Afterlife (Afterlife Saga)

by Stephanie Hudson

  By this time we had managed to make it through the alternative looking crowd to the booth that housed all of RJ's “Goth gang” as Libby had called them. There were three of them in total. Two guys and one more girl all sat round a massive half oval seat covered in red velvet. There was a table in the middle with already empty glasses and bottles waiting to be collected. As soon as they saw us they budged round to make room for two more bodies.

  “That was a nightmare, I think next time I would rather die of thirst!” RJ complained as she sat down putting her bottle of Bud on the table ready for the introductions.

  “Everyone this is Keira!” She announced to the gang, and I suddenly felt like I was being introduced to one of those “self-help” groups.

  “Umm… Kaz is fine.” I said in a pathetically weak voice. It didn’t help when I had all eight eyes studying me. I sat down and rested my bottle on the table as my hand had started to go numb with holding it so long.

  “Hi, I’m Lanie.” I smiled in reply to a pretty girl with short bobbed hair. She had a kind face and small oval glasses that sat upon a small delicate nose. She got up to shake my hand and I leaned forward to reciprocate.

  “Nice gloves, not used to the weather yet uh?” She said as I sat back down replying with a nervous laugh.

  One by one they all introduced themselves and I started to relax once I wasn’t the main topic of conversation any more. I was relieved to be chatting about starting college. They all lived local apart from one, Charles, or Chaz as he liked to be called, had just moved here to live with his aunt while he was studying at the local college. His single mum of three couldn’t afford to pay for college accommodation so her sister offered to help out. He moved here in the summer to “get a feel for the place” and he had met RJ through her brother as they both worked at the same sports store called Airtime. RJ’s brother was running a little late due to work but he’d text to say he was on his way.

  Chaz was cute looking with a baby face that looked like it still hadn’t fully matured. He paid a lot of attention to RJ but she didn’t seem to notice. Every now and again he would stare at her and smile to himself, a hidden smile. The other guy was Andrew or Drew as he also preferred. He confessed himself to be a bit of a Geek. He was studying computer engineering and loved to play World of Warcraft. He started to go into detail about the game or “community” but he could have been speaking Japanese for all I knew.

  “Leave it out Drew cap!” RJ said throwing a piece of the paper label she had been playing with. She was a good shot as it landed on his head and rolled down only to rest on his glasses. Everyone laughed including Drew. I learned that he and RJ had grown up together as neighbours and had been best friends forever. The nickname Drew Cap continued throughout the night. The banter between them reminded me of Libby and myself. I couldn’t help but smile at the thought.

  Drew was tall and very thin with a face to match but he had the most amazing deep eyes, they were brown with hints of toffee in them. They were big and very expressive and they seemed to like what they saw in Lanie as they kept diverting towards her general direction. They all made me feel very welcome and I felt at ease telling them about myself (well to a point) but they all had a laugh with the different things that I said and started with all the “say this…say that” malarkey.

  Libby was right; my English accent had gone down well with them all. I didn’t think it would be long before they had me doing impressions of the Royal family! But I took it all in good fun and was having so much of a good time that I didn’t realise when RJ’s brother turned up. It was very embarrassing to find that he was behind me the whole time I had been slightly snorting like pig with laughter. I didn’t realise until RJ looked up.

  “Hey, there you are, I thought you were going to miss the band starting but they’re not on for another ten.” My face went bright red with embarrassment as I could feel his eyes on the back of my head. I turned round sheepishly to see a very handsome face smiling down at me.

  “Well hello there giggles, I’m Jack. You must be our English rose, Keira.” He said in a very confident smooth textured voice. I blushed again like a nun in a nudist colony. I hated receiving compliments, I never knew how to react, not wanting to be rude but most of all not wanting to be the centre of anyone’s attention.

  “Jack, don’t be a freak, you’re embarrassing her!” RJ said coming to my rescue, well sort of.

  “I apologise for my brother, he was dropped on his head a lot as a child.” I lowered my head to hide my grin.

  “Don’t you mean hit in the head, by you!” Drew said now joining in the debate.

  Jack leaned down to my face and with a cheeky grin, that would make any heart melt he said,

  “Sorry about these two, there’s no stopping them when they get going, let’s start over, I'm Jack and I don’t have any problems with my head.” He smiled at the end of this, replacing the cheekiness with a charming wink.

  There was something so likeable about him it was hard to keep from smiling to myself. He looked a bit like a rough catwalk model. One you would see in an advert for a Gillette shaving product, as he had the stubble and messy hair for it. His hair was brown but with streaks of gold cast lightly through it. It flopped around in every direction as he moved, his streaks getting caught in the warm glow of the club's lighting. His eyes were a warm hazel that matched his hair and they were framed with long lashes. But none of these were his best features. No it was his very heart-warming smile. The kind of smile that when it appeared would light up his face, transforming it entirely.

  He sat down next to me as we all budged up once more. Drew and Chaz seemed happy about the close proximity that Jack had created. But now we all looked more like couples, there being three girls and three boys, but as for the girls, myself included, we didn't think the same as the guys did.

  “So how do you like our cold little town?” Jack asked with a crooked grin, as his arm rested slightly on the back of the velvet seat behind me.

  “Umm, to be honest I haven't really seen much of it, but what I have seen I like. My sister and I went hiking the other day, which I loved.” This made his eyes react as though I had said something to spark his interest.

  “Oh you like to hike? I do too, well growing up here, there's not that much more to do. Until this place opened that is.” I wondered how long this place had been open for. RJ had said the Dravens came here every year.

  “I know all the best spots, if you would ever like an expert guide,” he continued nudging me at this last part.

  “Best spots of what?” RJ said with an abrupt manner.

  But before she could get her answer the crowd started to shift and people that were sitting were starting to rise to try and get a better view of something. I found myself thinking that considering the band wasn't that well known, they sure were getting a lot of excited faces looking their way. I thought out loud and said “So I'm guessing the band’s here” directed more at RJ as she was now stood like the rest of them. Jack and I were the only ones still sitting.

  “You guessed wrong,” she said through a wide black lipped grin, now nearly standing on the seat to get a better view. I noticed Lanie was doing the same only with her height she didn't have the same problem as RJ.

  “It's a lot more exciting than that!” And with that her hands went to her face in what looked like pure joy!

  “Is she like this at Christmas?” I asked Jack who wasn't looking as thrilled as everyone else.

  “Sadly no, nothing gets her this excited. I really don't understand what it is about them!” He said in a bored tone.

  “Them?” Was I missing something? I thought we were here to see a band, or had some celebrity just walked in. It wouldn't have surprised me in this place.

  “The Dravens,” she squeaked. She went so high pitched I could just imagine all dogs within a ten miles radius howling in pain.

  “Ah,” was all I could say as I was trying to sink further down in my seat and angle myself away from
where everyone was straining their necks to see. Jack seemed to notice my movement.

  “Well it's nice to see not everyone here is Draven Crazy!” He said smiling down at me but receiving a middle finger from his sister for the comment.

  “Nice and very lady like sis,” he said, his voice laced with sarcasm. Then the whispers started, which indicated they were here. I don't think that anyone had even noticed that the band was already on the stage and ready to start their first song. Heads turned towards the front entrance where I had not long since walked through. Then it was strange, like something from a Godfather movie when the Don walked in. Everyone that had been staring was now trying not to look directly at them. From what I could make out they were now passing through the crowd, a lot easier than when we did it, as the people were parting as if Moses was leading the way.

  The music had started right on cue, as though trying to divert some of the attention. If anything it just enhanced their entrance making it more dramatic. I tried not to look but found myself glancing up every now and again, wishing the commotion would soon be over. I don't know why but I was embarrassed for them, I would have hated to have all those eyes watching me. I didn't want to conform, like somehow it would make it easier for them if one less person wasn't acting that way.

  But there was also another set of feelings that were coursing through my body and mind. Ones I couldn't understand. I felt nervous again and my arms began to itch, as though the “well concealed” scars beneath my gloves were burning. I sat on my hands trying not to fidget too much. My heart raced uncontrollably and I was thankful the music had started, as I was sure you could hear my every heartbeat. I tried to concentrate on my breathing, slowing my inhaling down, the way the doctor had shown me to control my panic attacks, which I hadn’t had for a while until tonight. Why was I acting so crazy, so it was just some rich family that had a bit of mystery to them, they probably just wanted to be left alone. And that was about all the mystery to it.

  I started to relax my thoughts. Yes this was good. Keep this up Keira I commanded myself. But then something RJ had said to me earlier struck me.

  The stairs!

  The stairs that led them up to the VIP area, the very stairs that we were all sat right next to. That's why RJ had been so happy about our positioning. She had known that they would have to walk right by us to get there. Ok, not so calm now. But as if to make matters worse, Jack was having his own rebellious feelings towards them and got up swiftly, declaring,

  “I think I've had enough of the theatrics, I'm getting a drink!” and left, leaving me exposed in full view of anyone who walked by. With the crowd parting in front of us, we would now have a clear view of the Dravens, almost like being in front of the stage at a concert. RJ gasped in delight and Lanie sighed with content. I on the other hand, had stopped breathing!

  Because there, in front of me, now stood Dominic Draven.

  I was like a small, helpless woodland animal caught in headlights. I knew it was dangerous but still I had to look. I tried to tear my eyes away from the most perfect being I had ever seen. He couldn’t be human, he was just too perfect, like a Greek god sent to torture me for my sins. I think if Air Force One had landed on top of the building I still wouldn’t have noticed!

  It was as if we were the only two people in the room. It struck me with so many feelings at once that it felt as though Zeus himself had hit me with a lightning bolt and now all I felt was electricity coursing through my body. I was suddenly aware that I was staring and hoped that no one noticed. Not that I think this was an issue, not with Dominic Draven around. I could now understand what all the fuss was about. He had a sort of magnetic pull to him, something unnatural but soothing at the same time.

  He was ahead of all the rest so I knew he was the one in charge. A little further back there were two men that caught my eye, one of which was gargantuan. He was a flipping giant! The crowd didn’t stare at him and there was no wonder as his face was just as intimidating as his size. He had deep coloured skin like leather that had seen too much sun over the years and it was full of what looked like potholes. Maybe from a severe case of smallpox I wondered. Of course being the size of a seven foot wrestler I doubted many questioned their origins.

  The man on his other side was tall and athletic looking. With very white blonde, straight hair that you could just see under his overhanging black hood which concealed most of his face. But I could have sworn that I noticed what looked like tattoos down one cheek. Then he came closer and it soon became hard to miss given the startling difference between the whitest skin of an albino and the ink that featured down one side. I don't know why but he reminded me of the white knight on a chess board being taken over by the dark side.

  Behind these men that looked like guards there were two other men, one dressed in a Japanese robe who had kind features, with raven black hair slicked back and a sharp point to his chin and cheek bones that spoke of a nobility lacing his blood line. He stood next to another man who was all light next to his dark. He was the most angelic of them all but had eyes that suggested otherwise. They were like black ice with a cruel harsh glint to them. His skin was almost luminescent, even in this low lighting it glowed as if he had just spent the day basking in the sun's rays. His hair was cut short creating a halo of tight golden curls, reminding me of an antique doll. His face however was set in a firm line of both arrogance and pride.

  But all these were insignificant factors, shadows in the background, behind the God that stood in front of them. They moved according to the way their master moved, scanning the crowd for anything unexpected. He was slowly approaching now and looked straight on as if oblivious to everyone. All the girls (and some guys) had the same look imprinted on those eager faces. They all wanted to be seen by those seductive eyes of his, to be noticed…. Everyone except me!

  I looked down at the table now trying to resist the urge to look again, but I knew he was getting closer as I could feel my heart rate going through the roof. It was RJ that made me fail my objective.

  “He’s looking this way!” She whispered through half closed lips. Then I did the unthinkable. I looked up at him, meeting his eyes that, amazingly, were also staring back at me. Arctic. Black. Consuming. If I thought my heart rate was going crazy before, now I thought I was going to go into a cardiac arrest! He wouldn’t move his intense stare from my face and I blushed every shade of red in the spectrum.

  He had paused in front of our table and the bodyguards behind him looked just as confused as the rest of the spectators did. I could almost hear RJ hyperventilating. He looked the pinnacle of dominance, standing there with all the club's eyes behind him watching his every move. Like waiting for a mythological warrior to issue his first command to his armies. Although with his massive body, dressed in a black designer suit, he looked more like a modern version of a warrior, maybe “commander of the night” would be more fitting. There was just something so unnerving about him...no, not only unnerving but nearing unearthly. As if somehow he didn't belong to this world.

  The whole club seemed to be at a standstill, my heart included. It was as if he was searching for something in my eyes but came up empty. Then his expression turned un-amused and he frowned pulling his eyebrows together. This released his hold on me and I finally lowered my face and turned my back to him to hide my shame. I could still feel his presence as though he had somehow buried his essence under my skin. I couldn't help but scratch at my scars that started to burn under layers of clothing. I don't know how I knew but I could feel his eyes taking in my movements like I was his prey. Then something snapped. A link being broken. I noticed RJ’s eyes following him and then they turned to me, indicating that they were no longer in sight. I could finally breathe.

  “What was all that about?” RJ was now on a mission. She eyed me curiously and then looked back at Lanie for back up.

  “Yeah, what was that? Did he know you? Did you recognize him?” Lanie said now joining in the Spanish inquisition.

&nb
sp; “No!” I said a bit too abruptly, like it had hit a nerve. But then my mind went into overload, when she had said “Did you recognize him?” that was the nerve that had hit.....I did recognize him! That’s the reason I had the reaction when I saw him. He was the man from my dreams. The dreams I was now starting to flow back into with a crashing wave. Yes, they were all so clear now, so clear in fact that it was hard to think of them as just dreams. They had seemed so real but why did I forget about them. And more importantly why was a man, who I had never seen before tonight, the exact same man that I had been so vividly dreaming about the last couple of days?

  The girls didn’t look convinced but neither did the guys for that matter.

  “Well, the way he was staring at you, maybe he knows you.” RJ shot Drew a look and he shrugged his shoulders replying “what?” to her dirty look.

  “What did I miss?” Jack said as he came back holding a tray full of drinks.

  “You will never guess what happened!” Chaz said in a high pitched voice trying to mimic one of the girls.

  “Oh, please tell me this was finally the year that he tripped and fell on his rich ass!” he said raising his hand to the top of his head. I moved closer round to give him room as he resumed his place back next to me.

  “Sorry dude, guess again”

  “Oh I don’t know, some girl flashed him to get his attention and even then, I doubt he would have looked, he’s probably gay,” he said with a wicked smile. I just stayed quiet, still embarrassed from the memory. My mind doing ten to the dozen.

  “No flashing needed, he took a fancy to Kaz though, couldn’t stop staring at her.” Ok I was going purple now and had to get away from everyone staring at me and it wasn’t just my table, it seemed like the entire club!