Bait

by Kasi Blake

  Days later, almost noon, Nick entered the break room with Mike a step behind, yapping at his heels like a hyper dog. Nick had a canvas bag slung over one shoulder and a rope looped several times around him, crisscrossing from shoulder to waist. The sleeveless black shirt he wore rode up as he walked, exposing his tanned midriff. Adrenaline pumping, he was spoiling for a good fight. If someone smarted off about his midnight memorial, he was going to beat them senseless, and if two or more jumped in to help the other guy, even better.

  What he didn’t expect as he strolled into the room was to find a couple of his band members sitting at a corner table discussing the good old days.

  The boys jumped up to greet him. There was a mixture of hugs, handshakes, and claps on the back. Before they were done, Mike interrupted in a loud voice. “Guess who just climbed the most dangerous mountain in New Zealand and then jumped off it with an iffy parachute strapped to his back?”

  Russ and Skeeter laughed and nodded knowingly.

  Skeeter held up the flat of his hand for Nick to high-five him. The same height as Nick with blonde Viking locks, thick facial hair just a shade darker and icy blue eyes, Skeeter looked more like a dangerous biker than a base player. Skeeter spoke with the appropriate amount of enthusiasm. “Awesome, man! How was it?”

  “It was not awesome.” Mike shot Skeeter a dirty look. “The idiot nearly got himself killed.”

  “Do you feel better now?” Skeeter asked.

  “Oh yeah.” Nick flashed perfect teeth—thanks to extensive dental work—at his former band member, his body still shaking from the adrenaline rush. “It was unbelievable! You should have been there. When did you guys get in and why didn’t you call first?”

  “About an hour ago,” Russ said while handing Nick a cup of coffee. The keyboard player could have been mistaken for a nerdy high school student with his clean-cut looks and crisp clothing. “Still black with three sugars?”

  Nick nodded as he accepted the hot beverage. He went to the couch and collapsed on it as if he’d just run a ten mile race. One foot stayed on the ground while the other stretched out across the red cushions. He closed his eyes for a moment and enjoyed his small victory. Maybe next week he would find a dangerous river for some kayaking. Nothing made a person feel more alive than cheating death.

  He heard Mike asking, “Does Van know you guys are here?”

  “Haven’t seen him,” Skeeter said. He knocked Nick’s leg off the couch and sat next to him. When Nick glanced at him, Skeeter grinned in silent challenge. They used to wrestle over things like who had the right to sit where or who got the last donut, but Nick wasn’t in the mood. He just smiled at his base player.

  Russ spoke, his tone serious. “We wanted to give you the news first.”

  The last time one of his band members had said they needed to tell him something first, they had wanted to take a long vacation. Only problem was vampires didn’t take vacations and neither did Tyler Beck if Nick had anything to say about it. Nick sat straight up and prepared himself for the worst. “What is it?”

  Russ simply stared at him, mouth moving over silent words as if he didn’t know where to start.

  “We’re going civilian,” Skeeter said. “We’re going to hold onto the band and find another singer, but this time we aren’t hunting. We’re just about making music. We thought you should hear it from us rather than the tabloids.”

  His old friend thrust an invisible knife through his heart. Nick couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. He’d give anything to be able to return to music. Part of him suspected he would have been a musician if destiny hadn’t chosen a different path for him. He stared at his friends, stunned into speechlessness.

  “Judas!” Mike yelled, fists clenched.

  Nick waved him off. “Calm down, Michael.”

  Mike went on a wild rant. “After everything he’s done for you, you’re abandoning him when he needs us the most? What is wrong with the two of you? He saved your lives at least half a dozen times!”

  Nick’s voice was hollow as he said, “If I could abandon me and return to that world, I would. You know it’s not too late for you, Michael. You can still have a career in music.”

  The second the words left his mouth Nick knew it was the wrong thing to say. Mike’s face grew redder by the second. Eyes bulging, he slammed a fist against his palm and vowed, “I am loyal to the end! We’re a team! We’re brothers. I would die for you.”

  “Calm down,” Nick repeated. He tried to remember how many beers Michael had downed on the ride back to school. Nick’s reckless jump had turned his best friend into a nervous wreck. While giving Nick peace, the jump had left Mike visibly shaken.

  “We’re like... Han Solo and Chewbacca,” Mike said. “Or Batman and Robin.”

  Russ spoke out of the side of his mouth while making a funny face. “I know which of them is Robin.”

  Mike glared at him.

  Skeeter chuckled. “Robin is so lame.”

  “The point is,” Mike sent them both an intimidating look daring them to interrupt him again, “I’m not going anywhere.” He nodded at Nick. “We’ve been friends our whole lives and we’re going to stay friends forever. Where you go, I go.”

  Nick couldn’t speak because his vocal chords were frozen. He didn’t deserve such devotion. He wanted to tell Mike he felt the same, that he would lay his life down for him in a heartbeat, but Hallmark moments were not his thing. No matter how hard he tried he couldn’t get the words out.

  Then he didn’t have to say anything. Keisha entered, looking beautiful in snug brown riding pants and a plaid blouse with cropped sleeves. There was elastic in the waist, molding the top to her curves. She’d tied a silk scarf around her throat as if she was trying to hide a vampire bite. Her light brown hair bounced in tangled curls over her shoulders as she flounced into the room. “Look at me. I am a lucky girl. I get four hot guys all to myself.”

  “Key!” Skeeter swept her off her feet and twirled around with her until she begged him to set her down. He smiled sheepishly as he complied.

  “Don’t want to puke all over my new shoes,” she said.

  “Miss me?” he asked.

  “No,” Russ said. “She missed me. Isn’t that right?”

  “Hey, Key,” Skeeter said. “Settle this argument once and for all. Which of us is your favorite?”

  “I couldn’t possibly choose.” Her grin turned teasing. “Guess you’ll just have to share me.”

  “When are you going to say yes to a real date?”

  “When you kill a border monster for me and stuff it so I can have a trophy.”

  “Bloodthirsty wench.” He smacked her on the bottom.

  Skeeter sat in a nearby chair and pulled her onto his lap, but her eyes were glued to Nick. He was still on the couch, enjoying the careless banter. It would probably be the last time the whole band—with the exception of Jordan—would be together in the same room. To Nick she said, “I’m trying to keep Van Helsing’s daughter off your back, but it’s not easy. That girl is way too interested in you. She can’t keep her eyes off you.”

  The room went deathly silent. No more joking. No more laughing. The boys stared at him, incredulous, and he knew exactly what they were thinking. They were wondering if he was reckless enough to play chicken with the prophecy. Was he willing to risk destroying the world in order to get even with Van?

  “I’ve noticed,” he said dryly.

  “She’s a stubborn one,” Keisha said.

  “And fiery.” His lips stretched into a smile of their own volition. “You should have seen her throw me against the wall and tell me off. There’s a lot of passion in that tiny body.”

  Mike frowned at him.

  Nick shook his head briefly, letting Mike know he was only teasing Keisha. He wasn’t stupid enough to get involved with the old man’s daughter. The brown-skinned girl climbed off Skeeter’s lap and circled the couc
h. Her body was graceful like a jungle cat on the prowl. Although her smile reminded him of a different kind of feline, the Cheshire Cat.

  Keisha appeared annoyed at his description of Bay-Lee, a pretty pout on her lips. “She isn’t tiny.”

  “She is to me.”

  “Watch it, Gallos. You’re starting to sound like you admire her.” Keisha’s eyebrow lifted. “That sort of talk can get you into a whole lot of trouble around here.”

  Russ grunted in agreement.

  Nick thought about the accusation and admitted, “Maybe I do admire her. I’ve been mean and rude and hateful to her, but she stands her ground. The rumors might be right. It’s possible she could take on the monsters and win, close the doorway forever.”

  “Don’t believe the hype.” Keisha stood directly in front of him and stated her case. “I’ve seen girls like her before, all talk and no action. Wait till she finds herself in a fight with the real thing. Up till now she’s been training with people who don’t want to hurt her. She hasn’t been tested. She hasn’t seen a real monster yet. Wait till she does. I bet you she either faints or runs away screaming.”

  “I’ll take that bet,” Skeeter said. “If Nick says she’s tough, I trust his judgment.”

  “Yeah. Gimme some of that action.” Russ pulled out his wallet before looking at Nick. “You want to get in on this?”

  “I’ve already lost enough money this year, thanks, but if I was going to risk my money it would be on her. She’ll not only fight the first monster she sees,” Nick said, “she’ll kick its butt.”

  “Be careful,” Keisha said. “You don’t want the prophecy to come true.”

  All eyes turned to him. Choosing his words carefully so everyone would be convinced, he said, “Don’t worry about me, Key. My heart is a block of frozen ice, unmoved by a pretty face. You should know that. I don’t have it in me to love anyone.”

  Keisha smiled smugly and tilted her head. “Sorry.”