Chapter 2: Luna Takes the Stage.

Juliet pushed open the back door of Midnight Eclipse and stepped into the dim hallway. The bass from the main floor already thumped through the walls but she kept her head down as she walked to the dressing room.

Lila sat in front of the mirror, fixing her makeup. "You're late, Jules. Marcus is in a mood tonight."

"I know," Juliet said. She dropped her bag on the chair and started pulling out her costume. "Had a long day at school."

Lila turned around. "You look tired. That new professor is giving you trouble already?"

Juliet froze for half a second, then forced a laugh. "No. He's fine. Just that he's... intense."

"Intense how?" Lila asked, raising one eyebrow.

Juliet slipped into the silver corset that barely covered anything. "He stared at me the whole lecture, asked me to stay after class. But othing big happened."

Lila grinned. "Sounds like he likes what he sees. You should be careful because Professors can be trouble."

"Yeah," Juliet muttered. She didn't want to talk about Professor Adrian Knight right now. Not when she still felt his eyes on her from earlier.

The door opened and Marcus walked in. The club owner looked stressed. "Luna, you're up in ten. There is a big crowd tonight and the VIP section is full. Try your best and keep them happy tonight, okay."

"Ok, I always do, and I'll try my best" Juliet said.

Marcus pointed at her. "One of the regulars, the guy in the black suit, keeps asking for a private room with you. I told him you don't do private things, but he's pushing."

Juliet's stomach tightened. "I'm not doing it, Marcus. I told you before."

"He pays well," Marcus said. "Really well, Luna. Think about it."

"I don't need to think," she answered firmly. "I dance on stage and that's it."

Marcus shook his head and left.

Lila touched Juliet's arm. "You okay? You seem off tonight."

"I'm fine," Juliet said. She stood up and checked herself in the mirror. The corset pushed her breasts up and the tiny skirt showed off her long legs and pink lights would make her blonde hair glow. She looked like Luna now and not Juliet Sinclair, the top student.

She walked to the side of the stage and waited. The music changed to something slow and heavy and then, the announcer called her name.

"Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Luna!"

The crowd cheered and Juliet stepped onto the stage. Pink and purple lights hit her skin and the pole stood tall in the center, cool under her fingers.

She started moving. Her body rolled against the mental. She climbed up, legs wrapping tight, then slid down slowly. Every move felt sharp tonight and the memory of Professor Knight's dark eyes kept flashing in her mind.

The way he had looked at her when he said her name. The way his fingers brushed hers over the essay.

She gripped the pole harder and spun, back arching. The crowd got louder. Men leaned forward in their seats. She dropped low, hips grinding in slow circles, imagining strong hands on her waist instead of the cold metal.

Adrian's hands.

The thought made her dance harder and more raw. She pressed her body against the pole like she was dancing for a person only. Sweat started to shine on her skin and her breathing came faster.

A man in the front row shouted, "Damn, Luna! You're killing me tonight!"

She didn't smile. She just kept moving lost in the rhythm and the dangerous memory of her Professor.

When the song ended, the applause was loud. Juliet gave a small bow and walked off stage. Her legs felt shaky, but not from dancing.

Back in the dressing room, she grabbed a towel and wiped her face. While Lila handed her a bottle of water.

"You were on fire out there," Lila said. "What's really got into you?"

Juliet took a long drink. "Just needed to blow off the stream. Trust me, I'm fine Mia.”

The door opened again and this time it was the sleazy regular. He wore a black suit that looked too tight with gold chains around his neck and his eyes moved over her, over her body like he owned it.

"Luna baby," he said with a big smile. "That dance was something else. Come on, let's go to the private room and I promise I'll make it worth your time."

Juliet straightened up. "I don't do private dances, sorry."

The man's smile dropped. "I've been coming here for months and Marcus said you might change your mind."

"He was wrong," Juliet said. She kept her voice calm but firm.

He stepped closer. "Five hundred dollars cash, right now. Just you and me for thirty minutes and no one has to know."

Lila moved between them. "She said no. Didn't you heard her?"

The man ignored Lila and looked straight at Juliet. "You think you're too good for me? I can talk to the owner. Tell him you're being difficult and maybe your little stage time gets cut."

Juliet's hands tightened into fists at her sides. "Do what you want, I'm still not dancing for you privately."

The man stared at her for a long moment. His face turned red. "You will regret this, Luna. Girls like you always do."

He turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him.

Lila let out a breath. "That guy gives me the creeps. You did the right thing."

"I know," Juliet said but her heart was still racing. She hated these moments. The way some men thought money could buy anything.

She changed into a robe and sat down. Her phone sat on the table and she picked it up to check the time.

The screen lit up with a new message from an unknown number. Then, she opened it.

"You dance like sin, Luna. I wonder what your professor would think if he knew."

Her blood turned to ice. Juliet stared at the words and her fingers started shaking and she read it again and slower this time.

How did they know?

She looked around the dressing room and Lila was busy on her own phone but no one else was there.

Another message came right after and she lowered her eyes to read it.

"Such a good student by day. Such a dirty little secret by night. But be careful, Luna. Secrets have a way of coming out."

Juliet's throat went dry and she deleted both messages fast, but the words stayed burned in her mind.

Professor Knight's face flashed in her head again. The way he had looked at her in the empty lecture hall. The way he had told her to be careful with the things she wanted.

She stood up quickly. "I need some air."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Lila asked, looking up from her phone.

"Yeah. Just tired," Juliet lied. She grabbed her bag and walked out the back door into the cool night.

The parking lot was quiet. She leaned against the wall and tried to breathe normally.

Who sent those messages?

Was it the sleazy regular trying to scare her?

Or was it someone from her school?

That thought made her feel sick and her phone buzzed again in her hand. She almost didn't look but she did.

It was another new message from the same unknown number.

"Tell me, Miss Sinclair... have you ever wanted something that would destroy you?"

Juliet's knees went weak and those were almost the exact words Professor Knight had said to her earlier that day.

She pressed the phone to her chest and closed her eyes. Her two worlds were starting to touch and she had no idea how to stop them from crashing together.

Just a minute later, the phone lit up on her chest and she shook her head. She wasn't going to look at it but her hands were shaking and she did. She opened the message and saw it, her heart stopped and she felt a jolt run down her spine, looking around her.

It was a picture of her standing at the parking lot.