Shadow Lover (Siren Publishing Allure) (38 page)

“Ms. Marsh, as you can see, the fans are going absolutely wild. It must feel good to have your book made into a major motion picture that has received this much acclaim.”

"Yes, it does," Chyna said with her usual sexy charm. "Sometimes I think I'm dreaming. I used to have a little alarm clock that woke me up every time I began having a good dream." She shrugged. "I keep expecting it to go off."

"Ms. Marsh, speaking of dreams, when you moved down to the little town of Mystic Islands, New Jersey, did you ever in your wildest imagination think you would find the story that would literally make your career?"

"I certainly didn't. I was just looking for a remote little place to do my work. My writer's curiosity has always put me in situations that I wouldn't have been in ordinarily, and that's what happened in this case."

The announcer smiled at her answer, then put the microphone up to Tim's mouth. "Tim, when you found out you had been picked for the part of Kirk Grayson, the world famous Mystery Man, what went through your mind?"

"Well, Dan, as you know, a lot of actors went after this part. But when my agent called me with the word that I was the lucky one, I went wild, man. When I finally calmed down, I thought back about all the struggles actors have to go through to get where I am today. It's just hard to believe that I'm one of those that actually made it. Let me tell you, it's a fantastic high."

"I hear there may be an Oscar out there for you."

"Hey, I hope so. I'm ready for it."

He turned back to Chyna. "Ms. Marsh, there's talk that you and your Mystery Man may get married. Is there any truth to that?"

"Very definitely. Next week to be exact."

"Where?"

Chyna laughed. "Sorry, but I can't give out that information. No press allowed."

A few of them shouted, "Boo!

“Sorry, guys,” Chyna replied. “This is a private affair—” She winked suggestively. “—with the emphasis on
affair.
”

When the interview ended, both Chyna and Tim Chase turned to walk in, but they lingered for a moment waving at the fans and allowing their pictures to be taken a few more times before going in. Once inside, Chyna separated herself from Tim and went backstage to be with Kirk. Both she and Kirk had insisted on a private booth for the showing, and when she walked in she saw Serena hanging all over Kirk. Kirk seemed to be struggling, but was too much of a gentleman to push her away. When Chyna cleared her throat to announce her presence, Serena looked around and begrudgingly pulled away from him. Kirk looked relieved.

Chyna quickly sat down beside Kirk, and soon after a bottle of champagne was brought in by the management. The two lovers toasted the success of the film just as the stage curtain began lifting, revealing a giant white screen. Suddenly a strong male voice hidden within the wings began speaking into a microphone, echoing throughout the theater from one corner to the other.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great pride that Mann’s Chinese Theater brings you the opening night of the film,
Face in the Shadows
. The movie event you are about to see has been long-awaited throughout the country and around the world. As the lights dim, and the curtains rise, and the film bursts into flaming color, the lives of Chyna Marsh and the Grayson family will at last be made public. The long-kept secret of the misty little bluff called Cat's Paw will finally be known. From the very first day Chyna Marsh arrived in the little town of Mystic Islands, New Jersey, to the day Mystery Man, Kirk Grayson rises up from his self-imposed prison, this film will tug at your heart. As you sit and watch the struggles of a young man trying to get his life back, yet finds himself being constantly lied to and manipulated by a jealous brother, your hearts will ache. Chyna Marsh fights against this the only way she knows how…as a woman. And what started out as nothing more than curiosity, turns into a blockbuster film, and true love. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Hollywood's version of the widely-acclaimed novel by Chyna Marsh…
Face in the Shadows
.”

Slowly the lights dimmed, the music swelled, and the film began unfurling, scene by scene. Chyna and Kirk sat there looking at the re-creation of the mist-shrouded little country road leading to the mansion at Cat's Paw. Kirk squeezed Chyna's hand as he watched his life being flashed over a screen. He flinched when he saw the automobile accident that killed his parents. The studio's makeup man did an excellent job of creating the scars that marred Kirk’s handsome face, and it was all too real when Kirk saw the scarred face of the young actor looking up into a shimmering moonlight praying a prayer that he didn't think he was good enough to pray. He felt the tears the actor shed falling down through the scars, and Kirk's eyes became misty. He could feel the agony once again as he struggled through the suicide scene in the dark dungeon. The wind whistled and moaned as the hurricane hit once again, and he watched while the young actress was being buried beneath the debris. He saw the cruel manipulations of the actor who played Quinn, and again heard his painful insults.

Monster! Beast! Frankenstein!

And then when the scene in front of the fireplace was re-enacted, a gasp caught in Kirk’s throat. He tried to watch, but finally jerked his head away from the screen. Chyna saw the tears swimming in his eyes, and grabbed his hand and held it throughout the rest of the film. She knew he was having a hard time painfully reliving those dark times once again.

Since Chyna had finished the book while Kirk was having his surgery done, she’d written an update, filling the studio in on what had happened during the last few weeks of his stay in the hospital which included the seduction, the thrashing of the High Coast Café, and the disappearance of Quinn.

The studio inserted the scenes in, being sure to give the last scene the drama it deserved. It was the scene in which Kirk finally realized he was a new man. The bandages had come off, the sutures and bruising were minimal, and the young actor sat silently with his head bowed, as if in fear. Since there was no dialogue in this scene, the music told what the young man was feeling inside. It was intense at first, showing fear, but as the young actor slowly lifted his face toward the camera, the music slowly became excited, inflamed. When he saw his reflection in the mirror, the music swelled, and the audience was held spellbound as the young actor’s eyes widened, revealing surprise at his perfect face. Every eye in the house was riveted on the world of deep emotions, one after the other, that surged among the tiny blue and green flecks of his expressive eyes as he gazed at himself, not believing the miracle he saw. As if his movements were being orchestrated by the music, the young man gradually lifted his hands, and with tears swimming in his unbelieving eyes, he felt the smoothness of his perfect face. The music turned triumphant when he smiled, and those pent-up tears began to course down his cheeks. Slowly the credits began rolling and the audience was propelled to their feet, cheering through their muffled sobs. Ironically, the worst years of Kirk Grayson's life—had brought the house down.

All at once several studio people came rushing into the booth and escorted Kirk and Chyna toward the stage. As they stood in the wings, Kirk nervously hung onto Chyna's hand.

The announcer turned to Chyna and Kirk as his jacket was being changed, and explained the procedure. "Ms. Marsh, I'll announce you first. You know, as the author. You'll come out and say a few words, then we'll present the long-awaited, Mystery Man."

He looked at each of them to make sure they understood. Everything seemed to be in order, so he turned and walked into the light that glittered on the shining black stage. Lifting up his arms he tried to quiet the audience while his voice echoed throughout the theater. “Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention?" He paused, waiting for the applause to die down, then said again, "Ladies and gentlemen, your attention, please. We have a surprise for you tonight, and as part of that surprise we have with us the woman that is known to many of you only through her superb novels. She is also the author of the excellent film you have seen here tonight, so without further ado—" He lifted his hands out toward the wings, brought the microphone up a little closer to his mouth, and with his best announcer's voice, called out, "—here she is, Hollywood, say hello to Ms. Chyna Marsh!" With his arm still lifted, he began backing up, giving the stage over to Chyna while she walked out, her heels clicking on the wide stage.

Chyna waved at the audience as she walked, giving the appearance of being full of confidence. The crowd cheered wildly as she took the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for your wonderful reception. And I want to thank the studio for its wonderful presentation of the film. The authentic look and feel of the film was incredible. In looking at it I actually got the feeling of being back there and living it all over again. I want to thank Tim Chase for doing such a fantastic job of portraying Kirk Grayson. And of course I want to thank all the other actors who worked very hard on this film. They all did an outstanding job, as did the lovely young actress who portrayed that outrageous novelist, Chyna Marsh.”

The audience laughed.

“When I began writing this book, I never expected anything like this, and I'm absolutely overwhelmed at your response. Again, let me say thank you, and assure you it's from the very depth of my heart.” With a wave and a smile, Chyna gave up the microphone to the announcer and the crowd cheered. She stepped back as the announcer began speaking again.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I spoke earlier of a surprise." He paused, letting the expectations build. There was a hush all over the theater, waiting for his next words. Then at last the smooth, booming voice roared into the microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the face that Chyna Marsh brought out of the shadows, the authentic mystery man himself…Mr. Kirk Grayson!"

Everyone stood up and cheered while looking toward the wings. Slowly from within the shadowy darkness a husky, handsome man appeared. He walked slowly toward the microphone while the crowd screamed and shouted. Camcorders rolled, cameras flashed, whistles rang out, and yells bombarded the stage. People ran out into the aisles and got up as close to the stage as they could. In a very humble and unassuming way, Kirk began speaking into the microphone with lazy, husky accents.

"I'd just like to thank everyone for their generous applause. I'm just a little surprised though. I mean, the studio did such a good job with the film, I, along with everyone else in the theater, was just sittin' up there wonderin' how that poor guy was gonna get out of that basement." Everyone laughed, and watched, fascinated by Kirk’s good looks, and shy demeanor. “Now, just so none of you out there go off thinkin' I'm some kind of stupe that don't have a clue as to what's goin' on, let me assure you. Not for one minute did I not know that that poor guy up there was me. I lived every tortured second in that re-created darkness, only for me it was the real thing. And to be truthful, I didn't think I’d ever get out.” All at once he became serious and looked out on the audience with a solemn look on his face. "I don't know how many of you believe in God. I'm not even sure I do, or ever did, but if there is Someone up there, I do know one thing about Him." Hearing the hush of the audience hanging onto to his every word, he looked down into Chyna's tearful, but beautiful eyes and said with a deep, husky passion, "He sure as hell knows how to answer a prayer."

Behind Chyna’s smile, she was remembering the doubts she’d had in writing Kirk’s story. In every one of her books was a handsome hero that strutted across the searing pages of her novels making wild passionate love to her heroines. But this time she’d broken the rules. She’d given her fans a scarred up monster—a hulking Frankenstein that stayed buried in the recesses of an old mansion—an ugly deformed brute that lurked mysteriously in midnight shadows—a growling, hulking beast that no woman would have chosen over Quinn. For a romance novelist like her, it was taking quite a chance, but somehow she’d done it.

Now, as she continued gazing into the eyes that had once stared out at her from within the draping shadows of a dark basement, she parted her lips to receive his kiss.

Okay,
she thought as the applause thundered around them,
maybe it’s true.
Maybe I am guilty of becoming infatuated with my paper heroes just like the media says.

But not this time
.

When she saw the way the torment in his eyes had turned to tenderness and the way his face had been miraculously transformed from a mass of puckering scars into movie idol perfection, she knew the truth—infatuation hell.

This time—it was love.

A dark figure lay quietly recalling a fire that was rapidly enveloping a bedroom, gaining on him as he fought it. He remembered a burst of flames surging toward him, charring his face, disfiguring him forever. The pain was unbearable, and when the black smoke got into his lungs, he couldn’t breathe.

After that—darkness.

Later he woke up in the scorched bedroom looking around, wondering why he hadn't been burned alive by the wild fire that had raced through only minutes before. He looked around, but Chyna was gone. He ran through the mansion calling out wildly.

"Chyna! Chyna!" His head whirled as he looked around. "Is anyone here?"

Just then he happened to run by a mirror, glimpsed his face, and stopped abruptly. His hands flew up and touched its deformed ugliness. "My God, my face. It's been burned to a crisp! I'm a monster, a freak!" Suddenly he let out a tormented cry, ran from the mansion, and disappeared into the darkness—into hell.