Afterlife (Afterlife Saga)

  I had dried my hair, which had taken me the longest part to get ready, it always did, it was just so long and thick, it looked more like a shaggy rug hanging down to my waist. My hair had always been a head turner. I used to enjoy the compliments I received, but now I just wanted to hide it away, tonight being no exception.

  I tied it into a knot and secured it up at the back with my strong metal clip. I had this down to a fine art now as this was how I wore it most days. The shorter bits at the front fell down around my face, a fringe that I had been growing out had now changed to blonde curtains that framed my face with one side thicker than the other. I pushed them back with a plain black headband, completing my mundane look. I examined myself in the long mirror in my room and I was satisfied that I didn't stand out yet hopefully didn’t look too much like the newbie I was.

  Libby was already downstairs finishing her dinner off and was mopping up the juice with the French stick I had asked her to get when I called. She looked as if she had enjoyed it.

  “A bit of a change from fast food!” I said as I joined her at the table. She would have replied with some sarcastic response, I could see it in her eyes but the last remaining evidence of a casserole that had once filled her dish was stuck to one side of the bowl that she was trying to soak up with more bread.

  I loved watching people enjoy my food. I had always enjoyed cooking, ever since my dad had shown me how to make potato cakes with left over mashed potatoes from Sunday dinners. He would then get out the video camera and I would pretend I was a TV chef explaining the process in detail to the lens. After that I was hooked, so much so that everybody, including myself had thought this was going to be my career choice. But it was my other passion of history that took centre stage.

  “Yummy, that was delicious, thanks. Frank is going to love that when he comes in, can't I say that I made it and win some brownie points?” I smiled gratefully at her.

  “Since when do you need brownie points, Frank adores you?” I removed her plate before she started to try and eat the pattern on the bowl.

  “Umm, is there...” I changed direction from the sink to the stove before I had chance to get the bowl wet, I dug the big spoon in the mixture and poured her another bowlful.

  “Only if there's enough.” But this last statement was said while she was digging into the hot mixture of meat and vegetables.

  “It’s fine, I made enough for leftovers, I know how Frank eats and anyway you didn't answer my question.”

  “About?” she said with her mouthful.

  “Brownie points.” I said dragging out the words in a reminding tone.

  “Yeah well he may adore me but not my feet and I could kill for a foot rub, those shoes were crippling me by the end of the day and well you see he's got these really big, strong hands and...”

  “Ok, ok, I get it! Please spare me the details,” I said making a gagging motion but getting it all wrong as I laughed.

  “You look nice, didn't want to wear your hair down? No I don't blame you in this weather.” She said answering her own question. I mean, I never wore my hair down any more, she knew this or did she think that once I moved here I would change. Back that is.

  “You not eating before you go?”

  “I had some... earlier I mean.” I answered way too quickly but was hoping she hadn't noticed. She hadn't and I thanked my cooking skills once more for gaining her attention long enough not to notice my bad lying. I had tried to eat something but I found myself too nervous to appease a hungry stomach.

  Libby nodded her head toward the clock on the wall and I followed it dreading what it might show.

  But it only confirmed my fears. It was nearly time to leave.

  Chapter 6 - Big Night out

  Nothing was as I had been expecting, everything from the drive there to the doormen outside. We had driven further out of town than I would have thought necessary and when Libby had reminded me that it was on the outskirts of town she hadn't been exaggerating. It was more like in the middle of nowhere! We drove along the main road for what seemed like forever and then turned down a small one lane road which was covered either side by thick forest. It almost looked like a dark angry green tunnel, which didn't help my nerves.

  It felt like the last drive I was ever to take. Ok, ok, get a hold of yourself, if I was going to work here I would have to do this drive a lot. I needed to stop my over active imagination from running away with me before I chickened out. The angry tunnel, more like the mouth of hell, opened up into a big clearing that looked like a car park. Libby drove round to the front but I couldn't get out.

  I was STUNNED.

  The place was enormous and breath-taking. I hadn't expected it to look anything like the picture of beauty that was before me. Libby noticed my surprise and just nodded saying,

  “I know, nice isn't it?” Nice! Nice wasn't a word I would have used. Out of this world, stunningly beautiful, truly amazing, anything but just plain old nice! Surely her being an interior designer would have evoked a better response from those red glossy lips.

  “It's more than nice Libs, it’s amazing!” I was still gob smacked!

  It looked so out of place and yet it didn't somehow, as though it had always been there. It looked hundreds of years old but surely it couldn't be. It wasn't like any club I had in mind or any that I had seen for that matter. In England a lot of nightclubs just looked like pubs or normal buildings. One I used to go to was an old cinema, but this was like a mansion. I couldn't see the entire house (house, what an understatement) It looked as if it went back further but it was surrounded by thick forest so only the front was exposed. It was made from thick stone blocks that were once, I suspected, a lighter shade than they were now. This was due to weathering I guessed and it reminded me of Bath, a city in England, which is famous for its old Roman baths and sandstone buildings.

  One side was covered in a thick blanket of rich green ivy that curled its way around the windows looking as though it was trying to overtake the building but only got as far as one side. This gave it a creepy vibe. The entrance was just as grand if not more so. It was an impressive stone archway with big thick black gates on either side that looked as if they could keep out an army. They had been secured back to allow access into the club, where people were now entering. However there were no lines outside with rope barriers as I had expected. In fact, the only thing that made it resemble a club was the two huge monster security guards who stood on either side of the gates. I looked at Libby.

  “Frank’s?” was all I needed to say.

  “Yeah that's Cameron and Jo, they’re nice guys, I met them at last years Christmas party.” She laughed as if remembering something, and as it turned out I didn't have long to wait for her to fill me in.

  “Jo got so drunk, doing too many vodka shots with Frank. In the end his mum had to come and get him, ha,” she gave a smug laugh and continued,

  “They always try and outdo each other, you know men and their pride!” she said coolly.

  I couldn’t help but laugh myself although it came out as more of a nervous giggle. It was the thought of that massive macho guy needing his mum to come and take care of him.

  “Well have a good night, just give me a ring and I will get Frank to come and pick you up... its fine,” she said before I had chance to feel guilty.

  “He's working late anyway.” She grinned as she unbuckled my seat belt, doing everything except pushing me out of the car which I think would have been next. My gloved hands started to feel sweaty.

  “Ok!” I said trying to sound brave. She wasn't buying it.

  “You'll be fine, go get them kiddo,” she said trying to sound like a cowboy.

  I got out of the car reluctantly and turned to face Libby, but she had already started to rev the engine into life ready for a speedy get away, no doubt in case I changed my mind, which I was actually starting to do.

  “Have fun and relax, you look as though you are going to pass out!” She said through a small gap in the
passage side window. I was being ridiculous, the place wasn't that creepy. I watched as Libby's Ford disappeared into the fog before I turned and made my way towards the imposing entrance.

  I walked slowly barely hearing the gravel crunching under my old purple Doc Martins, due to the loud pounding of my heart. I caught sight of the two men standing there by the entrance waiting for me to come closer. They eyed each other as if amused with the look of dread on my face. They could tell that I was a newbie, as the permanent shock on my face was a dead giveaway.

  “Evening,” was all the shorter one of the two said. He had a kind face which didn't match his rough, hard voice. Both were wearing thick black jackets that made them look even bigger. The smaller one didn't look as fit as the taller one, and he stood looking at me now as though he was about to speak. He was hiding what seemed to be a beer belly under that jacket but this didn't detract from the size of his shoulders, he still looked as though he could crush a man to death with one hug.

  I looked at the taller one now as he was looking at me impatiently for something, had he asked me a question?

  “I said ID!” Yes he had, Oops come on Keira don't piss off the big men.

  “Yeah sure,” I replied swallowing hard as I reached in my pocket and grabbed the licence I always carried for ID, only the picture held a very different me on it. They eyed it carefully and then all of a sudden their features changed to ones soft and very friendly.

  “You’re Frank’s sister-in-law aren't ya?” The taller one asked me enthusiastically (the one with the intolerance for vodka shots).

  “Umm, yeah,” I said warily not knowing if Frank would want them to know that.

  “Ah hell, him and Libby have been waiting for you to come for months, well its nice to meet you, I'm Jo and this is Cameron.” He held out a big bear like hand for me to shake and I was touched that Frank had mentioned me. His hand swallowed mine up as I placed it in his and he shook it gently, as though eyeing my little breakable body. I nodded to the other guy while Jo still had hold of my hand. He was turning it around and I looked at him curiously to see what he was doing. He stamped it and I examined the red word “legal” across my skin.

  “We allow a lot of age groups in here but they need ID to drink and you fit the bill.” He said with a big infectious grin on his face.

  “Go on in honey,” Cameron said with warmth, just as a couple of young dark dressed youths were coming up behind me. They turned to them and said “ID” in a less friendly manner that I had received. I smiled to myself, it was a nice perk being related to Frank and I didn't feel as nervous as I had before. I would have to remember to thank him later along with giving me a lift home. What a swell guy!

  The wooden doors ahead of me looked as if they could have once belonged to a castle, they were open and inviting but at the same time… intimidating. I couldn't help but touch them as I walked over the threshold. They were warm which I found odd. I studied them for a few seconds before I entered. There appeared to be a symbol carved deep into the middle of each door. I was trying to make it out when I realised the people behind me were trying to get past, so I walked through with the strangest feeling, making the hairs on the back of my neck and arms stand on end as though I was cold or scared. But I wasn't any of those things. If anything I felt the opposite.

  I felt like I was coming home.

  “Hey Kaz, you made it!” It wasn't a question more like shock, had she really thought that I would have stood her up. Maybe she could sense my reservations on the phone.

  “Yeah of course, wouldn't have missed it?” I said trying to sound enthusiastic, which wasn't hard as now that I was here I was really looking forward to the night. It was as though something had made its way inside my body giving me the most amazing rush of confidence. As if something wanted me here and to get me through those doors I needed some help. Well whatever it was, it had worked.

  “Follow me, you need a drink!” She said with a huge smile on her face which didn't match the Gothic vamp look she was going for. She was in a tiny black mini skirt with chains hanging from it everywhere. I wondered how it didn't fall down with all the extra weight. Definitely not the type of thing you'd wear at an airport by any means, I think she would set all the metal detectors off even before stepping a foot in the building.

  She matched this with a black top with rips slashed across the chest revealing bright pink netting underneath. It matched her hair, which was as pink as ever but was pinned into twists at the front and when she turned she had a chaos of spikes at the back. To complete the outfit she had on a long black jacket that went to the floor. It looked like a military jacket with lots of big round metal buttons going down in a v shape either side.

  We made our way through the crowd towards what I assumed was the bar and she kept turning round every now and again to check I was still following. I could understand why she did this as it looked as if the whole town was here and the place was that big it could have easily have been done with room to spare. I had to keep my eye on RJ's bright pink points so as not to get lost in the mass of bodies.

  I couldn't help but stare everywhere. I had never seen anything like it. Inside didn't really match the outside, a bit like old battling new. On the outside it looked like a mansion would have been in the sixteen hundreds and the inside looked as though it would today, modern but with a rustic feel. Well, like a renovated ruin but with a modern twist. The shell remained, with its really high ceilings and massive stone arches everywhere. The whole ceiling was a series of them that all mingled together, interlocking and then going off in different directions like the kind you find in churches or monasteries.

  The room was one big open space with different levels with seating around the outside in booths. The interior was lush and rich looking, with crimson reds and deep purples. There were great wrought iron chandeliers that hung down from the bigger arches in the ceiling, lit with candle bulbs which flickered for effect. The same style lamps were along the wall in a random fashion with the walls being made of the same stone as the outside but they weren't weathered so still had their natural softer colour making the lights reflect back, giving the room a warming glow.

  I was amazed by my surroundings, as if I had been transported back in time to a medieval age. Only I don’t think there would have been quite so many scary looking people here back then. Words like witch hunt, devil worshipper and burned at the stake came to mind. There were so many people dressed in black it almost looked like a cult gathering. Some of them stared at me as I made my way past, trying my best to keep up with RJ. We were nearly at the bar now as the crowd begun to get thicker. She stopped in front of me and turned to face me with a huge grin across her black lips.

  “You ok?” She said with a little bit of concern in her eyes.

  “Yeah I’m fine. I just didn’t expect it to be so busy.” She laughed as though I had missed something... something very important.

  “Well it’s not normally this busy until the Dravens come here and the Acid Criminals aren’t that popular, but they’re here early,” she said and clapped her hands together like a child.

  “What, the Acid Criminals?” I was confused, still not understanding the reasons behind the mass of people that looked more like a Gothic comic convention than a nightclub.

  “No, no, not the band….The Dravens!”

  Chapter 7 – Early Arrivals

  We finally got served after about twenty minutes of trying to push our way to the front, well RJ pushed and I followed. Now, once again, I was following RJ back to where her friends were waiting for us. This was the theme of the night, me tracking RJ's every move. I felt like the sheep following its owner, my only hope was that it wasn’t to the slaughter.

  I was starting to get sweaty palms again at the thought of meeting new people, like it was my first day of school all over again. Something caught her eye as we walked towards the back of the club and then I saw it too. A guy was waving at us trying to get our attention. He smiled when he saw me a
nd carried on waving us over turning slightly as if to say something to his friends.

  “Oh cool, they got a seat. Nice one! And the spot couldn't be more perfect.” RJ said with a quick satisfied smile at me. They were situated near to the mezzanine level and the staircase that led up to it. There was another one that mirrored it on the other side opposite. It was next to the stage area that was a raised platform high enough for everyone lower than it to have a clear view. The layout of the place was perfect for the purpose it served. It was the classiest night club I had ever seen, one that you would have expected to find in a big cosmopolitan city not a remote little town in the middle of the wilderness.

  “What’s up there?” I asked as we passed the staircase that had two enormous men guarding it as if it held the crown jewels up there. I thought the two guys at the front entrance were big, but these guys put them to shame. The story of David and Goliath popped into my head.

  “Ah, now that’s the VIP area,” she whispered as she eyed the giants, as though not wanting them to hear.

  “That’s where the Dravens spend all their time, it goes all the way over, further back,” she continued motioning her hand backwards.

  “Not that I have ever been up there,” she continued with a bitter tone.

  “But my dad has his own building company and one of his guys went there last year to do a job, which is strange ‘cause they usually get their own people in to do stuff like that. I guess they got desperate or something, but anyway, I got my dad to explain it in every little detail to me and then of course passed the information on like any good town gossip,” she said smiling proudly. I laughed back, not being in the least bit surprised and also making a mental note never to tell her anything that I didn’t want ending up on the town’s bulletin board.