Silver

by Pieslak, Dixie

  Silver

  Dixie Pieslak

  and

  Jamie Brownlee

  Copyright © 2012

  All rights reserved.

  Acknowledgments

  Writing is a solitary occupation. The fortunate author, however, may be blessed with a boost from other eyes and ears, as support along the twisting path. Such has been the case with this novel and the next to come.

  A simple thank you seems inadequate, but it is heartfelt, so here goes.

  Mountains of gratitude is due a wise, helpful and supportive group of intrepid writers in the Temecula valley, and specifically the following: MaryEtta Bollman, Richard Goldsmith, David Wesley, Kristine Westman, and Susan Reed.

  Equal tons of gratitude for valuable advise from pubished authors Olivia Andem, John Richardson, Lisa J. Peck, Bill Melchor and Jill Brownlee Wolf.

  A special word of appreciation to Maureen Kazcsmarski, Amie Kazcmarski,Yvonne Dal Pra and Julie Finaldi, whose early feedback provided generous encouragement. And final gratitude to James Eggebeen, a published author of Wizardry, and something of a wizard himself as he helped finalize the publication of this novel.

  All errors and undue stretch of the imagination rests with the authors.

  Prologue

  Russell

  I kept Henna’s roommate close under my arm, like it was affection instead of me guiding her down the pier towards the fishing boat. Luci leaned heavy against me, walking all sloppy. Her eyes were part open but they saw nothing and it was dark anyway. A snoop looking close at her eyes would say drugs, but no one except Doreen was around to make that inspection and it wasn't drugs, anyway.

  “Russell,” Doreen yelled.

  “Not so loud,” I called back. “Just stay there. This will be fast.”

  I checked the boat cabin and the two men sprawled on the bunk. They smelled drunk, but it was me controlling their idiot minds, making them sleep. They didn't feel the boat dip in the water and didn't see us stop on the back deck. I sniffed the salty air and remembered why I came back to Southern California. Good smells, easy places to hide out and lots of careless people. What's not to like? And then I walked into that club in Venice Beach and found Henna.

  I was gentle with Luci on the way to the boat. Now I held her tight to my chest and lifted her chin. Her mouth fell open and a little dribble ran out one corner. Her dark hair moved in the ocean breeze and I patted it down.

  “Good move, Russell,” I told myself and Luci, too. “The days of waiting were worth it. And I'm on my best behavior, because Megan is right here watching.”

  Luci wasn’t beautiful, but she was cute in a wild way and her warm body tempted me. I licked across her lips. I took off her spit and pulled and sucked. Woozy and out of it, she didn't object.

  Her hair blew across my face and I smelled the fruity shampoo she uses and I ran my mouth down her cheek and tasted lotion and fear, all sour and good on my tongue. No more fear soon. No lotion either. My muscles went tight and the female of her made my mouth water, but this had to look natural for the cops, so I made myself go careful. I wanted to mess around, though.

  I sniffed Luci's neck. My tongue tingled and damn, I was ready for this girl, ready to take what I wanted. But I held myself back because of my wife. “This is for you,” darling,” I told her. “So I'll do it right. Just a little touching, that's all.” In my head, I saw Megan give me the okay.

  Luci's face fell to the side and I lodged her tightly against my shoulder. I bit at her lips, stuck my tongue in her mouth and rubbed her lean belly. A healthy girl, and one to keep for a day or two, but she had a different place in my plans, so I touched where I wanted, but not too much. No bruises allowed. Not this time.

  “I gotta tell her, Megan, so she knows how important this is.” The face in my mind agreed.

  “Funny how it works,” I said, making sure for my wife's sake to use good language and no cuss words. “I followed Henna and found you, Luci, and your friends, always in a group at the apartment or that club where Henna sings. But they're your friends, not hers. Without you, Luci, they'll go away.”

  I heard laughter from the boardwalk at me talking to an empty headed human. Doreen was thirsty and ready to leave and I could play forever, but better quit. I licked the slack lips again then all across her face, down to her neck. Right there and right now.

  I took an excited breath and stabbed my fangs into her skin. She didn’t struggle, no yelling or anything. No way she could, cause her mind was mine. The hot blood made me dizzy and I gulped harder. It was too good and for a moment I almost forgot Luci wasn't supposed to die this way.

  Her arm jerked and her body sagged. The movements were a signal and I pulled back. Blood in the holes and more on her neck. I licked it off and almost bit again, but no more from this one. It all had to look natural.

  I watched the bite on her neck. When it closed and disappeared, I grunted, pleased with myself. Down on the boardwalk, Doreen grunted back.

  Fishing boats have ropes and chains. I wrapped Luci tight and careful so she could still breathe, then fastened the chain and checked the knots. All good. I glanced at the men on the bunks then tapped her nose. “Time to go, Luci.”

  Doreen was a tough lookout, but I checked again to be sure. There were plenty of lights along the beach area, but none reached this far out. Besides, I could feel there was no one around and I trusted Doreen to handle things if that changed.

  Satisfied, I lifted the girl and eased her over the back rail and into the cold ocean. In seconds she was gone. A minute later, so were me and Doreen.

  “Downtown Los Angeles or Long Beach?” Doreen asked.

  “L.A. is good.” I said. “Always someone sleeping on the sidewalk.”

  I went over my plans. One more thing to handle, the most important part and it would probably take a while. I had to find the hide out, a nice place that was dark and private. A house was perfect, but it had to be the right house. No time now, so tomorrow night I'll start looking and in a week or so all Luci's friends would be gone and Henna walking alone to the club.

  Doreen was driving fast, her fangs all drooly and hanging out. “You liked the little show on the boat, eh?” I said.

  “Hey, Russell. I was waiting for you to do her, but all she got was tongue.”

  I showed my teeth. “A lot more than tongue, sweetheart.”

  Doreen takes what she wants, so she couldn't be anywhere near the house I find, much less the guest I'll take there. Maybe I'll make some newbie vamps to help out. Two or three. One female so Henna feels comfortable. Or maybe I don't need help. Yeah, I've handled lots of humans. Henna will be a cinch and I'll be nice to her, because Megan would want it. A place where kids lived, I decided, cause that would make Henna feel trust and safety. Those things were important to the first part of my plan. Henna trusting me and feeling safe. Happiness would come after.

  Chapter 1

  Henna

  It was like a plastic tarp had fallen over me, surrounding and covering me and somehow clinging. I was scared up the wall and Luci wasn't here and all those others were. I chattered my head off to keep them here. Fixed burgers, opened potato chips, sodas and beer and a bag of malt balls from Luci's drawer. I tittered at stupid stuff, ignored the girl sleeping on my bed and offered up my precious guitar as entertainment, singing whatever anyone wanted and making up quirky lyrics to keep them laughing. I let three of the guys try fingering a few chords and it all kept them around and kept them awake and kept the sensation of plastic tarp from choking me completely.

  Around four in the morning I gave out, and everyone with me. But the stalker had given out too, and the tarp was gone. Now was my chance to run.

  I threw stuff in my suitcases, in boxes and old shopping b
ags. The early morning marine layer found me stuffing the trunk of my car, computer and clothes in the back, guitar up front with me. I hid my key under a rock by the palm tree and didn't say goodbye. Just two phone calls. One to Luci's brother to tell him where the key was, and one to my cousin.

  Christina was alarmed, but she's always in command. Like I am - usually. “Of course you can come now, Henna. I'll call Jeff to see if the gig is still open. And I'll be home when you get here.”

  “I'm leaving now, cuz, so maybe two hours, depending on traffic. Or longer if I stop for coffee. Up all night so I think I will.” My heart was pounding and the scared kept me twitchy alert, but coffee sounded good. Not in Venice Beach, though. Get away from here first, then worry about the rest.

  I slipped out of town like a thief on the run. Morning traffic and freeways were the typical gauntlet. The gray skies stayed overhead for most of the first hour. I could've driven straight through, but I pulled off in West Covina for that coffee and also to breathe.

  In all my life I've never run from anything before and it made me question myself. I just ran out on a gig. No notice, just fleeing. And the reliable me felt guilty about it. But my heart tripped and jumped when I relived last night. Someone stalking for at least a week, someone watching me when I sing, and outside Luci's apartment. Walking to work and back home at night. I stuck to groups and it didn't make any difference. And suddenly Luci gone. Disappeared. Not answering her phone. The police not concerned. Not even her brother. And that breathless, clingy feeling of a tarp? I had to run.

  My skin crawled and I scratched until my arms were scored and red. I rubbed my face until it was sore. And creepy crawly lingered in my head, imagined and real at the same time.

  I sat outside at a table with people nearby. The sun was shining and Venice was miles back and me held in tight with everything hidden behind my personal walls, so really, I'm okay. And Christina would be a refuge. My insides rebelled at that thought.

  I'm not the kind of girl who needs rescuing anymore. Real young, back when I survived foster home after foster home, I learned how to be strong, and I still think of myself as stronger than others. Not needy. Independent. What's happened to all of that? Stomped in the dirt along with all sense of trust. Trust I always found hard to give. Trust Christina demands, if I am to live with her.

  I knew what happened to all that strength and independence. A stalker I couldn't spot and never saw, but still felt out there and after me. Oh God, I didn't want to take my fears to Christina's home. My first cup of coffee was black. Now I got the prize. A caramel macchiato with whipped cream mountain high and more caramel dribbled on top of that. A million calories and so what. I can forage like a gorilla and never gain an ounce.

  I stayed and drank and hummed and breathed air that was clean of stalker guy. A new day. A new home and maybe a new gig. I thought good thoughts and smiled at the two basset hounds panting and slobbering beautiful slobber, and I loved every single person sitting around me. When my head felt clear and my hopes were up, I drove the final half hour to Christina.

  “Hey, Christina, do you care if I switch rooms? Can you hear me?”

  My cousin came out of her bedroom. “Go ahead and switch, if you want.” She stood in the doorway and shook her head at my things “You hardly unpacked anything yet.”

  I swung my feet around and gave her a pleading look. “Help me, cuz?”

  ''Sure.” She knelt beside me on the bed. “Still spooked aren't you. Listen, Henna, we're a long ways from Venice Beach and there's no way he can find you. You're safe here.”

  “I know, but I just looked out the window at all those empty hills and my stomach turned over. It makes me feel lost and I'm not lost.”

  “No, sweetie, you're not.” She gave me a squeeze around the shoulders and I sort of melted. “So you want the room facing the street?”

  I nodded and curled loose hair behind my ears. “You can't imagine how grateful I am that you let me move in with you, Christina. Early, I mean.”

  “You were coming in June, this is the end of February. Not so early. And besides, the gig with Jeff is available and he's willing to transfer your summer contract to now. If you waited even a day, one little day, the spot might have been taken.”

  A little jump inside. “Yeah, I lucked out there. Thank you so much for calling him.” I blinked and plucked at the bedspread.

  She rubbed my arm. “Henna, try and relax. Things have a way of working out and this is your home as long as I can keep you in one place. Now let's move your stuff.”

  For the second time I lugged and she lugged, but at least no more stairs. Then three closet trips and a few things from one bathroom to the other. How did I fit all of this into my car by myself? When I finally looked at the curved street out front, and the neighbors' green lawns and the huge tree across from my window, a big chunk of my stomach gurgles settled.

  I haven't lived with Christina since I was a kid and the idea that she was excited to have me fluttered my chest in a good way. Wish Mom wasn't out of the country. I'll email her tonight. I took out her picture and put it on the dresser. My favorite one of me, too. Now I needed one of my cousin. Small family, but pictures make a room feel like home. How long will it take before I can relax? How long to really feel safe? My music will help. Oh God, it has to help.

  I leaned my guitar case in the corner and put my music journal under the pillow. Back to the window. No marine layer like when I sped away from Venice this morning. Still cool, but sunny and there's a bird on that branch. And a little girl on the sidewalk with her mother. No, probably her grandmother. I've never had a grandmother and I watched them for a minute. A stubborn thread of determination moved inside me.

  My cousin was downstairs fixing sandwiches, so I slid my things into drawers and hooked up the computer. Unpacked my box of lotions into the bathroom. A tub. How long since I've soaked in a tub? I tested the bed. Firm, which means perfect. My bed at Luci's apartment was like sinking into a pile of feathers. I'll sleep better here. Oh, God. I have to.

  Christina had cut the tuna sandwiches into wedges and piled them on a plate. She was pouring iced tea. “That looks yummy, I said. My hair was in my face again. I looked at her short, brown hair and compared it to my wild mop. “Where do you get your hair cut?”

  “You're not cutting it off. I won't let you.”

  I laughed. My bossy cousin was still there. “Not even a trim?”

  She was all business. “A trim, yes. If you want, we'll go tomorrow after you talk to Gina about the gofer job in the PR. That's scheduled for 2:00 and you're supposed to meet with Jeff at 7:15 and go on stage at 8:00. Plenty of time.”

  I wasn't sure about her idea of me working in the Public Relations office. It was for the music and theater departments at the university, so that part felt good, but - what do I know about PR? Still, I wanted to be my strong self again and I had every day free before singing and the extra money could go straight to savings.

  Christina heard my giggle. “What?”

  “Just thinking that I should stop buying so many clothes, and at the same time I wondered what kind of stores are in Claremont Village.”

  “Didn't we just fill that closet to the max?” She put the sandwiches and glasses of tea on the island counter. “Eat up and we'll take a drive. The Village is only a few blocks. Not a mall, but there's a place or two you might find up your alley.”

  I grabbed a sandwich and suddenly felt frivolous. I hate feeling frivolous. “Hey, you know I need a lot of outfits for performing. I'm not a real clothes horse.”

  She looked at me sideways. “Keep telling yourself that, girl.”

  Chapter 2

  Henna

  My heart was pumping as I chose the perfect outfit for my first night. This was audition week with the patrons and if they like me, the contract goes from five nights to a solid three months and maybe more. And the other singer goes to part time, which was Jeff's normal way of changing out performers.

  I h
eld up two hangers for my cousin. “My new top or the yellow one?”

  Here eyes went straight to her favorite color. “Do you really need to ask? You bought it, so wear it.”

  “I agree.” I slipped on the lavender top, tucked it snug into my pants and turned this way and that. Christina gave me a nod and I went into the bathroom for a touch of eye shadow. The shadows were already there, under my eyes because I didn't sleep well last night after all, even though I told my cousin I did. I splashed my face, brushed teeth, did make-up and thought I looked like somebody had run over my dog.

  Pick it up, Henna. Several deep breaths then a brush through my hair, debating. Hair is always an issue, since it’s a pretty strong identifying factor. Even with the trim, mine is well past shoulder length and slightly curly, since I didn't have the energy to blow dry it straight after showering. I pulled one side back, then both, then tried a clip.

  My cousin was laughing at me. “Come show me before you leave so I can do the final checking you out.” She hustled down the stairs. Probably a TV program was coming on soon or something. I stared mindlessly at the sink and wished I could crawl into bed.

  Move, girl. I lifted my head and smiled at my image and it didn't look like me. Tried again and added a smile in the eyes. There, that was better. Remember the eyes, always the key to the soul. I redid the hair clip and added earrings, a bracelet, and cologne, then a warm jacket and neck scarf, just in case. I try to take care of my throat, even though it’s always fine. Another mirror check. Oooh.

  My healthy throat had a knot in it and I was still held in. Only a day and a half since I left Venice, yet I needed to relax so I could send out positive thoughts and attract the customers to my music. Would they see past the smile? I leaned my forehead against the cold mirror. Don't think about Luci. Hide the tension and worry, and in a few days it will fade. I've been faking it with Christina so I can fake tonight.