The Den

Skyla looked to her right. She and Alex were standing in front of a little bar. She loved it instantly! The double wooden doors folded open, and it seemed to be right smack in the middle of the sidewalk. Inside to the right, the bar was shaped like a horseshoe. Scattered bar tables set up a maze throughout the rest of the bar. Beyond them was a stage. The stage was raised so that whoever performed there would be in plain view of everyone both inside and outside on the street.

It is like one big block party around here.

Skyla started to walk in, but Alex grabbed her by the arm and tugged her back. He whispered in her ear, "This is Steve's Place."

"Oh." Skyla paused and regrouped. She was dizzy from the excitement and felt brave and tipsy with expectation. She remembered that Alex had said Peter was working today. It was also the place where she would meet Lucy, his sister. Was she ready for this?

Alex took note of Skyla's face. He was worried about her. She didn't look too sturdy. She had become paler and paler since leaving D.C. Perhaps he should take it easy on her. He would make sure she ate more and got a decent amount of sleep each day. He felt as if he were draining her energy, but he could not help himself. She was so special to him-so necessary. He could not maintain his own energy level without her.

Alex brushed Skyla's hair back. He was thinking about taking her straight back to the hotel now. Maybe they could fool around again before meeting up with everyone. It was still so early. They stared at each other in silence.

"Let's go in and get a drink," Skyla finally said.

"Yes. That is fine. I think I do need one of those."

A guy a few inches taller than Alex stood behind the bar. He had gray eyes that followed them to a stool at the end of the bar. He nodded as they each sat on a bar stool. Alex tapped the bar and said, "This is Peter Desmarais. Peter, this is Skyla Jane Judge."

Skyla waved at Peter, and he nodded in her direction.

"How's it going?" Alex asked.

"Fine. Same old. You know," said Peter.

Peter looked at Skyla and then at Alex. His eyebrows were raised a bit. Skyla didn't know what that meant.

"Guess I didn't miss much," said Alex.

"Nothing much." Peter turned his attention to Skyla. "We are all just glad summer is over. It was a long one this year. It's really hot still. Feels like an oven in here. Have the fans blowing all day and night."

Peter and Alex exchanged a long look. Skyla looked back and forth between them. It seemed funny to her that they wouldn't have caught up on this conversation earlier. She wondered if they were being civil for her sake or if they were communicating in code.

Peter put two bottles of beer on the bar. He reached back, without looking, and grabbed the rusty opener that had been lying on the cash register behind him. He cracked open the beer bottles, put them on the bar, and leaned back on his elbows. Peter gazed out the door as some laughing, swaying girls walked by. Skyla guessed she shouldn't ask for a glass. She peered around the place. It was dark and dingy, but something made it inviting. Maybe it was the smell of food that seemed to linger. She remembered the gumbo and felt a twinge of hunger again. She looked around for someone who might be Steve. If this was Steve's Place, why hadn't they seen Steve? Why hadn't they seen Lucy? Shouldn't she be here? Skyla had forgotten her watch, but she was sure that it was after 10. She wondered if she should take her cell out to casually check the time. Just then she heard a screech and a slam from behind the bar.

Skyla jumped right off the stool. Alex stayed on his stool and pulled her against him. Skyla stood on her tiptoes and peered over the bar. There was a trapdoor in the floor that had been thrown open. Up walked possibly the prettiest girl Skyla had ever seen. She was tiny, with small features, and her curly black hair bounced around her shoulders as she emerged from the depths below. Her face looked as if it were glowing. Her face was so bright that Skyla couldn't look straight at her. The girl looked at Skyla, though, and right through her, too. She inspected Skyla for what seemed to be an eternity. Skyla finally noticed she had blue, no, turquoise-colored eyes. She looked young, 16 or 17. Could that be right? What was she doing at the bar? Maybe Steve had a daughter? Skyla looked down, but the girl just folded her arms and kept staring.

Alex jumped in. "This is Mara Petit. Mara, this is Skyla Jane Judge."

"Hi," Mara said without removing her glare from Skyla.

Another head emerged from the floor doors, and there was no mistaking this one. Her hair was the same dirty blond as Alex's, and she had the same grayish-green eyes. She stopped when she reached the last step. Frozen in place.

"Yes, it's me," said Alex.

Skyla looked at Alex. Had he just answered some silent question?

"Thought so!" the girl said and came bounding out. She threw her arms around him. There was no doubt that this was Lucy. She and Alex looked exactly alike. Skyla imagined that when they were little kids, running around the yard, no one could tell one from the other.

Then Lucy turned toward Skyla. Alex told her, "This is my friend Skyla."

"Yes. So Peter was telling me you were in for a visit with a friend. Not staying?"

"Visiting," he confirmed with a nod.

"James and Mara had a bit of an argument about that," Lucy said.

"We'll see," Mara said as she threw her arms around Alex and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Lucy did not stop talking to her brother for the rest of the night. She was intent on filling him in on all that he had missed. She was polite to Skyla. Compared with Mara, she was downright welcoming.

Skyla would have a lot of questions for Alex when they got back to the hotel room. She would wait until later. She settled into her environment and tried to gather as much information as she could in the meantime.

A band clanged around, preparing to go on stage. The drummer tested his cymbals and tapped his foot on the pedals to ensure the right sound. A would-be manager type hooked up a microphone and began lowering it and raising it to find the perfect height. The guitarist sat on a stool and looked completely bored. A girl stood at the edge of the stage, drinking a beer and trying to get his attention. A guy dressed in black leather pants and a carefully torn Rolling Stones T-shirt stood at the bar and downed the rest of his whiskey. "One more before the set!" he yelled to Peter as he slid his glass down the bar. Peter obligingly poured him another but put it down right in front of himself. The guy had to walk over and get it. He picked it up and shot a sideways glance at Skyla, who had been staring at him. She tried to casually look away. He shrugged and finished his drink. He slammed the glass down on the bar and went to the stage to take his place as the lead singer.

Lucy, Mara, Alex, and Skyla moved to a high bar table to get ready for the show. Skyla hurried up and finished another beer, and Alex went to the bar. She would have to slow her pace if she were going to keep her wits about her in this place.

Then Skyla felt it-the shiver.

She was alone with the two girls at the table, and that familiar sensation occurred: hair rising on the back of her neck, a sense of the world slowing down, a dark cloud hovering close overhead. She didn't dare turn around. She knew someone had just walked through the door. She knew that whoever it was was going to be real bad news. Skyla took a deep breath and looked at the girls for a hint. Lucy and Mara wore calm smiles. Skyla turned toward the door and she was suddenly face to face with him. She did not dare breathe. She did not dare move. It was the black-haired man. It was unlikely. It was impossible even. Yet it was true.

"James Robichaud, meet Skyla Jane Judge," said Mara.

He was still face to face with Skyla. Alex came back from the bar and slid in between the two. "How's it going, man?" Alex said.

"Just fine, Alex," James said as he stared at Skyla. Skyla felt the floor spin. She grabbed Alex and held on for dear life. "Oh, she doesn't look so good," James said as he reached out to touch her face.

That did it.

When Skyla finally opened her eyes, she saw a greenish tint. It was cool. There was a murmur of fans buzzing around her. The smell of garlic and butter whirled in the fans' wind. Skyla tried to rise to her elbows. She was on a small bed or cot, and Alex sat next to her. He helped prop her up so she could look around the room. The bed squeaked. The room was dark, with little lamps spread around. The lamps were the ones used in offices, with little green hoods. At first it seemed as if they were alone in this strange place. Then Skyla saw Lucy sitting in a far corner on another cot.

Skyla didn't know where she was until she heard the drumming above her head. She realized this was the basement below the bar. Her eyes would not fully adjust to the faint lighting, and it was very disconcerting.

"Here, have some cranberry juice," Alex said as he handed her a glass. "You just fainted out of nowhere. Lucky I was there to catch you on the way down."

"Alex, who is that guy?"

"Which one, Skyla Jane? You met a couple of people at once. I think you must be a bit overwhelmed."

"I am not. Well, maybe I am. But I mean the guy who walked in and came over to me. Who is the one with the dark eyes? I can't tell you what he looks like, but he feels like a nightmare."

"He feels like a nightmare? What on earth are you talking about? I think the heat is definitely getting to you." Alex forced a laugh.

Skyla knew she was right. She also knew she must sound crazy. She looked at Lucy for guidance. Lucy looked back at Skyla as if she were going to say something. Actually, Skyla got the strangest feeling that she was saying something, but there was nothing but silence echoing in the basement.

Lucy popped off the bed and strolled over to Skyla. "You'll be fine. See it all the time around here. People aren't used to the feel of our city."

"Yes, that is right. The feel. It feels very different than any other place, doesn't it?" Skyla had a strong feeling that Lucy could understand her. She thought they might become friends after all. It seemed that Lucy had more to say. Maybe she wanted to tell her what was going on around here.

"Go upstairs, Lucy. I'm sure Peter will need you behind the bar," ordered Alex.

"Sure thing, bro."

Alex paced. Skyla could see now. Her eyes finally adjusted. It was a large open space. Five cots were set up around the room. The floor was cement, but it was painted a reddish clay color. The walls next to the cot were painted differently. On the far left side, she could see swinging doors with lights shining through the tiny windows. She heard clanking and metal. That must be the kitchen. The stairs to the bar started right next to the kitchen door, and Skyla could hear someone descending. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Alex freeze.

"Stop!" Alex shouted as he jumped up and ran to the bottom of the stairs. "She isn't ready. I will let you know when." There was a moment of silence. "I am, but you aren't paying close enough attention!"

Alex gasped when he realized his error. Looking at Skyla from across the room, he started to say something but closed his mouth quickly.

"I knew it! You are reading minds, aren't you? No one said anything out loud, but you are answering a question. I should know these things. I am a bit of a freak myself, you know. But it seems that I have lost the gift. I used to hear people, but now I can't. I am not tuned in or something. But you all are doing it, aren't you? Who the hell are you?" Skyla began to work herself up into a panic again. The room began to spin and slant slightly.

"I'm no one. I'm your friend. I'm just a friend accompanying you on your journey. This was your idea, remember?" Alex walked over and tried to grab her hands.

"No, I don't remember. I don't remember it being my idea. It never even occurred to me until you walked into my life." Skyla started to stand, but her still-shaky legs wouldn't permit it.

"Well, it was your idea. I would never force anyone into coming here. I just guided you."

"Guided me? Here? Why would I need to be guided here?"

Just then she heard the footsteps again. Alex threw his hands up in the air as if he had given up. Skyla could see only legs descending at first, but then a tiny black skirt and camouflage T-shirt came into view. Lastly, the curls came tumbling down, too. Mara bounced into the room with an incredible amount of confidence for someone so young. She walked right over to where Skyla was sitting and sat down. Mara placed a hand on Skyla's leg and looked into her eyes.

"Welcome to our den."