New Huntington, CA
1965

“What the Hell are those lights?”

As he was jamming a pair of drumsticks into his bag Matthew Pasan’s gaze slewed sideways at his best friend. Elijah Masters was peeking out the van window a frown marring his features, his fingers were absently fiddling with his bandana. Flashing lights passed them at a rapid speed, heading down Main Street.

“Could be anything…”

“Could be trouble,” Jake’s raspy smoker’s voice filtered from the front driver’s seat.

Matthew snorted, rolling his eyes as he lit a cigarette and let the smoke curl up in front of his face. “You’re the trouble magnet.”

“Me?” Jake was indignant. “You’re the one who gave that senator a heart attack.”

The drummer growled, “I did nothing of the sort…” He stubbed out the smoke before he had really even started it, grinding the end into the side of his friend’s bass case.

“Oh, and I suppose you’d blame Eli’s brother instead?” Jake scoffed, pretending to ignore what his friend just did.

Matthew grunting, sat his ass down on the edge of one of the amps. Eli turned from the window, shuffling across to join him.

“Pete’s alright…he’s just driven.” Eli’s brow furrowed. “And he’s loyal to a tee…”

Matthew allowed a grim smile to pass his lips. “Can’t fault him for that.”

“No, but he’s such a strait lace,” the singer murmured.

“Oh, come on, you don’t give him enough credit. He was passionate about the band.”

“Yeah, but more passionate about serving his country,” the bitterness in Eli’s tone was obvious. His bandmates cast long looks at each other. They were all well aware of the fights that Peter’s decision had caused between them. The founding drummer of Rebel Assassin had made the choice to join the army because he believed it was a more serious and appropriate career path to follow.

“Well, couldn’t think of anyone better to serve…” Matthew muttered as he lit up another smoke. Eli cast a sour look at him then flopped back over the amp.

“How long til the show?”

“An hour, don’t worry, we’ll get there in time,” Jake said, smirking as he turned his eyes back to the road. His friends’ scoffed at him.

“You said that last time and we were two hours late!” The affection in Matthew’s voice was unmistakable. The young men were forever teasing each other and making fun; there was no maliciousness there. Though they had made a reputation for themselves as the biggest, meanest bastards this side of the Huntington River. And not because of their band, which was still small potatoes…

Jake chuckled.

“Wasn’t my fault. We broke down, remember?”

Matthew sucked hard on his smoke causing a cough to catch in his throat. “If I remember correctly that was your fault. You hadn’t had the truck checked before we left.”

Jake flipped him the bird as he peered through the windscreen, frowning. The lights were bright up ahead.

“Uh…guys…looks like we gotta problem…”

Matthew moved to join him up the front, squinting into the brightness. “Looks like a roadblock, what do you think it’s for?”

Jake shook his head as he had to slow to a stop. There was a rap on the window which he rolled down to reveal an officer with a flashlight, peering curiously into their van.

“Evening, officer? Can you tell us what’s going on?”

The officer smiled apologetically. “There’s a gig up the road, just making sure nothing illegal’s going on.”

Jake lifted an eyebrow. “You mean up at the Paradise Theatre?” He leaned an elbow casually on the edge of his door. The officer nodded.

“Yeah, up there. You headed that way?”

Matthew leaned over, flashing a smile at the officer. “We’re the band.”

The officer’s eyes narrowed considerably. “You guys are Rebel Assassin?”

Jake started to nod, but Matthew elbowed him, noticing the tension in the officer’s voice. “Nah, we’re the support act.”

His friend blinked, but held back from saying anything more as Matthew grinned at the officer. The officer didn’t look convinced but waved them through. When they were passed the road block Jake turned on his friend.

“What the Hell was that about?”

Matthew shook his head as Eli and Tyler, the latter having been half asleep up until that point, turned their attention to the two up front.

“Something was off. I didn’t trust that officer.”

Jake grumbled, “Why the Hell would you-”

“Haven’t you noticed anything, Jake?” the drummer asked in a tight voice. “Ever since Senator Johnston started blowing his horn the law enforcement has become more suspicious of the industry.”

Tyler and Eli glanced at each other and rolled their eyes. Matthew was always going on about politics, which could get very annoying, very quickly.

“What the Hell’s he got to be suspicious about?” Jake scoffed. Matthew just sighed and leaned back, tilting his head.

“His daughter frequents our gigs.”

“Who? Johnston’s?”

“No, your mother- of course Johnston’s.” Matthew rolled his eyes to the ceiling of the van. “I’ve seen her a few times.”

“You’ve seen his daughter?”

Matthew nodded slowly. “Amelia. She’s pretty cute.”

“Cute? Doesn’t sound like your type,” Tyler commented as he shifted on his seat. The usually soft-spoken guitarist had one favourite topic, talking about Matthew Pasan’s womanising ways. They all knew his habit of hooking up with chicks at their shows. He especially liked the working girls. So, for him to take notice of a good Catholic school girl, such as the Senator’s daughter…that was out of character.

Matthew ground out his smoke without bothering to respond to his friend instead choosing to get out his sticks and tap the back of Jake’s seat.

“Is John meeting us there?” Eli asked suddenly.

“Yeah. Why he can’t get over it and come with us, I don’t get,” Matthew muttered as he kept up the tapping.

“John doesn’t like this van. Can’t blame him, it smells like shit,” Jake chuckled as he turned the vehicle into the parking lot of the theatre. John Anderson was their lead guitarist. He was not the kind of guy you’d expect to see hanging out with them. They were the underdogs. And he was the popular kid at school, the jock who wanted to be perfect at everything.

“You never told me why you asked him to be part of the band,” Matthew said, his tone sharp.

Jake sighed. “He’s my cousin, how many times do I have to tell you that?”

“Second cousin,” Eli pointed out.

“Yes, well, he’s family.”

“Family or not, he irritates me.” Matthew glowered out the window as Jake brought the van to a stop near the backstage door. His expression changed to one of consternation. “What the devil…?”

“What, Pasan?” Jake asked his voice disappearing when he recognised the Senator’s daughter, standing at the backstage door; that long, strawberry blonde hairdo was unmistakable. “Oh…man…you were right. What’s she doing here?”

Matthew shook his head, though he had a vague recollection of mentioning to her that they would be playing at the Paradise…

“You didn’t…”

The drummer blinked, realising he must have said that out loud. “Well, I was just making conversation and she seemed keen.”

Tyler scoffed as he touched his finger tips to his hair, bouncing the curls absently. “Keen to get in your pants, hey?”

“Dude, it wasn’t even like that,” Matthew retorted.

“Sure it wasn’t. We know you,” the guitarist smirked. The drummer crossed his arms, gripping his elbows hard, knuckles whitening.

“Oh, lay off him,” Eli said as he opened the door and peered out. “We’re here. Let’s get inside.” He jumped out with his bag. Jake took the keys and grabbed his bass case as he joined the singer. Tyler followed with Matthew the last to get out of the van, grumbling half under his breath.

As they approached the door, Amelia turned a smile softening her anxious expression.

“You’re here,” she gushed. Eli flashed her a charming smile before making for the door. Tyler and Jake nodded to her without speaking. Matthew stopped next to her. She smiled more.

“Matthew. I thought you guys would be here sooner.”

Matthew gave an apologetic shrug of his shoulders. “We got stuck at the road block.”

Amelia’s lips twisted in a sour expression. “That would be my father’s fault.”

The pained look in her eyes spoke volumes. The normally soft blue was dark with frustration. Matthew touched his fingertips lightly to her cheek stroking along the line of her cheekbone. Her face coloured.

“Don’t get me wrong…I love my dad…but he can be so…”

Matthew shook his head, smiling wryly, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “No. I get it.” He glanced at the door that was now closed, his friends long gone. “I’d better go in. Meet me after the show?”

Amelia gave a small nod the corners of her mouth lifting in a content smile. “I’ll meet you out here.” She tilted her face up to his and he leaned in to brush his lips lightly against her cheek. Then he stepped to the door without looking back at her; she stood with her fingers resting against her cheek. After a moment she turned to head for the main entrance.

Unbeknownst to her or Matthew, she was being followed, and watched.

A large grey SUV sat across the parking lot, tinted windows hiding the occupant. Once the drummer disappeared into the building and Amelia moved out of sight the vehicle started up and coasted across the lot. It paused where the driver could see the front of the theatre before swinging around in a tight U-turn and speeding off into the night.

Notes

My dear readers. My dear Shadows Creed fans. Here it is, finally. After all the waiting. The sequel to the craziness that was Shadows' tale. No sign of our boys yet, but this is a prologue of sorts. Enjoy.

Oh, and Happy New Year :D.