Hidden Close (Jr. Year)

Chapter 51

Part 51 Of The First Draft

The club was packed, and we toyed with the idea of having some fun. Perry had came with me, and we were accompanied by Becky. We were all dressed up in black and dark makeup, each of us filling the description of your average goth teen. Becky had managed to convince Veronica to let her get her tongue pierced, and she looked really killer in her low-cut top, with her skirt going down to where her knee high boots ended. Her dark hair was ridiculously smooth and was parted and held in place to her left side. Perry had worn a mesh sleeveless top, and you could see his maturing muscles through them, putting many adult males to shame. His hair had been cut recently, the short spikes complimenting his natural eye color. Everyone was dancing slowly to Clara's singing, and we decided to go along with it. Becky, not having a date, stole me away from Perry,

“Let me have her, Perry, at least for this one song.”

Becky took me in her arms, and she rested her head on my shoulder. We swayed and moved together to the slow beat, and I didn't want the dance to ever end. Becky matters to me, and I still get just a little jealous when she talks about what girls at school she likes. I can't have them all and it only takes one thought of Perry to again make me realize I don't want anyone else but him. Near the end of the song, Becky whispered in my ear, revealing,

“Clara is a shapeshifter. That's not really her.”

So this is why she wanted to dance with me. I shot a glance at Clara, and wondered what is her true form. She might not even be a woman. When the next dance began, I led Perry to the dance floor and showed every fellow freak there that he is my man. We danced continuously, until the last one, where Becky joined me once more. She assumed the same position as last time, and whispered a question,

“Does she know we are here for her?”

I whispered back,

“She’s arrogant. Clara will try to take one of us tonight. Stick to your guns, Becky, my lady.”

We laughed, trying our best not to be loud. When the club settled down, we had a few sodas and brought out our backstage passes. People glared at us in the club, all of them astonished over our privileges we had earned. Some even dared to ask us how we got them, and Perry deflected their questions for us,

“My mother is rich. She could buy one for all of you here at the club. That is, if she wanted to.”

We hurried backstage and Clara did not seem surprised one bit that we had returned. Her dress was black and short, and she was barefoot, as she had been on stage. The immense sensuality of Clara was unprecedented,  and it would be a royal shame if this was not her true appearance. She combed at her hair, messing with it, until it was perfect enough for her liking. Clara pressed on, toying with us,

“Oh? Couldn't get enough of me, now could you?”

I stepped forward, and called her charade,

“We know what you are, Clara. We don't want to hurt you. All we want is an explanation.”

She laughed in a most evil fashion, and taunted us,

“Like you could even scratch me.”

Clara flipped her wild long hair behind her shoulders, and said to us, her voice in the most alluring of all tones,

“I could be a man, I can be a woman. I’m your fantasy, all of you but....”

She drew dangerously close to Perry,  putting a finger on his chest,

“You. I hate you.”

Perry eyes widened, and he instantly knew what we had came to seek,

“So it is you, Danny. I thought you were a little too manly to ever be a woman.”

Clara’s body changed, transforming into a tall and thin dark-haired man. His age was advanced, and many scars spread across his face.

“You found me, Perry. What are you going to do, kill me? Your brother already knows it's me. He told Grace. They'll kill me if you don't.”

I rushed to Perry's side, placing a hand on his right shoulder. I pled to him,

“Hasn’t there been enough killing in this world? Don't hurt him, Perry. If you do, you’ll also kill your own soul....”

Perry's grimace straightened out, and he released his gaze from Danny. He spat out, as he still seethed with anger,

“You’re lucky, Danny. We won't let your secret out. Just remember, stay away from my family, or I will kill you.”

Perry left the club quickly as both Becky and I struggled to keep up with him. When we made it to the car, neither of us dared to say a word to Perry. It was not until Perry had dropped off Becky that he spoke,

“Danny really is a monster. I'm sorry you had to see that side of me.”

His tone had been sincere, and I leaned over to kiss his cheek. I soothed him, telling him with a soft and gentle tone,

“Everything is going to be okay. That old trickster was scared to death of you.”

Perry let out an uneasy laugh, and admitted,

“Yeah, he really was. That’s all Danny is, a coward.”

It wasn't until the next day I asked the question that was bugging me. Before the sun was fully in the sky, I texted Perry, trying not to be forceful,

“Who is Danny, anyway?”

Perry did not reply back all the way until the afternoon.

“Danny....he’s a skilled lamia. He was at one time my uncle. Now, he is just a monster.”

A monster....how frank to put it.

“What happened between you two?”

Perry replied, the text taking him minutes to send,

“He tried to seduce my mother after his brother, my dad, died. You can see why everyone despises his games. He is as bad as they come.”

“Was he always evil?”

I asked, wondering why they hadn't killed him a long time ago.

“He hasn't always been a monster. At one point, he was my mentor. After my father died, he suffered and became a hollow.”

“A hollow?”

As always, Perry’s response was grim,

“Yes. He became dead inside.”