I missed Tuesday's update, and for that, I am sooooo sorry! I checked today and felt really bad when I saw that I missed a day.
Review Replies:
AsSoonAs - Thank you for the review! Eventually, yes, that is the point - you'll have more of an idea of the entire plan/motive if you read More Than A Demigod, but this story focuses a little more on the before, as well. The story picks up pretty quickly, I think the first few chapters were the most detail I've actually ever written, anywhere, and I try not to use too much, but it happens sometimes. Again, thank you for the review, and I definitely do plan to update more, my current schedule is updating on Tuesdays and Fridays!
Disclaimer: I am not Rick Riordan. And so, accordingly, I do not own any works credited to that name. (Or to related names. i.e. Uncle Rick.)
Disclaimer (for chapter): I do not own Conqueror by Aurora. (Seriously, you should check her out. She's amazing.)
Disclaimer (for chapter) #2: I do not own Dracula by Bea Miller. (Yet another amazing song.)
Thursday again passes the same, except Kiernan and I were able to go through a full practice of our song. And Friday passed the same, until lunchtime.
Halfway through lunch, those in the two music classes had to head down to the auditorium. We were given the rest of the lunch period to prepare, and the last two periods of the day would be used for the performance. Any extra time afterwards would just be spent in the auditorium, because there probably wouldn't be much time left.
Kiernan and I were going last, while Maddie and Jay were going second to last. Which meant the four of us had to sit backstage for forever. You would go out into the auditorium after grabbing your stuff only after your performance. I had my helmet sitting on my bag. Though my stuff was the absolute farthest from the door to go out towards the auditorium, though, because the people going sooner had put their stuff closer. I also had given Lydia my phone, and she had promised both performances with both her phone and mine.
When Jay and Maddie's turn came around, I was a bit of a nervous wreck while watching from the wings. All the instruments were set about the stage, so you would just find whichever you needed, and perform from there. Luckily, the piano and drum set were next to each other.
I didn't realize I was gripping my lucky drumsticks tightly until Kiernan set a hand on top of mine. I replaced my grip, and looked down at my drumsticks. They were wooden, but had been spray painted silver. I'd had them for forever, and the paint was peeled off in a couple spots.
It was soon our turn. I took a deep breath and we went out onstage as Jay and Maddie went offstage. Jay smiled warmly at me, and I smiled back.
As we sat ourselves down, our music teacher announced our song. "Conqueror by Kiernan Ashton and Lyric Tucker." Then she walked offstage, and we began to play.
"Broken mornings, broken nights and broken days in between
Open ground, the sky is open, makes an open scene
Just like in fiction, in every addiction
Oh fantasy's taking over, awake me
I've been looking for the conqueror
But you don't seem to come my way
I've been looking for the only one
But you don't seem to come my way
Broken me and broken them
You are broken too
Open ears, their eyes are open
Makes me call for you
But there's no seduction only destruction
Oh fantasy take me over and break me
[x2]
I've been looking for the conqueror
But you don't seem to come my way
I've been looking for the only one
But you don't seem to come my way
I feel ali-li-live
I feel ali-li-live
I feel ali-li-live
I feel ali-li-live
[x2]
I've been looking for the conqueror
But you don't seem to come my way
I've been looking for the only one
But you don't seem to come my way"
People clapped, Jay being the loudest, as I could see him standing from his seat and making a fool of himself. I got off of the stage as soon as I could.
As soon as we had made it backstage, I hugged Kiernan. "We did it!" I said excitedly. He hugged me back, but I made sure to be careful of his side.
After hugging him for a few moments, I went to pull away, but he pulled me back to him. Then his lips landed on mine. I was so surprised that I just stood there. A moment later, he let go of me, and winked. Then he grabbed his bag and left the backstage area. I stared after him for a few minutes, before shaking my head and grabbing my stuff. The bell rang just as I exited the backstage area.
When I got home from school, Mom was just leaving. I parked my motorcycle in the driveway, took off my helmet and set it on the seat, and went up to her. "Don't I get a hug before you leave?" I asked her. She stepped away from her car and hugged me.
"Alright, while I'm at my brother's, you two won't be able to get in the house. I'm working on getting spare keys soon, sorry about that. Close the garage door behind you when you leave, Jay went straight to his friend's house. Who are you going to stay with for the weekend?" Mom asked.
"After the Halloween party tonight, Maddie and I are going to go back to her place, so we can head to dance together tomorrow morning. Then we're going to come back here, grab Lydia and hang out. We haven't decided who's house to stay at tomorrow night." I said.
"Alright, well, I'll see you Sunday." Mom said, getting into her car. I waved to her as she backed down the driveway. Then I turned and went into the house through the garage. Mom had left the door open so I could grab any last minute things before the house was all locked up.
I went up to my room and over to my armoire. The dress for my costume was hanging up in a garment bag, and everything else was in a bag under it. I grabbed both and went back downstairs. On my way by the bathroom, I grabbed my shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. I was going to shower at Lydia's, whenever we started getting ready. I also grabbed my weekend bag that held clothes and necessities, as well as my dance bag for tomorrow.
Just before I exited the garage, I hit the button to open and close the door and ducked out. The garage door closed behind me, and I went over to my motorcycle. I grabbed the helmet off the seat so no one would steal it, grabbed the keys and tucked them in my pocket, and then went over to Lydia's house.
Lydia opened the door the moment I got over there. She must've seen me through a window. We went up to her room and I hung up my garment bag, then set down the rest of my stuff by the set down the rest of my stuff by the door.
After we watched a movie, Lydia practically shoved me towards the bathroom so I could go take a shower and start to get ready.
"Alright, I'm going." I said with a laugh. She just gave me a look that said 'You better be' and went downstairs to use that bathroom. I grabbed my shower stuff and headed toward the bathroom.
When I got to the bathroom, I locked the door behind me and started the shower.
After my shower, I wrapped my hand back up and wrung out my hair as much as possible. Then I blow dried my hair, combing my fingers through it to help it dry faster. Once my hair was finally dry, I secured the towel around my body, gathered up my stuff, and went back to Lydia's room. It hadn't taken me very long to shower, but then again, I took quick showers. I closed the door to Lydia's bedroom, tossed my stuff in a pile in the corner, and grabbed my costume stuff. The garment bag that held my dress also held a strapless bra and underwear that matched the color of the dress.
I quickly got dressed so I'd have enough time to finish getting ready. My dress was a deep, dark red color, and was strapless. It hugged my body at the top, but was more flowing as it reached my legs. It went down to just above my black combat boots, which I hadn't put on yet. The dress had two cutouts, large diamond shaped that exposed my sides from just above my hips to just under my bra line. I was a little self-conscious with the dress, but I really liked it. The last accessory was a pair of red fingerless fishnet gloves that went to just under my elbows.
When I was done getting dressed, I sat at Lydia's vanity. I set my phone down and played music while I started on my hair.
I was starting on the elaborate braid that wound around my head when the song Dracula came on. I, of course, started to sing along.
"Here is my story
I've got my type
Tattoos and skinny jeans
Black boots and piercings
A public enemy (Hey-ay-ay)
Not Cinderella
Still got my shoes
I like the animal
The supernatural
Maybe I'm crazy but
If you were Dracula (Hey)
I'd be letting you take that bite
Hot and hazardous (Hey)
Like playing with dynamite
Yeah I want Dracula (Hey)
Forever be young and wild
Dark and dangerous (Hey)
Yeah I love, I love, the tragically beautiful
I am a night owl
I've come alive
I'll make the sun go down
So I can see you out
Straight to the underground (Hey-ay-ay)
I like the broken
Imperfect rules
That's why you're wonderful
It's undeniable
I might be crazy but
If you were Dracula (Hey)
I'd be letting you take that bite
Hot and hazardous (Hey)
Like playing with dynamite
Yeah I want Dracula (Hey)
Forever be young and wild
Dark and dangerous (Hey)
Yeah I love, I love, I love the tragically beautiful
Only one kiss, only one
Only one kiss, you'd be k-k-k-k-killing me
Only one kiss, only one
Only one kiss, you'd be k-k-k-k-killing me
Hey!
Hey!
If you were Dracula (Hey)
I'd be letting you take that bite
Hot and hazardous (Hey)
Like playing with dynamite
Yeah I want Dracula (Hey)
Forever be young and wild
Dark and dangerous (Hey)
Yeah I love, I love, I love the tragically beautiful."
I finished my braid just as the song ended. I leaned back a little to see it better, just as someone spoke. "So you want me?" It was Kiernan, standing right behind me. He startled me so much that I fell back off the stool, but he caught me and set me back in the seat. His hands were warm where they touched the skin exposed by the cutouts of my dress. I looked at him in the mirror. He was dressed up as a vampire, wearing black clothes and a black cloak with a dark red lining. He had on red contacts and fake fangs. A little fake blood was on one side of his mouth. Damn, we were both dressing up as vampires.
He leaned forward so that his face was beside mine, then bent his head down and pressed his lips to the base of my neck. My breath hitched. He dragged his tongue slowly up the side of my neck. He dragged his tongue up farther and nibbled on my earlobe for a moment. "Your heart is racing." He told me, whispering into my ear.
"You startled me." I said weakly.
"Sure. That's what happened." He said slowly. Then he stood back up, winked at me in the mirror, and left the room. I just stared after him in the mirror. What the hell had just happened? And why was he acting like this again, like he had last Friday?
I was brought back to the present a few minutes later when Lydia entered the room, a towel wrapped around her body. She closed the door behind her and went over to the closet to start getting dressed in her costume. I picked up the bag with my makeup and got to work.
I put in dark red contacts, and fake fangs that actually looked real. The tips were pointed, though not so much that I'd like myself opening and closing my mouth. I didn't put on any blush, using my pale skin tone to my advantage. I did put on dark red lipstick, though, and some mascara and eyeliner. I put a little fake blood on the corner of my mouth, my chin and neck, my hands.
By the time I was done with my makeup, Lydia had her costume on and was almost done with her makeup. She was dressing up as a zombie child. She had her hair done in two braids tied with dirty looking white ribbons, and she wore a ripped and dirty white nightgown. She wore ripped tights under it. Her makeup was done to look like she had a wound on the side of her face. In her hands, she held a teddy bear with the head handing limply to one side. It looked pretty cool.
"Your costume is so beautiful!" Lydia exclaimed when I stood and turned. I blushed slightly.
"Yours is great, too. It looks really realistic." I told her.
"It's about five forty five now, so there will be at least some people here. What do you say we go downstairs and try to find Maddie?" Lydia asked me.
"Let's go." I said. We linked arms and made our way downstairs. Even though the party had started fifteen minutes ago, here was a lot of people there.
We found Maddie talking to Jay. Maddie had dressed as a pixie, and Jay as a werewolf. We all hung out for awhile, as more and more people arrived.
Once the party was actually going, I danced with Lydia, and with Maddie, for awhile. I was dancing with Maddie when Jay came over. "Mind if I cut in?" He asked.
"Oh, yeah, sure." Maddie said, taking a step back. I let out a laugh.
"Maddie, he wants to dance with you." I told her.
"What?" She squeaked, glancing to Jay, who just smiled and held a hand out to her. She blushed, but took his hand and let him pull her close.
I'd only been watching them for a moment when Kiernan came over. "May I have this dance?" He asked in an olden timey accent, bowing and holding out a hand.
"Why, of course." I responded in the same accent, curtsying and accepting his hand. He laughed and pulled me close, setting his other hand on my waist while I set my other hand on his shoulder.
"So." He prompted.
"So." I replied. He laughed, but didn't say anything, just twirled me when the music came to a swell. I laughed, smiling as he pulled me back into his arms.
Twelve songs later, I was dancing with Jay again, while Kiernan and Lydia danced nearby.
"So, Lee, you were dancing with him." Jay started.
"Yeah, so?" I asked curiously.
"You totally like him, Lee!" Jay exclaimed.
"Totally, dude." I responded sarcastically.
"Should've seen the way you were looking at him." Jay told me. "Like he was the only person in this entire house, in this entire town."
I changed the subject. "And what about how you were looking at Maddie?" I asked.
He turned red. "I was looking at her normal." He said.
"Blush says otherwise." I told him. He turned even redder. "She totally likes you, dude, so just go dance with her again. Just don't hurt my dance partner or I'll hurt your face."
"I wouldn't hurt her, Lee." He said softly.
I just smiled at him and pushed him away. "Go ask her out or something."
For the next hour, I escaped to the snack table. I grabbed a couple of chips and just watched people dancing, talking, laughing, just having fun in general.
I had just gotten a glass of punch when Kiernan appeared beside me. "I wouldn't drink that." He said. "Pretty sure multiple people have spiked it." I poured the punch back in the bowl and threw away the cup. "So, how's your second party in Spruce Creek, Ohio?"
"Pretty nice. It's one of the first parties I've been to, in general. Like, actual parties. I'm not counting parties at dance. Those are way different." I said.
"Yeah, they probably are." Kiernan agreed.
"I think I might head out soon." I said. I looked around, trying to find Maddie. "Or maybe not. He looks so happy, and so does she."
"Who?" Kiernan asked, scanning the crowd.
"Jay and Maddie. I told him I know he likes her, and that she really likes him, she told me. And then I told him to go dance with her and ask her out or something. They're so perfect together." I said.
"Well, if you don't want to interrupt them, you could go up to my room. Lydia locked herself in her room to go to sleep about half an hour ago." Kiernan offered.
"Damn it." I swore. "All my stuff is in her room."
"Actually, she made me put all your stuff in my room when she went to sleep, so you wouldn't have to bother her." Kiernan told me.
"That's good, then." I said. "What time is it?"
"It's about nine. Lydia may have said she's going to sleep, but she'll probably be up on her phone for at least another hour." Kiernan said. "And if you want, you could stay here for the night. The party will probably end around ten, at least, that's when I usually kick everyone out. Most of them know by now to leave by then."
"Yeah, I'll sleep on the couch or something, and Maddie can spend some time with Jay, and I won't interrupt them." I said.
"You don't have to sleep on the couch. I could bring up an air mattress for you, if you wanted." Kiernan offered.
"You'd be okay with me staying in your room?" I asked him.
"It doesn't really matter." He said with a shrug.
"I'll do that, then. Do you mind bringing it up now so I can blow it up and go to bed? I'd rather go to sleep early because I've got dance at eight in the morning." I asked.
"Yeah, head up, I'll go grab it." Kiernan told me. I nodded and went upstairs to the second floor.
I looked around Kiernan's room. It was pretty open. His bed lay in one corner, a dresser in another, a desk in the third, and a bookshelf in the fourth. A guitar sat on a stand next to the bookshelf. Not much else decorated the room. My bags sat by the dresser.
A moment later, Kiernan came up carrying a deflated air mattress and a thing to blow it up. He started to set it up in the middle of the room while I sat on the floor, digging through my bag.
"Damn it, how mindless can I be?" I swore, digging through my bags.
"What'd you forget?" Kiernan asked, pulling a sheet over the air mattress.
"Pajamas. See, I knew I was going to forget something." I muttered.
"You could borrow something of mine. Unless you want to sleep in that dress." Kiernan said. He tossed a couple pillows and a light comforter on the air mattress.
"Really? Thanks. You've been very kind this evening." I said. Seriously, he had been extremely kind, letting me sleep in his room and everything. Not that he wasn't nice or polite, but this was a lot.
"It's no problem." He said. He went over to the dresser and pulled out a light blue long sleeved button up shirt, which he handed to me. "This should be large enough."
I took the shirt and thanked him again. "I'll be downstairs until a little after ten. I'll try not to make too much noise when I come back up." Kiernan told me.
"Alright." I said. He went back down to the party, closing the door behind him.
Anywho, what do you think of the story so far?
Thank you to anyone who has reviewed, followed, or favorited! You are not inclined to do any of those things if you do not wish, but it would be much appreciated! I send my love to all of you!