by TylerRose.
“I have enough evidence that Earnol’s interference is massively criminal. I am going to confront him in a few days and get rid of him forever.”
“Killing him yourself?” Roc asked.
“Nope. I don’t have to lay a hand on him. All I have to do is be present to bear witness. Then I need to pick a date for Voranian and K’Tran ships to arrive and help us smash Solomon once and for all. I’ll be leaving this planet on that day, soon as it’s done. That means if you’re coming with me, you need to be ready to go on that day. It’ll be at least ten days from now. I haven’t fully decided. So get your affairs in order if you’re coming,” she said directly to Jerome.
“Pretty much already do,” he replied. “Nails has Power of Attorney already. Warren can manage my businesses. You can teleport, so you can bring any papers to me when they need signing, right?”
“I can. Or Julian can. There’s always ways,” she said. “I learned that the space station the Congress is now on was originally a colony ship that brought a number of Sistarians here to await the coming of a very special Eminent Doyen. One that would eventually evolve into a goddess that would produce humanoid life on a planet somewhere within the galaxy. There have been many over the last couple million years. As it turns out, the one they were waiting for was me. There are still some people of the original colony here on Earth, waiting for me to be evolved enough for them to come forward and help me along.”
“Do you know who they are?” Gable asked.
“I know two of them. But I’m not going to do that growing here. I can’t stay on Earth. I’ll have my own land on K’Tran when this is all done, and you can all live there as long as you want. It’ll be a good launching point for seeing what’s out there in the galaxy and getting used to the idea. It looks enough like Earth. I already know what the House looks like from the outside. It’s huge, has its own small village, is only a couple miles from the capital city. The Voranians are going to come with us to free Taverages as well. If they are willing, I’d like to go along Adamantine’s path and free every planet he enslaved.”
“I’d like that,” Starbird spoke up. “A little personal redemption would be nice.”
“I thought you might. According to the Sanctarians, once I start doing this, starting with Earnol, I’ll have a new title. I will be the Advocate. It’s not going to matter for you all, but people up there will address me by title once it’s known. I’m going out today and won’t be back until very late.”
She got up and bent to give Jerome a kiss, giving his lower lip a small bite.
“Excuse me,” he said, and followed her inside.
Catching up at the bottom of the stairs, he took her by the wrist into his bedroom and kicked the door shut.
“I really do need to get things together to go,” she said as he pushed her onto the bed.
“Mmmhmm.”
“Really I do.”
“You’re mounting a valiant effort to stop me,” he said, grasping the waist of those lovely stretch pants and pulling them all the way down her legs and to the floor.
“Who am I to say no to something I’ve wanted for eons?”
“Eons, huh?” he said, between her legs and reaching into his shorts to pull out his stone hard erection.
“Aren’t you even going to take off your shirt?”
“Nope.”
She reached to pull it up his chest and he captured her wrists in one iron hand and pinned her arms over her head on the mattress.
“I want you right now and I will have you right now,” he said in that intense low tone, and penetrated her to the cervix. “I am never going to wait to have you again.”
She whimpered with the quick pain and sudden fullness.
“I warned you I am not a gentle lover.”
His lips seized hers, the tiger holding his mate in place for the coupling he would have of her. This Jerome was much more aggressive than the one in her home timeline. Her experienced soul needed him to be exactly that. Her freshly initiated body would catch up fast enough.
“Don’t hold back,” he said. “Cum every single time you can.”
He stopped counting at her tenth and finished himself with a deeply gratified groan.
“I don’t care if I never have sex with another woman, Tyler. You are the only one I’ll ever want.”
He felt her tense under him with the admission, opened his eyes to look at her. And smiled.
“I know you, little girl. We’re going to be having threesomes and I know who the first one is going to be with,” he said. “I’m not going to make you say you’ll never ever fuck another dude. I couldn’t have another dude join us and then turn around and say you can’t ever fuck another dude. Just don’t do it without my prior knowledge and approval, okay? I want the power of approval and final veto. If I say no, there will be a reason and you will abide by it.”
“Okay. I have to get going. I can’t be late to Mickey’s.”
“What’s so important there?”
She smiled, not answering as she got out of bed and dressed. “I’m going to be there most of the day and then at Giuseppe’s. Meet me there about seven?”
He watched her get dressed, sorely tempted to make her very late to Mickey’s. “Sounds good. See you then.”
She teleported to her own room without a kiss goodbye. Likely because she knew he’d drag her into bed again.
“Didn’t think you were going to make it,” Mickey teased, handing over the joint.
“I wouldn’t miss this gig for anything. There’s a particular play list I want to perform tonight.”
She handed him the list and he scanned down it. They rehearsed those songs specifically, in the order she had written them down. She didn’t give it her all, saving the energy for the gig. Mickey suggested she take a nap while they got everything packed up into the van. She didn’t argue. He went upstairs with her, sat on the edge of the bed when she was comfortably positioned.
“You’re okay to sing tonight? No jokes?” he asked with obvious concern.
“I’m fine. It’s been a rough couple days is all.”
“I know. I see it in your soul.” He kissed her forehead. “Rest well. I’ll wake you when it’s time.”
She was asleep within minutes, a deep sleep of many vivid images, among them Mickey talking to her mother. She woke with a start, the room dim. Mickey was gently shaking her lower leg.
“It’s time to get ready.”
“Mickey. Mik’Hial,” she said, sitting up and eyes drilling into his soul.
He smiled, stroked her cheek. “We’ll talk another time. You need to focus for the show.”
He was right. She shoved the dream and its corresponding reality from her mind. There was too much going on tonight to discuss her parentage. Opening her bag, she laid everything out, the routine of it calming her before-show jitters. She rode with Mickey and the equipment in his van, silent and letting go the world. The second van followed with the guys.
At the restaurant, everyone helped unload except her. She only carried her little rug, laying it in her spot and looking out over the emptying space. The early dinner people were being shooed out so the staff could prepare for the first show. The band had half an hour for sound check before the audience would start to come in. An hour after that, at 8pm, they would begin. She would play the early set and then go home.
“How are you doing?” she heard from the dressing room door. Mickey checking on her.
“I’m fine. Meeting Jerome for dinner at seven. He doesn’t know I sing. He’s going to find out tonight. I’ll be there by the end of the first song.”
“You’re sure about your playlist?”
“Yes. There is reason for it.”
“There’s a reason for everything you do; but there’s a lot on this list and they are not easy songs. You’re not just showing off for him, are you?” he asked.
She laughed. “If I was showing off, it’d be twice as hard. I’m telling him a story.”
; She left him, heading for Jerome’s reserved table. She ordered a Jack and a glass of ice water for herself and a bottle of tequila for him. He arrived as they were being delivered, smiling and giving her a kiss as he slid into the booth.
“You’re looking particularly hot,” he said of her short tank dress.
“I thought you might like it.”
“Will there be anything else?” the waitress asked.
“Gimme a minute to look at the menu,” Jerome said, grabbing one.
“You shittin’ me?” Tyler shot at him. “You own the fuckin’ place and you don’t know what’s on the menu? You only ever get one thing anyway.”
He made a face and laughed. “I’ll have a steak. Medium. Baked potato,” he said, just to spite her.
She ordered the steak salad.
“Man this place is packed. I wonder why,” he said, looking around the rapidly filling room.
“The band,” she replied. “You haven’t noticed much, but they play two concerts a night Friday and Saturday for ticketed audiences.”
“And it’s always a sell-out when Rose performs,” Julian said, sliding into the seat on Tyler’s left and kissing her cheek.
“I understand you’ve been to Sanctuary,” he said.
She smiled at him. “Indeed I have, cousin. I know a great many truths, but not everything, I’m sure. I remember all of my life in the other timeline.”
“Good,” he smiled.
“I’m not angry that you couldn’t tell me. I knew you couldn’t.”
“What are you doing here, dude?” Jerome asked him.
“I came to see the band. This Rose is something of a phenomenon. I rarely miss a performance. She’s quite the show-woman.”
The waitress came back with Tyler’s coffee and took Julian’s order back with her.
“When is the next Council meeting?” she asked Julian.
“Tomorrow, why?”
“I’m going to be there.”
He blinked slow, absorbing her meaning. “Reeeeally. Okay. I’ll let you know when we’re all assembled.”
“What are you going to do when all this is done?” she asked him.
“I have no idea. I’ve not thought about it,” he admitted.
“How about you find some woman and start makin’ babies?” she teased.
“I would but she’s my cousin and she’s very taken.”
“Hey, now,” Jerome interjected.
“How about running for Earnol’s seat when it is vacated? I think you’d be a shoe-in. People certainly like you better than they do your father.”
“I don’t want his seat.”
“Which makes you perfect for the job,” she concluded.
“I don’t think so. You’re about ready to pick a date for K’Tran and Voran?” he asked to put the topic back on her.
“After tomorrow I’ll decide.”
The kitchen was in full swing and their order was put in among the first. Their plates came out quickly.
“You brought a doob, right?” she asked, seeing the time as she finished her salad.
“Several.”
“Then let’s go to the car, man.”
In the front seat, toking steadily, and he traced her nipple through the thin cotton of her dress.
“You look so good in that.”
She smiled and blew her smoke directly into his face. “Back off, bubba. I am not car candy.”
He chuckled. “There’s that smart mouth. I’ve always liked it.”
He leaned in to kiss her. “I should have put us in the back seat so I could ravage you.”
“You hold onto that fantasy. That’s all it will ever be. I prefer the bed or the sofa. Or the shower. Or even standing up against a wall or bent over a dining table. But never a car.”
“I’ll remember that.”
“I have a surprise for you,” she changed the subject.
“What?”
“It’s in the restaurant. I’ll show you.”
They held hands on the way in, Jerome oblivious to the two or three guys in line calling her Rose and her waving as she passed. To the table and he sat but she didn’t. She poured his shot glass full and sent the waitress for another shot of Jack and another glass of water for herself. The waitress brought them at once and Tyler poured the Jack into the glass of ice water and stirred with a straw.
“So what’s the big secret?” he asked.
Tyler just smiled at him, took her shoes off and put them on the seat, picked up her drink and walked to the stage. Up the steps and across it to a rising roar of cheering, she placed her drink and her lip balm on a tall stool and joined in singing back up as they finished the first song.
What the fuck?!
Don’t Stop Believin’ ended to uproarious applause, Julian one of the loudest whistlers.
“Hey hey, how’s it hanging?” she asked, bringing another cheer. “Glad to hear it. We’ll start this off the same way I always do. One round of drinks on me!”
Which brought a bigger cheer.
“Giuseppe, put that on Jerome’s tab.”
“Hey now!” Jerome hollered to much laughter.
“Yeah, the big man is here tonight. If you can believe it, this is the first time he’s ever been here when I’m singing. Until two minutes ago, he didn’t know I do this. Hiya, Jerome!”
The audience echoed her. “HIYA JEROME!”
She laughed, the sound carrying over the microphone as she turned her head to nod to Mickey. She stepped back for a long sip of her drink and a swipe of the lip balm while he gave the count and the band started to play Fleetwood Mac’s Gold Dust Woman.
Expecting your typical bar band performance, Jerome was startled to hear professional perfection in her voice. Up and down the notes, softer, louder, effortless. Looking out at the audience as she sang, he could see she loved to be there. He saw the enthrallment in the audience, in their faces as they watched her from their seats.
“You knew about this?” Jerome asked Julian.
Julian didn’t look at him, nodding with eyes locked onto Tyler. The next song began and he smiled bright.
“Gypsy!”
He glanced over to Jerome. “You better be listening, guy. She’s singing these songs for you.”
Jerome sat back with his tequila to watch and listen. She was more than hot on that stage. She was on fire, the audience reacting to her as if she was a rock star. She truly was phenomenal, bouncing with rhythms, leg slamming to a beat, head banging. Songs started slow and rocked out. Her voice was powerful, explosive, expressive. A true concert it was. Now he knew why sales for weekends were skyrocketing.
The words. Every song was part of a story. Love and hate, taunted love, loneliness, a page turning and a city burning. Sanctuary. The next song held words Landra Ahr had spoken only yesterday. She had been searching and had at last found her Kingdom Key.
A couple more and she took them through a saucy rocker called River of Love that about blew the roof off the place.
“Wow,” he said, the sound of his voice completely drowned out by the roars of the audience.
“Thank you!” she said. “You know that’s one of my favorites.
While she put her hand to the stand now and then, she did not remove the microphone to walk. Space was limited and she kept mostly to her little rug. Backwards to reach her drink or lip balm, or for a tissue to blow her nose, and the width of her feet. That was her allotted space.
Mickey took up the acoustic guitar and started a lilting melody.
“As always, for Mother.”
Strawberry Wine
Jerome sat up a bit more and took notice, following the clear words with great interest. Yep, that was definitely Tyler and her mother.
“Just beautiful,” Julian said as the song ended, and was again the loudest whistle in the place.
“Shall we rock the house down?” she shouted, and received a deafening roar in return.
She held her drink high in the air. Every arm in the house wen
t up, new people prodded by others to lift their glass. Julian prompted Jerome. The entire house of nearly a thousand people went all but silent.
“For those who did not make it. May they never know how much we miss them,” she said.
“Amen!” the crowd returned, and everyone drank.
An easy tune turned into a hard rocker Julian said was called Purgatory. Last song she performed, she took the lip balm and a tissue and disappeared off stage left into the dressing rooms down the short hall. Jerome grabbed her shoes and slid out of the booth.
“Later, Julian.”
He went to the dressing room, hoping to catch her before she teleported out of the restaurant, and found her relaxing with eyes closed in the arm chair. He closed the door behind himself and locked it. She opened her eyes and smiled.
“Surprise.”
“Yes, it was,” he said, taking her hand to pull her from the chair and into his arms. Holding her tight as lips crushed lips, tongue thrusting into her mouth. “And you are too hot up there.”
“Thanks,” she smiled.
“If you don’t want me to ravage you right here, you’d better go.”
She grinned and was gone. He was home in ten minutes and found her lying on his bed resting. She turned into his arms as he gathered her up for gentle kisses.
“I do love you, Tyler. Thank you for finally sharing that part of yourself with me. I know you didn’t have to.”
“I have shared before, but you were too intent on biker babe blow jobs to notice the jailbait chick on stage singing her heart and lungs out.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t remember.”
“It’s okay. We’ll play a Droghers or Knaves party again soon enough, I’m sure.”
“But we’re leaving the planet. Won’t you miss it?”
“I sing with my stereo all the time. Almost no one ever hears it because you all but soundproofed the rooms. I can teleport back whenever we’re going to play a gig, if I want to perform.”
“So that’s why you had to go to Mickey’s? Why you go over there so frequently?”
She nodded. “Not there for rehearsal, not there for the gig. I’m the only exception but I still hold to the rule as much as possible.”
“So how did you and Marcy get to be such good friends that you play in the same band?” he asked.
