“Uh…” How many years had I trained in drama? And I still couldn’t come up with a legitimate answer. “Isn’t there someone else who could do this?”
He laughed. “You don’t think I could do a good job? It’ll be fine, Liam, I assure you.”
Except we are going to commit murder on stage and the ghost of your dead wife is lurking in the wings, and by the way, I’m a vampire.
I covered my thoughts with a smile and nodded. “Of course. Amy, can I speak to you for a second? And, sir, if you want to make sure that all food props stay on the right side of the stage, that’d be great.” I knew I was putting things in jeopardy by keeping him to one side, but if I kept his dead wife on the other side, maybe everything would be fine. Pulling Amy behind the curtain, I made sure we were alone before we spoke. And then I let out a string of swear words.
“What did you want me to do?” she asked, alarmed. “I couldn’t tell him everything.”
“Sometimes I feel like that would be easier.” I reached to hug her, pulling her close. “I wish that I knew you were safe at home tonight, Amy.”
“I’m safe by your side,” she replied. “Whatever Selene’s plan is, I know we will ruin it. This is it, Liam, this is everything we’ve been waiting for. Tomorrow is a new year, a new chance, a new life.”
“I know.” I kissed the top of her head. “Just promise me that you’ll be careful tonight.”
“Are you kidding me? Meg Giry is an adventurous creature.” She clung to me, and I felt strength from her warm human body. “Please, next year can we do Phantom 2?”
I laughed, rolling my eyes. “Next year you’ll be a full-time actress, Amy. School life doesn’t last forever.”
“Hard to imagine not being here,” she replied, pulling back. “I can’t imagine what it’s like for the kids who have been here since kindergarten.”
“Hopefully, after tonight, they’ll still have a school to come back to,” I said, looking down at my watch. “Go on, get dressed.”
As show time rapidly approached, and my transformation, alone in my dressing room was complete, a different mood struck me. I could smell the blood of the audience, of my actors, of the stage crew, all swirling around me, and despite three shots of whisky and a fresh blood bag, my cravings weren’t being silenced.
My phantom makeup was intact, so no one would be able to tell, but I forgot just how hard it was to keep everything in check. Never in my life had I longed so much for my basement dungeon, where I could scream and snarl to my heart’s content and do no one harm.
I grabbed the walkie-talkie that I had kept on the ledge and hit the talk button.
“Anyone got eyes on Sarah and Amy? Send them to my dressing room, stat!” It came out more of a bark than I intended it to, and I felt my ribcage literally shift, accommodating a stronger vampire form. I hadn’t taken into account how hard this would be. Last year, I had Porsche, who kept me human without even blinking, and I thought it would be fine. Somehow, like an idiot, I had forgotten the reason why I was locked in the basement every night.
The door opened, and they both stepped in, quizzical looks on their faces. As soon as Amy entered, the smell of her infected blood calmed my cravings, but I knew it wasn’t enough. I couldn’t spend the whole show as well as the wait up until show time like this.
“Amy, I need you to stay,” I said through clenched teeth. “And Sarah, I need you to go as far away as you can, without jeopardizing the show.”
“What?” She raised an eyebrow.
“Get out!” I practically barked at her. “You and your binding spell are killing me in a theater full of people. Take the walkie and stay away until the lights dim, you understand?”
“Jesus, Liam, there’s no need to be rude about it.” She snatched the walkie from my hand, coming dangerously close and then slammed the door behind her.
If it was anyone else, I would be alarmed, but Sarah and her attitude were something I’d gotten used to. Once we were alone in the room, I closed my eyes, breathing in Amy’s scent. Suddenly, it got stronger.
I opened my eyes to find her peeling off a band aid and picking at an IV wound until it bled. My face softened immediately.
“Amy, baby…”
“It’s ok,” she replied, perching on the makeup ledge and putting her bleeding hand between us. “If it will help, it’s fine.”