttered out “Uh, your drink? You want-” he stopped suddenly when she gently teased his earlobe with a nibble and he moaned softly as she worked her way down his neck placing soft kisses until she came to a sudden halt at the base of his neck and her back tensed in unease.

A very faint but distinct smell poisoned his blood, making her quickly plant her feet on the floor, removing herself completely from the stool and the lump building in her throat. A quick downward glance displayed his erection straining against the tough fabric to which she averted her gaze from to sternly focus on his face. He blinked in utter confusion until he turned his head to face the bartender who blankly stared at him while clearing his throat. Myobi fished around the top of her boots until she found a twenty dollar bill that she slammed on the counter. She shook her hair out of her face and barked out

“Steve, please get Alex whatever he pleases. I am making my exit now.” the bartender nodded once and without another word, she stomped her way across the dance floor weaving between sweating bodies.

She must not let herself get so careless and desperate; she knew that smell, that mixture of musk and overly sweet honey, it was the scent of sickness. She had grown wiser over a period of time as to what scents to avoid in her partners; the ones that usually tossed lovers aside after having their fun and infecting them with an STD had a particular smell to them that only her nose could detect.The side door exit of the club swung open and she slumped herself against the brick wall, breathing in the night air. She was no longer shaking and stiff but it would be a matter of time before misery sunk into her bones again.

“Well then” a familiar voice chimed in down the alleyway. Byron took in one last deep drag of his cigarette and tossed it to the ground, extinguishing it beneath his combat boots. Her face softened and she heaved herself away from the wall and sashayed towards him. When she reached him, he placed his strong arm around her and kissed her cheek tenderly. “A pretty lady like you needs to be in there having fun.”

She looked into his eyes and with a slight grin allowed herself to melt into his chest. She let her body move with the rhythm of his gentle breathing and then with slight hesitation met his gaze again “Byron, I want to take you up on your offer.”

He jerked his head back in surprise till his crooked smile peeked through and he pulled his car keys from his back pocket.

“I thought you would never ask, baby girl. I’ll go get the car.”

As they drove off towards his apartment, Myobi hugged herself, trying to hide the growing pain in her limbs while watching Touche’s silver lit neon sign fade into the distance. This would be the last time she’d be able to go there, but there’s some sacrifices you have to make when the hunger calls.