Sixteen Candles

At six forty five, I walked into my bedroom to find Violet sitting cross legged on the bed. Sighing, I walked over to the dresser and grabbed a shirt.

“You don’t seemed surprised.” She noted.

“I’m not. I guess I should have expected you would do something like this.”

“You make it sound so horrible.”

“Do you remember anything about being human?”

“Completely human? Not much. Why?”

“It shows.”

“You seem kind of mad.”

“Hmm.” I grabbed a jacket from the closet.

“The guys are ready.”

I nodded. “Who’s car are we taking?”

“Your’s but I’m driving.”

“Keys are downstairs.”

She reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out the keys to the bat car. “I got them from Andy.”

I opened the door and gestured Violet out first.

She climbed off of my bed and sped down the stairs.

“So are you going to tell us where we’re going now?” Joe asked.

“Nope.”

Andy and Pete walked out the door without asking questions. Joe walked out soon after them and Violet went with him, I locked the door and followed.

Pete, being the smallest climbed into the back seat with Joe and Andy. I got in the shotgun seat.

Violet got in and started the car. She buckled her seat belt (something Pete would never do) and pulled out of the driveway.

She turned and headed towards the outside of town.

“Wait, if we’re going to see a band, shouldn’t we be going--” Pete noticed.

Vi cut him off. “No. And it isn’t exactly a band. Relax, this isn’t that dangerous.” We passed into a set of trees outside town. “Hold on.”

I noticed her eyes black over and her tattoo darken.

She floored the gas petal and all of a sudden there was a lurching feeling through the entire car. Like an elevator, only worse.

“What the hell was that?” Pete snapped.

“A portal. I was never a fan of long trips.”

“So where are we now?” I asked.

Andy looked like he had just lost his stomach.

“Not far. About an hour from Chicago.”

“Then why couldn’t we just drive normally?” Andy asked, finally loosing the sick look.

“Because I don’t have to. It would have been a waste of time.”

Violet turned onto a street and we drove for a few more minutes before we came to an underground garage. She turned in only to be stopped by security.

She pulled a card out of her jacket pocked and slid it into the computer reader. The light turned green, Violet and the guard nodded to each other and went she drove though.

Parking, she shut off the car and tossed Andy the keys.

Another car pulled up next to us and Beckett climbed out.

“That portal thing in very convenient.” William noted.

“Yes, but not human friendly.” Ryan said back.

“We’re right on time.” Brendon said, nodding to a motorcycle parked a few feet from us.

“Who’s is that?” Joe asked.

“I remember seeing it in your garage.” I noted.

The bike was what is referred to as a crotch rocket style. It read Kawasaki Ninja and had a green stripe down the side.

“Yours?” Ryan asked.
“Mine are all black and red striped. That one was a gift.”

“To who?” I asked.

She grinned and did that outfit change thing. Trading her jacket and t-shirt for an unmarked black shirt, covered with a bodice that had four pockets and started just under her bra line. Over it was a hoodie with three purple ribbons, done in corset style. One on each side, and another on the back.

Her hair changed to bright red and moved up into a ponytail. Her nails changed to black and she was wearing her beloved stiletto heels.

The garage pass was stuck in her back pocket with the neck string hanging out.

Walked toward a set of steps besides the security office, we all followed. Heading up the stairs, we came to a guarded door. Vi flashed the pass again and the doors were opened.

The place was packed with people jumping up and down and dancing to something I had never heard before.

. . . It was a long ride down the east coast,

In a city you can’t keep, can you keep up on your feet,

And I was struck down on the west coast,

It was quarter to three but I don’t do sleep . . .

Violet grinned and walked around the room to another set of stairs. She slid the pass through at the top of the stairs.

The second floor was a party deck. A waitress walked around through a side door.

“What can I get you?”

Ryan grinned at Vi and answered, “She will have a rum and coke, I’ll have the same.”

Brendon scoffed and ordered a simple beer. Beckett seconded that and we all agreed. The waitress walked off.

“V.I.P. status?” Pete asked, going sit in one of the large booths.

“I own this place.” She noted, looking out to the stage.

“How?”

“It’s easier to feed when the food comes to you.” Beckett noted.

I followed her gaze to the stage and saw, “That’s Jordan.”

She nodded. “Exactly.”

“You knew he would be here.”

“Yes, but he didn’t know I would.” She waved to him as he looked this way.

“Thought you owned the place?”

“I do, but I don’t always keep track of whose playing.”

“Unless it’s us.” Brendon snapped.

“Then you always seem to show up.” Ryan added.

“I like watching you guys play. William as well.”

The waitress walked back and set out drinks on the table. Walking away, another waitress walked over with a tray full of shot glasses, and a bottle of Jack Daniels.

“Courtesy of the singer.” She said.

Vi grinned. She and Ryan each grabbed a glass.

“Send him up, when the show’s over.” She said and the girl left.

Brendon walked over filled the glasses. He, Violet and Ryan tossed back the liquor like it was nothing to them. Vi had a sour look, like drinking unsweetened lemonade, but it quickly faded.

She looked at us. “Guys, we’re here to forget about changes and killing. Drink, have fun.”

Pete grabbed a shot. “Don’t have to tell me twice.”

“Yeah,” I said, taking one. “We’ve never had to.”