The Labrador jerked on the leash and Ricky stumbled.
Kalila watched with cool curiosity. “Tell me,” she said, “what exactly does one get out of this relationship?”
Ricky started walking, struggling to bring the eager dog under control. “What relationship? Yours and mine?”
She sighed in exasperation. “Humans and dogs.”
“Oh.” The dog stopped to nuzzle an empty takeout container, but Ricky pulled him away. “Friendship.”
“I see,” she said, as the dog dragged Ricky down the street again. “And this is the sort of companionship you enjoy?”
“Not me. My brother. Believe me, as soon as he’s back in town, he can have this animal back. I’m just doing him a favor.”
“But your brother doesn’t like you. Why do him any favors?”
Ricky didn’t have a good answer. Mike’s request had been a little brazen, but Ricky had a soft spot for animals and it wasn’t the dog’s fault he had an arrogant bastard for an owner. “I like to think I’m doing the dog a favor. Shit!” The dog gave a mighty heave and the leash slipped from Ricky’s hand. He ran after the animal, cursing.
In a vacant lot, the dog stopped, panting and defiant. Every time Ricky tried to get close, he let out a happy yip and bounded away.
“This is not a game.” Ricky glanced over his shoulder as Kalila approached, serene and unconcerned. “Can’t you do something to help?”
She raised her eyebrows. “What on earth do you expect me to do?”
“A calming spell, maybe? If he runs away or gets hurt, my brother will kill me.”
“Don’t be so dramatic. You humans have laws against murder, remember?”
Ricky gave her a baleful look.
“Fine.” With a gesture, she conjured a thick porterhouse steak at Ricky’s feet. The dog hesitated only a moment, then fell to.
While the dog ate, Ricky picked up the leash and felt his stomach growl. “Uh, Kalila?”
“What now?”
“Any chance you could conjure another of those when we get home? On the grill, though, not on the ground.”
“Why should I do that?”
“Friendship.”
“Yours and the dog’s?”
“Yours and mine.”
Kalila offered to hold the leash and hesitantly patted the dog's head. “It’s a bit odd to be friends with an inferior species.”
“You and the dog?”
“No, silly. You and me.”
They started walking. The dog was calm now and trotted at Kalila’s side. Ricky remained silent, not sure what to make of Kalila’s casual insult. Was she teasing him on purpose, or did she really not know she had given offense?
When they got to the house, they turned the dog loose in the back yard. “Do you want that steak now?” she asked.
“Because nothing’s too good for an inferior species?”
Kalila flashed him a mischievous grin and gave him a slow, sultry kiss. Then she clipped the leash to his shirt collar. “Because nothing’s too good for my pet, of course. And my friend.”
Maelstrom Extra: Double Dog Dare
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
reviews (Comments): 10
Posted by
Maelstrom
Maelstrom Extra: Backstage Demands
Saturday, March 20, 2010
reviews (Comments): 9
Posted by
Maelstrom
“Unacceptable.” Vic threw the plastic bag on the floor.
Ricky cringed, relieved that the bag didn’t burst. “It’s all I could get. Deal with it.”
“It’s plasma.” Vic put his face close to his and bared his fangs. “I need whole blood, human, not this centrifuged crap.”
Ricky glanced around the dressing room, but Bo was adjusting his leather pants, Kalila was leaning into the mirror and doing something with her hair, and Nevin was entranced by a cup of tea. Only Lazaro returned his gaze, and it was with a scowl that Ricky knew meant even bigger trouble than he was in right now.
He turned back to Vic. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to get blood products? I’m not a member of the medical profession – I’m just a band manager.”
“Not my problem.” Vic tossed himself into a chair and looked up at him with baleful eyes. “Vampires need fresh blood. It’s in my contract. Get me a girl, if you can’t get what I need in a bag. I don’t like that pre-packaged stuff, anyway. I only tolerate it to indulge your ridiculous human squeamishness.”
Ricky sighed and was about to say something, but the way Lazaro’s eyes bored into him was giving him the creeps. “What’s with you? Don’t tell me you don’t like your catered meal, either.”
“Pig brains are disgusting.”
There was no arguing that point, but as far as Ricky was concerned, the zombie drummer's usual fare was worse. “It’s not like I can just walk into the corner store and buy a human cerebellum, you know.”
“Maybe I should eat yours.”
Ricky sucked in his breath and met Kalila’s eyes in the mirror, pleading silently for help.
Kalila gave a little shrug. “The boys are right. You have obligations, Ricky.”
“But—” he went to stand behind her. “The contract is unreasonable. It holds me to standards no human can meet.”
“So?” She conjured a lipstick and pouted at her reflection. “What do you think of this color? Too much?”
“I think your expectations are too much.” Ricky plucked the lipstick from her hand so he would have her full attention. “You know as well as I do that you conjured my signature on that contract. You can’t hold me accountable to things I never agreed to in the first place.”
Kalila vanished the lipstick with a gesture, then turned her attention back to her mirror. “Too bad. You’re on the hook now, so do something.”
“Do what? Make humans available as food sources for your band members?”
Vic stood up and glanced at the clock on the wall. “Sounds good to me. I’ll go do this set, and when I get back here, you better have a solution waiting. Preferably type O.”
Lazaro nodded and followed Vic toward the door. “She should be a college graduate too,” he said. “Someone with dense neurons.”
Ricky watched them leave. “Well, sure. Just make it sound easy, why don't you? Any other qualifications?”
Bo grabbed his guitar and brushed past him. “Make sure she’s sexy. I could use a snack, myself.”
Ricky fumed and was about to run after them and tell them to get over their ridiculous expectations when Kalila approached and cupped his cheek in her palm.
“You can do it.” Her voice was a siren song on a sultry night. “I have faith in you.”
Her kiss was fire and honey; a hot whiskey glow that burned through Ricky's body and left him weak in the knees. He stared at the empty doorway after she left, his ears straining for the sound of her guitar and his body yearning for her touch.
He would find a way to satisfy her bandmates. It would probably get him arrested, but what the hell, she was a djinn. She could spring him.
Ricky took out his BlackBerry and punched in a number. If he was lucky, the blood bank was open late and would deliver.
Ricky cringed, relieved that the bag didn’t burst. “It’s all I could get. Deal with it.”
“It’s plasma.” Vic put his face close to his and bared his fangs. “I need whole blood, human, not this centrifuged crap.”
Ricky glanced around the dressing room, but Bo was adjusting his leather pants, Kalila was leaning into the mirror and doing something with her hair, and Nevin was entranced by a cup of tea. Only Lazaro returned his gaze, and it was with a scowl that Ricky knew meant even bigger trouble than he was in right now.
He turned back to Vic. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to get blood products? I’m not a member of the medical profession – I’m just a band manager.”
“Not my problem.” Vic tossed himself into a chair and looked up at him with baleful eyes. “Vampires need fresh blood. It’s in my contract. Get me a girl, if you can’t get what I need in a bag. I don’t like that pre-packaged stuff, anyway. I only tolerate it to indulge your ridiculous human squeamishness.”
Ricky sighed and was about to say something, but the way Lazaro’s eyes bored into him was giving him the creeps. “What’s with you? Don’t tell me you don’t like your catered meal, either.”
“Pig brains are disgusting.”
There was no arguing that point, but as far as Ricky was concerned, the zombie drummer's usual fare was worse. “It’s not like I can just walk into the corner store and buy a human cerebellum, you know.”
“Maybe I should eat yours.”
Ricky sucked in his breath and met Kalila’s eyes in the mirror, pleading silently for help.
Kalila gave a little shrug. “The boys are right. You have obligations, Ricky.”
“But—” he went to stand behind her. “The contract is unreasonable. It holds me to standards no human can meet.”
“So?” She conjured a lipstick and pouted at her reflection. “What do you think of this color? Too much?”
“I think your expectations are too much.” Ricky plucked the lipstick from her hand so he would have her full attention. “You know as well as I do that you conjured my signature on that contract. You can’t hold me accountable to things I never agreed to in the first place.”
Kalila vanished the lipstick with a gesture, then turned her attention back to her mirror. “Too bad. You’re on the hook now, so do something.”
“Do what? Make humans available as food sources for your band members?”
Vic stood up and glanced at the clock on the wall. “Sounds good to me. I’ll go do this set, and when I get back here, you better have a solution waiting. Preferably type O.”
Lazaro nodded and followed Vic toward the door. “She should be a college graduate too,” he said. “Someone with dense neurons.”
Ricky watched them leave. “Well, sure. Just make it sound easy, why don't you? Any other qualifications?”
Bo grabbed his guitar and brushed past him. “Make sure she’s sexy. I could use a snack, myself.”
Ricky fumed and was about to run after them and tell them to get over their ridiculous expectations when Kalila approached and cupped his cheek in her palm.
“You can do it.” Her voice was a siren song on a sultry night. “I have faith in you.”
Her kiss was fire and honey; a hot whiskey glow that burned through Ricky's body and left him weak in the knees. He stared at the empty doorway after she left, his ears straining for the sound of her guitar and his body yearning for her touch.
He would find a way to satisfy her bandmates. It would probably get him arrested, but what the hell, she was a djinn. She could spring him.
Ricky took out his BlackBerry and punched in a number. If he was lucky, the blood bank was open late and would deliver.
Maelstrom Extra: Musical Milestone
Saturday, January 30, 2010
reviews (Comments): 6
Posted by
Maelstrom
Ricky pulled his SUV into a parking space, cut the engine, and ran into the club. Of all nights to get delayed! And when he tried to call the venue manager to see if the band had shown up, nothing. The BlackBerry went dead in his hands.
He grabbed the first employee he saw. “Is the band here?”
“I think so. Their stuff is on stage.”
They had done that much without him, at least. But that didn’t mean they had gone through a proper sound check or that they were in any way prepared to perform. Without him watching, pestering, and monitoring their every move, the band members were likely to wander off on demonic errands of their own.
He pushed open the door of the dressing room and found Bo checking out his leather pants in a full-length mirror, Kalila at a makeup mirror applying lipstick, and Vic sucking on a plastic blood bag, likely stolen from a local hospital. At the edge of the sofa, Lazaro practiced his rhythms with a pair of snare sticks on a coffee table.
Nevin, sedate as always, sat apart from the group, sipping tea. He raised his eyebrows as Ricky stumbled into the room. “You look alarmed about something. Is everything okay?”
Ricky paused to catch his breath. “You’re all here.”
“Yes. We have a show.” Nevin frowned. “Don’t you remember?”
“It’s just I—”
Kalila dropped her lipstick into a bag and turned around. “It’s just you thought we couldn’t do it without you. Isn’t that right, human?”
“More like I thought you wouldn’t.”
Vic sneered, baring his fangs. “Stupid mortal. You’re not as important as you think.”
“He’s right.” Nevin nodded sadly. “We’ve been playing together longer than you’ve been in the music business, Ricky. I’m afraid you often forget.”
“And you act like I don’t know your history: failure to show up on time or to perform at all, leaving gigs halfway through a set, accidentally killing your fans…you’ve been hounded out of three cities and had to change your name five times. I think I have reason to worry.”
Kalila stood up and tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Well, this has been very interesting, but in case you haven’t noticed the time, we need to get out on stage.” She flounced out of the room and the other band members fell in behind her.
Ricky started to follow, then paused. They had done this much correctly without his help. Maybe he should back off and give them a chance to prove themselves. They had hired him to teach them how to manage their career like humans, and human bands didn’t have their promoter breathing down their necks all the time.
He sat in Nevin’s vacated chair and picked up the copy of Audubon Magazine the fairy had left behind. He was flipping through some pictures of quails, fighting the urge to check up on the band, when the dressing room door opened.
The club manager looked as startled as Ricky. “I didn’t expect to find you here. Something the matter?”
“Why would you think that?”
“This is just an odd place for a guy to hang out, that’s all. Needed a little downtime, huh? Maelstrom is a crazy bunch.”
“You’re telling me.” Ricky smiled and stood up. “But I think we may have reached a milestone tonight.” He dropped the magazine on the table. He would find himself a good spot at the bar, and try to relax and enjoy the scene.
There was going to be a good show tonight.
He grabbed the first employee he saw. “Is the band here?”
“I think so. Their stuff is on stage.”
They had done that much without him, at least. But that didn’t mean they had gone through a proper sound check or that they were in any way prepared to perform. Without him watching, pestering, and monitoring their every move, the band members were likely to wander off on demonic errands of their own.
He pushed open the door of the dressing room and found Bo checking out his leather pants in a full-length mirror, Kalila at a makeup mirror applying lipstick, and Vic sucking on a plastic blood bag, likely stolen from a local hospital. At the edge of the sofa, Lazaro practiced his rhythms with a pair of snare sticks on a coffee table.
Nevin, sedate as always, sat apart from the group, sipping tea. He raised his eyebrows as Ricky stumbled into the room. “You look alarmed about something. Is everything okay?”
Ricky paused to catch his breath. “You’re all here.”
“Yes. We have a show.” Nevin frowned. “Don’t you remember?”
“It’s just I—”
Kalila dropped her lipstick into a bag and turned around. “It’s just you thought we couldn’t do it without you. Isn’t that right, human?”
“More like I thought you wouldn’t.”
Vic sneered, baring his fangs. “Stupid mortal. You’re not as important as you think.”
“He’s right.” Nevin nodded sadly. “We’ve been playing together longer than you’ve been in the music business, Ricky. I’m afraid you often forget.”
“And you act like I don’t know your history: failure to show up on time or to perform at all, leaving gigs halfway through a set, accidentally killing your fans…you’ve been hounded out of three cities and had to change your name five times. I think I have reason to worry.”
Kalila stood up and tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Well, this has been very interesting, but in case you haven’t noticed the time, we need to get out on stage.” She flounced out of the room and the other band members fell in behind her.
Ricky started to follow, then paused. They had done this much correctly without his help. Maybe he should back off and give them a chance to prove themselves. They had hired him to teach them how to manage their career like humans, and human bands didn’t have their promoter breathing down their necks all the time.
He sat in Nevin’s vacated chair and picked up the copy of Audubon Magazine the fairy had left behind. He was flipping through some pictures of quails, fighting the urge to check up on the band, when the dressing room door opened.
The club manager looked as startled as Ricky. “I didn’t expect to find you here. Something the matter?”
“Why would you think that?”
“This is just an odd place for a guy to hang out, that’s all. Needed a little downtime, huh? Maelstrom is a crazy bunch.”
“You’re telling me.” Ricky smiled and stood up. “But I think we may have reached a milestone tonight.” He dropped the magazine on the table. He would find himself a good spot at the bar, and try to relax and enjoy the scene.
There was going to be a good show tonight.
Maelstrom Extra: Order: Chiroptera
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
reviews (Comments): 6
Posted by
Ann (bunnygirl)
Ricky pushed his way into the dressing room. “This is going to be great, guys. The house is packed, everyone’s excited, and—” the expressions on their faces brought him up short. “What’s the matter? Nevin, I loaded your iPod with soothing songs and you’ve got a dozen rainforest-friendly chocolate bars for snacking. Lazaro, I know it’s not ideal, but you’ll enjoy the head cheese. And Vic—” he looked around. “Okay, everyone, where’s Vic?”
Bo stopped fondling a groupie on the sofa. “He had to run an errand.”
“Okay.” Ricky glanced at his watch. “He’s on his way back, right?”
Kalila sighed and shook out her hair in front of the mirror. “I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do. Maybe he’ll be back in time, maybe not.”
“But you have a show. I worked hard to get you this gig.”
“And we appreciate it,” Nevin said. “But Vic found a dead bat on our way in and felt it very important that he return it to its kindred.”
“You’ve got to be kidding. You’re going to screw up a paid gig with advertising, beacon lights, and everything, over a dead bat?”
Kalila stopped admiring her reflection and turned around. “You wouldn’t want him to grieve, would you? He feels a very strong connection to mammals of the chiroptera order.”
“But couldn’t he do this after the show?” Ricky felt foolish even as he asked. Demons had a poor concept of time and didn't order their priorities by human standards.
“There’s never any time like the present,” Bo said. He turned his attention back to his girl.
Ricky stomped out of the room in disgust. He would have to do something, fast, but just what he wasn’t sure. Racking his brain for ideas, he recalled reading in the tourist literature something about a bat bridge in the area. Maybe he could go there, for starters. He shuddered at the thought. Bats with their leathery wings unnerved him. Then again so did vampires and zombies, but he hadn’t let that stop him from marketing this crazy band.
He reached in his pocket for his car keys. He would go to the bat bridge, then. And whatever Vic's bonds of affection for the disgusting creatures, he had better be ready to get back to this club and sing. One didn't hold up a rock concert for a bat funeral.
Bo stopped fondling a groupie on the sofa. “He had to run an errand.”
“Okay.” Ricky glanced at his watch. “He’s on his way back, right?”
Kalila sighed and shook out her hair in front of the mirror. “I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do. Maybe he’ll be back in time, maybe not.”
“But you have a show. I worked hard to get you this gig.”
“And we appreciate it,” Nevin said. “But Vic found a dead bat on our way in and felt it very important that he return it to its kindred.”
“You’ve got to be kidding. You’re going to screw up a paid gig with advertising, beacon lights, and everything, over a dead bat?”
Kalila stopped admiring her reflection and turned around. “You wouldn’t want him to grieve, would you? He feels a very strong connection to mammals of the chiroptera order.”
“But couldn’t he do this after the show?” Ricky felt foolish even as he asked. Demons had a poor concept of time and didn't order their priorities by human standards.
“There’s never any time like the present,” Bo said. He turned his attention back to his girl.
Ricky stomped out of the room in disgust. He would have to do something, fast, but just what he wasn’t sure. Racking his brain for ideas, he recalled reading in the tourist literature something about a bat bridge in the area. Maybe he could go there, for starters. He shuddered at the thought. Bats with their leathery wings unnerved him. Then again so did vampires and zombies, but he hadn’t let that stop him from marketing this crazy band.
He reached in his pocket for his car keys. He would go to the bat bridge, then. And whatever Vic's bonds of affection for the disgusting creatures, he had better be ready to get back to this club and sing. One didn't hold up a rock concert for a bat funeral.
Maelstrom Extra: Feline Ways
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
reviews (Comments): 10
Posted by
Maelstrom
Kalila drifted under the door in a plume of blue smoke. She sensed the apartment was empty, but drifted from room to room, just to be sure. Where the hell was Ricky? She stretched her consciousness in search of him but found only a static of aggravation. Was he stuck in traffic? Negotiating a contract? Perhaps someone had done something to offend him.
No matter. She would wait.
She pulled herself together, swirled, and became lighter, with golden fur and white whiskers. In a single lithe movement, she leaped onto Ricky’s bed and stood for a moment, looking about with an air of feline superiority. Then she sat on her haunches and began washing herself, licking her paws and swiping them over her face and ears.
When she was groomed to her satisfaction, she stalked to the head of the bed and curled up on Ricky’s pillow. She dozed for a bit, dreaming of guitars and tuna, until her sensitive cat’s ears and powerful djinn consciousness told her he was home. She lifted her head off her paws when he entered the room, and she followed his movements with grave attention.
“You wouldn’t believe the day I had,” he told her.
She resisted the temptation to tell him she’d seen worse.
“People suck, you know that?”
Yes, she did know. But what could one expect from humans?
“Sometimes I wish…” He had been emptying his pockets, putting wallet, coins, and BlackBerry on the dresser, but now he turned and looked at her. “You really have it made.”
He sat on the bed and she climbed into his lap, purring at his touch as he buried his fingers in her thick yellow fur.
“You’re lucky to be just a cat.”
She was hardly just a cat, but this didn’t seem the time to point that out.
“No troubles, no real worries.”
Silly mortal. Of course she had worries. But right now, they didn’t seem very important.
“How about I get us something to eat and we’ll watch a little TV together?”
Kalila watched him leave the room and flicked her tail in annoyance. She didn’t think much of the kibble he put in a bowl on the floor for her each night, and she thought even less of human television shows. But Ricky’s lap was warm, his touch electric, and at least as a cat, she could enjoy him without any fear that he would misunderstand and think she actually…well, of course she didn’t love him. Djinns didn’t have such feelings.
She heard the kibble in the bowl. She would go out there and vanish it when he wasn’t looking, so he would be reassured that he was doing right by her. Poor human. It really was tough to get through the day when you were merely mortal.
She leaped to the floor, and with tail held high, sauntered from the room.
No matter. She would wait.
She pulled herself together, swirled, and became lighter, with golden fur and white whiskers. In a single lithe movement, she leaped onto Ricky’s bed and stood for a moment, looking about with an air of feline superiority. Then she sat on her haunches and began washing herself, licking her paws and swiping them over her face and ears.
When she was groomed to her satisfaction, she stalked to the head of the bed and curled up on Ricky’s pillow. She dozed for a bit, dreaming of guitars and tuna, until her sensitive cat’s ears and powerful djinn consciousness told her he was home. She lifted her head off her paws when he entered the room, and she followed his movements with grave attention.
“You wouldn’t believe the day I had,” he told her.
She resisted the temptation to tell him she’d seen worse.
“People suck, you know that?”
Yes, she did know. But what could one expect from humans?
“Sometimes I wish…” He had been emptying his pockets, putting wallet, coins, and BlackBerry on the dresser, but now he turned and looked at her. “You really have it made.”
He sat on the bed and she climbed into his lap, purring at his touch as he buried his fingers in her thick yellow fur.
“You’re lucky to be just a cat.”
She was hardly just a cat, but this didn’t seem the time to point that out.
“No troubles, no real worries.”
Silly mortal. Of course she had worries. But right now, they didn’t seem very important.
“How about I get us something to eat and we’ll watch a little TV together?”
Kalila watched him leave the room and flicked her tail in annoyance. She didn’t think much of the kibble he put in a bowl on the floor for her each night, and she thought even less of human television shows. But Ricky’s lap was warm, his touch electric, and at least as a cat, she could enjoy him without any fear that he would misunderstand and think she actually…well, of course she didn’t love him. Djinns didn’t have such feelings.
She heard the kibble in the bowl. She would go out there and vanish it when he wasn’t looking, so he would be reassured that he was doing right by her. Poor human. It really was tough to get through the day when you were merely mortal.
She leaped to the floor, and with tail held high, sauntered from the room.
Maelstrom Extra: Civilized
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
reviews (Comments): 10
Posted by
Maelstrom
The band members looked around in silence while Ricky tipped the bellboy. But as soon as Ricky closed the door, they fanned out to investigate. Bo went into one of the rooms and threw himself onto the bed. Vic and Lazaro hurried to close the drapes against the afternoon sun. Nevin wandered from room to room, gazing in raptures at the art on the walls and the freshly cut flowers in crystal vases.
With a skeptical expression, Kalila crouched to examine a Persian rug and smiled to discover it was the real deal. She stood up and began searching for the perfect spot for her travel lamp. “I like this place, Ricky.” She set her bronze oil lamp on the fireplace mantle, took a step back and considered. “It’s much more sumptuous that the dives you usually book for us.”
From one of the other rooms, Vic called, “I could do without all the windows, though. And has anyone seen my shroud? I know I didn’t forget to pack it.”
“Well, I think the windows are lovely,” Nevin said. “Or they would be if we could have the curtains open.” He stuck his nose into a vase of roses and inhaled deeply. “This is so nice.”
“I thought since there’ll be a lot of publicity for this festival, we’d make a good impression on fans and reporters by staying at the same hotel as the headliners,” Ricky explained. “Behave yourselves, and I’ll continue putting you into places like this.”
Shirtless now, Bo left one bedroom, sauntered into the other, and once again threw himself onto the bed, this time bouncing a little and tossing a pillow in the air. “They went all out on the furnishings. These are good posture-pedics. I’ll get a kick out of putting them to use.”
“Stop that,” Ricky said. “No more than two groupies, no wives or girlfriends from other bands, and don’t even think about fondling the maids and other hotel staff.”
“You’re no fun.”
“Use the tour bus,” Vic advised.
“If he uses the tour bus, where will I hide the bodies?” Lazaro asked.
“Uh, guys?” Ricky held up a hand for their attention. “None of that, okay? You’re in a civilized place, so would you please try to act the part? Fake it. Just for a couple nights.”
Vic leaned against a door frame. “We’re a rock band. Just how civilized are we supposed to be?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about.”
Kalila gave Vic a subtle wink, then put a hand on Ricky’s arm. “Don’t try too hard to make them understand,” she said, her voice like a cat’s purr. “How about we go to your room, and you can explain it to me there.”
“I don’t know if…I mean, I thought you were going to rehearse.”
“Later.” She tugged on his sleeve. “Come on. Let’s see if your room is as nice as ours.”
After they left and the door clicked shut behind them, Vic and Bo exchanged a look.
“Party time?” Lazaro asked.
Vic shook his head. “I just want to find my shroud so I can take a nap.”
“None of you will mind if I watch one of the porn channels, will you?” Bo asked.
“Just keep the volume down,” Lazaro said. He found one of his bags and pulled out a copy of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. “I want to get caught up on my reading, and this has a lot of big words. Your movies distract me.”
While everyone went their separate ways, Nevin conjured a small stringed instrument and found a seat near a window. He pulled the drapes aside just enough that he could see outside and enjoy the view, then he began playing. Ricky really did worry too much. Demons could be as civilized as anyone when they wanted to be.
With a skeptical expression, Kalila crouched to examine a Persian rug and smiled to discover it was the real deal. She stood up and began searching for the perfect spot for her travel lamp. “I like this place, Ricky.” She set her bronze oil lamp on the fireplace mantle, took a step back and considered. “It’s much more sumptuous that the dives you usually book for us.”
From one of the other rooms, Vic called, “I could do without all the windows, though. And has anyone seen my shroud? I know I didn’t forget to pack it.”
“Well, I think the windows are lovely,” Nevin said. “Or they would be if we could have the curtains open.” He stuck his nose into a vase of roses and inhaled deeply. “This is so nice.”
“I thought since there’ll be a lot of publicity for this festival, we’d make a good impression on fans and reporters by staying at the same hotel as the headliners,” Ricky explained. “Behave yourselves, and I’ll continue putting you into places like this.”
Shirtless now, Bo left one bedroom, sauntered into the other, and once again threw himself onto the bed, this time bouncing a little and tossing a pillow in the air. “They went all out on the furnishings. These are good posture-pedics. I’ll get a kick out of putting them to use.”
“Stop that,” Ricky said. “No more than two groupies, no wives or girlfriends from other bands, and don’t even think about fondling the maids and other hotel staff.”
“You’re no fun.”
“Use the tour bus,” Vic advised.
“If he uses the tour bus, where will I hide the bodies?” Lazaro asked.
“Uh, guys?” Ricky held up a hand for their attention. “None of that, okay? You’re in a civilized place, so would you please try to act the part? Fake it. Just for a couple nights.”
Vic leaned against a door frame. “We’re a rock band. Just how civilized are we supposed to be?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about.”
Kalila gave Vic a subtle wink, then put a hand on Ricky’s arm. “Don’t try too hard to make them understand,” she said, her voice like a cat’s purr. “How about we go to your room, and you can explain it to me there.”
“I don’t know if…I mean, I thought you were going to rehearse.”
“Later.” She tugged on his sleeve. “Come on. Let’s see if your room is as nice as ours.”
After they left and the door clicked shut behind them, Vic and Bo exchanged a look.
“Party time?” Lazaro asked.
Vic shook his head. “I just want to find my shroud so I can take a nap.”
“None of you will mind if I watch one of the porn channels, will you?” Bo asked.
“Just keep the volume down,” Lazaro said. He found one of his bags and pulled out a copy of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. “I want to get caught up on my reading, and this has a lot of big words. Your movies distract me.”
While everyone went their separate ways, Nevin conjured a small stringed instrument and found a seat near a window. He pulled the drapes aside just enough that he could see outside and enjoy the view, then he began playing. Ricky really did worry too much. Demons could be as civilized as anyone when they wanted to be.
Maelstrom Re-Post: Happy Thanksgiving!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
reviews (Comments)
Posted by
Maelstrom
No new post today, but those of you who are new to the site may enjoy reading last year's Thanksgiving story.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Maelstrom Extra: A Little Peace and Quiet
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
reviews (Comments): 8
Posted by
Maelstrom
The thumping bass intruded on Ricky’s thoughts as he huddled over the laptop, peering into the screen. He willed himself to concentrate. There was something odd about the indemnity clause; something critical he needed to understand.
The pounding died away, but only for a moment before returning with a force that sent tremors through the floor and rattled the pictures on the wall.
He got to his feet and roused Kalila out of her lamp. When she was standing before him, sleepy and still wispy with smoke, he explained the problem.
She yawned. “I don’t see why it’s an issue. You spend nearly every night listening to louder noise than that. And you like it, too.”
“Not when I’m trying to get some work done,” he said. “I need to think, and it seems like no matter how many times I ask that guy to quiet down over there, he ignores me.”
“So tell the landlord.”
“I tried. You can hear for yourself how effective that was.” By now the glass was trembling in the window frames and a faint fracture line Ricky didn’t remember seeing before had appeared in the molding near the ceiling.
Kalila sighed. “Okay. So what exactly do you want me to do? I suppose I could incinerate him.”
“Nothing too illegal, please.”
“Power outage?”
“Can you do it without cutting off mine, too?”
“Probably not. The wiring in this place is very substandard. You’re lucky there hasn’t been a fire yet.”
“Thanks for the reassurance.”
“You’re welcome.” She paced the floor, pondering. “So how about I vanish his stereo? Or maybe just his speakers?”
“That would do it,” Ricky admitted, “But don’t you think that would be a little obvious?”
Kalila looked at him in exasperation. “Why did you ask my help if you aren’t going to like any of my ideas? You should learn not to be so picky.”
“But—”
She silenced him and gestured toward a small object on the desk that hadn’t been there before. “That should solve your problem. Now go away and quit being a pest.”
While Kalila poured herself back into her lamp, Ricky walked over to the desk and examined the item she had conjured. It was a library card. He pocketed it with a sigh and began shutting down his laptop. Like most of her solutions, this wasn’t quite what he wanted, but for now, it would do.
The pounding died away, but only for a moment before returning with a force that sent tremors through the floor and rattled the pictures on the wall.
He got to his feet and roused Kalila out of her lamp. When she was standing before him, sleepy and still wispy with smoke, he explained the problem.
She yawned. “I don’t see why it’s an issue. You spend nearly every night listening to louder noise than that. And you like it, too.”
“Not when I’m trying to get some work done,” he said. “I need to think, and it seems like no matter how many times I ask that guy to quiet down over there, he ignores me.”
“So tell the landlord.”
“I tried. You can hear for yourself how effective that was.” By now the glass was trembling in the window frames and a faint fracture line Ricky didn’t remember seeing before had appeared in the molding near the ceiling.
Kalila sighed. “Okay. So what exactly do you want me to do? I suppose I could incinerate him.”
“Nothing too illegal, please.”
“Power outage?”
“Can you do it without cutting off mine, too?”
“Probably not. The wiring in this place is very substandard. You’re lucky there hasn’t been a fire yet.”
“Thanks for the reassurance.”
“You’re welcome.” She paced the floor, pondering. “So how about I vanish his stereo? Or maybe just his speakers?”
“That would do it,” Ricky admitted, “But don’t you think that would be a little obvious?”
Kalila looked at him in exasperation. “Why did you ask my help if you aren’t going to like any of my ideas? You should learn not to be so picky.”
“But—”
She silenced him and gestured toward a small object on the desk that hadn’t been there before. “That should solve your problem. Now go away and quit being a pest.”
While Kalila poured herself back into her lamp, Ricky walked over to the desk and examined the item she had conjured. It was a library card. He pocketed it with a sigh and began shutting down his laptop. Like most of her solutions, this wasn’t quite what he wanted, but for now, it would do.
