Music pounded in her ears. All around her, people swayed to the beat, caught up in the music. Her latest partner was a smooth dancer, she would give him that, but he didn't have the same fire in him that burnt through her. Nothing could compare to this.
Except if it were Krit dancing along with her, a small voice in her head announced. But she pushed that thought out of her head quickly; she didn't want to think about Krit now. She hadn't seen him in over six years, and didn't think Zack would let them be on the same side of the country at the same time, let alone in the same town.
And so she danced. Let the music flow through her, like oxygen flowed through her veins. Syl had often wondered if she could live without music, whether she needed music just as much as she needed oxygen. She couldn't begin to understand how she had lived through her young years without any music.
The song ended, and she let her partner wander away. She would find a new one. She always did. No matter where she was, what kind of place she was in, she always managed to find someone to dance with whenever the music was on.
…
Zack watched as the beautiful red head spun around the room, dancing with every person that stood idle long enough. Not once did she look like she was tiring; never for even a moment did she stop dancing while the music was going. And even when the music stopped, he could see her hips swaying slightly, her fingers tapping to a beat no one else could hear.
He waited until the night was almost over before stepping onto the edge of the dance floor near where she was dancing. She would spot him soon enough, he had no doubt of that.
…
The starting notes of the last song of the night began to sound, and Syl looked around for a new partner. Without even thinking, she held a hand out to the nearest male, only to have him turn fully toward her.
Zack.
That could only mean trouble. But trouble could wait – Syl still had one last song to dance to. And she knew how much her older brother hated dancing, but she pulled him closer to her anyway. May as well make the best of a bad situation, that was her philosophy. Syl ignored the glare Zack was shooting at her, and danced.
Once the song was over, Syl allowed Zack to grab hold of her hand and lead her out of the club. The music was over, and she would have been heading out of there soon enough anyway.
…
"What is it this time, big brother? Lydecker's onto me, I need to get out of this place, and you've come to suggest a nice new home?"
"No."
"Then what? I know you didn't come all this way just to dance."
"Zane's in trouble. I need backup, and you're the closet."
"Lydecker trouble, or some other kind of trouble?"
"Lydecker trouble."
Syl nodded. If it wasn't her in trouble, it was one of the others. It was how life was for them – hide when you could, keep out of trouble when you couldn't, and help the others out of trouble when that didn't work. This wasn't the first time Zack had arrived unannounced, wanting her to help him help someone. And they all knew it wouldn't be the last.
"Is it going to be a long ride, Zack?"
"Not that long."
"Good. My bike isn't so great at the minute, and I can't afford to take a long trip on it. I'll need fuel."
"I have some spare. Syl, we need to leave tonight."
"As soon as I've got my bike, I'm ready."
"Let's go."
