Deliver Me
By: Zyris De'Lat
Chapter Eight:
Rory Llewelyn glanced at the clock on his dressing room table. Ten more minutes till the concert started. Rory started to feel a bit uneasy and nervous. He always felt like this before a concert no matter how many concerts he performed. But once he entered the stage light, all feelings he had of uneasiness disappeared. Rory always felt at home when he was in the spotlight.
Rory glanced away from the clock and looked at himself in his dressing room mirror. He ran his hands through his shoulder length blond hair while taking a deep breath. He held the breath in for a couple seconds and then exhaled it slowly. Rory couldn't help but think about Jerrica Benton. How she appeared that day in the office when he visited her. Rory also couldn't help but feel in the dumps lately, he really blew his chance with Jerrica.
Rory stared into the reflection of his eyes. The brown irises looked darker today. Rory then checked his foundation, black eyeliner, mascara, and eye shadow. Everything looked perfect. Rory did think he looked better in makeup. That was one positive reason for being a rock star. It gave him an excuse to wear makeup in public while he was Riot. Rory stood up and smoothed the wrinkles out of his black leather pants. He straightened his collar and cuffs on his white French silk shirt. Rory loved to wear shirts that looked like they fit the medieval time period. He made sure his gold stud earrings were intact in each of his ears.
"Well Riot, I guess this means it is show time," Rory said to his reflection in the mirror. Rory then gave himself a weak smile and turned to exit the dressing room.
Rory met up with Phoebe Ashe and Ingrid Krueger backstage. Phoebe, also known as Rapture, was tuning her guitar. Ingrid, also known as Minx, was situating her drum set to her liking. The backstage crew never managed to place everything in the exact spots were Minx liked it. Rory pulled out his guitar and started to tune it.
Rory turned to Phoebe and Ingrid with a sly smile on his face, "Ready, Ladies?"
"When ever you are, Darling…" Ingrid replied with a soft velvet purr to her voice. Ingrid also added in a low ground sweeping bow for sarcastic kicks.
"We don't want to keep our fans waiting now, do we?" Phoebe replied with a coy smile.
"Then let's take our places and perform a spectacular show that no one will ever forget," Rory gave both women a soft kiss on top of their hands and took his position on a platform that would rise up through the middle of the stage floor.
Smoke started to fill the stage floor and billow in mysterious, eerie patterns. A deep bass beat started to pound like a heart beat in sync with a flashing blue light that lit up the stage from behind. A strobe light started to flash to make everything appear in slow motion. Two metal cages started to lower onto the stage from the catwalk running across the top of the stage. One cage lowered into position on the left side of the stage, and the other cage rested into position on the right side of the stage. Smoke billowed out of the cages from the floor and two figures raised up into the cages through the floor. The figures appeared to be Minx and Rapture. They seductively danced around in their own separate cage.
Minx and Rapture both looked stunning. Minx was wearing tight black leather pants which accented her seductive hips and her small, tight buttocks. Minx had on a gold long sleeve silk shirt that buttoned up the back and form fitted her body, resting right below her breasts. Minx was proud of her stomach and liked to show of her not overly muscled abs. Her sleeves where shear and hung below her arm. If she extended her arm out from her body, her sleeves would look like butterfly wings. Her gold silk shirt complimented her darker strands of gold hair among her lighter blond hair. Her ensemble was topped off with a black leather hat and gold high heels.
Rapture, on the other hand, was wearing a short black leather skirt with a matching black leather vest trimmed in gold. The vest really amplified her bust size, making them appear one cup size bigger, which Minx felt Rapture did not need in that department. Her ensemble was topped off with black, shear fishnet nylons and gold high heels.
Minx and Rapture stepped out of the cages and took place in the center of the stage. They performed an impressive elusive dance number in sync with each others steps. Minx ran her fingers through Raptures short blond hair. Rapture grabbed hold of Minx right hand and ran it over her left breast down towards her navel. Minx grasped Raptures chin in her left hand raised her head to look her directly in the eyes. Minx locked her gaze with Rapture, she then leaned forward and embraced Rapture in a lingering kiss. Rapture reached behind Minx's back and grasped Minx's left hand with her right. Rapture pushed Minx out in a swing dance style whip spin. Both women stopped in mid step to form a pose facing each other with their arms outstretched towards each other. Their reach was just finger tips short of each other. They slowly spread their arms away from their face, lying perpendicular with their side. They then continued in a continuous circular motion and lowered their arms to touch their side and continued to reach towards the ceiling.
A shadow of a male figure started to rise up through the floor of smoke on the stage. The strobe light outlined his features, it was Riot. Purple and blue spotlights started to dance around Riot, Rapture and Minx. Rapture and Minx both circled around Riot once with the beat of a base drum, running their hands up and down his chest and back. Minx then, walked back to her drum set and situated herself. Riot and Rapture both bent down into the smoke filled floor and retrieved their guitars from a secret floor compartment. Riot and Rapture slipped into their guitar straps and strummed a few heavy notes with Minx backing them up on a beat. They escalated into a climax and then stopped in dead silence with the strobe light. The crowd cheered in ecstasy, and the concert didn't even start yet.
Three microphones rose up out of the stage floor, one for each of the band members. Riot stepped up to the microphone which rested in front of him and greeted the audience in a deep, husky voice. "Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen!"
"Ohh Riot. We love you!" a row of girls cried from the front of the stage.
Riot gave a chuckle and blew the girls a kiss. "It is nice to be back on the stage. I apologize for our absence. The Stingers and I were making some changes to our performance. With this in mind, I would like to introduce Minx on the drums and back up vocalist." Riot stepped to the side and held up his hand towards Minx. Minx stood up behind the drums and gave a bow in the purple and blue spotlight.
Riot then held his hand up towards Rapture," I would also like to introduce Rapture, on the bass guitar and also a back up vocalist." Rapture stepped forward and gave a bow.
Rapture then turned towards Riot and held up her hand," And I would like to introduce Riot, the lead singer and treble guitarist." The crowd roared and cried in applause.
Riot gave a low bow and then stood and finished his small introduction speech. "We also wrote a few new numbers that we will play tonight for you. I hope you enjoy our show."
The lights dimmed down and the show started.
The stage lights slowly dimmed on and outlined the silhouettes of the three band members. A techno keyboard sound from Aten started to carry a rhythm throughout the stage and audience. Eerie, vibrating sounds started to echo with the rhythm for about two musical measures. Then Riot's voice started to sing just above a whisper in a slow and relaxing manner. It sounded soothing to the ears, almost like a hypnotic spell.
You make it hard to breathe
It's as if I'm suffocating
And when you're next to me
I can feel your heartbeat through my skin
It makes me sad to think
This could all be for nothing
I wish there was a way
A way for you to see inside me
I've never felt this way...
Riot's voice then slowly did a crescendo to a louder volume.
About anyone… or anything... TELL ME…
The song increased to a stimulating peak Riot was holding onto his last note while Minx and Rapture cut in with (What do I have to do…)
Then the song took of with a fast upbeat feel after an explosive down beat of the bass drum. Riot was grinding on his guitar and Rapture was playing rhythmic beats with the drums. Rapture and Minx held their last note while Riot continued…
…to make you happy?
(What do I have to do) … to make you understand?
(What do I have to do) … to make you want me?
But if I can't make you want me
What do I have to do?
There was a calm little instrumental measure where Aten showed off with a few sounds, and then the song picked back up with the intense upbeat with a main downbeat from Minx. Riot continued with his husky voice while Minx and Rapture backed him up…
I know exactly what you're thinking
But I swear this time I will not let you down
I'm not as selfish as I used to be
That was a part of me that never made me proud
Right now I think I would try anything
Anything at all to keep you satisfied
The guitars stopped while Riot and his two female back up vocals continued…
God I hope you see, what losing you would do to me
All I want is one more chance, TELL ME…
(What do I have to do) … to make you happy?
(What do I have to do) … to make you understand?
(What do I have to do) … to make you want me?
But if I can't make you want me
JUST TELL ME, TELL ME!
The song then broke into a long instrumental with Aten showing off his sound board with the drums and guitars backing him up. After two measures Riot started to echo breathlessly…
How can I? How can I? How can I…
(What do I have to do) … to make you want me?
(What do I have to do) … to make you understand?
(What do I have to do) … to make you love me?
If I can't make you love me
JUST TELL ME, WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO!
Riot carried off the last note in an echo while the music died away.
Riot then whispered into the microphone with a musical edge still to his voice…
Did you forget about him?
The crowd cheered wildly while the Stingers continued with their concert.
After the concert was over Rory walked towards his dressing room but couldn't happen to over hear a certain female voice talking. She had that distinct lilt to it that made his heart jump in his throat. Rory walked around the corner and stealthy walked up behind the blond while she was hanging up the pay phone. Rory put his lips beside the blonde's ear and whispered so softly the wind could carry away the words if it had the chance.
"Did you enjoy the concert, my love?"
Jerrica gave a gasp and spun around, giving Rory a cold, angry stare. Jerrica couldn't believe she didn't even hear Rory walk up behind her. For that she was even mad at herself for letting her defenses down.
"Jesus Rory, give me some warning before you sneak up!" Jerrica cried out. "And please don't call me my love," Jerrica continued with some annoyance in her voice.
If Jerrica knew Rory, or Riot for that matter, would have been here tonight, she would not have come. Jerrica has been trying at all costs to avoid Rory as much as she could. Rory was the last person she wanted to see tonight.
"Jerrica, what is wrong? I can see it in your eyes. You know you can talk to me. I am always willing to listen," Rory said with a great deal of sympathy.
Jerrica looked up into Rory's deep brown eyes and all of her anger and annoyance drifted away. 'How does he do that? Make me feel so calm and relaxed by his eyes alone. There is such a need and longing in them that keeps drawing me nearer to him…'
"What are you doing to me?" Jerrica asked Rory.
"What do you mean Jerrica? I am not doing anything to you," Rory replied in a coy way with words.
"Your eyes… they are like…" Jerrica shook her head and looked away.
"Jerrica, you never answered my first question. How did you like the concert? I noticed you were there when I started singing." Rory asked with a slight demanding undertone to his voice.
Jerrica started to stammer an answer while she started to blush. She turned her face away from him, trying to hide the creeping crimson undertone to her cheeks.
"Every word to the first song was directed to you, Jerrica. I meant every single word. Please tell me, what can I do?"
Rory turned Jerrica's face to look at him. Rory slowly brought his face to Jerrica's neck and started to kiss it softly. Rory could feel Jerrica's pulse quicken with his lips.
Jerrica pushed her back against the wall behind her. She felt so powerless. She had no control over her body. She felt so weak. 'God, please help me!'
"Jerrica, what is wrong? Why won't you let me in? You know I will never force you. I want your love and respect, not your hate. What are you so afraid of?"
Jerrica looked up into Rory's eyes and said with courage and fear, "I am afraid of you. Of what you might do to me if you ever got the chance." Jerrica found her ground of courage and continued. "You are a monster Rory, an egotistic bastard that young girls flock around. You are a sleaze that sleeps with any women that would spread her legs for you."
Rory cut of Jerrica with anger, "Do you honestly believe all of that?"
Jerrica stared into Rory's eyes with dead determination, "Yes."
What Jerrica said to Rory really hurt him to the core. Rory released Jerrica and looked a way. There was a deep sadness to his eyes. Jerrica saw how much she hurt Rory. Jerrica started to say something in protest then stopped. She wanted to apologize, but why should she. It wasn't her fault, Rory wanted to know what she thought of him.
"It is a shame that you think that way of me. I wish you thought differently of me, my love." Rory then gave Jerrica a lingering kiss on the lips. Jerrica tried to protest and pull away but she could feel his desire, it traveled through her whole entire body.
Rory then released her and whispered, "There is no use in denying your desire for me. I can feel it as much as you can feel mine, my love."
Rory then left Jerrica standing there dumb founded. Jerrica touched her right index and middle fingers to her lips were Rory kissed her. A single tear rolled down her cheek. 'Oh Rio I wish you were here.'
Jerrica slid down the wall and brought her knees up to her chest and cried.
The song the Stingers sang was "What Do I Have to Do" by Stabbing Westard.
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