Part 43
Just your normal night
Evelyn stood in the dimly lit heart of Abyss, the pulsing beat of the music vibrating through the floor beneath her. Despite the grueling preparation for her own challenge, the weekend routine called for her unwavering presence. She adjusted the elegant black latex gown that clung to her figure, the weight of her hostess duties pressing down as heavily as the spikes in the Stilettos of the Languished Arches she had been training in.
Tonight, like every weekend, she would oversee the club’s signature ritual - a dance challenge designed to entertain the dark desires of Abyss’ patrons.
Evelyn’s gaze swept over the crowd, her eyes cold and calculating. The club’s energy was electric, fueled by anticipation and the ever-present undercurrent of pain and pleasure. She knew precisely who she was looking for tonight - a guest who had caught her attention with her daring spirit and hypnotic moves on the dance floor. And tonight she was here again. And tonight she would dance.
Her eyes landed on Camelia, the striking young ballerina with auburn hair cascading in waves down her back. She moved with confidence, her body swaying effortlessly in her crimson latex catsuit to the rhythm of the music. Camelia exuded a fearless energy that intrigued Evelyn - a perfect candidate for tonight’s performance.
With a subtle nod to one of the silent attendants, Evelyn made her choice. The attendants let the spotlight seemingly wander for a minute over the crowd before slowing to a stop right on Camelia. Camelia’s eyes sparkled with a mix of surprise and fear as she allowed herself to be guided towards the elevated stage.
Behind the heavy velvet curtains of the stage, Evelyn waited. As Camelia stepped in, her confident demeanor faltered slightly under Evelyn’s intense gaze.
"Welcome, Camelia," Evelyn said, her voice smooth and commanding. "Tonight, you have been chosen for a special performance - a test of your endurance and grace."
Camelia hesitated for only a moment before nodding, her curiosity outweighing any hesitation. "I figured."
Evelyn’s lips curled into a faint smile. "Good. Your outfit and heels await."
From a shadowed alcove, another attendant emerged, carrying a sleek black box. Inside was a tailored, form-fitting outfit - a deep crimson latex bodysuit adorned with intricate silver patterns nodules that shimmered ominously in the low light. The matching high heels were red, slender and elegant, but their true nature was revealed when Camelia examined them closer. The insoles were lined with subtle nodules, beneath which lay dormant spikes ready to activate with every misstep or pause.
"These are the Heels of the Enchanted Flames," Evelyn explained, her tone both instructive and ominous. "They will ignite with each movement, pushing you to maintain perfect rhythm. The spikes will remain hidden as long as you dance flawlessly. But should you falter… you will feel their bite."
Camelia’s expression hardened with determination. Evelyn gave her a bit of privacy as the silent attendants helped her slip into the bodysuit, the slick and oily rubber hugging her form, and then stepping into the heels, adjusting to the unfamiliar sensation beneath her soles.
Moments later, the curtains parted, and Camelia stepped onto the stage under the intense gaze of the crowd. The music shifted, a deep, pulsating beat filling the room. Camelia began to move, her body flowing with the rhythm, each step deliberate and precise.
Evelyn watched from the sidelines, her expression unreadable. Camelia danced with a mix of grace and ferocity, her movements captivating the audience. The heels responded to her every motion, the nodules pressing subtly against her soles, a constant reminder of the stakes.
As the tempo of the music increased, so did the complexity of Camelia’s performance. She twisted and turned, her feet gliding across the stage with practiced elegance. The spikes remained dormant, but the threat of their activation hung in the air, adding a palpable tension to the performance.
The crowd was entranced, their eyes fixed on Camelia as she pushed herself harder, her body moving in perfect synchronization with the music. Sweat glistened on the few remaining parts of exposed skin, but her resolve never wavered.
As the final note of the music echoed through the club, Camelia struck a final, dramatic pose, her chest rising and falling with exertion. The audience erupted into applause, their cheers a mix of admiration and disappointment.
Evelyn stepped forward, her heels clicking against the stage as she approached Camelia. "You’ve done well," she said, her voice carrying an edge of bitterness. "Few can endure the flames without faltering."
Camelia smiled, the adrenaline of the performance still coursing through her veins. "Thank you," she said breathlessly.
Evelyn gestured for the attendants to guide Camelia offstage, where she would be rewarded for her performance. As the curtains closed, Evelyn turned her attention back to the crowd, the night’s events far from over.
As the evening wound down and the sun started to rise, Evelyn retreated to her private chamber, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Despite the pressures of her own impending trial, she had fulfilled her role as hostess. With the control she had always wielded, she wondered why she was struggling to even make it halfway through the seventh song while the redheaded woman was the star of the evening. She would have so much enjoyed the view of deep pressure marks under her bare soles, wishing to inspect the inflicted pain closely. Or to hear her scream in a needle frame. But she was even polite and likable, and ever so unlikely to challenge her to a dance duel. Camelia’s screams would be the sweetest melody for her on a night like this, but now she went to bed hungry as this melody remained unsung.
Yet, the looming challenge of the Seventh Circle of Hell lingered at the edges of her mind. The endurance it demanded far surpassed anything she had faced tonight. Even as she maintained her poised exterior, a flicker of doubt threatened to creep in. She needed more energy. Camelia had endured and Evelyn stayed hungry and weaker. She needed to act, inflict pain or denial.
Shaking off the thoughts, Evelyn reminded herself that she had survived Abyss for decades. She would endure again. For now, her duties as hostess were complete, and she could turn her focus back to her own impending battle.