They said; “Being famous can be a curse and blessing.” Adding to this fact, I am a magic user hiding and living in a society where people who do not have powers are the majority, it was tough work trying to keep my powers under wraps these days. However, it grew easier over the years to hide them.

Another day, another concert. I stepped off the stage, wiping a towel over my face after a long concert. Singing was exhausting!

I just wanted to collapse down on the couch in my dressing room! However, I can not help but want more of this because I want to hear these people scream my name again. It gives me energy to hear some of those poor sucker fans dropping all their money for me.

So pathetic of them…

After resting up, I went to see more fans standing out there, desperate to get my autograph. So many people hold up their notebooks, t-shirts, bodies, and whatever they want me to sign my name on. I craved the attention; the camera lights on me flashing fills my hunger.  Deep down inside, I just looked at how these people demand more of me. It is amusing to see a horde of people showing adoration over a person they never met.

One fan stood out to me among the crowd of mindless drones. It was a young woman, who looked like she was in her early twenties. Her curvy body figure fitted her tight, yellow shirt and thick legs shaped her blue jean, ripped pants. I could not get over this woman’s brunette, messy hair bun as she was heading towards me.

“Oh my god, Roxy!” The girl screamed at her top of lungs.

“Oh, you must be the contest winner. Wait, what was your name again?” I asked her, watching the girl, who was barely controlling her giggling.

I forgot that my publicity team ran a song cover contest. I could barely remember the entries of the poor, untalented people, who covered my songs. Luckily, only half of the team sifted through at least ten videos from these contestants. I only had to endure a few videos to decide the winner. The winner of the contest gets to meet yours, truly, Roxanna Bach.

Then again, all of this had another ulterior motivation from the higher ups at the label, Crest Gem Entertainment . It is all for getting a new muse for one of the honchos: Mr. Nico Travolo. Putting all my attention on this young girl, she furiously shook my hand while I tried  to hide my disgusted face when she was touching me. I hate when people touch me, period!

“Mina…Mina Ozwell. I’m your biggest fan! It’s nice to meet you!” The girl answered cheerfully.

This moment felt so awkward. I did not want to waste more time with some idle chit-chat with the woman. I led her away to my dressing room. These days it was rare that I would often meet with fans, although, unless it was to sleep with them in my early career days. Entering my dressing room, the room had beautiful, eloquent, gray walls and felt like entering a walk-in closet.

The closet displays every single outfit from my performances in the far back of the room. Finally, my dressing room has the usual mirror and makeup table. Mina and I sat near a comfortable couch in the corner as I watched her excitement about meeting me. Her behavior appears annoying when she keeps on blabbing about how it is always her dream to meet me. Jeez, are fans always this annoying?

Getting up from the couch, I went to get Mina something to drink. As I prepared her drink, she continued on raving about me. Pulling out and waving a small bag lightly in the air, Mina's attention focused back on me again.

I offered, “Would you like some tea?”

“Yes, please,” The girl fixed up her yellow shirt, while I poured the “tea bag” into the water.

Watching all the tea contaminants fall into the water, I used the spoon to spin the ingredients to mix everything together. The “tea” now changes purple! I put the cup onto the saucer and went back over to the area where Mina is, who was still star-struck in observing my dressing room. Sitting down next to her, I just smirked at how naïve and innocent she is acting.

“Get it in your head, Rox. Nico wants this chick, so I have to play it cool here,”

“Here is your tea. I hope you like it, it’s a favorite of mine,” Handing the tea towards her, Mina then stares down at it. “Is there something wrong?”

“Oh nothing, Miss. Bach! Oh, Roxanna! Oh shoot! I really messed up on this!” The girl was stumbling on her introduction, while I tried to keep my giggles to myself on the inside.

Positioning myself to pay attention then putting my hands on the fan’s shoulders, I told her, “I assure you dear, you are doing just fine. Come, let us talk for a bit, including so much about yourself.”

The conversation went to Mina, talking about herself more. The girl came from a small town, somewhere in New England. Mina talked about how she made a video cover, having her hopes and dreams of becoming a professional singer like me. The girl then starts to fangirl over me from my songs and beauty. I just want to stab myself in the eyes having to listen to this girl drone on about her simple, boring, irrelevant life.

This chick is not touching her tea. 

“God damnit, I need to think of a way to get her to drink it!” My voice screamed in my head in annoyance. 

“Darling, you haven’t drunk your tea that I spent so much time making,” I brought up this to her.

The girl blinked in response, grabbing the cup in her hands, then holding it to her mouth.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” Mina sipped the tea.

Finally, this plan is going into motion now! Smiling, I took control of the conversation once again. Now, all I have to do is to wait for the effects to do its job. I poured my champagne bottle into my cup, then drank it down quickly.

“You know, I think you’re cute,” I commented, drinking my champagne, then watched the girl’s eyes shift towards mine.

“What do you mean?” Mina asked.

“Your devotion to me and determination to make it big. I admit, it’s cute, but honey, your passion isn’t enough to make it through the industry. I can give you some advice,” I voiced.

“What type of advice?” Mina’s head nodded in eagerness when I got up, while she still sat in her seat. 

“Anything?” Getting up, I grabbed her chin and pulled her close to my face. “You need more than passion, you need to be cutthroat. It’s a doggy dog world out there. Do whatever you can to make it to the top,” I hissed in her ear silently.

Watching the girl flinch when I told her this. It is only fair to tell the naive girl what she is in for. Suddenly, Mina’s eyes went blank. Smiling in delight, I let go of her face when the girl went silent. I shrugged and sighed because that damn potion took too long to take over the girl’s mind.

“Miss Bach, should we take the girl now?” Hearing a deep voice of a man behind me as I remained seated.

I only nodded in response before two muscled men took the girl without saying a single word. As the girl was being moved out of my dressing room, the phone rang. Moving my hand to the nearest table, I grabbed my phone and answered it, then I sat down on the couch.

“Yes, Mr. Travolo, dear. I did my part," 

“Good…I’ll keep in touch with you, Miss. Bach,” The man’s voice rang in my ears, sounding very pleased with my efforts.

Hanging up, everything was  going according to plan. I still think about poor Mina, I knew what those people would do to her after. Shaking my head out of those thoughts, whatever happens to this girl was not my problem anymore. After all, it was a race to the top. Only the best will make it, the rest will get eaten in the end.