Chapter Three

Silas

“Thank you, George. I’ll see you in an hour. We’ll get burgers when I’m done.” Silas closed the door of the taxi quietly, taking care not to damage the hinges. He smiled as George immediately pulled into traffic ahead of a large black SUV that was taking up most of the drop off point in front of Earth Space—the place he called home for just an hour each Friday.

Walking up to the front of the queue because he was expected, Silas shook his head at the crowd. “Is there a reason it’s busier than normal tonight?” he asked Lucas, the resident security guard.

“I think you’ll find most of them are here for you.” Lucas had a wide-open smile for him as he let Silas pass. “There’s a couple of VIPs here, and I think someone must’ve put the word out about it on social media. It’s all good. Just give me a signal if anyone gives you any trouble.”

“I’m just here sharing a couple of songs. I can’t see why that would cause any trouble, but thank you.” Slipping past, Silas avoided the main part of the club, ducking down the small hallway to the side of the main door. The passageway was perfect for staff who didn’t want to battle their way across the open floor, full of people all out having a good time. The electricity that he’d felt on the drive into the club seemed more intense—it was as if the air was alive. This is going to be a good session.

The band was finishing up the last song of their set as Silas wandered into the dressing room and perched his butt on a stool. He didn’t need to change his clothes, fix his hair, or use makeup like some of the band members did. But he did enjoy taking a moment to get a feel for the vibe of the club before it was his time to perform.

Ever since Branson, the manager of Earth Space had spotted him singing down by the river one evening a couple of months before—another burger run—and spoken to him, they’d come to an arrangement where he would turn up, sing, and then leave again. It was that simple, and Silas liked simple.

“Hey, man, love the top. It suits you.” Crave, the lead singer of the band came in, quickly followed by the others.

Silas mentally groaned. I seriously should’ve taken two more seconds to change into my t-shirt. But since spending time with people, Silas had learned to mimic socially acceptable behavior. “What? This old thing?” He flicked the hem of his top as Crave laughed. Phew. That must’ve been the right response.

“Hey Silas, it was probably a good idea, you wearing such a sexy top tonight. You might want to put a bit of spice in your shimmy when you’re singing.” Morticia, the drummer, plopped onto a stool beside him. “There’s a big time music producer out front tonight, and the buzz around the club is he could be looking for new talent.”

“Oh, I didn’t know.” Silas was confused that Morticia seemed so happy about it. “Would you guys rather sing for him instead? I mean, if I’m taking up your slot, you can go back out there, and I can…”

“No, no, no, Silas.” Crave took a long swig from a beer bottle. “We already have a great gig here, we’re not looking for anything else. My guess is that it’s you he’s come to see.”

Phew. Okay then.

Silas knew he didn’t have to perform—no one would be upset if he didn’t, but he’d feel awful if he was taking an opportunity away from his friends. “I’ll sing something nice then, shall I? A successful man is probably stressed. I’ll see if I can help him relax.”

“Silas!” Morticia shrieked with laughter as she slapped his knee. “I swear sometimes you sound as if you’re in one of those nineteen fifties sitcoms. Listen. If you play your cards right, this man could be your ticket to fame and fortune. Travel, limousines, and bright lights all over the world. Forget relaxing him, shake what your mamma gave you and make him want to give you a contract.”

“Why on earth would I want anything to do with any of that?” Silas smiled gently at his friend. “I just sing. That’s all I want to do, and there…” He cocked his head, hearing the manager start to speak out on the stage. “That’s my cue. Have a great night, guys.”

Still shaking his head over the way his friends in the band seemed so keen for him to “make it” as they called it, Silas made his way to the back of the stage.

Crave wasn’t wrong. He’d spoken a number of times about how bands struggled to get regular paying gigs, and how grateful he was to Branson for giving them a chance. If this place works for you, why can’t I be happy with the same thing?

The crowd roared as Branson mentioned Silas’s name, and warmth flooded his heart. Smiling at the manager as the man relinquished his spot in front of the microphone, Silas stood in front of it, his eyes taking in the crowd. Every time he sang in the club, he would find one person—one person who might need his song more than anyone else.

And then he saw him: a huge tense demon sitting in the front row, screened off from the rest of the crowds, a gorgeously dressed demoness beside him looking like a cat that had gotten the cream.

You work it girlfriend, he thought, remembering that was an expression Morticia had used just the week before. Silas was fairly sure it applied. Catching the demon’s dark eyes, Silas said simply, “Hey.” And as the crowd went quiet, he closed his eyes and started to sing.

Silas didn’t notice the warmth of the light beaming down on his shoulders, or the hardness of the tiles beneath his boots. He became caught up in the music, releasing the cover lyrics out into the air, weaving a spell to all who listened. As the song meandered from his soul and into the night, he sang, “I want you to stay,” and thought about the demon with the intense eyes. But he didn’t dwell on it. That’s not what his singing was about.

Up and down, soft, and yet filled with the passion of the moment, Silas sang about staying, and going, about love and loss, and all the emotions life was full of. As he came to the end of the third song, he could feel the shift in the vibes, and he smiled as he opened his eyes, his voice holding out on the last few notes of his last song.

“That’s it,” he said with a quick bow, smiling at the demon with the beautiful lady beside him. “Have a love filled night.”

The light shut off, shrouding him in darkness as the crowd roared his name, but Silas had already left the stage. He waved in the open door of the dressing room as he went past, heading for the front door, smiling as he saw Branson waiting for him. “Thank you,” he said, as Branson held up his cash. “That was fun.” He took the notes and stuffed them in his pocket without counting them. He knew Branson wouldn’t shortchange him.

“Silas, can you stay behind a bit longer tonight?” Branson seemed anxious, and Silas looked around. Nothing seemed out of place.

“I’ve already sung three songs. Why would I need to stay any longer?”

“There’s a man here—a very important person. He runs a music production company…”

“Oh, yes.” Silas laughed. “Crave mentioned it. I presume that’s the man I saw in the front of the stage tonight. I hope he liked my songs.”

“Yes, I think he did.” Branson chewed the side of his lip. “Look Silas, he could take your singing to a whole new level if you signed with him. At least, if you could just take a moment, sit and have a drink with him so he could get to know a bit about you…”

“I hardly think he wants someone like me interrupting his time with his gorgeous date, and besides, I don’t need to be signed up by anybody to do what comes naturally.” Still chuckling, Silas patted Branson’s arm. “I’m perfectly happy with the spot you give me here. I don’t need anything else. Thank you and enjoy your night.” He skipped out past Lucas before Branson could say anything else, dashing over to where George had the taxi waiting for him.

“Some people are so damned entitled they think they can just park their trash anywhere they damned well please,” George muttered as Silas got in and closed the door. “The burger place around the corner is having a two for one special for the next hour. Is that where you want to go?”

“You do look out for me, George, thank you. That will do nicely.” George was a bear shifter. If he recommended somewhere, the food had to be good. “It’s been a strange night, that’s for sure.”

Leaning back against the seat, Silas closed his eyes and reached up, touching the leaves from his tree. You felt it too, didn’t you? He wondered if he might have changed his mind about having a drink with the demon if the man hadn’t been on a date, but then mentally brushed off the idea. Dashing demons weren’t known for being romantics, and Silas was someone who dreamed of love. He wouldn’t settle for anything less.

I hope my singing made you feel better, he cast out with a small smile as the taxi made its way to the burger joint. With a two for one special going, Silas could afford burgers for himself, Wanda, Dougal, and George. All in all, a successful night all round.