Page 4 of SnowFyer (Roosters #8)

She proved it, leading them all through the soft beginning after the arpeggios, through the rhythm section, to the hard, fuzz-guitar section that brought the song to its climactic ending.

It sounded like SnowFyer, but it also sounded like Scarlett.

Her own unique abilities shone through yet kept the originality that was the band.

As she let the last note linger, she didn’t let it simply fade out as she would have if she were ending the song.

She’d written “Devil’s Heart” to transition seamlessly with “Nightmare in Heaven,” the band’s signature song, so that it blended from eerily beautiful to a riot of heavy metal as, in her mind, the Devil brought sin to Eden.

The arpeggio guitar riffs in “Devil’s Heart” were similar to the arpeggios in “Nightmare in Heaven.”

As she continued to play, the rest of the band stopped.

Steeling herself mentally, she made the transition from one song to the next, using a few bars to change one note at a time in the riff until the harder, quicker beat became clear.

Once it was obvious what she’d done, Titan picked up with the heavy drums. Scarlett switched from the twelve-string electric to that hard, buzzing sound of heavy-metal guitars on her double-neck using the same riff.

Ferris gave a rebel yell of triumph as he picked up his part, and Ra and Garrick dove in behind them.

Again, she led the band through the subtle changes she’d made as seamlessly as if they’d been doing this together for years.

Her backup vocals -- where Arsen would have picked up had he been playing with them -- blended seamlessly with Seth’s, the contrasts in their voices complementing each other the way only male and female voices could.

Even Seth picked up his part with a vigor and enthusiasm she hadn’t seen from him in years.

It was as if the song were suddenly new to them, like they were hearing a song they knew would be their anthem for years to come for the very first time.

Seth seemed to catch himself three-quarters of the way through the song and toned it down. But the damage was done, so to speak. There was no way any of them could deny she had the right to be there.

Elation swept through Scarlett. She’d done it.

She’d passed their test. Now, she just had to pass the fans’ test. Scarlett would be the lead guitarist for SnowFyer in their final show of this tour.

It wasn’t official, and she was sure Seth would make some kind of token protest, but, as she looked around now, breathing easier now that the ice had been broken, she could see on every face around her there was no way they’d deny her.

The song ended as it usually did; no major changes other than the intro. Ra and Garrick were the first two to make it to her, whooping and hollering all the way.

“Girl, that was so there! You killed it!”

“What the fuck, Scarlett? You couldn’t have come to us with this sooner?”

Titan, ever the gentleman -- for a drummer, anyway -- snapped, “Watch your fucking mouth, Ra! No swearing.” As if the rules only applied to others. Not to him. Which was generally true, in most cases.

“We can now,” Ferris said, setting his own guitar aside. “Cause she’s motherfucking lead guitar for a fucking rock band!”

Titan bared his teeth threateningly but said nothing else on the subject as they all congregated around Scarlett. All but Seth.

Arsen took her instrument and set it in the stand along with the other guitars they’d already brought out. “Told you guys this would work. Didn’t I tell you?”

“Maybe,” Seth said as he crossed his arms over his chest. Standing there in nicely fitting jeans and a T-shirt that was a couple sizes too small, he looked more like a physique model than a rock star.

Sweat glistened over his arms and across his brow and upper lip, even from the short set.

“But I’m still not sure about this. I’ll admit she can play, but we’ve only rehearsed two songs. ”

“And you saw how she led you through any changes. I know it’s not ideal, but we’re in a fix.

” Arsen tried to reason with Seth. If anyone could, it would be Arsen.

The two had been best friends for as long as Scarlett could remember.

“My hand goes numb all the way to my fingertips.” Arsen gave Seth a look that said he’d had enough.

He crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s either this, or we cancel. Your choice.”

He and Seth locked gazes for a long moment. Scarlett could almost imagine they were communicating silently. In a way, she supposed they were. They’d been together so long they could read each other simply by looking at their body language. Right now, Arsen’s was saying this was it.

“Fine,” Seth capitulated. “But you stay in the wings, ready to pick up if she falls on her face.”

“Can’t play a full show, bro,” Arsen said, shaking his head.

“Not even an option. I have very little feeling in my first two fingers. I made it halfway through this last show before I started losing feeling, but if the swelling doesn’t go down…

Well, I can’t play a full show with numb fingers. I just can’t.”

“This isn’t going to work.” Seth scrubbed a hand over his face in agitation.

“Uh, excuse me?” Scarlett said, losing her patience. “I’m right here.”

“Yes,” Seth said. “You are. I still don’t think you’re up to this, and you’re going to have to do a hell of a lot more than just stand there in the corner like a fucking robot and play your little guitar.

But I’m willing to give it a try because Arsen thinks you’re ready.

Personally, I think maybe his judgment’s clouded. ”

“And yours isn’t?” That was it. Scarlett had hit her limit.

“Listen up, because I’m only going to say this once.

” She stalked over to him, getting as much in his face as she could, given the top of her head came to about his chin.

“I’m the lead guitarist. You’re lead vocals.

” Seth could play guitar as well as Arsen, but he chose to only do it with the band during acoustic sessions.

She could sing lead if she chose, but her passion had always been with the guitar.

“You don’t tell me how to tune my instrument or how to play it or how to perform for a crowd, and I won’t tell you how to hold your little microphone or shake your ass.

” She jabbed him in the chest with her finger.

Hard. “I have no idea why you hate me so much. I’ve never done anything to you!

I’m sorry my being with the band cramped your style all these years, but I’ve always tried to stay out of your way and just do my job with promotion and make sure you guys get where you’re supposed to be for the next gig!

What the fuck, Seth? You should be grateful I’m even willing to do this on such short notice!

It’s one night for SnowFyer! If it goes bad, you’ll have an off end to this tour, but you’ll be back bigger and better with the next album!

If I blow this, I’ll never get another chance! It’s my entire career !”

“Shake my…” Seth looked at her like she’d grown two heads. More, he looked like he was about to do violence. Which really shouldn’t have turned her on.

“Just go to hell, Seth,” she snapped, and stomped off back to the bus. She had to find her calm again. If not, she was very much afraid she might either start crying or jump Seth and fuck him up.

Or maybe just fuck him.

Either would work for her at the moment.