Fangs And Fame (33 page)

Trey

TO HIS CREDIT, NEON
only gave me a hook-in-the-eyebrow look when I handed him a list of the names I needed added to the VIP list for the show.

“
Stanislav Vidic?” he read aloud, glancing at the list. “What is that, like a Viking name or something?”

“
Or something,” I said, forcing a smile and shrugging. “Just don’t mention that to him.” Neon laughed that carefree chuckle that only Neon has. “I need someone to let the Viking and his friends back here to the lounge when they arrive.”

“
I think I can manage that,” Neon said with a nod.

“
You’re a good man,” I called after him as he headed down the hallway.

“
Yeah, yeah,” he said, waving a dismissive hand back in my direction.

I stood there in the hallway, listening to the sounds of Crosstalk
’s music blaring from the stage. The fans seemed to be enjoying it, if the cheering was any indication. I wished with my whole heart that tonight could be like any other night on this tour. I would have given anything to wake up and find out that this entire thing was an exceptionally cruel nightmare. I was seriously contemplating pinching myself when Aurora caught up to me.

“
What did Antonio have to say?” I asked her.

She sighed and said,
“He’s somewhere in-between thinking we’ve lost our minds and wishing he was here to get in on the action. This entire thing is just crazy.

“
You can say that again.”

“
Are we good to go?”

I nodded.
“I hope so.” We couldn’t speak of our plan now. We could only hope that Tytus and Chase and Jonas were ready on their end. We headed inside the lounge and awaited the arrival of the Synod Elder I had once trusted with Aurora’s life. It seemed another lifetime ago when I thought about it now.

Stanislav didn
’t keep us waiting long, but I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not as he sauntered into the lounge sporting a cocky grin. “Trey, Aurora, so good to see you again,” he said, nodding at each of us in turn. Aurora didn’t get up from her seat on the couch, and I remained standing nearby, unable to sit still. “I see you’ve chosen to keep your thoughts from me,” Stanislav said as soon as the two vampires who were with him had come inside and closed the door. I’d felt the surge of his power reaching out to me, but my wall was holding steady, much to his disappointment. “That’s an interesting choice. I might have thought the ability to communicate silently on a momentous night such as this would have been preferable.”

I crossed my arms and met his gaze evenly.
“Anything I have to say to you, I’ll say to your face,” I stated.

“
Very well.” Stanislav’s smile was unsettling, but I wasn’t about to let him know that. “I’m glad you came alone. Your band mates obviously couldn’t be trusted with something so momentous, so you’ll be addressing the crowd alone tonight.”

“
I figured,” I said. “We’re one guitar player short, anyway.”

Stanislav ignored my reference to O
’Shea, and, I have to say, his poker face was impressive. Not so much as an eyebrow twitch. Aurora was watching him as well, and I wondered if she was having any better luck at reading him. “Your fans will not be expecting this solo appearance,” he continued. I narrowed my eyes at him, and he rambled on in explanation. “I’ve had my men attending your shows on and off during the entire tour, as I’m sure you’re aware,” he added. “I know how things are usually done.” I refrained from shaking my head. I couldn’t give him any reason to suspect that things weren’t going to go smoothly for him tonight. “I know you, Trey,” he said, turning on his expensive leather heel to smile in my direction. “You’ll have no trouble at all breaking the ice with your fans. They adore you, after all. Then, when the moment is right – and it is essential to the plan that your timing is perfect – you’ll reveal yourself to your people.”

“
My people?” I asked. “You’re giving me a little too much credit, Stan. I’m not royalty.”

“
No,” Stanislav said, looking me up and down, his eyes lingering on my shoes with distaste. “That’s why this is going to work. Somehow you manage to make these people believe that you’re still one of them, even though you clearly weren’t – even as a human. Your talents and determination set you far above the rest, even then. Now, well, you’ve obviously joined the winning side of evolution, and you’ll still manage to convince them that you’re the same old Trey they fell in love with. The same Trey who’s face adorns their lockers, or dorm-room walls.”

“
I am,” I said. “
What
I am might be different, but it would take a lot more than a liquid diet to change
who
I am.”

Stanislav smiled victoriously and put a hand on my shoulder in a fatherly way that
was just plain creepy. “Atta boy,” he said. “You know, you really might consider adding acting to your repertoire. It seems to come naturally. I knew this would be easy for you, but the way you talk you’ve almost convinced me that you believe everything you’re saying. The humans don’t stand a chance with you.”

“
What about you?” I asked him, eager to change the subject and get to the heart of his plan. “As much as you like to pretend this is about me, it’s really not about me ... is it?” I watched as Aurora stretched out her legs and slouched into the cushions of the sofa she was sitting on. It was a good play at looking defeated.

“
When – and only when – your people are comfortable with the image of you as a vampire, you’ll invite me out to share the stage with you,” Stanislav continued.

“
Assuming they buy it.”

“
They will,” he interjected. “You’ll be certain they do. Your friends are counting on you, after all. Then comes the crucial moment when you’ll introduce me as your mentor, as the one who saved your beloved Aurora when her life was on the brink.”

Aurora gave an impatient sigh just then. She was good.
“Catalyst was supposed to take the stage five minutes ago,” she offered. “The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can see O’Shea and Kacie.”

“
No worries, dear,” Stanislav said. He walked over to her, taking her chin in his hand gently so that she had to look up at him. “Your friends are being looked after.” There was certainly a snide remark on her tongue in response to that, but she bit it back, hiding it well. Stanislav released her face and turned to face me, rubbing his hands together in what was obvious excitement. “Show time.”

Stanislav followed Aurora and I to the side of the stage where the crowd was waiting for a Catalyst show they wouldn’t get. The house lights went down and the crowd roared in anticipation.

“
How do I look?” I asked Aurora, trying to focus on the things I could control.

She put on her best smile for me, and her green eyes even managed to sparkle a little. It was the best anyone could do under the circumstances.
“You look great.”

“
My human self would be a hot mess at this point,” I added. “I just need enough time with the fans to get them to believe me.”

She nodded encouragingly, and we both glanced at Stanislav, who was looking quite smug.
“You can do this,” Aurora assured me. “I know you can.”

I met her gaze, hoping I looked more confident than I felt. If ever I needed the fans to be with me, the time was now. I glanced at Stanislav briefly, and I saw what could only be described as maniacal joy in his eyes. I felt my resolve deepen, and I kissed Aurora
’s forehead and started the long walk across the stage.

Trey

THE CROWD ERRUPTED AT the sight of me, and I heard exclamations of surprise and wonder. This wasn’t how we usually did things. They knew something was up, but they couldn’t imagine what. I could see the fans, but the stage was dark except for the single spotlight that lit my path as I went, leading me like a shadow. I paused, front and center, raising my hand to acknowledge the cheering.

“
Did Crosstalk put on a great set tonight for you guys, or what?” I said, throwing my hands up in the air to encourage the cheers. “They’re a talented bunch of guys,” I added. “We’re lucky to have them on the tour with us.” I paused and took a breath, and the fans quieted down with anticipation. “First of all, the guys I want to thank each and every one of you for coming out tonight,” I said. “It’s no small thing to us that you spend your hard-earned cash on tickets for this show, and take time out of your busy lives to come and see us play. So for that, thank you.” The crowd cheered, and I added, “How many of you have the new record?” I cast my eyes out over the sea of people, enjoying their enthusiastic reaction to my question. Moments like this would never get old, and I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face. “I know this isn’t normally how we do things, but I wanted to come out here and have a little heart-to-heart with you guys....” I waved at a girl a few rows back who was desperately trying to get my attention.

“
I love you!” she called out.

“
I love you, too,” I said, smiling at her. I let the screaming go on for another minute, knowing they needed a chance to get some energy out of their systems before I made the bottom drop out. “You know what?” I said, knowing exactly what to do for the first time tonight. “Before we do anything else, would it be okay if I play you guys a new song?” The sound of unanimous approval chorused back at me, and I nodded. “Thanks for rolling with me on this,” I said as I grabbed a stool and set it down front and center on the stage. I picked up my guitar, adjusted the mic on the stand in front of me, and strummed a few chords to check the tuning. “This is a new song I wrote,” I explained. “You’re actually the first ones – aside from Aurora and the guys – to hear it. The song is called “Rainy Day.” I hope you like it.” My fingers picked out the melody and I took a breath and began to sing the first verse.

“Pretending I don’t see

All the questions in your eyes.

Its paper thin but all I have

Is my defense and this disguise.

“
The fault is mine

If only you understood

Life would be so easy then

I
’d give anything if you could.

“Still somehow

Selfishly I want to share.

You’ll go on believing

The lies that I
’m bleeding.

I
’ll pretend that I don’t care

But for now

I’ll let the chips falls where they may.

I
’ll live in the shadows

Trust in my nature

Save the truth for another rainy day.

“Feels like I’m betraying your trust

Day after day

I’m full of excuses

But really I
’m just afraid.

“My nights will never be the same

I can live with that, but could you?

There I go again believing

I can save you from myself.

“
Still somehow

Selfishly I want to share.

You’ll go on believing

The lies that I
’m bleeding.

I
’ll pretend that I don’t care

But for now

I’ll let the chips falls where they may.

I
’ll live in the shadows

Trust in my nature

Save the truth for another rainy day.

“My confidence is as much a lie

As all the many reasons why

I hide this.

I
’ll make it up to you – I swear it

I couldn
’t stand to have you see

Or look at me differently.

So I’ll keep it locked deep inside

The echoes of this heart of mine

Just like this.

“Still somehow

Selfishly I want to share.

You’ll go on believing

The lies that I
’m bleeding.

I
’ll pretend that I don’t care

But for now

I’ll let the chips falls where they may.

I
’ll live in the shadows

Trust in my nature

Save the truth for another rainy day.

I could feel the emotion coming back at me from the fans in tangible waves. My moon-given talent hadn’t faltered tonight, but I hoped it was enough to make the crowd really hear me as I made my big announcement.

“
Thanks,” I told them, getting to my feet and setting my guitar aside. “You’re probably wondering what I’m doing out here by myself like this. Thanks for being patient with me. I’m going to set the record straight for you.” This was followed by a lot of nodding and expectant gazes. “Basically, I have good news and bad news,” I said, drawing a mixed reaction from the crowd. “I’ll hit you with the bad news first.” The fans were quieter than I’ve ever seen them, which at least let me now that they were listening. “I think you all know my buddy O’Shea. He’s usually the one up here shredding like a maniac.” There was visible excitement at the mention of O’Shea’s name, but the cheers were brief as everyone remembered I’d said this was bad news. I nodded and said, “He, uh ... he can’t play tonight....” The fans muttered and gave each other questioning glances before the now deafening silence returned, and they looked to me for answers. “He’s not feeling too hot right now,” I said. “He’s actually got a violent case of the stomach flu, or maybe a bout of food poisoning. I’m not sure which, but I promise he’ll be back on his feet soon.... We have a friend who is a doctor, and he’s going to take good care of him.” I paused, giving everyone a moment to soak in the news.

“
Tell O’Shea we love him,” a fan in the front row called out.

“
I will,” I said, nodding at her. “I know he wishes he could be here right now. We all do.”

“
Where are Jonas and Chase?” a guy to my left shouted.

“
They’re actually with O’Shea,” I said, adding a silent
I hope
at the end of that statement.

It started out slowly, but in the space of a minute the whole arena had given themselves over to chanting O
’Shea’s name. Their hands, which usually shaped the letter
C
for Catalyst, instead showed fingers that made complete circles, shaping the letter
O
. I stood there, staring into the eager faces of Catalyst fans. These were the faces of the people who meant more to me than I could ever express; the people Stanislav Vidic was trying to use against me; the people who were in danger right now just because they supported me. Images of O’Shea, bound and bleeding, flashed in my mind as the crowd called out his name, and I knew just how real and eminent that danger was. I pulled my phone from my pocket and shot a quick video of the crowd to show O’Shea later, and to delay the inevitable for just another moment. I glanced at my phone before I put it away again.

It was time.

I just hoped Chase, Jonas and Tytus had been successful in their part of the plan. I wasn’t completely convinced Chase and Jonas’s background in video games was enough to get them through a covert mission like this, especially when the stakes were so incredibly high, but it was time to do my part -the only thing I could do that might turn the tide in our favor. If all went according to plan, Stanislav wouldn’t have time to retaliate. At least not immediately.

I raised the mic to speak, and the crowd finally quieted, the echoes of O
’Shea’s name dying down to silence again. I had to take a second to calm my racing heart before I continued, feeling my emotions close to the surface. Some of that emotion was exactly what I needed to pass along to the crowd tonight, but the fear, panic and guilt that were threatening to overwhelm my senses had to be put on the backburner, or I’d get exactly the opposite of the reaction I needed.

I cleared my throat, knowing the rest of what I had to say needed to be done quickly, like ripping off a Band-Aid. I made a conscious effort not to glance to the side of the stage. I didn
’t want to give Stanislav the satisfaction of even acknowledging his presence for this. “So the bad news is that we’re not going to be able to play the show for you guys, tonight....” I nodded in agreement with the groans of disappointment that came back at me. “The good news is that we’re rescheduling the show, which means we’ll be back here soon to do this right. Keep your ticket stubs from tonight and they’ll get you in later. Is that okay with you guys?” The crowd cheered again, and I was grateful for their understanding. “You guys are amazing,” I said, willing them to hear the sincerity in my voice. “Now I need you all to do something for me.” I looked out into the crowd again and said, “The guys are all waiting for me so we can get O’Shea someplace to rest. Can you all please quickly and calmly leave the building? I want you all to be safe, to watch out for each other, and we’ll be back to do this for real soon. Okay?” I saw heads nodding. They’d gotten a big enough dose of my emotion to know I was sincere, and that I would never cancel a show if I had any choice in the matter. I held my breath in sheer anticipation and then realized they probably wouldn’t walk away until I did. “I love you all. See you soon!” Then I turned on my heel and walked off the stage to the sound of more supportive cheering.

I hurriedly made my way to the side where Aurora was waiting for me. Alone. The cheers died quickly, and she took a few steps out onto the stage and peeked, grinning
in relief as she turned back around to face me.

“
You did it,” she said. “They’re all leaving.”

“
Where is he?” I asked, looking around for any sign of Stanislav.

“
He took off as soon as you mentioned that the show was going to be rescheduled,” she answered. “He’s fuming, but you left him with no choice. He can’t move forward with his plan without an audience. He told me not to follow, and I didn’t want to push our luck.”

“
What about Neon and the crew?” She gave me a thumbs-up, and I kissed her forehead, almost daring to believe we might make it out of this. Then I pulled my phone out again and speed-dialed Chase. “Just pray the guys got to O’Shea and Kacie in time,” I said as it began to ring.