The Stage

by Catherine Russell

  He looked at my hand with raised eyebrows. “Are you sure about that?” Yes, it was silly, but I couldn’t resist: I stuck my tongue out at him.

  “Tease,” he mockingly called out. I rolled my eyes as I made my way in.

  The elevator doors opened as I grabbed my keys. Once inside my door I went straight to my bedroom, reaching for my dresser. In the dim light from the hallway I opened my mother’s heart-shaped jewelry box. My mother’s birthday had been on Valentines Day.

  Nestled in the bottom of the box was the pendant. I flipped the bathroom light on, blinking at the brightness. The clasp shut easily and I looked in the mirror. The pendant hung just right. I’d forgotten how blue it was.

  I snapped the light off, grabbed my purse, and turned to close my door.

  “Megan?”

  I whipped around, startled by Chase’s appearance. I hadn’t expected to see him. He quickly pulled his own door closed.

  “What’s up, Chase?” I locked my door, ready to go.

  “Wow… I didn’t recognize you.” He stood there just staring at me, his eyes obviously taking in more than I was comfortable with. I’d forgotten I had my costume on.

  “Yeah, well, it’s Halloween. What can I say? Pepper got a hold of me.” I floundered for words as his eyes swept up and down.

  “Pepper MacAfee? From the band?” His eyes popped with questions.

  “Yeah, she went a little overboard.” I rolled my eyes. I tried to glance nonchalantly at my watch. We were cutting it close, he’d better wrap it up.

  Would you like some assistance with your admirer? I heard inside.

  My eyes lifted to the elevator doors, and there he stood, in all his Halloween bad-boy glory. He’d put on his floor-length cape. It billowed behind him as he made his way toward us, stage strut and all.

  I tore my eyes off of him long enough to notice Chase’s fifteenth-century friar’s robe costume. His blonde hair and blue eyes almost made him look like a young monk, all angelic.

  “Cute costume, Chase.” I smiled politely.

  “Ah… thanks. A bunch of us from my old frat house are going as the Benedictine Monks.” He reached up to the neckline, pulling at it. “But this wool on my neck is rough. I swear it’s going to make me bleed.” He chuckled.

  I stifled the small giggle, tried to escape seeing the look on Geoffrey’s face.

  I could alleviate his neck problem. He smiled innocently, as he slid up to my side, wrapping his arm around me.

  “Oh, hi, Geoffrey,” Chase stuttered, taking a step back.

  “Good evening, Chase,” he said ever-so-politely.

  He turned to me, and jokingly said, “You know, you’re awfully short.”

  “Oh crap, my boots. Thanks. I totally forgot.” I pushed the door open, quickly leaving the two of them in a Mexican standoff.

  Boots, boots, where are those damn boots? Yes, here they were! I tried to speed-lace them up, and I could’ve sworn I’d left them in the other room.

  I stepped out into the hallway with the polar opposites staring at each other. Chase was obviously much more unnerved. Geoffrey just grinned his beautiful bright whites, a little smug.

  His eyes unmoving from Chase, he took my hand. “Ready to go, then?”

  “Yep.” I rocked back on my heels, feeling the tension between them.

  “Chase.” He nodded once.

  “Geoffrey,” Chase squeaked out, then glanced at me. “See you there then. And Meg… you look great.”

  Awkward!

  “Well that was eye-opening, if I may say so,” he snarled as we got into his car.

  “Oh my God, there was so much testosterone I was going to drown. What is it with you?”

  He wove between two slower cars, making me very nervous. I caught him spying at me from the corner of my eye.

  “My apologies. The more I’m with you, more of the human side of me resurfaces, and it’s not all sunbeams and rainbows.”

  “Well it’s nice to hear that, actually.” He raised his eyebrow at my lame crack at wisdom.

  “It’s nice to know that it’s in you.” We both smiled.

  I was thinking of work as I got in the car, and that brought up a question, one that I’d filed away. But with tonight being Halloween, it itched to be asked.

  “So how many sets will you be doing tonight?” The stop lights changed to red and we were waiting.

  “Probably three or four, depends on how packed it is.” We moved forward through the green light as the last person scurried across the street in front of us.

  “With tonight being Halloween, the place’ll be busy, no doubt. Lots of regulars, and a good-size portion of new customers. Ash is sure to love that.”

  I had another question, but wasn’t sure how to bring it up.

  “What are you tip-toeing around? You’ve got a question I can’t hear.” He glanced at me, and kissed our intertwined fingers, trying to relax me.

  Okay I’ll just ask it; the curiosity getting the best of me.

  Will there be others tonight? I silently asked. I felt a little embarrassed at not saying it aloud.

  I looked down and fidgeted with my outfit. We’d stopped at another light.

  “It’s all right if you ask, Meg. I’d rather you ask than assume something. Whatever questions you have, I’ll always answer truthfully. Even without our link I couldn’t lie to you. You mean too much to me to offend you by lying.”

  “Thanks,” I said softly, looking up at him.

  “You’re welcome. To answer your curiosity, yes. I’m sure some of the community will be there, but not until later on in the evening.”

  A second question came to mind.

  “Yes?” he asked, having heard my thought.

  “About that, do they normally come in later? At first I thought I was imagining it, the first few weeks. The others, they come in around an hour or so before closing, right?”

  “You are observant, I’ll give you that, and yes they do. They try to avoid being there in the thick of it. But if things get iffy,” his voice quoted the air as we parked in the back alley, “then we go downstairs where we can relax and take care of our…”

  “Thirst?” I offered trying to relax his stiff words.

  “Yes, thirst.”

  He looked at me, waiting for the reaction that didn’t come. His words just brought more questions, no fear.

  “You’re just full of inquiries tonight, aren’t you?” he smiled, pulling up one

  corner of his delicious lips, momentarily distracting me. That would have to wait. I had one more question before we went inside.

  “Downstairs, will I be able to come down to see you?” My own safety wasn’t my concern; my own burning curiosity was to go back down to where it all occurred, where the puzzle pieces had come together.

  “Ah… yes. Well, not everyone who frequents downstairs is as well-behaved as we are. You understand that we don’t feed on your kind.” His voice was relaxed, but his eyes were just a bit tight with worry.

  “The viruses we carry can be deadly, but there are those among us that look upon your kind, humans, as only that… food. We don’t. Only a select portion of others come to enjoy the company of humans.”

  “So, let me see if I understand this. The downstairs is for vampires that want to mingle with humans, but they don’t feed on them.”

  “Yes, but we still have to remain hidden. Those who come are restrained among humans. They can resist the aroma of fresh blood. Though don’t underestimate them, we are all still predators in the flesh.” His eyes held me in that statement, and I understood why. I needed to know this for my own protection. Yet I knew he’d never let anything happen to me. He smiled, having heard my thought.

  As we pulled up to The Stage we saw the crowds had swelled, overflowing to the sidewalks. He felt my nerves kick into
high gear.

  “You can do this.”

  “But I don’t like being on stage, in front of so many.” I was wishing for my own carved pumpkin and candy bowl at home right now.

  “That’s not what I was talking about.” A childhood image of myself, dancing as a ghost, flashed before my eyes.

  “Let’s go have fun!” His happiness and energy were instantly inviting. What could happen in a bar, on Halloween, with a bunch of vampires, right?

  Let’s pretend I didn’t say that.

  Chapter 12

  Right on time and on cue, the doors opened and the long lines of waiting people quickly filled The Stage to capacity. It was by far our busiest night yet. The Goth rockers, fairy princesses, and devils rubbed shoulders along with mystical creatures and bad political jokers.

  A few mummies made their way in along with the traditional werewolves, witches, and of course vampires, but now I looked at them a bit differently. Even though Geoffrey wore a cape, no one else remotely looked like him; they were all strictly straight off the theater screens from a bad B-movie.

  Throughout the night, “I vant to suck your blood” could be heard over and over again at the bar and in the masses of bodies grinding to the music. Little did they know just how close they truly were to the real thing.

  My tray hadn’t been empty all night, plus I was rolling in the tips. Every now and then he’d find me from the main stage; his voice rang above the rafters tonight. He seemed electrified, more alive than I’d ever seen him. As I watched him, I found myself thinking I just dreamt it all, that he was just a normal guy, a member of the band, not a vampire. Even thinking the word, I stuttered mentally. Tonight he looked so alive. On this night he could actually be himself, whereas everyone else got to pretend. He and the others had to pretend the entire year. God, that had to be exhausting, pretending to be someone else all the time.

  Their music was more haunting than ever, and Pepper’s voice added that extra tease to the vocals. Geoffrey sauntered across the stage repeatedly, and watching the women in the crowds swoon was a sight. It was easy to see he was enjoying himself. I kept my thoughts to myself the best I could, trying to work the crowd instead of staring at him.

  “So, how are we doing?” Ashleigh caught up with me on a run to the upper level. Her outfit looked like it was designed by Elvira herself; a skin-tight black dress which seemed to be painted on, shimmering with the slightest of movements. The neckline was cut so low you could see her belly piercing, which tonight seemed to have a diamond studded spider attached. And of course, nothing less than five-inch stilettos, with even more crystals covering the heels.

  Let’s not forget the talons at the end of her elegant hands. They were long enough to curve and looked sharp. They were black, of course, with an overlay of red lacquer, which made them look like she’d just sliced someone wide open.

  “Holy crap Ashleigh, your outfit… wow!” How could she walk or move, let alone breathe? She was truly a work of art. She did a double-take at mine and smiled.

  “And you clean up very nicely as well. I’m impressed.”

  “Don’t be, it wasn’t me. You can blame Pepper for this.” I adjusted the tight bustier.

  “It’s a compliment, girl, take it seriously. You look hot!”

  You do look ravishing tonight. His silent words came to lift my spirits. His slight touch to my shoulder told me I should have been watching my back.

  “As I was about to say before I was distracted, busy and that’s an understatement. It’s a smash success so far Ash. Ian and Dawn haven’t missed a beat yet, even the two witches have been pleasant tonight.”

  I glanced down toward Ian’s bar, where his two regular groupies hung on his every word. I’d made the mistake only once, mind you, to try to serve them and they all but ripped my throat out.

  ‘I’ll have to fill you in on those two. Geoffrey sent a thought my way with a side glance and tense smile.

  “You do that,” I said, raising my eyebrows. I couldn’t stop the goose bumps that broke out on my arms. For a brief moment I swear my world tilted on its axis. Was everyone a creature of the night?

  “Do what?” Ashleigh quipped, as she took a draw from the upper till.

  “He’s got to get ready for the next set,” I said, trying to look busy with the orders on my tray.

  “Aren’t you supposed to be joining them on this one?” She turned her attention to me, and handed my tray to the other girl working the upper level. I hadn’t caught her name, but I pointed out which drinks went where.

  “Yeah, I guess it’s time, huh?” My stomach was suddenly in knots. Ashleigh

  patted my shoulder, trying to give me some courage.

  “Hey, go have some fun… relax… smile.” It was easy for her to say. She was used to being in front, I was the preverbal wallflower, though she had tried through the years to put me in front, to help my self-confidence she always said.

  “Break a leg, babe!” Ashleigh winked her extra-long eyelashes at me, smiling all the while.

  “Where are Pepper and the guys?” I asked, as we wound our way through the crowd.

  With all the extra people in here tonight they’re taking extra care to behave, so they’re downstairs getting refills, said his voice in my head.

  “Oh okay.” I stepped up through the curtains, finding the darkness confusing at first. Geoffrey led me across all the equipment wires that were taped down to the stage, guiding me patiently. Pepper found us, and she was smiling ear-to-ear. Her eyes seemed to be glowing.

  “Are you ready?” He beamed like a proud parent.

  “As ready as I’ll ever be,” I said, and cringed.

  We made our way to the side stage as the DJ spliced songs, keeping the body heat and rhythm going. The others joined us, though I noticed Geoffrey kept us off to the side, more secluded.

  “I have something for you, since it’s your opening-night performance,” he grinned as my stomach tightened from the already hyper butterflies that had taken up residence.

  Just then Pepper came forward. She handed him a long, wide, rectangular box with a red satin bow on top.

  “Thanks, Pepper, perfect timing.”

  “Well of course.” She winked at me as she took Robert’s hand. They had all joined us in a semi-circle just inside the curtains.

  “For you, my lady.” He bowed low, then placed the box in my open arms. It wasn’t heavy at all. A faint fragrance caught my attention, and I felt my cheeks redden. With one slight pull he smoothly untied the bow and lifted the lid.

  “Oh my!” My breath caught at the sight of at least two dozen long-stemmed red roses surrounded by baby’s breath, wrapped with a long red satin ribbon. Dewdrops still clung to the deep green leaves and blood-red petals, glistening like small diamonds.

  I was speechless. No one had ever given me roses like these. I tilted my head back to keep the tears from falling, in fear of ruining my makeup. The scent was thick and heady, wrapping around all of us.

  Pepper smiled sweetly, winking at Geoffrey. I lost my voice so I reached up and kissed him ever so gently to express my thankfulness.

  Silently the link hummed, Thank you so much. I eyed him, hoping he could hear me clearly. Even my thoughts seemed a bit teary. He winked and sent, You’re

  welcome, love, as he gently smiled.

  Pepper handed me a Kleenex. “Thanks,” was all I could manage.

  “Okay enough of this. We have a show to put on… fun to be had,” she gushed. Geoffrey hugged me on one side as I cradled my roses.

  “I’m in the back with Pepper, right?” He knew it wasn’t really a question.

  “Yes, you’ll be safe with me, promise.” She chimed as Robert and Mitch joined us. My stomach was so nervous it felt like it was in my throat, ready to erupt.

  I looked up to Geoffrey, noticing his eyes weren’t the same as the other
s. The deepness seemed too dark. I had to ask the obvious.

  “Are you… thirsty?” I reached up to his ear, trying to look like I was pecking his cheek.

  “No, not now, why?” He picked up his guitar, finding the right sound.

  “Your eyes, they’re so dark. The others are pale in comparison.”

  “I’m fine, trust me. I’m very much in control of that part of me tonight. Having you here, with me, on this night, it’s the icing on my cake.” His mischievous grin somehow put me at ease.

  “If you say so.” I clenched my stomach. My mom would have said, “It’s only one night, Megan, get a grip, relax. Don’t be so serious.” It was easier said than done. I could see it was important to him, to the others, even Ash that I have fun. Maybe they were right, just this once.

  “Nervous?” he asked as the DJ slowed his turntable, getting ready to introduce us.

  “A little.” Okay I lied, a lot!

  He reached to his table that stood on the edge of the wings and snagged a tacky Halloween goblet. The dry ice inside snaked over the edge, tickling my hand as he gave it to me.

  “What’s this?” I took a whiff. It definitely smelled of wine, a dark merlot,

  perhaps. But there was a scent I couldn’t name.

  “It’s mulled wine. I thought you might need it to calm your nerves.”

  “Mulled wine?” I’d heard the term before, a long lifetime ago. My mom used to tell stories of my grandparents drinking it, mostly during the holidays.

  “Trust me, its wine and spices, heated slowly to enhance the flavors. It won’t make you tipsy, if that’s what you’re afraid of. I sense it; remember we can feel each other’s emotions.”

  “I’m not afraid of that. I just don’t want to embarrass you or the others tonight,” I said aloud, being completely truthful. I knew his manager was in the audience somewhere, along with one of the recording executives. His new album was due for release, and tonight’s crowd was a test run of the tracks.

  “You’ll do fine, Meg. Stay centered on me. If I’m correct, you’ll feel me when it happens. Draw strength from us, from me. I won’t let anything happen.”