*Special thanks to Endcredits for his editing and feedback*
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She would have left had she not felt the heartbeat of the building pulsing under her hand. Standing in an elaborate peacock costume in front of a dilapidated warehouse, she thought how ridiculous she must look. But, she reminded herself, inhibited women do not stand on public streets in feathers. Her ex obviously was wrong about her. She could and would change. Balling her fingers into a fist, she rapped at the door feeling ready to retreat if not quickly answered. Three feet from the wet asphalt, a white theater mask with an elongated nose revealed itself through a small window. Two brown eyes rolled over her as she held up the invitation.
She found the invitation wedged in the back of the drawer that had once contained her former boyfriend's clothes. It'd been a couple of months since she dumped those items into a garbage bag and thrown them at him as he walked into the apartment they had shared. Closing her eyes, she could still remember the image of a nude female smiling as she intertwined around her ex-lover's frame. The asshole had actually taken photographs of his affairs. Finding a whole scrapbook, she flipped through his indiscretions one page at a time. The sound of the door sliding open released her from the familiar path her mind was wandering.
She stared down at the figure in the doorway. The white mask fit oddly on the oversized head of a dwarf in a tuxedo with a top hat. Accustomed to people staring, the dwarf narrowed his hardened eyes. He reached out his tiny white-gloved hand in expectation.
"Excuse me?" She could not take her eyes off the hat that almost doubled his height.
"Card, Lady." His voice was deep with unusual pitch changes.
"I'm sorry. I ..."
"Nobody gets to keep 'em. Host decides who comes back or not," he responded, beckoning the invitation.
"Yes, of course, I was just going ask..."
"No answers here, Ma'am. Don't see nothing. Don't know nothing." The rude little man pulled the invitation free.
She opened her mouth to ask again about the place she had just entered, but he motioned her away. Soddering off to a small stool by the door, he faded into the shadows. Alone, she walked deeper into the lush hall. Stubbing her toe on a stone planter, Melody steadied herself against the plush purple wallpaper silently cursing. With the other hand, she reached down to rub her injury before moving away from the guilty Kentia palm tree. She looked about the foyer to consider the contrast between the neglected facade and the rich interior. Melody knew the anxiety little Alice in Wonderland must have felt falling down the rabbit hole. She was experiencing the same sensation being crowded by her costumed likeness trapped in various mirrors hanging at odd heights on the walls. Fleeing to the end of the hall, she pushed back the heavy parlor curtains to the main room. The massive ballroom projected a scene that could have been straight out of a medieval masquerade ball if not for Evanescene's song "Bring Me to Life" pouring through the modern sound system.
A fever enveloped the menagerie of costumed strangers dancing as the singer's lyrical plead echoed the beat of their steps. Like a diamond cut of rainbows, the disco ball rained down a thousand droplets of light. Silhouettes flickered against the walls as smoke curled about the floor. Swollen metallic balloons bounced over Fairytales figures brought to life by sequins, feathers and beads.
Many in attendance chose beautiful costumes of angels, princesses, and knights. Others were wanton and wild in animalistic attire. Few dressed in a more peculiar and strange styles. Even fewer were frightening and downright morbid as if finding delight in the freak-show attractions of old time carnivals. They turned, moved and danced like they were caught in a dream.
A nervous anticipation percolated in her stomach. Standing at the entrance, she recalled the words from the invitation: "Incognito: Mask & Costume Required. Invitation only". Not in her wildest dreams would she have imagined that her impromptu decision would lead to this. Knowing her ex, she would have guessed the invitation would have led to some private uptown spot. She figured she'd get a taste of the dark side with few witnesses. She would prove to herself that he had been wrong about her. She was no prude. She just needed to find something to set her free. Now here, she would have never thought a place like this existed. Strangely, it seemed like the key she was looking for to unlock herself.
People must have come from all over as hundreds packed the main room. Spiral staircases led up to metal grate balconies containing even more partygoers. It was like the whole city was packed inside of the club. The decadence mesmerized Melody freezing her at the door. She had definitely found her way into a Wonderland, though not Alice's. It was a playground for adults freeing the participants to be whatever their heart desired.
She had chosen to be a beautiful bird. A glorious peacock tail that spread out around her like starshine surrounded her shapely body. Each feather cast the sparkle of fireworks. Tied around her dark hair, a bird mask shielded half her face. The yellow beading of the small curved beak brought out her amber eyes making their cat shape look more exotic.
Suddenly, a hand reached out and pulled her into the crowd before she could react. The man who grabbed her hand was an incredible sight. A red feather plume shot from the side of his crimson hat as large as his shoulders were broad. Standing six feet five inches tall, he wore a renaissance-style jacket and fitted pants in the gaudiest of red velvet. A gold cloak rippled in the air over his left shoulder as they danced. She was taken back by the contrast of the mask, as he pulled her close. Instead of feathers or simple silk, he wore a grotesque partial skull that covered the top of his face. Fascinating and horrific, the mask begged her to reach out and touch the monstrosity.
"Lovely tail." His rich baritone voice relaxed her as he spoke directly into her ear. He maneuvered his hand close to the small of her back, drawing near to the feathers blooming from the curve of her bottom.
"You like it?" She purred enjoying the warmth of his touch.
"What?" He shouted back with a smile.
"YOU LIKE IT?" she raised her voice over the noise.
"Oh, I do," he said. "Are you here with anyone?"
"No," she answered enjoying the flicker of light in his eyes.
"Who brought you here?" he asked his interest growing. "How do you know about my establishment?"
"Your establishment?" She asked surprised. "You own this place? What is it?"
"Heaven for sinners," he winked back.
"Seriously?" she spoke in the direction of his ear as he folded her back into his arms. Her hands sliding down his arms feeling the masculine ridges.
"What did you think it was?" His mouth pulled slightly to the right creating a dimple in his cheek.
Her mind failed her as to give her a clever response. The motion of their bodies took the words from her mouth. Pressed against the velvet expanse of his solid chest, she felt the heat of attraction making her glow.
"You know where you are, right? Why they come here?" the edges of his mouth fell as he straightened to his full height.
"No," she said dismissively back despite his changing demeanor.
