The Ember In The Dark novel Chapter 17

Ash and I were so stuffed from lunch. We were just lazing about in our room for most of the afternoon. When the rankings were posted we went and looked. Of course I was ranked first and Ash second. Toni was ranked 3rd and then Tate was ranked 4th. I didn't look past that.

At about 5 I started getting ready for Josh's gig. I tied my hair back in a tight bun. I wore a lace black choker, a white shirt with red splashes of paint and tight black skinny jeans. I wore my black converse with red roses I had painted on them. I wore some eyeliner and thick mascara. I decided to go even bolder and wore a matte burgundy lipstick. Burgundy was always a nice color on dad and I.

"Well damn. I don't think I'm dressed right." Ash laughed looking at me.

"Yeah, hold on. I'll fix you."

I went to his room and looked through his closet. I found a pair of black jeans that weren't too baggy and a zooyork dark blue jacket. I paired it with some dark blue vans he had and gave him a silver chain to wear.

"There, perfect." I chef kissed my hands and he laughed.

A knock on the door had us both smiling excitedly. Toni and Rachel were there.

"Damn girl, you look hot!" Rachel told me.

"Looking hot yourself." I smiled back at her.

She had a black tulle skirt with sky high converse and a white shirt. She wore a 3 layered necklace made of paper clips and had her black glossy hair was straightened. She had a headband with a large white flower on it as well.

Beside her was Toni, who must have been dressed by Rachel. He had the sides of his hair braided and the top left straight and alone, all meeting in the back and tied in a bun. He had a gold chain, bringing out those red undertones of his. He wore a black shirt and white ripped jeans with fake black patches and black vans to match. He was looking really fucking sexy and I bit my lip.

He noticed my action and gave me that half smirk of his. If I didn't have any self control I would have grabbed him and taken him to bed right now. I can't handle this sexy look of his.

"We better go before we're late." Toni told us all.

We followed them out to Toni's car. I had admired this car in the school parking lot before, but I didn't know it was his. It was a classic 1967 Chevrolet Camero with a hardtop. Seeing him get behind the wheel only increased my desire for him.

We drove out as the sun started to set. The purple and pink hues gave a delicate setting to the sky. Our evening will be anything but delicate. Rachel blasted some all time low as we drove and she and I sang along at the top of our lungs. Ash and Toni gave us funny looks at times, but Ash tapped his foot along and Toni drummed on the steering wheel.

I was getting excited for my first real outing with my friends. I was really curious to see Josh play too. I hope his band is good. I really suck at lying.

We got there just as the sun had fully set, the night sky littered with small sparkling stars. A new moon tonight. We paid our gate admission and entered the club. There were a ton of people here.

Many pointy mohawks made it hard for me to pick Josh out from the crowd. There were girls with bright pink hair and girls with bright blue hair. There were all the colors of the rainbow here. The guys ranged from skaters, to punks, to goths and even some emos.

"Do you see Josh?" I asked Rachel.

"We won't see him till he comes on and then he'll come out here after his set. He's backstage right now." She yelled at me as the music started.

"Oh okay."

I could feel all the girls staring at Ash and Toni behind me. A lot of the boys were staring at Rachel's legs, that exposed area of her thigh, calling to them. The other guys seemed to keep staring at my lips or my slightly exposed stomach. Just an inch of flesh and these guys were going crazy.

"Don't get separated." Rachel yelled to all of us. "Ash, you're my buddy for tonight." She claimed him. I knew what she was doing and Ash seemed just fine with it.

"Oh, it'd be my honor to be your buddy." Ash smiled down at her small self. He was almost twice her height.

"I guess that leaves me as your buddy." Toni whispered in my ear, placing his arm around my waist and grabbing my hip. My cheeks felt hot the moment his hand grabbed me. My breathing became a bit erratic as I fought against the need to kiss him.

"Hello 220!" Josh yelled into the mic as the music died down. 220 was the name of the club. "Are you ready to rock?"

His bandmates came out, all boys. One had long hair that covered most of his face, sweeped to the side. The other had shaggy hair with a beanie on top. They were both pretty to look at. The drummer, beanie guy, had a tattoo on his hand of a little ghost dude that seemed to dance when he drummed. Hair for face guy was tall and very skinny, made me think of the bass he was playing.

The lead guitarist had black flames tattooed on his neck and shaggy blonde hair with dark roots. His face was long and angular. His dark gray eyes scanned the crowd. The music started and everyone started jumping and dancing. We all stayed to the side, so we wouldn't get thrown into mosh pits.

I jumped on my feet and danced a bit. Toni's hand never left my hip though. The feel of his thumb on that inch of exposed skin was driving me insane. I had to fight the urge to turn around and just kiss him. I focused hard on the music and Josh's performance. He played the guitar as he spewed his lyrics.

His songs were good and I was really glad I wouldn't have to lie to him later.

They played a short set, just 4 songs before they sauntered off the stage. Josh had spotted us in the crowd already and beelined for us, his bandmates following closely behind.

"Follow me guys, we'll go somewhere more quiet." Josh told us all.

We headed to the stairs to the side of the building and found a room made of glass walls. Inside the room was quiet, but you could still see everything and hear the music at a more tolerable level.

Everyone had taken a seat. Ash in a recliner with Rachel sitting on the arm. Toni was on a couch next to it. Josh was toward the other end of the same couch, as Tris and Killian were on the loveseat. Dex sat on the floor in the corner, one leg out and one bent in. I took the only spot left, which of course was between Josh and Toni.

"Guys, this is Ember, and her twin Ash, and that is Rachel's cousin Toni." Josh pointed us all out. "Guys this is Killian." Beanie guy. "Tris." Hair for face guy. "And Dex." Neck Tattoo guy.

"Nice to meet you." Killian smiled.

In the full light of the room I could see he had green eyes with a blue outer ring. He had a strong chin and high cheekbones with a well sculpted nose. He was pretty handsome in the bad boy way.

It was hard to see much of Tris except the tip of his nose, which seemed long, his small pink lips and little chin.

"Yeah you too." I told him, being polite.

"You guys did great!" Rachel told the band and they nodded their heads in appreciation.

"Was it worth your while?" Josh asked me and I laughed, almost forgetting what I had texted him.

"Yes it was. You guys were amazing." I smiled at him, and he gave me a small smile through the cracks of his fingers that were holding his head against the arm of the couch.

"Thanks. I am glad you liked it." He muttered.

Toni sat up, leaning forward, his elbows over his knees. I was so keenly aware of every movement he made. The hairs on my arm would stand anytime I thought he was moving to touch me. I wanted him to and yet at the same time I knew it would be a bad idea if I let him. I was still feeling the warmth of his hand on my hip from earlier.

We all hung out and the band drank, but drinking was never for me. It doesn't really do anything to us werewolves unless we drink a shit ton. The taste isn't worth trying to fit in, to me anyway. We were all making small conversation here and there and landed on what instruments everyone could play.

"Ember plays everything. She started with the piano when we were 5. When she was 7 mom got her into the drums, then it went to guitar, bass, violin, harp, and cello." Ash told them all.

"You play the drums too!" Killian sounded impressed. "I've always found a girl that can play the drums sexy." He smiled at me. Toni's chest rumbled as he suppressed a growl.

"Woah easy there killer." Josh joked."I didn't invite her here for you to flirt with."

"I didn't mean…" Killian started. "Just nevermind." He sulked back in his chair. He had a couple lip piercings and I could seem him fiddling with them in his mouth.

I could feel Dex's eyes on me and something about them made me feel on edge. I leaned my body more towards Toni without realizing it. Our mate bond was helping sooth some of the uneasiness that crept in me.

"Ember." Toni whispered my name.

I almost couldn't look away from Dex. Like somehow Dex had me trapped in his eyes. Toni's hand gently touched my cheek, turning my head towards him. His touch on my face helped break my eyes away from Dex's. I heard Dex tsk his teeth when I looked away.

Toni leaned in towards my face, and for a moment, I worried he'd kiss me again. I also kind of hoped he would. His lips went to my ear instead.

"He's a siren. A full blooded one. Don't stare in his eyes fully." He whispered to me.