Machia Veil Timeline

11 pm, July 26th – The Court Room, Club 7, Suffox Place, Londoom

Nate opted for a comfortable t-shirt and lightweight trousers when he made his way downstairs. But this evening, Willemina Forde stopped him, her voice ringing and demanding that Nate used some fluorescent make up at the very least.

He brushed her hands away. “No, thank you Wills,” he said, smiling. “I’m happy like this.”

She frowned and shrugged. “I give up!”

“It’s not personal, you know that!” he winked.

He stopped himself.

Creepers, the place was getting to him.

He headed to the re-opened Beaufort Room when Ellis came in laughing with a glass of champagne.

“Darling! How wonderful to see you!” she said, hooking her arm in Nate’s, leaving him no choice but to follow her.

“Where are we going?” asked Nate.

“Why Dance Room of course! I want to introduce you to a friend you’ll love,” said Ellis.

He looked back towards the Beaufort Room. “Can we go to Beauforts after?”

“Of course, my dear!” she said, her feet doing mini jumps. “Look who’s here!”

“Who?” asked Nate.

“The DJ! Carl Boss!”

The music thumped and echoed off the walls.

“Carl what?”

“Goodness! Don’t you know Carl Boss? Best DJ in Londoom!” she squealed, arms in the air.

It didn’t matter how many times Nate tried, no one ever trusted he just wanted to chat with people. He did not want to party. Reluctantly, he sat in the corner and poured himself a glass of champagne from the iced silver cooler on the table. Ellis sat next to him and with her came five other friends who sat around them.

“Did you see Madama? She is in spectacular red! The Court Room froze for an entire minute! She broke a record!” said Ellis.

“She did, she did!” said Tipper Wilderman, who was now a regular fixture in their gatherings. Nate headed to the bar. Whenever he headed out of Club 7, something always distracted him. Then again, he had no money. This life would have to suit. If only someone knew his family. Bartholomew was nowhere to be found. The only hope he had.

The barman was now a friend.

“What can I get you Nate?”

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“Thanks Jake, I already have a drink,” he said, placing his champagne glass on the counter.

“The women are stunning today, don’t you think?” asked Jake.

“Aren’t they always?” said Nate.

“Today especially.”

“Yes, I guess,” his mind flew to Kenya.

Soon after, he spotted a woman on the west corner of the Dance Room. She wore a strapless silk top that formed an orange rose shape. The tight corset had diagonal seams that lead towards a cascade of orange that twisted into a red half, forming another rose in the middle. It was as though her dress was burning up in flames. She took Nate’s breath away. She undressed him with her eyes and yet scrutinised him. Like a hawk about to strike. Rivetted, they stared at each other, and the adrenaline froze him on the spot. Close up, her eyes were light, perfect eyebrows, and lips dark as night. She hesitated, which Nate found irresistible. She took his hand. Nate’s head was spinning, and he followed her down the hall in slow motion. She looked back at him sultry. Nate bobbed his head up and down.

A sensual fire enveloped him.

Someone spiked my drink!

Next, he was in a pool having sex with the magnificent fire woman. The thrill that someone might walk in was exhilarating. When another Arch Siren arrived. They had a threesome.

He shook with delight.

***

The following day, Nate was back in Castar’s guest room. His head thumping in time with his racing pulse. His mouth was dry.

Counting the minutes until the next hit, he aimed to stand up, but his body was unresponsive. He tried to move again, but to no avail. A crushing sensation in his chest. Shivering, he opened his mouth to scream, but no sound came out. I can’t speak! He contemplated Club 7’s oppressive hold on him.

He drifted back to sleep and woke up in the dark.

He moved his legs.

Then his arms.

Phew! He was back.

Despite the temptation all these months, he stayed true to his word and resisted the allure of drugs.

But last night.

The doubt crept in like an arrow, and his heartbeat, an accusing drum in his chest. Nate’s face twisted in agony as he clutched his stomach, his breaths coming in quick gasps. Memories of Lauryn flooded his mind. The ache of loss took hold of him again, suffocating him.

He yearned for a sanctuary, a place to escape the haunting images that chased him. Thoughts of finding Radiant Rose consumed him and he surrendered to the mysterious pull that led him to her.

***

Close to midnight, July 28th, Beaufort Room, Club 7

She was there. Waiting for him. But today she was wearing dark blue. A sea of sadness in taffeta. The night before, she styled her hair, but now it was wild and untamed. They followed each other. She tracked his movements when he arrived. Nate approached a woman, but when Radiant Rose got closer, he smiled and surrendered to her instead.

“Tease!” she said with that sultry look of hers.

He yearned for her. They went to an unused phone booth in the basement and had sex. Radiant Rose was insatiable. Sometimes accompanied, sometimes not. He had a sense of euphoria. Days rolled by and Nate had eroded his own self-control. From Radiant Rose, who he discovered was called Dagmar Buckley, he moved to Hecuba Wolf, from Hecuba to Geneva Rudi, to Virginia Black, and so he continued. Every time an ecstatic experience. Every time a fantasy fulfilled.

***

A week later, 1 am August 5th, The Dance Room, Club 7

Nate was on the dance floor when he did a double take. A woman, wearing a voluminous dress adorned with bows, opened her skirt to show a fitted mini dress. A flash of tanned, stunning legs inviting him to explore the new and wonderful world of that girl. He smiled and approached her. His heart racing and the music thumping in his ears. They went upstairs.

12 am, August 6th

The next day, he met someone new, and she wore a sparkling red mini skirt with a burgundy hip belt. She wore black flats. She had thin hands and wore five pearl bracelets on her left hand. Her top was black lace. Her hair was up in a bun crossed by a pen. She carried an empty tray in her right hand. Ah. A new server. He hesitated. Then went for it anyway.

An hour later

“What’s your name?” asked Nate.

“Unique. Unique Bergland,” she said, smiling, fixated on his lips.

Nate hung on her lips, too. The way she dropped her name sent thrills down his spine.