Chapter Four
Every eye in the room beheld the example of godly beauty on the stage. The girl was bewitching and had managed to capture the attention of the usual unruly crowd with the bat of an eyelid.
She wore black knee high boots and a black miniskirt that revealed shapely legs and a fitting long-sleeved black top. A silver necklace hung from her neck and a small pendant of a dahlia swayed as she moved.
Violet eyes with a touch of ocean blue gazed out at the audience. The smile that tugged at her full lips was satisfied and triumphant.
She loved moments such as these. They were times when the world seemed to stop on its axis just for her and the music. The sea of faces that swarmed before her, waiting expectantly, sent a slight shiver up her spine as she reminded herself that they were all here to see her. Her and her band.
Dahlia.
This was the Black Iris and it was where they had begun their journey to success. They had played here at the start and the people that came here for drinks and partying had grown familiar with their music and had supported them.
Now, Dahlia was back to thank them for that support in the only way they could. They were playing all their songs to a sell out crowd and were set to keep playing all through the night.
The lights beat down on Callysta Abilene and she smiled again.
This was where she belonged. This was what she lived to love.
She acknowledged the crowd with a small nod of her head, bowing it forward slightly so that a tumble of mahogany coloured hair fell over her shoulders.
Someone whistled in the darkness and she looked up to smile out at them again. She flicked her hair over her shoulder in a smooth, practised motion and looked back at Phlox.
Her cousin was enjoying the feeling of the limelight as much as she was. His handsome features were calm outwardly but she could see the glint of happiness in his usually emotionless eyes. He met her gaze and gave her a grim nod.
Then his drumsticks came down and the song began.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jude Brooks, or Brooks as he was known, watched Dahlia from a small table where he sat alone with his legs crossed at the ankles and one hand nursing a drink. His eyes were intent as the band went through their set.
Callysta moved lithely and gracefully with the music and her voice carried the notes at perfect pitch and sound. It wavered up and down the scale so it gained a haunting effect and her eyes, gazing out at the crowd, commanded the audience to watch and enjoy.
Her flame-coloured hair was falling down her back in waves and her black clad body swayed slightly. A single leathered foot kept time with the music and occasionally she glanced around at her fellow band members to smile and convey her approval at their smooth transitions.
He knew who she was of course.
Callysta Abilene was the only daughter of two infamous council members. Her parents' regal bearings had obviously been passed down to her as she held herself proudly as if she had every right to be where she was and portrayed confidence in every gesture.
"Is this seat taken?"
Brooks looked up at the sound of the voice and regarded the beautiful blond girl with glittering blue eyes with an air of relaxed boredom. Her face held some of the Abilene features and he remembered her as Phlox Abilene's sister, Jasmine.
He sighed inwardly. Outwardly, he remained as cool as always as he replied, "Just my invisible friend but he won't mind if you sit on him."
Jasmine's flirtatious smile dropped marginally and he could see those eyes of hers that appeared at a glance to be so innocent and endearing, grow slightly frosty.
She sat in a fluid movement and crossed her long legs. She smiled at him again and then looked over at the stage where her cousin and brother were performing like the professionals they were.
"What do you think of them?" she finally asked.
He knew she had been dying to begin a conversation with him and that a question regarding the obvious centre of his attention was a guaranteed starter.
He shrugged eloquently.
"Have you heard their music before?" she persisted determinedly.
Brooks realised this girl was going to be a hard one to shake. "Some," he was forced to reply.
"Phlox is great tonight," she observed as if she would know. "Callysta's been better."
Her casual criticism of her cousin did not go unnoticed and Brooks saw that for the lie it was. He doubted Callysta could be any better than she was now in her element but he refrained from saying so.
Instead, he took a sip of his drink and raised an eyebrow in reply.
A small frown marred Jasmine's unnatural beauty and gave way to some of the frustration she must have been feeling at his lack of response.
"What are you drinking?" she asked, tossing her hair and arranging herself in what she hoped was more attractive position.
"Blood and bourbon," he said in a flat voice. He took another sip then held the glass out to her. "Want some?"
She winced and he didn't bother to hide his small smile of amusement. He did however, decide to hide the fact that he was actually drinking rum and coke but she wasn't to know that when the lights were so low and the stench of cigarette smoke hid it's scent from her. He swallowed the drink in one and smiled at her dangerously again.
"I'm just going to get another drink," he said. He stood, purposely forgetting to offer to get her one, and went to the bar where he perched on the stool and spoke to the bartender until she managed to get the message.
She did finally and the expression on her face as she left the table was smouldering and not that of the party girl image she had tried to convey.
Something about the girl got to him. It was as if she wanted him for amusement or a fun diversion from the other nil heads that she would usually go for. And though, even he had to attempt that she was beautiful, it was a cold and calculated beauty that fell no deeper than the make up she so carefully applied.
His thoughts left Jasmine Abilene as the song that had been playing came to a slow yet deliberate end. It was greeted with a loud round of applause that reverberated off walls and echoed.
Callysta smiled graciously at the clapping and waited for silence. When it came she leaned into the microphone and spoke. "Well, Black Iris," she said in relaxed and familiar tones, "It's been a while and we've missed you more than you know. It's great to be back here and you're still the best audience we've ever had." This was greeted with another round of applause and Callysta laughed. "Okay, okay, that's enough." The crowd joined her laughter. "We're just going to take a break for a while and then we'll be giving you some previews from our new album."
The lights dimmed and the band broke up, laying their instruments to rest reverently as a stereo began to play some music in their absence.
Brooks watched in interest as they stepped off the stage. Unlike most of their concerts, the Night Worlder's of the Black Iris were not the type to approach them for autographs and they passed through the crowd easily. They approached a group of people who sat at some tables and sat down, joining in with the laughter and yells with them.
Obviously old friends, Brooks thought wryly.
Callysta was in her element. She was laughing and talking animatedly and Jasmine had come to sit beside her. The blue eyed girl eyed Brooks with an impassionate stare then turned and said something to Callysta.
The lead singer turned and locked eyes with Brooks. He caught her look of surprise that was hastily masked by a cold stare. He smiled to himself and turned away from her for the second time and talked to the bartender again.
Helio had also seen his brother and uncomfortable in his friends' familiar surroundings, he decided to approach him instead of lingering there.
"Hey," Brooks said at his appearance at his side.
"Uh, hi," Helio stammered. Brooks refrained from rolling his eyes. His little bro needed some serious confidence coaching and a little speech therapy wouldn't go astray.
"You're doing good, kid," Brooks said. He was being honest.
"You know I don't like you calling me that," Helio muttered quietly. The witch was as always slightly disconcerted in his older, more sophisticated and worldly half brother's presence. Neither had any idea who their father was but were pretty certain that he wasn't the same guy.
Brooks was centuries older than Helio was and it was only by fluke that Helio even knew he existed. Well, he was led to believe it was a fluke. Brooks had come into his life suddenly and unannounced two years ago and had remained a constant presence. Helio was yet to decide whether it was an unwanted presence or not.
"Have you found out where they live yet?" Brooks asked. He stared straight ahead and his voice was businesslike once again.
Helio swallowed and pulled a crumple piece of paper from his pocket. He handed it to his brother who unfolded it and nodded. Then he examined the paper with a wrinkled nose. "What is this?" he asked. "A shopping list?"
"Uh, yeah. I'm meant to pick them up for mum."
Brooks sighed. "Good old mum," he said with unhidden sarcasm. "She's a real homemaker ain't she?" The question was rhetoric and Helio didn't bother to answer. He didn't really have anything to say to it.
Their mother was an alcoholic who had strings upon strings of boyfriends and Brooks despised and loathed her with undisguised passion. Helio could understand his half brother's resentment but he could never feel it himself. He only felt pity for the woman whose looks were depleting as face as the contents of her many liquor bottles. He stayed with her out of pity and suspected he'd stay there for the same reason.
"How's sunshine over there?" Brooks asked, tilting his head back at the table where Callysta and the other members of the band were still perched. "Got any info for me?"
"Not yet," Helio replied uncomfortably. He looked around them hastily for any over hearers.
"Don't get paranoid on me little bro," Brooks snapped. "I've got it covered okay?"
Helio knew that that meant his brother had wrapped them in a spell that would prevent anyone from overhearing them. His brother was what could be known as a hybrid. He had been borne a witch and a powerful one of that. He should have died when a lamia vampire had attempted to make him one of them. But he didn't and now he was a living specimen of vampire and witch blood combined in one devastatingly handsome package.
"I want you to check out the blond girl too," Brooks commanded. "I don't like her and I want to know why. She's got something to hide."
Helio nodded miserably. It seemed he was getting deeper and deeper into all of this. Not even he knew the reason behind Brooks' sudden interest in Callysta Abilene and her bandmates. He just hoped that whatever it was didn't get him kicked out of the band.
He had just begun to enjoy it.
"Right, I'm leaving," Brooks said abruptly. He stood up and vacated his stool. "I want any info in my private e-mail box tomorrow. Got it?" He didn't wait for Helio's obligatory nod. "Have fun."
He left then and Helio's eyes followed the confident figure of his brother. He didn't fail to notice that every female in the room watched as Brooks left. Among those eyes were Callysta Abilene's and the sight of that sent a pang to his heart.
It looked like Brooks had won again and this time he wasn't even trying.
I have an extremely vague idea where this is going but it's vague enough that I'm open for suggestions so don't be shy!! I would be forever and eternally grateful to anyone that reviews. Sorry for not updating this sooner but I can't seem to get Chap. 2 and 3 how I want them. And their still not right!!
Not worry though. please r/r or email me at
ambz_m@hotmail.comFeedback is always appreciated.