Brandy

1

Brandy walks slowly down the long, dimly lit hallway towards Benjamin’s office. She can feel the eyes of the other employees on her, judging her. She reaches the door and knocks.

“Come in.” A low, gravelly voice calls from inside the room. Brandy takes a deep breathe to steady herself and enters.

“Please, sit down.”

Brandy walks to the chair situated in front of the desk and takes a seat. Benjamin doesn’t speak, he studies her. Not in the creepy way most men gawk at Brandy but in a genuine, appreciative way. Brandy shifts nervously, she knows she doesn’t look her best. It’s been a rough couple of months. So many desperate, hungry nights. “When’s the last time I ate?” Brandy wonders to herself. “Three days, or was it four?” The fact she can’t recall unsettles her a bit.

“Dusty told me about your situation. It’s a damn shame. Someone like you and all the obvious beauty you possess should not have to endure such hardship.”

Brandy nods and casts her eyes towards the floor.

“We aren’t like the other establishments.” Benjamin continues. “Here, you’re safe. I guarantee that. None of the girls working here have ever been harmed. This, my dear, is your sanctuary.”

Brandy looks up at Benjamin and smiles wanly.

“We cater to an upper echelon of clientele. Here, your beauty and talents are appreciated and revered, they are not on display for a ravenous horde to gawk at.”

“I like the sound of that.” Brandy responds softly.

“When it comes to compensation the sky is the limit. If you make the client happy, they are very generous. My business relies on customer satisfaction so the word no should seldom be used. With that being said, we will never ask you to do something you aren’t comfortable with.”

“I wouldn’t be here if I was uncomfortable.”

Benjamin leans back in his chair and nods. “That’s what I like to hear. When can you –”

“Tonight.” Brandy says eagerly, interrupting Benjamin. Her stomach groans with hunger. Her eyes widen with embarrassment. “Could he hear that?” She wonders.

Benjamin smiles and pulls out a little black book from the top drawer of his desk, flips to a page and studies it. Brandy shifts in her chair nervously. Benjamin smiles broadly and taps his forefinger on his black book. “It just so happens I have a client paying a lot of money for a private show tonight and you are exactly what he is looking for. Think you can handle it.”

“Yes.” Brandy says anxiously. “I know I can.”

“Very well. Party is at nine. Be early. I can’t stomach tardiness.”

Brandy nods and stands to leave.

“Wait.”

Brandy turns to Benjamin. He opens another drawer and removes a small wad of cash and hands it to Brandy.

Brandy hesitates. “What’s this?”

“An advance. I need you looking your best tonight.”

“Thank you.” Brandy pockets the money and exits.

Benjamin watches her go and smiles, clearly satisfied with himself and his new hire.

2

Brandy arrives at 7:45. Her golden blonde hair is beautifully styled and her make-up, expertly applied. She makes her way through the club and towards a door marked employees only. Sammy, a security guard stands at the door. His eyes fall on Brandy as she approaches, and he nearly loses his breathe. He sees beautiful women on a nightly basis working here but this woman walking towards him was unlike anyone he had ever seen. She looks a little uncertain, so he holds up his hand to get her attention. Her eyes find him, and she smiles warmly. Sammy’s heart races as he waves her over.

“Hi, it’s my first night and I’m not sure where to go, what to do…” Brandy explains.

“No worries. There is an employee entrance out back, so you don’t have to walk through the club.” Sammy replies.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

“No need to be sorry. Just letting you know for next time. Come on, I’ll take you to your dressing room.”

Sammy opens the door that leads to the back of the house and Brandy follows him down a door line hallway. “I’m Sammy. I work security and bartend when needed.”

“Nice to meet you Sammy. I’m Brandy.”

“Brandy, you’re a fine girl.” Sammy sings and is immediately mortified by how stupid he sounds. “It’s a song. Called Brandy.” He offers grimly.

Brandy doesn’t reply but a soft smile touches the corners of her mouth. She finds his awkwardness endearing. They walk the rest of the way to Brandy’s dressing room in silence.

“Here we are.” Sammy says as he unlocks the door and opens it for Brandy. Brandy enters the room and is struck by its opulence.

“Whoa. This is nice.”

“Benjamin takes care of his girls. Can I get you anything while you finish getting ready?”

“No. I’m okay.”

Sammy nods. “Benjamin left something for you. It’s over on the make-up table. I’ll be back for you soon.” Sammy exits.

Brandy walks over to the box and there’s a note attached. Brandy picks it up and reads, “Thought you’d look nice in this. B—”

Brandy opens the box and smiles. Inside is a stunning white mink coat. She takes it out of the box and puts it on. She studies herself in the mirror for several minutes. Her stomach growls.

3

At 8:45, a knock at Brandy’s door startles her out of a slight meditative state. Brandy crosses the room and opens the door. It’s Benjamin. Brandy is caught off guard. She was expecting Sammy. “Come in.” She says nervously.

Benjamin enters the room and closes the door behind him. He looks at Brandy and nods approval. “Nervous?” He asks.

“A little.”

“I believe in you. Or I wouldn’t have given you such a prestigious party on your first night. Several of our girls are not happy the new girl landed such a plum assignment.”

“As long as you’re happy with my performance—”

“It’s not me you have to satisfy. It’s Mr. Bertaloni. He’s very particular. Just be yourself and everything will go perfectly. You ready?”

Brandy nods.

“Very good.” Benjamin knocks on the door twice. Sammy opens the door. “Sammy will escort you to your party.”

Brandy nods and exits the room.

When they arrive at the door that leads to the party Sammy turns to Brandy and says, “If anything gets out of hand, I’ll be right outside this door.”

Brandy smiles and pats Sammy on the shoulder. “I’ll be fine.” Sammy opens the door, Brandy enters, and Sammy locks the door behind her.

Inside, there are five men seated around a brightly lit stage. They all turn to look at Brandy as she enters. Four of the men are large and look intimidating. Seated in between the four men is a well-dressed, handsome man. Brandy can tell by the smug look on his face that he is the money, that he is the man in charge. She locks eyes with him momentarily and smiles seductively.

The four large men clap, whistle, and yell at her to take off her coat. “Come on honey, take off the coat. Let’s see what we’re paying for.”

Brandy looks at the man and smiles. “Patience. I promise. You won’t be disappointed.”

The man in charge waves his hand at the men and they immediately settle back into their seats. Brandy admires his command over the men as she takes center stage.

Rhythmic music begins to play. Brandy starts to sway to the music as the men watch raptly.

Brandy struts around the stage and playfully teases her coat coming off several times, each time it looks like she’s finally going to remove it and show what’s underneath and the men cheer in anticipation only to groan in frustration when she closes the coat and continues her dance.

Brandy can sense their growing frustration; she can practically smell it. She knows the next time she must drop her coat and give the client what they paid for. What they came to see. Brandy saunters to the middle of the stage, grabs either side of the coat and rips it open, letting it drop to the floor. The men cheer as she allows them the privilege of gazing upon her naked body. She looks out at the men, she locks eyes with the handsome man and smiles at him again, not seductively, but hungrily as she reveals a mouth full of jagged, deadly teeth.

The handsome man’s eyes widen with surprise and the cheers of his bodyguards turn to screams of horror as a huge set of bat wings unfurl from between Brandy’s shoulder blades.

The men clumsily reach for their guns, but they are too slow. Brandy leaps from the stage and slams her teeth into the neck of a bodyguard and rips out a chunk of flesh. The bodyguard clutches at his destroyed throat as he falls to the floor. The rest of the bodyguards shoot wildly at Brandy as she makes her way through the men one by one. The handsome man races for the door and pounds at it frantically. “Help! Open this fucking door! Do you know who I am? Hey! Open this door.” No response.

Sammy stands outside the door reading a magazine, he gazes at a monitor every now and again to make sure Brandy is safe.

The handsome man’s pleas have become whimpers as Brandy finishes off the last of his bodyguards. She locks eyes with the handsome man and begins to walk towards him slowly, menacingly.

“Please.” The man begins to beg. “Please, you don’t have to do this. I have money. Anything you want. Anything!”

Brandy reaches him and slams him violently against the door.

“Please! Tell me what you want!”

“I’m so hungry.”

Brandy slams her teeth into the man’s throat and takes him to the floor. She chews greedily at his throat as the handsome man convulses. A warmth starts to spread over Brandy. Her hunger has started to wane.

4

Benjamin and Salvatore Bertaloni enjoy a Macallan neat as they observe the massacre Bertaloni paid handsomely for.

“Satisfied?” Benjamin asks.

“Immensely.” Bertaloni responds. He motions to one of his men stationed at the door. He carries a briefcase over to Benjamin’s desk and lays it down.

“Would you like to count it?’ Bertaloni asks.

“I think we both know it isn’t necessary.” Benjamin responds.

Bertaloni nods, shakes Benjamin’s hand, and exits the office with his men. Benjamin turns his attention back to the room and smiles.

5

Benjamin approaches the room carrying a robe and nods to Sammy. Sammy quickly unlocks the door and opens it for Benjamin. Benjamin walks into the room where Brandy sits amongst the carnage continuing to feed. “About done my dear?”

Brandy looks up at Benjamin and smiles. Blood and sinew drip from her mouth as she nods and retracts her wings.

“Here put this on.” Benjamin hands the robe to Brandy.

Brandy slips the robe on. As she ties the strap Benjamin hands her a thick envelope.

Brandy takes the envelope and looks inside. Her eyes widen.

“There has to be at least ten, fifteen grand in here.”

“It’s twenty.” Benjamin replies.

Brandy stares at the money speechless.

“You earned it. The client was very happy. Now go home and rest. Once word gets around, I think you’re going to be a very busy girl.” Benjamin turns to Sammy, “And you, get this cleaned up.”

Benjamin walks off as Sammy looks dejectedly at the blood drenched room he has to clean up. Brandy walks over to Sammy and pulls several bills out of her envelope and hands them to him. “Goodnight Sammy.” She gives Sammy a sweet peck on his cheek and walks off.

Sammy watches her leave dreamily as he raises his hand to the bloody lip prints on his cheek. “Goodnight Brandy.”