Lucia Reyes loved shows. She loved the lights, the surge of the crowd, mosh pits, everything. She even loved the time between band performances, the audience buzzing as radio rock poured through the speakers while the equipment got set up onstage. Tonight's show was sure to be amazing. Headlining were Children of Bodom and Cradle of Filth, along with some Scandinavian band, Smugly Dismissed. Unfortunately, Lucia would be witnessing it all from behind the counter of the concession stand on the balcony of the Pavilion. Hey, she thought to herself while placing some hot dogs on their little carousel. At least I have a perfect view from here. Just across the way was a gigantic screen enlarging the stage below it.
The Pavilion hosted a motley assortment of concerts every weekend; you never knew who would be playing next. Lucia had taken the job for the super awesome reason of being able to see every show while getting paid 10 bucks an hour to sling soda and hot dogs. The work wasn't exactly "challenging" as long as you knew your way around a microwave, and she got all the free food she wanted. In other words, it was a pretty sweet gig. Not to mention the fact that she got to work with her two best friends. A geeky, gothic airhead and more loyal than you could hope for, Wendy Bancroft was always by Lucia's side. Then there was Lucia's cousin, Marina Reyes. Marina was born around the same time that Lucia had been adopted, so the two girls were pretty close.
Most people didn't need to be told that Lucia was adopted. She glanced at her reflection in the metal siding of the churro warmer. Despite sharing the same light mocha skin as the rest of the family, she had thick, coppery auburn hair and olive-colored, almond-shaped eyes while Marina carried on the Reyes genes: huge, deep brown eyes and fine black hair.
"Checking yourself out again?" Marina laughed, nudging Lucia with her elbow. "They brought more stock. We need to add four more pretzel boxes to the list."
"Oh, right." Lucia absentmindedly pulled the stock list from her pocket and added four to the pretzel column. "What about nachos?"
"Five sets of twenty-five trays, so 125. And ten bags of chips," Wendy replied after a moment of counting. "Hey, customers."
Just as the girls finished clearing out the small line of customers, five tall and slim Scandinavian musicians strutted onstage. The head of the group was particularly tall and blonde… obviously the lead guitar. He belted out a few riffs, eliciting several female screams from the audience. Getting his desired reaction, a proud smirk settled on his face. Lucia admired his face on the big screen, her stare lingering on his high cheekbones and full lips.
The band frontman momentarily scowled in the lead guitarist's direction. Then he focused on the audience, staring out at them for a few moments before breaking into intense headbanging. The band launched into their opening song.
Lucia quickly dismissed the incoherent growling vocals and heavy drumming. She was holding out for Children of Bodom. Perching herself on one of the boxes of frozen churros, she pulled out her cell to listen to a voicemail from her mom about registering for college next week. Just as she was in the middle of rolling her eyes and deleting the message, she heard the most amazing sound. Her phone fell to the floor with a clatter, and she lifted her eyes to the screen. It zeroed in on the blonde showboater from earlier. His fingers flew over his instrument, making it scream. Lucia couldn't take her eyes off him, and she wasn't the only one. The whole auditorium looked on in awe, caught in the heat of his solo.
Wendy leaned over the concession counter. "He's somethin' else…"
"Amazing…" Lucia breathed, swooning. The hair on the back of her neck prickled. Her heart fluttered and she began to feel lightheaded.
Then, just as suddenly as the spell was cast, it was broken. The drummer had lost hold of one of his sticks; it went flying into the audience.
Lucia noticed a tall man in a grey suit stood by the concession, looking on her intently. His white hair whipped around him as if he was surrounded by wind. Lucia was surprised by a rasping voice that echoed in her head. Lilitu. Lilitu…
She shivered and turned to tell Marina, who seemed to be distracted by some kind of fight that had erupted onstage. The music had screeched to a halt and the bassist was attempting to pull the lead guitarist off the drummer. The vocalist dropped his mic with a resounding thud and leapt into the brawl. The crowd booed. Lucia remembered the white-haired man. When she turned to where he had stood, he was gone. After a few minutes of hair pulling and face punching, the band members parted.
"Smugly Dismissed, hah? I smugly dismisses you!" The guitar god panted angrily. He threw his instrument down and stormed off the stage.
Wendy's eyes widened. "Woah!"
Lucia just shook her head. She scanned the crowd again in vain for the man in grey, knowing he was long gone.