Chapter 7


Kevin Richardson's side - 3 days later - in the recording booth

I watched the lights of the sound mixer go up and down, yet still I was blank. Something was worrying me.

Mallory…

I know that she can be a little melodramatic, but damn, I never saw her this bad. She seemed like she was completely out of her mind.

I wasn't listening to Remi pouring her heart out in there. Until I heard a shout in my earphones.

"Richardson!"

I jerked out of my reverie.

"Um… yeah… lets try that again…"

However, she took off her headphones and walked through the dividing door.

"Listen, do you really want to do this today?"
"What?"
"You're not paying attention, darlins."
"Oh, sorry, something on my mind, that's all."
"Is it Mallory? She's been annoying the crap out of everyone you know that? I hope you can handle it. Doesn't look so to me."

She actually looked concerned for me.

"Well, no, she was just acting a bit crazy a few nights back…"
"Doesn't she always?"

I laughed a bit.

"It seems so, doesn't it? No, but seriously, she had snapped. She kept screaming these things, and didn't know who I was, and stuff…"

Remi raised her eyebrows.

"Okay… psycho… don't take she on… she just want two slap."
"Come again?"
"Lord, can't I break any of you people into Trini talk yet? Don't worry about her. She's probably just looking for attention anyway."

I thought for a while.

"True. You're right Remi. Take the session off. I need some time to think."

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Remi Osuna's Side - 5 hours later

Delmar had put on shades, and now he resembled Keanu Reeves in the Matrix. I didn't complain. He actually looked nice. But now, as we stood in front of the Abyss, the regular chill spot for the underworld, I trembled. I know not why I was nervous; maybe something was going to happen. Yes, that was it. I had a premonition. Though I could not see his eyes, I could tell Delmar was looking at me with concern.

"I'm alright, Delmar. Let's just go."

He continued staring. Then he sighed.

"Alright."

He pushed open the sliding doors, and immediately we were surrounded by cackles of laughter. My trepidation rose. However, the laughter was not at our entrance, they had not even acknowledged us there. It was at some joke or the other. I breathed a sigh of relief and flicked a nervous glance at Delmar. He smiled and nodded.

"Just do like you used to, Remi. Try to remember."

I closed my eyes, and smiled. Walking over to the bar, I ordered a Bloody Mary.

"Mary… how you been?" Sly, the bartender said. He gave me a sort of hiss. I recoiled slightly.

"Around."
"Kane's been saying nasty things about you…"
"Oh really?" I said, trying to play it cool. Sly grabbed my hand.
"I probably shouldn't even be letting you in here."

I rolled my eyes.

"Whatever, Sly, you're too damn afraid of me to ever get on my bad side."
"I know about you… Remi… I do… don't make me hurt you."

Coming from Sly, this was the most laughable thing I had ever heard. For a bartender, Sly was the most out of tune person in the world. He didn't realise who he was dealing with when he sold bloody marys and screwdrivers. He didn't realise that they weren't just lazy, godforsaken bums like he was. They were authentic; they weren't hoax. He didn't know crap.

"Right Sly, I promise I'll be a good girl."

I walked away to find Delmar, who had a girl on his side. I sat next to him, and he leaned over to whisper in my ear.

"Remi, you'd better be careful… I don't like what I'm hearing."

But I was regaining confidence.

"Don't worry Delmar, I just have to get acquainted, round them up, and get it over with."

I looked around the room and saw a group of people sitting decked out in black. There was no music in this place, and I could clearly make out what they were saying. I walked up to them casually. I recognised a few.

"Remi…haven't smelt you around for a while. You gone mortal or what?"

I smiled.

"I've been indisposed Rodrigo."

"You mean you've been in hiding."

I rolled my eyes.

"Now why should I go into hiding?"

"One word. Kane."

My face grew serious and I pulled out a knife I had hidden in my cleavage. I pointed it at Rodrigo's chest.

"Much as this won't kill you Rodrigo, it might hurt a lot. Say that name again and you'd feel it."

Rodrigo's confident smile wavered slightly.

"Agreed."

I slid the knife back into my chest.

"Good. Now, what were you all talking about?" I felt Delmar's eyes flicker towards me as he was talking to the girl on the other side of the room. My face felt hot. No one noticed.

"We were wondering where we could go to find some new blood. This place is getting a bit cramped, don't you think?"

I looked around.

"Yeah, you're right."

An idea pricked itself up in my head.

"There is a place we could go to… you know… it's called The Promenade… we could rent it for a few nights, have some of those open house parties there, you know, have people pay to come in. It's bigger than this place by far, and it's a new environment, easy to lure new people in… perfect, don't you think?"

They seemed to seriously think about it.

"Seems like an idea…"

I felt a hand on my shoulder and a whiff of familiar cologne. Someone was whispering into my ear with a distinct Scottish brogue.

"How's your brother Remi?"

My body ran cold for a second, and I shivered with shame. I looked around and saw him there, and all of that was forgotten instantly.

"Kane. How… good to see you."

I offered my hand in an icy, forced gesture. He shook it with a firm grip.

"I must speak with you outside."

I ignored the panic bells going off in my head. Maybe he wants me back. Maybe he actually does love me. I allowed him to help me out of my seat and take me outside.

In the night, the alley was cold. I saw my breath come in little white puffs in front of me. And then he spoke. Not with words, but with his mouth on my lips. I allowed his lips to lightly suck on mine, allowed him to bite my bottom lip softly and as I was delving for more, he pulled away.

"Remi, I was wrong about you, you do know that right? You are the one I've been looking for, the girl of my dreams. Please, forgive me for being so cool towards you."

"Of course Kane, just kiss me like that again…"

"You'll do anything for me, won't you Remi?"

"Of course Kane… I would."

"Even give your blood for me?"

I snapped out of my trance. My gaze turned frigid. I glared at him.

"Of course not, Kane. I'm not going to let you take my life away."

He grabbed my shoulders roughly and slammed my body against the wall.

"You don't understand girl… I need you. All of you."

I felt fear rising in my throat like a wave of wriggling snakes. I had great difficulty in swallowing it. My feet were dangling a foot above ground.

"You're not going to get that from me."

His voice became dangerously quiet.

"I will harm you if I must… unless you comply with me, I can…"

Suddenly, my feet were back on solid ground as Kane's body fell in a crumpled heap to the damp floor. Delmar had hit him hard in the temples. He looked at me.

"Let's get out of here."

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Chapter Eight

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