I awoke in a panic early on Sunday, afraid that I’d overslept and missed the announcement, but the clock on my nightstand reassured me.
Dominic had offered to give me a ride to the park, so I got ready, grabbed my guitar, and waited for him on the front porch.
As I sat there, I spotted a tiny figure making his way across the window ledge. I scooped him up before he could protest.
“Prince Humphrey,” I said. “Princess Antonia has been worried sick about you.”
He snorted. “The only person Her Royal Highness worries about is herself.”
“She’s been distraught,” I said.
“I have spent an eternity with her,” he said. “She is a spoiled little girl.”
“What’s your plan then?” I asked.
“I will seek my fortune in a new land,” he said grandly. But he didn’t sound too happy about it.
Dominic’s car pulled into my driveway. I didn’t have time to mediate a lovers’ tiff, so I ran inside and then tiptoed into Katie’s room. I placed the prince into his bedroom. “Think about it,” I whispered. “She’s not so bad.”
I’d deal with them later. Dominic was waiting.
I slid my guitar into the trunk of his car and then we were on our way.
“Nervous?” Dominic asked.
“Yes, definitely,” I said.
When we got to the park, I was happy to see that many of my friends in Nightshade had come out to support Side Effects May Vary. My parents and sisters arrived, all carrying signs. The Giordano girls and their boyfriends, with the exception of Poppy’s guy, who didn’t do sunlight, were in the audience too. Mr. and Mrs. Giordano were holding hands in the back. Raven and Andy waved from the front row.
Teddie Myles made the announcement. “The envelope, please,” she said. A brief pause and then, “The finalists for the first annual Battle of the Bands are Drew Barrymore’s Boyfriends, Hamlin, and Side Effects May Vary. The bands will be performing in that order, beginning in approximately one hour.”
My dad let out a loud whoop and then everyone applauded.
Before we played, I ran into Selena. “Sorry you guys didn’t make it,” I said. “You were good.”
“We’ll play again one of these days, don’t worry.” Selena smiled. “Burning the sheet music was smart,” she said. “I should have thought of it earlier. Harmony wouldn’t have had to go through so much pain if I’d just—”
“None of us knew what to do,” I said. “Don’t beat yourself up over it.”
“Thanks, Jessica. And if you decide not to join Side Effects May Vary, give us a call,” she said. “We’d love to have you as our lead singer.”
Me? A lead singer?
Dominic came up and heard the last part of the conversation. “Trying to steal her away from me, Selena?”
She gave him a cryptic look. “Not from you, just from the band.”
“Want to watch Drew Barrymore’s Boyfriends?” Dominic asked. “We’re last and I don’t feel like being cooped up in a dressing room.”
After DBBF’s first song, I said, “They’re amazing. Trevor looks pretty good, considering he was attacked by an angry mob yesterday.”
The band’s set ended and then it was Hamlin’s turn. “Wanna stay?” Dominic asked.
“Might as well,” I said. “At least as long as I can take it.”
Teddie then introduced Hamlin and I looked around.
“There aren’t as many of their fans here as normal,” Dominic said.
“That’s because a bunch of them are locked up,” I said. “Or at least I hope they are.” I told him what had happened to Slim’s.
There was a loud screeching sound as Brett sang too close to the microphone. I wasn’t sure which noise hurt my ears more, the feedback or his singing.
Whatever magical hold Brett had over his fans was gone. There were cries of disbelief and one girl even held her hands over her ears. A couple of people took off their Hamlin tees and turned them inside out before putting them back on so the band’s name was hidden from view.
Before the song even ended, Brett threw his guitar down and stomped offstage. “I’ll dazzle them at the encore,” he said. “As soon as I find that guitar.”
But there wasn’t an encore. Side Effects May Vary played next. We did all of our best-loved covers and Dominic wasn’t interrupted by premonitions once. It was an incredible set.
Afterward, Teddie went onstage. “The winner for the first annual Nightshade Battle of the Bands is . . . Side Effects May Vary!”
Dominic picked me up and twirled me around. As he put me back on the ground, I did something neither of us expected. I kissed him.
The next thing I heard was the sound of clapping. “You’d better get up there,” someone advised us.
Dominic grabbed my hand and we walked onstage.
Teddie handed Katrina an oversized check and she held it in the air and grinned.
As the applause died down, Brett stormed onstage. “You’re going to regret this,” he shouted. He’d obviously found his guitar. He started to play softly, but even then, I could tell he was mangling the chords. There was a strange squeaking noise coming from somewhere.
At first I thought it came from his guitar, but then I realized it was something else. A dark blob appeared on the street. The louder Brett played, the bigger it became until it came close enough that I could see it wasn’t a dark blob at all. It was hundreds of rats, streaming into the park.
“Smash his guitar!” I yelled to Dominic, who stood next to Brett.
“What?” he asked. It was hard to hear above the squealing.
“Smash it,” I said, but he still didn’t hear me.
I ran over and yanked the guitar out of Brett’s hands and then took it by one end and smashed it on the ground. The music stopped, but the rats kept coming.
“It’s not him,” I yelled.
“No, it’s me,” Mitch Peverell said. He walked through the crowd, holding a flute, one that looked very familiar. He walked toward us and brought the flute to his lips.
I had to do something.
“You stole the flute, Mr. Peverell,” I accused him. “And you used it to off the competition. You even killed Mr. Lindquist.”
“Finally caught on, did you?” He snarled. “Unfortunately, it’s much too late, at least for the city of Nightshade.”
My stomach dropped at the thought that Flo could be trapped, or worse, in a cave somewhere like Scotty thanks to this guy. I needed to keep him talking. “Why are you so obsessed with convincing everyone how great Hamlin is?”
“Hey!” said Brett. “We are great.”
Mr. Peverell whirled around. “Not until you had me and those magical instruments,” he said. Brett looked genuinely hurt.
“But why?” Dominic asked. “You wanted Hamlin to win the competition so badly that you hurt the other musicians.”
“Of course,” he said. “Brett’s my son. He deserves to be a star.”
“What?” Brett cried. He dropped his guitar. “But my father is—”
“Me,” Mr. Peverell said. “I know I left you years ago, Brett. But helping your band become famous was my way of making it up to you.”
Brett sulked. “You’re more interested in the band’s money than being my dad.”
Mr. Peverell didn’t answer. Instead, he put the flute to his lips. The first note brought blood-freezing terror. I was unable to move, enchanted by the sound, yet frightened of it. The melody was both hauntingly beautiful and ominous.
“Cover your ears!” I yelled. But it was too late. The listeners were mesmerized. Blank looks appeared on their faces and they formed a single line behind Mr. Peverell, the Piper.
“We have to stop him,” I said.
Brett was too mad to listen, or maybe it was a hereditary thing, but the music didn’t affect him at all. He stepped in front of his father. “You owe me an explanation,” he demanded.
“I don’t have time for your star attitude right now,” Mr. Peverell said. He was focused on Brett. It was my chance. I grabbed the flute and pulled, using all my virago strength.
I wrenched it out of his grasp. I knew what I had to do. It was a beautiful flute, but it was as evil as the man who played it. I held it up like a baseball bat and swung it against a tree. It made a dull thump, but didn’t come apart. I swung again and this time it broke into pieces.
“No!” The Piper shoved me aside and dropped to his knees beside the useless instrument. The spell was finally broken.
Raven and Andy hauled the Piper up by his elbows and marched him over to Chief Wells, who looked dazed, but coherent. The chief cuffed him and read him his rights. She handed him over to Officer Denton and then crossed to where I stood.
“I was wrong about you, Jessica,” Chief Wells said. “Teddie is right. You are special.”
It made me feel all squirmy to get such recognition, but I was glad she’d decided I wasn’t a troublemaker.
“Where is she?” Slim asked Mr. Peverell. “Where’s Flo?”
“And Vinnie?” added Katrina, glaring at Brett.
“Dad, where are they?” Brett asked. “Tell me.”
“Why should I?” Mr. Peverell sounded like a petulant child.
“Because I’m your son and it’s the only thing I’ve ever asked of you,” Brett said.
I finally caught a glimmer of something. Maybe a tiny bit of understanding about why Katrina found Brett the least bit attractive.
“I don’t know,” Mr. Peverell said. “Your friends must have skipped town. Musicians can be so unreliable.” With that, he was taken away in the squad car.