Geneva gave Adrian the same excuse as she had before. It wasn't that she didn't want to be around him, it was just that the thought of seeing Hades frightened her so thoroughly that she didn't want to risk it.

Marshall had questioned her bone-deep fear of Hades the last time he'd come to interrupt her and Adrian in her room. He'd actually appeared and squawked until a plate of Baklava appeared. Then he remained and chattered until Adrian dressed and left with him.

The Cupid could still remember what Marshall told her. "People fear death not for death's sake, but for the sake of the unknown. You, on the other hand, you fear Hades himself. That's...unusual."

It was unusual. Especially since she couldn't remember ever meeting such a being. Adrian and Marshall were Death Workers. If normal people saw them, they wouldn't bat an eye. Other than the fact that they were oddly dressed. But Hades, Geneva could half picture in her mind. A scent, like a house on fire, choked and violent. And the smooth, sweet beauty of ivory. These were just impressions of Hades. Flashes behind her eyelids like the lingering froth of a dream.

"Genny!" Lizzy exclaimed. Geneva jerked and spilled iced coffee on her shirt. Luckily, it was a black shirt.

"S-sorry! I've had a lot on my mind. What'd you say?" Geneva asked, shaking the cool spill from her hand and sucked the stubborn sweetness from her knuckles.

"I said I'm going to this Kink festival and I'd like you to go with me. I'm meeting someone for the first time--it's someone I've been talking to online, and it'll be good to have a buddy. Just in case he turns out to be a violent weirdo."

"Wow, definitely wouldn't want to go now," Geneva replied with a roll of her eyes. A part of her was heartbroken at the news. Lizzy was head over heels, the steady quiet way, over this mysterious online guy. She always seemed to be fondling that key around her neck--a random gift. He'd supplied her a lovely silver chain but the key itself was so ordinary, tiny but study, not quite as small and flimsy as a child's diary key, but just nearly.

"Aw, c'mon. I know you'll say yes. Don't bother fighting me on this. I know how to win you over," Lizzy said with a touch of warning in her voice.

"Don't try and use your Dominatrix mind games with me, Elizabeth!" Geneva replied, eyes wide with humor and mock indignation.

"Oh, no cutesy nicknames? You must be very serious, huh?" Lizzy retorted, pulling herself up to her full height, nearly as tall at Geneva. She thrusted out her chest and took two steps toward Genny, finally graceful on her new prosthetic. "Listen here, Geneva, you're coming with me. You're gonna wear something very, very sexy, and I'm going to make sure that we both leave the Kink fest happy and sated. Do I make myself clear?" She continued in as stony a voice she could muster while trying not to laugh.

"Hm, lemme think about it--Nope. Not a chance."

Before Geneva could turn away, Lizzy wrapped her in a big bear hug, nearly dragging her down onto the floor. "Please, oh please, oh please? I need you! I can't go by myself. I need a wing woman. I need my best friend. Also, you're really smart and kind. You've got the biggest heart I know!"

"Damn..." That was the secret weapon. She didn't think Lizzy was that desperate for companionship. She'd gone to these sorts of things before by herself. The only difference now was that she's designed and bought a rather interesting prosthetic that she would be trying out in public for the first time.

"Yay!" Lizzy cheered, not at all like herself. The blond was flushed with excitement, glowing with the first insidious signs of love. Love. Damn it, had she fallen in love with this random perverted internet guy? Just great.

That night, Lizzy dressed Geneva in black leather. Lizzy didn't have any submissive style clothing and Geneva didn't ask for it. The Cupid just calmly accepted the form fitting, high polished black leather pants and pulled them on. Or rather, wiggle into them. They were tight. For a top, Lizzy loaned her a cropped leather tank top. It looked a bit like a racer back sports bra but the shelf for the breasts was sparse. The top put her breasts on display, making them swell up and nearly out of the whole thing. And to make it worse, there was a silver zipper down the front. A working zipper! If she wasn't careful, the tab could snag and pull the zipper down the entire three inches to expose her.

When working, Lizzy was a moderately dressed, often bookish looking blonde. Geneva was definitely surprised upon learning that the young woman was actually a bombshell under all that earth tone and neutral grays. Not just a bombshell, but a freaking scary bombshell who owned a whole lot of leather and latex.

Geneva herself loved a skimpy bikini here and there but her truest love was for her collection of cute sweaters. She was a columnist, after all, and comfort was her main concern. Cuteness was only an afterthought.

"How do I look?" Lizzy said from behind Geneva. When the Cupid turned around, her eyes bulged. She'd never seen Lizzy in full gear before, only a top here, a pair of sexy boots there. But Jesus, Lizzy was hot. And the look on Lizzy's face when she first saw Geneva in kinky clothes was identical. Both girls screamed with unabashed feminine excitement.

Lizzy wore black latex. It looked as if it was poured over her breasts, or painted on very--very--thinly. Her arms were bared from the tank top and the entire thing was seamless, a catsuit that went all the way down until it met with her knee length black boot. The heel was high and tapered to a point. On Lizzy's other leg, instead of a boot over her prosthetic leg, Lizzy custom designed a beautiful, sleek black stiletto. It was a gorgeous spike who's point barely grazed the ground and the top hugged firmly to her knee.

"Shit," Geneva said. "You look like... You look like Lucifer and Morticia Adams had a baby." It was the only thing that came to mind. Elegant in black, long and sensual, and deadly seductive. But also beautiful, almost coolly angelic in the way she pulled back her blond hair in a sleek ponytail.

"And you look badass, Genny. Like a demon out of Hell, Like one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse" Lizzy replied. Geneva knew what she meant. She was wearing her combat boots and a silver skull belt chain that draped around her hips, both artifacts from her youth. Decades ago. Her hair was out, fully teased like Diana Ross. Black makeup on her face, around her eyes and painted carefully over her lips.

Lizzy hugged her, a full hard hug as she'd done earlier. "Thank you, thank you for coming with me," she'd said.

And Geneva was thankful too. Because she wanted to see who this mystery man was that the fates thought would be better than Brian.

*****

Adrian did not like crowds. They were a danger to themselves around him. Every time someone bumped into him, he flinched as if he'd been smacked. Brian tried to put himself between the strangers and his friend, but that only made Adrian all the more anxious. He'd come to care for Brian and the young man was definitely not on his List. The thought of accidentally taking Brian's life left Adrian in a cold sweat.

"Hey, are you okay?" Brian asked him, managing to look both concerned and sheepish.

"Yes. I'm fine. I just didn't think there were so many...Kinky people in the world. Didn't think it'd be so crowded here in particular," Adrian said grimly as he ran his fingers through his dark gold hair in a way that made it glimmer even in the dim light of the large warehouse.

People were greeting each other around the men. Clothing was optional but touching seemed to be a given, even accidental touching like the bumping Adrian was going through.

"Yes, well, it's a festival. Haven't you ever been to a festival?" Brian asked, canting his head as he assessed Adrian.

"Yes, of course," Adrian replied uneasily. He had been to festivals. To take lives.

But Brian didn't hear his answer. He was turning toward the stage where the MC was talking to and introducing a beautiful woman with an interesting prosthetic. Where a spotlight was shining on...

Elizabeth Crenshaw.

AN: The inspiration for Lizzy's prosthetic came directly from pop singer Viktoria Modesta. Seriously, look her up. Her style is incredible and her fierceness is contagious. I woke up kicking ass today. 

<3 you forever.