Ximena finally had a moment to breathe. She slipped into the comedy room and noticed the warm glow of the stage lights. Conversations buzzed between Caleb’s jokes. Most tables were full now, which was a good sign after the slow start earlier. Kyle’s table near the stage caught her eye. It had a couple of empty chairs and offered a perfect view of Caleb’s performance.
She walked over and sat down quietly. He was slumped in his chair, chin to his chest, and snoring softly. He must have been exhausted, or maybe he was just bored of Caleb’s jokes. She decided not to wake him.
A moment later, Marcus Reid approached her table. He was one of the other entertainers scheduled for later in the week.
“Mind if I join you?” he asked. He nodded toward the empty seat.
“Go ahead,” Ximena said. She gestured to the chair beside her.
As Marcus sat down, he glanced at Kyle.
“Don’t mind him,” she said. “It looks like he had a long day.”
“I bet he did,” Marcus replied. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”
He kept his voice low so he would not disturb the show.
“What is it?” she said, leaning in.
“For my performance on Wednesday,” he said. “Did you finalize the contract? I just want to make sure everything is squared away.”
“Already taken care of,” Ximena said with a nod. “It’s Wednesday at nine with the same terms we agreed on.”
“Good. I just wanted to make sure,” Marcus said. Then he turned to watch Caleb’s set on stage.
Ximena sat for a moment, letting herself enjoy the energy in the room. After a few minutes, she stood quietly and began making her way around, checking on guests and making sure everyone was having a good time.
As she moved between tables, she glanced around and took in the crowd. That was when she spotted Felix at a nearby table. He was sitting with the Ondarion royals, Adekoya Darong and his daughter Jawara.
As she made her way over, Felix noticed her approaching and stood up, offering his seat.
“Good evening, your majesty,” Ximena said. She nodded first to Adekoya, then to Jawara, as she sat in Felix’s spot. “How are you enjoying the show?”
“We’re having a wonderful time,” Adekoya replied. “This is a refreshing change from our usual formalities.”
“The energy here is great,” Jawara added with a smile.
“That’s exactly what we’re going for,” Ximena said with a smile. “I’m happy you’re enjoying yourselves.”
Then she turned and looked up at Felix, who was still standing beside her. “How’s your night going, Felix?”
“It’s going well,” Felix said. “How about yours?”
“Well, it’s a slow night,” she answered. “There are people here laughing, but no one is gambling.”
“Really?” he asked. “It looks like a packed house here.”
“They’re only here for the show,” she explained. “But not the casino. I make more money when people play card games.”
Felix nodded. “So you’re saying that comedy brings them in, but it doesn’t pay the bills. Maybe some of them will gamble after this show.”
“I hope so,” Ximena said. She exhaled and looked around the room. “It’s been a long night.”
“It sounds like you’ve been on your feet this whole time,” Felix observed.
“Pretty much,” she admitted. “I could use a break.”
Felix hesitated and then smiled. “Mind if I join you?”
“I’d like that,” she said with a smile. “Follow me downstairs.”
Ximena turned her attention to the royals. “Your majesties, would you excuse us for a moment?”
“Of course, please go ahead,” Adekoya replied.
They made their way through the casino and descended a back staircase. The basement opened into Ximena’s favorite part of the building. This was her sanctuary. It was quiet, private, and far from the chaos upstairs. The air was warm and humid, carrying a faint scent of chlorine. The still water in the pool mirrored the soft glow of the overhead lights.
A three-tiered fountain stood in one corner of the pool, with water cascading gently from one level to the next.
Past the pool’s edge, two hot tubs steamed quietly in their own alcove. The lounge chairs sat in clusters and dotted the open floor. The noise from the floor above was only a distant hum.
Ximena let out a slow breath as her shoulders finally relaxed.
“Do you want to go for a swim, Felix?” Ximena asked. She took off her outer layers of clothing and placed them on one of the lounge chairs, revealing a black bathing suit.
“Yeah, why not?” Felix said. He kicked off his shoes and peeled off his layers until he was down to his boxers.
Ximena walked to the edge of the pool and dove into the water. The coolness washed over her as she submerged herself. Within moments, a familiar tingling sensation spread through her legs. Her skin shimmered as her legs melded together and shifted into smooth scales. A sleek tail formed where her legs had been, as it caught the light with a subtle shimmer.
Felix stared, entirely captivated by her tail’s fluid motion as it gleamed in the water. He didn’t know what to say. Instead, he mirrored her rhythm, diving beneath the surface to join her in the deep.
They swam together in silence, moving through the water perfectly in sync. They circled each other below, untethered. Down here, there was only the water, the silence, and whatever came next.
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