Jimmy snickered as he watched Theo weave his way through the crowd and down the sloping ramp that split the booths. Taking another long pull on his drink, he threw Theo’s onto the table before leaning back into the plush cushions. Enveloped, he closed his eyes, letting the pulse of the music thrum through his body, a rhythmic counterpoint to the chill from the drink as it fought against the warmth of his body and the ambient temperature.

  Humming to himself as he recalled a pair of long shining legs beneath red silk, he slowly sat up from his slump. Turning his attention to his surroundings, he again noted the shiny fucks across the hall, who were beckoning him with a wave. Fat fuckin’ chance, he thought, turning his attention away from the snobs and to the rest of the club. He took another long pull on the concoction that had been freely provided at the bar, continuing his scan.

  The rest of the booths were filling up, the different groups of people an eclectic mix. He noted a few potentials further down the hall, glistening skin radiant under the subdued lighting. The voices of the attendees blended into a subliminal hum occasionally pierced by a raucous laugh or screech of joy. Jimmy rolled his eyes at the theatrics of it all, but couldn’t help the grin as the stage was slowly set for another memory erasing night of fun.

  Finishing off the drink in his hand, he grabbed the remainder of Theo’s and stood, making his way from the booth. Adopting a leisurely pace, he soaked up the atmosphere as he walked, running his free hand through the trailing greenery and shooting the occasional smile at the beauties he passed. Most ignored him, but a few sent him assessing looks. The night was ripe with potential, and he could feel the pressure mounting as everyone settled into the groove. Like two armies mustering their troops and assessing the other side, the sexual energy was palpable.

  At his current pace, the walk through the club took him a good twenty minutes before he made it back to the lower floor bar. Daz was still flirting outrageously, the petite brunette lapping up the attention. Jimmy sent him a two fingered salute, before grabbing another cocktail.

  The polished hardwood of the dance floor glistened in the flickering light, beckoning the party goers. The sounds of the grand piano were more noticeable down here, though he was no aficionado when it came to music. Nonetheless, he was impressed by the seemingly effortless way the pianist wove the sounds together.

  Eyeing the smaller tables that surrounded the dance floor, Jimmy found one that was empty with a particularly good view of the stairway up to the VIP landing. Each table was partially hidden by palms and other potted greenery. He felt camouflaged as he watched another group slowly pass the velvet rope that was being manned by a burly guard in all black. The trickling in of VIP’s was diminishing as time passed, but it was an interesting spectacle to watch.

  Jimmy took a moment to scan the looming balconies above. There was the occasional glimpse of colour as people passed closer to the edge, but the mystery of the elite area remained intact against those who partied below. Jimmy pulled deep on his cocktail, leaning back in his chair. He laughed as one of the punters slipped coming up the stairs from the bathrooms below. He briefly wondered what was taking Theo so long, but then remembered the private rooms and grinned at the thought that Theo might have loosened his grip on the stick he had shoved up his ass. Get ‘em boy.

  Leaning back into his chair, slurping at his drink, Jimmy settled comfortably into the pharmaceutical rush, his confidence dialling up to brazen. He was contemplating moving onto stage two of the evening plan when he saw another group making their way towards the VIP stairs.

  Led by a striking couple, the group moved smoothly from the sloping hall and through the crowd at the bar. Jimmy watched with amusement as the three trailing groupies guarded the space around the leading pair, deftly diverting the mostly unaware masses away.

  Throughout this dance, the couple chatted quietly with each other, barely glancing around. The lady’s arm rested lightly on the bent arm of her partner; their heads inclined towards each other. They were dressed in subtly matching clothes, with the lady in a gold floral-patterned green silk that was clasped tightly at the waist with a thick belt. Her partner was in a soft, loose-fitting linen pant with green accents at the hems. His shirt was open in a deep V showing chiselled muscle beneath. A gold and black open kaftan jacket floated behind him as they moved.

  Seeing an opportunity for mischief, Jimmy moved to intercept. Navigating the crowd, he found himself at the rear of the procession, and slotted himself into the gap that had opened behind the leading couple. One of the groupies turned to him, mouth twisted with a malicious grin. He heard a low hiss from his left.

  “Did you seriously just hiss at me?” Jimmy turned in shock. He grinned at the resultant glare. His exclamation was barely loud enough to penetrate the music, but the disturbance was sufficient to draw the attention of the couple, who turned with amused glances. An up and down look was enough for the man, though the lady softly whispered to the trailing group

  “Let him be,” she said. Giving Jimmy an assessing look, she continued. “Perhaps he will prove amusing.” Her voice was deep and sultry, and she gave Jimmy a saucy wink before turning back to her partner.

  Keeping his celebration internal, Jimmy smirked at the now glowering trio. The guard waved them up the stairs, his beady eyes boring into Jimmy as he passed through with the group. Three spirals saw them exiting the stairwell and onto the landing above.

  A haze of fragrant smoke wafted past, the vapour rising from the lowered seating areas that ran along the back wall of the mezzanine. Each half circle was filled with oversized cushions in velvet and linen, the central area clear to make space for the giant hookahs being shared. The people he could see lounged comfortably, hedonistically indulging in the many available pleasures. Ornate, glass topped tables were set between each seating area, lines of white powder on silver trays. Small, gilded boxes encrusted with semiprecious gems sat open, piled high with more of the drug. Jimmy’s eyes widened in delight, jackpot.

  He turned at the soft laughter that came from the woman, who had been watching him closely as they emerged onto the landing. Her partner remained blank faced, patiently waiting for his lady’s indulgence to end. Jimmy returned the man's blithe attitude in turn, instead giving the admittedly stunning woman a wink of her own. She laughed delightedly, waving him off. With a small bow of thanks, he watched them move left along the landing, taking note of where they sat.

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  The landing was almost evenly divided by a walkway that ran between the cushioned areas by the wall, and the private booths that overlooked the club below. The booths were hidden behind intricately carved wooden screens, draped in printed silks and secured with potted palms. The smell of the hookahs was wafted away by discrete fans that blew the smoke up and into a silent ventilation system.

  Jimmy paused briefly at one of the glass tables, indulging in what he could now confirm was cocaine, his teeth going numb from the quality. Stifling a grin, he moved on in ever growing wonder at the pure decadence around him. Having made his way a quarter circle, he found himself at the upper-level bar, where champagne and cocktails were being served. Deciding to indulge, he grabbed a bottle of something French and a glass for himself, finding an empty booth diagonally opposite from the bar.

  Taking a moment to glance over the side at the throng below, he grinned, pulling out his phone to take a selfie. A gentle cough interrupted him, and he waved in the waiter, but shot up in shock at the sword he was carrying.

  “Whoa mate, just the ice bucket is fine,” Jimmy said.

  “Pardon monsieur, this is sabre a champagne.” The man kept his eyes downcast but gestured towards the bottle on the table with his free hand. “It is for to open the bottle.” He had a thick French accent.

  Sitting back down, Jimmy watched as the man, arm covered in a thick linen cloth, unwrapped the foil and expertly slid the foot long blade along the stem of the bottle. With a whoosh the neck and cork shot out over the balcony edge and towards the people below. Jimmy laughed in delight at the sheer wantonness and disregard. The waiter then poured Jimmy a fizzing glass, placing the bottle into the chilled and icy bucket at the end of his table. Bowing and backing out of the booth, the waiter left Jimmy to indulge.

  Now this is the life, Jimmy thought, taking a long swig from the glass. Feet up on the low central table, he leant back and let the moment glow within. The cocktail of pharmaceuticals sent little tingles of energy from his balls all the way up his spine. Taking another sip, he felt the bubbles effervesce in time to the music, and laughed to himself, eyes still closed.

  He didn’t know how long he just sat there feeling like the king of the world. It was only when the glass ran dry that he opened his eyes to refill. To his shock, he was no longer alone. Across from him, the green silked lady had draped herself across the opposite lounge, her piercing brown eyes watching him closely.

  “It seems you have made yourself at home,” she said. Jimmy could hear the faintest hint of an accent, no longer masked by the music below. “I would not have picked you for a champagne drinker.” She leant forward to pour herself a glass from the bottle, giving Jimmy an eyeful of cleavage. He smiled in appreciation. “It seems you have caught some eyes, young...?”

  Jimmy quirked an eyebrow at being called young by this woman. Bemused, he answered. “James, though for a treasure such as yourself, you can call me Jimmy.” He took a sip of his champagne, settling back onto the couch. He could feel the thrumming tension in the air.

  “Delighted, Jimmy.” Her laugh was soft and sultry, and she leaned back, matching his posture. Her full lips glistened with a hint of champagne. Jimmy couldn’t help the soft chuckle that escaped. “You may call me Isadora. As I mentioned, it seems you have garnered some attention, dear Jimmy. I thought it best that I visit, at least for a time.” She raised her glass, which Jimmy returned.

  “Attention doesn’t bother me, Isadora.”

  “No, I do not imagine it does. You glow brighter the more eyes you attract. Tell me Jimmy, what do you make of the club?”

  “It’s definitely something, particularly from up here. I take it you have something to do with all this?” He waved his glass around before taking another sip.

  “Indeed. My family is well connected.”

  “And what about your… chaperone?” Jimmy asked.

  Isadora laughed. “He is a distant cousin. In fact, many of my family are in attendance here this evening. It is rare for so many of us to be together in the one place.” She paused, pulling a small crystal vial from her cleavage and spilling a small amount of powder onto the silver tray on the table.

  “Join me?” she asked, before leaning forward and snuffing a thin line. She passed him a thin gold cylinder, and he could feel her eyes on him as he followed suit.

  Leaning back, he closed his eyes, savouring the burn. It was not the cocaine he’d found elsewhere, but it was intense. It melted through his body like liquid fire, his nerves tingling with delight. He felt the air move, but kept his eyes closed as he savoured the rush.

  Finally opening his eyes, his vision took some time to clear. As it did, he noticed that Isadora had been joined by her chaperone. The man had since lost his kaftan, his chiselled body on display as the shirt draped ever more open. Isadora had her head resting on his shoulder, her gold painted nails drawing lazy circles on his chest through the light smattering of hair.

  “The evening entertainment is soon to begin Jimmy. I hope you are ready,” Isadora said, her voice soft.

  “Kinky, but ok.” He smirked, leaning over to pour himself another glass. Leaning back, he couldn’t help but add. “I see your family is close.”

  “I am sure you will soon understand the importance of blood ties my dear Jimmy.” Isadora gave her cousin a gentle pat on the chest, and he stood to give her space to move around the table and sit beside Jimmy. She leant into him, her lips tickling his ear as she whispered. “You have a gift, Jimmy; I can feel it pulsing through you.”

  “I’ve not had any complaints,” he said a little breathlessly. Tingles ran through his body.

  “But sadly, you are not to be mine.” Her breath tickled his neck, her tongue flicking out, tasting his sweat. He felt her lean back, turning to watch as she nodded to her cousin.

  The man smiled before leaping over the balcony…

  Jimmy was mute with shock, unable to process what he had just seen and held captive by the soft flesh that leant against his arm. When the first scream echoed from below, he jumped up in surprise, rushing to the balcony edge.

  Below him the dance floor was bedlam as he saw more people jump from the mezzanine and into the crowd below. Blood splashed against the walls, party goers torn apart in a frenzied melee as more and more of the VIPs joined the chaos. He noticed some were being knocked out and moved towards the VIP entrance, but the vast majority were being violently torn apart. The attackers glowed various shades of red in the low light of the club, a radiant energy that Jimmy had to shake himself to confirm was real. Panic set in.

  Turning in a rush, he tried passing Isadora, who remained nonchalantly lying on the couch. She grabbed him with an iron grip, preventing him from fleeing. He turned to her in shock, trying to pull his arm free; the pain shocking him from his immediate panic.

  “What the fuck is going on?” he asked.

  “Do not fret dear Jimmy, you will be fine.” She smirked as she stood. “We have a few little after parties planned, and you will be joining us.” Her fingers squeezed tighter around his arm, causing him to grunt at the pain. He half-heartedly tried pulling away but was almost immobilised by the absurdity of the situation.

  “Let us not skip too far ahead of ourselves, the entertainment below is just beginning.” Her eyes slid to the balcony’s edge; her gaze distant as the screams continued rising from below. “Though perhaps for you, it would be better to distance some of your more visceral responses.” She pulled the little vial from around her neck again, pouring the remainder into Jimmy’s champagne glass. She leaned it against his lips, her grip on his arm remaining firm.

  “Drink Jimmy, it will help for now.” As she poured it into his mouth, he tried spitting it into her face, but her hand left his arm and clamped down on his chin, forcing his mouth closed. He was shocked by her strength, unable to move his head. He choked down the champagne, his vision blurring rapidly.

  “Good boy,” she whispered.

  Jimmy felt his legs go out from under him, his control lost to the rampant rush of the drug. He felt the air move as she left him slumped on the floor, everything after that was a steadily darkening blur.