Page 30 of A Taste of Bliss

“Experiment later. We still have an hour or so before the neighbors complain about noise,” Taser says, checking his phone for the time. He’s kind of unofficially the parent of the group. Making sure band practice doesn’t get derailed with everyone’s crazy antics.

I settle back into the couch, tucking my feet up under me and wrapping a blanket around my shoulders to ward off the chilliness of the garage.

By the end of their practice set, I’m beaming. I haven’t heard them play in quite a while, I realize, and they have really improved. It’s saying a lot, considering I’ve always known how talented all of them are as musicians and artists. But it’s like nowthey’ve really grown together as aband. And Blake seems like he’s been with the band from the very beginning.

As everyone is putting away their gear, Taser comes over and sits next to me on the couch.

“Bliss,” he starts but pauses as I avert my gaze from him, giving him the cold shoulder. “Is something wrong?”

Yes.

But I can’t get myself to confront him. He’s made me into a cheater. I roll my shoulders, hoping to ease out some of the tension coiled in my body. Then I force myself to meet his eyes. “Sorry, I’m just tired. And cold. This garage is always so fucking cold.”

“It’s nice in the summer, though,” he replies, though I know he doesn’t buy that everything’s okay. “Are you sure you’re alright? Do you need to top off again?”

“No,” I reply quickly. I’m saved any further explanation when Amelia’s phone rings. She inhales sharply.

“Fuck,” she says, waving the phone around excitedly. “It’s Bill from Moon Blood.”

My brows raise as Dericia starts dancing in celebration. Moon Blood is an indie metal label and most of the bands they sign go on to even bigger record deals later in their careers. “Bill’s been interacting with us a ton on social media!” Reese comes over, taking my hands in hers. “This is huge, Bliss.”

We all wait with bated breath as Amelia answers the phone and puts Bill on speaker. “Hey, Bill, it’s Amelia.”

“Amelia, how are you?”

“Pretty good. And yourself?”

“Well, I’m in a little bit of a pickle. But I’m hoping Goddess’ Trance can help me out. I had a band pull out of the Alchemy Festival.”

The Alchemy Festival. The biggest metal rock festival in the entire world. The one the wraith wants me at in order to get closeenough to the anonymous frontman of Voracious Maw in order to steal something from him.

Well, he did say he’d take care of that part. The demon works fast.

“Oh no, what happened?” Amelia asks.

“Well, you know Death and Devils, right? Their lead was in a car accident. He’s gonna be fine, but he broke his leg and so they can’t perform. Too bad he’s not kindred, or it would have been no biggie to heal that leg right up.”

“That’s terrible,” Amelia starts to say, but Bill interjects.

“Yeah, yeah, terrible. Anyways, Amy—” she bristles at her most hated nickname, “—I need a band. And I’ve been digging the videos you’ve been putting out on social media. It’s just a small slot. Two shows, and you’d be the opener for the opener of the main headline for two nights, but this would be huge for you guys.”

Amelia nods, almost forgetting to speak. “Yes, absolutely, we’re in.”

“Great. My assistant will send over all the details to you and help get your lodging sorted.”

“Thank you so much, Bill!”

“Yeah, thanks.” It sounds like someone else has taken away his attention. He hangs up. Amelia’s phone screen fades to black. She looks up around the room, surprise and excitement lighting up her face.

“Can you fucking believe this?” she asks as her eyes fall to mine. I beam at her. In my excitement I’ve stood up from the couch and am ready to run to her, but everyone else surrounds her, all in one big group hug.

“Congrats,” I say to my sister, and then I look to the side door of the garage, wondering if I should go ahead and leave the band to their inevitable night of celebration.

“Bliss!” my sister yells, as I take a step towards the door. “Get in here right now!”

The band opens up and Dericia all but drags me into the center of it, my sister’s arms enclosing me and everyone else surrounding us.

But as much as I wish everything could just go back to normal, it can’t.