Two nights later, Aidan sees another lucid beauty on the dance floor. Neil is leaning against the bar, melting ice and diluted scotch in a small glass before him. Aidan doesn’t even bother whispering into the mic, he simply opens the door of the booth and motions to Neil. Wordlessly, Neil takes the playlist.
There is a slightly larger crowd than usual tonight. Perhaps they have assembled to watch the dance, unearthly, lovely and deadly.
Her name is Arial. She is blond; eyes rich, bottomless amber. Besides that, all is as before, sex is followed by dawn, ash and cappuccino. And the orchids flourish. Though orchids usually only bloom once or twice a year, Adrian’s blossom year-round. They cover his window like beautiful nightmares, filtering the sunlight that fall onto the crystal canines.