Page 106 of Phantom
Rand frowns. “Seriously? I thought tonight was just a one-off. Don’t you think lounges and bars are a little…humblefor someone with your talent? Wouldn’t you want to reach your full potential—”
“We’ve got a special guest in the house tonight,” the lead singer, Ziggy Miles, announces into the microphone. “Miss Scarlett has graced us with her presence again. Scarlett, come on up.”
Anxious energy tumbles in my stomach and chest and I look to Rand for encouragement.
“Don’t embarrass me.” He winks with a teasing grin.
I wince before muttering back, “I’ll do my best.”
“Lettie, Lettie, Lettie… I’mkidding. Can’t you take a joke?” He squeezes my hand as a sincere smile finally graces his lips. “You’ll be great. Can’t wait to hear you.”
“Thanks.” My lips lift at the corner before I take a deep breath and get up from my chair.
Ziggy’s unmasked, wrinkled grin greets me as I navigate through the black, white, and red–clad masked crowd toward the stage. Everyone I pass is clapping and it makes me giddy and nervous at the same time. When I’m nearly to the platform, a white blur catches my attention. My heart races and I stop in my tracks, trying to search for it, but Ziggy reaches down with a hand to bring me up to the stage.
“Come on up here, now, Scarlett. Can’t keep your audience waiting.”
“Sorry!” I laugh nervously and accept his helping hand to climb onto the stage.
But even after I’m settled underneath the spotlight, visions of a raven-haired Phantom in white keep flitting in the corner of my eye. I can’t stop myself from peering out into the crowd, but Ziggy interrupts my scouting when he speaks into the microphone again.
“Miss Scarlett has agreed to sing a song for us all, haven’t you, Scarlett?”
I nod quickly and stutter into the microphone. “Yes!”
I’m not nervous exactly, but my excitement is finally back after a week away from Sol. I chase the feeling even if it’s muted.
That was the first-time rush, that’s all. The second time just isn’t as exciting.
I know that’s not true. I’m quickly learning that lying to myself hasn’t worked before and it won’t now.
“Take it away, Miss Scarlett. Let an old man get a drink while you sing the house down.” Everyone laughs, although Rand seems preoccupied over at our table near the wall. He’s scanning the room, seemingly looking for someone. I ignore him and join in with a chuckle as Ziggy gives me space for the mic.
The band starts playing without my prompting, and my heart freezes in panic because it’s a different song than the one we discussed. But when I realize the tune, my pulse stutters back to life.
It doesn’t have any lyrics… unless I sing my own.
My eyes search the cozy venue until I finally find the man who wrote the notes for me. His midnight eye sparkles underneath the bar’s dim lights. The all-white suit he wears matches his skull mask, and the candles flickering everywhere give him an ethereal glow. My breath escapes me when he tips his glass and head to me.
“Sorry about that folks.” The music stops behind me as the pianist talks into the microphone. The band never has to wear a mask, so when I look back at him, I can see the mirth and encouragement on his face as he gives me an out. “We all get stage jitters. But you can do it, can’t ya, Scarlett? We got a special request to do this one just for you.”
I bet you did.
“Right, so sorry, guys.” I swallow and give an awkward laugh. “Take it from the top.”
The band counts down again and plays the song I’ve only heard echoing up through my vents, the siren call of my demon. I can’t help the twist of guilt in my chest over leaving the way I did. The look on his face was one of utter betrayal, which made no sense consideringIwas the one who’d been betrayed by him and Jaime.
Right on cue this time, my mouth opens and I release the words I’ve only sung for my demon of music. They pour from me, practically unbidden. My lyrics fit perfectly with the low, sensuous melody, and I sing about finding my one true love and him accepting me, my light and especially my darkness. We’ve written many songs together over the past several months and I know he chosethisone for a reason.
As I sing, I begin to analyze the lyrics, trying to figure out what my demon is telling me. In them, I talk about how my secrets are buried in tombs like my father’s and how I have to hide my emotions behind my own mask. The irony of those lyrics isn’t lost on me now. It isn’t until I get to one very specific verse that my heart begins to pound with realization. I almost stutter as I describe how it took one night to bury all my secrets, but the next day brought the rest to light…
Does he know?
He said he started watching me the night my dad died. Why? Does he somehow know what I did? Was he there? Did he…fixit for me?
My mind is spinning and it takes me getting to the second chorus to realize I’ve been staring at Sol the entire time. I try to look away but my eye catches on the man in silver next to him.
Jaime?
