by Sammie J
He flinches and jumps four foot in the air, landing on his size eleven Doc Martins, backing away from her with his hands held out in front of him in mock surrender. He stutters, “No...I..feel ok now. I..just need some air.” His head turns to the exit, he gapes back at us frightened as hell and suddenly runs for it.
My shoulders shake as I let out a throaty laugh, trying so hard to hold it in as we all stare at the door Cruz has just burst through. “Should I go after him and make sure he is ok?” This comes from Lara who has taken a step in the direction of the exit door.
Saul rests a hand on her arm shaking his head, “No, it’s ok, I will go. I don’t think he will appreciate you seeing him spewing his guts up.” He turns to me with a shit eating grin on his face, “Phone me later to make sure I’m still alive. I’ve been waiting a long time for this and I’m going to have fun winding the bastard up.”
I grin at my brother and nod my head, my shoulders are still shaking with silent laughter and I watch him walk away. A voice cuts through the air and my mood changes as I face the man who has made Peppa’s life hell.
Noah inherited his father’s looks, but Donald has streaks of grey running through his hair and you can see signs of him going bald in places. He has wrinkles that make him look older than he is and he is a lot slimmer than Noah. The one thing that is different from Noah’s warm brown eyes is Donald hard, cold, ice blue ones that bore into me with hate.
“What the hell happened? I hope you realize tonight’s loses will be coming out of your pay packets.” I shrug my shoulders not wanting to get into a conversation with him.
“Lara, will you please go to the bar and order me a drink? My usual tipple please and wait for me there. I just need a quick word with John.” Donald’s eyes stay on me when he gives Lara her orders.
“Daddy it's Juan, and please behave.” Donald waves his hand dismissing her, “Young lady, be gone with you.” She scurries off to do his bidding.
His features darken when he speaks at me, “How much is she worth to you John?” I keep my face free from emotion, he wants a reaction from me but he’s not getting it.
“It’s Juan, but you already know that don’t you? I don’t play games Donald so get to the point.”
His mouth starts to form into a sneer and he pulls something out from the inside of his suit jacket, “I can write a cheque for you right now, just name your price. I want Peppa to suffer like she has caused us to suffer by taking Noah away from us. Losing you will do that and I will enjoy watching the bitch fall to pieces. You not taking this money will mean you’re involved too, and imagine the headlines. I can destroy you and Viper with a click of my fingers. The papers will be full of you being arrested for the kidnapping of my son. Did you know I can have pictures made of you fucking other women and taking drugs? Imagine Peppa’s face at seeing them. Is her cunt made of gold that you will go down with her, or does my tempting offer have you walking away?”
Anger twists and turns inside of me but the only outer signs of it are my fists that are clenched into balls as no emotion at his words show on my face. I have to think fast on my feet and what I come up with is partly true and I slyly answer him with, “You really are one twisted, evil bastard and your hatred is aimed at the wrong person. Destroy Viper and you destroy Noah. You can keep your blackmailing money as Peppa and I are no longer together.”
I turn to leave as I have the urge to rip his throat out, but turn back to him and lean in to whisper, “If anything happens to Peppa, the police will hear about this conversation and then I will enjoy reading the headlines.” I slap him on the back and glance over at Lara and wave, “You have such a beautiful daughter, imagine if she ended up with someone like me.”
I stroll away from him then, laughing, but that soon dies down as my thoughts then start to build as everything starts crashing down on me. My head feels like it’s going to explode with all this guilt I feel inside. How much more can I take? By telling Donald there is no Peppa and I, I at least hoped he will back off and leave Peppa alone. I don’t even notice Saul when I walk out into the nights air, “Juan, wait! Are you coming back to Jade’s with me to see Noah?”
I don’t even check to see if any people are still hanging around, I use my vampire speed to get out of there and the words, “They are better off without me” leave my mouth. My actions are the same as the night before and I find myself on top of the same hill after feeding from Dolly. Donald’s statement plays over and over and I bury my head in my hands. I start pulling at my hair at the frustration of it all. A part of me thinks it will be easier if I'm not around. I come to the conclusion that if I have to stand on the sidelines and watch her from afar I will, but I can’t walk away from Peppa or Noah. My phone starts chirping at me, it’s about the sixth time tonight and I read the messages from Saul and decide it’s time to head back and talk to Noah about a few matters.
When I reach Jade’s, Noah is in his room and when I open the door he is lying on his bed and I’m knocked back a step with his emotions. By the time I’ve straighten myself a fist contacts with my face and another one lands in my gut. “Don’t you dare say I’m better off without you.” Thanks for that Saul.
Another fist is aimed at my face, but I grab it this time and start to push Noah back until he falls on the bed. “Noah, something happened tonight, will you please calm down and listen.”
He glares at me, I can see the anger is still riding him but he nods his head for me to continue. I take a seat on the edge of the bed and I rub my forehead, before I can say a word the door crashes open and Saul storms in and I stand up quickly, “Saul, I’m sorry I caused you to worry, I’m finding matters hard right now and tonight Donald Blaise just added more flames to the fire.”
I duck as his hand comes forward but instead of a fist making contact I’m pulled into him. “I’m glad you are ok brother, I would be broken if you were gone.”
Before I can process his words I get a whiff of a scent that lingers on him and push him away from me in confusion, “You smell like Peppa.”
He sighs, “I just came from there. I didn’t know where you were and you weren’t answering my texts.”
Noah says the words that are about to fly from my mouth, “Is she ok?”
A smile spreads on his face, “If her reaction to my words are anything to go by, she still cares. Hang in there brother. Give her time.”
Noah’s arm snakes around my waist and he leans into me, “She will come back to us.”
Before I can even think on that, Saul brings up the subject of Donald and I set myself down on the bed again and begin to tell them both about what happened between Donald and I. As for the Cruz and Lara situation, I decide not to give Noah that bit of information yet as hearing what his father proposed makes him angry enough. Saul told me I played it well and didn’t think there would be any come back, but he will keep an eye on the newspaper side of things.
Noah remained quiet and after Saul left us, we lie together talking it all through again. Noah made it very clear he wanted out of this room so he can sort his father out. A few more trips out are planned so he can learn how to control his hunger. I know it isn't going to be long before he will be free to go out on his own. Like he said he is a stubborn bastard and he not only wanted to have a talk with his father, he wanted to be with Peppa again.
When we awoke the next night I offer my wrist to Noah but he refuses. He wants to go out and test himself around humans. I try to tell him I didn’t think he was ready, but he tells me to fuck off and that if I didn’t go with him he will go out on his own. I didn’t have long until I needed to be on stage so I take us to the nearest park and we both sit down on a bench watching the world go by. A few people jogged past, Noah even stroked a dog and holds a conversation with the owner.
It isn’t until a couple walk past and the woman has the same color hair as Peppa, that he struggles to control himself. He pushes himself away from the bench to stand and starts striding after them. I'm just about to rush af
ter him when he turns around and strolls back to me muttering, “I can do this!”
His fangs have dropped and he clenches his fists so tight I can see the blue veins bulging in his neck. He slumps back down next to me and leans closer into me so he can rest his head on my shoulder. “Take my wrist Noah.”
“No, I need to do this…” And that’s all I hear before he is gone. I hear a scream not too far away and follow the noise. When I take in the sight, Noah has his arm around a woman jogger who is struggling to get away.
I put my hand on his shoulder and calmly say, “Noah, let the lady go.”
His head moves slightly to glance at the woman and then me, surprise shows on his face, “Oh shit, oh fuck Juan she smelled like Peppa, I thought it was her.”
I start talking to the woman so her eyes are fixed on mine, “I’m so sorry. My friend mistook you for someone he has lost.” I start to pull Noah away from her as the woman is now under my spell. “You will carry on jogging and forget everything that happened in the last ten minutes.” She blinks a few times and I grab Noah and start to march away.
“Fuck, Juan I swear I wasn’t going to bite her, her scent tempted me that’s all.”
I don’t say anything to Noah I just take us back to Jade’s.
When we are safely back in his room I finally speak, “I know you want out of here Noah, but you need a little more time as tonight has proved. You can’t attack women who might resemble Peppa, or wear the same perfume as her. I can’t take the risk of you losing it.”
Noah opens his mouth to say something but I shove my wrist into it and tell him to drink. He sighs into it but bites down and starts feeding and I can sense his unhappiness. While he fed, I am hit with another feeling, which is of relief. I know it isn’t Noah so it has to come from Peppa. All I have felt before is her pain so something had to have changed for her. I can only hope it is a good change and that I will be seeing her soon.
I said goodbye to Noah and wished I had stayed with him when I'm greeted by flashing lights and camera crews at tonight’s venue. After fighting my way through the crowd, who are booing and screaming out obscenities at me, I have a microphone literally shoved in my mouth and questions thrown at me.
“Juan, do you care that you have let your fans down?”
“Is it true that Hans finally quit The Duel so he can join Viper?”
You fucking what? What the hell is going on? I just glared at the female reporter slack jawed while shaking my head at her in disbelief. Screams go up again and I hear a voice up front saying, “We are sorting it out, but I need my drummer to do that, so let me through.”
Cruz’s arm appears around my shoulders and he dazzles the reporter with his smile and then he gets the microphone treatment. “Cruz can you tell us what is going on?” Cruz gives her his sexiest smile and strokes her hand that holds the microphone to his mouth.
Someone shouts out Cruz’s name and a pretty brunette steps forward. “Cruz do you remember me? We meet about five months ago.”
Cruz smiles and says, “How can I forget a beautiful little thing like you?”
The woman stares at him smugly and pulls something out of her bag, “Good, then let me introduce you to your baby.” and she thrusts a piece of paper in his hands.
Cruz’s face turns as white as his hair, it also contorts with shock and he peers down at what is in his hands. The reporter turns her questions to the woman and I know I have to get Cruz out of here. This is about to blow up in his face.
I don’t know if the fans are in shock as well, but as soon as I step towards them, and push a few to move, they part like the red sea and let us through.
I heard women’s voices shout out, “Cruz I want your baby!”
“Me too Cruz! You can impregnate me anytime!”
When we finally reach the door, Saul is standing there waiting. He lets us in and locks the doors behind us. “What the hell is going on out there?”
I gape at Saul, lost for words and just shrug my shoulders, but Cruz quietly says, “I’m going to be a dad.”
Saul does a double take and mouths to me, "What the fuck." Then turns to Cruz and says, “Come here and show me that.”
Cruz gingerly walks over and hands Saul the piece of paper.
Saul inspects every inch of it and chuckles, “You fucking idiot, don’t you remember Jacob telling us that this could happen? That if it did you needed to check the name and hospital printed on the photo because you can buy them online and women will do this to get money out of you.”
Cruz actually appears upset and sullen, “The bitch lied about it being my baby? For what? Money?”
Saul puts a hand on his shoulder, “Cruz, I doubt there is even a baby. Leave it with me and I will sort it out.”
Cruz actually shocks me with his next words, “I would be a great dad.”
I really don’t know what to say to that so I change the subject, “Why was I asked if Hans is joining the band again? And what the hell happened to playing tonight?”
Saul starts to pace the floor, “It appears our plan has been rumbled. The manager,” he said, pointing over to a large man who is standing behind the bar, “said he received a phone call from a woman saying Viper had been involved in a car crash and wouldn’t be able to make it tonight. And I have no idea where the Hans thing came from, but from what I heard outside it appears he has officially quit his band.”
My mind starts to swirl and images flash in my mind of people who could be behind this. I didn’t intend to say it out loud, but I did, “It has to be someone close to Noah. This has Jacob written all over it in my opinion, but who is he working with?”
Cruz lets out a huff, “And you wonder why I don’t want to be Entwined, and to a human no less. It’s brought nothing but trouble to our door since you met Peppa and Entwined with her and Noah.”
My anger roars and I storm over to Cruz to rearrange his face while saying, “Think about it you twat. Lara is Noah’s sister and like it or not, you are involved in all this. You will make Lara yours eventually and Donald Blaise will be on your ass like a dog in heat. You will be number one on the wanted list when he finds out you are involved with his precious daughter. So, shut the fuck up, because when your time comes, you are going to need us.”
Cruz snarls at me flashing a bit of fang and I’m rewarded with a double middle finger. Saul steps in between us and gets us both to agree to go back to Jade’s to talk more about upcoming gigs. We ended up going out the back way, but the van is surrounded. It is a circus out there. Cruz is asked, “How do you feel about being a dad?”
The fans are angry. I didn’t blame them really, but it isn’t our fault and there is no need for them to throw empty soda cans or fag butts at us. We kept our calm and our mouths shut and managed to get out of there, dreading what tomorrow’s headlines will bring. We all sit down that night and decided the only way forward is to be honest with the venues and the world. So, while Saul phoned up the papers to tell them our story, Jade phoned the venues for this week to clear a few facts up and we all kept our fingers crossed that Viper will be playing again.
That night, lying next to Noah, he sent a text off to Peppa, and even though I don’t believe in God, I sent a little wish up above that she will be in our arms again soon. When Noah and I awake, he takes a little blood from me to keep him going. I tell him that we will stroll around town after the gig tonight. When we walked out for me to leave, Saul is standing behind Jade, dry humping her, while she is bent over giggling at what she is reading. I cough, but I know Saul is ignoring me as he carries on and I say, “Having fun brother?”
Jade straightens up and slaps Saul’s hands away and he gives me the middle finger, “I would be if I had her naked and tied to my bed.”
Jade slaps him on the chest, giving him a stern look, “Now, now, what happens in the bedroom stays in the bedroom.” A smile starts to spread across her face, “And if you’re a good boy, I might stick my vibrator up your ass again.” She shrieks with laught
er at Saul’s shocked face and darts to the side of him to escape, “Oh you little…”
I turn away from them and glance down at the table to let them get on with their snogging session. Noah walks up behind me and does a little dry humping of his own and then picks up a newspaper. “You are kidding me, CRUZ’S OWN BABY VIPER. Look at his face, you would think he has just been told someone is dying.”
Noah lifts the paper to show me the photo of a very shocked looking Cruz. I didn’t need to see it as I was there but I looked anyway. I picked up one of the papers myself as the headline caught my attention and I read it out loud, VIPER FANS VENOM AT CANCELLED SHOWS. After reading the article it seems a few fans have decided to boycott us and have declared us a bunch of wankers. They go on to say we didn’t care about the small people. One fan, if you can call her that, claims: “We the fans made them big, they should remember that because without us they are nothing.” She does have a point but she doesn’t know she is dealing with vampires who can make the fans adore them again if we wanted to.
Saul grabs my attention when he snaps the paper out of my hand, “We need to get going, if we still have any fans to play to.” His smile contradicts his words, “I'm being sarcastic Juan, and Viper will be ok. When the news comes out about the band being sabotaged, they will feel sorry for us. It’s a win-win situation.”
Noah speaks next, “I bloody hope so as Devil Records will suffer as well. So you better move your asses and show your fans that you do care and rock their worlds.”
I hate the thought of Noah losing anything because of me, or the band, and I will do anything to not let that happen. I stalk over to him and grab him by the front of his shirt, “You will not lose anything, not on my watch.” I slant my lips over his and nibble his bottom lip until he opens for me and I let my tongue do all the talking. After Saul and I say our goodbyes to our lovers, we are shocked when we reach the place we are playing at. There is press everywhere, but there is also security guards who help us get inside without any hassle. It seems Cruz has been doing his own thing for the band and phoned Donald Blaise, threatening him with Viper quitting if he didn’t send some manpower in to help us. He does love us sometimes.