Chapter 7 - Auðr

Was it wrong of me to duck out while Sage was distracted by their sibling? Maybe. I could handle the repercussions later. My time was running out, and I needed to feed. This whole situation was not one I could deal with on an empty stomach, let alone play a four-hour set.

Of course, I took the chance to get out of there. I managed to find a fridge with some blood bags. I mentally thanked Albert for ensuring we always had this. I don’t know what he tells the humans, and I don’t care. I was finishing my third blood bag when the others found me backstage.

They’d all changed into their performance clothes. I was already dressed to perform, though I’ll likely lose the jacket while we play. It’s sort of my thing. I liked dressing up when we started our set, but I often wear less by the end. It’s hot on stage, damn it. The crowd enjoys seeing me remove clothes and, if I’m feeling generous, catch them when I throw them into the audience.

“So, a mate.” Léonel was the first to speak as he leaned on an amp beside me.

“What does that mean for the rest of us? For the future of Immortal Eclipse?” Zeke asked.

“I think we’d all like that answer.” Zeidan agreed.

“I sure the fuck will not agree to that….” Rune started to speak, but when I unintentionally snarled, he shut up.

“Fucking hell. What’s gotten into me?” I grumbled, rubbing a hand over my face.

“I’m sorry, Rune. Just… don’t be disrespectful right now.” I apologized.

“The mate bond, that’s what’s gotten into you, uncle. It’s a powerful thing that can make people act crazy. It makes one temperamental and protective of their mate, especially when they aren’t marked.” Léonel sighed.

Rapsody shifted uncomfortably in her fire-engine red heel boots. The girl needs to get over these damn insecurities. She’s eighty-eight fucking years old. She shouldn’t still be that insecure girl with daddy issues on top of abandonment issues who tried to OD on heroin in the 60s. I put the girl into therapy because if any of the people I sired that needed it the most, it was her. Yet, she’s still afraid of losing my nephew simply to the memory of a cunt that broke him.

“Whatever,” Rune grumbled. “I don’t feel safe with them around. I’d quit before agreeing to them being on the road with us.”

“Okay. Someone needs to fill me in. What could that kid have done that is quitting worthy?” Léonel arched his brow as he looked at the others.

“Rune was being his stupid self and insulted Sage. So, Sage not only insulted him back, they bitch slapped him across the room.” I explained.

“I called them what they are,” Rune argued.

“No. You used a slur for what they are. Sage is a hybrid. What you called them is not different, better, or more acceptable than those protesters outside calling me a faggot.” I argued.

“Not cool, Rune.” Léonel shook his head. “Calling a hybrid anything but a hybrid or a wolf is like someone calling you a redskin or some other racial slur against Indigenous folks.”

“Do not call me that, wolf,” Rune hissed.

“See.” Léonel sighed. “That visceral reaction to even the implication of being called that or similar slurs is how Sage and every hybrid feels when called a half-breed or similar slur.”

“Whatever. I still feel unsafe if they are on the road with us. Plus, Auðr would be distracted the whole time, and it would ruin the dynamic of the band. It’s bad enough that you and Rhapsody are fuck buddies.” Run grumbled.

“Excuse me?” Rhapsody. “Who I fuck isn’t your business. And what goes on between Léonel and I had never negatively impacted the band. You’re the only one here with an issue of Auðr having a mate.”

“Right. Cause you aren’t at all behaving weirdly since Léonel got that call about his kid.” Zeidan scoffed.

“We aren’t talking about Léonel’s relationship with me anyway. The subject is Auðr’s werewolf mate.” Rhapsody tried to change the subject, flustered at getting called out.

“Not to intrude, but we’re ready for sound check.” An apprehensive staff member from the club said, poking their head through the curtain of the stage.

“Subject closed.” I declared, tossing my blood bag in the trash to hit the stage for our sound check.

While we did our sound check, the club was mostly empty. A few people with VIP access were already inside, like Sage. I ignored the urge to look in their direction. How did I know where they were? I could smell them, of course. That was a stupid question to ask. After the sound check, we ducked behind the curtain and waited for show time. Thankfully, we were waiting in silence. I had enough on my mind and didn’t need the band to weigh in on what I would do about Sage.

Finally, it was time for the show to begin. I took a deep breath, which was a bad idea because, despite the packed club, all I could smell was Sage. I need to get that tasty skittle out of my head and focus. I’ve never messed up a show, and I wasn’t going to start now. Fuck this mate bond bullshit. I am a fucking professional. It won’t distract me from giving the best performance possible.

“Good evening, PORTLAND!” I shouted into the mic, smiling at the cheers of the crowd.

“I love Portland in June. I love anywhere in June.” I chuckled. “Rainbows as far as the eye can see. It’s a good month to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community.”

There was another round of cheers as rainbow lights flashed around the club. I looked out at the crowd and smiled. Everywhere I looked, people were dressed in vibrant colors, expressing their support either because they were LGBTQ+ or knew someone who was or were just decent fucking people that supported others. This is what I love about gigs during June.

I know some people bitch about how loud and in your face Pride Month can be. But that’s the thing those people don’t understand. We need to be loud. If we aren’t loud, either literally or in how we are dressed, it lets people overlook us or, worse, oppress us. I mean, I’m loud and in people’s faces year-round. I get something of a pass from even those closed-minded fucks because I’m a celebrity.

“I especially love how many fine-looking queers this city and the Pacific Northwest has to offer.” I winked as I made eye contact with Sage.

A louder round of cheers and whistles. They don’t know who the wink was aimed at. All of them, or those that swing my way, hope it was for them. I didn’t plan to wink or even say that line. It came out when I looked around and locked gazes with Sage. Fucking skittle does shit to me, and they aren’t even in my personal space. Lucky me, Léonel kicked off the opening beat of the first song on the setlist.

“We’re breaking chains, not fitting molds. In vibrant hues, our stories told.” I belted out the opening lyrics and gestured to the crowd as I sang ‘in vibrant hues.’

“With hearts unbound and voices loud.” I pumped my fist up as I bopped to the music and the crowd.

“We’re here to live. We’re here to be prooooouuuuudddd!” I held the note as the crowd sang along.

“In every beat. In every stride.” I started walking to the edge of the stage.

“We claim our love. We won’t hide.” Oh, the irony of signing that line and unintentionally looking in Sage’s direction.

They were singing along, swaying to the beat with River and Leo. Fuck I’m in over my head. Even the lyrics I wrote long before I met Sage mock me.

“Through every storm, we stand tall. In unity, we rise, we fall.” I carried on with the song

Rhapsody lent her voice as a backup through the chorus. I moved slightly aside, letting Rune and Zeke come forward as they played their part. They may be heterosexuals, but they had fans in this audience who would love to show them what’s at the end of their rainbow.

“Marching through the city streets. With every step, the ground it beats. We’re rewriting all the rules. In the face of those who’d call us fools.” I sang, riling up the crowd with what many fans deem the LGPTQ+ anthem.

“In every glance, in every fight. We shine our love, burning bright. Through every wall, we break free. In our pride, we find our key!” I sang with Rhapsody’s voice backing me up.

“Together we stand, a force of love. Rising from below, soaring above. With courage, we shout,” I sang, stopping to hold the mic to the crowd for the next line.

“We are here!” Their voices united.

“Defying all doubt, casting out fear.” I sang once again, stepping back to let the band take more center stage as we entered an intense instrumental segment.

“We’re the colors in the dark. The rhythm of a spark. We’re the voices in the night. In our truth, we ignite.” Rhapsody and I came together to sing.

“In unity, we find our grace. In every heart, in every face. With every breath, we claim our space. LGBTQ+, we embrace!” I sang, pumping my fist in the air as the crowd sang along.

“Oh!” I exclaimed, bobbing around on stage as the band played.

As I bounced around, I removed my jacket to the crowd’s whistles. It wasn’t for their reactions that I smirked. And it wasn’t at some random guy I threw my coat. I thought of throwing the jacket randomly but thought better of instigating Sage and their wolf like that. Instead, I aimed for Sage and winked when they caught it and blushed when several patrons nearby grumbled at Sage’s ‘luck.’