"Wow!  Damn Gigs!  That outfit looks fantastic on you!" I exclaimed.  
"You like it?" she gave a little twirl.  "It was an apology present 
from Jean-Claude.  He had it made special."  I raised an eyebrow at 
that...should've *known* he'd had a hand in the thing...it was 
definitely to the incubus' tastes.  White skintight leather pants 
with black net peekaboo tiger stripes and a white satin bustier.  
Gigs had accented the ensemble with a white leather choker studded 
with emerald and diamonds with a tapered leather fringe on the front 
that came to a point just above her cleavage.  I nodded.  "Has Asher 
seen it yet?" I asked.  She just grinned and shook her head no.  Oh 
*that* was gonna be fun!

"You're looking pretty sharp yourself," she complimented my outfit.  
I was in an emerald green catsuit; I'd finally gotten my weight down 
to where I was comfortable wearing clothing like this in public.  It 
was strapless with a built in bra.  I had matching green thigh-high 
boots with two-inch heels and a royal blue bolero jacket with three-
quarter sleeves.  I also wore gold and sapphire drop earrings, a gold 
lariat necklace with a sapphire drop and a matching gold chain belt 
slung low on my hips.  "Thanks," I said.  "Thought for a bit that I 
was gonna have to have help lacing these damn boots up."  
"I'm sure Jean-Claude would have been happy to assist," Gigs 
laughed.  "I'll just *bet*," I smirked.  "He insist on making sure 
your get up was snug in all the right places?"  Gigs blushed slightly 
and put on her best mischievous grin.  Uh huh....

Jean-Claude picked that moment to saunter between us, making sure he 
"accidentally" brushed against both of us in turn.  The flirt.  
"Mademoiselle Gigs, you look tres magnifique this evening," he 
purred, kissing her hand.  "And Tamara, I do believe that is the 
most...daring...ensemble I've ever seen you willingly wear...other 
than the dress you wore for the Valentine's party."  I smiled and 
gave a slight bow.  I wanted to be polite and accept his compliment, 
but I didn't want to encourage him to take the flirting any 
further than that.  "The performers are all prepared now," he 
informed us.  "If you lovely ladies are ready, I shall step out and 
let your guests know that the show is about to begin."  "We're 
ready," Gigs and I said in unison...that seemed to be happening a lot 
recently as we adjusted to the new triumvirate *we* had formed with 
Asher.  I as his human servant and Gigs as his tiger.

Jean-Claude stepped through the curtain and addressed our audience.  
I shivered involuntarily as his voice drifted back to us colored by 
images of decadent forbidden pleasures.  "Good evening ladies and 
welcome to Guilty Pleasures, where we make your darkest fantasies 
come true.  As you all know, this is a private party in honor of the 
lovely Kashauna Aviartra, in celebration of her upcoming nuptials.  
So instead of our regular show tonight, a few *special* treats have 
been arranged.  I am *sure* you will find them most pleasing.  And 
now, I turn you over to the skilled and capable hands of your 
hostesses, Tamara and Gigs."

On cue, we stepped through the curtains and the prearranged music 
started up.

Hi (hi), we're your weather girls (uh-huh)
And have we got news for you (you better listen)
Get ready all you lonely girls
And leave those umbrellas at home (all right)

Humidity is rising (uh rising)
Barometer's getting low (how low girl, uh-oh)
According to all our sources (what sources now)
The street's the place to go (we better hurry up)
'Cause tonight for the first time (first time)
Just about half past 10 (half past 10)
For the first time in history
It's gonna start raining men (start raining men)

Some of our dancers started pouring out onto the stage and began 
strutting 
and gyrating at that point.

It's raining men, Hallelujah
It's raining men, amen
I'm gonna go out, I'm gonna let myself get
Absolutely soaking wet
It's raining men, Hallelujah
It's raining men, amen
Tall, blond, dark and lean
Rough and tough and strong and mean

God bless Mother Nature
She's a single woman too
She took on the heavens
And she did what she had to do
She fought every angel
She rearranged the sky
So that each and every woman
Could find the perfect guy

It's raining men, Hallelujah
It's raining men, amen
It's raining men, Hallelujah
It's raining men, amen

I hear stormy weather movin' in
'Bout to break it, about to begin
Hear the thunder, don't you lose your head
Rip up the roof and stay in bed (rip up the roof and stay in bed)

God bless Mother Nature
She's a single woman too
She took on the heavens 
And she did what she had to do
She fought every angel
She rearranged the sky
So that each and every woman
Could find the perfect guy
Oh it's raining men down

Humidity is rising (humidity is rising, yeah it's rising)
Barometer's getting low (it's getting low low low low low low low low 
low)
(Oh it's getting low)
According to all our sources (according to all sources, oh to all 
sources)
The street's the place to go
Because tonight for the first time (first time)
Just about half past 10 (half past 10)
For the first time in history
It's gonna start raining men (start raining men)

It's raining men (woo), Hallelujah
It's raining men, amen
It's raining men, Hallelujah
It's raining men, amen
It's raining men, Hallelujah
It's raining men, amen
It's raining men, Hallelujah
Woah woah woah woah woah woah, amen
It's raining men (tall and blond and dark and lean)
It's raining men (and rough and tough and strong and mean)
It's raining me (come on), Hallelujah
It's raining men, Amen

The opening number ended and the dancers left the stage.  Keeping in 
line with Jean-Claude's promise of some special surprises, not every 
guy that would be performing tonight danced during the first song.  
Gigs and I waited for the hollering and wolf whistles to die down 
before turning things back over to Jean-Claude.  "Thanks for coming," 
I earned a few groans from the audience for *that* comment.  I just 
grinned.  "Kash, before this night is over, you won't know what hit 
ya."  Our guest of honor blanched a bit but didn't look to be spooked 
enough to bolt just yet.  Oh *this* was gonna be sooooooo much fun!  
Gigs gave a malicious chuckle, knowing what *extra* special surprise 
was in store for the soon to be very blushing bride.  "We'd 
like to thank Jean-Claude for allowing us to use his club, helping 
with the entertainment, and emceeing this little soiree`," I 
finished.  We bowed and exited the stage, taking up flanking 
positions by the main victim...er guest, that is. 

One thing I'll say for Jean-Claude, he had the voice tricks and the 
skill to work the audiences for every last drop of lust.  It seemed 
like just about every male lycanthrope and nearly all the vamps in 
St. Louis undulated across that stage at some point during the 
night.  Out of respect to Kash's sentiments on pink, Tim was staying 
out of her sight until Kimmy could figure out how to alter him to a 
nice blue or purple.  I had to stare Kimmy down when I'd told her 
that pink tended to bring out Kashauna's homicidal tendencies...she'd 
gotten the most unholy gleam in her eyes. 

Jason got to pop out of the giant cake, right before refreshments 
were served at the mid point of the show.  Nathaniel did a tame, for 
him (not even simulated violence), strip to a "live" recording of "I 
Want You to Want Me" by Cheap Trick.  Zane, Gregory, and Stephen all 
put in appearances...Caleb was banned from the show...Anita had said 
something about him being on probation under Micah's orders.  Damien 
did a turn in stage as well.  Several ladies had on hungry 
expressions as *he* passed by.  And there were a few vamps and weres 
that I was unfamiliar with.

It was close to the end of the show and time for the surprises to 
begin.  "We have a very special treat for you tonight ladies...a rare 
performance indeed," Jean-Claude purred.  Gigs and I were both 
watching Kash's face intently.  "Who of you here tonight will dare to 
dance with...Death?"  he concluded on a dangerously exciting note.  
The stage went pitch black for a second, then a single spotlight 
shone down.  "Ted" in full good-ol-boy mode stood there at ease.  The 
expression on Kash's face was *priceless*.  A stunned gasp came from 
Anita as well.  Music started up and "Ted" began to dance.  I chose 
that moment to plop down in Kashauna's lap, grinning.  Gigs 
stood behind her, hands resting on her shoulders.  She was getting 
better at exerting her new lycanthropic strength without doing any 
damage.  Kash wouldn't be getting up until *we* let her up.

The song playing was "Gunning Down Romance" by Savage Garden.  As he 
strutted and writhed, "Ted" began making the transformation first to 
Edward before *really* stripping, losing the flannel shirt and rip 
away blue jeans to reveal skin tight black t-shirt and jeans 
beneath.  Strapped in various areas about his person were several 
fake weapons...Jean-Claude had absolutely *refused* to let him dance 
with his *real* ones.  He made a point to wiggle by right in front of 
Kash as he worked the audience.  She growled in frustration when we 
wouldn't let her budge.

I laughed and whispered to her, "Uh-uh, we promised Luce no touchie 
Eddie for you."  She glowered at me.  Edward moved on to focus his 
attention on Anita, removing his last vestige of Tedness (the cowboy 
hat) and placing it on her head.  She just stared up at him in dumb 
amazement.  One by one he began removing his "weapons" and dropping 
them in her lap.  Then he reached up and practically shredded the t-
shirt, ripping it from his torso.  Anita was starting to look 
seriously weirded out by then.  I was trying to fight the 
giggles.  Gigs leaned down and murmured, "You know I'd almost *swear* 
he's done this before."

"Oui, you would think so," Jean-Claude agreed.  He'd moved over 
closer to us, the better to feed off of Kash's lust, I assumed.  His 
part in tonight's party was over with anyway.  Someone else would be 
announcing the final act.  Our victim...um, I mean guest...sat there 
with her eyes slightly dilated.  She definitely had a look of "I 
WANT" written all over her face.  I snatched a handkerchief from Jean-
Claude's pocket, earning me a raised eyebrow and quirk of lips from 
him, and handed it to Kash.  "You're *drooling* dear," I smiled.  
Finally, Edward finished his number and returned back stage.

The stage lights dimmed, but didn't go out completely.  "Bon soir, 
mademoiselles," Asher's honeyed tones poured over the 
assemblage.  "We hope you have enjoyed tonight's entertainment.  And 
now, to close the show, we have not one, but *two* special 
performances."  Huh?  What was going on?  He was only supposed to 
announce the final "gift" for Kash.

"We altered your plans slightly, cherie," Jean-Claude's breath 
caressed my cheek.  "This is to thank you for such a 
glorious 'feeding'."  He brushed his lips across my neck before 
withdrawing a few steps.  I shuddered slightly as my eyes returned to 
the stage.  A glimmering grew about midstage, then Asher was just 
standing there.

He was dressed very similar to how he had been for the opening night 
of Dark Mirror.  Very much the French courtier in white satin and 
gold.  White lacy shirt and cravat, gold embossed vest, white coat 
and knee-breeches, plumed hat, and white thigh-high leather boots 
with floppy tops.  Slowly, gracefully, he began to move across the 
stage...if there was any music I was too mesmerized to hear it.  He 
slipped out of his coat as he stalked/swayed down the runway.  It 
dropped to the stage and was quickly snatched by someone close by.  
Next he began to unbutton his vest, his eyes never leaving our 
little group.  Kash was poking me in the ribs, her eyes glued to the 
spectacle in stage.  "I thought he was supposed to be keeping Luce 
occupied elsewhere," she whispered frantically.  "He *was*," I 
answered.  Let her sweat...God knows I was.

The vest was followed by the cravat, then the shirt and finally...the 
breeches.  It was then that I realized he had assumed his old habit 
of shaking his hair forward over half his face.  As he stood there in 
nothing but the hat, boots and a white thong, every holy water scar 
was visible.  He did a slow turn so that everyone could see.  Then 
the air shimmered along the right half of his body as he dropped the 
glamour of the scars for the first time publicly.  My ears threatened 
to pop from the change in air pressure as everyone in the room drew 
in a breath at the same time.  He was magnificent.

He glided down the steps, stopping a few feet in front of us.  
Holding out both hands, he said, "Ma rose d'acier, ma belle 
chat...come to me."  And we went.  How could we refuse?  We flanked 
him, and he embraced us both, giving each a lingering kiss that just 
melted us to him.  "Mademoiselle Kashauna, we have arranged an 
extraordinary treat just for you, to cap your evening off," 
he told her graciously, with a slight smile.  "And now for tonight's 
finale," he announced to the room, "allow me to introduce...Luce."

The demon was just *there* on the stage.  "I'm Too Sexy" started 
playing from the sound system.  Kash looked like she couldn't decide 
to run, freeze or melt.  Asher led us over to a chair, leaving our 
victim...yep, definitely victim...to her own devices.

As he sat down he drew Gigs into his lap.  I wondered briefly why she 
had a bloody towel around her hand, then realized she must have 
broken another glass holding it too tightly.  She seemed awfully 
happy to be there and began purring almost immediately.  A quick peek 
through the marks showed me *why*.  "Sheesh, Asher, get a *room*," I 
muttered.  He grasped my hand and kissed the palm, sending shivers up 
my spine.  "Jealous?" he laughed.  "Yes," I pouted.  "Then you shall 
not be left out, ma rose d'acier," he murmured a split second 
before he sank his fangs into my wrist, taking my mind and body on 
the wild ride that only he was capable of.  I vaguely remember Gigs 
laughing and putting his hat on her own head.  Everything after that 
was a blur.