“It?” Another short question I had to get out as the lights dimmed and the crowd went nuts.
“Singing brings me a sense of freedom, you could say. I feel it when I’m in the zone.” I only hoped that I could handle that amount of energy. Slow and controlled was always my motto. I was putting myself in his hands completely.
He kissed me as the others took the stage. His cool breath caressed my skin as his tongue danced along with mine. His flavor gave me my own high. He tensed slightly and pulled back slowly.
Hand-in-hand, we parted the curtains. With a quick squeeze he released me as I made my way toward Pepper, who was grinning from ear to ear.
“You two need to get a room,” she chimed as she adjusted the microphone for both of us.
“Busted on all charges,” I gladly replied.
“You’re both are giving off some serious vibes tonight. I can’t recall seeing a deep purple around either of you before tonight. It’s really cool.”
“So what do I do?” I asked as Geoffrey chatted with the crowd.
“Take this.” She handed me a tambourine.
“Remember track two, that’s what’s up first.” She showed me the playlist for the set.
“You’re serious?” I squeaked, looking at the line-up.
“What?”
“We’re starting out with the fast one?” I took another gulp of the wine from the glass I still held in my hand, then set the glass down on her side of the stage.
“You’ll be fine. Relax, have some fun for a change.”
“Okay, if you say so.”
Okay, I can do this, I know I can… Please, oh Lord, don’t let me screw up.
With the first chords we were off. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and reached out toward him.
What a sensation! It felt like I’d gotten a huge dose of adrenalin. The feeling spread to every fiber in my being.
I definitely felt his “zone.” I thought it was going to be overwhelming, being on stage, in front of so many people. The more I clung to his energy the higher I felt. It got easier as we went. Only once or twice when the spotlight would hit Pepper did I get a twinge of fear. He’d glance at me and it would all wash away.
One thing I noticed I’d never seen before. Most bands have wireless mic systems that singers wear on stage so they could move about freely. These guys weren’t using mics of any kind. Their voices sailed over the music and the crowd. It amazed me.
I looked out through the moving crowd, barely making out the control board and Tracy, sitting behind it. Her hands moved effortlessly; she controlled both the sound mixing and the lighting effects. Years of experience showed in the illusions she provided. The center spotlight was never directly on any one person for too long. But she wanted her man to look good, and
Robert would wink occasionally in her direction.
The end of the set came too quickly. I had actually enjoyed it. Pepper and I worked pretty well together as long as I wasn’t expected to actually use my voice, lip synching was my specialty.
Usually they closed the set with each person taking a bow and waving to the crowd. Tonight was no different, and I attempted to exit before Geoffrey got to me. No such luck though.
Instead of him standing center stage, he strolled toward us. The spotlight crept in slow motion as he approached, extending his hand to me. The panic clinched my throat, my mouth suddenly parched dry.
No, please, Geoffrey don’t, I quickly pleaded with him, the fear breaking out across my eyes.
Shh, love. Feel.
Just before the light hit my hand, a wave of warmth and sunlight swirled around me. I froze, not realizing it was an illusion that he was creating. My fears were crushed, washed away, leaving a sensation of calm wrapping around me. His cold, smooth hand grasped mine and the image was complete. It was just the two of us amongst ancient trees. Slowly I took a step forward, knowing the image was for my mind only, that the place was still packed but I didn’t see anyone else but him.
Thanks, was all I could mentally squeak out, along with a huge sigh of relief.
My eyes refocused on him, and I was able to shut out the audience without his help. He and I took a bow, then the gang joined us for a second one. As the lights swept across the crowd, I could spot others of his kind: here and there dotted across the sea of faces; the sapphire blue standing out like small beacons. Ian and Dawn were hooting and hollering from the bar. Even Ashleigh came up and graced us with her presence, encouraging the crowd.
I spotted Chase and his frat brothers gathered near one of the pillars,
clapping and whistling. For some reason, when I spied him, I got a strange feeling of… apprehension, of something I couldn’t pin down. He quickly put a smile on his face when he realized I saw him. The night had truly been magical, and for once I stood my ground and faced my fear, winning the battle.
The center light dimmed. Geoffrey stood by my side as we exchanged smiles and hugs, and exited stage left.
Well done, love. Well done. His words touched my heart as we parted ways. I
carried a small smile with me back to floor as I picked up my orders from Ian. Dawn kept pace, though it seemed she was getting mostly water or seltzer orders with the occasional latte or mocha thrown in.
“Ian.” I reached over, tapping his shoulder. His wide grin met mine.
“You were awesome, girl. Who knew you could sing?” He filled my tray up.
“Trust me, I wasn’t singing.” I mouthed into a pretend mike.
“Oh well, still you looked hot up there.” He handed me change as I turned.
“That was all Pepper, not me, trust me.” I tossed him a tip and headed back out but not before the twin witches caught me.
“So, since when does the elusive Geoffrey Drake take…”
“…the likes of you on his arm?” They creepily finished each other’s sentences. They book-ended me and the bar was at my back.
“Excuse me?” I asked point blank, not liking having my personal space invaded.
“You heard us,” they said in unison.
“Look, ladies, I don’t want any trouble. We just work together, that’s all.” I wasn’t about to divulge my private life to the likes of them.
“How about a free round on the house, hmm?” I suggested. They eyed me,
calculating my lack of response. I had a feeling I didn’t really want to get into it with them, remembering Geoffrey’s words. It was then that I noticed. Their eyes weren’t dark blue like his and the others. The creepy blackness was unnerving. Something told me their diet wasn’t the same.
“Ian, give these lovely ladies a drink on me, anything they want.” I turned, smiling as I walked away.
“Too bad it can’t…”
“…be Ian himself. Now that would be tasty.” I overheard. My skin crawled. I went behind the bar, pretending to help him pour the drinks.
“Just be careful with those two. They’re not right, if you get my drift.” He grinned in understanding. I could feel their stares boring into me as I left them.
The rest of the night was a blur of people, fun, and controlled chaos. I served drink after drink, not stopping for what seemed hours. I spied the clock and had a moment to take a break before last call. I hadn’t seen Geoffrey since our set, so I handed off my tray to the new gal and headed to meet up with him, curious to know if I could find my way downstairs. I slid into the vacant break room and gently pushed on the shelving unit. It gave way and I stepped in as the pocket door closed behind me. The sudden darkness was a bit frightening, but I controlled my anxiety. I stood in the darkness with my questions and I closed my eyes, trying to feel for him. He was here, somewhere. I could almost see him, or rather, see through him. I saw others, not just his family but others of his kind, on the dance floor beneath our main one. How did Ashleigh not know this existed? Just how dangerous were t
hese others?
Would you like to ask me your questions or stand in the dark… alone? His words caught me off-guard; I felt like I’d been caught snooping. I followed the well-worn steps down to find him waiting for me at the foot of the stairs.
I took his offered hand and walked with him, arm-in-arm, as others began to see us. Andrew was behind the bar, looking charming as usual. I spied the others on the dance floor enjoying the music. There were strangers here, though, people I didn’t know. Their stares made me second-guess my motives. With the simple touch of his hand in mine, Geoffrey led us to a small sofa, off to the side, away from the general crowd.
I took a huge gulp of the ice-cold Coke that Andrew had given me, the burn on my throat reminding me that this was very real. He eyed me, taking a long, slow draw off of his own.
“You can ask me anything Meg, but ask yourself this, are you prepared for the truth?” With that I knew I had to put my question out there or they’d make me crazy.
One more, I silently asked.
“Of course.” He waited patiently, placing his drink of choice on the table.
“If you don’t hunt humans, don’t feed from us…” I struggled to find the right words, “Then how do you… eat?” I swallowed in embarrassment.
“We have our sources, remember the blood bank contacts?” His eyes narrowed a minute amount, gauging how much to tell me. He added, “Plus there’s the wildlife near our home, but we don’t make that a known fact.”
“Why don’t you feed like others?” I changed my question.
“That’s a very important one, considering you are part of my answer.” He seemed to focus past me, on another time. I could sense a memory from his mind, the day he found me as a child, in the cave, and then he re-focused on the present. His jaw clenched as his eyes became flat black, emotionless pits.
“For many years my sire, Marco, and I looked upon your kind as a source of empowerment: servants to me and my kind in the Inner Circle, a source of our blood, nothing more, faceless humans, not having any meaning besides what we choose for them. We were void of humanity.”
He paused, then looked to me, his eyes softening, and a wave of emotion bonded us through the link. I shied away from the emotional onslaught but couldn’t escape it. Then I found I didn’t want to evade it and choose to embrace it, making it easier to experience.
“Then… I found you. We’re creatures that don’t change, everlasting as we were when we walked away from life. But you… you were the one that brought me to see the warmth, the love of what a human life thrives on; the compassion, the trust, the living form of what binds us. Your love showed me how to live… again.” The kindest smile spread across his face, his whole being seemed to shine in the darkness.
I blinked, speechless.
“We choose to live for love, for life, not ending it. Your lives are short, just a blink of an eye, compared to ours… Ours have no end.”
“Wow… that’s deep.” I sighed with the realization that somehow when he’d found me, that I had changed him. It was a lot to take in, considering I was just a little girl who’d been lost, then found.
“And what about Ashleigh? How does she not know about this place?” I asked, feeling nervous for her.
“When she put me in charge of renovations, I took the liberty of the… new addition.” He whispered in my ear, his breath so cool on my already overheated skin, having him so physically close was but a small price to pay. I was tempted to nibble on his ear but choose not to. One more issue came to mind. He caught my thought before I even had a chance to explain.
“I see you’ve met Gabriella and her twin sister, Gertrude, or as she likes to be called, Gerti.” His face turned ashen gray speaking of them.
“What’s with the face?” I asked, noticing Mitch and Pepper were playing beer pong.
“They are not the best example of our kind, let’s just say that.” He turned away, but the image that flashed before my own eyes was gruesome.
“Oh my God, what the hell was that?” I asked, frozen to my seat with my heartbeat pounding in my ears. The image quickly disappeared, and he regained his calm façade.
“That wasn’t meant for you. My apologies.” His downcast eyes told me he was truly sorry. I could clearly see and feel his awkwardness.
“I’m all right, but what was that?” The gruesome details of a mutilated body were hard not to remember.
“The unfortunate example of their handiwork. It’s the main reason why they are not allowed in here. They have a specific skill set for the underworld.”
Okay, and with that I was so out of here. I was in over my head. I stood up, left the Coke, and didn’t look back.
“Megan, please don’t leave like this.” He appeared at my side at the foot of stairs. Startled, I stepped back from his touch. I looked around, realizing just how real all of this was. My breathing quickened as I tried to step away from him, taking two steps at a time.
Please Meg… I didn’t mean to scare you. The pain in his words stopped me at the last step. I turned to see him right behind me, his eyes pleading for my patience.
“Look, Geoffrey, this is a lot to take in. I need to step back and take a beat, try to wrap my head around this.”
“Listen with your heart and you’ll hear the love that I have for you. I would never harm you, please believe me.” His words tugged at my heart. It wasn’t him, it was me. I had to absorb everything he had told me and shown me in order to understand him and to love him, something I had never done before.
“As much as my brain is screaming at me to not get caught up with you… I’m not listening to it because my heart is louder.” I took one step down to him, kissed his forehead, and gave him a hug. His cool, strong arms encircled my waist as he nestled his face into my neck. Through the link I could feel his energy; his desires became mine as his mouth found my lips. The closer we became, the more intoxicating it was. My fear evaporated, and turned into a hunger I’d never known before. Smoothly we found our way up the final steps, through the sliding panel, and into the darkened break room. On and on we went, his hands cupping my body to his, the tighter we were, the more it drove our bodies.
Meg, we have to be… careful. Even his thoughts were breaking up, sounding as though he was gasping for air, but my body had mind of its own. I wanted him now and he was my one target. I ignored his silent plea. Then his words broke the circle we had created.
“Megan… I can’t do this.” I opened my eyes to see the predator before me. He backed up against the wall as I found my own mind craving after his taste, his touch. I found the strength I needed to free us both.
“I… have… to… leave… now!” I spoke slowly as to control my body and mind. I found myself still craving his touch to my body; he had set free a side of me I never knew existed.
Chapter 13
The rest of the night we both did our best not to be alone together. Tension was building between us and it was only a matter of time before we would cross the line, and we both knew it. Yet it was obvious we were treading across serious boundaries. Others of his kind mingled freely amongst the crowd of customers. I did my best to keep the new girls from being cornered or caught alone with them. Just because I now realized that the world I’d been living in was way different didn’t mean I’d want anyone else to be hurt or manipulated.
By closing time we were all exhausted, flying high, but exhausted just the same. Ian and Dawn ended the night with an ice cube fight that sent shards of frozen chips everywhere. Ashleigh was so delighted with the evening’s turnout that she didn’t yell at them even once. Finally, at four in the morning, we locked up and headed home for the night.
“Darling, wait up,” she called out as she set the alarm. Geoffrey and I were getting in the Mustang when she came over, peeking through the window.
“Great night, Ash… you are the queen!” I mockingly kissed her bej
eweled hand, and she grinned.
“Since tomorrow, wait… actually today,” she corrected herself, “is your birthday, my gift to you…” she waved her invisible magic wand through the air, “… is the day off. Enjoy!”
“Excellent, thanks, Ash.”
With that we were gone. Scattered leaves and smashed pumpkins littered the roads. We even spotted a few creatures of the night lurking down the streets, obviously drunk and singing way off-key.
We got to my place in a few short minutes. The silence between us was thick with our obvious desires remaining unsaid. Geoffrey killed the engine and got out. Just as quickly he was at my door offering his ever-present hand. Even in the dim light of the entryway I could see his eyes had darkened. All night they had seemed vibrant and bright, but now they were so dark, almost black. I knew what that meant; even if he tried to deny it his thirst was obvious.
“I could stay… if you’d like,” he offered holding my hand, lightly tracing my now visible scar.
“Actually, I need to take a shower and check my mail, you know, human stuff. Besides… you’re hungry. I can feel it.” I unpinned my many curls, letting them
cascade down my shoulders.
“And how would you know that?” He looked away, acting uninterested, which normally meant it was just the opposite.
“Your eyes. When you’re thirsty, they change color. And a hungry man is never a good thing.” I knew it wasn’t just for blood that he thirsted. I did my best not to give him a reason to stay. Yet there was a craving of my own I had to deny: not think of our mutual desires.
“You’re more observant than I give you credit for.”
“Not really.” I brushed off his comment.
I purposely planted a more-than-casual kiss on his smooth-as-glass lips and pulled him closer. I found his ear and began to pull gently with my mouth.
The sudden stiffness of his body confirmed my suspicions. “You know me well, don’t you.” He met my gaze, knowing his bluff had been called.
“Go, so you can come back… soon.” I whispered. This time I was the one walking away, though I knew my breathing was a little more than erratic. I was beginning to get the hang of this flirting thing, but I could already see a problem: I enjoyed it. I smiled as I slowed my breathing.
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