Intrigue: The Night Muse Trilogy
Chapter 15: Raves and Revelations
It is impossible to tell where revelations stop and hallucinations begin--Author Unknown
Walking into a rave was always a heady feeling. For the first few seconds, it was almost disorienting. It was like all your senses were thrown into a blender. You’re sucked in, and then spun. The rave was ultimate sensory vertigo. The base, the lights, the colors, the vibe. It was as if I could drink it all in through my pores. Once the disorientation subsided a little, I started to examine my surroundings more. I had to admit I was a little more giddy than usual. Only having Jazz and Key at my back made me feel a little more reckless and wild, like anything was possible. Friday night’s rave was at the Eastown Theatre. The Eastown was yet another example of Detroit’s stunning pre-depression architecture fallen to exquisite ruin. It had a hodgepodge of Renaissance Revival styles. In its heyday, it could hold 2500 people with its auditorium and large balcony. It hosted the likes of Alice Cooper, the Doors, Pink Floyd, and the Grateful Dead. I was in awe of its terrible beauty as I slowly took in the scene.
As if reading my thoughts, Jazz tried to yell over the music, “Now, this is what I’m talking about,” then motioned her head to the dance floor.
I was not one of those people that my brain turns off very easily, especially when I have Thrace issues. But when I heard techno vibes, it was as if my body became the music, and my mind just took a break. I was engulfed in the base and the complexity of the music. My surroundings were surreal and my worries were far behind. Unfortunately, reality came smashing into me in the form of my drunk boyfriend--so much for Girl’s Night Out!!
Thrace managed to knock into both Key and me. Key, not one to suffer fools, immediately groused, “Thrace, what the hell…..walk much.”
Thrace didn’t respond well to criticism as he slurred an offended, “What! Only trying to greet my girlfriend.” He then proceeded to wrap his arm around me and leaned in to give me a peck on the mouth. That’s when I was hit with a distinct smell of whiskey.
I looked up into his face and yelled, “Tell me you didn’t drive.”
“Hey, give me some credit. Justin drove.”
I looked over at Justin just as he was taking a drink of mystery punch that a girl had just offered him. Greattttttttt. “I hope Justin is not your ride home.”
Thrace saw where I was looking and slurred out, “Man he’s fast. Gotta respect the skills.” Then he looked at me and said, “No, we got a plan. Justin didn’t drink at Spart’s house so he could drive, then Spart is not gonna drink the rest of the night to sober up, and I agreed to provide the place to crash. So I am free to hit it all night. You could always come back to my place.” He ended by kissing my neck.
I snarked, “Sounds romantic,” Key and Jazz snickered in the background.
Thrace started to get testy as well as handsy as he tried to lean on me while accusing, “Why did you have to tell your dad that stuff—just so he would hate me now?……Little Miss Ice Queen.”
I heard Jazz in the background gasp, “No he didn’t………”
Time to release my Inner Drama Queen, I straightened up, removed both of Thrace’s hands from various parts of my body, and gave him my best icy stare. “For once at a party, I was relaxed and having a good time until your crazy crew stumbled in.”
Key smirked beside me and quietly whispered, “True dat.”
However, I seemed to have lost Thrace’s attention. He was staring at a point that I could not see behind the dance floor. All of the sudden he grabbed me on both sides of my shoulders and yelled, “Now I see why you were having such a good time. When did Rafe show up? Did you invite him?” He actually physically shook me on his last question.
Both Jazz and Key moved in beside me. I saw Rafe moving towards us as Jazz yelled, “Hey, don’t think you can go all caveman on my girl and not have consequences. You shake her one more time and your gonna be on your drunk eyas!”
Even in Thrace’s drunken state he realized the error of his “caveman” ways and dropped his hands to his sides. He looked me in the eyes and said, “Sorry, Cal. Rafe just makes me crazy. I know he wants to break us up. It’s like he’s stalking you.”
I looked at Jazz then Key and said; “Thanks girls, but I’ve got it from here.” I noticed Rafe had stopped coming forward, but was still intently watching the drama. Key and Jazz moved away slightly, but were definitely still in back-up range.
Then, I solemnly returned Thrace’s stare and said, “I didn’t even know Rafe was here until you went all postal. And the only thing that has the power to make me break up with you is your behavior.”
This was too complicated for Thrace’s befuddled mind at the moment and the only thing he seemed to hear were the words “break up.” And without another word, he whipped around and stumbled back toward Justin and Spart and their bevy of harpies.
“Could the dude be a bigger tool right now?” Key wondered aloud.
Jazz asked, “Does he always have to be Mr. Hyde when he drinks? Cause I’m telling you even Dr. Jekyll is not worth that drama.”
I just shook my head and said, “He’s never been this bad, but we have been sliding downhill, and there is nothing I can say or do to stop it. And right at this moment, I don’t want to stop it.”
Rafe approached us and asked, “You ok?”
I warily replied, “I’m fine. Thanks for not jumping in. That would have only made it worse.”
He smiled and said, “You had plenty of back-up. And I know he would never have hurt you. Anyway, even on one of Thrace’s good days, my money is still on you.”
I smirked, “Smart man.”
I looked at Jazz and said, “Jazz, can I have your keys? I’m gonna go get some air and grab a water from the car.”
Rafe smarmed, “I like air and water. I’ll come with you.”
Jazz snorted as she pulled out her key and said, “Can you grab me a water, too, Cal?”
“Make that three please,” Key requested.
As Rafe and I made our way off the dance floor, he placed his hand in the small of my back as if to comfort and guide me at the same time. A shiver ran down my spine. Luckily, Thrace’s crew was on the opposite side of the room because I had definitely hit my quota of drama for the night.
“So how’s your evening been so far?” Rafe inquired in a teasing manner.
I turned around to face Rafe leaning my back against Jazz’s car as I pondered his question. “You can’t beat the vibe and the incredible atmosphere, but I could definitely stand a little less drama.”
Rafe considered my answer and replied, “I think your life is going to hold a great deal of drama the older you get.”
“Hopefully, it will be the type of drama I can observe and write about rather than the type I play the lead role,” I countered.
“I doubt you’ll have a choice. Why are you afraid to be an instigator within your own life?” Rafe asked in a husky voice as he lightly brushed away a strand of hair that had fallen over my eye.
My breath caught in my throat as I stuttered my reply, “It’s just not me. It’s not in my nature. Even in karate, I defend. I don’t attack.”
He took a step closer and our bodies were almost touching. The beating of my heart was deafening in my ears. But instead of trying to kiss me, he opened the door and leaned in to get the water. When he leaned back out, he handed me a water bottle and our hands touched. It was like my skin was sensitive to his touch as goose bumps raced up my arm.
As he took two more waters out of the car he casually asked, “So how does that work in relationships. I’ve already seen first hand your Calli walls that you use to defend yourself emotionally.”
“Ok, Dr. Phil. No need to analyze me in the parking lot!”
“Since I am playing the part of Dr. Phil today, then I have to say ‘How’s that working for ya?’” Rafe laughingly asked.
“Thrace and I are practically a bad made for TV movie right now about young teen love that goes wr
ong when boyfriend turns all jealous. We can’t keep going on like this. Something’s gotta give and when it does it’s not gonna be painless.”
Rafe hoarsely replied, “I’m sorry Calli if I have caused problems for you. It was not my intention.”
I was glad both of his hands were occupied with water bottles as I took my free hand and placed it on his forearm. I stared directly into his hazel eyes, “I don’t believe you. You have relentlessly pursued me with your mixed messages. So now it’s cards on the table time. What are your intentions, Rafe?”
He just shook his head back and forth without looking at me as his voice caressed me, “They are more than they should be; they’re more than they can be, but I never have to act on any of them.”
“Ok, Mr. Mixed Message,” I rolled my eyes.
Rafe breathed out in an audible groan and finally returned my gaze as he dodged me with a smile, “Jazz and Key are going to be wondering where their water is. I know I said I liked air, but they probably won’t believe I like it this much.”
His words slapped me back to reality and the fact that I was: 1) flockin freezing, 2) still in a relationship with Thrace, 3) hittin on another guy. Total Party Foul. Apparently, I came to my senses too late to keep from making a complete eyas of myself.
He seemed to want to say something as he walked briskly beside me. As we entered the rave again, Jazz and Key were flustered and intent on blocking my view of what they were so recently interested in. Rafe being taller got a better view of whatever had transfixed my friends. His eyes scanned the room then his expression turned concerned.
“Ok chicas, what’s the deal?” I skillfully maneuvered around Jazz to get a full view of my boyfriend hooking up with some harpy on the dance floor while his buddies were doing the same with her friends. My mouth dropped open as he allowed himself to be led off of the dance floor by the dark-haired she-devil. Her harpies followed along behind them, leading Thrace’s buddies. They seemed to be heading for a hallway off the back of the dance floor.
I honestly don’t know what came over me as I bolted toward that hallway. I vaguely heard Rafe tell Key. “I’ll take care of Calli,” before he followed me.
When I hit the dimly lit hallway, I yelled Thrace’s name loudly. At least if I went all drama queen on him, there wouldn’t be much of an audience. The group seemed to stop for a second before they proceeded into a room off the hall. Only the harpy that Thrace was hooking up with was still in the hall as I approached the doorway.
I stated loudly, “Thrace, we need to talk now.”
The girl snidely replied, “Thrace is not interested in your now; leave before you get hurt little girl.” The last part almost came out of the harpy in a hiss.
I attempted to get around her, but something incredible happened. Thrace’s harpy growled at me, and in doing so, she flashed her sharp canine teeth at me in a frightening yet cheesy B-movie way.
“What the FLOCK,” I yelled.
What was not so cheesy was they way the hussy hurled me into a wall then picked me up and hurled me toward an alcove 10 ft down the hall with little or no effort. She came towards me as if she was going to throw me around some more. But before she could even reach me, Rafe was standing between us and pushing her back toward the open doorway. The whole scene reminded me of the pivotal moment in From Dusk Til Dawn where the typical shoot em up action flik turned into a vampire movie. Had I landed in my very own Flocked Up Movie Night?
Rafe actually growled at the girl, “You touch the human again and your consequences will be severe, Aglaea.”
She hissed at him right back, “Awww…The Protector of Humans has found a damsel in distress. Don’t worry I’m not interested in your damsel. I was just trying to stop her from interfering with our fun. We’ll leave you to your business, so we can go about ours.”
“You’ve drawn too much notice. You need to leave here now,” Rafe commanded.
“Ahhh… You can’t protect everyone Hermes. You have to choose. You take care of the damsel, and we’ll take care our cute little prep school boys.”
With that, Aglaea slammed the door shut as Rafe blocked my direct route to go after them. Without thinking, I immediately went into attack mode. Rafe effortlessly blocked my blows, then pinned me to wall with my hands behind my back and one of his legs in between mine so I couldn’t even kick him. I was both dazed and infuriated by what just happened, and ironically I was out for blood.