The Lies That Bind

Chapter 32: Mir

Applause reaches my ears before the song is even over and I can't help but crack a small grin as I finish the last note and the band finishes up. A few of the men at the front rise to their feet, wolf whistling abound, but I don't mind it.

"Thank you!" I say with a slight bow.

But I'm not done, I have another song to do before finishing off with "You Don't Know What Love is". The crowd goes wild and I'm half expecting to have a full bouquet of roses tossed my way. I see now why Erika loves this profession, the gratification you get back from all your hard work is so very fulfilling. This is what success feels like. I feel tears threatening to fall and luckily the curtain draws before they roll down my face.

Rey hops off the piano to congratulate me with a hug, "You were excellent, Lady Edith!"

"Thank you, Rey," I wipe my eyes gently, being mindful of my makeup. "Thank you for believing in me."

"Always, I had no doubt you wouldn't be anything but amazing."

Now that my set is done, the rest of my night is spent at the bar with the others as we celebrate my debut until closing. After about two rounds I'm ready to hit the road; I still have to get myself home after all. Erika chooses to stay behind which means Rey and Misty'll have to take her home.

As I walk towards my Lincoln, the sound of rustling in the alleyway catches my attention. Probably a hobo or something, best not to check, but the sound gets louder and it's starting to put me on edge. I feel like I did when Kazmir's dad's goons were following me, but this time I have mace and the knowledge that I can take on these guys if it is them. Well, I can physically handle one, the mace is for the rest.

Against my better judgement I go to investigate. As I near the first line of trash cans the rustling stops, and I take a step back.

"Kazmir?" I blurt out before reprimanding myself. Why in the world would he be hanging around here? I reach into my purse, "I have mace!"

The noise maker leaps out in front of me to reveal itself. Standing before me is a small puppy, probably no more than 5 months old. It's fur a mix of browns, tans, and black with a small amount of white in-between its eyes and muzzle, and big, fluffy, pointed ears to add to its cuteness. The dog tilts its head at me, staring curiously with the iciest of blue eyes. They're the same color as his... Only Kazmir had those kind of eyes.

Slowly, the dog approaches me and sniffs my feet before lying beside me in the cutest way imaginable. My heart for this animal aches, is it lost? I don't see any identification, but that means nothing.

"Hey there," I say gently as I pat its head, "Are you lost?"

The dog sits up and wags its tail, looking up at me happily.

I bite my lip, I cannot leave this animal out here alone, but at the same time I don't know if taking it home for the night is a good idea. I have no dog food and Daylight isn't particular about dogs. Lark has only been around Bear, so I don't know how he'd take to a puppy. Bianca and Rey have dogs, but something in the back of my mind screams at me to claim it as my own, at least until I can get it to the shelter to be scanned.

I scoop the fluffy creature into my arms, I'll just separate the cats from it. Erika probably won't mind.

Upon my return home I herd the cats into another room before allowing the puppy to enter. It sniffs around the room before immediately looking back at me with that same curious look. I look back at it and notice the dirty paw prints on the floor, and in turn see the dirt and grime now on me. I roll my eyes, of course something that's been rummaging around in trash wouldn't be clean! I hope there's still some pet shampoo in the bathroom.