The Spirit Room used to be a place where I could go to feel normal. It was where I could enjoy loud music and laugh with my friends, pretending that my life wasn’t all kinds of messed up. It wasn’t about angels and demons there. It was just about the music and the dream I shared with the girls.
Things change. Too fast sometimes.
My gaze slid from Koda in the corner to Arrow and Rowen crowded around their favorite table near the bar with their band. Yep. Change had a way of coming at you like a bat out of hell and leaving you shaken and bitch slapped.
It had only been two weeks since Rowen and I had broken up, but it felt like forever. There was no way to avoid seeing each other, not that I wanted to. Thanks to Dash’s incognito watchdogs, we couldn’t be alone together though, which was probably for the best. It would just hurt too much.
Feeling my gaze upon him, Rowen glanced up. Our eyes met and my insides tightened. Life was so fucking unfair sometimes.
Despite how much it hurt to look into his eyes of fire, I found comfort in the longing within them. Knowing that he suffered too made my burden a little easier to bear, though just barely.
Absently I spun the ring on my finger. Rowen had refused to take it back when I’d offered it to him, claiming that nothing had changed. His promise still stood.
Dash couldn’t keep us apart forever. If he expected me to accept this and do nothing, he was kidding himself. I would find a way to get to the demon.
In the meantime I was waiting on Cinder to give me another recovery mission. He saw it as a way to improve my skills, but I saw it as an opportunity to find the right item, something I could use against Dash. To get him to release Rowen from his agreement.
Long shot? Probably. Morally acceptable? I liked to think of it as somewhat of a grey area. But it was the only way I might have a hope in hell of gaining the advantage over that demon. I just couldn’t leave Rowen trapped in the deal he’d made. He belonged with the light. He belonged with me.
I tore my gaze from Rowen’s. I’d started the night feeling good. Strong. Those eyes would cripple me. I had a show to play and a demon to threaten. Speaking of which…
Koda still stood in the corner where he could watch the entire building. He was alone.
The band on stage started wrapping up their set. We played next. I just had something to take care of before I’d be ready to beat the hell out of my guitar on stage. The girls were upstairs drinking and shooting the shit. I’d come down early just for this.
Koda stood up straighter when he saw me headed for him. He pulled his hands from his pockets and crossed his arms over his chest. Dressed casual, his black hair smoothed into a trendy mess of gel, Koda seemed to blend in a little more each time I saw him here.
He blatantly looked me over from head to toe as I approached. The fishnet stockings under the puffy black tutu I wore seemed to especially catch his interest. I didn’t acknowledge his unwelcome appraisal.
“Spike,” he greeted me with suspicion. “You look good enough to eat. I don’t suppose now that you’re single you’d be interested in such a thing.”
I couldn’t stop the disgust that crept across my face, so I let Koda see the revulsion that filled me at the thought of him touching me. “Not if you were the last penis-toting creature on earth.”
“So, if this isn’t pleasure, it must be business. You haven’t spoken to me in weeks. So what do you want?” Koda didn’t put in the effort to play the game that he used to. I didn’t miss it, but it did make him less predictable.
“I think you’re the one responsible for Arrow’s last meltdown,” I said, wasting no time getting to the point. “You had him try to kill Rowen. I don’t know why, and I don’t expect you to tell me, but I want you to know that if you mess with Rowen in any way or any harm comes to him because of you, I will devote what’s left of my life to making you sorry.”
Koda smirked and cocked his head to one side. “Heartbreak has hardened you. Consider it noted.”
“Hardened me?” I scoffed. “It’s done a lot more than that. And if you fuck with Rowen, you’ll find out all about it.”
“You’re cute.” His smile faded as someone approaching from behind me caught his attention. “Looks like the other brother wants to take a turn.”
I turned to find Arrow weaving his way through the crowd toward us. With a beer in hand, he paused to scribble his name on a drunken groupie’s cleavage. I dreaded to think how the growing popularity of Molly’s Chamber would affect his ego. It was a reminder that I needed to keep Jett’s ego in check as well. The spotlight could go to anyone’s head, but I’d bet money that they’d be the first to show the signs.
“You’re absolutely disgusting.” Having said all I needed to say to Koda, I turned on a heeled boot and stalked away, painfully aware of his scarlet gaze on my ass.
Arrow pulled himself away from his adoring fans to intercept me. He motioned to Koda with his beer. “Problem?”
“Always. It’s no big deal though. What’s up?” I didn’t want or need Arrow or anyone else fighting my battle with Koda. That was a battle that would run its course in its own time.
“I had to get away from that.” Arrow pointed at his table where Jett straddled Sam’s lap as he took a shot glass from between her pushed up breasts with his mouth. “I wish they’d just fuck already and get it over with. The flirting is nauseating.”
I smiled. Jett needed to stop pretending she wasn’t into Sam. “I think they’re cute. I’m jealous.”
Arrow made a noise between a gag and a laugh. He tipped the bottle to his lips and drained half the contents before letting out a revolting belch. “Actually, I was going to ask you when you’re doing another recovery job for Cinder.”
“Why?” I couldn’t help but be a little suspicious.
“Well, I need something to do with my spare time now that I’ve been cast out of Dash’s coven. I’m flying solo now. Thought I’d tag along with you. Could be a fun way to kill some time.” Reaching into the pocket of his leather jacket, Arrow produced a joint, which he tucked behind an ear.
I studied him, brow furrowed in confusion. Was he just screwing with me? “Seriously? You want to come on a recovery job? You know this sounds suspicious, right?”
Arrow feigned offense. “Me? Suspicious? Come on, angel girl. I just need a way to let off a little steam. Humor me. Give me a purpose.”
I suspected there was something he wasn’t saying. Possibly something he couldn’t say here.
“As much as I hate to admit it, you can be useful.” I conceded with a nod. A glance at the stage hit me with a sense of urgency. Rubi was setting up her drum kit. “I have to go. We’ll talk about this later.”
Before I could rush off, Arrow grabbed my arm and pulled me in so he could speak without being overheard. “Rowen misses you like crazy, Spike. He’s driving us all nuts with the nonstop moping. Just thought you should know.”
Something about Arrow’s kind words brought me to that place where sorrow met strength. Yet for a moment my strength faltered. I had to bite my lip and take a deep breath. My girls had been my shoulders to cry on during the last two weeks. But I’d done my best not to cry because I refused to believe it was over.
“Thanks, Arrow.” Blinking fast to keep from ruining my mascara, I hurried away, needing desperately to be on that stage where I could purge the swell of sorrow.
Being around Rowen remained hard. I’d done my best to avoid him those first few awful days, but we shared the same world. Both playing music and being nephilim, we were inextricably tied together. Our paths would always cross. And I was ok with that. Because I missed him like crazy too.
Fifteen minutes later we were ready to play. Once Jett peeled herself off Sam’s lap and joined us, the musical therapy I needed commenced. At first I was painfully aware of those who watched: Koda. Rowen. Arrow. Then the drums thundered through the building, transporting me to a place where I could let it all out and leave it on the stage.
Each song we played pulled me deeper under the spell that would set me free. My fingers flew over the strings. Long black locks fell into my face, and I tossed my head, flinging my hair around wildly. Nothing felt as good as being lost in the music did. Well… almost nothing.
The promise of the upcoming summer tour thrilled me. Being up here in this rock bar filled with people cheering for us was just the beginning for Crimson Sin. On that tour we would get the chance to play in front of thousands. A spark of excitement filled my belly, spreading through my limbs.
Jett worked the crowd, driving them into a frenzy. Tash and I leaned on one another, back to back, going hard on our instruments. Rubi beat the skins like a mad woman.
Then I jumped up onto the platform at the front of the stage and caught a glimpse of the blue hawk down below. I went down on my knees as an intricate solo exploded from my fingers. The gorgeous black Gibson screamed, cried, and wailed. The crowd gathered in front of the stage cheered, holding up hands and drinks.
A smile tugged at my lips.
Everything made sense when the music flowed. Suddenly the worries and hurts I’d been carrying lightened, and I could breathe again.
It brought a much needed moment of clarity. I would become the warrior Cinder wanted me to be. I would find what I needed to free Rowen from the deal he’d made. And I’d do it all while letting my passion for music guide me.
Dash might have won this round. Well, he could have it. But he couldn’t have Rowen. And he sure as hell couldn’t have my confidence or my pain. He would have my vengeance though.
This was far from over.
~~~~~
Spike’s story continues in Rebel Heart Book 3, Strange Fire.
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