Demon (5 page)

At first, Scott seemed to be a bit friendlier than Chad. However, it wasn’t long before Rebecca realized it was more of a sarcastic grin than a welcoming smile that he flashed her way. When he spoke to her, he never made eye contact. Probably because he was too busy trying to look down the plunging neckline of her shirt. The large boy seemed out of place in the artsy crowd. He was as bulky as a football player, with a ruddy face and an almost clean-shaven head. Yet Rebecca had heard him sing in a rich baritone, and she knew he could pull his own weight in the music department. Still, the massive frame and the beautiful voice were a strange combination. The three of them together made up an even more unlikely team, yet it appeared that Livy, Chad, and Scott were an inseparable trio.

“May I congratulate you on an excellent performance?” Justyn suddenly complimented Livy, breaking Rebecca’s reverie. “Your voice is exquisite.”

“Why, thank you, Lord Justyn.” Livy’s smile was genuine that time. “You were amazing too. Don’t let old Crater Face Carter get to you. He’s notoriously hard on the freshmen, especially when he thinks they have real talent. Something about getting our full potential to emerge by challenging us and blah, blah, blah.” She waved her hand in dismissal. “You know. The normal mentor bull crap. Personally, I wish the old geezer would just sit back, shut up, and let us do our thing.”

“Yeah,” Chad agreed. He sniffed loudly and pulled a tissue from his pocket to blow his nose as he spoke, “P.C. can be a real schmuck. Don’t let him get to ya.”

“We know all about this stuff because Chad, Scott, and I were the stars of all the plays last year,” Livy continued. “Not trying to brag or anything. I’m just letting you know how things work around here. Believe me when I tell you—you’ll both be on the callback list tomorrow.”

Rebecca didn’t believe for a second that she wasn’t bragging, even though Livy smiled sweetly as she flung her handbag over her shoulder. Rebecca noticed the satchel was made from black velvet and lace. She had never seen anything like it before. Really, did even her
bag
have to be outlandish and beautiful? Rebecca had never felt more like a plain Jane than she did at that moment.

“So, it’s odd to see two freshmen try out together when no one really knows each other yet,” Chad observed. “You must be the duo that Mr. Pessagno picked up in Jersey.”

Justyn nodded. “That would be us.”

“You’re from
Joisey
!” Scott chuckled and tried to pull off the stereotypical New Jersey accent. “Look here, we got ourselves a real live
Joisey
girl!”

“We’re from
South
Jersey, actually,” Justyn told him, annoyance coating his words. “No one talks that way there.”

“Even better, they’re straight from the Jersey Shore, just like that T.V. show!” Scott laughed and turned to Rebecca. “Maybe we should just call you Jerseylicious
.
”

Chad and Scott guffawed and exchanged high fives, and Rebecca felt her cheeks start to burn. Now she decided she didn’t like Livy
or
her posse. She really wanted to catch up with Megan, but a quick glance over her shoulder told her the blonde was long gone. When she turned back, she realized that while Justyn had held his tongue so far, he was getting aggravated. She saw his lips press into a tight frown as Chad continued to refer to her as Jerseylicious and Scott made obscene hand gestures in her direction. Rebecca put a restraining hand on Justyn’s shoulder when she saw his eyes start to bulge, but she probably wouldn’t have been able to stop him from retaliating with at least a few choice adjectives if Livy hadn’t intervened.

“Would you two clowns knock it off?” she reprimanded. Like trained dogs, they both stopped laughing almost instantly at her command. “Don’t mind Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb over here. Sometimes when they sing too much, the oxygen doesn’t make it to their brains. Anyway, Mr. Pessagno talked about you two a lot in class last year. He was pretty excited when he came back from scouting.”

“Almost as excited as Crater Face was when he discovered
you
, huh, Liv?” Chad chimed in.

Livy shrugged. “Yeah, well, we aren’t talking about me.” She turned back to Rebecca and Justyn, though it was obvious where her attention was really directed. “So are you two, you know … together?”

“For a year now.” Rebecca answered a little too quickly to avoid sounding pathetic. Livy gave her a cocky smile that made her want to melt into the floor, but Justyn wrapped his arm around her waist, which made her feel a little better.

“It’s been the best year of my life,” Justyn told them. “Becca is my angel of music.”

“High school sweethearts,” Livy murmured. “How …
sweet
.” Somehow her tone of voice made it sound more like an insult. “Well, I’ve got tons of homework, so I’m ditching this place. But I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around. I look forward to sharing the stage with you, Justyn.” She gave him a dazzling smile and then turned toward Rebecca as an afterthought. “You too, Becca.”

They exchanged goodbyes and
nice to meet yous
. Though Rebecca didn’t think the conversation had been pleasant at all, she forced herself to stay cordial. She knew it wouldn’t do them any good to make enemies when they had barely put one foot through the door.

Livy strutted toward the exit, and the two guys followed her out, running ahead to hold the door open as though they were her personal manservants. Just before she walked out of the theater, she turned back around, puckered her black lips, and threw a kiss in their direction—a kiss that was obviously meant for Justyn. Just like the sarcastic, demeaning smile was obviously meant for Rebecca.

After two hours of typing, Rebecca finally finished her essay. With a sigh of satisfaction, she hit the print button and watched as the blank pages filled with words. Across the room, Justyn sat on the loveseat with his eyes glued to his own monitor. Rebecca saved her work and tucked her completed project securely into her bag before sliding down from the counter stool. She glided across the floor to his side and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He turned to give her a quick kiss before going right back to the computer. Rebecca snuck a peek over his shoulder and noticed he was browsing Internet auctions.

She raised an eyebrow. “Working hard, I see.”

“It’s research,” he told her with his standard cocky grin. “I just bid on a few different movie versions of
Demon Barber.
I got the recent Hollywood film, a few different live performances, and even an old black-and-white movie that was made around 1930. I also found a few books. And look at this…”

He switched over to another browser he had minimized where a search engine revealed a wide array of disconcerting men with bloody razors and trapdoor barber chairs. There were fat men, bald men, crazy-eyed men, and even one who looked like he’d stuck his finger in the electric socket. The only thing they all had in common was their blood-soaked aprons and the shiny silver razor blades.

“That’s just disturbing.” Rebecca gave a little shudder. She had never been a big fan of slasher films. “Why do you even want to look at that creepy stuff?”

“It’s important to get to know your role inside and out if you want to give a good performance,” Justyn reminded her. “Did you know that the books and plays were based on a real serial killer who lived in London in the early eighteen hundreds?”

“That’s even more disturbing. Are you
trying
to talk me out of going to the callbacks?”

“Sweeney Todd really isn’t that much different than the phantom. It’s about a real-life monster created from the wrongs that were done to him. Sweeney was wrongfully imprisoned for years and came home to find his wife and daughter stolen away. Can you blame him for wanting to get his revenge? I
love
this play. It’s part legend and part musical genius. Just give it a chance. Look at the moral behind the story, and trust me, it will grow on you.”

Justyn was so enthusiastic Rebecca didn’t have the heart to argue with him. Still, she had flipped through the script and didn’t find it nearly as enchanting as
Phantom
. Sweeney Todd escapes from prison and returns to London hoping to find his wife and daughter. Instead, he finds Mrs. Lovatt baking her pies. She lies and tells him his wife is dead, when she’s really the resident crazy bag lady, because she wants him for herself. He is so infuriated he decides to kill the judge who sent him away in order to extract his revenge. Until he can obtain access to his real target, he just kills random people, and Mrs. Lovatt covers it up by using the bodies as the meat in her pies. In the end, Sweeney gets his revenge, but accidentally kills his own wife in the crossfire. It was twisted, which was probably why Justyn loved it so much. It was just more evidence that he was more suited to the theater than Rebecca. She couldn’t see the genius behind songs about a deranged killer who butchered people and made them into meat pies.

In any event, now that she had finished her homework, she had to concentrate on memorizing the song she would need to sing at callbacks. She had less than forty-eight hours to accomplish the task. She was still a little shocked she had been selected at all and had been studying the script every chance she got to make sure she didn’t mess things up. Even with Justyn helping her run through the lines, she had a hard time getting a grasp on the beat of the fast-paced tunes. Luckily, Justyn was able to find a video online of the exact song they had to sing. It was the movie version, which was slightly altered from the play, but it definitely helped her get a better grasp on the music.

“I’ll tell you one thing,” she observed as they watched the actors spin across the computer monitor. “You won’t even need a costume if you get the lead. All you need is that white streak through your hair.”

Justyn raised a pierced eyebrow. “I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or an insult.”

Rebecca laughed. “I’m not really sure either,” she teased. “And you know, I hate to admit it, but Livy would make a great Mrs. Lovatt. Wasn’t she wearing that very same dress to the tryouts yesterday? She’s got the creepy personality down too.”

“Don’t be mean, Becca,” Justyn scolded. “I know Livy was a little less than cordial, but—”

“She all but called me a pathetic novice,” Rebecca interrupted, but then sighed in resignation. “But, she’s right, you know. She was the best female vocalist by far. I won’t stand a chance against her.”

“We both have some serious competition this year. There’s no guarantee either of us will get a good role,” Justyn admitted. “But whether we’re in the chorus or get the leads, the important thing is having fun and doing our best. And remember that no matter what happens with the casting, you’ll always be
my
leading lady.”

Rebecca rolled her eyes. “You’re so corny sometimes.”

“Corny, am I?”

Even as she said it, he stood from his seat to wrap his arms around her. He moved her hair to the side, kissed her neck, and nuzzled her flesh with his nose. Rebecca felt her breath catch as his hand tickled and teased, slowly moving beneath the confines of her sweater. His fingers were warm against her skin, yet still, her arms puckered with goose bumps. Just that simple touch left her hungry for more, but he was just punishing her for teasing him so much. As soon as he had her wanting him beyond all reason, he slipped away and went back to his computer. He turned up the volume as far as it would go and reached out his hand.

“May I have this dance, my lady?”

“You’re not serious?”

“Of course I am,” Justyn told her. “We need to practice, don’t we?”

Rebecca heaved a sigh of resignation. “I suppose we do.”

The song they had to sing was the only full-length duet Mrs. Lovatt and Sweeney Todd shared. The scene revolved around them trying to decide what to do with the body of the barber’s first victim. Mrs. Lovatt comes up with the plan of profiting off the remains by using them as an ingredient in her meat pies. Despite the distasteful theme, when Rebecca sang the first verse of the song, working only from memory, her voice was clear and strong.

“Waste not, want not, I always say.

No reason to throw good meat away.

Be it lawyer, priest, doctor, or squire.

We’ll cook that meat on an open fire.”

Justyn followed up with the second verse, and his eyes glinted with the same kind of mischief that she saw in the actor’s eyes on the video. He even picked up a butter knife that was left on the counter and brandished it like his own personal razor. It was a little disturbing how he could manage to look so evil with so little instigation.

“What a plan, Mrs. Lovatt. Genius for sure.

My barber’s chair will be the perfect lure.

Then serve it up warm to all those who wait.

They’ll never guess it’s their friend on their plate.”

For the next hour, they skipped around the apartment, singing and dancing along to the music that boomed through the speakers. Rebecca had never been very light on her feet, but with a little instruction, she got the hang of the simple steps. Soon they were waltzing around the room as though it were second nature, their voices syncing in perfect harmony. Their neighbors had to think they were crazy with all the thumping and yelling, but Justyn was right. The music
was
growing on her. Justyn seemed to know how to make anything fun. No matter what parts they got, it was going to be a bigger challenge than
Phantom
, but Rebecca was starting to believe she could not only do it, but even enjoy it.

After a few hours of rehearsing, they decided to call it a day and indulged in a late-night snack of rocky road ice cream. It was a reward well earned. They were both yawning as Justyn carried the dishes over to the sink. He dropped them on the counter, and she worked to remove the sticky marshmallow from the bowls. She was just laying them in the drainer when she noticed Justyn bend down to pick up a crumbled piece of paper from the floor. He unfolded it and studied it for a few minutes.

“Where did this come from?” He frowned.

Rebecca dried her hands on a paper towel and reached for the paper. “Oh, that,” she shuddered a little when she saw the warning notice. She had completely forgotten about it in the hustle and bustle of the last few days. “It was stuck in the spokes of my bike the other day, and I tossed it in my bag. It must have fallen out when I was packing up my assignment.”

“No one mentioned
this
when we came to visit the campus,” Justyn complained.

Rebecca shrugged and tossed the paper into their recycle bin. “He’s probably long gone by now.”

Justyn shook his head. “You don’t know that. You need to be careful, Becca. I’m sure during the day you’ll be fine if you stick to the main trails. But you have that night class all the way at the back of the campus….”

Rebecca wanted to tell him he was being silly, but she’d honestly been thinking the same thing. Still, she didn’t want to make him worry.

“I’ll be okay,” she reassured him. “I have pepper spray on my keychain.”

“You also have a boyfriend available to walk you to class,” Justyn reminded her. “I’m serious, Becca. You know Darlene raised me with a healthy respect for women’s rights and I know you can fend for yourself, but I would never forgive myself if something happened to you.”

She smiled and kissed his cheek. “I’m not one of those crazy feminists who believe that equal rights have to mean the end of chivalry. I won’t complain if you walk me to class. Feel free to continue holding the door and pulling out my chair as well. I think you’re the perfect combination of old-world charm and new-age reasoning.”

“Now
that
was a compliment.” He put his arm around her. “I’m glad you’re not going to fight me on this night-class thing. I have enough to stress over.”

Rebecca rolled her eyes. “
You? Stress
? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you get anxious. I’m the one who’s always a hot mess.”

“Well, I agree on the hot part anyway.” He took her hand. “Now, come on. Let’s get some sleep. It’s going to be another busy day tomorrow.”

Rebecca followed Justyn to the bedroom. She didn’t realize how exhausted she was until she was under the covers. After classes, tryouts, work study, and a five-page paper all in just two days, it was no wonder she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. It seemed like only a few seconds later that she woke to Justyn calling her name with pure panic in his voice. Rebecca darted up in bed, wiping the crust from her eyes.

“What … what is it?” she half mumbled, her voice still thick with sleep.

Justyn didn’t reply. She squinted to adjust to the pitch darkness, and saw he was still sleeping beside her, though not at all peacefully. His forehead was beaded with sweat, and his arms thrashed from side-to-side. He was obviously in the thralls of some awful nightmare. Rebecca knew the feeling. After what happened with Debbie, there were many nights she woke up screaming as well.

“Becca! No!” Justyn cried out again, and Rebecca put her hand on his shoulder. It took several gentle shakes before he reacted to her touch. Then he darted up with a gasp and looked around the room, his eyes wild, still stuck in that awkward stage between dreaming and wakefulness. Rebecca wrapped her arms around his bare chest to try and comfort him.

“It’s okay, Justyn. It was only a dream.”

She could still feel his heart pounding as he struggled to catch his breath. He clung to her almost desperately for a minute without speaking. She waited, giving him time to calm down before she questioned him. Then, as though nothing had happened, he stood from the bed and ran a hand through his hair.

“I’m going to get some water. I’ll be right back.”

Rebecca blinked a few times. She was a little puzzled since he normally didn’t try to hide his feelings from her. She knew she was never going to fall back to sleep without him by her side. So she climbed out of bed, grabbing her terrycloth robe along the way to fight off the early morning chill, and followed him into the kitchen. The cold air didn’t seem to bother Justyn. He stood at the counter in only his sweatpants, rubbing his bad shoulder. An untouched glass of water sat on the counter beside him.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“It was just a dream,” he told her and tried to shrug it off. “It isn’t a big deal.”

Rebecca’s mind was still foggy from sleep. Nevertheless, she knew whatever it was
had
been a big deal, especially to someone like Justyn, who held the firm belief dreams stemmed from either the subconscious or beyond and
always
had meaning. She tried to give him another gentle nudge of encouragement. “Maybe it won’t seem so bad if you talk about it.”

He shook his head, flinched, and rubbed his eyes. “Damn, I have a splitting headache.”

Rebecca felt her brows furrow with concern. Justyn often got headaches when his shoulder bothered him. The doctors had mumbled something about the muscles and nerves in that area all being connected and damaged by the bullet wound. They insisted it wasn’t anything to be concerned about, but Rebecca always worried anyway. She was a chronic worrier by nature, and she hated to see the man she loved in pain.