"Can I audition for you?" he suggested with his widest grin. "I have lost my band, and I'm looking for other opportunities."
The drummer stared at him with some hostility. She had tanned skin and a muscular build. She looked very much like the guitar player, so she must be his sister. But her obvious attraction for her own sex meant she didn't trust the other sex much.
"Have you even listened to our music?" she asked bluntly.
"As a matter of fact yes, I was enjoying it very much," he answered. "What's the name of the band again?"
"Pop Heart," the guitar player said. "Because we love popular music that is pure entertainment."
"Love that too. I'm not for political or philosophical messages in songs," Kay-low assured him.
"Let's hear him, guys, we don't have much to lose," the bass player quipped in. He had golden-brown skin and medium length wavy dark blond hair. The overall look of the band was quite similar to Italian Ignorance and even the sound wasn't much different. "I'm Poppy." He offered his hand.
"Kay-low."
"I'm Moris, and this is my sister Halina. Not sure Fenella is coming back, so... let's hear it. The contest is in two weeks, so we don't have much time. Which room are you in?"
***
"Where the hell is Kay-low?" Bess-lin demanded, fists on her hips, glaring at Kol-ian.
"He stole the Haiduc, and we haven't traced him yet," Kol-ian answered, undaunted. "Wim is on it. I'm sure we'll locate him soon."
"And then you better go get him, or I'll go!" she threatened.
"Bess-lin, he's twenty, I doubt you can drag him back if he doesn't want to come," Kol-ian retorted. "I think he'll be just fine – might come back a little more... malleable."
"I knew I should have kept him away from you!" Bess-lin complained. "He's become just like you! I wonder why he didn't get himself wings!"
"Because he got himself the tattoos, besides, he doesn't want to be me, but yes, he's obviously a lot like me."
She looked daggers at him. "I should have nailed Ker-ris, he would have made a much better father."
"Hey, you were obsessed with the Vaurabi genes."
"Because the Vaurabi killed my brother!"
"Didn't we get over this ten years ago?" Kol-ian rolled his eyes. "You should have had more children, not left the whole burden on poor Kay-low. No wonder he ran away."
"What? Are you saying it's my fault now?" she protested.
"Your ambitions for the House of Meraini certainly didn't help. He isn't ready, doesn't feel ready, thinks he's not good enough and hates us all. So just leave him alone, he'll come round."
"How can you be so... calm!"
"Been there, done that, and survived, remember? He'll be fine, Bess-lin, don't worry. Your precious son will come back as soon as he's ready to come back."
Bess-lin snorted, frustrated, and shook her head. "Are you sure he's all right?" she asked with a trembling voice.
Kol-ian's phone rang. "It's Wim," he said, then answered the call. "Yes, Wim, tell me good news."
Bess-lin paced the room while she waited, frowning in worry.
"Kay-low is on Vilas Lok," Kol-ian said. "Or at least the Haiduc is. He might be there since there's an upcoming contest to choose a few opening acts for a big show."
"And why is he there alone? I thought he had a band here?" Bess-lin asked, nonplussed.
"He quit Italian Ignorance, dropped them on Earth and ran away with the Haiduc," Kol-ian explained patiently.
"Oh, he'll never make it on his own," she grumbled. "He can't compose songs."
"Well, he might find another band on Vilas Lok," he replied. "If only you supported him a little more, he wouldn't feel the need to prove himself so much!"
"I am supporting him!"
"No you're not. You hate his band and his music dreams. And he knows it. Just because you don't talk about it, doesn't mean there is no problem."
"Oh, I know his problem is with me." She crossed her arms on her bosom, glaring again.
"No, his problem is with everybody," Kol-ian was beginning to lose his patience. "I told you he hates us all. You, me, Shan-leo, Laura, Italian Ignorance, everything and everyone. So stop being a fussy mother. He's twenty and can take care of himself. And he will come back."
"And if he doesn't? If he ends up in trouble?"
"We know where he is. We'll rescue him. Give him a break, all right?"
Bess-lin sniffled, but nodded. Kol-ian hugged her.
He is all right, Bess-lin. Trust me. He needs this, he transmitted.
***
"You have a great voice, Kay-low."
Kay-low could feel the admiration of his new band members – including Halina who had been impressed by his vocal range – but mostly Moris's. The guitarist bordered on adoration for him, and it wasn't only because he could play or sing. Moris was attracted to Kay-low like Laura had been.
"Thank you," Kay-low answered, looking Moris in the eyes. He didn't mind Moris's attraction, it made him feel good. A stranger he'd just met thought he was the best, and it was refreshing.
The Pop Heart was a family band but not completely. It had started with two siblings and their best friends, and ended up with two same-sex couples. Except now Fenella was gone, having fallen in love with a pretty brunette from another planet, and Halina was brooding. Kay-low couldn't really take Fenella's place in her heart, but if he enabled them to be chosen for opening that big show, she'd accept him in the band.
As for Moris and Poppy, both wanted to have him in their bed, but since they hadn't said it out loud, Kay-low waited until one or the other made the first move. It kind of amused him and even if he wasn't anywhere close to falling in love, he wouldn't mind some sex with two handsome and cheerful young men only slightly older than him.
"I, uh... I was wondering if you could sing one or two songs from your previous band? Some of our lyrics are definitely for a female singer," Moris continued.
"We also had a female singer," Kay-low replied. "But also a male composer, so some songs were more gender neutral. And I know he doesn't mind if I sing his songs."
"Oh, cool!" Moris brightened. "Can I hear one?"
Kay-low took his guitar to accompany himself. He'd hummed to himself those songs so many times, it felt good to sing them out loud from beginning to end, and not just the chorus as backup for Laura. Jay-lee was definitely talented in that department. But being his muse was embarrassing. Luckily Moris didn't ask who wrote the songs or why.
"You're awesome!" Moris enthused. "I wish I was as talented as you! I could take the lead now that Fenella is gone..."
"Why not? Sing again that song I'm supposed to sing," Kay-low suggested. Moris had a rich voice, but he didn't seem to be able to manage two things at the same time. Either he played his instrument or he sang. He intoned the song a cappella and Kay-low thought it had potential, but started suggesting arrangements, which Moris absolutely approved of.
Then they submitted the changes to Halina and Poppy who also approved them. They had three songs by Pop Heart and two written by Jay-lee. They needed to decide which ones to perform at the contest, since they could only do two – possibly one ballad and one more lively.
Days flew by between rehearsals and the contest approached fast. Kay-low wrote to Jay-lee to ask permission to sing one of his songs, and of course Jay-lee said he was okay with it. But he also asked when Kay-low would come back, so they could talk some more. "I didn't mean to scare you away," he wrote.
"You didn't scare me away." Kay-low was too proud to admit it, so he replied he only needed some space and to try new and different things with different people. He could almost hear Jay-lee sigh when he read his reply as soon as he hit "send".
Then two nights before the contest, Moris knocked on his door, saying he couldn't sleep, he was too nervous and probably wouldn't make it. Kay-low could see he was aroused – that was the only thing keeping him awake at night – and led him to the bed.
"Moris, I'm Sire. You don't
need to speak, your desire is obvious to me," he said, sitting down next to him and pulling the blond mane of his new friend back to reveal the flushed, clean-shaven face.
"But I don't know much about you, Kay-low, you're such a mystery, I can't even tell if you like men or women," Moris said quickly, unable to sustain his gaze.
"Both," Kay-low answered with a smile. "And yes, I like you. But know also that I'm a heartless bastard who doesn't fall in love. In the words of my ex-girlfriend."
"Bitch." Moris chuckled nervously. "It's fine with me, I mean, just sex is fine."
"Good." Kay-low pulled him closer and kissed him. He had experimented with all kinds of sex with both men and women, so it was nothing new to him. Actually Moris, who was older, was more nervous than he was. So he led the way and spent a pleasant night.
The following night it was Poppy's turn, but when they had barely started, Moris joined them.
"Your sister will hate me!" Kay-low said with an impish smile, dividing his attention between both young men. "Or do you think I could convince her to join us?"
"I doubt she'd enjoy it, although you're a telepath, so who knows," Moris said.
"Besides, if tomorrow we fail in the contest, we'll probably part ways," Poppy added with a sigh.
"I might stick around for a little longer," Kay-low said.
"We'll have to go home," Moris replied. "We've run out of money."
"Oh. Well, tomorrow is another day, we'll see what happens. Now let's have sex as if there's no tomorrow!"
3. THE MANAGER
The backstage of the contest bustled with life – young men and women getting ready to perform, musicians tuning their instruments, singers vocalizing to warm their voices and the dressing rooms full of people going in and out with the most outrageous costumes or the simplest looks.
Pop Heart had opted for a casual look and hair left wild. Kay-low showed off his tattooed arms with a sleeveless shirt, Moris was bare-chested and had a black spiked collar around his neck, Poppy wore a patterned shirt with only the lowest button tied and Halina had a short top with a low neckline and had put a beaded skullcap on her head that made her curls stand out even more, like a wave of gold behind her rosy cheeks. She didn't need much makeup to look pretty and she wore pants since she'd be seated behind her drum kit anyway.
Kay-low met the Tigers in the dressing rooms, all doing their best to enhance their non-human qualities and stripes. They hugged him cheerfully and were happy to hear he'd found someone to perform with.
"May the best band win," Kay-low told them, shaking their hands.
And then the contest began. Kay-low was nervous, since he didn't have to bring his guitar on stage, so he needed to figure out what to do with his hands, besides holding the microphone closer from time to time. He wished he'd paid more attention to Ker-ris's dance lessons, but the steps he'd done with Italian Ignorance were pretty basic, since he had to play more than sing. Laura had become quite good at moving while singing, but he felt very stiff and blocked.
It's my first shot at being the lead, he said to himself. I'm not going to blow it. I'm going to prove I can be a star, much like Zaphadin.
Of course Zaphadin was also an excellent dancer, but he had a fifteen-year career behind him, while Kay-low was just beginning. He was sure Zaphadin had been more or less like him when he'd started – approximately the same age too. Maybe he could ask Ker-ris to teach him to dance and he could become the next superstar.
He put up all his mental shields to avoid feeling the audience and his band-mates' thoughts. He was already nervous enough without adding other people's tension to his own. He watched the Tigers' performance and began to calm down. He'd be fine. His father could have had a career in music, if he hadn't decided not to. He was his father's son, so he could do it.
And then they were called on stage. Since he'd interacted with Laura on the small stages of Marc'harid, he knew how to address an audience. So he greeted them and the judges hiding in the dark booths at the bottom of the theater and introduced himself and the band. They'd decided to do two Pop Heart songs, since Kay-low might not stay with them, so he'd learned the lyrics and the melody and sang his best, forgetting he didn't have a guitar and moving naturally to the rhythm of the songs.
"How did I do?" he asked Moris who hugged him.
"You were great," he whispered in his ear. "I wish we could keep you."
"You're better than Fenella," Poppy added.
"You're good," Halina grudgingly admitted. "But will you really stick with us?"
"If we win the contest, you bet," he grinned, elated. "If Pop Heart is a finalist in the Stars of Tomorrow, I'll be your singer at least on the first album!"
Moris and Poppy hooted and Halina smiled. "Thank you, your grace," she teased.
"You're welcome, baby," he replied kissing her on the lips. She blushed but didn't slap him. She was starting to like him.
Kay-low knew he could be very charming when he wanted to. Or a real bastard when he wanted to – and he'd been a bastard with Italian Ignorance, he could admit it now. But his new friends made him feel much better than the people he'd grown up with. Probably because they didn't know him and he could be a new person with them.
They waited until all the bands finished their performance and were sent to their hotels. The judges would announce the winner and four runners-up the following day. Kay-low felt exhausted, so he lay on his bed and fell immediately asleep, dreaming of future glory.
***
Winners were announced, and the Tigers placed fifth, but Pop Heart didn't place. It was disappointing, mostly because they'd have to part. Kay-low considered following them to their home planet, Serenaide, and since he had a starship, they could stay another day at the hotel and ask for a refund of their ticket home. He enjoyed their company and could see they were all sad to see him go, including Halina.
And then Fenella came back, obviously determined to take back her place since the band had proved unable to place in the contest without her. She was waiting for them in the hotel lobby and Kay-low just gave up. He wasn't that attached to Pop Heart and wasn't going to take any insult from a vain bitch who said he couldn't sing and he'd ruined her songs.
"Well, where were you when it was time to go on stage?" he retorted. "Blame it on yourself for your lack of professionalism if your band didn't make it to the top five!"
"Kay-low's voice is great," Moris added. "And since you couldn't be bothered, we found an excellent substitute. But did you hear the others? They play at another level! The competition was fierce. If you really cared for this band, you'd have been there!"
"Guys, I better go." Kay-low decided it was none of his business if the band broke up. He knew Moris and Poppy would miss him, but he had a career to work on. "It was great meeting you, and thanks for letting me sing with you last night. It was a pleasure. I wish you all the best."
Moris hugged him and stole a last kiss, Poppy was more shy, so he simply shook his hand. Halina nodded, serious, and Fenella harrumphed, raising her chin in challenge. Kay-low scoffed at her and waved good-bye to the band.
Turning around he met the dark eyes of a tall man in a suit who was observing him from the reception desk. Kay-low went there to pay for his stay, pointedly ignoring the man and lightly probing his mind.
A business mind. And he was a band manager and a music producer. In his late thirties, so not really a newcomer. Maybe that was exactly what Kay-low needed – a manager, a producer or both. Italian Ignorance didn't have any, and neither did Pop Heart. But with an expert guiding him, he might become the superstar he was dreaming of being.
"Can I help you?" he asked boldly, turning to look at the man in the eyes.
"I think you have a great voice," the man said. "Kiran Hatcherd, manager." He offered his hand.
Kay-low shook it. "Thank you. So you saw the contest?"
"I was one of the judges. I think you have great potential, but the band you're playing with is keeping you down."
"They're temporary." Kay-low shrugged. "I've just met them, and they just got back their original singer."
Hatcherd grinned. "Wonderful. Can I buy you lunch? Are you leaving in a hurry?"
"No, I'm not in a hurry, but I'm sick of this place, hence I'm checking out. Where are you staying?"
As he'd imagined, the man stayed in a more luxurious hotel. They took a free cab there and started discussing Kay-low's career in front of good food, coming from a real kitchen and not a food dispenser.
"If a digital persona voiced by a singing synthesizer app, with an animated projection for live shows, can have success, why can't you?" Hatcherd said matter-of-factly. "At least you're flesh and blood, the fans can meet a real person – see him on stage."
"I know two of the main superstars of galactic music are artificial – either androids or virtual – but then there's Zaphadin," Kay-low said. "I want to be like him one day!"
"And you can be like him." Hatcherd nodded. "He's retiring, by the way."
"He what?" Kay-low asked, incredulous.
"He's finishing the tour, then he's retiring. I left his entourage before it started, but I kept in touch with some of his people, while I went looking for new clients."
"You mean you worked with Zaphadin?" Kay-low's eyes widened in excitement as he grinned from ear to ear.
"Yes, for about five years. Well, only Dahumada deals directly with him, but I was Dahumada's assistant. I know there were problems on the last tour, so he's retiring soon. I can help you become the next Zaphadin, if you're willing to work hard."
Kay-low knew Dahumada was Zaphadin's manager and producer. It had been Dahumada who had made the current King of Music. And if Hatcherd had worked with Dahumada, even only for five years, he probably had the experience to repeat the feat.
"Of course I am!" He brightened, feeling elated. "Will I have a dance teacher as well?"
Star Minds Chasing Stardom Page 3