At first my feet startled to tingle. "Something's happening."

"Good. Hang on. It should go fast now."

I opened my mouth to say something back, but didn't get a chance before I was sucked into the darkness.

Chapter 21.

The tunnel was black. At least I thought it was a tunnel. It was easier that way to think of it in those terms. The alternative was crazy as h.e.l.l, and I didn't want to consider it. I could follow a tunnel. It made sense. Put one foot in front of the other, slide fingers along the sides. Follow the path. Stay on the path. To step off meant a trip to oblivion. And I really didn't want to go on that ride and be lost forever.

I crept forward in the darkness, concentrating on my steps, picture the hotel bathroom on the other end. In my mind, I saw the white porcelain toilet and the green tiled counter around the white sink. The white shower curtain flapped in front of me, beckoning me...

And then I was there grabbing it. I could feel the plastic in my hands.

I fell forward and tore the curtain from the hooks. I nearly hit my head on the toilet seat on the way down. Holy s.h.i.t. I totally did it.

I scrambled to my feet and surveyed the room. It was definitely Trevor's hotel bathroom. His toothbrush lay on the counter next to a tube of crest. The toothbrush he'd bought for me lay next to that. A bottle of Calvin Klein cologne sat on the corner. I picked it up and smelled it. Yup, Trevor. He carried the light spiced scent on his skin.

Okay, time to go back. Although, now would be a perfect opportunity to snoop through Trevor's stuff. Find out more about him, find out more about Malice.

But he'd said to come right back. If I didn't he'd know that I had been up to something. And I didn't want to p.i.s.s him off. I liked him. And I was pretty sure he liked me too.

Finding a shadow on the floor, I stood on it, and concentrated on sliding into it. I pictured the bathroom on the other side. I pictured Trevor's face and focused on that. Which wasn't hard, as his face was pretty stellar.

Within seconds, I dissolved into the shadow and through the floor and into the abyss. It was easier going back. It seemed like I'd only taken a few steps before I was blinking up at Trevor from where I was curled into a ball on the floor. He reached down and helped me to my feet.

"Not bad. It only took you about six minutes."

"Instead of coming back right away, I could've searched their rooms for something, anything to help us put them down."

"Yeah? And how would you have gotten into any of their rooms?"

I frowned, totally forgetting about that little problem.

"We'll keep practicing until you get fast, then and only then, will we try it. You have to have the layout of the room you're going to. You have to see where you're going or who knows where you'll end up."

"Okay, so how do I get into their rooms?"

He sighed. "I haven't figured that out yet."

There was a pounding at the door. "Finish s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g and get out here. It's time to open the club." It was one of the other roadies. Chuck, I think his name was.

Trevor glanced at me. "Mess up your hair a bit." He unb.u.t.toned his jeans. "It has to look like we...ah, you know."

"Oh right." I put my hands in my hair and ruffled them about until pieces were sticking up. "How's this?"

He snickered. "Cute."

I blushed again. I had to really get a hold of myself if I wanted to go through with any of this. I had to get a hold of my head, my heart, and especially my hormones. Or I was going to get into even more trouble.

After he unlocked the door, we walked out together, holding hands. There was a flurry of activity and basically everyone ignored us as we came down the corridor to backstage. Everyone except Devon.

She stood in the open pa.s.sage blocking our way. She had her stage makeup on, and was dressed to s.e.xpress. She looked from me to Trevor then back to me. Leaning forward, she sniffed me.

"I'm not sure what game you're playing but I'm watching you."

"Don't be so melodramatic, Devon," Trevor said as he squeezed my hand. "There's no big conspiracy against you. I've just moved on to unsoiled pastures so to speak."

That had her cringing back. She was obviously not used to be spoken to in that way. Her eyes went jet black, and she snarled at me.

The urge to return the act of aggression surged through me. I could feel the change coming. It was like a bottled up heat wave bursting to rush through me.

Trevor must've noticed because he tugged me backwards and put me behind him. "Get over yourself, Devon. You aren't that hot."

She stepped forward. "That's not what you thought that night I sucked out your soul."

She grinned and I could see the tiny points of fangs distending from her gums. Talons had popped out from her fingers as well. She was going to attack, I was sure of it. She glared at me over Trevor's shoulder.

"Start counting your days, b.i.t.c.h. Because you don't have many left." She snarled again, then turned and streaked into the back of the stage.

When she was gone, we continued to make our way backstage.

"Do you want her to rip my throat out?" I asked Trevor.

"No, of course not."

"Then quit antagonizing her. Because one day she will get me alone."

"I can't help it." He balled his hand into a fist. "I just hate her so much because of what she did to me. I want to kill her."

"I know you do." I put a hand on his shoulder. "And you'll get your chance. But please dial it down so she doesn't get me first."

He turned toward me. "I won't let her hurt you, Salem."

I liked hearing the sincerity and determination in his voice and seeing the look of concern in his eyes. Gave me the warm fuzzies inside and out. But I knew how dangerous Devon and the others could be. I was skirting a fine dangerous line just being here.

"I know. But you can't be with me twenty four seven."

"I could try." And he gave me one of his rare smiles.

It did a number on me. I could actually feel my insides melt. My heart even skipped a few beats.

Chuck, the road crew top guy, grunted at us as he pa.s.sed by. "Could you do all that sick love s.h.i.t after we get this show done?"

"Ah, we're not..." Trevor started but Chuck tossed him a pair of pliers.

"Just fix that speaker, okay?"

Without another word, Trevor went to work, and I watched from a distance.

I didn't believe Trevor when he'd told me to wear earplugs during the show. I should have though.

Not until Malice had taken the stage, picked up their instruments, plugged in and started to play. The static had nearly broken my ear drums. I'd been near the back of the club at the bar, sipping on a c.o.ke and lime when the screeching, scratching sound just about knocked me off the bar stool.

Everyone around me at looked at me strangely as I clamped my hands over my ear, wincing in pain. I'd scrambled for the spongy ear plugs in my pocket to put in my ears but not before I heard his voice through the white noise...

You belong to me...

I own you...

Your life's in my hands...

I'm sucking your soul...

But this time Thane hadn't been singing to me. He was singing to his next victim.

I stood at the side of the stage, ear plugs firmly in, scanning the crowd for the incubus' intended mark.

It was hard to tell because there were at least two dozen possibilities all crammed at the foot of the stage. Girl, goth, punk, alternative, all gathered, dancing, jockeying for a good position to vie for Thane's attention. It all looked a bit too familiar and I wondered if that was how I had looked. Desperate for just one moment of attention, for that one second when our eyes would meet and he would smile.

I shook myself. G.o.d, no wonder he'd chosen me. Like these girls, I'd done anything to spend time with Thane and the band. Anything. I'd been prepared to even lose my virginity to him. To a guy I didn't know, a guy who didn't have one iota who I was or valued me in any way.

I know I didn't deserve what he'd ultimately done to me but I'd put myself in the position to be used, to be hurt. And I promised myself I wouldn't let any of these girls make the same horrible mistake I had.

So I watched and waited through their set taking mental notes of the girls in front, what they looked like, what they were wearing. Towards the end, I spied three girls wearing backstage pa.s.s badges around their necks. Just like I had.

When the set was over, I followed the girls backstage, not where the crew went but the talent. A hand around my arm stopped me from going into the dressing rooms.

"Where the h.e.l.l are you going?" Trevor frowned at me.

"I won't let it happen again to someone else." I tried to pull away but he had a tight hold.

He looked around before speaking again; probably making sure no one was listening to our conversation. Some of the road crew brushed past us. Trevor pulled me out of their way and walked me out the back exit into the alleyway.

"I told you it wasn't a good idea to hang around them especially Thane."

"He's going to do this to someone else. I can't let that happen."

"You can't help them, Salem. You'll blow your cover. He'll know."

I yanked my arm from his grip and kicked at the wall, frustration building inside like a volcano. "I don't care. Saving them is more important."

"You can't save them. It's beyond your control."

I turned and looked at him. He didn't meet my gaze. He was looking at the ground.

Then it hit me. His guilt was palpable.

"Why didn't you save me, Trevor?"

His head snapped up. "What?"

"You saw me at the party. I talked to you. You knew then didn't you? You knew Thane was going to do this to me."

He backed away from me, heading toward the door. "You don't know what you're talking about."

I grabbed him and spun him around to look at me. I gripped his chin and made him really look at me. "Why didn't you save me?"

A tear slipped from the corner of his eye and rolled down his cheek. I watched its path. A ball of sorrow twisting in my gut.

"Because I was too scared, okay? You get me? I'm a f.u.c.king coward."

"Is that why you found me after? Is that why you brought me here? Do you think you can save me now?"

He didn't say anything. He didn't need to. I could see the answer in the liquid shimmer of his eyes.

His guilt had forced him to find me and bring me here. To take care of me. The same guilt that he fostered for his sister. The fact that he didn't save her either ate at him like a cancer. I didn't want his guilt. I wanted something else, another feeling, to be the reason he was with me.

I let my hand drop from his face and took a distancing step away. I was going to get sick. "Give me my money."

"What?"

"The money I made working this show. I earned it."

He fumbled in his front jean pocket and pulled out a wad of bills. He pulled off five twenties and handed them to me.

I folded them and jammed the wad into my pocket. Without another word, I turned and started down the alley.

"I'm sorry, Salem," he called after me. "I'm sorry."

I didn't acknowledge it and kept walking. The tears didn't fall until I stepped out onto the street and turned the corner.

I didn't know for how long I'd been walking but it had been long enough that I was cold and completely lost. Since I was in a city I didn't know it didn't surprise me that I was lost. I looked around for any frame of reference. Unfortunately the Starbucks on the corner was closed but the little cafe next to it wasn't. I went in and ordered a coffee. I paid with one of the twenties, needing change.

My coffee in hand, I found an old phone booth, one where I could actually go into. A rare sight on most city streets, especially when everyone had a cell phone. I of course was forced to leave mine at home.

I picked up the handset, plugged in a bunch of coins and dialed. I didn't know exactly what time it was, late definitely, so it didn't surprise me when a sleepy barely audible voice answered with a grunt.

"Chloe?"

Silence, then, "Salem?"