Mia's Fear

Teslaimia felt entirely too anxious when she returned to the palace. She tried to put her finger on her fears but she wasn't quite able. As she thought back to the meeting she realized her biggest fear was that she no longer had the one thing she was always sure of, that she was the most beautiful. Without her beauty, did she have enough to keep Emily's eye? She knew that she didn't understand science like Emily and Emily wasn't truly interested in clothing design or fashion. Did they have enough in common that she could survive a more beautiful woman coming between them?

She walked into Emily's office and found it empty she walked into the main room and looked around for someone. She found Jamie walking around and asked, "Do you know where her Emily went?"

Jamie smiled, "Her Majesty left with her guests, she was taking them to meet with Mr. Duke at City Hall. She said to tell you that she would be out late tonight, they are also going to find a residence here in town for Lady Schmitz."

Teslaimia nodded and said, "Thank you, Jamie."

As the sun started to go down, she became more and more anxious until she finally decided to go see if she could ask at the sock and buskin. She walked outside and found Charles making the exchange with the night shift, "Charles, could I speak with you alone for a moment?"

He nodded and came over to her and spoke softly, "I am off shift, do you want me to let the night shift guys help you?"

She shook her head looking worried, "I need your help, I need to go to a place that I shouldn't be seen going to."

Charles thought for a moment, "Alright, I'll help you. I was only going to go home and read a book anyway. Wait here, I'll have the night team stay on palace duty." Sir Killington and Teslaimia went back inside the palace and then a short while later a disguised Teslaimia and Charles snuck out the servants' entrance and boarded the Rhino. A short ride down the line and then quietly and calmly made their way to the Green Door. Seeing where they were headed Charles whispered, "Your Majesty, do you know what kind of club this is?"

Teslaimia nodded and whispered back, "I'll be inside for no more than an hour, could you wait there across the street at the bar? I'll come to get you soon."

He shook his head, "I'll come to get you once you exit the building. Your Majesty, please be careful. This place... It's not simple."

*****

Emily and Katarina were sharing a bottle of wine while they talked about old times when she smiled and asked, "Can you show me where to find the club here in the city?"

Emily looked at the clock, "I should be getting home soon, Mia will start to worry. I guess it won't hurt to just show you how to get there."

Katarina grinned and said, "You must come in with me at least for a drink and a bite to eat."

Emily smiled and said, "Alright just for a drink and some food."

"How far is it from here?" Katarina asked.

Emily looked out the window and then pointed, "You see that huge building over there? The Airship port. It's in the industrial area of town just off to the right of that building."

Katarina smiled and said, "Good! Well, let me change into a better outfit for going to the club then."

Emily nodded and said, "I should wear something nicer myself, but I don't plan to stay long, this should be fine."

A few minutes later Emily and Katarina walked out and hailed a pedicab to go to the club.

*****

Teslaimia walked up to the smiling mask check girl and showed her pin she leaned close and whispered, "I need to speak with the devil."

The girl stopped smiling and said, "Little swan, the devil shows you what you want to see, but the price is always higher than you should pay, are you certain?"

Teslaimia nodded.

She took her over to the curtain, pulled it aside and opened the passageway, "You know where to go."

Teslaimia walked back to the large empty room and stood. Unlike before the master of ceremonies did not come as quickly.

*****

Emily and Katarina showed their pins and put on their masks. Before they were led inside, Katarina took off her long jacket and was only wearing lingerie. The masked girl took her jacket and put it where the mask she used was previously kept. She smiled at Emily and said, "When you come the only thing required of you to wear is the mask."

Emily and Katarina walked out to the main room and were seated next to the stage at a booth. Katarina smiled at Emily and said in a soft voice, "I don't know if you know this or not, but with our pins, we are given preferred seating. If a gentleman or lady wears less, they can sit front row."

Emily shook her head and smiled, "I didn't know all of that. I have only come twice so far."

*****

As Teslaimia waited, the lights suddenly went out and the room was suddenly pitch black as Teslaimia started to panic lights suddenly came back on. Men with swords surrounded Teslaimia. The master of ceremonies voice came softly at her ear, "Little swan comes alone, seeking the devil to atone? Three lies and you will be alone"

Teslaimia asked softly, "I want to know about Katarina Schmitz."

He walked around her in a circle and said, "That's the first lie, little swan, you don't want to know about her, you want to know when your naughty Empress will come home."

Teslaimia clenched her hand into a fist, "I want to know about their relationship."

He took her hand and danced around, "When you cheat be discreet, or accidentally you shall meet!" He ended his dance with a twirl and then he dipped her almost to the floor before singing, "For this thing, you wish to know, a dance you'll give for those below."

Teslaimia nodded her head, "I'll do it."

He snapped his fingers and three beautiful young women came out and helped her out of her clothes. She was left with her mask and two long ostrich feathers. Finally, the light went off once again and she was carried down some stairs as he whispered into her ear, "Until this dance is complete, you must not retreat." A dim light came on allowing her to see only his face, "Truth is not always what you see remember that before you play." He sang once more, "One dance you owe, its time you gave us a show!"

Fursian dance music began to play allowing Teslaimia to start a seductive dance using the ostrich feathers to keep herself covered even without her clothes. She moved around the stage the feathers moving along with her managing to cover her while all of the audience could see enough of her body to know that she was totally naked.

Emily sitting in the front row felt her jaw drop as she stared. She knew everything about the woman on stage because even with the mask, she could tell it was Teslaimia. Katarina leaned close and asked, "That girl is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen!" Emily could only nod.

Teslaimia danced around a few times not able to cover herself enough with the feathers causing some in the audience to whistle. As the music came to end the crowd erupted in delight. Teslaimia took a bow and saw Emily staring at her with a look of desire but to her side, that red hair and body could only belong to one woman. Teslaimia's arms dropped to her sides dropping the feathers. She turned and walked back behind the stage as the curtain fell.

Emily stood up and walked out to the lobby saying to Katarina, "I'm sorry, I'll talk to you later. I need to go."

Emily stormed out to the lobby and cornered the mask check girl, "Get him out here right now."

The mask check girl called out to a man standing near the doorway, "She needs to see the devil."

The man walked over and pulled back the curtain. Emily walked over as the hidden passageway opened. She walked back as it closed behind her. Emily walked back to the large empty room only to find Teslaimia and the devil mask standing nose to nose. Teslaimia was shouting, "You knew she was out there and still made me dance?"

Emily stormed up to him and slapped him hard on the cheek, "You purposely tried to make her think I was cheating on her?"

Teslaimia shouted at Emily, "Weren't you? I saw that woman next to you!"

Emily shouted back, "You just danced for us in the nude, did you see me doing anything with her?"

They both said at the same time, "Why are you even here?"

Emily sighed and said, "Katarina wanted to know where the club was and begged me to come in and have dinner and drink with her. I didn't know she was going to dress like that."

Teslaimia looked shy as she looked down, "I came to find out about your relationship with her."

Emily rubbed the bridge of her nose and said, "We were childhood friends, by childhood I mean like little kids. The last time I saw her was when I was ten years old. I only recognized her today because she had her family crest on her necklace and that red hair. Are you jealous of her?"

Teslaimia nodded, "She's so beautiful and you two talk in a language I can't understand."

Emily sighed again and said, "Come sit with us out there, I'll ask her to speak Langlish, it's rough, but she does speak Langlish, she doesn't like to because she thinks it makes her seem stupid. For the record, she thinks you are the most beautiful woman she has ever seen. As do I."

The devil danced around them while laughing, "Get to the seats you know, the redhead wants to put on a show!"

Teslaimia, "I want my clothes back first!"

The devil disappeared and Emily shook her head and rolled her eyes, "They've already seen it all, just come out and have a seat."

Teslaimia stared at Emily. "Fine. I will."

"Fine." Emily stared back. "Well, let's go."

Emily and Teslaimia went back to the booth in the front row and sat down together. Waiting for Katarina to appear on stage. The master of ceremonies walked up on stage and said, "You've seen the two most beautiful in the world upon this stage, so how about the third?" He opened his cape up wide and when he dropped it Katarina stood beside him as a powerful Jermanlic march was played by the musicians which became softer until it gradually transitioned into a seductive dance. Katarina would gently lose a piece of clothing, each time she came to a slow and soft part in the music they played until she was left with just her high heels she slowly wanted up to the edge of the stage and squatted down, her fingers sliding over her most naughty places and then the music would pick up the tempo causing her to dance around some more, her hair tossing left to right, she would pick up right leg holding her heel above her head. Men whistled and women giggled in delight and finally the music built to a climax and then gradually came to end causing Katarina to curl up into a ball on the ground. Just like a flower at the end of its bloom.

Once the stage went dark the crowd gave her a round of applause. She snuck back around and sat down next to Mia her face full of excitement, "Ze feather dance girl! I love your dance it vas exquisite!" She pushed herself intimately close to Mia and asked, "Vas it a Fursian? I love ze Fursian culture ze most!"

Emily chuckled as Mia found herself the target of endless flirtation from Katarina the rest of the night.