My eyes opened wide in surprise. "Uh, yeah, I guess. If you want me to?"
"Yeah!" "Play for us!" "Go on, play!" Paul and Marko shouted. Even Dwayne nodded, handing my violin case to me. Laddie hopped off the bed, carrying his Coca-cola and sat down on the other side of Dwayne and watched me. I looked down at him. "How 'bout it, Little Man, should I play?"
He nodded, his hair flopping in his face and his eyes filled with interest. I stood, thinking about what song I would sing. I closed my eyes and felt a breeze from the ocean wrap around me and lift my hair and I smiled, knowing what I would sing. I tapped my toe for a second to catch my rhythm.
I hear your voice on the wind
And I hear you call out my name
"Listen, my child," you say to me
"I am the voice of your history
Be not afraid, come follow me
Answer my call, and I'll set you free"
I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice that always is calling you
I am the voice, I will remain
I am the voice in the fields when the summer's gone
The dance of the leaves when the autumn winds blow
Ne'er do I sleep thoughout all the cold winter long
I am the force that in springtime will grow
I am the voice of the past that will always be
Filled with my sorrow and blood in my fields
I am the voice of the future, bring me your peace
Bring me your peace, and my wounds, they will heal
I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice that always is calling you
I am the voice
I am the voice of the past that will always be
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice of the future
I am the voice, I am the voice
I am the voice, I am the voice
As I pulled the bow across the string, ending the last note, I noticed it was entirely silent. I opened my eyes to see very different emotions in each gaze, but a slight sense of awe radiating from all of them. I blushed and bit my lip.
"How are you not on a stage getting paid money?" Paul asked, his jaw still slightly hanging open. I giggled, and dropped stance. "Probably because I never wanted that. I enjoy playing, it's a release for me. Being on stage, that would be too much pressure constantly, I'd burn out. I don't ever want to lose my love for music," I said truthfully.
There was a tug on my shirt and I looked down to see Laddie. I crouched down in front of him. "Maddie, can I play?" he asked.
"No, Laddie, that's an expensive instrument," Star said.
I raised my hand to quiet her. I looked into his bright brown eyes. "Do you think you can be very careful and not drop it?" I asked. He nodded vigorously. "Ok, my man, follow me," I said and walked over to the couch where I sat down, all eyes on me. I showed Laddie how to hold the violin and the bow, explaining what each piece was, what the strings and frets were, and how to draw the bow across the strings. I handed the bow over and let him go at it.
We all winced when he hit a sour note, but I was rather pleased when he kept at it for a full fifteen minutes, determined to at least get the first line of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" correct. When he managed it, I applauded him, as did Dwayne. "Well done, sweetheart!" I said and kissed the top of his forehead.
"Play more for us, Maddie?" he asked. I looked around and the others nodded.
"Please, Princess. We need something beautiful after that racket," David teased Laddie.
"Alright," I agreed and stood, taking my stance. Suddenly I spotted something in the corner beside Dwayne. "Dwayne, is that yours?" I asked, using my bow to point at the acoustic guitar half-hidden beside a shelf of books. He looked surprised, but nodded. "May I?" I asked.
He handed the beautifully carved instrument to me carefully. I ran my fingers over it and let my fingertips strum the strings. It was in tune. I smiled. "This ought to make you happy, Paul," I said. I sat on the edge of the fountain, and began to play, singing along.
It's all the same, only the names will change
Everyday it seems we're wasting away
Another place where the faces are so cold
I'd drive all night just to get back home
[Chorus:]
I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride
I'm wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive
Sometimes I sleep, sometimes it's not for days
And the people I meet always go their separate ways
Sometimes you tell the day
By the bottle that you drink
And times when you're alone all you do is think
[Chorus 2x]
And I walk these streets, a loaded six string on my back
I play for keeps, 'cause I might not make it back
I've been everywhere, and still I'm standing tall
I've seen a million faces and I've rocked them all
'Cause I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride
I'm wanted dead or alive
'Cause I'm a cowboy, I got the night on my side
I'm wanted dead or alive
And I ride dead or alive
I still drive, dead or alive
Dead or alive [4x]
Paul's mouth hung open, his joint hanging limply from his lip. "That was AWESOME! Play something else!" he said, jumping up and dancing around. He got down on his knees in front of me and took my hands in his. "Have my babies!" he said, making me laugh.
"I don't think so, you over-libidinous marijuana fiend," I said teasingly.
He looked at Dwayne and Marko who were laughing hysterically. Even David was chuckling. "What did she say?" he asked.
"She called you a horny pot-head," Marko gasped between laughs.
Paul's whole demeanor changed and he was suddenly draping himself around me, one arm over my shoulders, the other hand high on my thigh, nuzzling into my ear. "Oh, Princess, you have no idea how very over-libidinous you make me feel," he whispered into my ear, before nuzzling into my neck and nipping at my earlobe. I gasped and jerked away, looking into his eyes and seeing that they'd gone dark with lust.
"Paul!" David admonished him. Paul pulled back just a little, but his arm was still draped over my shoulders and he was still leaning into my side. I yawned and blushed, covering my mouth. "Excuse me. One more song, before I have to get home, guys," I said. They all booed the idea, but I knew I needed to get home soon. "Any requests?" I asked.
Of course, Paul started throwing out songs there was no way I could play without a complete rock band. I heard Star speak up from the corner. "How about 'I love Rock 'n' Roll?'" she asked. The guys were immediately floored. "Yeah!" Paul said, lighting up and dancing around as I began to pick out the tune quickly on the guitar before I began to play. I used my foot to hold percussion as I started singing.
I saw him dancing there by the record machine
I knew he must have been about seventeen
The beat was going strong
Playing my favorite song
And I could tell it wouldn't be long till he was with me, yeah me
And I could tell it wouldn't be long till he was with me, yeah me
Singing, I love rock and roll
So put another dime in the jukebox, baby
I love rock and roll
So come and take your time and dance with me
Ow!
He smiled, so I got up and asked for his name
But that don't matter, he said, 'cause it's all the same
He said, "Can I take you home
Where we can be alone?"
And next we were moving on, he was with me, yeah me
Next we were moving on, he was with me, yeah me
Singing, I love rock and roll
So put another dime in the jukebox, baby
I love rock and roll
So come and take your time and dance with me
Ow!
He said, "Can I take you home
Where we can be alone?"
Next we're moving on, he was with me, yeah me
And we'll be moving on and singing that same old song, yeah with me
Singing I love rock and roll
So put another dime in the jukebox, baby
I love rock and roll
So come and take your time and dance with me
I love rock and roll
So put another dime in the jukebox, baby
I love rock and roll
So come and take your time and dance with
I love rock and roll
So put another dime in the jukebox, baby
I love rock and roll
So come and take your time and dance with
I love rock and roll
So put another dime in the jukebox, baby
I love rock and roll
So come and take your time and dance with
I love rock and roll
So put another dime in the jukebox, baby
I love rock and roll
So come and take your time and dance with me
I smiled as I finished the song, and I handed the guitar back to Dwayne. While he put it away, I placed my violin and bow in it's case, rosining the bow before stowing it away. When I stood, holding my case, the other three stood as well, and Laddie bounded over. "Can I come, too?" he asked. I checked my watch and noted that it was almost four in the morning. Today was going to be a long day, I thought, remembering tonight was Lucy's date with Max and the disaster with Sam and the Frog brothers that I was determined to put a stop to.
"It's getting late, Laddie-boy. How about I tuck you in, and I will be by to see you soon?" I asked. He looked disappointed and my heart broke a little. He was such an adorable child, half-vampire or not.
"Tomorrow?" he asked, his bottom lip pooched out in a pout. I smiled and knelt down to his level, running my hands through his hair.
"I can't tomorrow, baby," I said, catching the others off guard.
"What, why not?" I heard Paul and Marko asking.
I looked back at them and smiled before turning back to Laddie. "My mom, Lucy, has a date tomorrow with Max. I'm going to help her cook supper and keep an eye on my brother Sam," I told him. David and the boys had stiffened, almost imperceptibly to anyone but me, knowing what I did, at Max's name.
"But after tomorrow, you'll be back, right?" Laddie asked, wrapping his arms around me in a hug. "Aww, Laddie, of course I will. I promise!" I said, and hugged him back, picking him up and carrying him to the little bed the boys had made for him. I tucked him in, placing a worn-looking rabbit in his arms and kissing his forehead. I sang The Voice to him again softly, as a lullabye. His eyelids fluttered for a few moments before his breathing deepened and he was asleep. I smiled and kissed his forehead again softly.
I looked up and blushed when I saw all eyes, including Star's were on me. "What?" I asked softly, "he's a sweet kid," I defended myself. David nodded towards the front of the cave. As I walked past, Star grabbed my hand and drew me into a hug. "Be careful, please? They're not what they seem," she said softly into my ear. I gave her a feigned "odd" look and headed to the front of the cave, and with help from David, managed to climb to the stairs outside.
The stars were still bright, but there was still a slight lightening of the edge of the sky. "Dawn always seems a sad time to me anymore," I said quietly. I felt a hand in mine and looked down to see Marko's hand holding my smaller one. "Why's that?" he asked. I blushed and smiled at all of them. "Because I have to tell you all good night," I answered truthfully. They all looked at each other and smiled.
"Come on, Princess, the sooner we get you home, the sooner day after tomorrow comes and we can see you again." David said, leading me up the stairs. I heard Marko and Paul whispering and felt Dwayne's stare upon my back as I gently swung my violin case in my hand. I climbed on the back of David's bike, handing my precious violin to Dwayne, who winked at me as he took it. I wrapped my arms around David's waist and we were off.
The wind was chill and I buried my face against David's jacket, inhaling the scent of cigarette smoke, leather and man, along with the coppery smell of pennies and blood. It was a strange combination, but it made me think of him. Too quickly we were pulling up at Grandpa's and I climbed off the bike. Dwayne handed me my violin, taking my hands and kissing them softly, grinning when I blushed. Marko placed his hand on the back of my neck, pulling me down for a soft kiss. I yelped when Paul drew me across his lap on his bike and used my gasp to enter my mouth with his tongue, kissing me fully. I glared at him and flicked him on his pierced ear with my fingers, but he only grinned unapologetically.
David placed his hand on the small of my back and led me to the door. I turned to say goodnight and was surprised when he pushed me up against the wall, pressing me between it and his body. I dropped my violin in shock and gasped out, "David!" before his lips were on mine, licking, nibbling and nipping at my lips, his hand gripping the back of one thigh and drawing it up to wrap partially around him, so that he ground against me gently. I could hear him growling softly as he used his tongue to part my lips, and I wrapped my hands around his shoulders, murmuring his name. He pulled back and kissed me softly one last time, with a soft stroke of his hand against my cheek. "Goodnight, Princess. Just remember we'll be thinking of you, and you'll be thinking of us. Rest well," he said and turned to climb back on his bike.
They waited until I shakily picked up my violin and was inside before leaving. I heard the bikes fading as I walked up the stairs. I stripped to my underwear and bra, unknowing that once again, they weren't far, watching me until I was in bed. My eyes drifted closed and remembering their wonderful kisses, I fell deeply asleep.