“Pull over, damn it or I’m going to puke in your car.”
Quick as lightning, Coleman pulled the car to the curb between two vehicles, and I opened the door and staggered out. Just as promised, I vomited, narrowly missing his car and made quite a mess in the street.
“Hey, man! Take your drunk ass home!” A man called from the window above the sidewalk I’d just decorated with puke.
Coleman waited, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to get back in. You’ve got to, Levi. You must know.
I got back in the car feeling better but still kind of sick. He handed me a napkin, and I wiped my face with it. God, that was disgusting.
“Sorry. I told you I was tactless. Skipping the details, then…there are other victims, Levi. They don’t all look the same, they aren’t all A students like Debbie was, but they were all young and…” I waited as he adjusted his rearview mirror. “I was afraid of that. Someone is following us.”
“Who would follow us? The cops?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. Tell me, were Melissa and Debbie fans of the Black Knights?”
I looked at him then, surprised. “Why are you asking?”
“Because that’s the common thread. Every one of those girls went to a Black Knights’ concert or knew someone who did. A close relative, too, not a friend of a friend. Were they fans?”
“We all were—I mean, are—but I had the tickets. I won them from the radio station. Only I didn’t get to go. I had to work, so I gave Melissa her ticket, and I’m pretty sure my coworker stole mine. I couldn’t get in.”
“Interesting,” he said as he pulled the car over and stared at his side mirror. “Hand me that camera. It’s on the back seat.”
I reached back and grabbed the heavy camera. Coleman gripped it and hopped out of the car with the clunky black thing. Sure enough, we’d been followed, but it didn’t look like a cop car. That car was too black, too sporty to belong to a cop. Coleman’s camera clicked, and the bulb flashed as the black car raced past dangerously close to us.
“Who the hell was that?” I asked as my heart pounded and pulse raced.
“Somebody who doesn’t like the fact that I’m talking to you, but I think I got a picture. Let’s hope it turns out. Anyway, I’d like to talk to you more.” He dug in his pocket and handed me a business card as he put the camera on the back seat again. “Call me tomorrow. I’ll meet you wherever you like. For now, I think I should take you home.”
“Yeah, okay.” Although I was intrigued, I didn’t argue with him. My vomiting spell had left me weak, and sickness threatened to hit me again. “It’s just a few streets over.”
As promised, Coleman took me home and drove off without waiting for me to get inside. What did I expect? I wasn’t some helpless teenage girl. I managed to get inside by myself. I didn’t see any black cars on my street, and the Creep wasn’t hanging around. Mrs. Sherman poked her head out briefly and then slammed it when she saw me. I raced up the steps and went inside.
Naomi was waiting for me at the kitchen table, and she wasn’t alone. Jackie Dean was with her, and he guiltily withdrew his hand from hers when he heard the door slam. What the hell was going on with those two?
Don’t think about it, dude. You can’t get sick again today.
“Levi! Thank God!” Naomi ran to me, sobbed on my shoulder, and held me close for a few seconds. I tried not to respond, not to soften to her, but this was an exceptional day. “I tried calling but they said you had gone but I didn’t know where but at least you’re here now. Are you okay?”
“What about Dad? Have you talked to him?” I glanced at Jackie, whom I hadn’t yet acknowledged.
“Of course, I have tried, but he’s not answering. I don’t expect much from him.”
Jackie cleared his throat. “I better get going. I’m sorry about Debbie, Levi. She was a sweet girl. If either one of you needs me, call me.” He slid his denim jacket on and showed himself out.
Naomi called to him, “Thanks, Jackson.”
“So, what the hell is going on with you two?”
“Levi, really. Do you want to fight with me right now? We have to talk about Debbie.”
“I’m done talking for today. I’m talked out, Naomi.”
“Mom, it’s Mom. Remember? We only have each other now. Please, Levi. Don’t shut me out anymore. If you do, I don’t think I can do this.”
I eyed the bottle of pills on the counter. “Sure, you can. Do like you normally do. Pop a magic pill, Naomi. It will make this all go away.” I don’t know why I said such a hurtful thing. I guess because I was hurting and mad and confused, but it was a dick move. I could see the hurt in her eyes, and it made me feel good to know that I inflicted that pain. I was both ashamed and empowered by it. “Don’t take too many. I can’t arrange two funerals.”
Her dark blond hair shivered around her face as she cried, but I didn’t offer her any hugs. I didn’t offer her anything at all.
I went upstairs to pass out.
Chapter Thirteen—The Dream
I had the dream again.
A bright spotlight shone on me, and I had to hold up my hand to shield my eyes for a few seconds. Beyond the light there were many people--I could hear them whispering excitedly. Only I wasn’t alone on the stage.
A girl stood beside me, tall and slender. She had tanned skin and held a silver microphone in her hand. The light was so bright that I could see details like her glittery polished fingernails, the silver hoops in her ears and the mole on her chest that peeked out above her halter top. She whimpered and glanced at me with frightened eyes.
“What am I doing here?” she asked me, but I had no answer for her. I felt the weight of a guitar strap on my neck, and I had a guitar in my hand. My guitar, Lizzie. I shifted it, thinking I would drop it and run, but the crowd beyond began to clap. Thunderous applause rolled over me, like a living ocean of love. Unseen musicians began to play behind us. I knew this song! This was Black Bird, one of the Black Knights’ greatest hits and until recently my favorite BK tune.
I suddenly felt hot, and a force I did not understand pressed against my body. I knew what the force wanted, it wanted me to play.
And I did.
In real life this wasn’t my strongest song, I always mucked up the beginning riff, always hurried the chords, but tonight was different. I nailed the opening and the girl beside me began to sing, her eyes still wide and frightened. I guessed that she too was under the control of the invisible force that demanded our performance. As the stranger beside me sang the haunting lyrics, I nailed note after note. This song was exactly five minutes long—I knew that because I’d played it and practiced it so many times—but the five minutes felt like an eternity. While the girl sang, tears streamed down her face. I wanted with all my heart to help her, but I couldn’t do anything except play Lizzie like my own life depended on it.
Maybe it did.
The cheering crowd offered a seemingly endless supply of jubilation. We stood for ten minutes, fifteen minutes, who knew how long under that white light when I spotted a man walking toward us. With the white light behind him, it was difficult to see his face until he got close. And when I could see him, I could barely believe it.
This was Jax Staff, from the band Urgent. Jax Staff was in my dream! He smiled down at both of us and clapped as he looked at the girl and then at me. He had blond hair, wild blond hair that feathered around his face. He was muscular and strangely attractive. I shrugged that thought away. I wasn’t the kind of guy that found other guys attractive.
What was wrong with me? I clutched the guitar like it was a life preserver.
“Welcome, Levi and Vanessa, welcome to the Frenzy!”
The invisible crowd cheered as Jax strutted between us and encouraged them to show their appreciation for our unwilling concert. “Such talent,” he said as he took my hand in his and raised it above my head. His grip felt icy cold and made me shiver. Thankfully, he released me quickly. “Such beauty,” he said to Vanessa.
<
br /> “And that is your choice, ladies and gentlemen. What will it be tonight? Talent or beauty? Such a tough decision, isn’t it?” The crowd roared again, but then voices rang out.
Raspy, awful voices. Some frightening voices screamed, “Talent!” while others cried, “Beauty, give us Beauty!”
“Beauty it is, and a good choice. Tonight’s talent is a Sustainer. It would be a shame to sacrifice such a valuable creature. Now, Vanessa, it appears you are the winner. Any words to share? Anyone you want to thank? It’s always good to remember the little people.”
Vanessa’s dark eyes were full of tears as she shook her head. Jax took her microphone as she mumbled, “I want to go home.” Jax held her hand as he led her to the end of the stage. I supposed it was the end of the stage. I couldn’t see beyond the white light, but I knew that horrible things were there.
Horrible things with awful snarling voices.
No! I shouted in my mind, but no words would come out. I could do nothing for her.
“Now, my lovelies, gather yourselves together. Yes, come closer. You're so hungry for Beauty, aren’t you?” At this point, Vanessa began to scream. Her legs kicked, but Jax had her by the back of her hair now. He laughed at the sight and glanced back at me as I watched in horror. I still couldn’t move. Whatever invisible force held me earlier still had an evil grip on me.
“No! Help me!” she screamed as the gathering moved toward the edge of the stage. I still couldn’t see them, but their terrible eyes glittered in the light, like several hundred animals caught in a spotlight. Then with a savage push, Jax shoved her into the horde and the girl’s feet disappeared in a sea of limbs. An orchestra began to play ominous music behind me—the kind that embraces a magnificent pipe organ and a cello, but it wasn’t enough to cover those awful, strangled sounds, the moaning and groaning of a hundred beasts as they ripped Vanessa apart.
They deluged her with a smothering feeding frenzy. Like a pride of lions descending on a helpless gazelle. Her screams were unlike anything I’d ever heard before… a chilling siren of distress and the alarm of pain that pierced the coppery tang of blood infused air around the pack.
I heard snarling and an animalistic clamor as every pound of flesh was fought over for each morsel of meat. Several of the dark figures fled back into the shadows carrying indeterminable parts, so they could feast on their own without the conflict of competition. I saw swatches of white that I believed to be the bones of Vanessa, with glimpses of her shredded clothing still attached—one shank still had a shoe attached.
A cloud of mist rose from the gathered evil and lingered over the mass of their heavy breath and snuffling, mixed with the heat of Vanessa’s internal organs. Her flailing stopped as the good Lord pitied her and removed her from this fate. Now just the munching and crunching of teeth and jaws remained with a low, grumbling murmur of satisfaction.
A ruby red puddle seeped from the pack and spread further away from the scene as if the molecules in her blood were trying to escape, long after the departure of her soul. Those that were not the alpha animals started slurping and licking at the fluid, they buried their faces into the still warm blood, occasionally looking up to check that they were not about to be the next on the menu. They presented their dripping, covered faces with matted wet hair, and blinked their shark-like eyes.
And I woke up screaming. But only for the briefest of seconds.
A cold finger was on my lips, and the Creep was on the edge of my bed. He wasn’t touching me, but the sensation of that cold finger on my skin lingered. And I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak.
Inside, I continued to scream.
“Hush now,” he said as he crossed his legs and puffed on a cigarette. “You have another chance, Sustainer. Another chance to redeem yourself.”
I focused my mind on moving my hands. I wanted to beat the hell out of him, but I could only muster up enough strength to wiggle my fingers. If the Creep noticed, he didn’t say so. I kept focusing on my fingers as he continued to smoke.
“You have no idea how valuable you are, Levi Wallace. So valuable that you survived another night, but it won’t last. You have been summoned by the Frenzied and must obey. We will never leave you alone, Levi Wallace.”
He dropped the cigarette on the carpet and blew the smoke in my face. He had an accent; it was from somewhere in Eastern Europe, but I couldn’t place it. “We know who you are; we’ve known for a while. And we’ve been patient. So very patient.” He brushed my hair out of my face and leaned in close. With serious effort I managed to turn my head away, but it didn’t bother the Creep.
He tossed his head back and laughed at my misery.
“Be at Crush tomorrow night. Come alone. If you don’t come alone, your pitiful friends will die. Your mother will die. Coleman and all those nice police officers will die. And…” he said with a disturbingly wide smile, “you’ll never see Melissa again. But I can’t promise she will die. Not right away. Nine o’clock.”
He blew a kiss at me and walked to the window. He wore the same outfit as he had the first time I saw him: black leather pants, ripped shirt, black high-heeled boots. He made the peace sign at me and then flew, and I mean flew, out the open window. A wild wind whipped through my room, and I heard my name lingering on the evil gust for a few seconds. The invisible storm ripped the posters off my walls and moved every bit of paper on my desk. When it ceased, I could finally move again.
Naomi was pounding on the door demanding that I let her in. I couldn’t do anything except curl up in a ball and try not to be sick.
I knew what the Frenzied were now, and I knew that the Creep had Melissa.
I didn’t understand it all, I couldn’t possibly understand all this, but they somehow had power over me, especially in my dreams. I believed the Creep. He was never going to let me go—none of them were. I had to go to Crush. Melissa must be there! I wanted to go, I knew I would go, but fear held me in its grip.
Once upon a time, our band had dreamed of playing at Crush. The place was kind of a legend around here. Billy Michaels played there once, and there had been a rumor that Rex Teaser showed up last year for an impromptu jam session, but we never believed that. I’d brushed it off as a hopeful rumor, but now I knew better.
And what about Jax Staff? He was certainly one of those creatures, like the Creep.
Like the murderous creatures with glittery eyes, wide smiles and beautiful faces that had ripped Vanessa apart.
Yeah, I would have to find the courage to go because I couldn’t let that happen to Naomi or anyone else. And Melissa was in their devilish hands!
I knew what they were. The Frenzied were vampires, but they were real, not some stupid movie monsters in white makeup and black capes. They were people I had admired, rock idols that always seemed larger than life. Like immortal, sexy gods.
Now I knew why. They weren’t alive at all. Not like me. Not like Melissa. Maybe they were immortal. I had no idea. Except I knew they were vampires through and through.
The real kind.
And I was their next victim.
Chapter Fourteen—The Deli
“Hey, it’s me. Levi Wallace. Could you meet at the Top Knot Deli? It’s at the corner of—”
Coleman said, “Believe me, I know every deli in the tri-state area. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
I hung up the phone and debated whether to tell Naomi I was going out. With the Creep hanging around, at least in my dreams, I decided I should do that. It was nine o’clock, but she wasn’t up yet. I’d finally come to the door last night and lied to her. Well, it was kind of a lie.
I’d said, “Just a nightmare, Naomi. I’m fine.”
“You sure?” she’d asked. “I can make you a cup of tea if you like.”
“Go to bed. I’m fine.”
Yeah, I’d been an ass, but surely she didn’t expect anything else from me at this point. I didn’t know why I felt such a need to punish her. I loved her, and a part of me wanted to cry on her shoul
der like she’d cried on mine.
This morning, I tapped on her bedroom door lightly and didn’t hear anything but snoring.
Not her snoring, though. This wasn’t feminine snoring. What if the Creep was in there? Couldn’t be him. He was a creature of the night, one of the Frenzied. I opened the door a crack and immediately recognized the tattooed arm that was thrown over my sleeping mother’s body.
Jackie Dean!
“Damn it, Naomi!” I said as I watched her stir awake.
“It’s not what you think,” she said as she slid out from under his arm.
“How old do you think I am? It’s exactly what I think. Do you know he’s married? He is married with a kid. Hey, dude! Get up and get out!” Jackie didn’t move. Was he drunk? High? What?
Naomi grabbed her nylon robe and slid it over her nightgown and then hurried out the room, closing the door behind her. “He’s separated, and not because of me. Come downstairs, Levi. Jackie worked a late shift.”
“Do you think I care? I can’t believe my mother is hooking up with a guy who’s my own age. This is bullshit, Naomi. Total bullshit. Debbie is dead, Dad is gone, and you are acting like a whore!”
“Be careful what you say to me, Levi. I’m done letting you talk to me any way you like. And for the last time, stop calling me Naomi. I am your mother! You have no idea what’s going on in my life because you don’t care to know! You haven’t cared in a long time!”
I didn’t have time for this. If my mother wanted to spend her life in a drug-induced fog, that was her business. If she wanted to hook up with all my friends to get back at me, more power to her. I was going to find Melissa. I left the house without another word, slamming the front door one good time before I hopped in my car and spun out of the driveway.
With some effort, I forced the scene out of my mind and paid attention to the road.
There were people congregating at the end of the street. What the heck was going on here? I could see two cop cars, a few of my neighbors and more than a handful of strangers gathered around a bloody lump on the ground.
The Vampire's Song (Vampires of Rock Book 1) Page 10
