Nikki walked over to the mirror and gazed at her reflection. She blinked her light blue eyes and ran a hand through her short blonde hair. The robe she wore hung loosely around her shoulders and lifted slightly as she took deep breaths. She stared down at her chest, letting her head tilt to one side as she squinted in silent thought.

  Warmth flooded through her body and gathered in her chest as the skin began to tingle. The fabric began to rise and slide away as her breasts started to grow. They gained in size and firmed in shape; the soft flesh ballooned outward, pulling the tightening silk away from her belt. One lapel pulled away from the expanding sphere, quickly whipping away as it bared the soft and pink nipple.

  She stopped after a few more seconds and admired her body as she posed, running her hands down her front and flattening her stomach.

  Her breasts really were quite impressive now, almost as large as Kim's and just as...

  Perky, she thought to herself and smiled. Today's the day. I'm going to get back at him for everything he's put me through. He's ruined my chances for a life of my own, now I ruin his.

  Kim came back in, wheeling a large cart filled with silver dishes and tall glass vases filled with all sorts of fruit juices. The metal wheel squeaked as she stopped pushing and reached over to remove the lid over a platter of steaming poached eggs resting atop toasted muffins and honey-baked ham. Nikki could smell the sweet and tangy scent of the rich hollandaise that was spooned over the whole of it.

  But first, we have breakfast.

  Kim raised a full glass and handed it over to her friend. She lifted her own as she smiled broadly and winked.

  "A toast, to the first day of the rest of our lives."

-     -     -

  The casino floor was littered with the pathetic wretches whose only dream in life was to finally win what they believed they so richly deserved. They shoveled coin after coin into the pockets of one-armed bandits and squealed with delight when they bought ten dollars for twenty-five. With fingers covered in a silvery soot, they reached into hollow bins to pluck out precious coins that dropped with resounding claps.

  The tables were filled with a different sort of scum. They wore out of date leisure suits with striped ties and stood in uncomfortable shoes. Their heads were topped with halos of milky smoke as vixens in skimpy red clothing rolled in and out with shot glasses of watered down alcohol that they left for tips of multi-colored chips.

  It was at one of these particular tables that a newcomer had sat. His ragged clothes were dusty from days of hitchhiking through the Nevada desert, faded after being bleached in the blazing sun. His travels had led him through many small towns and rest stops and had finally led him to the faux oasis of the City of Lights.

  It was not the best of comforts.

  Forgetting the provisions in his pack, he had gone through days of drought and self-starvation in his quest of a good stiff drink. Any other person would have had their hopes dashed, but his tongue was not in the mood to argue. It desired to burn with the familiar hint of anything fermented and glib the ramblings of a mind that had witnessed too many pink elephants dancing about.

  The man he was standing next to, Leon by name, was beginning to suspect that the newcomer was the culprit behind a sudden run of bad rolls at an otherwise successful game of craps.

  When the third roller in a row failed to pass, he was certain. He scowled before taking the stub of a Havana cigar out of his dry lips.

  "Hey, uh ... listen Freddy."

  "My name is Frank!"

  "Whatever, you look like you could use a nice hot bath and a cup a' joe instead of this swill you keep snortin'."

  "I'm tellin' you man, I saw her with my own eyes. She's out there."

  "Why don't ya just go up to the front desk and ask for a quiet room and leave the rest of us to our fortunes? I know ya got the money, you keep tippin' the waitress but nicely."

  The caller reached across the table with his curved stick while players frantically dropped money on their favorite numbers and the wide expanse of the come lane.

  "Five, five, the number is five. Place your bets gentlemen and gentleladies."

  Frank polished off the last of his Rum and Coke in a quick gulp; he shook his head to help it pass into his stomach. His eyes went wide as he stared off into space and saw the shadow that haunted his rampaging imagination.

  "She must be ten feet tall if she's a foot!" He slammed down his mini shot-glass on the edge of the table, "she had these big pointed teeth and she kept grinnin' at me like a Cheshire Cat. I knew she was going to go for the jugular man, I knew it! I'm lucky to be alive!"

  "Yeah that's great bub. Fuck off!"

  There was a light clicking and the hush of anticipation as the dice left the current roller's hand and bounced against the soft felt of the table's side before tumbling around the pit. When they stopped, everyone winced.

  "Seven, seven, lucky seven. House wins all, clear the board."

  Leon gripped the table sides in mental anguish. He watched one of the table's runners take his chips and add them to the winnings of the house.

  "Son of a...," he looked around furiously and beckoned to a nearby security guard. Frank grabbed hold of his arm and shook him furiously.

  "She's coming to kill us all! We have to get out of the city before it's too late!"

  "Well, you'll be outta the casino to sleep it off, that's for damn sure."

  The guard looked with interest as he approached. Leon pointed to Frank and spoke softly.

  "Hey, this guy's done for the day and he's bringin' me down. He's also had few too many ..." he put his thumb to his mouth and waggled it for emphasis, "if you know what I mean. Put him somewhere so he can cool off the sauce."

  The guard looked at Frank and sniffed. Frank wrapped his fingers in the puffy lapels of the guard's pirate shirt; his face had broken out in a cold sweat as he screamed.

  "SHE'LL KILL US ALL I TELL YOU!"

  Without a response, he spun Frank around and wrenched his arm behind his back, pushing him toward the casino's stockade. Frank tried to stop himself by digging his booted feet into the carpet, but to no avail.

  Leon picked up the large, red dice as the caller pushed them in his direction.

  "New roller, ante up. Bets on pass, ante up."

  He shook them gingerly, said a silent prayer into his balled fist and tossed them. He snapped his fingers and smiled along with his fellow players after they came to a stop.

  "Eleven, eleven, number is eleven. Pay the table, pass wins. New game."

  Leon felt the swarthy gentlemen on his left give him a congratulatory pat on the back and he tossed a red chip towards the caller as a tip. He picked the dice back up and began to shake them as he grinned with yellowed teeth.

  "Damn right it's a new game. The drunk is gone and my luck is back; here we go." He tossed them again and everybody cheered. Another waitress came by to take another round of drink orders and he smacked his lips at her as she giggled.

  Somewhere in a dark office with rows and rows of televisions, someone yawned as they watched a black and white screen of Leon collecting his winnings and preparing to take another roll. The technician smiled as he watched the waitress walk away, her hips swaying as she moved.

  On another screen above it, an elevator opened as a bright arrow appeared next to it. Two women stepped out and glanced around the casino floor. The taller one pointed around towards the roulette wheels before running a hand through her short and light hair. The other pulled on a tight shoulder strap as the leather top she was wearing visibly squeezed her impressive cleavage together.

  They laughed to each other and stepped out of view of the camera.

-     -     -

  The casino floor was crowded as it always was at any time of the day. The music of singing machines filled the air as multicolored lights flashed in nonsensical patterns. A number of employees wandered about in their period-fitting attire.

  Nikki was fond of the pirate motif and usually dressed up in some sort of costume whenever she toured the hotel; but today she had a different agenda. She was wearing a simple pair of cotton pants, something comfortable enough to sleep in that was also suitable for wearing outside the comforts of one's own home. The light blue striping complemented her thin legs with their worn Keds and the tight t-shirt she had chosen to go along with it. The lower hem of her top was creeping it's way up her stomach as her breasts, no longer small and teardrop shaped, swelled heavily against the white fabric. They required little support as the firm globes jiggled and danced with her every step.

  "So, where should we go?"

  Nikki glanced at her friend as she kept pace with her.

  "I'm not sure Kim."

  Kim had grown a good four inches since the night before. She was still shorter than her 5' 11" friend; but at 5' 7", she bulged out of, what was already, tight clothing.

  She had on a thick, leather halter top that pushed up her tanned flesh and revealed a wide strip of skin around her waist. She wore a thin silver chain around her neck that she wrapped around her fingers; an ankh dangled from it's center, resting atop the cleavage of her breasts.

  Her matching leather skirt traveled halfway down her thighs despite being originally designed to cover down to her knees. Dark hose covered her calves down to the high heeled sandals around her feet. Kim had a few other pairs of shoes that wouldn't fit comfortably and she had had to resort to using a pair of Nikki's.

  Out of appreciation to the masseuse, she also wore a toe ring of her own; though her's was made of silver and not gold. Kim stared at it for a few seconds before looking back up, her dark hair bouncing around her shoulders as she smiled.

  "We can go to my house and maybe start there."

  Nikki shrugged.

  "That's not such a bad idea but..."

  "Excuse me ladies."

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