Their arrival to the party was announced by the roar of their dirt bikes and the fine spray of sand shot out behind them, but they were barely noticed by the crowd scattered along the sand. Many were caught up in their conversations ranging from music to their own brand of spiritual philosophy. Others were busy getting each other off in secluded areas just out of the fire's light, though their noises weren't completely drowned out by the boom box that was blasting Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love", but many were just too drunk or stoned to welcome the newest party guests. Those that had noticed were none too happy about them being there.
Paul let out a howl as he remained on his bike, going about rolling a few joints now that he had the time. All the while talking Laddie through how to do it right. Marko let his thumb brush over his bottom lip before grinning to a blonde duo that appeared to be more than eager to meet him. Dwayne wandered off towards the alcohol, helping himself to whatever he wanted without a word from those that weren't too keen about him drinking their booze. But standing on the beach just a fraction of an inch out of the waves' reach were Star and David in a silence so thick it was suffocating. All other sounds muted.
When the leader spoke every other sound going on behind them seemed to flow freely into their little realm, violating it. "If you and Laddie don't feed you'll die." Sapphire eyes shone like jewels in the moonlight as he focused his gaze on the ocean, taking a deep breath of air with his dead lungs and tasting the salt.
Star was quiet as she wrapped her arms around herself, her unruly curls blown about by the breeze and she was thankful for that as it hid her face from view. A frown touched her lips as he brought up the same point yet again. It took her a bit of restraint to keep her voice even. "I know that, David."
"Then why fight it?" He turned his gaze to her, an edge to his words. Showing just how tired he had grown of having to ask her this question night after night. "Why be such a pain in my ass and defy me?"
Star looked up sharply, brows furrowed as she pushed her hair away from her face to make sure that she was understood. "Because I can. I choose to do so, as does Laddie." Before she had a chance to turn away David had both her arms in his grip, anger flashing across his features.
"Then why ask me to make you what you are, hm? You had a choice, you made the decision. This is what you wanted." He suddenly released her, shoving her away as he turned his back to her and headed off to join the boys. "You can't live off that bottle forever, Star."
---
By the time the party was over there was no one left alive to tell of the horror that had gone on. Bodies were strewn about, blood splashed across the sand in wide arcs, painting it red with hints of deep brown. Jackson Pollock would have been proud. Dwayne, with his mouth and naked chest stained a rust color as the blood dried, tossed bodies into the bonfire. The smell of burning flesh making him wrinkle his nose as it tried to fill his lungs. Just as he reached down to pluck another body from the ground at his feet he saw a flash of silver from the corner of his eye that made him turn his head.
"Damn, this must have been one hell of a party." The stranger's voice rose high over the sound of the crackling fire and the waves thundering against the shore, making all the boys stop in what they were doing. Star looked up from the sand castle she was building with Laddie, letting the boy continue as she watched, eyes dancing from face to face. Gauging their reactions to the newcomer.
"Please, don't stop on account of my presence." Her tone was teasing, as was the smile that graced her lips. Long, black streaked, blonde hair shimmered as she moved around the fire. Steps well placed and measured.
David stepped forward with his hands clasped behind his back, head bowed as he approached her. The sound of his leather coat slapping at his legs was lost, as was the crunch of sand beneath his heavy steps. When he brought his head up to stare her down he had a nonchalant grace to his movements though deliberate. "You can still join in."
The strange woman gave David a mock surprised look, a hand rising to rest against her chest as if the invitation had floored her. "Oh, no, I couldn't do that. It wasn't my shindig to begin with. I'm not looking to ride coattails, sunshine." And there it was, the first sign of an appointed nickname. She casted a glance over in Paul's direction, quirking a brow at his vacant expression before she dropped him a wink.
Dwayne and Marko exchanged silent looks before looking to Paul, who again, looked lost. David, on the other hand, was tired of her presence already and moved forward with a malicious smirk. His movements were quick but he soon came to find out that she was quicker.
Just as he had reached out to grab her by the throat she had his wrist in her grasp and turned him around sharply to face the group, her free hand came up quickly to let her glass like nails bite into the skin of his throat. The flurry of movement spurred Star to stand and pull Laddie behind her as the boys tensed but made no move for their leader.
The stranger spoke softly, but her voice carried. "Try something like that again I'll make sure to rip your arms from their sockets." The tone of her voice never wavered, her heart never skipped a beat, and the steady pressure of her nails against his jugular made David believe her. As the realization of her being serious dawned on him, she seemed to sense it and released him to let him wander forward and turn to face her once again.
The light of the fire played across her skin, the silver of her piercings winking at the others as she mimicked David's earlier stance and clasped her hands behind her back. "Any questions?"
Laddie peeked around Star before stepping out from behind her, brows furrowed at recognizing the voice and not being able to see who it belonged to. But the moment he saw the owner he ran forward, just slipping past Star's fingers as she cried out his name, though what happened next was a shock to her and to the boys. The youngest ran forward and wrapped his arms around the woman's waist, the force of the endearing gesture sure to knock anyone else's balance off but she remained stock still and looked down at him with a broad smile.
"Hey, little man." She ruffled his hair gently before looking back up, though the broad smile from before was now sly as was the glint in her eye before returning her gaze to the boy. "They taking care of you?"
David shot Star a look that would have burned a hole right through her if able and all she could do was give him shrug in surprised silence at what had happened. The leader snapped his fingers, the sound sharp, to get the other three moving to finish up the task at hand although the boys continued to steal glances as often as they could. Paul stealing the most.
As the boys burst into movement Laddie took his time to answer, big, brown eyes staring up at her as he tugged at her hand to make her kneel down- in which she did without a second thought. "They take very good care of me. They all do."
"You're not lying to me, are you?" The look that came over her was stern, business. Which is exactly what it was.
The young boy shook his head furiously at her question. "No. They really do." He leaned forward and cupped his hands around his mouth as his lips found her ear, whispering. "Especially Dwayne. I ride with him everywhere."
David watched the interaction from a safe distance as he ran the back of his hand across his lips, wiping at the drying blood on his chin when he heard Dwayne come up behind him. "Everything burned?"
"Yeah." His dark brown eyes turned away from David and to Laddie and the stranger caught up in their conversation. "What are you thinking?"
"That Laddie knows a hell of a lot more than he's letting on. Where's Star?" He turned to find her coming up behind him with a blank expression, still unable to wrap her mind about what had just happened. As trivial as it may have seemed to the others.
"Right here." No sooner had the words left her mouth when she felt David's signature grip on her upper arm and she stiffened and pulled herself away from him, knowing that he arm would be sore later. "Don't touch me. I don't know what's going on any more than you do."
The stranger stood a moment later, casting a glance over at Paul and flashing him a dazzling smile that held a thousand dangerous promises before letting herself be led towards the rest of the group by the young boy grasping her hand. "You coming, lover?" Another nickname given.
She stood before the other four who were staring at her in silence, David staring the hardest. "Meet me at the bar tomorrow, we'll talk there." Her free hand came up as she extended her index finger to motion to the four Lost Boys. "You four only."
Laddie looked up at her with a pout and furrowed brow, not wanting to be left out of what ever discussion was going to be started and melodic laughter spilled past the stranger's lips and she ran a hand through his hair before ushering him off to Star. "Don't worry, you're not going to be missing anything fun, little man." As her laughter died her eyes became hard as her gaze flickered back to the leader and his look of mistrust. "Have a little faith in me, sunshine. We'll talk tomorrow."
With that said she backed up a step and dropped Laddie a wink before turning her back to the pack without fear that they were going to attempt anything. It wasn't their style and they knew better. They wanted questions answered. Curiosity killed the cat.
The group didn't stay long enough to watch the stranger shimmer and disappear from sight but rather hopped on their bikes and raced home, David every now and again casting a look over at Laddie clutching onto Dwayne as they rode. The little kid was slick. Very slick.
But satisfaction brought him back.