“We won’t find anybody if we don’t look. We’re holding tryouts for a substitute guitarist, why not for the others?” Keth frowned. “I can play a little on the didgeridoo but not the extent we could use. And if I were playing on that, we wouldn’t have percussion in the piece. Unless it’s a track we lay down ahead of time and play in the background.”
I cleared my throat. “If you want a suggestion from the peanut gallery, I vote you take Keth’s suggestion and open up tryouts. You guys sound great, but you can take your music to a whole new level by adding in a few of those sounds. I’m serious—you have what it takes to become another Corvus Corax or Faun.” Two of my favorite bands were pretty much the role model for what the Boys of Bedlam wanted to become.
“Peanut gallery suggestions welcome, considering the comparison you just made.” Sid grinned down at me. “We can talk about that next time we get together to write some new material. Until then, let’s get started on rehearsing Saturday’s set. We had a few clunkers last time during the gig and don’t think that Jack-Az didn’t notice.”
I watched as they plugged in, turned on, and got down, but my heart wasn’t in it. I was just too tired and the wine was going to make me even sleepier. I set the glass down after a few sips and—once they finished the first song—stood.
“Aegis, I’m sorry, but I’m going home. I’m too tired to tough it out.”
“I’ll come with you.” He glanced at his band mates. “Sorry, guys, I’ll be back in half an hour.” They didn’t grumble but I could tell they weren’t thrilled.
“No, you just stay here and I’ll text you when I get there. I’ll be fine,” I added as he started to protest. “I’m just too tired to manage tonight. It’s not that far of a drive and I’ll be careful. Traffic’s light, anyway. Most of the people who are out and about are downtown, shopping for Solstice.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, now get back to work. If I’m asleep when you get home, just leave me a note, okay?”
He jumped off the stage, gracefully landing in front of me, and swung me in for a long kiss. Laughing, I patted him on the arm and disentangled myself.
“I love you. Play good. Become famous. Make me the happiest groupie around.” With that, I waved at the guys, who waved back, and headed for the door. Aegis was still looking doubtful, but he hopped back on the stage and, as the door swung shut behind me, I heard them start up another song.
I kept my guard up, but the sidewalks were deserted and I made it to my car without seeing a single person. As I fastened my seat belt and started the engine, I let out a breath of relief. So much stress over so many days had left me a nervous goose.
I was halfway home before I realized that the energy felt off. I couldn’t pinpoint it, but something was out of kilter. Given it would be stupid to lower myself into trance while driving, I tried to brush away the feelings but they kept up. Finally, half a mile from home, I eased into the parking lot of a city park and idled the engine, listening quietly to the silence around me.
Going into trance here might not be the best idea either, but at least I wasn’t driving. The hairs on the back of my neck were standing up and I wanted to know what the hell was going on. Finally, I turned off the ignition after making sure all the doors were locked, and leaned back in the driver’s seat, closing my eyes as I lowered myself into the soft fog that beckoned.
I tested the space around me, looking for anything that stood out of place. The car felt normal, except there was a heaviness that didn’t belong. A sense of being latched on to, like a bungie cord attached to the fender. Yet, there was no sense that it had been tampered with.
You’re tired, Maddy. Pay attention. Get your ass out of trance because you’re in danger.
The voice echoed in my head, and I wasn’t sure who was talking, but a fear rose as I realized that there was a magical binding connected to my car and it was putting me in danger. I shot up in my seat, suddenly all too aware that I wasn’t alone in the parking lot. Figures were emerging from behind the trees. Five of them, they were coming in from all sides. I couldn’t see who they were from here, especially since we weren’t near the streetlights, but they were intent on my car.
I grabbed my phone and frantically texted Aegis. help. honeysuckle park in parking lot. somebody’s here and i don’t think they’re friendly.
I managed to copy and paste the text over to Delia before the figures suddenly sped up. They had surrounded the car before I could turn on the ignition. As I stared out the driver’s window, I saw Rachel, leaning down looking in at me.
Crap. And she had brought friends. No doubt lured in by the promise of witch’s blood for dinner. My doors were locked, but that was no guarantee to keeping out a determined vampire, especially someone who was as old and powerful as Rachel.
“Open the door, Maddy. You don’t mind if I call you Maddy even though we’ve never officially been introduced, do you?” Rachel’s voice was melodic and hard to ignore, even through the closed window. She knew she couldn’t get me with her gaze, but she could still win me over with her glamour. “Just accept that I win. Aegis will return to me, and you can’t stop him. It’s been a fun romp, though, hasn’t it?” She sounded almost wistful, as though she were remembering her own time with him.
I jumped as one of the other vamps slammed his hands against the passenger window, peeking in. “She’s a pretty one, Rachel. Can I play with her? For just a little bit?”
Rachel laughed. “Oh, Cane. I know you like big boobs and a fat ass, but honestly, isn’t it enough that her blood’s going to taste like ambrosia? Do you need to nail her, too?”
“I fancy me some jiggly butt,” the vampire she called Cane said.
I realized I still had hold of my phone and frantically texted, cane. rachel’s got a vampire named cane with her. i don’t know who the others are. going to try to get out of here.
Suddenly, texts began to flood in.
maddy, i’m coming. i just got this. hold on. That was from Aegis.
And the next, from Delia. on my way.
I fumbled for the key, but in my fear, I knocked it out of the ignition and onto the floor. As I scrambled, trying to scoop it up, my mind was racing.
How long it would take Aegis to get here? And then, of course, we had vampires to deal with. Could I hold out? That would depend on whether Rachel and her cronies could get into my car. Some vampires could turn into—
Oh shit. As I came up with the key again, I saw Cane dissolve into a black mist. Shaking, I managed to get the key back into the ignition as he formed inside the passenger seat, coming through the vents.
“Don’t you drink her down before I get my share.” Rachel pressed her face against the window, her fangs gleaming in the shimmering light of the clouds.
I flipped the key, gunning the gas, and jammed the gearshift into drive as Cane grabbed my right wrist. The car lurched forward as I tried to pull away from him and steer with my left hand. The vampire to the front got hit and went down, under the car, but unless I managed to puncture his heart, being run over wasn’t going to stop him.
Cane laughed, yanking me halfway across the gearshift panel. I cursed as the steering wheel spun wild and the car began to spin on the ice, skidding against one of the concrete stops. The back right wheel jammed against it and the car idled as the vampire managed to pull me into his lap. He planted a hand on my breast, squeezing hard enough to make me scream, and his fangs were gleaming in the light of the lamppost beneath which we were stalled.
The next moment, Rachel yanked open the driver’s door. But when she saw how Cane had hold of me, she hissed at him, low and threatening.