On Another Boat

-Hargeon Harbor, midday-

With a ticket in hand and the midday sun blazing overhead, Diana walked on board the Bon Vivant, a party boat that she was invited to travel on for a night of partying and gambling. She had received the ticket from an agent of DJ Krill, her old acquaintance from Boomslang whose album debut party she had attended a couple of weeks ago. It was given to her as compensation for what had happened with Francesca Corlone at Boomslang... apparently the security person informed the agent that Diana did everything she could to de-escalate the one-sided conflict, including giving up the seat when politeness failed to sway the entitled young woman. She wondered what the occasion for this event was. She patiently walked up the ramp and stood in line until it was her turn to face the ticket collector.

"Hello there. Are you here for DJ Krill's birthday celebration?" The young man in a blue suit with black hair asked her.

"Yes." Diana replied while handing over her ticket to the young man. He examined it and took it, handing her a laminated pass on a blue lanyard that she put around her neck to signify that she was a passenger, not staff. Diana wore her usual formal attire for this occasion, a fact which made her stand out among the more casually clad party-goers, most of whom were female. After seeing the dress of some of the young women, "casual" might have been an understatement. One young woman with black hair that extended to her waist wore a white bikini top that barely covered her "assets" and very short blue jean shorts.

Diana was about to walk on when the collector put a hand in front of her.

"Sorry Miss, I made a mistake! You get a VIP pass, which means you get to party with DJ Krill himself!" The young man said. Diana took off her current pass and exchanged it for the VIP pass, which had the letters V.I.P. in large black print in addition to being in a laminated cover and boasting a gold lanyard. She put the new pass around her neck and walked on board, enduring the withering glances of the envious people behind her as she moved on. Today the blonde wanted to forget about jobs and her life so far. She just wanted to party for awhile.

Unfortunately, that was not going to be easy because a familiar voice called out to her.

"HOLD UP, SLUT!" A female voice called out. Diana hoped that it was not who she thought it was. Unfortunately, it was. The sound of sandals thundering on the deck reached her ears.

"What is trash like YOU doing here?" Francesca Corlone asked. If Diana wanted to pick a fight, she could easily ask the same question. Francesca wore a black bikini top that struggled to contain her obviously plastic "assets" and a barely there black bikini bottom that barely contained her plastic backside. Diana felt her brain cells die when dealing with the other blonde.

"I am a guest of DJ Krill." Diana responded politely. Francesca saw the gold lanyard and frowned.

"You musta slept with someone for that pass, you dirty slut. You don't deserve it! GIVE IT HERE!" Francesca yelled while lunging for Diana's lanyard. The blonde noticed that Francesca had a VIP pass too, so she was not taking it for herself. Diana simply stepped aside and watched Francesca fall down onto her face, showing her ass to the world.

"YOU TRIPPED ME, YOU STUPID BITCH! I'M GONNA MAKE YOU REGRET THAT!" Francesca screamed as she rolled on the deck clutching her right knee. Diana simply stood there as the entitled brat pitched a tantrum and tried to blame Diana for her tumble. Nearby security was not buying it.

"C'mon lady, get up. Don't make this a circus." A stone-faced security guard in a black t-shirt with black pants and brown shoes urged her. He and another brave soul picked her up and started to carry her away when she broke free of and rushed at Diana. A hand seized Diana's collar and yanked down, popping the buttons on her shirt down to the fourth one and exposing part of Diana's chest.

"SERVES YOU RIGHT, YOU DUMB BITCH! THERE'S PLENTY MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM! NEXT TIME I'M GONNA TEAR OUT YOUR HAIR AND FORCE FEED IT TO YOU UNTIL YOU CHOKE ON IT!" Francesca screamed as she was hauled away by security. Diana covered her chest and looked calm on the outside, but on the inside she was fuming. Francesca was running out of chances. She had one more strike before there would be consequences for her flagrant rudeness and unwarranted belligerence. One more strike.

[Word Count: 795]
[Total Word Count: 795/1,500]

"Are you OK, Miss?" Another security guard asked her. Diana calmed down and gave a reply.

"Yes, thank you. I am fine." Diana replied calmly.

"Don't worry about her. We heard from security at the Boomslang event that Francesca Corlone started trouble there too. You won't be charged with anything since she started it and she fell down because of something she did." The man assured her. Diana was glad to hear that. For a moment she was worried that Francesca's theatrics would get the mage into trouble.

"I appreciate that." Diana calmly said to the security guard.

"No problem, Miss. I know the timing's bad, but enjoy the rest of the cruise." He said to her before walking away to make his rounds.

"Thank you." Diana said to him as he left. Now she was at loose ends until 7:00 P.M., when the VIP party began and she would get a chance to meet DJ Krill in person. She would also meet Francesca Corlone again.

-Seven hours later, nighttime-

The Bon Vivant had gone out to sea and DJ Krill's music was playing over the ship's sound system at a reasonable volume. Some young women had gotten in the pool with some muscular young men and were doing things that intoxicated young people did. There was a lot of flirting, a lot of really bad pickup lines, and a bit of... dancing. Dancing that was more appropriate for a gentleman's club. Diana kept going to the VIP lounge, the way to which was helpfully illuminated by golden lights pulsing up a staircase.

Diana followed that helpful indicator upwards and to the VIP lounge on the top deck, which was guarded by more security guards at the top of the stairs, in front of the door, and walking the deck to keep an eye out for gate-crashers. She walked up to the security guards and presented her lanyard. The guard looked it over and nodded.

"OK, you're good. Come on in." He said as he opened the door for her. Diana stepped in and was met with soft music playing over the sound system and party balloons in the shape of blue whales dotting the ceiling. Like with Boomslang, the lounge had a nautical theme and the staff were dressed in gender-appropriate white navy uniforms.

Diana made her way past several small circular tables full of people and found an empty seat at the mini-bar, which was well-stocked with alcohol of all brands and varieties. The blonde did not want to drink in the presence of Francesca in case the latter decided to carry out her threat, so she had already decided to drink water.

"What'll ya have?" A young man with a white uniform and red hair asked her.

"I would like water, please." Diana replied. The bartender nodded and poured her a glass of filtered water. She drank it while listening to the piped-in music, which was a good electronic music beat that was heavy on drum and a softer percussion instrument tinkling along in accompaniment. Diana felt strangely relaxed being on a party boat with nothing to worry about but partying. She was not here to kill or protect anyone... for one night she could be a normal young twentysomething in a crowd of normal young twentysomethings just looking for a good time.

Diana listened to an announcement that DJ Krill and a frequent collaborator named DJ Beluga were in the lounge proper and cutting birthday cake for the VIP guests.

"Thank you." Diana said as she tipped the young man with Jewels, who nodded in appreciation. She left behind the empty glass and patiently made her way to the lounge, where the sight of a large four-tiered blue and white cake with a whale decoration at the top greeted the guests. The cake certainly fit the nautical theme that prevailed in the area. Diana kind of liked that touch... it reminded her of birthday parties that her family used to hold for her brothers and sisters. Diana watched the guests clap at the birthday announcement and briefly reminisced about her family before her "gift" was discovered. She recalled the gifts, the music, the celebration, and the happiness of just being alive for another year.

The blonde was getting soft... her previously unshakable belief in the necessity of her double lifestyle was starting to waver. Here she felt normal. She was just another young person looking for a good time, not a contract killer with blood on her hands. For the longest time she thought that her current lifestyle was the only one for her, but attending this party made the blonde think. Was there another way of life?

Diana received a piece of cake from DJ Krill himself. She thanked the DJ and cut into it with a clear plastic fork. She tasted the slice of cake and it had a smooth, pleasant vanilla taste. It was exactly the same cake that her oldest sister Lucia liked. Diana felt empty because her family was nothing but ghosts now.

Why did Diana feel so upset? They had turned her into a weapon against her will. They had made her kill so many people. They had tortured her when she did not perform flawlessly and treated her like a slave-assassin. So why did Diana feel upset?

The blonde did not know. All she could do was wear a mask and pretend to be happy. All she could do was wear a mask.

[Word Count: 914]
[Total Word Count: 1,709/1,500]