Chapter 10

Hanging from the high ceiling, just below a large clock, the banner’s glittering gold letters read, “Goodbye 1926. Welcome 1927!” Beneath it, on the bandstand, four men and two women, all dressed in tuxedos, perform a high-energy dance tune. The short woman with the trombone moves hypnotically with the tune. Free-flowing sounds move like a wave, filling the raucous dance floor with energy.

The room is loud and chaotic, in a way almost inconceivable the past few days. The ocean isn’t audible at all, drowned out by a mix of loud music, excited chatter, and satisfied moans. Yes, this is a Lotus Valley party, and amongst the tuxedos and ball gowns are scattered sights of men on their knees, naked and on leashes, performing acts of servitude. Alcohol flows, and tipsy women grope their partners without a second thought. Behind the bar, a man wearing a tank top and a thick collar mixes drinks. In the area outside the dance floor, women in flapper outfits mingle. Men socialize as well, though there’s a feeling pervading the room, the social expectation that the men are secondary here. That their fun lasts only so long as their partners permit it.

The people move and act like anyone else. They’re corporeal. Alex has shaken a few hands of people asking about his birthday today and noting that it coincides with New Year’s Eve. But they’re not really there. Not like the owners. None of them seem to know that it’s April and that it’s the 21st century. And moreover, none of them reflect in the mirror. A glance at any of the many mirrors will make the room look empty, save for the six of them.

Alex, Charlotte, and Minerva sit around a table together as he looks at the diverse cast. In one corner, a man with a skirt and no shirt stands with his arms behind his back as three women touch him all over. A couple dances past them, the woman directing her taller counterpart. Another couple enters, a tall green-eyed woman leading a man on a leash, much like Toby. She sees a friend, greets her with a kiss on the cheek, then hands over the leash. The friend greets and slaps the man. The room begins to feel difficult to navigate with the crowd. “So are all these people real?” Alex asks.

“More like echoes of memory,” Minerva says. “Lily and I are the only ones who stayed here. As far as any of these people know, it’s still 1926 for another few hours. The libidinous energy in the room allows us to recall and revive all our old friends.” She looks Alex up and down. “You’re helping, if you didn’t know.”