Talis smiled and waved back, a wireless microphone in his hand. His tall, lean body moved with fluid grace.
“Ready to rock and roll?” he asked, and they yelled in response.
The concert began.
A
RTEMIS listened, but mostly he watched. His eyes were constantly drawn to Talis as the man danced across the stage, mike in hand, making eye contact with people in front of the stage. The music ranged from hard rock to melodic ballads, with influences from the more exotic places in the world. He found himself tapping his foot and swaying at one point and smiled to himself. Rachel was right; they were very good, and he understood their popularity. Talis’s voice was compelling and his physical presence overpowering. The tight clothing only underscored his palpable charisma. Artemis could barely tear his eyes away.
He saw Rachel occasionally, still wandering through the crowd, and recognized the burly man with her as Steve. Artemis had met him a couple of times. He was a nice guy, a creative type who spent long hours at his job, which made him a good match for Rachel. They forgave each other for not being constantly available.
Okay, Artemis was lonely. Most cops were. Maybe Rachel and Steve would be an exception, and if they were, then there was hope he could beat the odds, too. And what the hell, why am I thinking about this again? He shook his head and refocused.
The sun sank lower, and shadows moved in. The night was warm, and no one minded the oncoming darkness. The band had been performing for over an hour, and Artemis sensed the end was near. He mentally kicked himself awake, alert for anything.
When his phone vibrated against his thigh, he jumped. Knowing he probably wouldn’t hear its ring over the music, he’d switched it over earlier.
He dug it out of his pants pocket and held it to his ear while he blocked the other ear with his hand in an effort to hear better. “Gregory… what? Speak up.” Artemis started walking back toward the dressing rooms. “Say that again?”
Ammon chose that moment to appear, gazing at him solemnly. “You will miss the finale if you stay here. It is something you must see.”
Artemis nodded, listening to a tech at the lab they used to run DNA saying, “It’s a match. The samples you provided match. Get that?”
Ice water ran through Artemis’s veins. “Got it. Thanks.” He ended the call and turned to Ammon. “I’m going back now.”
This time Ammon stayed at his side, hands linked behind his back. Artemis ignored him, watching Talis gyrate his lean hips to heavy bass and felt desire for him, a longing he now knew he would never indulge. The DNA matched. Evidence is still circumstantial, but holy shit, he fucked those young men right before they died. Any good lawyer could bring in a guilty verdict. Artemis glared at the singer, planning to arrest him the instant he walked off stage. They’d run the polygraph first thing in the morning.
The sun had sunk far enough that stage lights were required, but now they were suddenly turned down. Shadows thickened and swam as the audience quieted, their concentration on the stage intensifying.
Talis stood in a circle of light while the rest of the band faded into darkness. He began to sing a cappella , his voice soft but commanding. The audience calmed further, straining to hear him. Artemis’s eyes were locked on to Talis as a piano began to accompany him. In the second verse, bass and drums were added, and in the third, chimes rang and a mandolin started to play. Talis’s voice gained in strength, cresting the wave of music as the final verse began.
I was born of fire, and to the flames I will return. I have lived one thousand years.
I am legend.
I am myth.
I am your dreams and secret desires.
I am a promise you keep deep inside your dark heart. I am the Phoenix.
Talis tossed the microphone aside and spread his arms.
His eyes closed as he threw his head back. Artemis saw every beautiful line of his body, limned in glittering light, and
“Ready to rock and roll?” he asked, and they yelled in response.
The concert began.
A
RTEMIS listened, but mostly he watched. His eyes were constantly drawn to Talis as the man danced across the stage, mike in hand, making eye contact with people in front of the stage. The music ranged from hard rock to melodic ballads, with influences from the more exotic places in the world. He found himself tapping his foot and swaying at one point and smiled to himself. Rachel was right; they were very good, and he understood their popularity. Talis’s voice was compelling and his physical presence overpowering. The tight clothing only underscored his palpable charisma. Artemis could barely tear his eyes away.
He saw Rachel occasionally, still wandering through the crowd, and recognized the burly man with her as Steve. Artemis had met him a couple of times. He was a nice guy, a creative type who spent long hours at his job, which made him a good match for Rachel. They forgave each other for not being constantly available.
Okay, Artemis was lonely. Most cops were. Maybe Rachel and Steve would be an exception, and if they were, then there was hope he could beat the odds, too. And what the hell, why am I thinking about this again? He shook his head and refocused.
The sun sank lower, and shadows moved in. The night was warm, and no one minded the oncoming darkness. The band had been performing for over an hour, and Artemis sensed the end was near. He mentally kicked himself awake, alert for anything.
When his phone vibrated against his thigh, he jumped. Knowing he probably wouldn’t hear its ring over the music, he’d switched it over earlier.
He dug it out of his pants pocket and held it to his ear while he blocked the other ear with his hand in an effort to hear better. “Gregory… what? Speak up.” Artemis started walking back toward the dressing rooms. “Say that again?”
Ammon chose that moment to appear, gazing at him solemnly. “You will miss the finale if you stay here. It is something you must see.”
Artemis nodded, listening to a tech at the lab they used to run DNA saying, “It’s a match. The samples you provided match. Get that?”
Ice water ran through Artemis’s veins. “Got it. Thanks.” He ended the call and turned to Ammon. “I’m going back now.”
This time Ammon stayed at his side, hands linked behind his back. Artemis ignored him, watching Talis gyrate his lean hips to heavy bass and felt desire for him, a longing he now knew he would never indulge. The DNA matched. Evidence is still circumstantial, but holy shit, he fucked those young men right before they died. Any good lawyer could bring in a guilty verdict. Artemis glared at the singer, planning to arrest him the instant he walked off stage. They’d run the polygraph first thing in the morning.
The sun had sunk far enough that stage lights were required, but now they were suddenly turned down. Shadows thickened and swam as the audience quieted, their concentration on the stage intensifying.
Talis stood in a circle of light while the rest of the band faded into darkness. He began to sing a cappella , his voice soft but commanding. The audience calmed further, straining to hear him. Artemis’s eyes were locked on to Talis as a piano began to accompany him. In the second verse, bass and drums were added, and in the third, chimes rang and a mandolin started to play. Talis’s voice gained in strength, cresting the wave of music as the final verse began.
I was born of fire, and to the flames I will return. I have lived one thousand years.
I am legend.
I am myth.
I am your dreams and secret desires.
I am a promise you keep deep inside your dark heart. I am the Phoenix.
Talis tossed the microphone aside and spread his arms.
His eyes closed as he threw his head back. Artemis saw every beautiful line of his body, limned in glittering light, and
Similar Books
