Dreams and Shadows - By C. Robert Cargill Page 0,107
lighters held aloft in the air, but Ewan had nothing left to offer them. There was no chance they were going to play one of the old numbers, but the crowd wanted one more song. So the band did the one thing they could think to do—play the first song over again.
The crowd bought it. Instead of rolling their eyes they began to sing along. This was now less of an opening song and more of an anthem—so the second time around, they simply played it harder. The drummer pounded the devil out of his drums, the bassist played his fingers raw. Sweat poured down Ewan’s chest, his drenched shirt clinging tightly to him as his lungs heaved, gulping air between bellowing notes.
Then it was over. The final guitar note faded into the air and the crowd erupted with enthusiastic applause. They were a hit. In the back of the club, the next act bickered, arguing about whether to go on at all, unwilling to follow something so overwhelming. The owner shook his head, wondering why these three had performed so poorly so many times before.
Women in half shirts, tank tops, and skintight blue jeans began lining up just offstage, their eyes expectant, waiting for Ewan, but willing to settle for anyone in the band. Ewan unplugged, walking offstage, his eyes never meeting those of a single adoring fan. He cast his gaze wide, darting past each hopeful girl, anxious to find Nora. The club was fuller than before, and as he passed, men pounded him soundly on the back, giving him knowing hipster nods of approval.
A lanky blonde with alabaster skin, a loose-fitting sundress, and a petite, unobtrusive piercing in her nose stepped in front of Ewan, nodding ever so slightly, tilting her head down, looking up at him suggestively, a slight pout to her lips. He nodded politely and tried to move past her, but she gracefully strayed farther into his path.
“Hi, Ewan,” she said, her voice drifting like jasmine on a summer evening. “I’m Molly.”
“Hey, Molly,” he said politely but without interest. “Have you seen my girlfriend?” He raised his eyebrows, expecting the blonde to shrink away.
“Oddly enough, I have.”
Ewan was skeptical. “Excuse me?”
The blonde smiled delicately, wrinkling her nose ever so slightly, as if to say I know more than you know. “Nora’s my cousin.”
“She never mentioned a cousin.”
“And how much about herself has she actually told you?” she asked. Ewan began to speak but stopped himself. The blonde continued, “Has she even told you where she lives?”
“Not exactly.”
“That’s our Nora; way too guarded.”
“Where is she?” asked Ewan.
“She’s outside, with a couple of my friends.” The girl stroked a stray patch of Ewan’s hair back over his ear, purring a little. “She was right,” she said. “You’re adorable.” Her fingers traced back over his ear, lingering on his lobe just a tad longer than could be mistaken as innocent. Then she reached down and took him by the hand. “Come on, let’s go get her.”
The two walked outside into the dead quiet of night, the open air instantly chilling his sweat-soaked T-shirt, hardening his nipples. He shivered slightly. Nora was nowhere in sight.
“Where is she?” asked Ewan with a hint of suspicion.
“Round here,” said the blonde, nodding to the alley. “Hey, Molly! What the hell, girl? I’ve got your man.”
There was no answer.
“Molly?” asked Ewan.
“I meant Nora,” she said with a blushing giggle hidden behind a maidenly hand. Then she clenched that hand into a fist, clocked Ewan with a right cross, staggering him backward, sending him stumbling into the dark alley. Waiting claws caught him, immediately throwing him into a nearby wall. His body slapped into the brick, his head whipping forward, cracking on the stone. He wobbled, ever so slightly, unable to keep his balance, toppling to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
Four redcaps walked slowly out of the alley. One of them reached with a single hand, picking Ewan up off the vomit-puddled pavement. It held him upright, clenched a clawed fist, and gave him a solid shot to the gut, knocking the wind clean out of him. Ewan flailed, gasping for air, unable to fathom what was happening.
The blonde watched Ewan coldly. She shook her head and her features fell away. Her hair shortened as if shaken off, her slight chin blunted, hardening with stubble. Her eye cocked to one side and her nose swelled until it broke. Within seconds the waif was gone and only Knocks remained.