Chapter 6

BALQIS'S POV

I turned around, "Wait, what?"

His voice was frank and straightforward, like he wasn't asking for my opinion. He continued. "I brought a lot of money and I....."

"Did you take me for a prostitute?" I cut his words short. Anger boiling from the depths of my heart. "Are you blind to even see that I'm pregnant right now?"

"Okay then," he turned to leave. I was taken aback again. What the fuck is going on with men tonight?

Stomping, I moved to the bar and joined Mrs Kathy while Nirvana continued to lead the dance.

My stepmom was still busy counting her money and instructing the barmen, unaware of my presence until I spoke. "Nirv could have led the dance..

She turned her head this time. "Oh, you're here?"

"...but why did you insist that I must do it?" My heart was slamming against my ribs in anger by now, and my fists clenched.

"You.... You're not scolding me right now... Balqis?"

"Answer me, Mum! Why did you insist I lead the dance tonight and wear a mask when you've already rejected the idea?" This time, the anger boiling inside of me had reached a certain crescendo that I don't know what I might do if she kept lying to me.

Mrs Kathy was silent. Everything around us seems to have dropped into a strange, slow motion. "Why, Mum?" I questioned again.

"Balqis, you have to calm down. Your pregnancy...."

"You don't tell me to calm down!" I yelled at the top of my voice this time. I really can't take her madness anymore.

But thankfully, the blaring sound form the speaker overshadowed my voice; only the men sitting around us turned their heads at us, but she pulled my hand away from the counter.

"Bally, are you mad?" She scolded. The anger, slowly dying down. "I told you tonight is going to be the last day, right?"

"Now tell me, how much did I have in the safe?"

She rolled her eyes and paced shortly. "Bally dear, I really don't want to say this, but I have to...."

"Mum, what are you scheming again?" I was getting more frustrated and agitated by her attitude today. She used to be outspoken, commanding, but this new attitude....

"I've taken my share of the money, which is 60%, but the rest can't guarantee you a between life alone," she explained. "We can as well discuss this at home too, so let's get this over with"

I stood frozen there like a fool. Why did I always get so intimidated by her words?

She turned to leave but stopped and looked at me, "What if I say there's something else you can do to make money this evening?"

"Don't tell me I have to climb on that stage again mum?"

She took my hand and smiled cheerfully, "Balqis. You're now my daughter, and you know I can't lead you into the wilderness?"

'Daughter, since when?' my wolf scoffed. I also scoffed and snapped my hand away from hers. "Better spill it now."

She hesitated before leaning over and whispering into my ear. I froze. "Mum!!!"

"For the baby....."

*****

Yes! For the baby Balqis. I told myself as I lay on the bed and, after stripping myself.

Nirvana came in, the time is past midnight now, and most guests have dispersed, and she's got off he stage.

She gave me a plate of spaghetti as usual, since that's the only food we sell and serve at the club. "You'll need energy"

I took it from her and smirked. "You must be thinking I'm done for right?"

"Why did you say that? I even pitied you so much that...."

The door opened again, and someone came in. Nirvana took the plate from me. "I guess you're going to eat after you're done."

"Thanks, sis," I mumbled as I was now left to face my fear and accept my fate.

The man stood there, staring at me for a long time. I wondered why but I didn't ask. After a while of the staring competition, he closed the distance between us and sat on the bed.

I didn't say anything. My heart was on fire, as it drummed against my ribs with force. He must be thinking this serves me right now. Because he asked me to sleep with him earlier, but I refused.

If Mrs Kathy minused her share from the money he'd offered, I'll still be left with a huge amount that's more than the money we make from the club monthly.

I know I might sound foolish. Dumb. Slutty. But I really need this money. I cannot continue to dance on the poles through my heavy condition; my baby is never going to like that.

If sleeping with this man for just tonight will guarantee my financial situation and make me stop stripping, then I'll do it. But whoever this pedophile who paid such a huge amount just to fuck a pregnant lady was, I pray the goddess let me get a chance to fuck his ass with my heel.

He rubbed his hand on my round belly, and for a split second, my baby kicked. I gulped hard and fast.

He whispered. "It must be a boy," then, under the dim lights, I saw his lips shift into a smirk, but his mask was never shaking.

"Why did you pay so much to sleep with a pregnant woman?" I asked cautiously, not expecting him to reply to me since his aura doesn't look any likable.

"Because I miss you," He replied, whispering with a tone that carries a lot of sadness and hurt. I don't know why my heart skipped a beat for such a person as this, but I quickly shake it off.

"Sorry, have... have we met before?"

He looked at me straight in the eyes again, and just like that, we're stuck in another round of hypnosis.

My wolf howled slowly, eerily and sadly. 'What happened?' I asked her with my mind, still not breaking my gaze from the man.

'Balqis!' my wolf called from my mind, and I answered, but still not breaking my gaze from the man before me. 'He's our mate. The man who saved you from that rapist earlier, but... but....'

The air around the room changed immediately. 'But what, Rina?' I cried.

The dim light flashed for a second before going off. I jerked up immediately, but everything was pitch black and I couldn't see a thing.

'Rina!' I cried again, but no response.

"Excuse me, Mr Man?" I had no choice but to call him now. But he didn't say anything. "Hello?" I called again, waving my hand in the direction he was sitting earlier, but I got no response.

"Hello!!" I had to shout as I tried getting up from the bed.

"Are you still there?" My feet had touched the cold tiles now, and my hand grabbed the headboard of the bed. "Did you leave me alone?" I asked through the darkness, still waving my hand.

Then, a wall stopped me. But wait... That's not a wall because my hand still waved through the air. Only my body was stopped.

But why does this wall feel so warm and soft...

Could it be....

Then a pair of arms grabbed my neck. "You're mine, Balqis!"

I wasn't given a chance to think. The next thing I felt was a warm tongue licking against my neck, and because I could talk, something sank in there.

Not a needle or nail. Not teeth or even sharp object like knife either... It was something else.... FANGS!!

"You're a forbidden fruit. But I chose to eat you, Balqis!" The demonic voice whispered against my ear again, and before I could know anything, my baby was kicking against my belly harshly.

My eyes spinned at 360°, and some kind of headache spread through my body.

"You're mine, Balqis... "

"You're mine, Bal.."

"You're mine,....."

"You're...."

Just like that, the voice faded at each echo until I slipped into the abyss of darkness.

"Even in darkness. You're still mine... Balqis."