Concert scene

The concert scene was cut drastically.   Of course, I always balk when editorial suggests cuts, but then, when it's done, I can see that it is much better without all that bulk in the story.   I value my editor's input, and am grateful for it.   Here's a scene when Jane and Michael arrive at the nightclub, and one immediately following Michael's performance.

"There's a table up in the balcony where you can sit," Michael said, leaning in close to her ear so Jane could hear over the backstage din.  

         A roadie with tattoos capping his bald scalp charged through with empty crates stacked upon his right shoulder and high-fived Michael as he passed.  

         "Our manager, Phil, is up there and I've already pointed you out to him.   Or you can watch from backstage?"

         "No, I want to see you perform."   Though she'd yet to see the crush of people out in the main room, Jane felt her hackles stiffen in dread.   She wasn't the sort to cling and require a man to watch over her, but the part of her that feared sensory overload cringed at venturing out into the unknown.   "I'll find my way through the crowd."

         "You sure?"

         She turned her body toward Michael, fitting her breasts against his hard pecs.   The man may not work out, but vampirism had been very very good to his physique.

         She kissed the edge of his mouth, drawing away slowly, regretting the lost contact before it even happened.   "You think your sweet Jane can't survive on her own out in the big bad world?"

         "You ever go to a big nightclub like this before?"

         "Not for decades.   But I used to go with Uncle Damien to the Moulin Rouge nightly during its heyday."

         "Heyday meaning over a century ago?"

         "Pretty close."

         He nuzzled in close and whispered, "There is something about an older woman that makes me so horny.   All right then, Phil will be looking for you.   And every one back here knows you now, too, so if you want to come backstage again, tell them you're Michael's girl."

         "Michael's girl," she said, savoring the feel of the words in her mouth.   "I am?"

         On the way to brushing her chin, he swept his palm across the front of her silk shirt, setting her nipples to tight, wanting peaks.   "If that's cool?"

         "I am the lead singer's girl," she declared, and put a sexy wink to the end of it.   She assumed an attitude.   "My man is the singer."  

         "Whoa there, sweetie, don't get carried away.   Don't be pickin' any fights over little ole me."

         "I gotta represent for my man," she said slyly and then slinked off down the hallway, pausing once to turn and blow him a kiss.

         Michael caught it and gobbled it up.   With a return wink, he waved her off and disappeared into the dressing room.

         Pausing behind the closed door guarded by a bouncer, and which separated her from hundreds of head-banging, fist pumping fans, Jane took a moment to inhale and draw a luminous white light over herself from crown to toe.   It was the only magic she wielded, and it wasn't even magic, more like wishcraft.

         But just knowing she was charmed gave her more confidence.

         "You Michael's girl?" asked the thick-necked Hawaiian with arms coated in colorful tattoos.

         "Yes," Jane answered proudly.   "I am."

         And she entered chaos.

Yes, he wore wings on stage...

Michael suddenly appeared behind the guitarist, feathered black angel wings spread out behind him.   The dark angel had arrived, and the fans shouted madly.

         Arms raised high and wings soaring as he ran the stage, Michael drew up a wicked spell with his voice.

Michael wonders where Jane is after concert

"I don't know where she is, man.   She came backstage after the first set, and I expected she'd go in the dressing room.   You can't find her?"

         Michael punched the wall next to Chunk's shoulder.   "I told you to keep an eye on her.   She's not the kind of chick who goes to places like this."
         "You're telling me.   Maybe she hooked up?"

         If he weren't exhausted and flying on the high from performance, Michael would have punched the asshole in the gut.   Not that it'd do any good.   They called them bouncers because punches tended to bounce right off these massive hulks of muscle and flesh.

         "She didn't hook up.   And I can't risk a round through the main room; I'll never get out alive.   Can you send someone around to look for her?   I'm checking out back."

         "Speaking of getting out alive, there's a crowd of women out back."

         Michael tossed a towel over his shoulder and kicked the base of the wall.   "I'm fucked."

         "Not yet," Chunk said on an appreciative tone.   "But you can be if you step outside.   These northern girls don't get the big stars like you very often.   They'll do anything for a wink."

         "Saving my winks, man."   Michael slapped the guy on the shoulder.   "Go look for her, okay?"

         "Will do."

         Jesse stood outside the dressing room doorway.   He'd already showered in the ten minutes since they'd been off stage.   It so rocked that this venue had a shower in the dressing room.

         "Find her?"

         "No.   I can't believe she'd take off on her own.   This is so not her scene."

         "Maybe she hooked up?"

         Michael snapped the towel at Jesse's leg.   "What is with you people?   She's not going to hook up with another guy.   Jane doesn't even like people like us.   We're too..."

         "Wild?   Exciting?   Handsome?   Talented?"

         "Loud."

         "Maybe she left in disgust?"

         Michael's shoulders fell.   "You think so?   I gotta go find her, Jesse.   Will you give my thanks to the club owner and--"

         "--and I know.   Make sure everything is cool.   Michael leaves a trail and I clean up in his wake.   That's my job.   I do it well."

         Michael gripped his friend's T-shirt.   "Listen, with the paparazzi flashing from the shadows and following my every move, I'm worried about her."

         Jesse's sneer dropped.   "Maybe you are.   Sorry.   It's a first though.   Been a while since I've seen the real Michael behind the vamp."

         "Jane's different than my usual girl.   I think she can help me.   With everything.   She calms me, Jesse.   I need that."

         "Go get her, man.   Any woman who can distract you from the groupies after a show is worth her weight in gold."

         "Lilacs," Michael said.   "Worth her weight in lilacs."

         Knowing he'd blown Jesse's mind completely from its brain stem, Michael jogged down the hallway and pressed open the back door.

         It wasn't easy being famous.   But the tit flashing would never get old.

Back to Out-takes page.

Back to FROM THE DARK page.

Back to Home page.