Her Beating Hart

by J. L. Ostle

  “Will keep you posted about everything.”

  “Oh, I don’t mean to make your day worse, but where are you right now?”

  I look to my phone confused. “In my room on the bus.”

  “Where are the guys?”

  “In the living area, why?”

  “Don’t panic, but do you think they can hear you from where they are?” My body freezes over.

  Hole open up and take me right now.

  “Oh no, I didn’t think they can hear if there are walls between us. Surely, they can’t.” I look at the door.

  “You’re probably right, just thought I’d ask.”

  “I’m going to go.”

  “Don’t panic okay.”

  “Love you Emz.”

  “Love you too.” I hang up, stand up, and walk to my door.

  “If you all can hear me, come here,” I say and hold my breath, my body tensing up. “Be honest, if you could hear what I said, just come here.” I wait a moment, my hand on the handle. I open the door slowly, my eyes closed, scared to open them. When I do, I feel my body heat up with embarrassment. “I swear, kill me now,” I groan into my hands.

  “We weren’t trying to eavesdrop, but it’s hard when you are close by,” Zeke says.

  “You’re human; of course, you are going to act like this,” Rush adds. I look up and he is smiling seductively at me.

  “Please, don’t be embarrassed. If it helps, we all find you attractive too.” Caspian tries to comfort me, but it doesn’t help.

  I walk past them toward the living area, feeling a little claustrophobic. “This doesn’t change anything; I am not going to be your plaything. No one is getting between my legs.” I point to each of them.

  “We would never treat you like a toy,” Slate vows.

  “I knew I was over my head when I accepted this job. I don’t think I can do this. I’m sorry, but it’s been nearly twenty-four hours and it’s all just too much.” I sit on the couch.

  “Hey listen, we aren’t that bad to be around. We are not monsters, and we never hurt fans. Yeah, we get a few bad ones that visit us; that’s why you are here—to make sure our fans stay safe.” Zeke sits next to me, taking hold of my hand.

  “I know you’re not monsters, but you have to understand this is a little weird for me. I thought with my gift I would be fine, but I forgot that you can hear me from a good distance away; you can hear my heartbeat. I feel like I have no privacy.”

  “I understand. With those things, we can’t help it, unfortunately. Trust me; it’s not a nice thing to have. Some people can be so boring.” He tries to cheer me up. “We like you, petal. Yeah, we find you really attractive; what you feel for us, we feel the same way with you. This has never happened to us, but if you agree to try, we will agree to try also and give you more space. As long as you stay close to us, we will protect you, even though you are already pretty badass.”

  I giggle. “This is so fucked up. I’m drawn to each of you, I won’t lie. But it can’t go anywhere; we can’t start anything. No kissing, no touching; we can be friends, and that’s it. I just want you all to know that,” I state adamantly.

  “We are happy to be friends.” Caspian sits on the other side of me.

  “Talk for yourself,” Rush says, leaning against the booth.

  “Okay,” I agree, and the guys give me warm smiles.

  Except Rush, of course.

  Slate

  Hearing her tell her friend over the phone what she’d dreamed about, how she felt, it stirred something in me. I still remembered her body pressed against mine when she bounced out of the bathroom.

  When I picked up her things, seeing her long legs? I wanted to pull her shirt up with me as I stood up. Her eyes were full of heat; I knew she was turned on as much as I was. I could hear her heart beating frantically.

  Hearing her tell us that she couldn’t be here, I wanted to beg like a child for her to stay. I don’t want her to leave. Her being around doesn’t make me feel like a vampire.

  She brings out more of my humanity.

  Her presence is a puff of fresh air. She has been in our lives just a day, but I know already I’m not ready for her to go.

  She heads back to her room, and I slump on the couch, looking to each of my friends, my family. We have been through so much with one another; I can’t imagine my life without them. I know they are feeling what I am with Ivory. I wouldn’t share her with just anyone. Too bad though she doesn’t want to be with any of us. “We all need to back off and treat her we would a friend, not someone we want to sleep with,” I tell them.

  “Well, Zeke had to be honest and basically tell her that we all want to fuck her.” Rush slides into the booth.

  “I was trying to ease her. She knows we heard her tell her friend that she wants each of us, so thought it would make her feel better to know we want her as well.” Zeke defends himself.

  “There is no point in arguing.” I sigh, rubbing my forehead. “Yeah, we all want her, but guess what? She doesn’t want to be unprofessional, she doesn’t want to complicate her life, and how would this work anyway? We all have her? Share her? She has us all? You know she’s not that kind of girl.”

  She’s innocent.

  She’s good.

  “I wouldn’t mind sharing her,” Zeke admits, shrugging. “I mean not in a dirty threesome kind of way. In like a relationship way. If I get to have her, I wouldn’t mind you having her too, but again not in a perverted way. You are basically my family.”

  “You wonder why you are the clown of the group,” I chuckle.

  “I can’t believe how we are categorized: Rush is the bad boy, Caspian is the sensitive one, you are the leader, and I’m the clown.” Zeke throws his hands up in the air.

  “How is Slate the leader? I’m the lead singer.” Rush jumps in.

  “You may be the lead singer due to talent, but in dynamics, Slate is more responsible and has his head is screwed on. You like showing the world that you are moody and like to have fun,” Caspian replies.

  Rush huffs. “I can be the responsible one,” he says acting like a five-year-old.

  “You do that, and they might change it,” Zeke laughs.

  “I like my fun too much. People expect me to screw up; it’s what keeps me interesting,” Rush smirks.

  “We have gotten off course here. Everyone keep their distance, and don’t do anything that might make her uncomfortable, like following her to the bathroom.” I look at Rush, who is acting shocked.

  “It happened once.”

  “Once is enough,” I warn him. “Right? So, we ready for tonight’s show?” I change the subject.

  “What if she wants one of us, without any of us trying anything, like she comes to us on her own accord?” Rush asks.

  I have to think about it. I know if she got with Rush or any of the other guys, I would be a little jealous, jealous that they get to touch her, be with her, but I can’t stop her from wanting who she wants. If it is any of us she comes to, I would be happy for them.

  “If she comes to you, without you interfering, then fine, but no tricks, no schemes; it has to be all-natural feelings that she wants to pursue,” I tell each of them. I stare at Rush warningly.

  Chapter Seven

  Ivory

  I listen to my music on my phone, Celine Dion’s “A New Day Has Come.” Humming to the music, my eyes are closed, and I am relaxing. I have the song on as loud as it can get, the words vibrating through me.

  I love my power ballads.

  I start to sing along to the words when I feel my bed dip. I open my eyes to see Rush sitting there, watching me, his lips moving. I take off my earphones, and he is singing along to the song, his voice hypnotizing me. He continues to sing; I continue watching, transfixed on him.

  When he stops, he just looks at me.

  “That was so beautiful. I can’t believe you know the song; it’s not very manly.” I smile.

  “When you have been around as long as I have, music
is always changing. You give everything a chance. Besides, Celine has a very powerful voice; her songs are just soul catching.”

  “Oh my god exactly. That’s why I like this kind of music, I just feel it hits you more.”

  “I didn’t mean to disturb you. I did knock, but I guess you didn’t hear me.” He points to my earphones. “I came in to say that we have arrived if you want to stretch your legs and get some of your things.”

  Oh my god, my things.

  Underwear.

  It’s funny what you take for granted. “Thank you so much.” I crawl off the bed.

  “I think you should put some of your stuff on this bus, just in case, for whatever reason, you end up stuck here. You don’t want to go through all this again, right?” I know he is trying to be serious as it is a responsible thing to say, but I can see the playfulness in his eyes.

  “I think I’ll do that.” I leave the room, jogging through the bus. When I reach the outside, the sun has already set.

  I walk over to the next bus. The roadies are already getting to work for tonight’s show. I go to the side of the bus, opening it up to see my luggage. I grab and unzip them. I pull out a carry-on bag that I packed just in case we ever went to a hotel and didn’t want to lug all my things around.

  I pack in spare clothes, underwear, toiletries, you name it. When I’m happy, I grab spare clothes to wear now. I don’t want to get in the roadies way, so I decide to change back on the band’s bus. I open the doors and walk up to see all the guys drinking.

  Not just drinking anything normal.

  It’s blood.

  It’s in a clear bag with what looks like a straw popped out of it. But it’s their eyes that I’m looking at. I have seen their eyes turn black, but this is different: black veins surround them, almost reaching to their cheeks, making them look quite scary.

  “Ivory, we didn’t think you were coming back so soon,” Zeke says, but I am frozen to the spot.

  “The roadies are working, and I didn’t want to get in their way. I brought spare stuff in case I ever need to sleep on this bus again, and thought I could get changed into different clothes on here. I didn’t think you would mind.” My voice is coming out shaky.

  I know they won’t hurt me. I spent all night—well, morning—with them.

  Besides, they can’t hurt me, even if they wanted to. But looking at them like this, it’s like watching something from a horror movie.

  I know they are vampires, but I guess I keep forgetting what that exactly entails.

  They need to feed.

  “Please don’t be scared,” Caspian pleads, and I look at him, his sweet innocent face morphed into this black-eyed, veiny person.

  “Sorry, I thought the black eyes were it. I didn’t think this is what happened when you drank.” I look to the ground.

  “We try and not drink around humans,” Slate says.

  I need to get over this; I’m going to spend two months with them. Well, if I last that long with my stupid hormones. I need to get used to them drinking; is it called feeding or drinking? But anyway, I need to not act like a silly girl.

  “It’s just something I need to get used to.” I take in a deep breath and walk toward them. “Can I touch you?” I ask Caspian, standing in front of him first.

  He nods, and I lift my hand slowly to his face, touching where the black veins are.

  I don’t know what I was expecting. For them to be bumpy feeling maybe? It just feels like a face would: smooth and soft. His eyes close, and I glide my fingers along his eyes. The veins start to disappear, I watch in fascination.

  When Caspian opens his eyes, they are still dark, but I know it’s not because of the blood; it’s because of me. I step back, giving him a small smile.

  “Not as scary up close,” I tell him, and he gives me a shy smile.

  “I guess seeing four black-eyed vampires drinking blood can be scary to walk into,” Slate says. “We will try and not drink in front of you.”

  “No, don’t be silly; you need to have blood to live, so please don’t hide it.” The rest have their veins still. I walk over to Slate, raising my hand in question. He closes his eyes, giving me permission, and I touch his face. Just like Caspian, the veins soon go. “They seem to go away when I touch them.” Slate opens his eyes, looking at Zeke and Rush who are still veiny.

  “That’s strange; I thought Caspian’s face faded because he didn’t drink as much as we did. Can you touch Rush’s face please? I need to see if it’s a coincidence?”

  I walk over to Rush, but he doesn’t close his eyes; he keeps his dark eyes on me. I place my fingers on his cheek first then glide along the veins, and I watch as they start to disappear.

  “Holy crap, it’s her touch. Touch me. Touch me,” Zeke says in awe. I laugh, walking over to him, touching his eyes, and just like the others, the veins start to fade. “Is it working? Are they going?”

  “They are,” I tell him.

  “What does that mean?” Zeke asks Slate. I turn to him, and he looks confused as the others.

  “So, I take it the veins don’t fade that easily?”

  “No, it takes a good half an hour. Sometimes, it can be sooner but not that much sooner. Zeke, drink some more. Petal, can you touch around his eyes as he does? I just want to check something else.” I am a little confused what is happening, but I agree.

  I place my fingers where the veins were, and Zeke starts to drink. His eyes turn black but no veins. I keep touching him, but nothing else happens.

  “Holy crap, no way a shield can do that. Well, none that I’ve heard of,” Caspian says, coming to my side, watching Zeke’s face.

  I step back, looking at Slate, and he is looking in awe. “I think whatever is in your blood, what your gift is, it’s something so much more. You didn’t like the veins, right?” I nod. “Maybe, when you touched them, they went because you wanted them to.”

  “Like I compelled them to go subconsciously? I got used to it though after I touched Caspian.”

  “Yeah, because they eventually went,” Slate answers. “Have you ever tried anything else with your gift?”

  “No, the only reason I knew I had it is because back when I was younger, a group of vampires tried to get to me and Emz, and they couldn’t. I researched, my parents spoke to a few people, but you are all really the only supernatural beings I have been close to.” I bite my lip.

  “You have never been around a vampire before… in an innocent way?” Rush asks me.

  “No, it’s all new to me. I know you all exist, and there are other beings out there, but I have never met any.” He looks at me, really looking at me before looking away.

  “We have to keep this amongst ourselves for now,” Slate says to me and looks at everyone. “The council is aware of humans with certain gifts, but it’s the ones that are rare they take interest in and trust me, I don’t want them ever going anywhere near you.” He takes hold of my hands.

  “Why? Are they bad people?” I ask worriedly.

  “They are selfish, greedy people when it comes to treasures, and they might see you as that; they might not be able to hurt you, but it means they will take it upon themselves to see what will.” Oh great, now I need to worry about the council.

  “Okay, it’s just between us,” I say to him, and he smiles, his hands still holding mine. I don’t pull away, something about him touching me comforts me.

  “Can I ask a question?” Zeke breaks the moment, and I step back. “If her touch can compel, maybe she can make vampires do things without their free will, like what we can do.”

  “Now, that’s interesting,” I giggle. “Let me compel Rush,” I say in excitement.

  He crosses his arms. “Love to see you try, petal.”

  “Go on, do it; it will serve him right,” Slate urges.

  I walk over to Rush, placing my hands in his. “Rush, I want you on your knees,” I say with a huge smile on my face, but the smile doesn’t last when nothing happens. I palm his cheeks, looking i
nto his eyes. “Rush, on your knees.” Nothing happens. “That sucks.” I step back, crossing my arms.

  “I can’t believe you were going to make me go to my knees,” he whines at me.

  “You tried to do it to me, thought it would be fitting, but it didn’t work.” I pout.

  “Shame,” Rush says sarcastically, and I stick my tongue out at him.

  “I guess she can’t compel vampires, maybe it is just the vein thing,” Zeke says to Slate. Slate is looking at me, thinking.

  “What a gift to have, compel vampire veins while they drink. Why couldn’t I be able to fly or read minds; now, that’s a gift.”

  “I like reading human’s minds, especially if they are lying, but trust me, the novelty soon wears off,” Caspian answers, coming to my side.

  “Still, we will keep this to ourselves. Just in case we witness any other sort of power involved with your gift; if you haven’t been around supernatural beings before, you may possess more than you think,” Slate says.

  After a few minutes, I head back to the room and quickly change my clothes. I put on a pair of black skinny jeans and a black tank with a black denim jacket; I have never been more grateful to get back into some underwear.

  I head back in the living area. The guys all look my way, their eyes trailing my body; their eyes start to turn black.

  Seriously?

  I am not really showing any skin.

  “Guys, you really need to control your black eyes,” I laugh. “It gives you away.”

  Who needs erections when you have vampires making their desire known by the color of their eyes, I think to myself.

  We start talking about me trying to get Rush on his knees when there is a knock on the bus door. A guy with spiky red hair comes in, telling the guys that the stage is set up, and their changing room is ready.

  “Right. Come on, petal, you are going to witness us kicking ass at the west wing of the stage.” Zeke puts his arms around my shoulder, and we walk out of the bus and inside the venue. Walking through the doors, I see everyone walking round in haste.

  I am guided to the meet and greet room, but this one is much bigger than the one back in my hometown. I’m told to stay here while the band gets changed; they will come and get me soon. They said all I have to do is call out to them if I need them, and they will hear me.