The place was getting rowdier, with more Debs coming in every day, and the Harbinger of Death went to the party house to make sure there wasn’t anything illegal or completely out of hand going on. He was stunned at the sight that awaited him. It wasn’t the table that was cleared off with someone dancing on it. It wasn’t the pole that had been stuck into the middle of the table or the kind of dancing that was going on in relation to said pole. It certainly wasn’t the whooping crowd that was egging the dancer on. No, all of this was par for the course with this gang. What stunned him was the identity of the dancer.
“Lust!” he bellowed. “GET DOWN from there!”
She halted her dance and hopped down immediately, much to the displeasure of the spectators, and made her way over to him. “Something wrong?” she said, trying to be nonchalant, but was clearly embarrassed to be caught this way.
“You shouldn’t be inciting these people!” he chided. “You’re too powerful even for them. They’ll be permanently damaged!”
“Actually, they’re not incited at all! At least not by my powers,” she said happily. “Since they’re just shades, my powers are ineffective here. I’m just partying with them like a regular person. It’s kind of nice for a change.”
“I’ve been looking all over for you. Surely you didn’t think you were done yet? There’s a whole other group waiting to come out here.” He was exasperated. These rotten Debs corrupted absolutely everybody they came in contact with. “Come with me. And give me that,” he added to the crowd, grabbing the beach ball that was bouncing around their heads.
“Booooo,” was the general reply.
Lust took her assignment and found Stripe, Amyrlin, Shiva, Shoshana, Aeaea, Tori, Feonix and Paladin in the deserted Battlefield. They were slinging drinks and helping themselves to all the amenities of the tavern.
“We should avoid getting killed every year,” said Shiva. “This is great.”
“No kidding. I never get to have this many drinks.” Amyrlin slugged another shot of Watermelon Pucker.
“Me either,” agreed Tori. “Can you pass the Midori?”
“What are you making?” asked Stripe, looking on interestedly.
“Dunno,” said Tori. “I’m making it up as I go.”
“I wanna dance,” said Shoshana. “Where’s the outlet for the juke box?”
“I’ll help you, hon,” said Paladin, as they hunted around on the wall to try and plug it in. They found it, and music filled the room.
“That’s a good song,” said Aeaea. “I want to dance, too.”
“Wait for me!” said Feonix. “It’s been so long since I got out. Promise not to laugh.”
They all promised, and soon the group of them was dancing on the floor, thoroughly enjoying their freedom. Lust eyed the room. She wanted to go back to the party mansion and dance, too. Hmm. That gave her an idea.
“I have an idea!” said Shiva. “Find the lights for the stage. Let’s make our own show.”
“Over here. I got ‘em.” Amyrlin flipped the switches, and the disco ball and spotlights were all activated. The dance floor and stage became illuminated with all kinds of colors and lighting effects.
“Ooooh, pretty,” said Stripe. “I love disco balls.”
Lust shoved Shoshana in the back. “Oh, let me up there. I need to express myself.” She began a sultry routine that had them all mesmerized. Especially when she started taking off her clothes.
“Shana, I didn’t know you were that kind of girl,” said Feonix, surprised. Lust elbowed him too. “But I think it’s a wonderful idea.” He began his own strip tease where he stood.
Jab. Jab. Jab. Stripe, Amyrlin and Shiva joined in. Poke, poke, poke. Aeaea, Tori and Paladin followed suit. (Birthday suit, you might say.) They mirrored Shoshana’s every move. She twisted and gyrated to the music, and removed her clothing piece by piece. Lust looked on in approval. “Red hot, isn’t she?” she said quietly. Shana began to glow slightly. “Yes. A real hot tamale.”
Shana actually looked red. They thought perhaps it was the lights. She looked more and more red. She grew a little string out of the top of her head. None of them cared. They danced, entirely in the nude now, and were on the verge of doing more than dancing, when the little string caught fire.
“What is that?” asked Shoshana, unable to see what was going on.
“You’re hot, sweetie,” said Lust, making herself visible to them. “In fact, you’re downright explosive.” She giggled, and the fuse disappeared in the sparks. With a loud KABOOM, the bomb that was Shoshana went off and scattered pieces of the Debs and the Battlefield everywhere. Lust opened her little red bottle and eight little tatters fluttered inside.
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