Haeven (8 page)

"Oh, I don't know...Penny...and..."

"Aww, come on!" the man seized my hand and
pulled me into the apartment. "Hey everyone! I want you to meet
someone – Emily," his smile full of charm, "this is everyone!"

Someone turned the music down as we moved
towards the small crowd of people. The apartment was laid out
somewhat differently than mine with the living area off to the left
and the kitchen off to the right. It was more open and beyond the
kitchen looked to be the dining room as I glanced right and an
office or study towards the left.

I noticed that most of people gathered in the
living area were couples. Some were ordinary people like me and
Jesse and others were most definitely like Herrik. There were a few
nods and hellos as we neared the group then everyone quieted down
while Jesse introduced me to them one by one. I was terribly
nervous and even though everyone was friendly enough my fear caused
me to miss half their names.

Once the introductions were over Jesse
excused himself, "Just for a minute," he assured me and turned and
headed towards the back of the apartment.

I watched him go and stood quietly apart from
the group, my eyes darting this way and that avoiding direct
contact with any of the people I had just met.

"So, Emily, where are you from?" one of the
girls asked me.

I turned her way completely unsure how to
answer, "Oh, I...I...I'm a guest of Herrik's," it was all I could
think to say.

The room grew uncomfortably quiet and
everyone seemed to suddenly turn away from me. My uneasiness
intensified tenfold but fortunately Jesse had come back, "I think
I'm going to go now." I quietly stated.

Jesse's face fell, "Oh, no, please don't go!"
he looked at me imploringly. "Please," he said again, "come with
us," his face bright and earnest, "we're just going to Jax's to
play a set tonight. You said you were lonely," he argued.

"A set? Are you in a band?" I was intrigued
by the idea and couldn't help perking up when I realized what Jesse
was suggesting.

I saw a look of triumph flash in his eyes,
"Yep," he nodded. "Come. Come see us play!"

More than anything that was exactly what I
wanted to do but something was holding me back. I started to say no
but then someone called out from behind us and we all turned to the
voice, "Van's ready! Let's go!"

Jesse pecked my cheek and I quickly lost my
resolve. Before I knew it we were all being ushered from the living
room and crammed into the elevator. We exited at the garage level
and everyone dispersed.  Most went to the waiting van, a
couple to the motorcycles while Jesse and I piled into one of the
sportier cars.

I sat in the passenger's seat giddy and
excited while Jesse drove. When we got to the gate I worried that
the guard wouldn't let us through but the van went first then the
motorcycles; it was clear that we were all a part of the same group
and when it was our turn to exit we passed right through. Jesse
made small talk during the short drive and about fifteen minutes
later we pulled into an alley and parked behind the van. While the
others unloaded the equipment Jesse took me in through the back
door and brought me to the office.

He rapped on the door and a moment later a
somewhat slovenly, older man stepped out, "Good you're here. A
little late!" he frowned.

"Yeah, sorry about that," Jesse shuffled; his
voice apologetic. "It won't take long to set-up and we'll give 'em
a good show. Listen," he looked at me curiously, "I brought
my...cousin and ...uh...can I get another pass for her?"

"She's kind of young to be at a
nightclub."

"She'll stay in the back; watch from behind.
No one will even know she's here," Jesse assured him.

"Hmm..." the man squinted in consternation,
"keep out of sight and any trouble...from any of you," he looked at
me a long moment and finally turned his eyes on Jesse, "and you're
out. Not just you," he pointed to me. "All of you! Understand?"

"Of course," Jesse nodded.

The man went back into the office and came
back with the requested pass. He handed it to Jesse who looped it
around my neck. Jesse led me to the stage and hopped down to the
nightclub floor. He gathered one of the stools from a nearby table
where the audience would soon be sitting and brought it to the
stage. He set it up where he thought I would be beyond the view of
the crowd and had me take a seat.

Jesse jumped back down and walked the floor
the entire length of the stage to make sure I couldn't be seen then
came back up. He inched me back another foot or two, did another
quick check then returned and said, "That should do. I have to help
set-up, will you be alright? Is there anything you need?"

"Nope," my eyes alight and my face flushed
with excitement.

"Great. Oh, here," he reached in his pocket
and pulled out a small plastic baggy. He handed it to me and said,
"You might need these," then smiled, kissed my cheek and quickly
strode away. He immediately began helping the rest of the band with
the various amps, instruments and so forth.

I opened the packet and found that it
contained some earplugs. Smiling I tucked them into each of my ears
and though everything was suddenly muffled I could still hear a
good deal of what was taking place around me.

It didn't seem to take very long for them to
finish setting up and once they were nearly done the curtains were
drawn and the nightclub began to fill up with patrons. The band
hurried through their sound check and just as the last of the seats
were being taken Jesse approached the microphone.

My heart leapt as the audience's lights were
dimmed and stage lights began to flash. A long, drawn out cord
echoed across the club and a cheer roared up from the crowd. As the
sound faded I watched the drummer smash his sticks together to set
the tempo then suddenly the curtains were thrust open and the band
and their music came to life.

I could feel the bass thumping through me and
the guitars wailing a hard and edgy tune and Jesse's voice strong
and melodic blending it all together into a mesmerizing harmony. I
was on the edge of my seat as they all danced back and forth across
the stage urging the audience to love and worship them and their
music.

Jesse glanced over whenever he could do it
without being conspicuous to see my reaction and I knew there was
no way he could mistake my smile and wide eyes as one song after
another was belted out. There were breaks in between songs from
time to time where Jesse would address the audience over their
clapping and cheering then he would launch the band suddenly,
almost unpredictably into something new. He was amazing and seemed
to know exactly what to say and how to coax the audience into a
greater and greater fanatic enthusiasm.

One time a girl clambered up onto the stage
and threw her arms around Jesse and kissed him full on the lips
before one of the security guards could tackle her and drag her
from the club. While she was being carried away she screamed terms
of endearment back toward the stage, none of which could be heard
over the music and the noise of the crowd. I laughed out loud at
the crazy, zealous behavior but otherwise didn't think anything of
it.

Eventually the set ended then Jesse and the
others told the audience that they were taking a little break.
"We'll be back in 15!” Jesse called out. The curtains fell closed
and though it was still quite loud beyond the stage it seemed
suddenly quiet where I was sitting.

After placing the microphone back in its
stand Jesse came over smiling, breathless and covered in sweat. "So
what did you think?" he held his hands out and I hopped down from
the stool.

"That was amazing," I beamed.

"I'm glad you're having a good time. Do you
want a drink? A water, soda or anything?"

"Actually," I glanced around, "is there a
restroom anywhere?"

"Yeah, sure, let me show you."

I really didn't want him to come with me but
couldn't think of any reasonable way to refuse his offer.

"Right there," he pointed when we were close
enough. "Do you need me to wait?"

"No, I think I can find my way back," I said
with a touch of humor.

I was trembling with the excitement of seeing
Jesse's band and my ears were ringing when I walked into the
bathroom. In my mind I replayed the songs and pictured Jesse and
the other musicians as they incited the crowd and their fervor.
Smiling I found an empty stall and locked the door behind
me. 

When I was done freshening up and ready to
head back I walked out of the bathroom. "Now's my chance," I
thought to myself and rather than turning toward the stage I
started walking towards the office and the backdoor where we had
come in.

I took a hurried step then another and tried
a third but couldn't seem to pick my feet up after that. I looked
over my shoulder.

"Avery!" I cried out.

"Hello Emily," he said his face and voice
both devoid of emotion.

I tried fighting the hold he had on me and
running. Avery gave a malicious little chuckle and I felt his grip
loosen. I took several stumbling strides which brought me back
towards the office and to my utter horror I watched as Carah
stepped out of the doorway. Realizing my escape was barred in
either direction I tried to scream and call for help.

"None of that!" Avery grabbed me from behind
and covered my mouth as he shuffled me toward the back door.

I knew it was senseless to struggle so I gave
into the inevitable and let them guide me away. I heard the music
start back up as Avery ushered me out into the alley and wondered
how long it would take Jesse to notice that I was gone. I knew
there was nothing he or anyone else could do but I tried to remain
hopeful.

"Why didn't I leave as soon as I had the
chance? I shouldn't have listened to Jesse and his band as long as
I did. I could have been far, far away by now."

Avery glanced at me in the mirror and gave me
a look that seemed to challenge the thought. I clenched my teeth
and instinctively emptied my mind as Carah plopped down beside me.
Avery seemed surprised. "Interesting," he frowned and mumbled. He
adjusted the mirror and without anything further drove us back to
the canyon.

Once we were in the elevator Avery brought us
down to my floor and got off with me but Carah stayed on and I
imagined she was heading down to Herrik's level to report that she
and Avery had found me and I was back in my apartment. I figured
Avery had stayed behind to make sure that I did indeed accept my
fate and was safely delivered to my door.

I entered the code and turned the handle then
Avery reached forward and pushed the door open for me. I had to
duck under his arm to get inside and once I was in he followed
directly behind me. I glanced back once or twice as we walked
toward the kitchen. I could hear voices and strained my ears to see
if I recognized who they belonged to. As I listened I realized that
it was Herrik and Penny. I could hear both their voices
intermittently but they were speaking so low and hushed that I
couldn't catch a word they said.

Suddenly I was too afraid to walk any further
and felt desperate not to have to face either of them but Avery
nudged me along the hallway and there was no turning back.

"Please," Penny pleaded, "it won't happen
again," were the first words of their conversation that I could
actually make out.

"I'm sorry," Herrik said as I inched nearer
and nearer to the kitchen. "There's nothing I can do."

My heart was pounding as I watched them
sitting across from one another at the island. Herrik was oddly
calm and unemotional; unwilling to be swayed by whatever Penny was
saying as she stared across the distance between them with her eyes
full of tears.

"No...no...no," Penny begged. "I can't leave!
Not now...not now that Emily is here and after everything that has
happened!"

"Oh, God," I thought, "what have I
done?!"

"There are rules Penny; it's not my decision
to make. You were supposed to keep an eye on her. By letting her
leave you put Emily at a terrible risk. You put us all at a
terrible risk. Exposing her could have exposed us all. What if
someone recognized her or worse...?”

Penny buried her face in her hands, "I
know...I know...I wasn't thinking...I...I...she...I needed a
distraction after all that's happened. It's been very emotional for
me and she's been so...!"

"You have to accept responsibility for what
you have done and whatever consequences it brings. The rules are
clear and there can be no exceptions." Herrik stood up. "Tomorrow
morning," he said conclusively. Penny got up intending to see him
out. "Stay. All of you," he met each of our eyes one by one. I
could see how frustrated and remorseful he was and that somehow he
felt responsible for the turn of events. No matter how determined I
was not to regret trying to escape I lowered my eyes shamefully and
at least for Penny's sake wished I hadn't done it.

As he walked past I impulsively reached out
and grabbed Herrik's hand. "Please don't send Penny away," I
whispered. "It wasn't her fault."

"I know," Herrik replied. He laid his hand on
my cheek and tilted my face so that I was looking up at him. There
was something...something strange in his eyes. My heart stilled,
the throbbing in my temples; the pain, the worry, my
fears...everything was fading, dulling.

He started to say something, thought better
of it and instead, "Get some rest, Emily."

It sounded like forgiveness but certainly
didn't feel like it. There was so much tension in his expression
that I knew he hated me for what I had done. After he was gone
Avery asked Penny if there was anything she needed. She shook her
head no and a moment later he walked towards the front door and
stationed himself directly in front of it just as I had seen him do
at Herrik's apartment.