by Crystal Dawn
“I see you’re going to be close lipped.”
“I hate to spoil surprises. I’m not sure who Lu wants to tell what details to so I’m better off telling as little as possible.”
“You’ll find there are few secrets, but its okay. I’m not upset, I’ll just ask Lu.”
Homer finished eating, said bye and left.
The other guys watched her like she was a mythological creature. She could understand it since most of them didn’t get female company much and a single girl was probably even rarer. Stef finished her meal, cleaned up her mess, and left. She tried to avoid looking at tails, not so easy with so many on display and the conversation from last night on her mind. She left heading to the music room hoping to catch the band practicing.
Stef loved music even though she couldn’t play an instrument. Her voice was average, not horrible but not good enough that anyone would ever request her to sing for them except maybe a child. She could dance better than the average person but still not anywhere near the level of a professional. She was in good shape and she worked out and kept up with martial arts training. She’d been an instructor in the military and she had a second degree black belt in Karate and Kung Fu. It was that physical conditioning and balance that helped her look good when she danced. She enjoyed dancing to music even though she wasn’t the best.
She stepped through the door closing it behind her quietly.
Lu was singing a different song than the one she’d heard yesterday. It was even more hauntingly beautiful than the first. The group played together as if they’d played together for years, even though they’d only formed the band recently. It helped from a promoting angle that each member of the band was gorgeous in his own way. Brunette, blond and redhead were all represented and the wings and tails only added to their exotic beauty. They would play on that sex appeal to pull in a larger audience. It would be a visual spectacle as well as a feast for the ears.
She could tell by the tensing of his muscles that Lu knew the second she stepped into the room but chose to pretend he didn’t. The silly demon thought he could fool her even though he knew her sisters. He might not be looking at her, but every word felt as though he was singing it to her alone. She wondered if everyone would get that feeling from his voice. She thought it was probably the case even though that made her feel disappointed. Now who was the silly one?
She heard a crash and her heart beat stampeded, she broke out in a cold sweat and dread knotted in her stomach. It was just the drummer knocking over his cymbals. Nothing to get excited about but even after ten years she still couldn’t stop her reaction to loud unexpected noises or sudden movements by other people. Especially men or here, males. It was an unfortunate residual reaction from a violent step father long gone from her life, but never forgotten.
She looked around and was satisfied that no one had noticed. She hated questions about her unusual reactions and when she lied, no one ever seemed to believe her.
It had started for her mom when Stef’s dad had died. Even though they weren’t together, he had still looked out for her mother. Once her stepfather Carl had been sure her dad wouldn’t be back, he had started the abuse. When Stef turned ten, he included her. Before that age he had deemed her too fragile and likely to die from his slaps and kicks. He’d been an evil bastard but not particularly big and he was only strong when he drank.
At fifteen, with years of martial arts training behind her and a growth spurt that made her as tall as he was now, she’d had enough of what he dished out.
She confronted him when he’d started to beat her mother and he had laughed at her. He hadn’t laughed long. She’d done just enough to show him he could no longer use her or her mother as punching bags. She told him to leave and never show his face again. He had and while they’d struggled to pay the bills without his help, they’d managed. Life had been so much better without him and a few years later her mom had found a real man.
Stef would never have to worry about her mom as long as Dan was alive. They were madly in love and while they hadn’t been able to have children because Dan was sterile, they had adopted a set of twins that had been orphaned at age six. It was harder to place older children since most couples wanted to adopt infants. The twins, a boy named Charles and a girl named Charlotte, were adorable and now at that awkward preteen stage. Stef loved them dearly.
The song had finished and she hadn’t noticed. The demons were all putting away their instruments and Lucifer was headed her way under a full head of steam. Hopefully he just wanted to know when her team would arrive. Most of them would be here today, especially the animatronics specialist Doreene who had a limited amount of time to do her job. She would put wings and a tail on a volunteer and they would film it in the hopes of convincing the world that the wings and tails on the demons were artificial. Doreene was good so Stef hoped it would work.
“Can I get a progress update?” Lu asked. His voice washed over her and gave her some unprofessional fantasies. Bad girl, she thought but how could she help herself?
“I can’t do much until my peeps get here. The first thing I need to do is film Doreene as she makes and eventually attaches wings and a tail to a volunteer. When we release that video, it will prepare your fans for the look you’re going for and build a sense of anticipation.” She explained.
“I hope you’re right.” Lu said wistfully.
She had spoken to him enough to understand he wanted to go outside as he was without apologies. The only way she could see to do that other than reveal the demons in all their glory to the world, was to make people believe it was part of their act. Since a reveal couldn’t be undone if people reacted badly, making it part of the act was the answer.
“I usually am about these types of things but you know there is no guarantee.” He nodded and he wandered off reflecting on what was to come.
She stared after him wondering what she’d gotten herself into. She felt a strong chemistry, one that normally she would act on. But he’d not encouraged her and it would be a long project stuck working with a man, or rather a demon, who had rejected her if she gave it a shot anyway.
Where was Devon when she needed him? He could ease this sexual frustration and tell her she was beautiful. Her ego had taken one hell of a hit from Lucifer. Maybe life had just been too easy for her since her stepfather had left. Things had gone smoothly and she hadn’t had any serious disappointments. Until now.
She’d been at home on what one might term a vacation, even if it was a working one. She had several groups she managed and even though each group had someone assigned to be with them one on one, she was anal and a micromanager. There, she’d admitted one of her biggest reasons for her success and her largest personal failing. Somewhere in there was the middle ground she failed to find until she had completely burned out. She reached up for her earpiece, that tool that was almost permanently attached only to find it missing.
Her ability to care about her groups, these special and incredibly talented people, had taken a nose dive to the point that she’d gone to a counselor. Greg wasn’t your typical counselor, but he was having great success with helping workaholics and other addicts change their ways. She’d objected when he had told her she was an addict. She was addicted to the adrenaline rush her work gave her but with continued success and an established business that rarely challenged her. It was no longer enough to keep her habit satisfied. She didn’t really agree with the terms he used to describe her life, but she couldn’t deny that his theory made sense.
His prescription? Take a month off leaving her more than competent assistants each in charge of their various groups and stay away from that part of the business completely. Get back in touch with family and friends, relearn old hobbies, relax and rejuvenate. It had actually been working and with only a week left, the call had come from her sisters.
Life was an ironic bitch. She now had a challenge she wasn’t sure she could manage. No, not the group, that was easy. Lucifer, even his name made he
r foolish heart skip a beat. Sometimes the best things in life just suck. It seemed he was for someone else, not her.
At least that was her thought as she rounded the corner and a redhead was hanging all over him with the familiarity of past carnal knowledge. She really needed Devon now because she wanted someone to cry all over. How could she be so attached to someone she barely knew and had never even kissed? When she’d first met him she’d had the thought of a kindred spirit but she had never been more wrong. He was just a male beast in every sense of the word ready to rut with whatever female made herself available and offered the best options for him. That was clearly not her nor would it ever be. It was time to move on, but the other demons avoided her as if she had the plague. Maybe she was too ordinary for such exotic, beautiful creatures.
She would just try to ignore the feelings Lu had awakened in her and let Devon comfort her as a friend and a lover. Sometimes she felt like she was using him even though he knew she had no more to give him than her friendship and sometimes her body. She thought every once in a while she glimpsed something in his eyes, a tenderness beyond what he should feel for just a friend. He hid it quickly, but she knew someday if she found the love of her life, he would be hurt.
She loved him so much, but not in the way she needed to love a lover or the way he deserved to be loved by a wife. It was easier to push it back into the deepest recesses of her mind and not deal with it. What could she do about it anyway? She needed him and he wanted to be needed. He was like a white knight in shining armor ever ready to assist the damsel in distress. How much simpler life would have been if they were soul mates instead of just close friends.
Doreene was the first to arrive just before lunch. She was a peppy blonde with unlimited energy, a friendly demeanor and kick ass technical skills. Stef called her an animation specialist but she did all manner of special effects. She was hands down the best in her field and highly sought after. Had Stef not been the one to help her break into the field a few years ago by giving her the first solo job she’d had on a music video, it might have been impossible to get her for this gig. Dori, as her friends and coworkers called her, was a pistol. She stared at the demons in awe.
“You’ve been holding out on me, my girl. Who did all this work? They look so cool!” She ended on a squeak.
“They have an in house expert, but he snubs the camera.” Stef explained. Not an unusual situation when dealing with tech heads. Many of them loved the job but were too shy or nervous to allow anyone to film them.
“Will he help me reproduce the same style that he’s been using on these guys?”
“That’s questionable, but you’ll get to meet him at some point and you can ask for help if he’s free to help or not.”
“Yeah, I followed the news when these guys were freed. They had a bad situation, that’s for sure.”
“Why don’t I take you to meet Lucifer?” Stef asked.
“I’d love to.” Dori admitted.
Stef led the way to the music room. She just felt like he’d be there and he was. They sat down and waited until the band took a break and then she took Dori over to introduce her to Lu, who flirted outrageously. He went far beyond what he’d done with her and if he was trying to send a message, it came through loud and clear. It confused her, but she saw that he wasn’t interested in her at all. Dori seemed to be more his style and she giggled as he postured and flattered her. Stef controlled her emotions and just raised her eyebrow like she found him amusing. If her feelings were hurt, he would never know.
Thank goodness Devon arrived in the midst of all Lu’s ridiculous flirtation. She flew straight into his arms as if she was dying for him, which she was. She was an emotional wreck and she didn’t know why but with Devon to lean on, everything suddenly seemed better. Devon ran the camera crew and in her opinion, he was the best in the business. He’d called in his crew of three, two girls and a guy, for this shoot. All of the professionals on this project were young and hungry. None had spouses to answer to so they would be able to commit to a project until it was done.
Devon wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a long sensuous kiss. It looked like he was equally happy to see her. He kept his arm around her as she led him to a suddenly quiet Lu.
“This is Devon. He’s in charge of the filming for the videos. Devon, this is Lucifer. He’s lead singer, lead guitar and he’s also in charge around here.”
Lu nodded at Devon who nodded back.
They seemed to be taking measure of each other but she couldn’t say why. Maybe Lu was always like this when males entered his domain. They would be working closely together so she’d let them work things out.
She only knew with Devon at her side, things had gotten much better. Maybe she was making a mistake not committing to him. He was everything she could ever want in a man, but something was just missing. She was beginning to think that she would have to learn to live without that special something.
Devon’s crew arrived later in the day and he went to work with them explaining what the project would consist of and when each of them would work. Filming would start in the morning on Dori’s project. Stef crossed her fingers mentally hoping when Dori was done, people would believe the tails and wings, as well as certain other traits the demons sported were just theatrical additions and that they wore them all the time because they were eccentric. It would give them the freedom to be seen outside without raising local eyebrows. This was what Lu had told her they wanted more than anything. The money would be great but the freedom to go out in public as they were, would be priceless.
Dori was a smart cookie. If Stef had her way she would have included her in the secret but Lu was adamant that no one else be told a thing. If Dori got too close to a demon, she’d be able to tell their accoutrements were natural. She’d already remarked on what a genius the guy was that had fashioned them and expressed doubts that hers would be as good. It wasn’t the way Stef wanted to start the project. Instead, she’d told Dori that she could spend whatever was needed to do the job properly. Dori’s eyes had brightened at the raised budget and it had instantly distracted her from her doubts.
Dori had immediately started a list of additional items and handed it to her ten minutes later. Stef looked at the long list thinking she may have created a monster. “How soon…?”
“Quick as you can, Boss!” Dori said cheerfully.
Stef left to get on her computer so she could put in the order. She checked her email and noted the girl who did hair, makeup and wardrobe was delayed indefinitely. She immediately called her. “Gloria, this is Stef. What’s going on?”
“I’m so sorry Stef.” She said sniffling. Was she crying? “Kiki got kicked out of boarding school and my folks are vacationing in Europe. There’s no one else to keep her so I can’t come.”
“Bring her. I really need you, Gloria. This is a great place and you’ll be able to go to the beach when you’re not working.”
“Are-are you sure?” She asked sounding better already.
“Yes, I’ll let them know to expect you. You’ll probably have to share a room though.”
“That’s no problem. Thank you so much. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
Stef hung up, relieved at a disaster averted but she would have to warn Lu that the dreaded Kiki, Gloria’s delinquent sister who had now been kicked out of the latest school her parents had found for her, was about to descend upon the demons. Well hell, if anyone could handle the little monster a group of demons led by Lucifer could. Or could they? They would see what happened tomorrow.
Stef wasn’t sure if she should find Devon and take him with her or if she should just find Lu and tell him by herself. In the end, Devon was still busy so she was on her own.
She found Lu and the band still in the music room and she waited, listening to them play one great song after another. They had a mix of lively and melancholy songs. It seemed Lu was either happy or sad with no middle ground.
The band took a break and Lu c
ame over to talk to her. He looked peevish, maybe he’d hit on Dori and she’d said no. Stef just wanted to get things over with. “One of my team has to bring her sister with her.”
“Okay. They may have to share a room unless you’re giving yours up.” Lu suggested.
She looked at him blankly, “Why would I give my room up?”
“I just thought you might prefer to share with your boyfriend.” Lu mentioned.
“We usually have our own rooms when we’re on a job. It works out better that way.” She knew she implied that Devon and she were an item, but it soothed her hurt at his rejection to make him think she wasn’t available anyway.
“Okay. Was there anything else?” He asked.
“Dori will start work tomorrow so she’ll need a volunteer and a place to work.” Stef observed.
“I’ll have Homer get with her and he’ll show her where to set up.” Lu offered.
“That’s everything for now. We can start on the video as soon as Gloria arrives, but Devon will probably start filming you guys as you practice. It helps him and the camera crew decide how to make you look the best.”
“I’ll let the band know so they’ll expect it. Let me know if you need anything else.” Lu said before he turned and walked away.
She pondered over his behavior, he’d been distracted or something. He wasn’t his usual self, hell, what did she know? That particular demon acted different from hour to hour much less day to day. She never knew what to expect from him and she didn’t know how to act around him.
Chapter 3
Devon
He loved her. He knew it and he thought she suspected it. He didn’t think it was the friendly love she felt for him either. He had been thrilled when she’d hired him and his team for the project because he’d already missed her too much as it was. When she’d jumped in his arms, he embraced her and enjoyed the feeling he always got when he touched her. He felt pathetic sometimes for mooning over Stef because he knew she’d never feel enough for him to commit and if she did, she’d regret it in time. Yet over and over he gave himself permission to enjoy whatever scraps she might throw his way.
