Eric!"Riot roared into the phone."I asked for those budget documents yesterday. Why is there a delay?"

Riot, not having a patient bone in his being was not accustomed to waiting for anything .When he asked for something he got it. That was just the way it was. More often than not it arrived on a silver platter.

He was barely listening now while Eric doled out explanations the singer deemed pathetic.

"I'm not interested in your excuses" Riot sneered over the phone "Just get them to me by the end of the day" He hung up abruptly.

Riot ran his hand through his mane of blond hair and sighed. Having to deal with incompetent music execs like Eric was a small price for everything he had achieved.

Riot , born Rory Llywellyn , was the lead singer of the stingers. One of the most popular bands in the main steam music scene. He along with his female counterparts Minx and Rapture dominated the air waves and video screens with their pop rock sound. He was considered a sex symbol by most women It seemed his air of superiority and arrogance was invisible to any of those he set his charms upon.

Not only was he a gifted musician but also a successful business man. When Eric Raymond had offered him half ownership of the music company in a deal to sign The Stingers he accepted.

He understood Eric and felt about him as he did most people. He could control him. However Eric was just as devious as Riot and the two sometimes bumped heads.

Riot did not like when things did not go his way. It stressed him out and right now that was the last thing he needed. There was a band rehearsal that evening and a meeting the next morning about The Stingers newest video and there was lunch with the investors of their up coming tour. They also had signed on for a benefit show for starlight foundation which was coming up at the end of the week.

There was a sudden draft in the office and Riot shivered slightly. Not a surprise as he was wearing leather pants and a white shirt open at the chest. On most it would be uncomfortably cheesy but he pulled it off to perfection. It didn't hurt that his body was what people would compare to a Greek god's.

He turned the air conditioning off and went back to his desk to finish approving finances on the bands latest wardrobe collection. Ah yes being a rock star had it's perks

3 hours 1 headache and 2 Advil's later Riot was exhausted

He got up from the desk and stretched. He felt very stiff and sore. He clasped his hand round the back of his neck and began to knead the joints in an attempt to loosen out the kinks.

"ow!"

He glanced at the wall clock and realized he was late. Oh well things didn't start until he arrived anyway. Rapture and Minx would understand. They always did.

"I don't understand whats keeping him" Rapture complained.

She and Minx were sitting on one of the couches in rehearsal studio. " I mean he was in the office all day today. How long does it take to ride an elevator to the 6Th floor?"

Annoyed she gathered up the tarot deck she had arranged to give Minx a reading and hastily began to shuffle them

Minx shrugged her slender shoulders. "who cares? He will get here when he gets here. I'm sure there is some reason for the hold up"

At that moment the door opened and Riot came through.

"Sorry I'm late ladies. I was in the office working out the budget for our latest costumes. I guarantee you'll be impressed with what I've come up with"

"I'm sure we will" Minx agreed

"Yes Riot" Rapture chimed in "You always have the best ideas."

Riot smiled. "Well, lets not waste any more time"

They set up their instruments and began practising. Minx on electronic Synthesizer,

Rapture Playing bass and Riot on lead vocals and guitar.

They began to play but something was amiss. Their usual perfection was not coming across.

Rapture's bass went silent. She set it down and looked at her band members quizzically. "Somethings wrong" She announced

"I can see that. I think it's the fact you've stopped playing" Riot chided

"I mean ..we sound off"

"Nonsense. We never sound off"

"Riot. I think she's right. I heard it too" Minx said hesitantly

"Well I told you not to buy that new keyboard. You're old one sounded just fine"

Rapture and Minx just looked at each other. They knew it wasn't them. It was Riot. He had been singing ever so slightly off key since they started. To the untrained ear no one would notice. But in their band they knew each others harmonies and musical arrangements so well that even the slightest solecism stuck out like a sore thumb.

Neither of them wanted to say anything. To criticize Riot was suicide. Thankfully much of his believed perfection was true at, least to his faithful band mates. But when the rare time came in which there was a minor flaw that needed correction well... no one wanted that job.

"Never mind. Lets take it from "Under My Spell" Riot instructed. They continued until Riot hit a note so sour that this time he stopped.

"Excuse me" He coughed "I must have a frog in my throat" He admitted somewhat embarrassingly.

It wasn't like Riot to make mistakes and it was even less like him to admit it. Something was up.

"Why don't we take five?" Minx suggested sitting down on the couch again.

"That's a good idea" Rapture agreed joining her.

Riot sighed. "If we must." Secretly he was glad for the break. His headache had come back full force and his joints still ached. He took a seat across from the girls.

"I have an idea" I'll read your cards. Without bothering to hear an answer Rapture began placing the cards on the table.

"Rapture you know I don't go for that kind of stuff."

"Oh come on Riot" Minx purred " let her have her fun"

"You're only saying that cause you don't want it to be you" He smirked.

"I didn't say anything" She made a helpless gesture with her hands and laughed

"OK" He said turning his attention to Rapture "what have we got? But let's make this fast we still have to rehearse and I'm beat. I think I may even have to go back to the office and finish up some paperwork"

"You have to go back?" Rapture said in disbelief " Are you kidding me? You've worked all day already and don't we have a meeting early in the morning with those investor guys?

"Yes we do but your forgetting as part owner in the company I have a bigger stake in this game then you. I cant afford to let things fall by the wayside"

"Exactly! And that's why you should go home early tonight and get a good nights rest. Imagine how it would look if you fell asleep in the middle of the conference?"

'I assure you thaahhhehEH-CHEW!" Riot sneezed suddenly and without warning catching himself completely off guard.

"Oh my goodness! Excuse me. I don't know where that came from" Riot brought his hand to his nose and sniffed slightly.

"I do!" Rapture cried. She stared at Riot intently and help up a single tarot card. :The nine of swords

"Look" She insisted.

Riot looked at her and then the card. "Would you like to enlighten those of us that aren't spiritually inclined"

She put on the voice she used when she wanted to instill intrigue and mystery. Which truth be told sounded completely lame " This card means inability to handle two situations at once that are in opposition and may possibly mean illness."

"Oh come'on" Minx said standing up and taking the card to examine it.

" How can a silly little card predict ..well ..anything?"

"These cards hold a mystic power and only those that are gifted enough can use them to predict the future" She said still doing "the voice"

"Rapture don't be boring. I sneezed. That's it. It doesn't mean I'm getting sick"

" The cards can be used as a warning" She said returning to her normal voice " It doesn't necessary mean your getting sick but if you are you should use this message as a precaution to just take it easy."

"I've had enough of this. I don't need cards to tell me what to do. If you dont mind I think id like to get back to practise ..or perhaps you'd like to consult your deck first to see if that's ok" Riot was the king of sarcasm.