But this…this complete adoration. The crowd was screaming my name!
Levi! Levi! Le-vi!
I raised my hands in triumph and let the adoration wash over me. I reveled in it.
Levi! Levi!
But then a dark figure stepped into the spotlight with me, only I couldn’t see his face. Not yet. The crowd’s collective voice stilled, and I could only hear one voice.
A familiar voice. My sister’s voice! I woke up and shot straight up.
“Levi!” My sister was screaming my name. I was on my feet and running for the door right away. My guitar case was open in the middle of the room, and I fell over the damn thing as I raced to the door. I could’ve sworn I put that away.
“Shit!” I yelled as I got back up and hurried down the hallway. “Debbie!”
Debbie was sitting up in her bed, her hair a tangled mess like she’d been fighting with someone, her face red and wet with tears. My eyes instantly went to the open window; the curtains were dangling outside, and some of Deb’s treasures had been knocked off her pink painted desk.
“Debbie! Are you alright?”
“I thought I was dreaming. I was dreaming, but it wasn’t a dream…a man was here! I woke up and he was holding my hand and he kissed my arm and…then he bit me! Oh, God! I thought it was a dream!” Debbie broke into sobs as she held her arm up to me. Shit! She had a serious wound in her flesh! What in the world? Did she bite herself in her dream? No way! No way! I raced to the window and poked my head out, but there wasn’t anyone around. Not even an alley cat.
“I’m calling the cops. Do I need to take you to the hospital?”
“What’s going on in here? Are you two fighting?” Naomi staggered into the room, her sleeping mask slid up to the top of her head. I could see what a true disaster she was without her makeup on. She was the one who needed the hospital. What to tell her? I barely had a moment to know what was happening, much less explain it to her in a way she’d understand. If she even cared.
“I had a bad dream, Naomi,” Debbie said in a hopeless voice. She hid her arm under the blanket clearly not wanting to involve our wreck of a mother.
“Oh, is that all? I thought someone was being murdered in here.” She frowned and paused in the doorway. “Do you want a sleeping pill?”
I closed the window with a slam and locked it tight. “She doesn’t want any pills. You can go back to bed now.”
“Fine but keep it down.”
I couldn’t believe how completely and utterly selfish she was. We could have all been killed in our sleep but if we died quietly, she didn’t care.
“Don’t judge her, Levi. You don’t know what she’s been through,” Deb whispered as she rubbed her arm and slid out of the bed.
“I’m calling the police.”
“No, don’t call them. It will just upset Naomi. I’m okay. I know better than to leave that window open. I can’t think why I did that. Maybe it was Cat. I’m sorry, Levi.”
“Stop it. You don’t have anything to be sorry about. You said it was a guy. I think you know the difference between a guy and a mangy cat. What did he look like? Can you describe him?”
She flipped the light on in her bathroom and put her wrist and arm under the water to clean it. Damn! She’d been bitten twice!
I plundered the medicine cabinet for some antibiotic cream and bandages. “I’m not exactly sure. It was dark, and you know what…I might have been dreaming. Please don’t be mad. All I can remember was I saw you in my dream. You were playing the guitar, playing that song you guys have been practicing. Anyway, you were playing and there was this guy. He had wavy black hair, kind of long, and he was kind of sexy. He was smiling at me, and I thought he was going to kiss me, but he bit me instead. He bit my arm! Oh, God! I didn’t dream it! How is that possible? Am I dead or something, Levi?”
My heart and soul crumpled as she described my own dream to me. No, make that our shared dream.
The water ran in the sink as I stared at her pale face in the mirror. The tile was cold under my feet. It was very cold now, too cold.
“God, I look dead. Am I dead?”
“No, you aren’t dead. You had a bad dream. Sometimes weird things happen in dreams.” How could I tell her that I was in that dream too? That we’d been dreaming the same thing? I couldn’t do it. That would totally freak her out.
Like I was freaked out now!
“I don’t understand any of this, Levi. What can this mean?”
I tried to play it off with a smile. “It means I have to stop smoking weed in the basement. I’m off the stuff, sis. I swear. Obviously, we’re both hallucinating.”
Debs tapped on the bandage I applied to her skin. “Both hallucinating? What do you mean?”
“I mean that some weird things happened to me today too. I think Jimmy laced the pot or something. I swear, no more smoking in the house. It obviously affected us. I don’t know. I’m sorry.”
My sister rolled her eyes and put everything back in the medicine cabinet. “You always blame yourself for everything. It’s really annoying but I’m glad to hear you are quitting. You’re too smart to be a pothead, Levi. Hey, can I stay in your room tonight? I don’t want to be by myself.”
“I have a better idea. Let’s both camp out downstairs. Watch some TV. Make some popcorn. I’m too rattled to sleep right at the moment.”
“What about Naomi?”
“What about her? She’s probably on her second or third pill by now. She won’t hear a damn thing. Grab your pillow and blanket.”
“Thank you.” She kissed my cheek and I waited for her, then we stopped by my room to grab my own pillow and blanket. I pretended not to notice that the guitar was back in its case and standing in the corner of the room right where I left it before I went to bed tonight.
Strange shit going on here.
We went downstairs and found a flick to watch. Unfortunately, we were out of Jiffy Pop. Like everything else. It didn’t take long for Deb to fall back asleep, but I never did. Not once.
Okay, maybe once but only long enough to know it wasn’t safe.
The evil-faced black-haired rocker was stalking me—and Debbie. And somehow, he was in our dreams.
Chapter Five—The Pancakes
“What was in that weed, Jimmy? You laced it, didn’t you?” I rubbed my face as I mumbled into the phone. I didn’t care if Deb heard me, but Naomi wasn’t cool at all about smoking, even though she consumed wine and prescription medication like they were party favors. She stepped out of the kitchen with her red pen and folded newspaper in hand. She gave me a hard look, as if I were tying up the phone line, as if she were really looking for a job.
“No way, man. Who told you that? That’s a damn lie!” Jimmy’s voice sounded scratchy; he must have just woken up. I didn’t care if I woke him. It was almost nine o’clock on a Saturday morning. Jimmy needed to roll his lazy ass out of bed like the rest of the world. God, this kid was such a slacker.
“I don’t believe you, Jimmy Logan. I think you put something in the shit and now I’m hallucinating. Tell me the truth, damn it!” I whispered furiously. Screw Naomi if she overheard me. I didn’t owe her an explanation. I didn’t owe her anything.
“I’m telling you the truth. Now get lost--and find yourself another drummer!” He hung up the phone and left me staring at the receiver. How could I know if that was the truth or not? It was hard to tell because Jimmy lied about everything from the color of the sky to his scholastic achievements. He was a straight-up, no-good liar. How else could I explain the hell that I was going through, that Debbie and I both experienced last night? I was so exhausted that I toyed with the idea of taking a nap before work at twelve, but that would mean not seeing my girl. And I hadn’t told her the good news yet about the tickets.
Man, I must tell Debbie about the ring! If I don’t give her a heads-up and she hears it from somewhere else, she’ll be pissed.
I’d sleep tonight—today was the day! Probably the most important day
of my life. Tonight, I would see the Black Knights and ask Melissa the big question. Yeah, no time for sleep, man. Slugging down some coffee, I put the chipped mug in the sink. “Phone’s open,” I called Naomi, who was lounging in the living room with her newspaper. She mumbled something as I climbed the steps two by two in search of my sister.
“Deb?” I stood outside her door and tapped on it. How would I say this? You’re not losing a brother but gaining a sister? I saw that on a television show once. It was hokey, but hey, it sounded like something a guy should say to his younger sister. “Debs? Are you awake?” I tapped on the door again but still nothing. I checked the hall bathroom, and nothing was in disarray as it usually was when Debbie finished prepping for the day. It often resembled the aftermath of a tornado, and I sometimes called her Hurricane Debbie. There was nothing like that this morning. Didn’t she have chorus practice today in preparation for their concert tonight?
Tapping on the door again, I let myself in and checked her room out. Debbie wasn’t there, and her bed was made. That wasn’t like her either. I walked over to her desk and was surprised to see her book satchel and her leather Mickey Mouse purse. When did Deb go anywhere without her purse? This wasn’t right at all. I looked around at the egg yolk yellow drapes, the peacock wicker chair that I pulled out of a dumpster. There was a tape recorder on it, a troll with fuzzy hair, and a notebook with the word LOVE written in bubble letters in multiple colors.
Everything except Debs. A sick feeling welled up in the pit of my stomach. I checked the bedroom windows, but they were all locked and secured; there was no evidence that the Creep or anyone else had snuck back in here.
It wasn’t likely that Naomi would know where Debbie had gone, but since she was the only other person in the house, I had to ask. I walked back downstairs and saw her wrapped in the long telephone wire like an Egyptian mummy as she spoke. “Hey, did Debbie step out? She left her purse,” I asked, hoping she’d heard me with the phone to her ear. At least Naomi had gotten dressed this morning. I guessed the polite thing to do would be to ask how her “date” went last night, but since she was here calling about jobs, I had to assume it hadn’t gone well. The only reason Naomi would be dating was because she was shopping around for a new sugar daddy. She shook her head as someone tapped on the door. “Naomi? Where is Deb?”
“I don’t know, Levi. Get the door! Oh hi, yes, I’m calling about the ad you have in the paper. Yes, that’s right. Secretarial help? Hi, yes, my name is Naomi Wallace, and…oh, I see. Already filled? Thanks.” She hung up the phone and scratched off the ad furiously. “What about your sister?”
“She’s not in her room. Did she go anywhere? Hey, Jackie.” I waved him into the kitchen, puzzled that he was lugging a typewriter and a small box of supplies. “What’s all this?”
“That’s for me. Jackson is kindly letting me borrow his typewriter. I need the practice if I expect to get a typist job. Thank you, Jackson. Just put it right in there at the kitchen table.”
Jackie’s face reddened as I stared at him suspiciously. When did this friendship develop?
“Fine, but what about Deb?”
“I heard her stirring this morning. I’m sure she just went to the library. Maybe you can check on your way to work, Levi.” She laid down her paper and took a seat at the table as Jackie set up the electric typewriter.
“Yeah, maybe, but her books and purse are still here. Don’t you think that’s weird? Would you go anywhere without your purse?” I asked her. Jackie still wouldn’t look me square in the eye. Yeah, what the hell, man?
“Maybe she’s at Melissa’s?” Naomi answered as she slid a sheet of paper into the machine. “If she’s not at the library or the arcade, that’s where I’d look.”
Aren’t you going to look? You don’t care about your own kid?
“Screw this,” I mumbled under my breath. I left the odd couple in the kitchen and grabbed my car keys. Oh, right, I didn’t have my car. I walked next door to see if Junior had had any luck fixing it. He wasn’t home, but his wife, Ernestine, met me at the door and handed me the keys.
“He said to tell you no charge. He wants to buy a radio and hopes you can give him a good deal. Can you do that?” Ernestine pursed her lips distrustfully as she perched her youngest on her hip.
“Yes, I can do that. I’ll be happy to. Tell Junior I said thank you.”
“He’s in bed. Sick this morning. I’m sure he’ll come see you soon.” The screen door slapped in my face and then the wooden house door followed. Yeah, Ernestine wasn’t one for small talk. I could hear babies crying as I went to the garage to get my car. The Vega cranked up immediately and purred like a kitten. Just think, the other day I was ready to light it on fire. I pulled out of the garage and headed to Melissa’s house. No way was Deb at the library with no books, but maybe, just maybe, she was there.
I eased into the long, flat driveway and ignored Mitch Dance’s cool survey of me. “Good morning, sir,” I said cheerfully as I waved at him. He nodded back but didn’t turn away from his job. When Mr. Dance wasn’t at the diner, he was watering his plants or weeding his garden. He loved all that stuff. I guessed that his wife must be at the diner this morning. Man, was Melissa there too? I hoped not. “Is Melissa home, Mr. Dance?”
“Yes, I think she’s in the kitchen.”
“Thank you,” I said, smiling as I made a big show about wiping off my shoes before walking inside. The Dances’ home was large, much larger than our place. They had carpet in every room, and Melissa had a television in her bedroom. Yeah, my girlfriend was a spoiled princess, but she deserved all those good things. I hoped I could give them to her too.
“Morning, sweetheart,” I said as I stepped into the kitchen.
“Good morning, Levi! What a nice surprise. I wasn’t expecting to see you. Oh, I look terrible.” She tucked a wisp of her long hair behind her ear and offered me her pancakes.
“No, thanks. I already ate,” I lied. I kind of wished I’d brought some flowers with me, but these epic concert tickets would just have to do. I didn’t waste any time and slapped them down on the counter. “Look what I got. I was hoping you wouldn’t be busy tonight, Miss Dance.”
“You’ve got to be joking, Levi Wallace.” She set the plate on the table and wiped the syrup off her fingers before picking the tickets up to study them. She wore a large button-up shirt and nothing else. At least I imagined it was nothing else. And she smelled like heaven. Syrup covered heaven.
“I’m not joking, Melissa Dance. This is legit.”
“How? I mean, no one can get these tickets, and they are so expensive. How did you…”
“I won them. Remember last spring when we gave blood? I guess I won the drawing from that. Anyway, these two tickets are legit. I called the radio station to confirm. And backstage passes, too. You want to go?”
“Of course I want to go. Thank you!” She flung her arms around me, and we kissed until her father came into the kitchen to wash up. “Daddy, look! The Black Knights! We’re going to the concert. And we’ll get to meet them!”
“Black Knights, huh? Are those the guys who paint their faces like clowns?” he asked as he wiped his hands on a blue and white dishcloth.
“No, Daddy. That’s Kiss. These are the Black Knights. Rex Teaser is the lead singer, and he’s wonderful! I’ll have to get my hair done and maybe get a manicure! Oh my gosh! This is so exciting!”
“Have fun,” he said as he poured himself a cup of coffee. “But don’t be gone all night. I’ll get Angie to fill in for you tonight, but you’ll have to work tomorrow.”
“You’re the best. Thank you, Daddy!” She kissed his bald head and took me by the hand to the living room. I broke the bad news that I had to work late but promised to pick her up around nine. I’d told Sanja I’d stay until ten, but he’d have to understand. Chances were good that nobody was going to come out for his Wild and Crazy Sale anyway. They never did.
“Have you seen Debbie this morning? She left the hou
se early, but I’m not sure where she went. It’s not like her to go out without telling me something or at least leaving a note,” I said, suddenly worried.
“I haven’t seen her. Should we go check at Pamela’s?”
“No, I don’t want to embarrass Deb. Man, I’m tired. I really need to get some sleep, baby. I should go home and grab forty winks before I go in. I’ve got a long day ahead of me.”
“Too excited to sleep last night. I would have been too if I had known about it. Is that why you didn’t tell me?” She rubbed my hands as she smiled up at me from the floor where she ate her pancakes.
“Maybe.” I liked the idea of Melissa thinking I was that thoughtful. And smart. “Debbie had nightmares, and I stayed up with her to keep her company. I guess she’s alright.” Yeah, that’s right. She had to have made her bed up because we’d been downstairs. I felt better by the minute.
“You sleep here, baby. When Daddy leaves, you can sleep in my bed. Maybe I’ll join you.”
She kissed me and left syrup on my lips. I didn’t complain. About fifteen minutes later, her father left us alone and I carried Melissa to her room.
I dropped her onto her feet and went to shut the bedroom door. I was then surprised to turn back and see her already on her knees with a mischievous glint in her eye. I knew what would be coming next as she started to tug at my belt and zipper. Just the look on her face rendered me like a telegraph pole! She freed me and I sprang up in front of her face, much to her delight. I swayed like a drunk and groaned in a velvety honey grumble that I reserved just for her. She took me out to catch her breath and several strands of saliva glistened from her sticky sweet lips to my swollen head. She breathed hot and breathily on me from just an inch away and then took it all again. I squirmed and dug my fingernails into her shoulders.
I couldn’t take much more. “Do you want to climb on board,” I asked huskily. But she just shook her head and looked to finish me off. Then she placed her hair behind her ears, reclaimed her gum, and stood up. I fell onto the bed.
The Vampire's Song (Vampires of Rock Book 1) Page 5
