by W.J. May
Chapter 4
Rum Jungle
A cool breeze stirred, and Erebus shoved his hands deep into his coat pockets. He’d grown tired of running. He’d slowed to a jog and then finally to a walk, head down, watching one foot lead the other. Even if his conscience hadn’t registered it yet, he knew where he was going.
Leaving behind the crappy end of town with the hidden palace, he continued past tall office buildings towards Lake Street. He could already hear the sound of the waterfall from Falls Creek above the traffic noise.
Once inside the park, he could finally begin to breathe again. His feet took him towards the hundred-foot waterfall where he finally lifted his head. In the dark, he could see the white foam from the water. Falls Creek was the crowned jewel of the Ithaca gorges and for Erebus, his survival place. It was what had drawn him to Cornell in the first place.
He stared at the water, watching it fall without end. Kind of like my life. I’m falling, and it’s never going to end. There’s no way out of this. He sighed, his thoughts drifting to the one thing that had actually made him feel different for the first time in a very, very long time. I need to stay away from Aurora. The meeting gave proof to that. If she ever found out, she’d be the girl tied to the chair. Even if that were miraculously avoided, she’d never be able to comprehend who, or what, he was.
Coty had given him good advice. He had to be careful. It was clear as day Shadows weren’t allowed to interact with humans, except to use them. Their entire being cried out for simple, instant lustful gratification. Hell would hold no terror against the Night Court if they heard a Shadow was looking for love. They’d never believe it, anyways. Shadows had no idea what love could even mean.
Why did he have to be so damn different? Like Coty, the rest of the Shadow world had no problem living the high life. He couldn’t imagine one of them that was different like him.
Thinking of the others, he was reminded of a certain female Shadow who would create mayhem if she ever found him with a human. Nanny would destroy him if she even considered the possibility he could love a mortal. Nanny could probably do more damage than the five Night Council queens combined.
He settled onto a wooden bench that overlooked the waterfall. Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees and made a conscious effort to think like Coty.
Keep it simple. Hang out, have some fun, then leave. People had relationships with no strings attached. Other Shadows did it all the time, and so could he.
If I feel I’m getting in too deep, I can leave. Find a new spot, a new waterfall. He’d never been to Niagara Falls; maybe a stint in Canada might be a good change of pace.
A repeated vibration brought his thoughts back to where he was. He pulled his phone out and flipped the screen on. He already knew who it was. Aurora had sent another text.
Aaron Buss, this is my last text. I know this is the right number. Drank toooo many spiced rum n cokes. R U ignoring me? My gals think U R a ghost.
Despite the events of the evening, the corners of Erebus’ mouth twitched upwards. First a vampire and now a ghost, what was going to be next?
Screw responsibility. He’d act like a Shadow tonight and not care about the repercussions. There wouldn’t be any. He’d get a taste of Aurora and simply walk away before dawn. Once he had a taste, it would be enough.
He rose and started jogging towards Lake Street to hail a cab.
Erebus leaned against the bar inside the Rum Jungle. He ordered a Molson Canadian and a pitcher of Captain Morgan and Coke. The place was already packed with people, music blaring, and the dance floor crowded. He watched the dance floor a few moments and then scanned the room as he waited for the bartender. If he didn’t see Aurora he’d drink the beer and then leave. His heart sped up erratically when he spotted her. She stood, laughing with a group of girls on the other side of the dance floor.
He held his breath while he admired her body, unnoticed from across the room. Iridescent sparkles from her tank top drew his gaze to her round, perky breasts. Black jeans fit tight against her toned legs and buttocks. His body ached with a primal desire. He wanted to touch her, to experience the feel of her creamy skin and see if it heated from his contact.
His eyes traveled from her hands up to her slender shoulders. She liked to talk with her hands. She wore her hair straight tonight, making him wonder if it was naturally curly. They’d have to spend the night together for him to find that out. He reminded himself to blink and breathe. He was getting way ahead of himself.
The bartender brought his order, which he paid for, and out of habit, included a large tip. He checked himself in the mirror behind the bar before turning. His dark hair rested in place, hardly mussed from the run to find a cab. He was surprised to see his steel eyes actually looked shiny tonight, and he had no idea why.
He wore a dark green polo. He undid an extra button to look more relaxed, relieved he’d checked his coat at the door. He looked down to make sure his black pants and shoes weren’t dirty. Noting everything was clean, he grabbed the drinks and sauntered over to Aurora.
“Excuse me, ladies. The bartender suggested you might need another round.” He stood behind Aurora and bent forward to set the pitcher on their table, inhaling her tantalizing perfume as his face brushed by her hair.
“Aaron, you came!” She jumped up to hug him. Wobbling from intoxication or her high heels, she leaned into him for support, pressing their bodies together. Instinct made him bring his arms firmly around her tiny waist. Unable to resist, he dropped his head down to place a light, tender kiss on her lips.
Both stepped back in surprise, although Aurora kept hold of his hand as she moved. He liked the feel of her soft skin against his. For once, he didn’t have the notion to pull away.
“Hey, girls, this is Aaron Buss. See, he’s not a ghost!” She stepped back towards him, leaning her weight against his frame. He grinned and, in the back of his mind, wondered if he might ever tell her his real name. Aaron sounded so much better, especially when she said it.
“Hi.” He glanced at her friends, but his concentration focused on the heat from Aurora’s body searing against his.
“Silly me.” Aurora tapped her forehead. “Sorry, these are my gal-pals. Ally, Brianna, and my roommate, Tori.” She pointed with her free hand. Ally had dark hair and a cute nose. Her face lit up when Aurora said her name. Tori was tall, thin, and stunningly beautiful. Gotta be a model. He made a mental note to not introduce her to Coty. Brianna looked petite but sporty. She wore jeans and trainers and had her hair in a ponytail. She looked the least shy of them all and knew how to dress casual.
“Nice to meet you.” Erebus didn’t know what else to say. For a split second, he wished Coty was there. He’d know exactly what to say to make the girls laugh. “I should have brought glasses with the pitcher.” He took a swig of beer to wet his dry mouth.
“Not to worry. We can just refill the ones we have. Come sit and relax with us.” Tori patted a vacant barstool beside her.
“How ‘bout Aurora sits, and I’ll stand behind her?” He lifted Aurora onto the stool, then put his arms around her so she had to lean back against him. She didn’t mind at all. She smelled of perfume and lime from the drinks. It was the most intoxicating smell he’d ever inhaled.
A retro-dance remix from an old Cindy Lauper song started playing. The three girls jumped off their stools and screamed in unison.
“Dance floor, right now!” squealed Tori.
“We’ll stay here and save the seats.” Aurora said to her girlfriends’ backsides. Erebus settled onto Tori’s empty stool. They both grinned, staring at each other for a few moments.
“You didn’t answer any of my texts today.” She pouted. Erebus licked his lips as he stared at her lower, protruding lip. He briefly wondered if she pouted because of the amount of alcohol she’d consumed or if she was simply pretending to look sad.
“Sorry. I got up late and didn’t check my phone until early this evening.” That wasn’t a compl
ete lie.
“Right. So you’re more of a night person?”
You have no idea. “I’m here now if that counts.”
“Definitely.” She grinned and reached out to brush his hand lightly with her fingers. She hesitated before slowly pulling her hand back, resting it under the table.
“I’m glad.” Could I sound any more idiotic? Say something intelligent. She’s scanning the dance floor for her friends. “Do you want to dance?”
Aurora’s blue-green eyes swung back to his face. He watched her argue her response through her facial expressions. Her mouth and eyes popped open, then she closed her mouth and exhaled. She tilted her head slightly and grinned.
“I’d rather sit here with you.”
“Or we could stand on the dance floor together. I have this vision of you as a teenager -- dressing like Cindy Lauper and dancing in front of your bedroom mirror.”
She dropped her head back and laughed. He loved the sound. It wasn’t some light, whimsical sound. It came out deep and throaty, straight from her core.
“Though I am more of a Katie Perry fan, I think the entire female population has danced to ’Girls Just Want to Have Fun’ at least once in their lifetime.”
“Well then, what are we waiting for?” Pushing his barstool back, he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the dance floor.
“You’re too good to be true. I don’t know any guy willing to stand up and dance in front of some girls he’s just met.”
“I’m trying to impress you, and since I don’t know your friends, I’ve nothing to lose.” He couldn’t believe how bold he spoke. It wasn’t like him and he kind of liked it. He shouldered his way towards the center of the floor, keeping Aurora close to his side. He watched the hungry looks from the guys around them as he held her in his arms. He felt the build-up of a new, strange sensation inside of him. He wondered what it was.
All he knew was when he had the chance, he planned on kissing her so hard it took her breath away.
They reached Aurora’s friends.
“Do you dance? Or are you going to just stand there staring at Aurora?” Tori had a teasing note in her voice.
Filled with a unique feeling of confidence, Erebus winked at Tori when he reluctantly pulled his eyes away from Aurora.
“Aurora, you don’t mind if I take Tori for a quick spin?” He offered Tori his hand when Aurora nodded. He then focused on the model, trying his hardest to impress her with his dancing skills. He led her through ballroom steps at an upbeat pace.
A lifetime of evening dance classes were finally paying off. Years ago, Coty had convinced him to go to the classes with him. Coty went to pick up chicks; Erebus actually wanted to learn how to dance. He’d continued with every different type of dance class, long after Coty grew bored with it.
“Where’d you learn moves like these?” Aurora had stopped moving to gawk at him. He noticed only Tori and he were now dancing in their little circle. He released her and reached for Aurora.
“Dance classes.” Forty years of them to be exact.
Another retro-eighties song blared through the speakers. Erebus turned his focus on Aurora as the rest of the people in the bar disappeared.
An hour later the group of five became a group of six. Coty found Erebus just before last call. Aurora’s three friends drank him up, unable to resist his charisma. Once the bar closed, they ended up at Aurora and Tori’s apartment for one more round.
They all stood laughing and chatting in the living room. “Have a seat,” Aura said. “Tori and I’ll grab some drinks.”
“Hey, Aurora?” Coty called out, winking at Erebus. “You’re so young. How’d they let you into the bar? Don’t you have, like, another year before you’re legal?”
“Ha ha, funny guy. Fake ID,” she teased. “And I don’t look young.” “Yes, you do,” Coty and Erebus said at the same time.
“Double Funny. Did you boys practice that on the walk over?” Tori called from the kitchen. “Did Ereb-Aaron tell you I taught him how to dance?” Coty dropped onto the couch in the
dimly lit living room. Ally and Brianna sat on either side of him. Erebus headed for the leather- worn ottoman. Aurora and Tori grabbed drinks from their kitchen.
“He mentioned he took dance lessons.” Aurora walked over and dropped onto Erebus’ lap, taking a swig of his beer before handing it to him. He laughed at the grimace on her face as she swallowed.
“Not a beer connoisseur?” He liked the feel of her firm bottom on his thighs.
She shook her head and giggled. “With the amount of alcohol I’ve consumed tonight, you’d think it would be fine. But, nope. Don’t like beer. I’ll stick to the lady drinks.” She rested her head on his shoulder.
They talked and joked around with each other. Played a few terrible rounds of cards and ended up sticking cards to their foreheads and trying to guess their own numbers.
Eventually Erebus and Aurora ended up back in the same ottoman as the beginning of the night. Relaxed, Erebus’ hand involuntarily brushed strands of hair from her face. He was drunk with desire for her. He felt her body begin to relax as he ran his fingers through it. Her breathing slowed. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from the arresting features of her face, not even hearing Coty call his name several times.
“Aaron. AARON. EREBUS!”
Irritated, Erebus shook his head to focus on his friend. “What?”
“I think it’s time we get going. It’s getting close to five o’clock, and these beautiful ladies need to rest. If we overstay our welcome, we won’t be invited back.”
Erebus didn’t want to agree. His brain told him one thing, but his body was begging for something else – someone else.
“You get going. I can meet you in an hour.” Wait! Sunrise’s at 5:32 today. He groaned with the weight of the reality from his thoughts. “Shit. I’m coming. I’ll meet you downstairs in ten minutes.”
“Five minutes.” Coty turned to the three ladies who were now sleeping on the couch. “G’night, gems. I’ll definitely be seeing you again.” He walked out the door without looking back.
“Aurora.” Erebus whispered her name as he wrapped his arms under her body. As he shifted to stand up, he noticed she felt almost weightless – fragile. She nestled closer into him and sighed. He headed down the hall, unsure which room was hers. He silently kicked the first door open and looked in the room. Designer clothes and magazines were strewn about the floor and furniture. Model’s room.
He moved down to the end of the hall and pushed the last door open with his shoulder. This room appeared neat and organized. Shelves of books against three walls, a queen-size bed against the far wall with a picture above it. The blown-up photo stopped him in his tracks. It was of Falls Creek, at night. He stared in wonder at it, to the girl in his arms, and back to the picture.
Torn, he finally laid Aurora down on the bed. Light as she felt, she easily pulled him down with her, and he tumbled onto the bed. Resting an elbow beside her pillow, he leaned forward to taste her lips. Her hands entwined into his hair as a warm sigh escaped her soft mouth.
“Stay. Stay the night,” she murmured between kisses.
“It’s pretty much morning. I can’t.” Was there a torture any sweeter than this? “I’ll call you tonight. Maybe we can go for a coffee.” He dragged himself away from her lips, her scent, and her bed. He grabbed the duvet at the end of the bed and covered her. Backing out of the room, he watched her eyes flutter closed, a small smile on her face.
He found Coty outside the three-story apartment building. They started walking towards Lake Street.
“What’s wrong with you,” Coty hissed. “Are you trying to get into trouble?”
“I thought you were having a good time tonight.”
“You need to stay away from that girl.”
“What?” Erebus stopped momentarily in his tracks.
Coty shook his head but kept moving. “This can only lead to trouble. Get out before you get yourself in too deep.”
Erebus started walking again, his long strides easily catching up to Coty. “I can handle myself.”
“This is different. I’ve never seen you like that before.”
Erebus rubbed his neck and looked away. “What’s wrong with having fun? You do.” Coty poked him in the arm. “I don’t do this.”
“I’m not stopping.” I can’t stop.
“As your friend, I’m telling you this is going to end you. I’ll have to tell Janus.” Coty checked his watch, his pace quickening. “Look, it’s too late to talk about it now. I need to find a bus stop. There isn’t one on this road until we hit Lake Street.” He took off running fast, like he was being chased by time itself.
Erebus could feel anxiety tightening in his chest. He pulled on his collar, his eyes darting everywhere as he searched for a pay phone. Looking everywhere, he clenched and unclenched his fists. Short gasps escaped as spittle ran down his chin.
He finally spotted a phone booth near the next intersection, beside a Kentucky Fried Chicken. Apprehension made his feet break into a run. He could sense the sunrise just at his back. Aurora completely forgotten, he leaned into the booth like a sprinter at the finish line of a race.
The sun broke through, casting a thin, small wisp of a shadow onto the pavement, behind the phone booth.