“A karaoke club? Seriously?” Mom leaned against the doorframe of my room. Her keen lie-detector gaze scanned my face and then the signed permission form she clearly hadn’t bothered to read earlier. “That’s your class field trip?”
“Yep.” I shrugged. “Teacher’s orders.” Mr. Smythe was notorious for unusual field trips, but this one was a first. I heard he went through reams of red tape to get clearance for this trip to Dissonance, a night club in the city where we could live out our rock star fantasies. No way was I missing it. He’d even reserved a private room with a stage, just for our class. “He’s a huge Glee fan.” I shrugged. “And it counts toward my final grade, so I have to be there,” I reminded her, while searching for the trendiest jacket I could find.
I’d never been to a night club, and had no idea what to wear. Brianne had offered up a few suggestions, which all involved micro minis or belly shirts. Needless to say I took a pass. My ripped jeans, Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt and high heeled ankle boots would have to do.
Mom gave me the once over and wrinkled her nose. “Is that what you’re wearing?”
Sigh. “You have something else in mind?”
Apparently that was all the invitation she needed. She nearly sprinted down the hall to her room, throwing open the door to her walk-in closet. I cringed at how much of it sparkled. It looked like it had been bombed with pixie dust. But she made her living in the public eye. Glittery low-cut ball gowns made for a clever distraction to hide who you really are behind a showy false persona. Although, I suspect she did it more to hide from herself.
She pulled out a dress and I shook my head before she could even hand it to me.
“Nope. No dresses. I’m keeping the jeans.”
My mother rolled her eyes. “Fine, then how about this?”
I liked a little shimmer as much as the next girl, but really? This one was more sequins than fabric. It was like a liquid mirror. Way too Vegas. I was about to reject it too when she took it off the hanger and pushed it at me.
“If you’re going to be on stage, you have to get used to being the center of attention. Nothing catches the light and the eye like sequins. Just try it.”
For a change I did as I was told, and to my own horror, it wasn’t half bad. Fitted but not too clingy, with enough black to make it nightclub worthy. Even the sequins weren’t too much. I liked the way they reflected the soft chandelier lighting in her dressing room. And since she’d picked it up in Milan, the chance of anyone else having the same thing was zero. Nothing like my usual style, but then I was nothing like my usual self. Life was all about broadening horizons, right?
Not to mention I was actually looking forward to this assignment. A nightclub in the city could only be fun. A much needed distraction from, well… everything else. Being away from school and Drearyton Cove just seemed best for now. I finished getting ready and plodded down the stairs to wait for Brianne who’d surprisingly offered to pick me up.
Adrius would be back in a day or two. Traveling with his uncle once again; that was the excuse we used and everyone bought it, no questions asked. I’d somehow have to manage to stay off Venus’ radar. Who was I kidding? She obviously didn’t have anything planned for me. If she had I would have known about it. For all I knew her sudden silence meant she’d followed Adrius back to the Nevermore. I found an odd sense of relief in that possibility. I hated her anywhere near Adrius, but he could look after himself. My human friends were a lot more vulnerable.
***
Dissonance wasn’t so much a night club as it was a dark gathering place for wannabe rock stars. At least that’s what it appeared to be tonight. Every other night might have been different, but tonight it was a crowd of all ages rivaling those on the American Idol television show. The bar was packed with teens and nothing but virgin drinks without proper ID. Scattered among the throng were some twenty-somethings, either there for the same reason we were, or newbies who didn’t know Thursdays was an all-age no-booze night. The abstinence from any alcohol was the only way our forward thinking music teacher would have gotten clearance for this little road trip.
Since we didn’t get access to our private room for another half hour, I scanned the club. The walls were vibrating from the pulsating music. Every second song, someone got on stage to sing along. A guy with jeans hanging off his hip just finished rapping when a glittering parade of sequin-enhanced diva wannabes flowed through the room toward the stage. I hated it when my mother was right. But they looked amazing on stage. Black lights made the white walls glow, and the high tables were glass lit from underneath with blue lights.
“Very cool,” Brianne yelled in my ear over the Katy Perry tune someone was belting out off-key. At least they looked good doing it.
I agreed with her. This totally beat sitting around doing homework, which is what my night would have had in store. I wanted to keep my mind busy and this was perfect.
I watched the crowd undulating to the throbbing bass for a while, before Brianne dragged me onto the dance floor. Before I knew it, I was gyrating and spinning with the rest of the crowd. It felt good to cut loose. It was freeing for once to not be looking over my shoulder and worrying about how my life would fall apart next. I spread my arms, and whipped my hair back and forth to the beat. Music pumped from all corners, filling my senses. It was almost like there was something more than music in the air, making me light-headed. Giddy almost. I liked it. I danced harder, riding the energy high I was feeling. The music thrummed through the soles of my shoes, as my sweat dampened hair flew over my face. I didn’t want to think about that. About the way the temperature had dropped, or the way everything blurred by me while I was spinning, or the witch threatening the lives of everyone I loved.... in this moment all I cared about was the music coursing through my veins, and the blissful sensation of bass pumping through my body.
When the song came to an end, I didn’t notice, until Brianne grabbed my arm. “Hey, let’s sing something together.”
She was in super-friend mode tonight. But not even that bothered me. “Ya, sure. You pick.” I felt confident, certain I could handle whatever song she picked.
Pushing through the crowd, I made my way to the bar. The long list of drinks were completely foreign to me.
“Not much of a drinker?”
A voice came from a man next to me. I shook my head and turned my attention back to the bartender. But something pulled my gaze away, and I returned it to the man who’d spoken to me.
It was a face I recognized. But from where? Wherever I knew him from he had that creepy vibe.
“What’ll you have?” the bartender shouted, more than a little impatient.
“Uhm...” I stared at the assortment of beverages lining the back wall. I could have just ordered a cola, but felt like something a little more interesting.
The strange man lifted his drink, which had a salted rim and was garnished with a celery stick. “Even without vodka, Bloody Caesars are good, if you like tomato juice.”
“I don’t.” But I also didn’t want to keep the bartender waiting. “I’ll have the same.” I pointed.
The bartender started to whip together my drink while the man a few stools down from me nodded with a smile. I offered a half smile then turned away, not wanting to give him any ideas. Where had I seen this guy before?
At the same time my drink arrived in front of me, the man shuffled to the stool right next to mine. I sighed internally. Where was my knight in shining armor when I needed him? Now I was going to have to fend off some forty-year-old perv all night? Not part of my just-cut-loose plan.
I was preparing to give him my so not interested look, when I caught sight of his ring. It was massive, and gold and flashy... and in that moment I remembered where I’d seen it before.
I swung my gaze back to his.
He smiled, again, seeming to know I’d recognized him.
I didn’t return his smile. “Peterson? You’re the guy who called me, aren’t you?” I nearly whispered the words.
He nodded. “Yes, Lorelei, I am. Considering we’ve only met once, you have a good memory.” He gestured to the booth near the back of the club. “Can we talk?”
I tried for an air of cool and calm as he led me to a quieter part of the club. It was a tough act to pull off. Mutely, I followed, not sure what to say. What did you say to a stranger who may or may not be involved with the disappearance of your great aunt?