Mother of Darkwaters: Book one of the Vessel series (95 page)

   Julianna smiles, “Fair enough.”

  
Like this?

   Rebecca’s mouth opens as she takes a step backwards.

  
Power, is this what you mean?

   “How...?”

   “Becca, that blood ritual is a spell,” Julianna explains, “What I can
offer
is more than that. There are no spells with this kind of power. I only need you to desire to be part of my inner-circle. There are no rituals or anything else that you have to do. We only need to be friends.”

   Rebecca looks at Caroline. Black ink swims across her left eye. Rebecca backs away.

   “What the…you still possessed?”

   “That’s something else that needs to be discussed, “Julianna says while looking at her cousin. When Caroline nods, Julianna turns and walks towards the door.

   “Unfortunately,” Julianna says while turning the door handle, “These guys will follow you until we are finished. So if you want free of them, I suggest you and Caroline have a talk. And do it quickly, Amy’s about to start.”

   Rebecca stands speechless as the woman steps outside – two men enter her house. Caroline turns towards her. Rebecca holds up her right hand.

   “You can talk over there.”

   “My eyes?”

   “Uh - yeah. Your eyes.”

   “That’s what Jen and Julianna said, but I haven’t seen it yet.”

   “Who’s Julianna?”

   Tamara parks her Corvette convertible as directed by security. She gets out and looks over the top of her car at David Snow.

   “Would you mind escorting a lady to a party?”

   “I’d love to,” David says with illuminated eyes. He rounds the front of the car and places his left arm around Tamara’s back. They walk side-by-side towards the VIP entrance that Julianna had told them about. Upon entering, the two make their way towards the front of the stage.

   As they near the area, Tamara spots Jennifer and Julianna. She smiles. David notices the way she looks at one of the girls. He isn’t sure which one it is, but he knows
that
look. It is the way he feels about Tamara. David removes his arm and points towards a concession stand.

   “Drinks?”

   Tamara looks at him and smiles, “Yes, that sounds great. I’ll be by Jennifer and Mandie.”

   David nods with a smile, but inside he feels the reality of this being a date for payment. He shakes off the uncomfortable feeling and decides to enjoy the evening for what it truly is – a night to remember…the night, when he was allowed to escort Tamara Hillary Stilliard to an Amy Lee concert. He sets his sights on the concession stand and parts ways with the nicest girl he has ever known.

   “Where’s Becca and Caroline?”

   Julianna turns. Tamara’s long fingers interlock with the fingers of her left hand. She adores the taller woman before her. Tamara silently adores her back with the same envious gaze.

   “You two can’t
even
mess this up for me.”

   Julianna rips her stare from Tamara and looks at Jennifer. The girl is looking at the stage.

   “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

   “I still think she wants to watch.”

   Jennifer stares straight ahead, “Forget it, Tam. You can’t do it.”

   “Heh,” Tam amuses, “I bet if I was Amy Lee you’d do it.”

   Jennifer looks to her left with a glare, “That’s blasphemous.”

   Tamara enjoys the moment, “I love you, too.”

   Jennifer looks back at the stage, “Whatever.”

   Tamara feels a hand touch the left side of her cheek. She looks down and smiles – her heart fluttering with the joy of her evening.

   “I love you,” she speaks with a whisper.

   With the crowd’s noise level, Julianna only sees the movement of Tamara’s thin lips. But she understands the words clearly. She smiles and says the phrase back. For the first time in her life, Julianna understands
real
love.

   “Coke okay?”

   Tamara quickly releases her girlfriend’s hand and steps back. She looks at David with startled eyes.

   “It’s okay,” David says while offering Tamara a soda, “I’m here to have fun. That’s all.”

   Tamara smiles. She takes the soda and looks at Julianna with questioning eyes. Julianna nods. Tamara turns and leans in towards David. She kisses him gently on his right cheek.

   Tamara whispers, “I wish all the boys were like you.”

   When Tamara steps back, David nods with appreciative eyes. Within them, he gives Tamara and Julianna his blessing. He points towards the concession stand.

   “I’ll be over there,” David says, “If you need anything, just wave.”

   “Can I?”

   David looks at Julianna curiously. He nods with an awkward smile. His heart races as the girl steps closer. She motions him with her right hand. He leans down and receives his second kiss of the night – his other cheek no longer jealous.

   “The girl that loves you back will be the luckiest girl in the world,” Julianna says.

   Tamara and Julianna look at each other with amused eyes as the junior grins from ear to ear. They both wave at him with girlie fingers as he turns and heads towards the concession stand. They know it is a night he will never forget.

   “Now
that’s
what I’m talking about’, Jennifer announces loudly. Smoke begins filling the stage from the fog machines. She looks over at Julianna with the biggest smile ever. Julianna can’t help, but to laugh.

   Jennifer, immediately, turns her attention back to the stage. She can see silhouettes passing in and out of the growing fog. A few moments later, her chest thumps with the sounds of a bass drum.

   “Gawd,” Jennifer says while cupping her mouth with both hands, “It’s really happening.”

   Guitars start playing. Lights begin moving in the rhythmic patterns set by the drum beat. The crowd begins screaming in anticipation.

   “Thanks for having us,” a woman’s voice kindly speaks through the PA system.

   Julianna delights in Jennifer’s frantic searching of the voice’s owner. The cheerleader’s eyes are darting all over the foggy area in hopes of catching a glimpse. Julianna looks at the stage.

   A moment later, a woman dressed in black boots and a white bridal gown marches towards the front of the stage through the fog. The outfit reminds Julianna of something a zombie bride should be wearing. Amy bows her head. The drums stop. The lights go out. The guitars silence.

   The crowd whistles. As the silence grows, the crowd’s whistling turns into more cheers and screaming. Then as quickly as they begun, the crowd silences to the roar of the occasional whistle.

   The sounds of strings begin playing. A voice begins singing, “Please, please forgive me…”

   Jennifer begins singing with the angelic voice. She sways dizzily when Amy Lee looks directly at her and waves.

   “Okay!”

   Tamara gives Rebecca a strange look as the captain of the cheer squad pulls on the back of her girlfriend’s shirt. She watches as Rebecca says something in her ear and then proceeds with a follow-up hug.

   Julianna looks at Caroline with prideful eyes before looking at the observant Tamara.

   “What was that all about?”

   Julianna smiles at Tamara, “She was thanking me for the party.”

   “Oh,” Tamara says loudly to combat the growing intensity of the music filling the air. She looks at Rebecca. The girl with long blond hair has her arms above her head while singing with Amy Lee. Caroline is doing the same thing next to her. She looks over at Jennifer. She isn’t positive, but she thinks her bff is on the verge of crying. Tamara wraps her right arm around Julianna and turns her attention towards the stage.

    Sweat pours down Amy’s face. She has been performing for the past two hours.

   “Thank you all for having us,” Amy says breathlessly.

   The crowd erupts into screams and whistles.

   “We still have a couple more for you – songs only my friends have ever heard.”

   The crowd yells victoriously.

   “But there’s a few thing I want to do first. Is that alright with you?!”

   The crowd screams with its approval.

   “Thank you,” Amy says. She locks gazes with a girl having long curly blond hair, “Rebecca Hindsworth?”

   Rebecca freezes within her terror.

   “Rebecca, come on up here.”

   The captain of the cheer squad faintly notices Julianna’s hands pushing on her back. Her heart pounds as two security guys escort her upon the stage.

   “Come on over here,” Amy instructs.

   Rebecca smiles nervously as she walks across the stage. Her peers of the student body begin yelling out their delight. She stops within arm’s reach of
the
Amy Lee.

   Amy looks at the crowd of faces, “None of this would have been possible without Rebecca’s help. When you go back to your school, remember that
she
is the reason that
you
are here.”

   The crowd whistles and claps their pleasure.

   “Is that all you got?!”, Amy pushes.

   The crowd begins screaming at the top of their lungs.

   Amy turns and gives Rebecca a hug. She nods at one of her security guys. He walks over and takes hold of Rebecca’s right arm. The newly fed goddess follows her escort’s lead within her haze.

   “Tonight,” Amy speaks, “It has come to my attention that a very special fan has come to see me.”

   Jennifer covers her mouth when Amy looks her way. She watches as the most talented artist ever walks to the edge of the stage.

   “Would you please honor me by coming up here, Jennifer?”

   “Uh-oh,” Tamara says while dashing to her swaying bff. She barely has time to catch Jennifer as she passes out.

   “It doesn’t last long,” Amy says, “Bring her up here anyway. I love my fans.”

   The crowd erupts into more cheers.

   Tamara allows one of Amy’s security guys to pick Jennifer up. By the time he reaches the stage, her bff is awake. He gently maneuvers her to her feet and offers his left arm for support. Tamara smiles as Jennifer holds the man’s arm like a vice-grip – her unsure legs moving across the stage.

   Amy smiles while motioning to the back of the stage. A man runs out with a box and hands it to her. She looks at the crowd.

   “I deeply appreciate
all
of my fans…”

   The crowd roars.

   “And it is a great honor when I get the chance to meet my devout fans like Jennifer Hammond here.”

   The security guy uses his large right palm against Jennifer’s mid-back to steady her.

   “This is for you, Jennifer,” Amy says.

   Jennifer looks at the offered box and holds out her shaky hands. The man beside her realizes she needs help and grips her solidly around the waist.

   “Open it, let’s see what’s inside.”

   Amy watches as Jennifer clumsily fumbles with the impossible box. She looks at another one of her security guys and nods. The man quickly runs over, lifts the lid on the box, and leaves.

   “Pull it out,” Amy coaches.

   Jennifer’s eyes widen as her mind begins registering what is happening. She pulls out a dress which looks exactly like the one Amy is currently wearing.

   “It’s signed,” Amy says, “And I better not see it up on an auction site.”

   Jennifer grins within her woozy state. Amy nods at the guy helping to steady her. He escorts the cheerleader off of the stage and back to her friends.

   “It’s signed,” Jennifer says while holding up the dress to show Caroline. Tamara barely catches her as she passes out.

   “I’m a sucker for a good love story,” Amy speaks, “And one thing I can’t stand is a bunch of shallow haters!”

   The crowd returns with whistles and cheers.

   “Tonight,” Amy continues, “I have a very good friend with me. And she’s in love.”

   The crowd coos with awes and clapping.

   “Come up here you two,” Amy says while beckoning Julianna and Tamara.

   Julianna gives her a look, but Amy ignores her, “Come on now, let us all see that kind of love we only get to read about.”

   The crowd cheers.

   Julianna apologizes to Tamara with her eyes. The tall girl stands up leaving Jennifer to Caroline and Rebecca. She interlocks her fingers with Julianna’s left hand and escorts her to the stage.

   “Most of you already know Tamara Stilliard,” Amy says while presenting the two women walking towards her, “And the girl next to her is my dear friend, Mandie EvéMari.”

   The crowd whistles.

   I want you two to kiss right here and now,” Amy says, “In front of anyone who is a hater.”

   Julianna gives Amy a subtle disapproving look while the crowd cheers. Amy smiles back as though she is oblivious. Julianna, however, knows better. In fact, this is the second surprise Amy has thrown her tonight. The first was the fact that Amy’s band came with her – something Amy made clear was not going to happen. But then again, Amy enjoys this sort of thing – almost too much.

   “We don’t have all night”, Amy says, “Kiss.”

   Amy grins while the crowd begins chanting –
kiss…kiss…kiss…

   Julianna looks at Tamara with nervous eyes. The tall woman searches her eagerly – down to her very soul. Julianna staggers a breath as Tamara leans down. She stops and grins playfully. Julianna tiptoes – her lips softly pressing against the patient woman before her. Tamara parts her mouth.

   The crowd screams out its approval. Amy turns to face the rest of her fans.

   “Let’s rock this night on out!”, Amy yells out through her microphone.

   Julianna lowers herself to the flat of her feet. Her heart flutters with the adoring eyes left upon her. She barely notices Amy’s security team as they move to escort her and Tamara from the stage. At this very moment, Julianna feels as if time should stand still and wait. It should wait…until she has had her fill of her lover’s eyes.