Silverthorn (3 page)

At a time where I should want to celebrate surviving the vamp attack, not to mention concluding our first show together, I felt nauseous rather than excited about our future for one reason: it seemed we had peaked as a band. We could only go down from here. The flames that devoured the vamps had also killed my dreams of recording albums and touring the world.

Over the past few years, I’d forsaken certain foods hundreds of times to improve my voice while keeping it prepped for the dozens of small bars and clubs we’d played in the Chicagoland area. Unlike ordinary college students, I’d leveraged partying, dating, and other fun things in order to spend countless hours sitting alone in my dorm room to writing music and lyrics. In all that time, as our bandleader, I’d promised Kendall and Brandon that we would eventually get a chance to prove that we had great music to offer the masses. Tonight, we were able to make good on that opportunity…until the vampires appeared and put the spotlight, not on our music, but on a spectacle that we couldn’t replicate.

A huge part of me felt like it had dried up and burst just the like vampires I’d vanquished. Just as tears rimmed my eyelids, a larger portion of my heart became so furious and obstinate at accepting my fate that I wished another set of vampires arrived so I could beat them to a pulp before stabbing each of them in the heart. Regrettably, it seemed they weren’t forthcoming.

I’d have to settle for killing the person responsible for dashing what I’d hoped would have turned into a long and distinguished career: Darius Coyne. Nothing would stop me from ending his life the way he had ended my dreams.

CHAPTER TWO

“That rocked my face!” said Brandon, tapping a new pair of drumsticks against the cinder block walls while our band walked down a hall backstage. “You burnt those vamps like you tossed a pizza into an oven.”

“That would be a very unappetizing pizza,” Kendall said, cringing with such horror she’d closed her eyes.

“How did you stay so calm?” I asked. “I know I taught you some fighting skills, but—”

“Sure, that helped, but I was caught up in the moment…or maybe, kind of, paralyzed with terror.” Kendall bit her lip, obviously ashamed to have admitted that. “But then my marketing and PR mind booted up.” She took her time looking at each of us. “Think about it: our show tonight will be talked about…by everyone who saw it. That’s great word of mouth.”

“They loved us!” Brandon agreed.

“It doesn’t matter,” I said, trying but failing to reign in my anger and sorrow. “That show?’ We’ll never be able to match it. We’re done!”

“Why did they attack you in public?” asked Nolan, stopping and curling his palm around my left forearm. He didn’t look angry, just intent on getting an answer. “What aren’t you telling us?”

Brandon and Kendall stopped and turned toward me for an explanation.

“I don’t know. If they wanted to leave Chicago, they would have to kill Alexis and Celestina. I guess he wanted me dead, so I couldn’t go after him or Zephora.”

“But,” Kendall said, stopping and whirling around to approach me. “They were going after you. Why?”

A couple new ideas came to mind. “Darius knows I’m totally devoted to our band, so why not try to mess things up between us? On stage, we’re in a small, confined area. We had no place to run or hide. And he knows that Nolan is a trillium, so he probably wanted to test his level of strength, so he’ll be prepared the next time he attacks.”

“Awesome,” Brandon said without enthusiasm. “He won’t stop until we’re dead.” He remained pensive for a moment before quirking an eyebrow with unruly intent. “If the world’s deadliest vampire wants us dead, we need to party like there’s no tomorrow. Time to bust out the Ben & Jerry’s. Who’s with me?”

Kendall looked me over. “Are you sure, you’re okay?” She continued scanning my body for injuries. Without waiting for an answer, she said, “They must have attacked because you
are
important. Think about it. Alexis is streetwise. You’re book smart. Put you two together and Zephora has a lot to deal with, especially since she’s over three hundred years old. The world’s a different place now. She’s probably disoriented.”

“It didn’t stop her from slithering here from beyond the veil.”

“If she’s so good at strategizing,” Kendall said, “she’d want Alexis on her side because her conscience is as big as an M&M. And since you’re Zephora’s enemy, she wouldn’t want you to turn Alexis against her.”

I hadn’t thought of that. “But what does being book smart have to do with anything?”

Brandon tapped his drumsticks against each other. “You can think your way out of situations. You know, thinking outside the box. Alexis? She acts first and thinks of the consequences later.”

Nolan nodded. “You need brains to beat Zephora. That’s why she wants you dead.”

Kendall said, “What if one of those vamps shows up with a gun and shoots you in the face?”

“I don’t think so,” I responded. “There seems to be sort of an unspoken code about using magic when it comes to dealing among their own kind.” Resorting to the violence humans used against each other probably seemed barbaric. Supernatural creatures took pride in honing their abilities, similar to gunfighters in the Old West, and they relied on their magical skill set when it came time for offensive or defensive measures.

That silenced my bandmates.

“Zephora knows about your ability. Where did you get it anyway? Have you thought about that? All of these powers came from my family’s line. And that we’re all somehow related.”   

Kendall and Brandon exchanged a glance as deep introspection took hold of them. He clacked his drumsticks together, finding it difficult to control his anxiety. “My grandmother thinks my great-grandfather got cursed eighty years ago or something. Apparently, he rejected a woman, and immediately afterwards, he lost his sight.”

“I don’t like this,” Nolan said, looking from Kendall and Brandon to me. “These creatures coming after you.” He glanced around him, as though stunned that he’d spoken a private thought. “I mean, coming after
us
.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, pulled in by his concern. “I don’t want them hunting me down either, but I can’t control that.”

“So we’re in danger?” he asked. “Every time we’re next to you?”

“Yeah.” I looked elsewhere, feeling like a surfer who just found out that an enormous wave headed straight toward him. Nothing hurt as bad as letting down your friends, except for knowing that because you existed, they were marked for death. “I guess so.”

Nolan contemplated that for a long moment. “At least now I know to expect the unexpected.”

“That’s it?” I asked. “You’re not freaked out?”

“No,” he said, smirking. “That was the best gig of my life. We killed out there!”

“You mean,
I
killed out there,” I said with a grin.

He held my gaze with magnetic eyes. “Yeah, you did.” A corner of his mouth kicked up.

My thighs quivered at the possibility that he might be interested in me. I couldn’t recall the last time another man intrigued me on a romantic level. Thank God, my friends’ presence saved me from responding.

“So now what?” asked Brandon.

“The crowd recorded our show,” I said. “It’ll be on YouTube soon, if it’s not already. Now we’ll be a target.”

“You mean record labels will come knocking?” Brandon asked.

“No,” I said as another wave of regret cascading over me. “Vampires will come knocking. So don’t invite them in.”

*              *              *

A few hours later, as I prepared to get some sleep, I took a call from Scott Mettle, vocalist and co-founding member of the popular hometown hard rock band, Scrap Mettle. His band had two platinum records, and they had just reunited after having broken up years earlier. The band had sold out the Vic Theater for their scheduled performance in a couple days, and Scott had called because, since we couldn’t afford a manager or agent, he had gotten my number from a mutual friend who played in another local band.

Scott had seen our performance on YouTube and asked whether we’d consider opening up for them. That type of good fortune didn’t come along often, and I hoped my voice didn’t quiver too much as I accepted the offer without reservation. After chatting for a few more minutes with Scott about the “planned” stage show we’d put on and skirting details of how we pulled it off, I hung up. Although I worried that the audience might boo us because we couldn’t line up a handful of vampires willing to end their lives on stage, I had so much nervous energy that I spent the next hour separately updating Kendall, Brandon, and Nolan by phone. They were just as pumped as I was, and it took me a couple hours to fall asleep.

Some time later, it felt like the temperature had fallen below freezing in a matter of seconds. But that was unlikely during late spring, especially when I’d left the window open a smidge. I opened my eyes and, as they adjusted to the darkness, I caught sight of the Shih-Tzu/Brussels Griffon puppy named Lulu that I’d adopted from the local shelter this morning. All twenty inches of her stood at the foot of my bed, staring up at the ceiling, surprisingly tame considering that she was ordinarily a bundle of energy that had a difficult time following my commands…unless it served her own interests.

Without Grams in my life, I couldn’t bear to live in the house she left to me upon her death. Too many good memories of our past would have left me in a deep depression. Besides, I’d taken pride in caring for her, and I needed some company and someone to care for. When I saw Lulu, specifically those big brown eyes full of excitement and mischief, I knew she belonged in my life.

Although barely fifteen pounds, Lulu barked at dogs eight times her size with the vehemence of an alley brawler. She had a somewhat annoying high-pitched bark, but she was incredibly intelligent; I’d already taught her how to do a high-five! Since I needed to be on guard at all times, now that I had no idea who might try to invade my home, I was okay with having a dog issue a squealing bark to alert me to supernatural creatures, because even the best alarm system didn’t have the well-honed instincts of my Little Lunatic, one of many nicknames I’d already assigned her. It was a very rock ’n’ roll name, and it fit her perfectly, since she had no problem scuttling around the house barking at the faintest sound, daring anyone to cross her path, lest that entity feel her wrath. I’d even visited the local pet store and bought a tag to place on her collar with the words “Lunatic Lulu” sketched in the iron.

“What do you see, Little Lu?” I asked, getting up, and petting her back and curling my palm around her tail that was alert and raised high. “What’s going on? Is someone here?”

She barked and wagged her tail with vehemence.

“Good girl! Where is he?” I followed her gaze. “On the ceiling?”

Lulu barked and lifted her nose. She barked again, louder this time. A low rumble started at the back of her throat.

“Hey, Little Lu,” I said, trying to get her attention. “Who’s here?”

The grumble in her throat grew louder.

Goosebumps appeared on my arms. How could my Little Lu look and sound so confident? I wished I had her backbone!

That’s when Lulu dropped her gaze at eye level. She backed up, moving toward me. She barked and snarled then barked again.

Footsteps pattered across the carpet.

No one else had the key to my home. I looked left. No sound. Looked right. No movement anywhere. “Who’s here, Lulu?”

A breath hissed at the edge of my bed.

As Lulu started barking, I shut my eyes. I’d always been a light sleeper. I woke up at least seven or eight times each night, which made it difficult to get a good night of sleep. Needless to say, the littlest disturbance woke me up. If someone had entered the premises, I’d have heard the doorknob open at the other end of the hall. But not a sound sifted through the air. I disregarded the absurd notion that someone stood at the foot of my bed, watching over me as I slept. I closed my eyes and tried to relax.

“Seeeereeeena.”

“Lulu?” I said, my voice barely audible. She responded by turning around, ducking under the covers, and lying down flat on the bed. So much for a guard dog! I couldn’t blame her. I would have sought safety too if I were her.

Unable to ignore that sinister voice, I switched on the lamp on the nightstand to my left. I pushed up against the headboard and scanned the room, looking for…what? “Who’s there?” I asked, hating that my tone came out in a squeal. I felt Lulu quivering against my thigh. Instinctively, I placed a hand on her back, trying to comfort her. “It’s okay, Lu. Someone’s playing a mean trick on us.” Saying those words only made her shiver with more ferocity.

Not a sound clicked nearby. Nor did anything pass across my field of vision.

My imagination had obviously tricked me into believing someone had entered my room. I’d just slain a crew of vampires and, even though vamps couldn’t enter my home without my permission, no one could blame me for my apprehension. After midnight. In an empty house. Obviously, Lulu didn’t count, since she’d sought safety under the blankets.

I released a heavy sigh and shook off the eerie sensation that someone had infiltrated my home.

“Serena.”

Upon hearing my name clearly, I shot up in bed, once more glancing in every direction, eager to meet whoever decided to torment me. Lulu trembled under my palm with even greater urgency. But as the seconds ticked by, I didn’t see or hear anyone. So I closed my eyes and pretended to drift back asleep, hoping it relaxed my puppy. After a few moments, the tremors rippling across her skin settled down. I let out a slow sigh, glad that she no longer felt afraid.

Serena!

“Grams?” I asked, hoping my grandmother’s spirit had appeared to see me as she’d done in the past. I snapped open my eyes and threw off my covers, but I didn’t see her anywhere. “Who’s here?” Gasping, I watched puffs of white air leave my mouth. That locked my muscles in place, making it difficult to move.

My heartbeat thundered in my chest. My mouth went dry. And I waited for…what? I couldn’t hide under the covers like Lulu forever, so I swallowed and said, “Whoever’s there, I have a baseball bat.” Speaking broke my paralysis. Actually, the bat was under the bed, so I swung to the other side of the bed, dropped a hand below, grasped the bat, and brought it back up, clutching it tight. The few times I had approached Lulu a little too quickly, she cowered in submission: her previous owner had obviously abused her. For that reason, I felt an overpowering desire to protect her. No matter what came at me, I wouldn’t let anyone hurt my Little Lu.

With no response forthcoming, I peeled back the blanket, making sure Lulu was still covered, and looked at the edge of my bed.