Chapter Ten:
The Priest and the Beast
Salem had been up for four days, trying to help Howard find a new sound between the many odd jobs she worked. She felt her eyes getting heavy, and blacked out before smacking her head onto the key board in front of her. The sound resonated through her head phones, but didn't seem to wake the sleeping girl.
Vince walked in, dressed in a mirror ball suit, and looked at the scene. Howard looked exhausted, and showed Vince the odd sounding chord he had found. Vince tried to make it work, but there was no use in it.
Salems limp body slowly started to slide off of the key board. Vince and Howard sprang up, Howard catching the key board from going backwards, and Vince catching the sleeping girl. He noticed the dark bags under her eyes and shook his head.
"She's been up with me for days between work." Howard said shaking his head upon seeing her face.
"Why didn't you make her leave then?" Vince asked.
"I tried, she's stubborn and said she wanted to help out and refused to leave that spot." Howard said, glancing over at the bench surrounded by various instruments Salem could play. Vince shook his head and began carrying her to her room. Upon entering the hall, Naboo stopped them. He asked about the rent and how they were suppose to pay him.
Vince put Salem to bed, shutting her door, before turning to Naboo. He tried to explain the gig idea and how if he helped them, he would get his rent. Naboo sighed and led them to his collection of music, and began telling the story of the 'Bongo Brothers' Spider and Rudi.
Salem slept soundly, dreaming of being stuck in the desert.
She walked across the sand, searching for something she couldn't remember, having faith that she would know it when she found it. The wind blew gently around her, kicking up small clouds of sand around her ankles.
Looking down, she noticed she was dressed in a sky blue, fringe dress from the 30's. Her hair was down with a headband keeping all but her fringe pulled back, only 2 small studs in each ear, and wearing knee high white go go boots. Giving a sigh, she continued walking amongst the sand and rock formations.
A sound caught her attention, it was odd to say the least, and followed it in its direction. She came upon a large rock formation that looked like and arch way and went through it. She looked around the small area, seeing a tree with glass bottles of all size and shapes hanging from it.
The wind blew again, causing the bottles to whistle and clink. The sound was oddly calming. She sat on a near by rock and closed her eyes, listening to the symphony taking place around her.
"This is nice." She thought, and began humming a tune with the bottles.
Vince and Howard returned with sad faces, and no money to pay Naboo their part of the rent. Naboo saw them come in and flop down on the couch, not pushing them on the subject.
Salem opened her glazed over eyes, and looked at the time. She stretched.
"Better get ready." She said to herself, standing and grabbing the silver body suit she had. She stretched the material over herself and began painting her exposed skin with silver body paint, finishing the look by spraying her hair with silver hair paint. Sighing with satisfaction, she examined herself in the mirror. The suit was a bit tight for her liking, but grabbed the silver toga that completed the look and wrapped it around her, then walked out of her room.
"Where are you going dressed like that?" Vince asked her. She smiled a tired smile at him.
"Street performing. I got stopped by a performer earlier this week who needed to take today off. She paid me 80 Euros to cover for her, even said I could keep half of what I earned." She said, turning towards the door.
Salem took the other half of the money to the street performer and headed home that evening. She smiled as she approached the small store, opening the door and headed up the stairs. She washed off the make up and changed into an lavender, sequined trumpet dress and reapplied her make up.
She pulled her the sides of her hair back with a clip, then slipped on matching high healed shoes. Slipping on some matching silk, elbow length gloves, she left her room, once again to go work. The sky was nearly black as she began her decent on the stairs.
"Salem, don't work yourself too hard. It's not good for your health." Naboo said. Salem smiled and nodded, continuing on her way out the door.
"I wonder if those two idiots even know she's been paying their rent for them, on top of her own? Maybe I should lower the amount, for her sake." Naboo contemplated.