02. You're the New Stripper, Right?

With no way to look for money, I went outside with my faded-colored jacket I found at the dump site. This jacket was the first thing I owned in the human world and treasured it so much that I refused to let it go despite it getting old. Call it sentimental, but it’s just the way it was.

"Damn it! When will this life become better?" I muttered under my breath.

I had to find the money. That was my goal for today. Robbing anyone was out of the equation. As well as killing someone. The Council would know about my crimes. They had hawk eyes and everything you do will never get you out of their sight.

I sighed.

The night was getting older and the cold was becoming unbearable. If I had my wolf with me, she would bring me company or we would talk to each other, in my mind through the mind link.

A couple passed and I recognized the woman. Her name was Andrea. A stripper who was also my next-door neighbor before. We’ve been with each other for quite some time and treated each other as sisters. Until the day when she had the money to pamper herself came.

Not wanting her to know how much my life became more pathetic, I tried to evade her. Unsuccessfully.

"Keira?" she asked, the surprise evident on her face.

Fuck.

Talk about bad luck.

Left with no choice, I faced her.

"Andrea." If I could only see myself in the mirror, perhaps I looked constipated as I tried my best to have a conversation with her.

She looked at me from head to foot.

I shifted my weight from foot to foot.

"H-how are you?"

"Oh, wow. Never thought I'd run with you here. You never had the guts to come to this place," she said.

The place where she was referring to was this street which was full of people who would even sell their bodies to vampires if the situation asked for them. I think I would follow them.

"I'm just taking in the fresh air."

She chuckled. "Fresh air? Really, Keira? There is nothing fresh here other than the smoke from the cigarette."

My gaze darted at the bald man beside her. The man looked like he was in his fifties. Her boyfriend?

"I wanted to have a walk, Andrea. Enough of my boring life. It's been a long time. You looked...good. Life has been good to you." She had lived her life to the fullest, I think. Her blue eyes were vibrant. Her once jet-black hair became blond and her nose became more pointed, unlike the last time I saw her.

Andrea beamed.

"Of course! You know me, Keira. I don't want to stay in the corner and let my sorrow swallow me whole. You should go out and enjoy your life. You're not getting any younger."

Unfortunately, werewolves have longer life spans compared to humans. We could go for as long as a thousand years old. Depending on the situation if you have an enemy or not. Like me. I did not have any idea how far I would live given the fact that my previous pack wanted me dead.

"And you're getting more beautiful and sexy each day," I complimented. Jealousy was eating my system. How could a mere human like her become successful at the fastest rate? While I was stuck in my miserable life?

Andrea touched every part of her body. "I work hard for this."

Yeah, you did, I answered in my mind. That you are willing to sell your body to different kinds of men.

I had nothing against her work. Who am I to judge her? She was better than me since she could pay her bills and mortgages.

"Good. Good," was all I could say.

The man snaked his arms around Andrea while looking at me. The way he stared at me was disgusting as fuck and wanted to jab his eyes. I had enough of people who did nothing but used me and abused me.

If not for Andrea beside him, I will kick his balls so that will suffer in agonizing pain. Men like him deserved that way.

The man whispered something against Andrea's ears making the woman giggle.

I arched my brow. What were they talking about?

"I think you badly needed cash right now, Keira."

My brows furrowed as I never felt any ounce of embarrassment at what she said. Well, it was true. I was dirt poor right now.

"How can you tell?"

"You never strolled into this place. Here." From her designer clothes pocket, she fished out a calling card. “That’s my calling card. You can go to this place and tell me my name. My people would know I hired you.”

“Hired me from what?” I asked when I still could not get why she was giving me her contact details.

“Silly. I know you’re looking for some extra cash. It’s the landlord again, right? We suffered the same dilemma before. And if you’re not choosy, you’ll have a lot of cash right at your own expense.”

The thought of having money so that I could pay my rent was appealing. “Really?” I asked, making sure I had the mistake of hearing it right.

I no longer cared about the cold. What mattered most was that I can have my extra work to pay the landlord tomorrow before he could kick me out of my place.

Her eyes softened “We’re like sisters, Keira. I want to help you.”

“Ow,” I said, “Thank you so much.”

She winked at me. “Call me if they treated you with respect. I’ll be there to monitor you. Ciao.” And both of them were out of my sight. Just like that.

*********

After calling a cab and using the extra cash I had right now in my wallet to pay for the fare.

I stepped out of the cab and looked around. This was the correct address—145 Subburn Street. But all I saw were humans having a great time in their lives. They wore skimpy clothes and heavy makeup and each of them had their pairs.

“Dark Fantasy,” I read on the signage. This place was the right place.

This was my first time going to this place. The loud music from the inside could be heard due to my werewolf hearing. Humans lined up and waited for their turns to enter while a bouncer was guarding the entrance.

A club? And Andrea owned this place? Did she want me to become a waitress? If that’s the case, I had no issue with that. I knew a lot of different jobs and being a waitress was not difficult to do. Beggars could never be choosers. I need this work and a lot of cash.

I went to the line and waited for my turn. After showing my calling card to the bouncer, to which he had no more questions nor asked about my identification card, I stepped inside and was greeted by the blinding lights.

I was greeted by a loud noise and three different poles at the center and women dancing almost naked. The customers were having fun at the performance and one woman was having a lap dance in the corner. Another couple was having a tongue session. Their hands got busy and went in different directions, which I did not want to dwell with.

I looked away.

Andrea did not inform me she owned a stripper’s club. This was one of the jobs in which I did not even have any experience and for crying out loud! I didn't even know how to dance!

I stepped back.

That woman. At least she could give me a head up about what job she was offering me. I wasted money by coming here. I better go back and return home.

I was on the brink of turning my back when suddenly a pair of strong hands encircled my wrist and spun me around.

I was greeted by someone who was wearing a faux fur jacket. I sniffed him. A human.

“Glad you came. My lovely Andrea told me you're the new one she sent. You're right on time, darling.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“You’re the new stripper, right?”