The Secret
by Meg Jones
"Great show everyone, get some rest!" Rebecca, our manager called.
"Great show my butt! I think even the crowd noticed the difference!" Anna Maria cried, putting her hands on her hips and frowning.
"Oh come off it Anna, we did great." replied Nicole, although she didn't seem to believe it herself.
"Would've been better if bloody Meg would have shown up! When I find her I'm going to take that pale little head of hers and..."
"Anna enough! I'm sure she has a good explanation for missing the concert!" I cut her off with the wave of my hand.
"Yeah Darren, sure, whatever you say. Why do you always stick up for the brat? This time she's gone to far Hayes!" Anna everything but yelled, stomping her foot and crossing her arms. It was worthless to argue with her. I shrugged and helped Daniel pack up his guitar. "You seem disturbed Jonesy, what's up?" I asked, pausing to look at his face. He shook his head.
"Tired I guess." he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. "You work too hard buddy." I replied, slapping him on the back playfully. He just nodded and closed his guitar case. I frowned.
"You can't cheer 'em all up." Lindsay said from behind me. I turned around to look at her. She was leaning in the dressing room doorway, water bottle in hand.
"Shut up Lindsay!" Daniel snapped, squeezing past her.
"What crawled up his butt and died?" she asked, watching him as he walked out onstage to talk to Ben about his guitar solo.
"Well, Meg has that effect on him!" I replied as cheerily as I could.
She nodded sadly. "Poor Meg." she mumbled, taking a short drink from her water bottle.
"What?" I asked, putting my arm around her.
,br>"Nothing." she replied and walked out of the room.
"Come on everyone, to the tour bus." Andy our driver shouted cheerfully. Everyone groaned and began to trudge to the bus. "Darren, have you seen Meg?" Andy asked, walking up to me as I followed the other band members.
"Not since last night." I replied, taking my hat off and wiping my forehead.
"You know, come to think of it, I haven't seen her out in the day time in awhile." he whispered to me.
"Me either." I whispered back, the thought occuring to my busy mind for the first time.
"And have you noticed how deathly pale she's become? And that she doesn't eat her dinner, or drink anything, and that when we see her at night, it's very brief? And she's been wearing those frightening black outfits..." We were falling behind the other members as Andy talked on.
"Look, Andy, it's just a phase I'm sure, don't worry about her, ay mate?" I replied, wanting to close the subject.
"But Darren..." I cut him off with a bright smile that was completely fake. He frowned at me, and then ran to catch up with everyone else. They all filed through the tour bus doors, leaving me outside by myself for a moment. I hesitated to go in. I don't know why, I just lingered there, in front of the open doors for a brief time.
"Come on Darren, we won't bite!" Andy called from the drivers seat. I smiled and climbed up the stairs, and began to walk back to the conference room. Suddenly one of the girls screamed from the back of the bus. I was jerked back from my spacey mind to reality and began to run to the source of the scream. When I reached the back of the bus, out of breath, I saw Anna backed up against a wall, her hands over her pasty looking face.
"Anna what..." I stopped mid sentence as I followed Anna's bewildered stare. Meg was sitting up against the opposite wall, her knees drawn up to her face, her chin resting on her knee. She was staring blankly at Anna. Her white mouth and hands were smeared with dried blood. "Meg! What happened? Did someone punch you?" I shrieked, rushing over to her and inspecting her face for any type of wound.
"What?" she asked, confused. "What happened?" the other band members were coming in through the door. When they saw Meg's face they backed off to where Anna was standing, all scared. Everyone but Lindsay that is. She walked over and sat down beside me, taking Meg's hand into hers and brushing her pale bony fingers across the blood stain on her face. Meg's eyes began to widen. "Are you saying there's blood on my face?" she became near hysterical. Lindsay nodded and stood up, pulling Meg with her. I stood up also.
"Were you punched?" I repeated my question. Meg pondered for a moment, fiddling with the edges of her long black cape. "Yes, I was, ummm and was knocked out." she stammered, looking frantically from me to Lindsay. "Come Meg, let's wash that off." Lindsay soothed her frantic friend, leading Meg to the bathroom and closing the door. The lock clicked into place. I looked at everyone else. They nodded and I walked to the bathroom and pressed my ear up against the door. There was water running and Lindsay was saying something.
"Meg, I told you to be careful, now they're suspicious!" she hissed.
"Don't be silly, they are not." Meg replied calmly.
"Meg! You know what would happen to you if they knew our secret, that you were..."
"Hush Lindsay! Someone is listening!" My heart began to beat noisily in my ears. I backed away from the door, slowly, calmly, as not to draw any suspicion to the watching members. "She got punched." I told them. They sighed and went on about what they were doing before. I didn't say a word to any one else about what I'd actually heard, I was afraid, to afraid as to what harm gossip could do to Meg. What was her secret?
"So why didn't you show up young lady?" Daniel demanded. It was nearly 10 o'clock and we were all dead tired, yet Daniel insisted on getting Meg's reason out of her before she disappeared for the night.
"Daniel, for the last time, we're all tired, let's just go to bed." Lee complained from beside me.
"Yes Dan, indeed. Arguing won't help." I yawned as I finished the sentence. Daniel ignored us. He stood in his pajamas in front of Meg, arms crossed, looking sternly at her. She was in her usual all black evening outfit. Cape, heavy boots, silk shirt, pants, gloves, crimson lipstick, looking as white as a sheet, yet as sweet and delicate as a rose.
"I told you, I lost track of the time." she repeated, folding her hands on her lap.
"And I told you, I don't believe a word you're saying." he shot back, his temper rising. She shook her head.
"Fine, I don't care." she got up to leave, standing almost full height to Daniel. She sure had grown recently. Dan gave up.
"Don't be home too late ok?" he asked, taking her face into his hands and kissing her lips. She grinned, her teeth showing pure white and even.
"Promise." she kissed him lightly on the cheek and walked out the bus door. I wondered where she was going, where she went every night. I was to scared to find out.
"That girl is getting difficult." Daniel interrupted my thoughts, plopping down on the couch beside me and putting his head in his hands.
"Something's wrong with her." Karl said, rubbing his chin and staring at the door Meg had disappeared through.
"Nothing is the matter with her! She's fine!" Daniel snapped, getting very grouchy as the night progressed. Karl looked stunned but said nothing.
"Come Dan, let's go to bed. We have a long drive tomorrow." I said, pulling him up. The others agreed and also stood up, stretching and making their way to the bedroom. Daniel waited until everyone but me and him were left in the room. When he turned to me I could see tears welling up in his amazing green eyes. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and choked.
"I really do think something is the matter with Meg, Darren. What should I do? She's beginning to scare me. I can't talk to her, or get comfortable around her, I can barely look at her!" He sat down on the edge of the couch and pulled a pillow into his lap, hugging it and rocking back and forth, biting his lower lip. All the while he seemed to be concentrating on something.
"Daniel, it's just a phase. She's growing up, trying new things. She'll be ok. Just give her some time." I soothed, sitting down next to him and putting a hand on his shoulder.
"But what about that paleness Darren?" he asked, sniffing and wiping his nose.
"Make up does wonders Dan." I replied, though I knew that no make up could work quite a wonder like that.
"The perfect white teeth?"
"Special toothpaste."
"The blood red lips?"
"Lipstick."
"The sudden tallness. Missing out on pratice. Leaving late and not returning till just before dawn. The cold eyes. The delicate, proper way she talks. The unnoticed-by-her blood on her mouth?" I had no answer for these questions which had often occured to me when I lay in bed at night thinking of her and awaiting the sound of her return. I sighed and rubbed Daniel's back, hoping to comfort him.
"Do you want a sleeping pill?" I asked him, knowing that he hadn't been sleeping much lately. He paused a moment then nodded.
"Better make it two." he whispered, burying his head into the pillow. I nodded and walked to the kitchen and fetched the two sleeping pills and a glass of water for him. But when I returned Daniel was already stretched out on the couch, fast asleep, and snoring lightly. I smiled and left the pills and water on a table near him, should he wake up and need them during the night. Then I turned off the light, walked to the hall closet and got a blanket, walked back to the living room and covered him up.
"Good night buddy." I whispered, patting my best friend on the back. I took one last glance at his peaceful face before walking out of the room, and down the hall to the bedroom. As soon as I changed into my PJs, I snuggled up in my bunk where I quickly passed out.I was deep into a dream that I now cannot recall when I awoke, frightened and sweating. I listened for a few moments to my heart beat, trying to figure out what had made me wake up with such a terrible start. Silence. I pulled back the curtain of my bunk to look into the room. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the bright moonlight flowing through the window. They concentrated on a small figure, huddled underneath the window sill. The pale face and hands reflected the moonlight like a mirror, the rest of the body hidden in black engulfing shadows. It had to be Meg. She didn't seem to notice me, or anything else in the room for that matter. I paused for a moment. If I went down there, would she talk to me? I seemed to fear even sitting near her. But that was silly. Without thinking I slid down to the carpet and walked over to her. Her small body seemed to shake all over. She was crying.
"Meg, what's the matter love?" I whispered, sitting down next to her. She looked up and seemed surprised.
"I'm sorry to wake you Darren. I didn't have any other place to go." she whispered back, frightened at my presence.
"No, no you didn't wake me, don't be silly." I replied, touching her fine head of hair. She moved to stand up and I quickly stood with her. I also took note that she was still wearing her night clothes she had went out in.
"Good night." she whispered and walked out of the room, her feet not making a sound as she walked. I followed her. "What is it?" she asked me when we reached the conference room. Daniel was no longer asleep on the couch, but nestled safley back in his own bed.
"Would you like to talk about anything?" I shifted uncomfortably in my standing position. She beckoned for me to sit down on the couch. I did as I was told. Suddenly a candle was lit in the room, providing enough light that I could make out her dim figure. Who lit the candle? "How did you do that?" I asked, my chest tightening with fear.
"Don't be scared Darren, love, I would never harm you, even with the sake of benefit." I found little relief in her words.
"What are you?" I asked without thinking.
She smiled sadly. "I really do not know." she replied.
"Oh, I didn't mean that I..." she nodded understandment. "I know what you're thinking."
"How?"
"Let's just say I can 'read your thoughts'." She smiled again. The little clock on the table in front of us struck 4:00 am. Meg quickly stood up. "I must go to sleep now, I am very tired. Morning will be here soon. Goodnight Darren." She bent down and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. Before I could move to stop her, she was gone. I looked around stunned. How could she disappear so fast? You're tired Darren, it's just your imagination. Slowly I got up and walked back to my room, feeling stupid and depressed. Why couldn't I have asked her better questions? I climbed into my bunk, just as the drawn blinds began to brighten with the coming dawn. In the morning I would talk to Meg, yes, and ask her about her strange, unhuman behavior. I closed my eyes, and was on the brink of sleep, when I felt a hot breath down my neck.
"You think I am a vampire don't you?" My eyes snapped open.
"Who said that?" I squeaked. Laughter. I couldn't see anybody next to me, or in the room.
"You think right..." the voice trailed off, evil fitting laughter following. For some reason, as if by reflex, I crossed myself and smothered the pillow over my head.
The next morning I wasn't in to good of a mood for two reasons: one, I hadn't been able to go back to sleep at all, so I finally gave up, and two, Meg wasn't anywhere to be seen. I asked all around, looked all over the place, looked around town, and still found no trace of her. My suspicions were growing about her, but I dared not to say anything about her in front of Daniel. It would worry him to much if he knew...if her knew that Meg was a vampire. There I said it, the word I had dreaded to say, was said. This proves it! It just had to! The blood, the paleness, the mind reading, the lightning speed actions, the teeth, the grown-upness about her...the fact that she
wasn't out at daylight. What else could she be? I had decided that tonight, I would stay up and wait for her. Yeah, that's what I would do, talk to her, let her know that I knew her secret. Wait a minute, why wait and talk to Meg? Lindsay obviously knew, why not talk to her? I began to get both excited and nervous. What would her reaction be...I shivered. Good, I hoped. I found her quite easily, sitting in the bedroom, reading 'Taltos'.
"Mind if I sit down?" I asked, standing beside her. She nodded but didn't look up from her book. I sat down. "Good book huh?" I asked. She nodded again. "Can I talk to you about something?" I asked, playing with the threads of the carpet by my foot.
"It's about Meg isn't it?" she mumbled, not really to me, but to herself.
"Yeah, uhhh how did you know?" She set her book aside.
"What is it Darren?" she asked, folding her hands in a rather proper manner on her lap.
"Do you think she's been acting weird lately?" She didn't answer. "I mean, she hasn't eaten, nor drank anything, she's pale as a ghost, her teeth, the way she walks, talks, the blood...need I say more?" She looked up at me.
"Yes, please do say more. What's so wrong with her teeth?"
"They're too perfect!" I cried, throwing my hands up. "Who in the entire world has perfectly straight, white teeth!"
"Meg does." she replied cooly, as if it wasn't an unusual question.
"She never used to." I added, remembering her over bite a few years back.
"Look Darren, if you came here to discuss Meg's teeth, I'd like you to leave."
"Lindsay. what's happening to us? This secret between you and Meg is tearing us apart. Please, just tell me. I wouldn't dream of betraying either one of you!"
"Leave her alone Darren, we have no secret." I looked up to the direction of the voice. Meg was leaning against the door frame, her arms crossed, her face tired. I was beyond shocked, my mouth dropped open in amazment.
"You aren't supposed to be out in daylight!" I gasped, backing away from her and the grinning Lindsay at my side.
"Why not? Most humans do come out in the daytime." she replied, emphasizing the words humans as if the term didn't apply to her. And she was right, it didn't.
"You aren't human though Meg, you're a vampire!" I blurted out, backing up against the window. She stood silent for a moment, and then bursted out into a fit of laughter.
"Is that what you think I am Darren? A vampire?" she laughed again, walking up to me. She got so close to my neck that I began to feel uneasy. My neck began to tingle and I waited for her piercing bite. Yet when she leaned forward, she did nothing but kiss my neck tenderly.
"Smart boy, just not quite on the right track." She laid her head on my chest, and her hand on my stomach. Her favorite blue stoned ring glistened on her pinky finger. I was about to ask another question when Daniel burst into the room.
"Darren! Reporters! Everywhere! Let's move it or lose it people, can't upset the press!" I sighed and began to walk out of the room. Daniel put his arm around Meg and leaned on her the whole way out. He kissed her on that scary pale face just before we walked out the door. And through the picture taking he held her hand and smiled proudly. I began to wonder right there and then, as I tried posing with a fake smile, does he actually know her secret?
part two