Chapter 22
Trey
I NOTICED HER DURING the opening number. She was in the front row to my left, and despite having instantly recognized her, I had to double and triple check that it was really her. I’d fed from Jes just nights ago, but here she was standing in the front row singing every word of “Midnight Poison” back at me. I was definitely still new to the whole vamp gig, but I was pretty sure the aversion wasn’t supposed to work like that. Still, she seemed genuinely interested in the show. In me. All these thoughts ran through my mind in the space of a few seconds, but as I finished the song I realized I really needed to know. Thanks to Jes, the front row was going to get a very up-close and personal show from me tonight.
I took care to make it seem random, but my interaction with the fans just off the stage was anything but accidental. I touched hands, made and held eye contact for several lines of a song at a time, and even held my mic out for the fans to sing in my place on and off during the show. None of this was new to my performance, but I turned it up several notches. When I reached out and took Jes’s hand, I genuinely expected her to flinch, or at least grow uncomfortable and pull away. She did just the opposite, beaming up at me while I sang a line from “Making Waves.” Jes’s reaction, or lack of bad reaction, completely floored me. I wished I had shown Aurora her face in my head when I’d told her about feeding from her. That way she could be floored by this entire situation right along with me. I did the only thing I could think of to really put Jes to the test.
“This is the part of the show where we slow it down for a bit,” I said into the mic after the song had ended. “Do you guys mind if we do a few acoustic songs for you?”
The crowd responded enthusiastically, shouting and whistling their approval.
O’Shea, Jonas and I switched out our guitars and took our seats on stools that were brought out near the edge of the stage. Chase climbed out of his drum cage and joined us, only he stood behind a pair of large wooden Congas. I loved jumping around and shredding on stage as much as the next guy, but I always felt like something special happened during these acoustic numbers. The fans quieted, except for their echoing chorus of the lyrics, and cell phones lit up the sea of people in a way that often reminds me of coral reefs glowing in the dark off the coast somewhere. The giant screens that made up the backdrop of our stage showed video clips and images to enhance the mood. During “Mirage” the screens shows pictures of me and the guys when we were in high school. There were shots of us surfing, having bonfires, skateboarding, and going to Football games that Chase played in. The fans reactions to the pictures were always entertaining to watch. I think they liked seeing that we’d been their age once, and we’d done normal teenage stuff, too. The pictures that filled the screens during “Save The Heroics,” a track from our sophomore record, were just as epic. They were pictures the fans from each city could submit to the Fan Club online to be played during the song. Some of the shots were of fans posing with us, and some were of them holding the new album, while still others were shots of Until Sanity parties that had been thrown all over the country on the night we’d released the album.
Jonas always prefaced the song by asking the crowd who had sent in pictures to appear on the screen that night. The response was near deafening on most nights. “This is your part of the show,” he would add. “Without you guys, we wouldn’t be making music and doing what we love. This one’s for you.”
The last song of the acoustic set was “Random Words” from the new record. I saw my chance and got to my feet before we started the song.
“I want to try something a little different tonight,” I said. “Do you guys mind?” I glanced around at O’Shea, Chase and Jonas, who had no idea what I was planning, but nodded or shrugged in agreement, going along with me. I handed my guitar to O’Shea to hold for me, and I walked to the edge of the stage and hopped off. I was standing right in front of Jes. The look on her face was priceless as I offered her my hand. I’d seen that excitement in her eyes not long ago, but that time I’d been deceiving her. I leaned in so I could talk to her without the microphone.
“Do you want to come up with me?” I asked. She nodded eagerly, and a guy working venue security moved the barrier so she could come through it. I hopped back up onto the stage and offered her my hand again to steady her while the security guy gave her a boost up. “Can we get another stool out here?” I asked into my microphone, looking to the side of the stage at the crew. Neon was grinning and shaking his head at me when someone produced a stool and set it up on the end next to mine. Jes’s grip on my hand was tight, almost like she was afraid if she let go she might magically disappear. I put my arm around her shoulders and she leaned into my embrace.
“Everyone,” I said into the mic, “Say hi to Jes.” The crowd clapped and shouted, but in a controlled way that let me know they were just waiting to see what would happen next. Jes waved at the crowd, which at that point had to seem pretty intimidating. “If I’ve got the math right, then tonight is your fifth show on the tour?” I asked her. She nodded.
“Thanks for that,” Chase added, and Jes and I turned to face the guys.
“You’ve got the set memorized, then,” O’Shea said with a laugh.
“Well, I didn’t see this coming,” Jes said into my mic, making everyone laugh.
“I met Jes a few shows back, and I just thought that her dedication shouldn’t go unrewarded. What I didn’t say was that feeding from Jes had been eating away at my conscious ever since, and on top of testing out her weird lack of aversion to me, maybe I could ease my own guilt by actually doing something nice for her tonight. “Have a seat,” I said to her as I led her over to the fifth stool. She took a seat, and I got comfortable next to her. “Can we play you a song?”
She nodded again, and I took my guitar from O’Shea and tested out the strings one at a time, checking the tuning. When I was ready I nodded to Chase and he counted us off on his Congas. We played “Random Words,” another song from the new album. I poured my heart out to Jes while I sang the words, watching her for signs of an aversion I knew wouldn’t come. She smiled, occasionally mouthing the words along with me. She tapped her foot on the floor, grinning in astonishment as she glanced out at the audience on occasion. When the song ended I asked the audience to give her a big hand, and they all cheered with only mildly less enthusiasm than usual. Jes went down the line, giving O’Shea, Jonas and Chase hugs and thanking them. I walked her over to the edge of the stage and gave her one last hug, earning a kiss on the cheek from her before she hopped back down off the stage, returning to her spot in the front row. I’d put her to the test, all right, but she’d held firm in her adoration. I didn’t quite dare to be relieved by her reaction just yet, but something a lot like redemption was taking residence in my core. The guys and I ditched the stools and the acoustic instruments and finished out the last two songs of regular set before heading backstage to get ugly.
“I think that girl is in love with you,” Aurora said to me, a teasing smile playing on her lips as she started applying grey makeup to my face. “That was really sweet of you to pull her on stage like that. You totally made her night.”
My response was a silent one, only for her. I fed from that girl a few nights back.
Aurora paused, makeup sponge in mid-air, as she studied my face. You’re certain it was her?
I’m sure. I brought her backstage and everything. It’s her.
But she didn’t- Aurora’s train of thought trailed off as she realized what I was getting at.
I nodded. Exactly.
How can that be?
I shrugged. You tell me.
Aurora had been watching the show backstage. She’d seen it all, the hand holding, the hugging, the kiss on the cheek, the adoring glances. That’s why you brought her on stage....
I had to find out. Have you ever heard of this happening?
No, she thought back as she began applying makeup to my face again. But most vampires don’t have
the same relationship with the human population that you do. It’s hard to make a real comparison.
Huh.... I didn’t know what to think.
Maybe it has something to do with your moon-given talent, she offered.
Now that was something I hadn’t considered. Do you really think that could be it?
After what I just saw, I wouldn’t rule it out.
I hope you’re’ right, I thought. I’d take that as a moon-given talent any day. I knew one thing for sure. I’d feel better about feeding from the occasional fan if I knew I wasn’t turning them away from the band. Maybe then it wouldn’t feel like I was betraying the fans and my brothers at the same time.
Chapter 23
Aurora
“I LOVE OUR BUS, but I’m really looking forward to a hotel room tonight,” I told Trey as he held the door open for me to step inside the hotel lobby. We hadn’t taken five steps inside when I felt a familiar presence reach out to me. Startled, I quickly scanned my surroundings, feeling Trey’s grip on my hand tighten in response. I spotted him across the lobby, standing near the concierge’s desk, pretending to read a newspaper – as if a giant could look at all inconspicuous.
Tytus, I thought, addressing him silently.
Aurora, he replied in the same manner without lifting his eyes to look at me.
I stopped walking and averted my gaze from him, but only because Chase, Jonas, and O’Shea had just slipped into the lobby behind us. Neon was already at the desk checking in for all of us.
“Time for some room service,” O’Shea announced, squeezing the back of Trey’s neck as he passed by.
Trey nodded at him, playing along, but he was just as relieved as I was when Neon handed the guys their keys, and they crammed into the nearest elevator and disappeared behind its doors. Trey accepted our key from Neon, as well, and watched as the manager dialed a call on his phone and stepped back outside to talk.
What are you doing here? I demanded, risking another glance at Tytus now that the coast was clear.
I came to make amends, he replied. I don’t know which surprised me more, the sincerity in his statement, or the fact that he knew what the word ‘amends’ meant. Is there someplace you and I can talk?
I glanced around, meeting Trey’s inquiring eyes.
This man helped me the night you were hurt, Trey added. Maybe we should hear him out.
Tytus had helped? This was news to me. Trey was going to have to explain that one, but since we couldn’t continue our silent conversation in the lobby much longer without drawing attention to ourselves, I had to make a call.
Fine, I conceded. But not here.... We passed a park on the way here, about two blocks down. We’ll meet you there at midnight.
Tytus didn’t challenge my inclusion of Trey in our meeting and gave a small nod of his head, his eyes still on his paper.
“Let’s go,” I said aloud to Trey. We made our way to the elevator and Trey punched in the button for our floor. “What do you mean he helped?” I asked as soon as the elevator doors had slid closed. “I may have been staked that night, but I haven’t forgotten how he restrained you during the fight.”
“Believe me,” Trey said. “I haven’t forgotten either.”
“Then what is it?”
Trey sighed and said, “He let me go ... after Malena sent you flying through the banister. I don’t know.... It was like it had all been fun and games until she actually hurt you. I was trying to get you out of there when he found me and told me to call Mark.” The elevator doors dinged open just then, and I tried to process this new information while Trey and I wandered down the hall in search of our room. Trey unlocked it with the key Neon had given him, and we stepped inside. “Do you think he knows where Malena ran off to?” he wondered out loud.
“No idea,” I said. “But I guess we’re going to find out.”
After checking that the coast was clear, Trey and I made our way out of the hotel just before midnight. It was a nice night for the season, but I couldn’t see much of the moon and stars for all the smog in the air. With a small pang I realized just how much I missed the clear skies back home. Tytus was sitting on a park bench beneath a round decorative flower garden in the center of the park when we found him. The plants had seen better days earlier in the season, doing nothing to detract from the giant vampire, who stood out like a sore thumb beside them, even at this hour. He got to his feet as we approached.
“All right,” I said curtly. “We’re here.”
Tytus met my gaze and held it, and I was surprised to find that his features were void of the usual cockiness I’d come to know. “First of all, about that night at Club Sanguine,” he began slowly. “It was never supposed to go down like that.” He sighed and I bit my tongue, waiting for him to continue. “Malena recognized your face in the crowd during the VMA’s, and she began looking into everything you did. It was stupid of me to listen to her, but Malena had me convinced that we could help you get over your obsession with him.” Tytus nodded toward Trey and then looked back up at me. “She said that you didn’t appreciate your place among us, and when you went ahead with changing him, we should make an example of you. Damir took the evidence I collected for Malena and went straight to the Synod with it. You were never supposed to actually get hurt. Malena used me to push her own agenda. I see that now. I’m sorry. “
The part of me that was still angry about that night didn’t want to hear what he was saying, but even I couldn’t deny the regret behind his eyes. “Let’s say I believe you,” I stated. “Are you going to tell me what you’re really doing here, or do you honestly expect us to believe you tracked us half way across the country just to apologize?”
Tytus looked down at his feet in silence. “I don’t know where Malena is,” he said matter-of-factly. “I suspect she doesn’t stay anywhere long. She may have used me, but I spent a lot of time doing her bidding and I’ve learned a thing or two.”
“Why are you telling us this?” Trey asked, apparently just as impatient for answers as I was.
“Look, I’m not the smartest vampire around, but I’m not completely without skills. If I know anything about you two at all, it’s that trouble seems to follow you wherever you go ... including the show tonight.” Tytus looked at Trey, who met his gaze evenly before I heard his heartbeat quicken ever so slightly.
“What’s he talking about?” I asked Trey. “Did something happen during the show tonight?”
“No,” Trey said. “Not exactly.”
“Maybe not this time,” Tytus said cryptically.
“Tytus, don’t make me drag it out of that giant skull of yours.” I took a step toward him, but it was Trey who spoke next.
“There were some vamps in the crowd tonight,” Trey said reluctantly. That news alone wasn’t totally alarming, but there was obviously more to the story.
“How many?” I demanded.
“A few,” he answered.
“Seven,” Tytus corrected. And there was that cocky edge that had been missing from his voice earlier.
“Seven?” Trey’s shoulders sank at the number. “How can we be sure you’re not with them?” he asked.
“Look, I was just as surprised to see them as you were,” Tytus said. “I spent the day trying to figure out how to approach you two. I was sitting in the parking lot of the arena tonight when a limo full of vampires passed by me. I didn’t follow them, for obvious reasons, but I watched them go inside. Let’s just say I have a feeling they weren’t there for the music.”
I opened my mouth to speak but wasn’t sure what to say.
“I saw two vamps at the last show, too,” Trey admitted, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. “And in the hotel this morning.”
I turned to face him in disbelief. “When were you going to tell me about this?”
“I was trying to figure out what they want from us first, or at least who sent them.”
“And tonight?” I asked. “Were you going to keep that from me, too?”
“What’s it to you?” I asked, turning on him. All of the pent up rage I had been fighting back was about to come flooding out. “You just show up here, out of the blue, and expect me to believe that you’re telling us all of this out of the goodness of your heart?”
“I can’t go back,” Tytus said simply. “After Malena....” He shook his head and then looked at Trey and I in turn. “Word got around that you went to Stanislav for help. Is it true that he really gave you his blood?”
He took my silence as confirmation and continued. “You guys are kind of a big deal, and not just in the ‘We’re famous’ kind of way that humans go for. The fact that Stanislav Vidic was willing to bleed himself to save you isn’t something vampires are going to forget about any time soon. And me, well, I was just part of the reason you needed saving to begin with. I’m not sure I’ll ever fit in there again.”
“I’m still not sure what this has to do with us,” I said evenly.
“Like I said before, I’m not completely without skills, and it seems to me like you’re in a bit of a mess. I didn’t know what I was going to say to you before today, but I guess now I’m here to offer my services.”
“I’m perfectly capable of tracking,” I retorted.
“I know that,” Tytus said. “But you have a band of vampires who are showing a little too much interest in you both. It sounds to me like you could use all the help you can get.”
“He might be right,” Trey said. The casual nature of his tone and the hard set of his jaw surprised me. I raised an eyebrow at him.
“Do I even want to know why you’re going along with this?” I asked. Trey turned to face me and I saw something like guilt and regret behind his eyes. “What? What is it?” I asked him, reaching up to touch his arm.
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