6: At the goth club

 *Soleil*

 When we get into town my stomach is doing flip flops. What am I doing here ? I can't go around like this in public, what would my mother think, seeing me like this ? I grab Davina's arm. "I am not going to survive you know".

 "Of course you do. See it from a positive point. Down here, tonight, you are not standing out in a bad way". She wink at me.

 I look down on myself, I am not so sure.

 "You look so hot Sol, believe me". She says smiling. "You look so beautiful, all the guys are going to notice you".

 She pulls me up to the entrance. Saying a quick hello to the two doormen, before walking inside. I am following her like a lost puppy. Looking in a mirror on my way in I look more like a scared rabbit than a femme fatale.

 "You are not you, you are someone else. A cool chick like the others". I mumble to myself, trying to boost my self esteem.

 "So ready to do this doll ?" Davina says, taking my hand.

 I breathe in deeply and nod, my voice is more of a croak. "I was born to do this".

 The club is a big long room, with a dampende lighting. The walls are painted with very artsy graffiti, broken by areas of dark colours, making a contrast to the mostly black clothed guest. Just inside there was a rectangular bar to the right, running along the wall down to a broad stair. The stairs lead to a balcony, where some people are watching the dance floor underneath. Under the balcony there are a lot of small couch areas.

 "The stair and balcony are totally off limits". Davina tells me, having followed my eyes. She grabs my hand, pulling me to the bar.

 While she is ordering drinks, I stand watching the room. So this is the infamous Grotto. I notice windows behind the couch area, and behind the windows a lounge with a small bar. It seems like a more quiet place to talk.

 "Hey Davina". A guy with pitch black hair in spikes and his ears and nose filled with rings apparently behind us. "And who is Your friend ?"

 "This is Soleil I told you about". Davina answers and hugs the guy.

 "Well hi then and welcome. I am Mark". He says, smiling friendly at me.

 "So this is where you are hiding". Three other people show up from the couches. I can't help staring a bit at the girl. I am getting used to Davina's victorian inspired dresses and corsets, this girl is dressed totally different. The clothes look like an old fashioned french maid outfit in purple and black satin. She looks like a housefrau wanting to spice up the sex life. But a hausfrau would probably have stopped with the outfit. This girl went all out with a pour of purple hair. But her makeup is innocent with big eyes and a pouty mouth.

 The other two are guys. One of them stopped up, putting an arm around the girl. His bangs keep falling into his eyes, and he blows them away, glaring around with a bored expression.

 "This is Sascha and Oliver". Davina tells me, after having hugged them both. They say hello, and I shyly greet them back.

 The last guy steps forward to greet me, giving Davina a hug before turning towards me. Davina's voice is a bit harsh. "This is Soleil and you better behave and not scare her away".

 "Don't worry, I swear I am Mr nice guy". He sends Davina a short smile, then he grabs my hand, kissing it softly. "I'm Casper". He says, sending me a big smile and a wink. Compared to the others he is pretty normally dressed in slim fit jeans and a tight Iron maiden t-shirt. The dark hair is smoothed back and his eyes are drawn up by a blurred out eyeliner. He is actually rather good looking and I feel the heat rise in my cheeks, when his eyes catch mine.

 "Oh hi". I say, pulling my hand away feeling rather flurried.

 "We were on our way to get a fill up at the bar. We are down in the corner by the DJ, are you joining us ?" Sasha rolls her eyes and pokes Oliver, who grabs Casper, dragging him to the bar.

 "Sure, I'll just give Sol the grand tour, then we'll join you". Davina says.

 "See you later then sweethearts". Casper says, looking at me in a way I can't really figure out what means.

 "I'll catch you later too sweetie". Mark says, hugging Davina. "A pleasure meeting you Sol, I hope you like this shit hole". He holds out his hand and I shake it.

 I turn towards Davina. "Oh shit, the guys here wear makeup ?"

 "We better get some alcohol into you or you won't survive the night". Davina laughs and hands me a shot glass. "Bottoms up".

 She knocks down her glass, but I look nervously at mine. Davina looks at me. "I promise, I will make sure you don't get too much".

 Before I regret I close my eyes and down the shot. I cough surprised when it burns down my throat, but as the warmth spreads in my belly, the butterflies go still. "So who are those people".

 "Mark is such a sweet guy really, one of my best friends actually, after you of course". She says with a smile. "He can be a bit deep sometimes, but it's cool enough. He was the one pulling me down here or maybe I pulled him down here.. anyways, he is kind of like a big brother to everyone".

 Someone comes over to greet Davina, and I take a chance to look around. I am very impressed by this place and can't remember ever seeing anything like it. The club and the music alone is exotic to me, add the guests and I might as well be on a different planet.

 "Sasha and Oliver are dating. They are fine, but actually they are a fun couple. Sasha is really outgoing and kind of bubbly and Oliver is a total emo". Davina says, handing me a beautifully ornate glas. 

 I sip the drink and I might have looked relieved as Davina giggles. "Seriously it's redwine, do you think I would serve you blood or something".

 "I remember you once telling me about blood drinking, that some people do it". I make a disgusted face.

 "It's the vampire goths, like the ones on the balcony, they drink each other's blood, or so I've heard". Davina turns towards the bar. "There are so many rumors about what happens upstairs where the royals hang out. But you won't get up there without an invitation".

 I take another sip of wine looking towards the stairs. No one goes up there, but I see a tall, very beautiful woman glide down the stairs. As on command people part before her making a path so she can walk through the throng of people. Fascinated, I watch her glide past, her eyes empty and she doesn't interact with anyone. It is like she leaves a trail of ice in her wake and when she is gone people close the path behind her, many of them looking after her.

 "Talking about staying away from people". Davina says pulling me out of my trance. "Watch out for Casper. He is a big time player. You would almost think he is compensating for something. I have also heard he is kind of freaky. Well more freaky than the rest of us".

 "I do not want to know what he is into if you think it's freaky". I say with a nervous laugh.

 She laughs too. "I just noticed how he was drooling over you, so I wanted to warn you about him".

 I nod, feeling the alcohol loosen me, making me relax a bit, making me start moving to the heavy rhythm. I turn and see a couple on one of the couches, they are kissing deeply, hands all over each other and suddenly I realise what they are doing, looking away. "I thought you said no S&M on the tables ?"

 Davina turns. The girl is straddling the guy, her rolling hip movements and their faces give them away, even if they try to be discreet.

 "Okay so I lied a bit". She giggles. "You would never have come if I told you the truth. And to my defence that isn't S&M and they are not on the table. And sorry but that happens in normal clubs too". She hands me a new glass of red wine. "Come let's go find the others".

 We get through the crowd, down to the corner where the others are sitting.  Davina sits down at the end of the couch and I sit on a stool next to her. Casper immediately moves to the stool next to me, sending me a cocky smile.

 "Well what do you think about this place then ?" The music is loud, so he has to lean in close for me to hear him.

 His voice tickles in my ear and I don't know what to say, so I nod and give him a thumbs up.

 "I can see you are not used to the style, you haven't been a goth long, have you". He leans in to ask.

I turn towards him, kind of surrendering to his smile. He doesn't seem as bad as Davina says he is. He is kind of cute, even if he is a little brash.

 "I am not goth at all unfortunately, or no not unfortunately.. I mean I normally wear normal clothes.. I mean I actually like a lot of what you guys wear.. but I am not a member". I want to slam my head into a wall right now.

 "It's okay". He says with a small laugh. "I happen to think you look very sexy in that outfit. So I promise not to tell anyone that you are not a member". He sends me a teasing smile. Then he lifts his glass to toast me. I lift my glass, touching his.

 "Casper come with me outside for a cigarette". Oliver still looks very bored. "The music sucks anyway, it's the same boring DJ as last week".

 "And it has to be right now of course". Casper asks, sounding a bit annoyed.

 "Or I Can just go by myself". Oliver shrugs and starts to walk away.

 "See you in a minute". Casper whispers in my ear. "They are going through some shit at the moment, he needs to talk".

 As soon as he is gone too, Sasha makes an annoyed motion. "Oh he is such an asshole". She turns to Davina, and her gestures tell me she is complaining about Oliver.

 I can't really hear them, so I let my eyes wander, taking in the many different kinds of goth. Then I spot a small group standing at the railing on the balcony. It has to be the royals, the ones Davina said would be here tonight.

 A guy steps up to the railing, standing apart from the others. He leans on the railing, looking over the dancefloor. I can't help staring at him, he really stands out. Not that he is dressed very differently; He is wearing tight black jeans and an open leather vest over a bare chest. His hair combed back, like a lot of the guys have it. But he has something about him, an air of raw sex that makes me lose my breath and look away blushing.

 I cradle my head; the alcohol must be getting to me. It is not like me to stare like I had just done at that guy, no that man, he is much more than a guy, he is so.. so..

 It is impossible for me not to look again. It is like cold steel cuts through me when my eyes meet his. I feel sucked in by his gaze and I feel like everything around me disappears. There is only him, me and the music. His gaze fire up a hunger and a longing in me that I don't understand. All I can do is stare into his eyes, like a rabbit caught in headlights.

 When he cuts the eyecontact everything else rushes back. And before I can blink he is gone and I find myself staring at the empty balcony, feeling lost. I am no longer drunk on wine, but on him.

 Who is he ?

 The rest of the night is a blur, like a dream. Davina pulling me around, introducing me. Their faces and names gliding together. Casper comes over talking to me several times, but I can't concentrate on what he says. I can't shake that feeling his gaze had awakened in me, and I keep glancing up at the balcony but I don't see him again.

 I manage to convince myself that he is nothing special . It had been the Music and the alcohol making it seem special and turned the attraction into an unreal fantasy. Maybe he was just at the right place at the right time.

 When it is time to get home, I stand in the wardrobe area, waiting for Davina to come back from the bathroom. I am fighting to get the coat I have borrowed pulled on, when everyone goes quiet around me. I look up in confusion, surprised to see everyone staring in the same direction.

 Then he comes around the corner from the club with a horde of royals on his trails. Everything seems to fade and I can't get my eyes off him. It is like he floats by in slow motion, as he looks directly at me. No he looks into my soul, with eyes that are almost unnatural blue, like mountain lakes. A crooked hungry smile plays on his lips and I feel undressed under his intense gaze.

 My body reacts instantly, waves of heat rising from my center and I have to grab hold of the chair next to me as my knees threatens to buckle. And then he is gone.

 "No stay". I hear Davina's worried voice in my ear. "You don't speak to them without their permission".

 "Was that the royals ?" I manage to press out. I realise I have started to follow him and Davina has grabbed my arm.

 "Yup, that is Lefu and his court of royals. He owns this place". Davina says, still having a grip on my arm. "I don't really know them. They are the vamp goth royals; they are high above the rest of us. But he is out of this world gorgeous right ?"

 "Out of this world". I agree in a whisper.