Aaron's Muse
Chapter 9
Club Way Down
Cassie's Dressing Room
"So are we going to argue about this some more or are we going to actually accomplish something useful this evening?" Cassie asked, arms crossed.
"I don't know how you think we can pull this off? I can't play an instrument or sing for that matter," Brian remarked.
"Simple…we don't plug in your amp or turn on your mic. I'm sure you're familiar with the concept of lip-synching, "Cassie said.
"And there's still the issue of a room full of your fans," Brian reminded.
"You leave my fans to me," Cassie said sweetly.
"So she'll either be in the crowd tonight or will hear about the bands resurrection, so to speak, and show up to investigate," Jim reiterated the plan.
"She'll hear about it, have no doubt. If she's not actually out there then she no doubt has some of her minions in the crowd…" Cassie supplied.
"Minions?" Blair asked.
"Her ghouls...human slaves, servants, lackeys, whatever you want to call them," Cassie waved the question away impatiently, adding with an evil smile. "I plan on sweetening the pot for her…"
Cassie was again interrupted, this time by Jim, "Sweetening the pot? What in the hell are you planning now?"
"Just pushing up the timetable a little."
"How?" Nick asked.
"Sadly, tonight will Serenade's last U.S. performance." Cassie said with exaggerated sadness.
"Really?" Nick said with a raised eyebrow.
"As of Monday, the band will be packing up and preparing for its first overseas tour," Cassie said with a flourish of melodrama.
"We will, huh," Blair said. "So Alyssa will have only one day to make a move. That's definitely pushing up the time table."
/././././././
"…so tonight I take great pleasure in announcing a reunion tour of the original Serenade members. Tonight's concert will kick off our tour, and we owe it all to Alyssa! This one's for you…" Cassie said to the crowd, before stepping back and nodding to her band.
As the music started the lights slowly dimmed to cover the band in shadow, a soft white spot illuminating Cassie at center stage…soon she began to sing….
A voice cracks and twists and turns
In a way I can't explain.
Call it jealousy-
Call it an act of faith,
But I believe in me.
Doesn't really matter.
Only hope to be as good as she,
Even though I'm not supposed to compare.
Only hope to be as good as she.
Even though I'm not supposed to compare.
I am dancing in her shadows,
I am playing in her light.
I am making her guess at every left and right.
I am closer than she thinks,
I crawl inside her head
To feel the way her blood boils, the mem'ries that she's had.
Only hope to be as good as she,
Even though I'm not supposed to compare.
Only hope to be as good as she.
Even though I'm not supposed to compare.
Jim shook himself out of his dazed revelry and looked around the bar to see all the patrons staring spellbound at the singer on the stage; held by her lilting voice. Even Detective Knight seemed mesmerized by the young woman on the stage.
I am two steps ahead as she falls behind;
I stand back and capture the diamonds that she finds.
I come out at night like a slowly creeping mist,
I wanna do wrong, I wanna do right,
It's revenge that I kiss.
Only hope to be as good as she,
Even though I'm not supposed to compare.
Only hope to be as good as she.
Even though I'm not supposed to compare.
As the music started to fade the lights slowly came down to blanket the stage in darkness as Cassie's whispered voice reached out from the shadows.
Doesn't really matter.
Doesn't really matter
Not supposed to compare.
Doesn't really matter.
Doesn't really matter.
Not supposed to compare.
Doesn't really matter.
Not supposed to compare.
Jim and Nick exchanged uneasy looks as the song ended and the crowd stayed silent, still enthralled by the haunting song. As the band began the second song of the set the sudden flashing of lights and a loud guitar rift broke the dramatic pause.
"Uhm, that was…wow, how'd she do that?" Jim stammered.
Nick couldn't help but smile, "It's a gift."
"And all these people here…they really believe what she just said?"
Looking around at the faces in the crowd Nick answered, "For the most part. I have to say, she's a bit more powerful than I originally suspected; really didn't think she could pull it off."
"Oh, that's real good to know, now! Why did you let her try then," Jim groused.
"Because we had to try something."
The evening passed without incident, and at two a.m. the band was packing in for the night.
"So, now what?" Jim asked.
"We wait." Cassie said.
"How long?"
"She only has twenty-four hours," Cassie stated, explaining, "Most likely she'll show tomorrow as the band is packing up. She'll have all her 'ducks in a row' so to speak; me, 'Aaron', and 'Brandon'…and since it will be her last chance, she'll want to gloat that she has beat me…"
"So then there isn't a chance of seeing her tonight then?" Jim pressed.
"That would be cutting things kind of close; there's less than three hours before dawn," Cassie said. "She's never been a risk taker."
"Not a risk taker?" Blair exclaimed. "She's killed five people, and you say she's not a risk taker?"
Cassie looked at Blair in surprise, "She was never at any risk; she always had plenty of time before. She's not into guerilla tactics…not much of a fighter."
"She's a freaking monster…how much of a fighter does she have to be?" Brian exclaimed in disbelief. "You're talking like she's some debutante or something."
"She is?" Cassie said with a confused look and a shrug. "She's the princes' daughter. She usually has her lackey's do her fetch and carry work; she doesn't like to get her hands dirty."
"Oh, and I suppose you do?" Jim said sarcastically.
"Who do you think did her sires, the Prince's, fetch and carry work…hhmm…" Cassie replied snidely, "it was the price we paid for being allowed to stay in Chicago. So yes, detective, my hands are quite…soiled. I can almost guarantee, with her hatred for me, Alyssa will want me to know who has beaten me; she'll want to make sure I'm awake to see this come to an end."
"And it's pretty much a given that you don't do mornings," Blair joked lamely, rocking on his heels.
"We're called 'creatures of the night' for a reason, smart ass," Cassie shot back, though amusement twinkled in her eyes.
"Well if there isn't much of a chance of seeing her tonight, I suggest we get some sleep," Jim said.
Parting ways, the trio went back to their hotel room and quickly readied for bed.
Blair didn't know what woke him; looking at the small digital clock on the stand, it read 5:20 am. He sat up and peered around the semi-darkness of the room and was startled to see someone standing on the balcony.
"Jim! Jim, wake up!" Blair hissed sentinel soft, surprised and a little worried when Jim did not even stir.
"Blair?" The shadow on the balcony turned to look into the room.
"Brian?" Blair said in surprise, hopping out of bed and going to the sliding door. "Brian, why are you out here, man, it's like five thirty in the morning?"
Brian cocked his head sideways, "Don't you hear it?"
Blair didn't like the strange look in his friend's eyes, "Brian, I don't hear anything. Why don't you come back inside...?"
Brian suddenly reached out and grabbed Blair's arm, pulling him out onto the balcony. Unprepared for that action, Blair stumbled out against Brian with a surprised yelp.
"Why'd you do that for!? Come on Brian, you're acting a little freaky here, you know…we wake Jim up, we're both toast…" Blair joked lamely as he shot a look back over his shoulder and gave a nervous chuckle; Jim had not stirred from his position on the bed.
Brain just smiled at Blair, leaning in to whisper, "It's time."
