"Yes, I do. It's a habit I'd work on correcting," advised Agra. "Tell me, when was the last time you saw Belinda? No one’s seen her in several days."
"Thursday afternoon. She said she was gonna see if she could make a few extra bucks on the side... not that you don’t be payin’ her plenty, but she saw this real cute dress she was wantin’ for her wardrobe and was afraid someone would get it before she gots enough money saved."
"So, why didn’t she just call me?" Agra asked, frustrated at hearing one of her whores had ignored a basic rule of the Sisterhood. "She could have borrowed the money from me if it meant that much."
"I guess she thought you’d be lecturin’ her about wastin her money... kinda like you does me sometimes."
"Are you or the others unhappy with our arrangements?"
"Oh no, Miss Agra. You pays us well... and no one else ever cared enough to gives us medical coverage or the protection you does. Shit, you even gives us a savins account soes we can get off the streets if we want to. I might be able to retires in a few years now. Miss Kali and you be like family. We ain’t never had no women pimps before, you know."
"Then why do you still take unnecessary chances? The rules we made are for your protection."
Kiera shrugged. It was true what Ms. Agra was saying. Still, old habits were hard to break.
"It’s just the way we is. Before you come along, we never had noone who cared much for us... not like you. We was out for our selves ’cause that’s all we had... the pimps... they took most everything we made. The last few months are like a dream, you know? I guess we just feels it ain’t gonna last and then we has to start all over again. Some of the pimps on the street... they been hasslin’ us and sayin they was gonna get you two sooner or later. Talk is it's gonna be sooner and then the Sisterhood ain't gonna be no more."
When Agra lunged to her feet, Kiera jumped back, startled at how quickly her boss moved.
"Who’s making these threats?"
"Just some small time pimps... we knows it was all talk so we didn’t say nothing."
"I don’t care how small the talk is. No one threatens my whores. I want to know who they are. One of them might have grabbed Belinda... and even if they didn't, I won't tolerate intimidation of my girls by anyone."
Kiera looked hesitantly at Kali and then back at Agra.
"Chicklet, mostly. He’s the main mouth."
"Chicklet?"
"Yeah. He’s a mixed-breed that hangs out on the strip near the bars. Thinks he’s a real tough guy but he’s all talk. Always chewing gum... poppin’ chicklets."
"How many whores work for him?"
"A dozen... maybe more."
"You ever hear any complaints from them?"
"Nah. Likes I said, he’s all mouth but he gots game. He takes half their money but he make sure they gots good protection. If anyone roughs up his hoes, he hunts 'em down and they pays double. Then he splits it fifty fifty with the hen house. Most of his hoes chose him up cuz he takes good care of 'em... better than the pimps on the east side."
"A pimp with some ethics, eh?" Kali asked, interrupting the conversation. "Well, if you ever hear anything different, let us know... and we’ll talk about the assholes on the other side of town in a few days. Agra and I plan on paying them a little visit. Right now our girls are our main concern. Now, have you heard any street talk about Sasha or any other whores that have disappeared?"
"No... Everyone’s been lookin for Jennie and Sasha. Those two, they just up and disappeared. Jennie, she was a pro... been doin’ it for years. I don't think she'd break none of your rules, Ms. Agra. And Sasha... I tried to tell her not to go out by herself until someone learned her the ropes... but you know how kids is nowadays. There’s talk about some that went missin’ a few months back before you all come. We just figured they took off cuz they wanted out. Their pimp was real unhappy but seein as no one knowed where they went, he couldn’t do much."
"Alright. Call us if you hear something... and put the word out on Belinda. Someone may have seen or heard something."
"I’ll tell them. Maybe one of the Joes knowed somethin’ at the Mission. Me and the girls will check around."
"Good. You can go... and be careful. Until we find out what happened to her and the others, I don’t want anyone working by themselves. Tell the sisters to pair up and keep an eye on each other. No leaving the strip in anyone's car unless they really know the person or until we find out what's happening. If a driver wants your services, he or she can get it in one of the back seat, an alley or nearby motel. I'll make arrangements with a few of the owners to have rooms available... and make sure they have at least two other girls take a good look at the guy. I want whoever picks up one of my whores to know he has been seen... Got it?"
"Yes, Miss Agra. I’ll pass the word but it's gonna put a crimp in our business."
"I don't care what it does as long as no one else disappears... and Kiera, if anyone breaks this rule, they're out of the Sisterhood. Got it?"
"Yes ma'am!"
Once Kiera was gone, Kali waited patiently for her friend to calm down. The high level of energy that had been bouncing around her earlier had finally settled to an occasional flicker. The demoness was always amazed that humans never felt the tremendous power flowing from Agra whenever she was upset or angry. Then again, perhaps it was a good that they couldn’t. Energy that powerful would probably prove fatal to most mortals.
"I don’t like this! Three of our girls in less than a month."
"I agree. You’d think after all these years, we’d be able to keep better track of them."
"Yeah! It makes me wonder what's happening to us. What good are we if our powers continue to weaken as they have? There was a time..." Not wanting to dwell on the past, Agra let the thought die.
"Well, one thing I can promise you," said Kali, her tone bordering on anger. "If I do find out what happened to them... and if they’ve been harmed, whoever is responsible will wish they had never been born! Hell will be paradise compared to what I will do to them," she promised.
Agra had no doubt that Kali would fulfill her threat. Her ability to instill pain far exceeded her compassion for their prostitutes... and her compassion for them was infinite.
"What do you think of our newest customer?" asked Agra, deciding it was time to change the topic.
"Which one?"
"You know who I’m talking about!" replied Agra, giving her that ‘don’t be coy with me’ look. "The one Cammie was talking to last night."
"Oh her! She seems okay."
Agra laughed at the demoness's sulky tone.
"You can’t really be jealous of her?"
"That's ridiculous!" Kali snapped. "What’s there to be jealous of? She’s human."
"You tell me!"
"You’re just imagining it. Like I said, she seems nice enough. Besides, how would I know? You and Lilith talked with her. I was busy with the other customers."
"That's true, but I noticed you watching her and Cammie a lot. If I didn't know better I'd say you were interested in one of them."
"Don't be stupid! I don't have time for relationships!"
"If you say so," Agra said, realizing it would be better to drop the subject. Obviously something was bothering Kali but she wasn’t ready to talk about it. "I suppose we should head on out to the bar. Lilith wants us in early tonight. Apparently, she's decided to have a few words with her ex about the whores. She thinks he may know something."
"I doubt that! There’s no way he wants to piss her off. The last time nearly cost him his kingdom," Kali laughed. "And to think she gave up Adam for him."
"Did you ever meet that guy?"
When Kali shook her head no, Agra put her arm around her friend's shoulders and started for the door.
"Well, let me tell you about him. He may have been good looking but when it came to charisma..."
W
HEN DAKOTA and Yemaya walked into the bar, several women turned to stare at them. Tall and dark, Yemaya looked every bit the seductress in her leather jeans and burgundy silk blouse. Like a panther, comfortable in her skin, she seemed to flow across the floor. Dakota was the perfect balance to Yemaya's darkness with her own golden aura. Blonde hair and standing several inches shorter than the Illusionist, she was dressed in designer jeans, a coral colored tank top and a black nylon windbreaker trimmed in a bright floral pattern. Her quick, bouncy steps foretold of the hidden energies burning vibrantly inside.
"What do you think?" Dakota asked.
Laughing, Yemaya shook her head.
"We just arrived. Give me time to look around."
"Aw come on. You have great instincts. At least admit it's coo-el looking inside."
"Okay. It is coo-el looking. Now, why not let me get our drinks and you pick out a table. Then we can discuss the ambiance of the place."
"Sure. I'll just be over there in the corner. I know how you like to people watch."
Leaning down, Yemaya gave her a quick kiss on the lips and then ruffled her hair.
"Thanks. See you in a few."
Lilith had seen the two women enter the club and immediately knew their souls were forever linked. The energy between them was so finely interwoven it would be almost impossible to separate the strands... almost. Recognizing Yemaya from her pictures in the magazines, she had to admit the Illusionist was extraordinarily beautiful. More important though, her life force was unusually strong. Had she not known who she was, Lilith would still have sensed her presence and the darkness within, something very familiar to her. She hadn’t felt that in a long time. As she watched the two women separate, she signaled to Agra to serve the Illusionist. Once she had the drinks and made it back to Dakota's table, the club owner decided to introduce herself to her newest customer.
"Good evening, Dakota. It's nice to have you back."
"Lilith! Thanks. Yemaya, this is the owner of the club. She likes to meet all of her clientele, a very old fashion concept, wouldn't you say?" Dakota teased.
"A good business practice," Yemaya commented, noticing the woman's sparkling black eyes. "Nice to meet you, Lilith."
"And you, Yemaya. I hope the drinks are to your liking."
"Very much so. Would you like to sit down?"
Glancing around to make sure everything was running smoothly, Lilith lowered herself onto a nearby chair.
"For a few minutes, thank you. Are you going to be in the area for awhile?"
"A few weeks. Dakota has personal business she needs to attend to and I am taking a break from my work."
"Not permanently, I hope. I've never seen any of your shows, but I hear they are spectacular."
"Thanks. At this point, I am not sure what I will be doing."
"She's been talking retirement," Dakota interjected. "But that's not going to happen. I haven't figured out how she does her stunts, yet. Besides, I'm too young to retire and if she stops, I won't have anyone as interesting to stalk."
Rolling her eyes, Yemaya pretended to bitch slap the back of the journalist's head, tapping it lightly with her fingertips.
"I'm glad to hear that." laughed Lilith, amused at the unexpected playfulness of the Illusionist. "I'd like to at least see one before you call it quits."
"No problem. We do have one more scheduled in a few months. I can have my agent send you a few tickets once we finalize the arrangements."
"Wonderful! I look forward to it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think one of my girls is about to have a problem with a customer."
Standing, Lilith walked away, her hips swaying gracefully beneath a long, form fitting black dress. With only one strap and a low cut back, she oozed a sensuality that made others take notice. Even Yemaya felt the woman's sexual appeal.