Hidden

by Shalini Boland

  ‘Not for a whole month yet. How’s Alex? Haven’t seen him for a few days.’

  ‘Yeah, he’s okay. He doesn’t really like the long days though. He can’t go out and it’s doing his head in.’

  ‘Does he really drink blood, Maddy? I mean I know he does, it’s just that it’s weird. He’s Alex, you know. He seems so normal.’

  ‘I know, mate. It is strange, but it’s not his fault. He was a regular person once.’

  The air con kicked in and Maddy angled the vents towards her face, enjoying the cold blast on her warm skin.

  ‘Will the others ever wake up d’you think?’ Ben asked.

  ‘I dunno. I kind of hope they do and I kind of hope they don’t. It’s good the way it is and it could get really complicated if they’re all awake and living here. But they’re Alex’s friends and family. He misses them.’

  Maddy thought about it. If they did wake up, what would they think about her being with Alex? Would they resent her?

  She dropped Ben off outside the gates and headed back home, nerves building, desperately wanting to head straight downstairs to see Alex. But what if he’d changed his mind? What if he was cold towards her? She didn’t think she could bear it if she couldn’t fall straight into his arms.

  Maddy swung into the driveway and made her way up the tree-lined avenue to see Travis’ yellow van parked in front of the house.

  Travis sat in the kitchen with a cup of tea, talking away to Esther like she was his best mate or something. As soon as Madison sat down, Esther left the room.

  ‘Mads, long time no see,’ he said with a wary smile. ‘Hope you don’t mind me dropping round. Just wanted to check you were still alive.’

  ‘Course I don’t mind. It’s so good to see you. How you doing, geezer?’

  ‘Not bad. Got myself a regular gig at The Glasshouse. Just wondered if you wanted to come up one Friday night?’

  ‘That’s amazing. Yeah, course I’ll come.’

  ‘Kerri and Taff’ll be there this Friday and I know they want to see you. Kerri keeps bugging me to get you to go on a girls’ night out with her.’

  ‘Cool, how are they? I’m really sorry I haven’t been in touch. Me and Ben just had a quiet one over Christmas and then things just got crazy busy and ….’

  ‘No worries, Mads. I know what it’s like. You can bring your boyfriend if you want.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘My brother saw you at the cinema with a bloke.’

  ‘Oh, yeah. That’s Alex. He’s French.’ He’s French? What a moronic thing to say.

  ‘Yeah, well bring the French dude, that’s cool.’

  ‘I’ll really try and get there,’ she said, not wanting to commit herself. ‘But if I don’t make it this Friday, then I’ll definitely come another week.’

  ‘Whatever, Mads. It’ll be good to see you out and about. Are you free now? D’you wanna go out somewhere? Have a laugh?’

  ‘Normally I’d say yeah, but I’ve got some stuff to do today. I’ll ring you and we’ll sort out a time, alright?’

  ‘No worries, I’ve got things I should be doing anyway. Laters.’ He downed the rest of his tea and got up, drumming the wooden table with his fingers and jingling his van keys at the same time.

  ‘So good to see you, Trav.’ She leaned forward and gave him an awkward peck on the cheek. He grinned at her and headed out of the front door, jumping into the driver’s seat and starting up the engine. His van grumbled away down the drive, the engine noise almost drowned out by a fat thumping baseline. Madison smiled at the black smoke belching out of the exhaust pipe and then she turned away into the house.

  Travis had been really friendly and hadn’t mentioned their last awkward meeting on Christmas Eve. Maybe now things could go back to normal between them. Everything seemed to be falling into place. Life felt good. She hugged herself and opened the cellar door. She would go and see Alex before she lost her nerve.

  Maddy walked down the familiar stone steps and lifted her hand to rap on the door. Before she had a chance to knock, the door opened and Alexandre stood in front of her. His beautiful chiselled face, smiling.

  ‘I thought I would have to wait down here all day. What have you been doing that was more important than coming to see me?’

  ‘I was nervous,’ she admitted. ‘But I had to take Ben to school and then I had an unexpected visitor.’

  ‘I know. A young gentleman caller. Do I need to be jealous? Will I be forced to use my vampire powers?’ His eyes narrowed in mock fierceness.

  ‘Are you gonna make me stand outside your door all day?’ Madison asked. ‘Or can I come in?’ She felt electric currents flow between them. Anticipation.

  ‘So who was this boy?’ he asked, leading her by the hand to one of the sofas. Her hand felt like it was on fire and she barely heard his words.

  ‘Just Travis,’ she replied. ‘A friend. He’s invited us to a gig actually.’

  ‘A gig?’ They sat down next to each other. Almost touching, but not quite. She moved her knee slightly, so it rested against his thigh. More electric currents.

  ‘Yeah, he‘s a DJ and he’s got a gig at a local club.’

  ‘A musician?’

  ‘Kind of. He plays records.’ She didn’t even know why she was talking about this. Right now she didn’t care about Travis or records, but she couldn’t seem to stop talking. She babbled inanely to stop herself from jumping on top of him, kissing him …

  ‘Records?’ he interrupted her train of thought. ‘I do not understand.’

  ‘You know what records are, right?’ she said, thinking shut up about records! But carried on anyway. ‘They’re like an old version of CDs.’

  ‘Yes, I understand. But you said he plays them?’

  ‘I know it sounds weird.’ She didn’t even care what she was saying anymore. ‘But it’s a bit more tricky than just playing a record. You have to be able to mix the right kinds of tracks together and not break the flow of the beat.’ What is this crap I’m spouting? ‘And you have to have great taste in music. I mean, most DJs nowadays don’t play records anymore, but Travis is old school. He likes a nice bit of vinyl.’ I don’t give a shit about vinyl I just want you to kiss me, she screamed in her head.

  ‘It sounds complicated and peculiar, but I will take your word for it. Right now though I am afraid I do not care about any of that.’ He pulled her onto his lap and kissed her.

  Finally! Madison thanked every God known to man, as her body melted into him. She put her arms around his neck and gave in to feelings that set her nerve endings pulsing and made her insides disappear. He gently pulled back and looked into her eyes.

  ‘So,’ she said huskily. ‘I’m glad you didn’t take too long to think about us.’

  ‘I am still thinking. But kissing you helps me to think.’

  ‘Good,’ she smiled. ‘Carry on thinking.’

  *

  That Friday, Travis’ set didn’t start until eleven. The queue spilled into the road, but Maddy and Alexandre strolled past it and up to the two large doormen in their tightly fitting suits.

  ‘Madison Greene plus one,’ she said to one of them. He found the name on his sheet, looked them up and down and lifted the rope. They walked through the crowded bar to the VIP area where Maddy nodded to a few familiar faces. Ben was staying at a friend’s house, so she could relax and enjoy the night without stressing.

  ‘There’s Kerri … I think,’ she said, spying her over in the corner, talking to a group of glamorous girls. Madison only just recognised her. She was dressed to impress, poured into a silver micro dress, low-cut in the front, backless and reaching down just as far as it needed to. Her hair was all blonde waves cascading down her back and she wore towering spike heels that would have crippled Maddy for life.

  ‘Hey, Kerri,’ Madison called out.

  Kerri’s face lit up at the sight of Madison and she squealed to her friends.

  ‘It’s Maddy! This is Madison, who I was telling you about. She’s a
top girl!’ She stood up and hugged her. ‘You look amazing.’

  Maddy wore a tight gunmetal grey dress that started at her throat and came down to her knees, with a draped, low-cut back. She had on strappy grey sandals that she could just-about walk in and her hair had been cut into a sleek black graduated bob which highlighted her perfect cheekbones. Alexandre wore an immaculately tailored dark suit and all eyes were drawn to both of them.

  ‘Hiya!’ Kerri said to Alexandre. ‘I’m Kerri. Maddy’s forgotten to introduce us.’

  ‘Sorry, sorry. God, I’m so crap. Alex, this is Kerri. Kerri, Alex.’

  ‘You are well fit!’ Kerri said in her Gloucestershire drawl. ‘Maddy, is he the reason we haven’t seen you for ages? Well I forgive you. I think I’d fall off the face of the planet if I had him to occupy my time.’ She laughed.

  ‘Thanks a lot Kezza.’ Taff walked up behind her and pretended to be annoyed. ‘Hi Madison.’ He kissed her cheek. ‘Alright, mate. I’m Taff.’ He held out his hand to Alexandre who shook it and smiled.

  ‘I’m Alex. I am pleased to meet you.’

  ‘Come over and sit with us, Trav’ll be here in a bit.’

  They sat around a low circular table and Taff went to get them some drinks. Alexandre asked for a beer, even though he wouldn’t be drinking it. Kerri introduced them to her friends who all seemed to be as loud and bubbly as her.

  Madison found out that Travis had downplayed the evening to her, as he was actually supporting the headline act, a big-name DJ from Manchester.

  ‘Wow, that’s amazing,’ Maddy said.

  ‘Yeah,’ Kerri agreed. ‘It was your party that did it. Loads of people said how good the DJ was that night and the club actually tracked Trav down and offered him a trial night. Now he’s got a regular thing going. Okay, enough talking, come and dance.’ She tried to pull Madison to her feet, but Maddy resisted. She didn’t want to leave Alexandre on his own.

  ‘You go,’ Alexandre said to her. ‘I like these people. I will be fine.’

  ‘Sure?’ she asked. He pulled her to him and kissed her. She instantly wished they were somewhere else, somewhere private where that kiss could continue.

  ‘Sure,’ he replied.

  ‘Put her down. I’ll bring her back later,’ Kerri called over her shoulder to Alexandre while dragging Maddy away by the hand.

  Madison danced with her new friends. She felt elated. Here she was with the most gorgeous, handsome man on the planet. He loved her and she loved him. It was like a chick flick cliché but she didn’t care. Life didn’t get much better than this. Maddy didn’t recognise this tune but she knew she would remember it as the soundtrack to a perfect moment of happiness.

  She noticed two blokes dancing a bit too close to them, so she and Kerri moved off slightly to the side to avoid them. But it looked as though they were intent on sleazing up against them. One of them brushed his hand across Madison’s back and she gestured to Kerri that she wanted to move to a different spot.

  ‘I need a wee anyway,’ Kerri said to Maddy. ‘Coming?’

  Maddy nodded and they escaped to the Ladies.

  ‘Ugh, what a couple of pervs,’ Kerri said when they reached the loos.

  ‘Why do I always attract the weirdos?’

  ‘Uh, hello! Alex is not exactly what I’d call a weirdo,’ Kerri said.

  ‘You know what I mean. If I’m on a bus or a train, you can guarantee the creepy nutter will come and sit his arse down right next to me.’

  Kerri laughed. ‘Ditto! We better not go out together again. We’ll end up attracting a meeting of Freakshows Anonymous.’

  ‘D’you think it’s safe to go back in the water?’

  ‘Yeah, they’ll have moved on to someone else by now.’

  They used the loos, re-applied some lipstick and made their way back out to the other girls. After a couple more tracks, Maddy grew anxious about Alexandre and she started to make her way back to the VIP area. As she threaded her way through the crowd, she felt a hand grope her. She turned around and recognised one of the sleazy blokes from the dance floor.

  ‘Can I buy you a drink?’ he asked.

  ‘No, but you can keep your dodgy hands to yourself,’ she spat.

  ‘No need to be rude,’ another voice said. Madison spun around and saw the other man. They were both in their late twenties, not unattractive, but with no sense of style whatsoever and Maddy could tell they were total creeps.

  She tried to push past them and continue on her way. The last thing she wanted was to start any trouble and she definitely didn’t want Alexandre to see what was going on.

  ‘Where are you going?’ the shorter one asked.

  She ignored him and tried again to walk past.

  ‘It’s rude to ignore people,’ he said.

  ‘Yeah, we’re just being friendly,’ the taller one added.

  Maddy sized them up. They were pretty solidly built and looked like they could handle themselves. They didn’t seem the type who would run away from a fight. She prayed she could get rid of them before Alex spotted them.

  ‘Look,’ she said. ‘It’s nice you want to chat, but I’m not interested. So please. Can you just go and find someone else to talk to? I’m already with someone.’

  ‘But we don’t want to talk to anyone else,’ the short one persisted. ‘We want to talk to you.’

  ‘She does not want to talk to you,’ Madison was both relieved and worried to see Alexandre arrive at her side. ‘I believe you owe the lady an apology.’

  ‘Who are you?’ the taller one asked.

  ‘Apologise,’ Alexandre repeated.

  ‘Leave it, Alex,’ Madison tugged gently at his arm. ‘They’re just a couple of losers.’

  ‘You are right,’ Alexandre agreed. ‘Let’s go.’ They began to walk away.

  ‘Hey, mate!’ the taller one called to him. ‘Mate, okay. You win. I’m sorry.’

  He came up to Alexandre and put his arm around his shoulder, patting him in a placatory manner. But then he reached up to Alexandre’s head and yanked it backwards, trying to punch him through the jaw with his other hand. Alexandre instinctively anticipated each move before it happened and threw the man to one side without breaking a sweat.

  The shorter one pulled out a knife and waved it in front of Alexandre. People around them had begun to notice the fight breaking out and a couple of girls screamed when they saw the knife. The area around them cleared.

  The short one tried to stab Alex in the chest, but Alex took the man calmly by the neck and held him off the floor, away from him. In the meantime, the taller one had recovered. He also had a knife and tried to stab Alexandre in the back. But the knife failed to pierce his skin. It slipped down and cut the man’s hand.

  Alex threw the shorter man across the floor where he smashed into the side of the bar. Alexandre reached his hand around behind him and picked up the other man by his shoulder. He tossed him casually in the same direction as his friend.

  Six bouncers suddenly appeared through the crowd and two of them picked up the dazed men from the floor. Alexandre remained unharmed and unfazed, standing calmly, like a marble statue.

  Madison had been hysterical while the men had attacked him, screaming at them to stop and calling out Alexandre’s name. Now she ran to stand protectively in front of him, crying and shouting uselessly at the bouncers.

  ‘He didn’t do anything! Those blokes just attacked him!’

  ‘Can you move out of the way please,’ one of them said to her, walking slowly up to Alexandre.

  ‘It is alright, Madison,’ Alexandre said and then he turned to face the approaching bouncers. ‘Please, I do not wish to hurt anybody else.’

  The suited men smiled to each other at his words. They’d heard it all before. As the first one approached Alexandre from the right, Alex’s hand shot out and swatted him away like a bug. Although the music was still playing loudly, a crowd had gathered.

  ‘Gonna have to ask you to come with me,’ one of them said to A
lexandre. ‘Don’t want any more trouble.’

  He took Alexandre’s arm but the vampire just shrugged him off. The force was such that the bouncer crashed backwards into a crowd of onlookers. Madison screamed.

  ‘Come on, Alex! Let’s just go!’ She turned to the remaining two security guards who charged at Alex from both sides. ‘No! We’re leaving. Please, just stop!’

  Alexandre almost smiled, but still he didn’t move. His feet were planted in exactly the same spot and, as the bouncers made contact with him, he repelled them with a flick of his wrist and a jab of his elbow. All four men were now out cold.

  ‘Come on, Alex,’ Maddy said. ‘Before someone calls the police. Please, let’s just go.’

  ‘Of course,’ he turned to her and put his hand on the small of her back, guiding her through the crowd which parted in front of them. As they left, more security turned up, speaking frantically into their walkie talkies and looking nervously at Alexandre.

  ‘We’re leaving,’ Maddy said to them as they approached.

  Alexandre didn’t even appear to have noticed them.

  ‘Please,’ Maddy pleaded with them. ‘Please just back off. We’re going. It was those other guys anyway.’

  Security walked behind them at a distance to make sure they vacated the premises.

  ‘Mads, you made it!’ She heard a voice above the noise of the club. It was Travis sitting at a table with some people Maddy didn’t recognise. He walked up to her. ‘Did you get a look at what was going on over there? I didn’t see it but something was going off.’

  ‘Yeah. Trav, I’m really sorry but we’ve gotta head off early.’ She kept moving towards the exit, mindful of the bouncers watching them. She didn’t want anything to kick off again.

  ‘What?’ Travis exclaimed. ‘You can’t go now. I’m on in half an hour. Can’t you hang around a bit longer?’

  Maddy inclined her head towards the four or five dark suits who subtly escorted her and Alex out of the building.

  ‘Oh! Shit man. No worries.’ Travis looked warily at Alexandre who stared back at him intently. ‘See you later then, Mads. Take it easy.’