The Devil's Metal (40 page)

My dad was sitting on the couch watching his
favorite Saturday morning Warner Brothers cartoon like he always
did, sipping a glass of apple juice. He gave me a knowing smile as
I moseyed into the room.

“It’s always for you,” he said. “I don’t
even know why I bother.”

“Ha ha,” I answered. I tried not to peer at
the glass of juice in his hand, tried to hide the ever present
wonder if it was something alcoholic. But of course it wasn’t. Not
that it would stop me from worrying, but my dad hadn’t had a drink
for almost nine months.

A lot had happened during that time. After
what happened at Lake Shasta, I went with Sage to live at his
father’s for a few days while I organized my flight home. His
father was back in dire straits and the property was about to be
seized. But thanks to the money that Jacob had left Sage, he was
able to get his dad out of the red for the time being.

Sage decided he would take Jacob up on his
offer and work as a manager’s assistant. We said our goodbyes at
the Sacramento airport. He wanted me to join him but I had
unfinished business at home that I couldn’t ignore any longer, not
even for a rock star. I had my family. I had a relationship with
Mel that I needed to repair. I had school and a career that was
only just starting. I still had a calling I needed to find but I
knew I wouldn’t find it in a rock star’s shadow.

And yeah, I say rock star because that’s
what Sage is and what he will always be. The talent he has was
God-given, not brought on by any contract. After a few months of
working for Jacob and working on his craft, Sage released a solo
album, creatively titled “Sage Wisdom” (groan). I bet Jacob came up
with the name considering how redundant it is. Anyway, the song he
played for me in the hotel room ended up being called “A World of
Want” and it was quickly climbing up the charts. The last time I
heard from him he was about to go tour in Europe, where the
audience was more accepting of experimental music.

I didn’t hear much from Jacob except in a
postcard that told me he was proud of me for landing a part-time
writing position with Creem Magazine. After I learned the article
was sent in to be published, I called up Barry and got him to read
me the end of it, the part I didn’t write. I was certain that the
demons would have made some crazy libelous shit up but they didn’t.
They actually went into my notes and composed the end from
interviews I did with Noelle, Robbie, and Mickey. There was no
Sage, but Barry didn’t even care—he said it kept together the idea
of the man as a mystery. It really was the article of the century
and was printed around the world. I, Dawn Emerson, recorded the
fall of Hybrid.

The funny thing was, I didn’t mince words
either. I talked about demons and Graham and deals and the GTFOs
but everyone thought it was some clever, poetic metaphor for the
demise of the band. And I couldn’t argue with anyone. Who would
believe me?

Well, Mel did. Eventually I won back her
trust. It took a few months of harassing her house until her mother
had enough and forced us to make up. Once I told her the reason
behind things, she came around, slowly but surely.

As for school, well, I just finished a few
weeks ago. Todd is working for the paper in Spokane, but I’m
working for Creem and Creem always rises to the top.

“Are you going to answer it or not?” My dad
yelled good-naturedly. “I want to see the coyote get the road
runner for once.”

I snatched up the phone before it could
annoy my dad anymore.

“Hello?”

There was a crackle and a pause. Then,
“Dawn?”

“Sage?” I asked. He sounded so far away.

“Hey, angel, how are you? I hope I’m not
waking you up.”

I looked at my watch. “It’s ten thirty in
the morning, I’m no longer a lazy college student.”

“I figured that. Congratulations. Welcome to
the real world. How does it feel?”

“Eh, it’s okay. I think I might look sexier
in this so-called real world, though.”

I didn’t have to look at the couch to know
my dad was looking mighty disturbed.

“I don’t think that’s possible,” Sage
growled seductively. “Listen, what are you doing next month? Is May
busy for a retired rodeo queen?”

I laughed. “No. Not yet. There’s supposed to
be a bunch of good albums released that I’ll have to review right
away but that’s about it.”

“How do you feel about flying to Paris and
meeting me there? I’m about to go on tour and I’d love a sexy,
talented journalist to cover it.”

My heart felt like it was being massaged.
“Are you kidding me?”

“Do I ever kid? I’m serious. Tell me when
you’re free and I’ll fly you over here. I’ll take care of you,
angel.” He lowered his voice. “I really miss you.”

I shot a look at my dad. He was pretending
not to listen to every single word.

‘”I really miss you too,” I told him. My
insides ached just thinking about him. When you’ve been with
someone for weeks straight during a traumatic experience, someone
you’ve fallen in love with…your idol. And then you’re pulled apart
and the only thing you get from him for months is to hear his
raspy, whiskey-soaked voice on the radio, in a song he sang
privately to you, it hurts. It damn hurts.

“So you’ll come? Tell me the dates and I’ll
make the arrangements.”

My heart soared in relief.

“Can you call back later tonight? I need to
talk it over with the family.”

“Of course. Talk to you soon.”

He hung up and I was left staring dumbly at
the receiver like I had done so many months ago. I could still hear
Alice Cooper blaring from my bedroom.

My dad was staring at me expectantly.
“Well?”

“Sage wants me to cover his tour in Europe
next month.”

My father shook his head and turned his
attention back to the cartoon. “I swear, 1975 is going to eat us
alive.”

I took that as a sign of approval. I walked
over to him and was halfway across the room when the front door
slammed open.

“Dawn, Dad!” Eric cried out. My ever jumpy
heart leapt to my throat.

I turned around, expecting to see Eric
covered in bruises again.

Instead I saw his increasingly handsome,
smiling face.

“What?” I asked. I exchanged a look with my
dad and he shrugged.

“It’s gone!” He exclaimed. “It’s gone, it’s
gone, it’s gone!”

I didn’t dare let my mind jump to the
conclusion it wanted to, that he was speaking normally and his face
and body was completely still and relaxed.

“What’s gone, son?” my dad asked.

“Look at me!” He grinned and held himself
completely motionless. “I didn’t have an episode all day, even when
Pete Weatherby got in my face. It’s gone. The Tourette’s is gone.
It’s a miracle!”

He began dancing around the room and swept
me up into an enthusiastic embrace. I hugged him back and fought
back the urge to cry. Not because I was happy.

Because I was afraid.

They had found me.

I held Eric tightly while the words echoed
in my head.

Be careful what you wished for.

Experiment in Terror fans – look out for
Book #6 in the series, Into the Hollow, coming out on October
23rd.

New to the
Experiment in
Terror Series
? Start with Book #1 Darkhouse – free
on
Amazon
,
Kobo
and
Nook
.

Also coming from Karina Halle in the
winter of 2012 –
Sins
& Needles (The Artists Trilogy #1)

Ellie Watt is used to starting over. The
daughter of a grifting team, Ellie spent her childhood being used
as a pawn in her parent’s latest scam. Now she’s much older, wiser
and ready to give her con artist life a rest. But returning to the
dry desert town of Palm Valley, California means one more
temptation than she bargained for – Camden McQueen. Once known as
the high school weirdo, Camden is bigger and badder than the boy he
used to be and a talented tattoo artist with his own thriving
business. Ellie’s counting on Camden still being in love with her
but what she’s not counting on is how easily unrequited love turns
into obsession. When Camden discovers Ellie’s plan to con him, he
makes her a deal she doesn’t dare refuse. But her freedom comes
with a price and it’s one that will take both Ellie and Camden down
a dangerous and erotic road.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Karina Halle is a music
journalist and the author of The Devil's Metal and the
ghost-hunting Experiment in Terror Series. When she's not scaring
herself silly with macabre research, she's blasting rock n' roll
and headbanging in her living room. Karina lives on an island in
British Columbia, where she figures she'll be safe from the
upcoming zombie apocalypse.