Devilish Taste

A New Look

Through the whole night I couldn't sleep. My mind was filled with everything that's been happening to me since I got here after college. It's like God had other plans for me since I came back. I always wanted to be a social worker, to help people in any way to live a better life. I was mostly drawn to other pastor's kid dealing with the lifestyle they're parent's force them to be in. Don't get me wrong, they were actually kids out there that I met that loved being a pastor's child.

When I told my parent's what I wanted to achieve, they didn't support me at first. I went ahead and did all the paper work for college. I purposely choose a university faraway to stay away from them, leaving my siblings behind. I thought I was making the right choice. My parent's wanted me to attend a community college that was near their home. My dad had everything planned out for me, telling me he was going to get me to be the dance choreography, get paid to do spoken poetry and be a teacher in the youth service all at the church. I think that's where I wanted to escape this life. I felt so trapped, but I never thought Angelica would leave our family you know just disappear, being known as only a memory.

I prayed and talk to God to find some answers. I hope I didn't lose my God after encountering with Nino.

Nino, I don't know what to do. I have feelings for him after what he's done to me. I really need to let go of the past and move on. I guess this is what happens when I continue to act selfishly. I don't know how Jerome dealt with my ass then. He must of really loved me to deal with me. Nino on the other hand, gave up on me, I think, saying he was going to throw me into a strip club to work for him instead of being with him.

It was now six in the afternoon. Nino said there was going to be someone to pick me up. Ruby hasn't come and visit me like she always does. I'm guessing Nino prevented her to visit me. I didn't have much on me to bring just over sized t-shirts, some basketball shorts and one sandal. I put them all in a plastic bag. I made sure to clean the place since I don't want Ruby to think I'm dirty or something.

I put my hair into a pony tail as a knock was made for my door. I walk over to the door, hoping it to be Nino.

"Hey Ashanti right?" One man said. There were two grown men's staring at me. One of them I recognize from Nino birthday that was sitting next to him.

"Let me talk to her Cash." The one I recognize said. The guy that was name cash I believe nods his head, walking over to a chair they had outside the door. He took out his phone and put all his attention into the phone screen.

"Can I come in?" The other guy says watching me intensely. I open my door wide enough for him to step in.

After I shut the door, I take in his appearance. He's way taller than me, with tattoos from his neck down to one arm maybe, from what I can see. He was wearing a white v neck shirt with khaki pants and some fresh ass sneakers. He had on a large gold necklace on him. His dreads were tied up and his hair was done fresh. He had gauges on his ear which was really noticeable. The nose piercing was clearly seen as I stared into his face. He was cute all in all with his brown sugar skin.

"I know we've met at Nino birthday dinner at your job. My name is Eli." He introduces himself. He's hand pops out from his side and bring them in front of me to shake my hand.

"Hey I'm Ashanti." I introduce myself to him as I place my hand into his to shake. Instead of shaking, he brings my hand up to his lips and place a soft kiss. Cute I thought to myself. He must have all the ladies wet.

"So I'm going to let you know I'm sorry for what happened to you. Nino is placing you in our underground strip club you have to work for him. I tried to reason with him, but I couldn't get anything out of him. I'm going to have to sedate you once we get inside the car. We can have the easy way and you just go along with us or we'll have to use force on you." Eli tells me.

I sigh. I don't want to cause no more trouble for myself.

"Yeah let's go." I told him. He looks surprised by this, probably thinking I was going to go the hard way and fight him.

"Do you have your things?" He asks me and I went over to where my plastic bag is place at and said yes.

"That's it?"

"Yup."

When we both exit the place, The Cash guy looks over to us and walk beside us as we exit the building. This is actually my first time heading outside. I felt like I just got released from prison or something. Cash unlocks the door as Eli open the car door to the back seat for me. I thank him as I put on my seat belt.

"I'm sorry for this." Cash says and I don't say anything as he takes out a needle and soon enough I'm falling asleep.

I wake up to a dark room. I look around to see I'm placed in a bed with a sheet over me. I search for a lamp or anything to brighten the room I'm in. A door suddenly opens up revealing a woman who looks to be around the same age as me. She switches the lights on in the room and I take in her appearance. She had bright blue hair with gold earrings and necklace. The black dress she wore was very short and it hugs her body very nice showing her features. The makeup was very beautiful on her; it wasn't too heavy or too light on her face.

She's beautiful!

"Thank you! I think I might like you all ready." Her voice is soft. I laugh at her response. I didn't mean to blurt it out that she's beautiful, I thought it was all in my head.

"I'm name is Sky." She introduces herself to me as she walks over to me and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Is that you're real name?" I blurt out.

"No, when you're in here you need a nickname especially since we're strippers. We don't give out our names ever unless people already know you which I do."

"You know me?"

"Aren't you that pastor's daughter?" Once she says that I look away. I nod my head and I pray she doesn't say anything about it.

"Okay, don't worry your secret safe with me. You should pick a name to use for yourself that will suit you here."

"Why did you choose sky?"

"Because I love looking at the sky silly, at first it was going to be star, but I change my mind to sky instead, because the sky can be so beautiful when it wants to be." She reveals and I nod my head.

"We should change the way your hair looks, give it some color, maybe or do something so people won't recognize you."

I was never able to add color on my hair. I always wanted to color my hair, get tattoos etc.... I never thought I'll get to do it with my parents always on my ass, about being a role model for these girls.

"What do you have in mind?" I question her. She reveals her shiny pearly teeth.

"I already have an image for you." She gets up, walking over to the other side where I never notice another bed and other furniture's. This must be her room then, and I'm her roommate.

"Okay we can go by the hair salon and then get you some clothes." She said. She talks as if we're going to be going out of this place.

"I thought this place is an underground?"

"It is; we have all these things down here in different floors. We have three floors. The first is the girls and I room. Every room has two to three beds with bathroom and a mini kitchen. The second floor has the shops we girls need, like a hair and nail salon, laundry, grocery etc. The third floor is where we make our money." My jaw couldn't be wider enough for the information she was telling me.

"By the way how long are you staying here?"

"What do you mean?" I question back.

"How long they got you in here? Six months? A year what?"

"He never told me?"

"Nino can be so aggressive sometimes, I swear." Sky mutters to herself.

"How long do you have?"

"Oh me, you can say I'm like the manager here. Nino and I go way back like middle school type of friendship. He brought me here when I was going through an abusive relationship and he told me if I want I can manage here and help make some money for him. I don't strip I never have. We bring in girls that need some help and a place to live you know. Nino and I usually give girls a contract saying how long you'll stay depending on your situation and you can't say anything to no one or else you know." She shrugs her shoulder like this is nothing serious when it is very serious to me. Nino and Sky were actually doing something good beside the stripper part.

"Why strip?"

"Well at first we were just giving girls different tasks to do, but then girls kept saying they rather strip since it's easy. I mean we have girls that's in Nino crew that does what Nino want them to do and girls who rather just have s*x at the strip club. You can choose to have s*x I don't judge you. Don't worry though when you start performing each girl has a type of jewelry on her that tells the guy if she's okay with having s*x with them."

"So you can get paid by being a stripper, and then you have to pay bills?" I was starting to understand their project they were doing here.

"Well, bills I wouldn't say, the girls pay me every month, there's only one bill which is everything included. I bring that money to Nino and he deals with all that crap you know." I nod my head and glance at everything in this room. Her room is probably the biggest room since she's the manager and all.

Everything she told me was still swimming through my mind. I'm shocked that Nino has a soft side and he was able to help these girls that needs help. I like the fact he let girls choose rather to be s****l or not with the men. I need to stop judging him, but it's not like I'll see him again.

"Alright! Are you ready for your makeover?" Sky says excitedly as she grabs her purse that I can tell is expensive, and walks over to the door waiting for me to follow.

"Yes." I answer her as I meet her at the door. I couldn't wait to have this makeover, I need to relax and get used to this lifestyle anyway. I might as well fit in.

"Now that is what I'm talking about. Your hair looks good in this color." My hair stylist said as she rotates the chair that I was on to face the mirror.

Sky took me to so many shops, buying me clothes since I didn't have anything. At first I didn't want her spending so much for me, but then she said Nino gave her money to buy things for me, which I was shocked that he did that. After she took me to do my manicure and pedicure she took me to the hair salon, which the hair stylist, Sky and I got into a big debate about what to do with my hair. Sky wanted me to go blue with her which I quickly denied saying blue is all for you, and not me. The girl who was doing my hair wanted me to choose a hot neon red which I nicely denied no also. I end up choosing grey, because it was Angelica favorite color for some odd reason.

"Damn you did some magic on me girl." I said as I stare into the mirror looking at a new person. I touch my hair, making sure this was me, I was touching. I put on glasses that Sky purchased for me and I smile as I watch the woman in front of me become me. I felt like I was being me for the first time. I didn't have to rethink what would people think about me.

When Sky came back to fetch me she was utterly speechless, saying she loved it. As we were walking back to our room with all these bags, I saw a tattoo shop that had me wanting one.

"You want a tattoo?" Sky asks me and I nod my head as we change our direction to head over there.

"Hey Sky. You here for another tattoo already?" The tattoo artist said.

"No, my new roommate here wants her first tattoo Jane." Sky said as Jane glance over at me with a wide grin.

"Finally fresh meat! What would you like?" She asks me, as I sit my things down in a corner and begin to think. I told her what I wanted which was flowers and an abstract design. Sky excuse herself as she had to handle some things at the strip club.

When Jane first laid the needle down I was scared shitless not knowing if it was going to sting me. I decided to add the tattoo on my shoulder for a sleeve that ends above my elbow. I ask Jane to add my sibling's name in each petal of a large flower she drew. I also ask her to add a large sun in the background, and a quote from my poem that I perform at Angelica funeral; Pretty soul to love, I will always cherish your love, Don't ever think you may disappear from my heart, when my hearts bleed your name in blood.

When I ask Jane to color it in, I would have never think coloring when it comes to tattoos was a little painful. At the end, I told Jane to just color some flowers and the sun and call it a day.

"Girl you're looking very sexy now, especially with that new tattoo of yours." Sky said coming inside to wait on me. She had good timing as Jane was just finishing up my tattoo by placing some ointment and cover it up so nothing will affect it. Sky took out the rest of the money Nino gave her and paid Jane.

"So Nino wants you to perform tonight." Sky said as we enter our room. I almost spit out the water I was drinking out the bottle.

"Already!" I half yelled at Sky as she laughs at me.

"Yeah he told me he wants you on that stage tonight, and you will be last closing the show. I tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't budge at all." She walks over to her bed and throws herself on it.

I stood there looking like a deer caught in headlights.

"But I Don't know how to strip." I said panicking.

"Don't trip I'll have the girls teach some signature moves before you perform. You can dance right?" She questions me. I nod my head.

"But not strip or tease a man in dancing though."

"Stop over thinking. A guy likes a girl who's just confident and sexy as hell."

Maybe I was over thinking this, but still I never strip before so me standing in front of a group of men was going too difficult for me.

"Get some sleep or watch some television to rest, because tonight you'll be performing live in front of horny guys." Sky says this like I've stripped before. I glanced over at her to see she already fell asleep.

I'm going to be stripping in front of people tonight.