The Stage

by Catherine Russell

  “There’s only one way to find out,” he said, taking me into his arms and giving into my idea. As his lips parted, his sweet flavor sizzled on my tongue. I could feel the pressure building as we rocked together slowly, locked in the moment. At last he pulled away from me, but I kept my eyes closed, feeling the warmth of the link expanding through me. Instantly my headache was gone, my mind was clear, and I felt like myself again.

  We both breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, that wasn’t so hard—at least not for me,” I said, looking up into his eyes, which were still edged with silver. He smiled in relief, but I could feel conflict across the link. There was something that he needed to do.

  “I don’t want to leave you, not after last night,” he said, hugging me fiercely. “I was so scared I’d lose you.”

  I knew that he needed to go, so I sucked it up. I stood and pulled him up with me. “And here I thought that vampires weren’t scared of anything,” I said, mussing his hair as I walked past him into the bathroom to brush my morning breath away.

  “Losing you is my only fear; it always has been, and always will be.”

  I could feel his hunger across the link, though. “Well, I’m not going anywhere. But you are. You need to hunt.”

  “I can wait,” he insisted.

  “No, you can’t. Go—I’ll be fine. Trust me. I have Pepper on speed-dial if I need anything.”

  “But—”

  “No ‘buts’—just go!” I said, playfully pushing him to the door. “I’m fine, really. I’m a big girl, and I’ve got big girl pants I can put on all by myself.”

  His impish grin returned. “Well, since you put it that way… but if you ever want help, I’d be happy to pull those pants on for you. And I’m still picking you up later for work.”

  He tried to persuade me with a kiss, but I wasn’t having it. “No, I’ll see you there. I can take care of myself; now you need to go do the same for you.” With that I opened the door, stood on my tiptoes, kissed his nose, and then pushed him out into the hallway, closing the door on his half-grin. Then I jumped in the shower and enjoyed a rare moment to myself.

  It was Black Friday, and I knew that the bar would be slammed tonight. I called Ashleigh and offered to come in early to help set up. Even over the phone I could hear the hangover in her voice. “Thanks so much, darling. I truly appreciate the help. God knows I’ll be useless today for anything besides swallowing Tylenol.”

  “You play, you pay, babe,” I teased. “See you soon.”

  I headed out the door to the slush-covered streets and waited with the masses for the next bus. It had been some time since I had to ride the Metro, so it was a nice change of pace as I stepped up and took my seat. The gentle rumbling of the bus was a familiar, welcoming sensation. I looked out the window at the city, the people coming and going, tapping my foot in time with the music pumping away inside my head. Normally I just zoned out and blended into the dull, commercial-gray seats, but that didn’t happen today. Instead, I began to notice the people around me.

  The driver was an older gentleman, graying at the temples. He was dressed in a transit uniform, and next to his seat, taped on the window, was a crayon drawing of a family. I could just make out the inscription “Mommy, Daddy, Me” under the little stick figures of pink, blue and green with a bright yellow circle shining down on them. He had a warm smile, and the way he greeted the passengers reflected his happiness. I wondered how long he’d been the driver on this route—surely for a while. I’d taken the same route for years, even for my old job. Had I never noticed him before? Was I that good at shutting out people?

  I glanced up and down the aisle and noticed a couple in the back, clearly in the first few weeks of young love—or in their case, young lust. He had a spiked purple Mohawk, nose rings, and tattooed hands that were all over the girl’s upper body. Her neon-blue shag cut hung disheveled about her rosy cheeks. Her black miniskirt skimmed across a pair of torn black lace stockings that ended in a pair of tightly laced-up black platform boots. Their intensity made me blush, and I turned away.

  An old woman, hunched over with age, had also seen the two kids. She shook her head and rolled a string of rosary beads between her fingers. Then the bus jerked a bit and she grabbed her little cart, filled with a few small grocery items, and splattered with sand from the slush. She was wearing a gray overcoat with a thin scarf over her gray hair, and I wondered how they could possibly keep her warm enough to fight off the winter weather. Her gnarled fingers sported a gold wedding band that clung loosely among the folds of skin on her hand. She softly rubbed the ring, seeming to remember someone—a husband who had passed, perhaps? She looked out the window at a different scene than the rest of us, I imagined. She glanced up and held my stare for a moment, then her face softened, her smile melting the wrinkles near her eyes.

  Each person on the bus was at a different point in their life journey; the beginning, the middle, near the end. For the first time I wondered where I was on the road of life. Geoffrey was getting under my skin, but I wasn’t going to fight it any longer. My gut told me that this was where I was supposed to be.

  I returned the older woman’s smile with my own.

  Chapter 22

  My daydreaming almost cost me my stop. I barely caught the doors closing as I jumped up and dashed out into the chunks of street slush. Lucky for me, the bus stop was near the bar. The sidewalk was busy with people rushing from store to store to grab early-bird specials and door-buster price cuts. I pulled my hood tighter and headed for the side entrance of The Stage. Just inside the alley a stranger passed me and caught my attention as we stepped around each other.

  “Excuse me. Sorry,” I muttered, reaching for the stair rail.

  “No excuse necessary, madam,” he said, tipping his fedora and smiling. I took notice of his dark trench coat, cream-colored scarf, and the fedora. He was quite charming to look at, though I couldn’t place the accent. “Maybe you could help me?” he asked. “Could you direct me to the front entrance of this establishment?”

  How odd, considering this is a dead-end alley!

  “Go up to the street here,” I said, pointing toward the mouth of the alley. “Then turn right. You can’t miss it.”

  “Go out here, then go left, you say?” he said.

  “No, no. Go right!” I said, a bit louder.

  “My apologies. My hearing is quite poor,” he said with a rueful smile.

  “Here, let me show you.” I walked back up the alley beside him, but on the last step I tripped and fell right into him. He caught me easily, keeping his balance.

  “Sorry about that,” I said. “It’s a little slick out here.” When we reached the sidewalk, I pointed out the front awning and said my goodbye.

  He offered his hand in appreciation. “Thank you, miss—?”

  “Megan.” I answered, shaking his hand. As the skin of my hand touched his, I felt a slight pressure in my mind, as if the link was reacting to his touch. I shook my head, distracted, and took back my hand.

  “Thank you, Megan, for your help,” he repeated, tipping his hat again.

  I turned back down the alley and made my way inside the side door, shedding my jacket. “Hi, guys!” I hollered at Ian and Dawn, who were setting up the bar. Dawn was training a new girl, and they both waved as I walked past them to the break room. After throwing my stuff into a locker, I hustled out onto the floor.

  “Whoa!” Ian shouted as I literally ran into him. The bottles he had balanced on top of a case quickly toppled. Instinctively I reached out to grab them. We were both surprised when I caught all three before they fell and shattered. “Nice save. Since when did you get coordinated?” he laughed as we continued toward the bar.

  “It must be my one lucky day,” I said. “Trust me, it’s nothing permanent.” I sat the bottles down on the bar and grabbed an apron, knowing damn well why and how I was able to do that. I cou
ld get used to this, I thought.

  As the night went on, I noticed how easy it was to direct attention away from myself, and that made it even better.

  Suddenly, Dawn jumped up into the DJ’s booth and grabbed the microphone. She looked as though she was about to explode. “Hey everyone, having a great night?” she asked the capacity crowd, which responded with an overpowering roar. “Well, I know I am!” she gushed, flashing her left hand high in the air as the spotlight hit her. There on her ring finger sat a huge diamond engagement ring, reflecting the light back out like a disco ball. The crowd went absolutely wild as she pulled Ian up with her and lip-locked him in the spotlight. For the first time ever I saw him blush.

  The DJ had started into his next set and I was I headed up to the second tier when I felt him. I couldn’t help but smile as I heard his silent sigh. I turned to the railing, scanning the crowd downstairs to find him.

  Don’t look… eyes can deceive you. Do what comes naturally… feel.

  His haunting words lingered in my mind as I closed my eyes, reaching out to him. He was on the main floor, in the shadows by the stairs… except he wasn’t on the main floor, but underneath it, downstairs. My eyes popped open wide as I stared into the darkened, crosshatch pattern of the crowded dance floor. Through the strobe lights, I could see him clearly below, as well as others. The darkness was lit up like someone had turned on the house lights. The shadows vanished, and his sinful smile teased me to find him.

  Now? I asked across the link, noticing customers headed towards me with empty glasses in hand. I sent the customers to another waitress, slipped away from Ashleigh’s prying eyes, and made my way down the hidden staircase in the storage room. The door opened silently as I pushed on the shelving. The moment I crossed the threshold my senses became heightened. The cool, damp air was mixed with something sweet, reminding me of honey, butter, and an undertone of a spice. Whatever it was, the aroma made me salivate. If it wasn’t for the fact that I’d already eaten, I’d swear I was hungry.

  My eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness. The steps were perfectly clear as I took them two at a time, with no fear of tripping. Before I hit the landing I felt the others here, which was expected. I pulled up short on the last step. My nerves were a bit on edge. Still, I trusted him. As I rounded the corner, his hand found my waist and gently pulled me into his arms.

  “Good evening, gorgeous,” he whispered. As his lips brushed my ear, his body went rigid. I turned to face him, but his eyes were closed, and he was inhaling deeply.

  “What are you doing?” I asked, backing up. His eyes flashed open as suspicion, then anger, crossed his features. This couldn’t be good.

  Geoffrey, what is it?

  I stood at arm’s length as he circled me.

  “The scent! It’s on you!” His voice tightened as he moved in closer, nuzzling my neck in a not-so-good way.

  “Scent? Excuse me, what are you talking about?” I said as Pepper headed toward us.

  “The same scent as the night of the break-in,” he said through clenched teeth.

  Fear ran the length of my spine; sweat broke out on my neck. “How?”I said, scanning the room for anything out of the ordinary.

  “How what?” Pepper said, joining us.

  His eyes swept the entire room, and then they turned to the overhead dance floor. “The intruder from her apartment. Pepper, whoever it was is here—now.” His words were full of caution.

  “But Geoffrey, I’ve served so many people tonight. How can we figure out who it was? My head swam with images of people I’d seen at the bar.

  “You can’t—that’s the problem. Mitch?” he said, and Mitch flew up the stairs, three at a time.

  “He’s going to search upstairs. Pepper, could you shadow her up there… just until our set. Whoever it is will be looking for me, not you.” His anxiety for my safety was quickly building pressure across the link. Somehow I had to defuse this situation and put him at ease.

  “Geoffrey,” I said, pulling him aside. “I’ll be fine. Whoever it is won’t risk doing anything in front of this crowd. But if they see Pepper, they might bolt.”

  He struggled with that thought for a moment. “I don’t like this. You’re not bait.” He spat the words out, but the link growled with reluctant approval.

  You’ll know the moment anything starts, I added silently. I can handle myself until then. You have to trust me. I pulled him over to a seat, trying to put him at ease.

  Mitch returned, and Geoffrey turned to speak with him. “I didn’t find anything, boss. No one new upstairs, not tonight. I didn’t go far outside, the street was packed with folks.” He took a seat and Pepper sat on his lap, sharing her cocktail with him. Robert and Tracy were enjoying a dance.

  I knew my break would have to be short, and I stood, taking his hand. “Come dance with me, please?”

  He hesitated, still prowling the shadows with his eyes. I got his attention by planting a not-so-subtle kiss on his unsuspecting lips. The link hummed as he relaxed, wrapping his arms around my waist. I did my best to distract him, moving my hips into his pelvis. It was so easy to be with him, how had I ever doubted it? His hands wandered over my body as I kissed his neck, but I behaved myself and steered clear of the intoxicating venom behind his lips.

  What would I do without you? He asked across the link. We parted slightly as he held me close, our bodies swaying as one.

  Let’s not find out, shall we? I reached up, brushing his hair out of his eyes. He was much calmer.

  “You amaze me. You know what I am, and all that comes with it—and yet you chose me. What did I ever do to deserve you?” He kissed my forehead and I couldn’t help myself. I reached up, kissing his tender lips, feeling the attraction growing between us.

  “I’ve got to get back. Sorry,” I said, as my responsible side nagged me.

  “Nothing to be sorry for, my love.” He took my hand in his, kissing each of the fingertips one by one. Love you, he silently said.

  Love you more, I whispered back.

  “Geoffrey!” A booming voice came from behind us. I instantly turned to see what only could be described as a large Russian man, huge, hulking, with a broad nose and rough looking beard; his upper body reminded me of a linebacker, and he was very tall. Both Geoffrey and I had to look up at his shadowed face.

  Geoffrey’s arm, which had been softly wrapped around my waist, went stone cold and hard at the sound. His jaw clenched tight and he stared at Pepper, who stood in front of us.

  “Megan, go up with Pepper. I’ll be up shortly.” His words were tight, filled with a sense of urgency. Please, do what I ask, he added.

  Quickly, Pepper and I made our way up the stairs. The link was buzzing with his irritation; the man had him instantly on edge. Mitch was following us closely, looking larger-than-life as our bodyguard.

  “Geoffrey, it’s been too long,” the stranger’s voice carried upward. The urge to turn and look was tempting, but I did as he asked. The man must be someone from his past.

  Through the link I could feel Geoffrey’s restrained fury at the stranger’s presence. Images flashed across my mind faster than I could process, but his underlying concern was for my very human life. I could hear the words “Inner Circle” and

  “covenant” in his memories, along with images of Marco and the stranger.

  Whoever it was, one thing was certain: the Inner Circle was here. What that meant for me remained to be discovered.

  Chapter 23

  During the following weeks, wherever I went, Pepper was my shadow. I wasn’t used to having a roommate, but I quickly found that I enjoyed her perpetual perkiness and laughter. Geoffrey had wanted to be the one to stay with me, but we all agreed it would be better for us not to be seen together while he met with other members of his community, seeking information about the stranger.

  My neighbors began to think that Peppe
r had moved in with me—including Chase. We were headed over to The Stage one night, and I was locking up when he bounced out into the hall, trying awkwardly to look uninterested.

  “Oh, hey, Megan. Haven’t seen you around much. Merry Christmas,” he said casually.

  But I knew better. On more than one night after work, I heard his floor creek as he tiptoed over to his door to look out his peephole. With Geoffrey’s venom running in my system, I could pick up the slightest sound within a two-apartment radius. “Same to you! What can I say? Work has been keeping me busy,” I said as he gawked at Pepper. “Oh, I’m sorry. Pepper, this is Chase. Chase—”

  “You’re Pepper Montgomery, from The Darkness, aren’t you?” he cut in, thrusting his hand forward before I could finish. “It’s nice to meet you,” he said as he stared at her with a look that had stalker written all over it.

  “Nice to meet you too, Chase. Nice ink,” she said, glancing at his forearm. He quickly pulled his sleeve down, but not before I swear I saw it move, like it was alive. Great, one more quirk to deal with. I shook it off.

  “Well gotta go, see ya later.” We started to leave, but he caught me once again.

  “Hang on. Your mail was overflowing again, so I grabbed it for you.”

  “I’m going to get the car, meet you there.” Pepper went ahead, catching the

  elevator down while I waited, looking at my watch. Chase dashed into his place, shutting the door in my face, which I thought was a bit rude. I heard hushed voices inside, but I couldn’t quite make out what they were saying. His mop-top reappeared through the door, he seemed flustered, and he handed me a stack of mail.

  “Here ya go, sorry about that. I had to find it. Where’d Pepper go?” He said her name casually, like he’d met her before. It piqued my curiosity.

  “She went ahead,” I said as I unlocked my door and tossed the pile of bills on the counter. I turned around to find him standing much closer than I had expected, and bumped into him.

  “Oops, sorry. Hey, I haven’t seen that Geoffrey guy around much lately, you two still a thing?” Now I knew he was fishing, though it was true that Geoffrey hadn’t been in the hallways much because his comings and goings happened on my balcony instead.