Goddess’Trance finishes up their set and I’m bouncing back and forth on my heels as Amelia walks off the stage to huge cheering from the crowd. I’m beaming at her as we collide in a tightly squeezing hug. “You killed it, Amelia! I’m so fucking proud of you.”
“Thanks, Bliss,” my sister says, tears welling up in her eyes. “This was fucking incredible.”
“You were amazing,” Simon says from behind me. We spent the show listening together, often looking over and grinning at each other over how well the crowd received Amelia and the others. My sister shines her winning smile on Simon and he grins at both of us.
“Well, I need to chug down some tea and water,” Amelia says, giving me a knowing look and leaving me to talk more with Simon. Already the band techs working this stage are breaking down Goddess’ Trance’s set and bringing in Voracious Maw’s instruments and switching out the backdrop.
Simon’s phone rings and he gives me a sheepish smile. “I gotta take this. It’s the label.”
He takes a few steps away from where a group is loading up Tubbs’ drum set. Simon’s dark hair hangs into his eyes a bit and he gives his head a little shake to get the hair out of his line of sight. His eyes drift over to mine and we smile at each other. I can hear him excitedly talking to the person on the other end and he’s nodding enthusiastically, even though that person can’t see him.
Eventually the conversation wraps up and he races over to me, a huge grin on his face. “We’ve just secured our largest tour in the states,” he tells me.
“Seriously?” I grasp his forearms and give him a little shake. “That’s amazing! When does it start and when will you be in Seattle? Because I’m planning to be right at the barricade for that show.”
Simon throws an arm around me. “It starts in the fall. I don’t have the exact dates yet, but I’ll do you one better than the barricade. The label was asking about an opener to tour with us. Guess who’s name I threw in?”
“Who?” I ask, my breathing becoming quicker. Is he about to say Goddess’ Trance?
His eyes twinkle a bit mischievously. “Goddess’ Trance.”
I give him a light push on the shoulder. “You did not,” I breathe out, stopping myself from hopping up and down.
“I did.” His grin doubles in size, if that’s even possible. “The label seemed super into it. Thought it was a great idea.”
I squeal like a little girl and throw my arms around him, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. “You are the best, Simon. Seriously. Amelia and the band are going to flip.”
He gives me a tight squeeze and we make promises to chat later about the details once the label officially signs off on it. I don’t foresee Amelia or anyone else having an issue with it. A legit tour is exactly what Goddess’ Trance needs to keep growing. This could be life changing for us. Simon has some work to dobefore Voracious Maw goes on in a half-hour, so we say our goodbyes. I turn around to look for Amelia but I think she’s already headed back to a little trailer set up by the stage to shower and change. I stick around, figuring the rest of the band will come back to watch Voracious Maw play. I’ve been waiting to see them live again for forever.
I actually kind of forgot about the fact that I’d be getting to see them perform after all the drama this morning, and everything that’s happened already this week.
And then I almost slap my hand against my forehead. I should have brought his sweatshirt. I didn’t even think about it, even though I saw it lying on a chair in my room when I got back home. He’s gonna think I’m never going to give it back.
But I guess I can give it back to him when we officially meet like Simon promised.
I turn this way and that, trying to see any of the band members, but they haven’t appeared yet. With nothing much else to do, I double check with the venue staff that all our gear has been loaded up and sent back to our trailer. Everything is looking good and Simon’s crew is now doing mic checks. I look out in the crowd and already see a huge amount of people. Some have been camped out in front of this stage since the first band went on before Goddess’ Trance, but the amount of people has almost doubled now.
I hear a bit of a commotion and turn around. The four band members in their costumes are headed my way, surrounded by some people from venue staff to keep excited fans back a little ways. The guys head up the steps to the platform the stage is on. Simon greets them and gives Wrath a hug, which I find incredibly endearing. They chat a bit. Simon motions towards me. I blush as Wrath’s masked face turns in my direction.
He inclines his head towards me and I nod back at him. Simon is going to get me my in with Wrath. And then I’ll make good on my bargain with the wraith.
I take in Wrath’s mask and outfit. I’ve seen it before, but he’s still a work of art. I peruse the patches of dark blue and black iridescent scales that start at his collarbone and run the length of his exposed torso. Through the lacy robe he wears, I can see they’ve even glued some to his back as well.
Seeing him up close in his full costume takes the breath of out me. He looks ethereal but also frightening.
But also super hot.
He says something to Simon that I can’t make out. The other band members have moved closer to the stage to peer out at the crowd, which brings them closer to me. Eerie has his usual rainbow scrunchie around his wrist, but aside from that he’s dressed similarly to Poison and Mist, all in black. They banter between themselves as Wrath and Simon make their way over towards us.
Wrath looks my way as he passes, and I smile nervously. When is Simon going to introduce us? Hopefully after the show?
The other band members ask him yes or no questions only, so he can just shake or nod his head. I wish desperately someone would ask him something he actually has to respond to, so I can hear his beautiful voice. I know what it sounds like when he’s singing, but to hear him converse normally—it would just be so cool.
Amelia calls out my name. I turn and see her watching from the platform a little way back, angled so you can see the stage from the front, but still restricted to backstage people only. I say bye to Simon and head over to my friends. I don’t say anything yet about the tour. I want to double check with Simon again before I do, because Wrath also has to sign off on it, doesn’t he?
What if he says no because he thinks I’m a hoodie thief and will steal all his hoodies on the tour? Or what if he thinks I’m insane for assuming his guitar tech kidnapped me? Although to be fair, I went to sleep in my own bed and then woke up in Pisces’. He’d have thought he’d been kidnapped too if the roles were reversed.
Once Simon introduces us, I’ll just have to use my succubus charm to smooth things over.
