Chapter 1
“You’ve missed a spot!” She said, sitting across from Draven, who was black, his eyes out, so his visible skin under his gothic mask was hidden. He quickly turned to the mirror, low-key panicking.
“No, I haven’t, you vixen Mills!” He exclaimed and wiped a black, smudged finger over her cheek.
“Hey!” She exclaimed and tried to wipe it off.
“At least they know who you belong to now,” he said. “Hey, wanna give me a hand?” He gestured to his long black hair.
“Oh, you want me to braid it for you again?” Millie asked and hopped off the table, her thick platform boots hitting the floor with a slam. “You’re still taller than me in these boots! Can you please crouch down?” she said, making an effort to reach the top of his head. He huffed a laugh before crouching down.
“You know, if I crouch anymore, I’m going to tear these trousers; they’re so tight!” He said this was the same routine every time before he went out on stage. She often looked after all the boys, but with her dating Draven, he got more attention.
“Before you ask, yes, I cleaned your mask and washed your balaclava,” she said.
“Aw, what would I do without you?” He said the moment she tied off his braid, he turned around and kissed her. She reached for his mask and balaclava and handed them to him. “Do you need a hand, or are you okay?”
“I’m okay, I think,” he said, pulling it over his braid. She stood on a chair and pulled it over the back for him. He pulled on his gothic mask, looking like a Death Eater from Harry Potter. “You’re doing it again!” He said and turned to look at her, his voice now muffled by the mask and the balaclava.
“Doing what?” She asked as she straightened his mask.
“Biting your lip, you do it every time you see me with the mask on,” he replied, gently brushing his thumb over her bottom lip.
“Oh,” she blushed and looked away, giving his all-black costume a once-over. He looked like a vampire from the eighteenth century, attending a masquerade-themed ball. “How are you not heating up already?” She asked and started fanning herself with her bat fan. He had bought it for her at one of the markets.
“Well, if you’re waiting for me in the wings with water and your fan, I’ll be okay,” he said and gently placed his fingers to the lips of his mask before placing them on hers, a kiss for when his lips are covered by his mask. “Stay where you always go, and don’t get into trouble. We are sold out tonight.” He placed a hand on her shoulder, and she nodded.
“Knock’em dead, Draven,” she said, smiling, watching him disappear and run onto the stage. She followed slowly behind and watched from the side of the stage. She smiled as she heard the crowd cheer as soon as they started playing the first few notes of their set. Draven always got the loudest cheers, and even though it got on Nix’s nerves, he never said a bad word against Draven. This band had been growing strong for years. Millie stood, tapping her boots, dancing and singing along to their songs. She knew all their songs and supported the band the best she could.
