Saturdays at the Viper Rooms Read online

  I nod. I know how this goes. I’ve lived it before. I stayed with someone who’s been out of her contract for nearly a year now. She took her time with me and made me confident and assertive with the job. I always wanted this opportunity. I wanted to be able to make an ally like this. Luckily for Luca, she has me around for more than a year. I will make sure that Luca knows everything about this life and is prepared for it. I will not make her live this blind sighted.

  “S-sorry,” Luca suddenly pipes up, her voice feeble in comparison to Clara’s strong tone. “What is Friday?”

  Clara’s face ignites with passion and excitement at the sound of that question. “We’re having a party!” Clara exclaims and pushes away from the desk. She stands and walks around to stand in front of Luca. She reaches down, placing her well-manicured hand to the girl’s chin to gently gain her attention. Right now, Clara’s acting out. Luca doesn’t know what she’s falling for. “Joely is my head girl. She will have you prepped and ready for your debut on Friday.” Clara can see Luca is panicking at what is to come, but she keeps the getup going. “I throw prolific parties to spread the Viper brand and give my other bars the acknowledgement they’re warranted. You and the girls will be looking after the men there.” She releases Luca’s chin and goes to her desk. She rests on the back of it, facing me now. “I expect Luca to know the ins and outs of this place by Friday. If she doesn’t, that will fall badly on you.” She sits back in her chair, waving us off. “Leave.”

  At that dismissal, I usher Luca out of the room. I know it’s time to get the ball rolling and I’m subtly relieved to know I don’t have to fulfil any man’s desires for the rest of the week. I can survive until Saturday when Jace has me booked again.

  “Oh, and, Joely?” she calls out, preventing Luca and I from leaving. I turn back, expectancy on my face just how Clara loves us. “If she does anything out of line, I am the first to know. Am I clear?”

  “Yes, Boss,” I agree and I know the repercussions if Luca puts even so much as a foot wrong here. I dread to think what that would do to her. She’s so young and naive. I repress the idea of it all and just lead Luca back to the main bar area. I exchange looks with Eli who gives me a solemn glance. He’s with me on this life - trapped. He was desperate and the perks they draw us in with are every person’s dream. Luca just joined a list of many who live to regret this life.

  I walk passed Shads on my way past the rooms. I don’t look to Luca as I take the key destined for her door. I don’t need to see what she’s really doing. She might well be following me, but her attention is fluttering around every inch of this place. Questions are only mounting upon one another and her rationality is finally settling down. There is that ultimate question now finally screaming at her - what have I done?!

  The moment I reach the blank door, I turn to look at her, scaring her slightly.

  “I know everything’s a little haywire right now, but please remember I have been there before. Anything you want answers for, you ask me. No one else. Me. Got it?” I ask her, trying to be forceful without being scary.

  She nods her head hastily, telling me she understands. “Got it,” she croaks, her voice drying up as nervousness begins to raid her system. “So this is my room?” she asks, her innocence still intact.

  “Yes, it is,” I tell her and don’t leave time for anymore chitchat. I face the door, slip the key into the lock and open it. Walking in, I notice the room is now a new color, a light shade of rose, the bedding is changed and any memory of the last girl has been removed. We are literally wiped off the face of the company after our time here. Gone and forgotten all at once. If I’m honest, I cannot wait for that day to come.

  I allow Luca to roam around the room. She needs to familiarize herself with this place. She has to know every corner, wall space, part of this room. This will reflect her and be a part of her until she leaves.

  Stopping, Luca turns to look at me. Now I finally get a good look at her. She’s got a Spanish glow to her skin, her body is slim and slender, and her jet black hair is wrapped up in a messy do. She looks beyond her years and it saddens me, but I know if there is anything The Viper Rooms does for its girls, it restores them. This place forces us all to face our demons and relinquish a life.

  “Is Ms. Delveen always so nice?” she asks me, her eyes searching for the right answers in mine.

  “Delvine,” I correct her properly. “Del-vine.” I separate the syllables to aid the pronunciation. “Get her name wrong and she will show you her demonic side quickly.” I go and sit down on the lounger in the corner, getting comfortable, ready to allow Luca to have some insight. “She’s a bitch. That is the first thing you need to know. She might act all sweet to you, but we have all been there. She is vindictive and sometimes downright cruel. You are now part of a brand, you lost any and all human rights when you signed the dotted line.”

  “But she told me it was a good job and I was free to do what I want!” Luca exclaims, panic begins to run vehemently through her.

  “That’s why you have me,” I tell her, sitting forward. “I’m what someone would call your mentor. I expect you to come to me with anything and everything. I will make this life as easy as possible.” I feel empowered right now, but a part of me wants to fiercely protect Luca how I never was. I know I have to throw her into the deep end and let her learn, but my compassion won’t let me. “You are now a vessel for men. You will be asked to do things you won’t want to, but if you don’t, the repercussions will be dire for you.”

  She silently nods, showing me she’s trying to digest what I’ve just said to her. “I guess you love the job,” Luca murmurs quietly, assuming wildly about me. “You know everything, you’re obviously respected. I mean, you are head girl.”

  “Head Viper Girl,” I correct and watch her gaze at me apologetically. “Sorry,” I tell her, sorry for my bragging tone. “I don’t love the job. I just learned to make a good thing out of a bad situation. You take what you get and enjoy the life around it. You will get good pay and you will learn that us girls here are like your sisters. We stick by one another. We remain loyal and we always look out for one another.”

  Again she just nods. “She mentioned the number one rule, but told me you would tell me.”

  “Never fall for a client,” I admit and hide my true feelings over the matter. “Break that and you might as well start counting your final breaths,” I honestly relay to her. “Rule number two, never defy the orders of Clara Delvine. Rule three, remain respectable, obedient, and loyal to the brand. Rule four, no one ever knows outside of the club what we are unless on Clara’s say so. Rule number five, be prepared.” Severity lances through my tone as I say the sixth and final rule. “Rule number six, never mess up.”

  Her eyes widen as she realizes how important that final rule is. “What will happen to me if I mess up?” Luca asks me and I recognize that tone. It’s the one I had when everything sunk in and I realized that I was a part of something much bigger than I would ever be.

  “You won’t,” I deflect the question, hoping to calm her some.

  “Please,” she begins to beg me, her eyes are pleading with me. “What will happen?”

  I sigh, hating that I have to be the one to put even more fear into her. “You’ll be forced into the Pit.” I stand up as I notice how the idea of the pit scares her even without knowing what it is. It means it worked. She needs to fear it. “There’s nothing much to it. It’s just absolute darkness and it’s freezing cold. You won’t know how long you’ll be in there until Clara clicks her fingers to have you released. She only puts down six simple rules because six is her number and she expects us to abide and live by them.”

  “H-have you been in there?” she asks me, stuttering upon the question.

  I wish I could give her a firsthand experience to numb the terror the thought evokes, but I can’t and that means we both will live with the uncomfortable unknown of what the pit really feels like. I shake my head and walk over to the door on the o
pposite side of the room. Pulling down on the handle, I throw the door open and flick the switch.

  “Your room is equipped with your very own bathroom. Clara expects you to be freshened up between jobs. That includes a quick shower, fresh makeup and clean clothes.” I’m keeping this quick and to the point. There is no point delaying the inevitable. “Has she told you anything about this job?” I ask, curious as to what Clara actually divulged. I don’t trust her to not change her own way of running this and spinning a new tale with each new girl. Luca tells me that she knows that she is a Viper Girl, the baby of the group. “What you’ve become will define your life,” I tell her, flicking the bathroom light off again. I walk back into the room and sit on the bed. I tell her to join me by patting the bed beside me and I know I have to let her know what will become of her. As she sits I ask the all-important question. “What brought you here?”

  Luca looks down, hesitating to speak at first until she just exhales immensely. “My parents were killed in a car crash two weeks ago. I just couldn’t stick around. I feel like I’ve lost everything.” I see the tears begin to fall and I reach for her hands. “It’s my fault they died. They were looking for me. I was at a party and they were coming to get me. If I had just been home for curfew they would have been okay. I was eighteen and naive.”

  So, now I have an age. Luca looks to be younger than her real age. Eighteen isn’t old, but still, she’s got so much ahead of her and now she’s here. I know that grief and shame brought her here, guilt propelling her forward at all costs. My heart rate becomes staccato and I feel memories of my own past begin to claw at the back of my mind, wanting me to release them for a horror show. I know exactly where Luca is coming from. It’s all too familiar.

  “I didn’t have a reason to live anymore so I just ran.” Luca breaks into my thoughts. “Clara found me and told me she would fix me.” Suddenly Luca’s head shoots up and she’s looking to me. “Will it? Will this fix me?”

  I hesitate for a moment, but I can’t lie, this job will fix her. It will give her sense and clarity. “Yes,” I whisper to her. “It fixed most of us here. We’re just riding out the time.” I wait for her response, but when she doesn’t give me one I continue. “You will be expected to abide by the rules while being whatever a man wants you to be. You will be looked after by Clara as long as you do the job justice. We have all been where you are and we are still here to tell the tale.”

  “Sex,” she blurts out, her voice stunned. She caught on a lot faster than some of the girls. “I’ll be asked for sex. Fuck, I’m a prostitute.”

  I can see her downfall beginning and I remember it well. It happens when your eyes are opened to what you’re part of, but if she’s anything like the rest of us, we step up to our destinies and continue forward. We all fight for a loop hole in the contract, we all look for a way out, and we all stick together. As I see her hands fly up to her hair, pushing it back in deep panicked concern, I see the silver bracelet slide down her arm. She’s been branded by the ‘Viper Girl’ bracelet. We all have to wear one. It’s simple with just a ‘V’ and ‘G’ on the silver chain, but it means Clara’s really staked claim. So, Luca really needs to realize her new life, or be damned.

  “I know it’s scary and I know how it seems, but we aren’t prostitutes. A large majority of the time you won’t be requested for that. Men come here for all manner of services. We could be used to just entertain them, to adore them, hell, one of the girls the other day was asked to just sit next to the man. We make them feel good, and in return, we are generously paid, cared for, and supported. We’re given homes to begin with and we have guards who make sure we make it home safely. We attend parties and work in the other clubs Clara owns. Being a Viper Girl is a prestigious job, regardless of what falls under the job description. Clara only gives the opportunity to girls she thinks are worth it.”

  “What if I fail?” she asks and I can only see the child she still is.

  I hate what I’m about to do to Luca with this, but I know I have to be ruthless to begin with. “Then you will be punished and this will be six years of absolute hell.” I take a moment before laying more on her. “You will be given three months to learn the ropes, get used to the ways of this life. In that time you will be given men who only require a woman to flirt with them or give them the affection they don’t get in their marriages. Clara will only move you up when you prove you are ready for it.” She’s showing that all of this is sinking in and once the shock dies down I know she will be able to take on this life. “Now you know your room, here’s your key.” I pull the key out, only dropping it once her palm is out and waiting. “One of the first things you will do is tell Clara what you want your room to look like and she will make it happen so it’s ready for you to bring your clients in.”

  “Can I see your room?” Luca asks and I bristle. There is so much teach this girl.

  I shake my head. “An unwritten rule is that we don’t see each other’s rooms. We aren’t allowed into one another’s rooms. They’re private and sacred. You decorate this to fit you and your personality.” I would love to show her the rooms, but I won’t test my luck. The only reason I’m in here is because this isn’t quite Luca’s room yet. There is no essence or character in here just yet. “Now I think it’s time we took you out to meet the girls who are in.”

  I don’t give her chance to argue. Just stand up and lead her out of the room enthusiastically. I march her towards the main part of the bar and throw her into the deep end.

  “Girls!” I call out, catching their attention. “We have us a newbie!” I point to Luca and then smile brightly. “Luca,” I begin, putting my arm around her, “Meet your new family.” I release her and allow the girls to swarm, introducing themselves one by one. I slowly back away, I’ll go back to her in a moment, but she needs this. She needs to get to know all of us. Once I’m at the bar, I hop up onto one of the red stainless steel stools and watch the new girl. I have high hopes and I pray my gut instinct isn’t wrong.

  “So, we have a new girl, eh?” Eli speaks from behind me, and as I turn, he sets a dirty martini down before me. He gives me a wink before looking back to Luca. “So what do we know?”

  I look to her before shrugging a little. “Not a lot. She’s an orphan as of a couple of weeks ago and she’s like all of us. She has no idea what she got herself into.” I take my drink and lavish the gulp I take. I groan in pleasure as it hits the spot. I look back to Eli who’s giving me the same look he always gives me - amusement. “What now?”

  “No, nothing,” he defies me and shakes his head. “How do you feel about babysitting her then?”

  “Her name is Luca,” I correct him, raising an eyebrow to his entire comment. “I don’t mind. I feel like finally being Head Girl is doing some good.”

  “You’re always doing something good,” he teases me, giving me yet another wink as he tries to flirt hopelessly with me.

  “Okay, Eli,” I quip and turn back to the group. “I’ll go over there and get Luca understanding more of the job before we head home for the night.”

  “I’m arranging a new party,” Clara announces as she comes to sit beside me at the bar. I notice Eli has disappeared and Luca is getting well acquainted with the girls. So I’m left to endure this moment alone. “I’m looking into a grand venue, something I haven’t done quite yet.” She pauses, only to look at me with a sly grin. “I want to mix things up between the girls and the clients. I’m hosting a masquerade party. It’ll really spice things up, don’t you think?”

  I remain quiet for a moment before I realize who I am speaking to. “Yes, Boss.”

  “I mean Eleanor is getting rather close to Ralph Romero and then there’s Caroline who’s getting a lot of attention from Stephen.” She pauses to ponder, looking out at the girls. “Then there’s you,” she states, breaking the silence.

  “Me?” I gasp, my lungs suddenly forgetting how to draw breath.

  “Yes,” she talks and laughs a little at the situat
ion. “Jace Mason has shown a lot of interest in you over the last few months. He seems to only book you and I want to see how he reacts to other girls. I actually think Luca would be a brilliant match for him. It’s time we got things mixed up again, I’m hating the repetitiveness of this now.”

  “So when will this be?” I ask, hoping to get an idea of when I could potentially lose Jace to another girl.

  “Not sure. I’m thinking it’ll be around July 20th,” she allows me to know a preliminary date. “We’re set for good weather and that gives me just over four weeks to really nail this one.”

  “Any theme?” I push for details. “Apart from masquerade, of course.”

  “Hmm, I’m stuck between a few, but you know I look out for you girls right. You’ll be the first to know,” she notifies me as if I’m any more important that one of her other girls. “I need you all looking amazing and I expect you to make Luca fill her part to perfection.”

  “I will try my hardest,” I impart my obedience to her.

  “Right, well I want you to head home. Luca will be arriving once I’ve had another little chat with her.”

  “Shouldn’t I be there?” I question, wondering where my loyalty to Luca begins and ends.

  “Oh no,” Clara laughs at me, “Sweet girl, you know all about this part.”

  I nod, gulping. This is where Luca will be surveyed. She’ll be placed into the ranking with the other girls according to her physicality. I watch as Clara stands up, she quickly straightens her pencil skirt before approaching the gang of girls.

  “Back to work girls!” She breaks them up, they all listen as her arm snakes around Luca. “Luca and I have much to discuss.”

  The last sight I get of Luca is her looking at me over her shoulder, terrified at what’s to come, and I hate how helpless I am.