Chapter 2: Melody of Danger
Midvalley removed his jacket and swung it over his shoulder and undid the top two buttons of his collared shirt. He looked from the corner of his eye and saw as he past the women stared at him. He could only shake his head, he wasn't interested in them, just one young woman. Midvalley walked to the town grocer and bought what he needed.
" Midvalley, what a surprise," the grocer said, " Didn't expect to see you of all people here."
" I have to eat sometime," Midvalley said
" Your nothing, but skin and bones," the grocer's wife said
" Nah, it's the shirt," Midvalley said, " It's big."
" Your only one man Midvalley not two, your pulling doubles at that Saloon…your instrument will give up," the grocer's wife said
" Margaret, leave the boy alone he takes good care of that instrument," the grocer said, " Here you good, your usual stash."
" Tell me Midvalley, what is such a fine young man as yourself roaming around alone without a lovely lady on your arm. For that matter each arm?" the grocer's wife said
Midvalley chuckled and said, " I'm a musician, my only love is my music, but I do have my eye set on someone and maybe she'll see that."
" Do we know her?" the grocer said
" Yes, everyone should know her," Midvalley said, " But I'm not at liberty to say today."
" Oh, you dog you," the grocer's wife said
Midvalley smiled and paid and said, " See you in a week."
He walked out with his weekly stash to his place and walked up to his room. He looked at his sax and sighed.
" I got to polish you and make you shine," he said, " Tonight is a special night."
Midvalley tune his beautiful sax and made it shine…tonight was when Aemilia was going to come. He had special songs planned and he would make it worth her while. Midvalley had one thing on his mind, but he didn't think his whole life would change in a heart beat.
By early afternoon, his usual attire became slick and charming. The evening regulars were coming and so would destiny. Midvalley looked at the waitresses whom started working as soon as the first regular came in. Midvalley warmed up and the piano player warmed up his hands.
" So, is she coming?" he asked
" Suppose to," Midvalley replied
" I still don't get you, Aemilia of all people, she's not normal," the piano player said, " She's afraid of change."
" No, at all," Midvalley said
The loud sounds of talk of the town and the sounds of glass breaking. Midvalley and the piano player started up the jazzy music they always played to keep spirits high. It was then that Aemilia entered, she didn't wear her usual attire, she wore a nice fitting dress, that brought out her true beauty. Midvalley looked and saw her walk in, almost not recognizing her. Her usual wavy brown locks were pulled back into a tight bun. Her lips shined with a crimson red shade.
" Midvalley, that gal, who is she?" his piano player asked
" A dream," Midvalley whispered
He smirked and snapped to his music and Aemilia smiled listening to the music. She walked to a table in the corner close to the stage. Her beautiful smile caught the attention of those who would do the most damage.
" Hey baby, why don't you come sit on my lap," a drunk said
" Nah not him mine," another said
" I'm taken," she stated
She looked at Midvalley and smiled then he winked at her and the two men narrowed their eyes. They both leaned over and whispered something. To Midvalley's surprise tonight did seem to be going well. The Saloons drunks were limited and fights were not noticed.
The doors opened and two people walked in. A man and a young lady, who didn't appear to be old enough to drink. The man gave off an odd look with the way he was dressed, his face showed no expression. His companion looked around and smirked with her full lips. She slipped her arm around the man's arm and whispered. The man nodded and she broke away from him, her long coat trailed behind her as she walked. The man sat down and looked at the stage.
" Forgive my rudeness, but who is he?" the young woman asked a waitress
" Midvalley, very charming isn't he? He's very gifted," the waitress said
The young woman laughed and said, " You have no idea."
She looked at the bartender, who stared at her. He quickly began to clean glasses and she smirked. She walked over to the man in the white coat.
" His name is Midvalley," she said, " What do you want with him?"
" For him to join us in our everlasting mission to kill Vash the Stampede," the man said with no emotions to his voice
" What good is a sax player?" the young woman asked
" Your naive if you think that instrument is just an ordinary sax," the man said
She looked at it and tried to see what he saw in such an rusty instrument. She leaned back and the man looked at her.
" When do we make our move?" she asked
" Soon enough," he said looking over to his left seeing several men chattering
Later, Midvalley jumped down off the stage after the crowd jumped down. Aemilia stood up and walked over to him.
" You were wonderful," she said
She reached up and kissed his cheek, he looked at her, then smiled.
" Nice job," the owner said, " You really drew in the crowd today, I'll give you an extra 10 if you bring more people in."
" Sounds like a deal," Midvalley said
The owner smiled, Midvalley looked at Aemilia and put out his hand
" Shall we, I'm sure your father is worried," he said
" Not to worry, daddy isn't a worry wart like most," Aemilia said
They walked out and it was brief second that they walked out. Two men grabbed Aemilia and Midvalley was punched in the stomach and thrown to the ground.
" Midvalley," Aemilia cried out
" Damn it," Midvalley said
He got up and two large men stood in front of him.
" Get out of my way," he said
" You talk big for a guy so small," one man siad
Midvalley looked at them and threw a punch, but was easily forced back. Aemilia continued to scream as the two men dragged her off.
" Aemilia," Midvalley called, " I'm coming."
He grabbed his sax case and opened it. His lip busted up, bleeding down his nice collared shirt.
" Look, he's going to play us a song," the two men said
Midvalley licked his lips and placed his mouth on the mouth piece and with just a couple of notes, the two men that stood before him were blown away. He looked at them and breathed deep.
" You don't mess with me," he said
He took off with his case following behind him as he tracked down Aemilia's kidnappers, by her cries. He approached them and they threw her down and drew their guns. He narrowed his eyes and placed the mouth piece in his mouth. The two men fired shots and he played a couple of notes, disrupting the path of the bullets. They fell and the men looked at him and narrowed their eyes.
" Let her go," Midvalley said
" Your life or the girl's," they said
" You wouldn't want my life nor hers once I'm done with you," Midvalley said
" Midvalley don't," Aemilia cried, " They're dangerous men."
Midvalley closed his eyes and said, " I know."
He played the notes and like what happened to the other two men, these two were blown away by his music. He looked at them in the distance and released the mouthpiece from his mouth.
" What did you do?" she whispered
" I saved you," he whispered
From the distance on a roof top the man with the white coat stood with his companion. She looked in amazement, and then smiled as she looked at the damage.
" He will be worth a lot," she said placing her hat on
" No, ordinary sax can create such a wonderful image," the man said
" Then he comes with us?" she said
" Of course, remember our master wants twelve," the man said
" Twelve?" she said, " When will I get to meet our master?"
The man smiled an empty smile and looked at his left hand.
" When it's time to," he replied, " It's all in time."
He turned away and walked down to the ground and the young woman followed him. They vanished into the darkness as the wind carried the sand with it. Midvalley knelt down and helped Aemilia up. She dusted off and looked at his sax, finding it impossible that, that instrument saved her.
" It looks normal," she said, " But it's not."
" Its no ordinary sax," he said, " but it's the same sax I play."
Aemilia looked at him and grabbed his hands and he looked at her.
" Midvalley, thank you," she said, " Thank you for a wonderful night, and for saving my life."
" Your welcome," he replied
He was surprised that she still complemented him on the night, that only seemed to be left in disaster and fear. He was confused for a while, but then lifted her hand to his lips.
" I enjoyed the night," he said kissing her hand
They walked back home together and from there went their separate ways, but not without hearing good news.
" Midvalley," Aemilia said
He stopped and looked at her and she smiled.
" Can we see each other on a daily bases?" Aemilia asked
" We already do," Midvalley said
Aemilia walked over to him and reached up and kissed him on his lips.
" More than we do then," she said, " Good night Midvalley."
She walked inside and Midvalley slightly just stood there for a second. Truly it was the beginning a of a good life. He had it all now, a good life and a girl to keep him company. He walked upstairs and sat his sax down and looked out the window.
" What more could I ask for?" he whispered
" How about power?" someone said
Midvalley looked around trying to figure out who had said that.
" Who's there?" he said
" Good I was beginning to think your dead minded," the voice said
" Show yourself," he said
The voice laughed and said, " Your amusing Midvalley. You've already seen me this evening. Me and my companion came in to the saloon that you performed in."
Midvalley looked around still to find out where the voice was coming from.
" Look out the window fool, I'm there," the voice said
Midvalley turned toward his window and saw a man with a white coat on. He slightly gave an odd look.
" You!" Midvalley exclaimed
" If you want to talk my offer over, I'll be here," he said
Midvalley walked downstairs and out the door to stand in front of the man. He looked at him, trying to read the expressionless face.
" Who are you?" Midvalley asked
" Legato. Legato Bluesummers," the man said
" And what do you want with me?" Midvalley questioned
" I've come to ask you to join me," Legato said
Midvalley narrowed his eyes and said, " What for?"
" To serve under my master, and do his bidding," Legato simply said
" Why would I do that?" Midvalley said
" For someone who wants out of this rundown town you sure ask a lot of questions," A woman's voice said
Midvalley turned around and there stood the directly in front of him, the woman that had been companying Legato. She smiled and tipped her hat and Midvalley jumped back.
" Where did you come from?" Midvalley questioned
" Are you sure he's worth the trouble master?" the young woman said
" His skills surpass my expectations," Legato said as he walked past Midvalley
The young woman smirked and looked at him.
" Quite the fool I expected, just like the others you seem to have picked," the young woman said
" I bet they say the same thing about you," Midvalley remarked
" Watch it you idiot," she growled
She stood next to Legato and folded her arms and Legato looked at Midvalley.
" Who is she?" Midvalley asked
" Dominique," she said
" There are others who are serving under my master, they all fight for a common purpose just as you would," Legato said
" I've heard enough," Midvalley said, " Take your act somewhere else, I'm not interested. I don't take orders from someone I haven't met."
Midvalley started walking off and Dominique looked at Legato.
" There's always force," she said
Just as Dominique had mentioned force, Legato used is physic ability and grabbed Midvalley by his neck.
" You don't want to make an enemy out of me," Legato simply said
" What are you doing?" Midvalley coughed
To prove his point even more, he pulled Midvalley's arms back and let him drop to the ground. Legato walked over to him and crouch down to the choking and crippled Midvalley.
" What do you say now?" Legato said
" I can't. I have a life here," Midvalley said
" Suit yourself, but if you change your mind, I'll send Dominique to retrieve you," Legato said, " Don't disappoint me Midvalley, I assure you, that you will not only disappoint me, but my master."
Legato let Midvalley out of the hold he had on him and walked off. Dominique followed behind him and tipped her hat at Midvalley. Midvalley got up and rubbed his neck, then got up. It now weighed on his mind what he had to do.
Dominique looked at Legato as he stayed silent. She only pondered over why Legato let Midvalley go so easily.
" You think to much, Perhaps you should allow me do the thinking," Legato said
" Your just going to let him go?" Dominique said
" I have other methods in getting what I want," Legato said, " He'll come around."