Queen Of Ashes

Chapter 10- The Blood Beneath Silk

They gave her a clipboard. Not a crown. Not a throne. Just a clipboard.

Faith held it in her hands like it was a loaded weapon. Because it was. It had names on it - dancers, schedules, “maintenance notes” and red stars next to certain girls. She knew what the stars meant.

They didn’t need to tell her. They knew she’d understand. She always did.

Silas said it first.

“Rex wants you managing the new girls. Teach ‘em how to survive. Show ‘em how to work the room. Keep ‘em in line.” Faith blinked.

“In line?” Silas smirked. “You know what I mean.” She did. And she hated how easy it was to nod.

The Velvet Rope hadn’t changed. But Faith had.

She no longer floated through the chaos. She carved through it. She walked the floor differently now - no longer part of the act, but outside it. The other girls looked at her the way soldiers look at generals; with fear, with curiosity, with contempt.

Jules said nothing for three days. Then she finally snapped. “So what now?” she asked. “You pass out lipgloss and loyalty tests? Or you just hand us to him gift - wrapped?”

Faith didn’t answer. Not because she didn’t one. Because every version sounded like betrayal.

Her new role came with perks - a suite in the back, her own key, clean sheets, a vanity lit with bulbs that didn’t flicker. But it also came with surveillance. Every “gift” from Rex was a collar in disguise. A better phone. A driver. An envelope of cash for “discretionary support”.

All signs that she was being watched. All reminders that she wasn’t free = just favored. And favored things break harder when they fall.

One night, a new girl arrived. Her name was Mina. Nineteen, maybe. Wound tight as piano wire. She tried to hide the tremble in her voice, but her heels wobbled and her eyes darted.

Faith was assigned to ‘break her in.” She didn’t want to. But she did.

She gave her the rules. Taught her the tricks. Sat with her in the dressing room and explained how to smile without meaning it. How to protect her tips and her dignity - or at least one of the two.

Mina asked the same question Faith once had. “Will it get easier?”

Faith looked her straight in the eye.

“No.”

That night, Rex called.

Said he was “impressed with her leadership.” Said the girls were “snapping into line.” Said she was “earning her place.”

“You’re not like them anymore,” he told her. She wanted to ask what that meant. But she already knew.

Later, she stood in front of her mirror, brushing powder across her cheeks, her hands steady, her expression blank. Behind her, Fatima watched from the doorway. “You’re rising fast.” she said. Faith paused. “You think I’m becoming him.”

Fatima shook her head. “No. You’re becoming something worse.”

“Why?” “Because he doesn’t pretend it’s for love.”

The night ended with blood.

Not a lot. Just enough. One of the girls - a drunk regular grabbed her too hard. She fought back. Security came. Silas came. Faith was the one who had to decide what happened next. The girl looked at her like she was still one of them. Faith looked at Silas. And she nodded.

Later, she told herself it was protocol. That the girl had gone too far. That violence had to be punished. That she was keeping order. But deep down, she knew; She’d just picked Rex over them. Again. And her reflection still looked beautiful. But now, it looked dangerous.