It pained Sam when they were apart, not just emotionally, but there were physical symptoms too. His body began to tingle and there was an inkling of pain, with the promise of more. He absolutely had to be near Entropy at all times or at least whenever possible, but he couldn't disobey her when she asked him to stay. It had been a request, not a command, but he couldn't do anything to break her trust.
The pair of them had grown closer over the weeks and months, or however long it had been. Sam couldn’t remember. Time was no longer of consequence when he was with Entropy. He was staying in her room at the club full time and had the pleasure of being there as she slept. It was odd to him, as she felt cold and lifeless during the day. The first time it happened he had freaked out, not knowing what to do, but she woke that very night as if nothing had happened. It was another step in what had been a big adjustment for him.
Sam loved sharing a bed with Entropy, but his body didn't share the same desires as his mind. The necessary parts no longer seemed to work, or at least he didn't know how to make them work anymore. Whereas she didn’t seem to mind at all and was just happy to be held, not ever expressing any wishes for anything further. It was something that Sam had learned to accept, not that he had much choice.
The other members of the band didn't stay at the club, instead returning to their own homes for much needed sleep before their alarms woke them and they had to work their day jobs. Music was more of a distraction for them, but for Entropy it was everything. There was a reason that the band had been named after her, or maybe she had named herself after the band. Sam didn’t know which order it had occurred in as she wasn't big on sharing her past or her inner thoughts, instead putting on a mask that she would hide behind. There had only been a few occasions when he saw through it, getting to know the real woman underneath, and it was those brief moments that he treasured the most.
One of the most convenient parts of their living arrangement was that Sam never had to go out to feed, and he never had to hurt anyone to get what he required. Instead, Entropy would go out for for him, making him promise to stay behind where it was safe. Upon her return, she would share her own blood with him by making an incision in her wrist and allowing him to drink deeply from it. Every time he licked blood from her self inflicted wound, he felt a rush much greater than anything he could remember. At least anything since the night that he had died, but that was just a fading memory. Each and every sip strengthened Sam’s bond with Entropy and made him love her even more. He had realised that he was growing too dependent on his supposed savior and he had always hated losing his independence, but he couldn't resist her charms. His entire existence revolved around her, and it had reached a point where he couldn't imagine things being any other way.
Attempting to keep her true nature hidden, Entropy never showed her fangs to Sam, nor did she tell him how her wrist healed so quickly. He wasn't a prisoner in the club, but she also didn't want him to leave it without her. Most nights would be spent inside, with the occasional foray outdoors under her escort. She seemed to want to protect Sam from the darker parts of herself, but he was keen to know everything and at least her blood kept his hunger at bay, for now.
A loud bang caused Sam to nearly leap out his skin, his eyes darting over to where the sound had come from. The emergency exit on the far end of the building had burst open, and a gang of five people wearing ski masks came charging out through the small opening. They were a rough looking crew, wielding shotguns, six shooters and one even held a baseball bat, but Sam already knew who they were.
The masked figures sprinted for the car, the loudest among them yelling in an English accent for him to get ready, with a few added profanities for good measure. It didn't take them long to close the gap, piling into a car too small to fit them all. They stuffed into what little space was available, out of breath with shoulders pressed together as they slammed the doors shut behind them.
The masked Englishman yelled at the top of his voice. “What are ya waitin’ for, ya twat? Just fuckin' drive!”
Sam smoked the tires, the wheels spinning until they found traction and the car raced towards the main street. The woman in the front passenger seat pulled the mask from her head, her purple hair wild and untamed. She was the only one who didn’t seem to be gasping for air as she placed a hand on his arm. “You did good, Sam! I'm proud of you!” Entropy’s smile helped calm him down a little, but his hands were still braced for a white knuckle ride. He focused on his driving, staying silent as the others talked.
Jacko wasn't best pleased, sandwiched between two larger men, with a skinnier man almost sitting on his knee. He removed his mask too, his mohawk pressed flat against his skull. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!”
The familiar voice of Chavz in the back seat questioned Jacko’s agitation. “'Sup, man?”
Jacko had blown a gasket. “We're so fucked! I know that fella! E’s gonna bleedin’ kill us!”
Chavz was confused. “Which guy?”
“Big bollocks in’t suit!” Jacko gestured wildly.
Entropy looked at them in the rear view mirror. “So... who was he?”
Jacko looked as though he was ready to tear his own hair out. “'E’s one o’ TJ’s top men!”
It was Mike who spoke next. “You sure? Don’t go rilin’ us up if you ain't sure.”
The punk haired Englishman couldn't contain his anxiety. “Don’t be a bloody wanker, Mikey! I'm fuckin' sure, alright?”
It was Entropy who managed to hold it together as everyone else started to panic, while Sam tried his best to stay on the road. “If that's true, then we need to pay TJ everything we owe him and more, before he finds out who did it…”
Mike nodded. “You need to get us some shows, girl.”
Finally getting a handle on his driving, Sam couldn't help but ask the question that was begging to be asked. “Who’s TJ?”
Everyone but Jacko fell into silence, the crude man laughing hysterically. “Is ‘e takin’ the piss?”
It took a few seconds for Entropy to answer. “Trust me, you don't want to know…”
**********
It took some prying to find out who TJ was, but Sam finally got Entropy to include him after some persuasion. She told him that the man was a loan shark, a businessman of sorts and a self-made entrepreneur who also dealt in the arcane. He wasn't particularly gifted with magic himself, but he had learned a few minor incantations that he had dabbled in over the years. He also had the odd trick up his sleeve, which he often used to get one up on his rivals.
Entropy wouldn't have even known who TJ was if it wasn't for the accidental death of the vampire who had turned her. Unbeknownst to her, the two of them had been close friends, although she had never been introduced until after she had branched out on her own. She admitted that she had been stupid after that, borrowing money from the dangerous man in order to finance her band’s expensive equipment. At the time it had given them the boost that they needed to start making a name for themselves, but it turned out that their music wasn't quite worth the price that they had to pay for it.
Constant threats and increasing interest rates meant that it was impossible to ever pay TJ’s loan off, and so the group had resorted to more extreme methods of making money, such as holding up convenience stores and the like. And then there was the robbery from the other night involving one of TJ's own places, meaning things were going to get much, much worse. He would now be searching for the culprits, and if he ever found out it was them, the payback would be severe.
That wasn't even the worst part, as Sam was told why Skid had never said a word to him. A late payment meant there had been serious repercussions and an example had been made. Skid’s tongue was viciously removed by TJ’s bodyguard, Akoni, with the rest of the band being forced to watch. The ordeal had left the poor drummer mute, a punishment for being in the wrong place at the wrong time and speaking out of turn. The fact that someone could commit such an atrocious act was something that Sam found appalling, and his fait
h in humanity took yet another blow.
Since explaining the situation to Sam, Entropy became a little distant. She went out most nights, looking for places for the band to play with the hope that they could make some quick cash. She managed to score a couple of gigs at smaller venues, but was struggling to find anything that was really worth their time. That was until one particular night when she returned without so much as a word, carrying dozens of shopping bags. Entropy rushed right up to her room, refusing to let Sam in to see what was going on. He promised to wait, as it was going to be a surprise that he didn’t want to miss. So he stood by the closed door like a lost puppy, not moving from that spot until she emerged.
Sam gawked at Entropy as she stepped out from her room, her makeover now complete. If he had passed her in the street he might not have recognized her, as she no longer looked like the same woman that he had come to know. She had gone through a metamorphosis of sorts and was drastically different, with the long purple highlights of her hair having been replaced with a bright pink that stopped just shy of her shoulders. Black lipstick and eyeliner seemed to change the shape of her features, with dark eyeshadow that made her eyes positively glow.
Leaning against the metal railing of the walkway, Entropy turned to face Sam who stood completely still next to the door that she had just exited. She seemed to be taller than him now, with buckled, knee high boots adding several inches to her height. A black, laced corset and skinny jeans hugged her figure, a far cry from the baggy and unflattering clothes that she usually wore. To tie the look together, she had added an open waistcoat, giving the style a sophisticated depth of formality.
Entropy gave Sam a twirl, her arms out by her sides as she awaited his judgement. There were rows of bracelets, bangles and wristbands that now hid the writing across her forearms that Sam had committed to memory, but somehow still didn't quite understand. ‘Remember me so I don't disappear, within the darkness of my own fear'. He presumed that they were lyrics from one of her songs, but never thought to ask.
After a couple of full rotations, Entropy stopped to try and gauge Sam's reaction. “So, what do you think? You like it?”
Sam’s reply wasn't exactly smooth. “It’s different…”
She pouted, dropping her hands to her hips. “You hate it…”
Shifting awkwardly on the spot, Sam tried his best to recover from his mistake. “No! I'm just not used to it yet. It's like you're a different person...”
Her spirits seemed to raise again as she took a step forwards, face beaming with joy. “Well that's the point!”
Sam wasn't sure if he actually liked Entropy's new image or not, but he didn't want to upset her. It would take some getting used to, but he secretly hoped that it wouldn't be a permanent change. He liked her old look, but she definitely looked the part of a rock star now, which he guessed was the general idea. Sam wasn't convinced that the new style was really her and thought that Entropy should change back to how she was before, but he would never say that to her face. Those types of comments were best kept to himself, locked away with all his doubts in the cage of his own mind.
Unable to control her excitement, Entropy began to bounce with enthusiasm. “Come on! Let's see what the others think of their new things!”
Sam raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Wait, you bought stuff for them too? Even Jacko?”
Entropy nodded with increased vivacity. “Of course! We all need to match for the big show!”
“What big show?” She had totally lost him now.
Clapping her hands together and almost squealing with elation, Entropy was proud to share her big announcement with him. “This is it, our big shot at making a name for ourselves! We're going to Canada!”
**********
Sam kept quiet as the band tried on their new clothes in the main hall, feeling slightly left out as he watched them put on a miniature fashion show. They were all standing up there together, joking around having gathered in front of a full length mirror that Entropy had placed centre stage. The matching outfits of plain white tees, open vests and black jeans were representative of a group that was still trying to discover their true identity. However, Sam had to admit that it did make them look less like a ragtag band suited to playing in a garage and more like the rock icons that they sorely wanted to be.
Wishing that he could join in, Sam knew that he couldn't play an instrument or even hold a tune. In fact, he wasn't really a part of the band at all. He was closer to being their mascot or groupie than a fellow musician, so he just sat down on a chair at the bottom of the steps, observing from a distance as he was left feeling like an outsider.
Chavz was a little too big for his clothes, having done his best to squeeze into them. It seemed that Entropy had underestimated the denseness of his bulky muscles, the result of years of exercise, supplements and a high protein diet. The short sleeves of his white shirt were stretched thin around the bulging biceps of his arms, revealing a tapestry of different designs across his dark skin, detailed with crucifixes and other religious iconography.
Adopting the stance of a man who clearly wasn't impressed, Chavz ran a hand through his short black hair as he chewed on the thin gold chain that he wore around his neck. “You gotta be jokin’, chica...”
Jacko cackled loudly, checking out his pale self in the mirror. “I 'ope not. I’m lookin’ suave as fuck. Nice one, En!” His enthusiasm actually seemed to be genuine as he spiked his green mohawk, grinning widely with nicotine stained teeth while he continued to admire his reflection.
Jacko’s tattoos were a little less tasteful than his Latino friend, complete with curse words, odd looking cartoon characters and badly drawn symbols that were likely the result of many drunken nights and even more poor choices. He wasn't the type to regret his decisions however, if his array of piercings were anything to go by. Silver rings protruded from his nose, lips and eyebrows, with rubber plugs that stretched the lobes of his ears to impossible proportions.
The skinhead drummer, Skid, appeared to be pleased with his outfit too as he carefully adjusted his vest. He was the polar opposite to Chavz, seeming way too thin for the shirt and waistcoat. Unlike the others, he had no visible tattoos. However the dark circles under his eyes, scars up his arms and the pasty whiteness of his skin made him look as though he was someone who had struggled with addiction in the past. He nodded at Entropy with a smile, signalling his approval.
Mike didn't seem to mind Entropy’s choice of clothing either, the fat of his belly shaking as he laughed heartily. “Not bad, En. We might actually look the part.”
Sam noticed some markings on the bassist's tanned forearm that looked like some sort of military logo, possibly for the US Marines, although he didn't know enough about it to be sure. His long greasy hair and matching beard didn't seem like they belonged to an ex-soldier, nor did the smell of cheap whiskey and beer, but that didn't mean that it wasn't true.
Entropy paraded around the stage, still wearing her own ensemble as she drew Sam’s gaze away from the others. “So now we have our look, we should really start packing. It's a long drive and the show is only a week away!”
Mike was already planning the details of the trip, seeming to daydream as he did so. “We’ll take my van and bring some road sodas. Nothin’ like a cold one on the open road.”
Chavz nodded in the direction of Sam, who was too busy watching Entropy to pay attention. “What about lover boy?”
Jacko dismissed him with a wave of his hand. “Fuckin’ leave ‘im.”
A nightmarish scowl flashed over Entropy’s face for a split second, betraying the beast inside of her as it caused even the loud mouthed Jacko to stop chattering. “Sam’s coming with us!” She turned to look fondly at Sam, who had only just realised that they were even talking about him. He suddenly felt paranoid that he had been staring a little too much, however Entropy didn’t seem to mind being the centre of attention. “He can be our roadie!” She winked at him, a sly, yet friendly smile on her face.
Sam didn’t know what to say, but he was pleased that she wanted him to travel with them. He would have struggled if left to his own devices for too long and may have even wasted away from abandonment. Now all he had to do was ignore any snide comments from Jacko and ride out the long days in the back of a windowless van. He would volunteer for some of the night shifts if he could and help to drive at least some of the way.
Sam couldn’t be happier with how things had turned out. He was going to explore more of the world with someone who he adored, even though he would likely feel like a spare part at times. It was time to leave Miami, if only for a while, and venture into the far northwest, up mountain roads and through pine forests like he had never seen before. The whole trip wasn’t just going to be a new experience for him, it was going to be an adventure.
**********
“All clear!” The signal echoed throughout the empty brick hall, the limited furnishings offering little to dampen the sound of Tommy’s voice.
The entire place had been left in darkness, with long drapes framing the tall windows that had been coated with a thick paint, preventing any light from entering. They had tried to locate the breakers, but had so far been unsuccessful, deciding to instead proceed by flashlight.
The pair had broken in through the rear entrance, the front door having been chained shut. Aaron had led the way, with Tommy following close behind, his gun trained on the shadows as if he was waiting for them to leap out at him. After pushing their way through what appeared to be a stockroom piled high with boxes and other junk, the pair entered the main venue through a door in the back. Once inside, they had begun to explore further, each of them taking their own route around the interior of the building.
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