Read Back From The Dead Part One here

“Is this a bad time?” Gage asked from the doorway. Alva whirled around to face him. His black eyes were sad, but his jaw was set with stubborn determination.

“What do you want, Gage?” Alva asked, holding back adrenaline tears.

“Um, the crew won’t let me on stage to get my sticks. I don’t want whatever replacement drummer you get to use them.” He rubbed his large ram-like horns. They were littered with scrapes and scratches from all the fights he’d been in—and been in the middle of. His hands were rough and calloused from vigorous drum playing. Alva knew those hands well.

“Replacement drummer? No, that’s not happening. I, um, canceled the concert, and broke up the band.”

“You did WHAT? Is this because I quit?” Gage threw his hands in the air.

“In part. You quitting was sort of the catalyst. Those two were going to destroy us from the beginning,” Alva responded, those adrenaline tears threatening a spectacular performance. Gage had a way of making her lose control.

“Alvie, no. Just find a replacement drummer. You know, the show must go on and all that crap? Come on; you can’t give up like this.” Gage put his hands on her shoulders. Alva’s heart began to race, and she just knew she was glowing more than she had in a while. Her wings were wild under her clothes, crying to be released from their cloth confines.

“You haven’t called me Alvie in a long time,” was all she could manage.

“You asked me not to. But besides that, you can’t cancel the show and break the band up.”

“Yes, I can. It was bound to happen. Those two are so volatile. I wish they could just set their family drama aside. I’ll never understand why, if they hate each other so much, they agreed to do this. And there is no better drummer than you. The fans paid to see the three of you. It wouldn’t be fair to them to switch you out without any announcement. Trust me, I don’t want to cancel the concert. Really, I don’t. This was going to launch you guys to the stars. All the biggest names in music were going to be here.”

“You didn’t tell us that.”

“It was supposed to be a surprise.” Alva looked into his endless black eyes. Part her of wished she could let him walk away, and be free of her obsession with him. But she was weak. And it was hurting them both. “Could you maybe do this show and then quit? I won’t stop you. But just… This concert is everything.”

“It is a big deal…. But I just can’t deal with those two. The only time they stop fighting is when we’re on stage. It’s the only time I can stomach being around them.” Alva was very aware of the fact that Gage’s hands were still on her shoulders.

“I’m sorry to ask this of you. I know you’ve dealt with so much.”

“Well, how about you? You even hide your wings for us.”

“Not for you,” Alva looked at him, her resolve slipping.

“Stop that,” Gage said, hurt evident in his voice. “You pumped the brakes on this a long time ago. Don’t start with me.”

“Please don’t quit us,” Alva whispered without thinking.

Alva’s other hand reached his face, and she pulled him for a kiss. Her soul quivered with anticipation of being with him again. Gage backed away from her right before their lips met.

“Don’t. You can’t just pick me up and put me down whenever you feel like you need comfort. I’m a demon, not your pillow.”

“Gage—”

“No. I won’t let you put me through this again.” He pulled away from her.

“Please, I just need this right now.” Alva’s head came up to Gage’s chest. She pressed herself against him and looked up into his face. She could feel Gage beginning to melt into her.

“How do you have this hold over me?” Gage looked up, to not see her. He took a deep breath.

“Because you need this just as much as I do. Please, Gage.”

Gage pushed Alva away. She looked at him as though he’d wounded her.

“For you to break me when you inevitably push me away again? Get me stuck on you so you can rip me off and throw me away? No Alva. I’ll do the concert, and if those two can keep themselves in check, maybe I’ll reconsider quitting. Maybe. But I can’t do this again.”

Alva’s wings writhed against her back.

“So, you’ll do the concert?” She asked, stuffing her emotions away.

“Yeah, I’ll do it.”

“We’re glad to hear you say that,” Alaric’s voice came from outside the office.

Alva and Gage walked out to see Callan and Alaric waiting for them. Alaric looked aloof and emotionless and always, his icy blue eyes giving nothing away. Callan’s bright red eyes were contrite, which is not a look he wore often.

“We’re sorry,” he continued. Callan nodded in agreement. “We realized we have a lot to work through, and things won’t be perfect right away. But we’re willing to work on it.”

“I don’t believe you,” Gage said. He crossed his arms over his chest and stared them down.

“Oh, come on! When have we ever apologized for anything? We’re sorry! We’re not saying we’re best friends. But we’re in a better place. I mean, I can look at him and sort of not wanna rip his head off!” Callan said, waving his arms around.

“Same,” Alaric agreed. “And that’s saying something.”

“I’ll take a chance on you. One last chance.” Alva said.

“I’m in. But you two pull that nonsense before a show again, I’m all the way out.” Gage added, staring them down.

“We won’t disappoint you,” Alaric promised.

“Well, come on then! Back to the dressing room! We have to get you ready for the show! You guys are going to be megastars after this concert, I know it!” Alva cheered and rushed them back to their dressing room.

Before long, Alva stood backstage, soaking in the sounds she lived for. The screams of devoted fans, and thrill of a sold-out venue, and the knowledge that Resurrection would be signed to a major record label before the night was over made this all worth it.

The overhead lights dimmed, and Alva waited for Callan to say her favorite words in the world.

“Back from the dead, we are Resurrection! ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR!”

The crowd went wild as the first song played. Maybe she wasn’t the prestigious fashion designer her parents wanted her to be. Maybe the twins were more famous and beloved than she was, but they would never feel as fulfilled as she did in that moment. And then Alva did something she hadn’t done in a long time. She unfurled her wings in their full glory and hovered off the floor. She was a pixie in a demon’s world. She was going to take her place, and everything was going to be okay.