My Pianist Goddess, My Female Alpha

Ch.2 - The Velvet Eclipse

LYRA’S POV - Present Day/age 23

I jerked awake, sweat coating my skin. I instinctively reached for my hand, searching for the ring given to me so many years ago, but when I found it empty, I felt the same familiar loss. No ring, only memories.

I breathed out a sigh and looked over at the clock on my nightstand, the time blinking back at me in red. 4:37am. It was too early to be awake, but I didn’t think I could fall back asleep after a dream like that, remembering the loss of my father and what could have been with Thorne. Emphasis on the father part, since that was the most traumatic experience of my entire life.

I replayed the memory of Thorne over and over in my head, having done so countless times over the past decade. Wishing I had said something back then when I could talk, but wouldn’t.

Over the years, I had accepted with bitterness that Thorne wasn’t who I thought he was. I felt after our heartfelt moment that he would come for me. He would find me. But he never did. Not even a whisper of a search for me had passed my way. He had forgotten me the moment I was gone.

I swung my legs over the bed and stretched, grabbing my phone. Standing, I glanced around my apartment. Music sheets were scattered on the floor. Some with complete symphonies and others with half-baked ideas that I had jotted down in a rush to get them out of my brain. I might not be able to speak with my words, but I could still talk with my music.

I kicked some of the papers out of the way, promising myself that I’d gather them into notebooks later. I grabbed the empty coffee cup next to my bed, intending to wash it and refill it with a fresh brew. Waddling to my kitchen area in the small loft apartment, I flicked on the light, flinching at the sudden brightness.

As the water warmed in the sink, I heard a familiar meow coming from my window. Looking over, I saw the black cat that hung on my fire escape at all hours of the day, waiting for a treat or fresh food. Despite not being allowed pets, I still tried to get Midnight (yes, I named a stray cat) to come inside with promises of a warm, comfy home. But Midnight was wild and wanted to live outside, and never ventured past the windowsill.

I set my cup in the sink, grabbing a can of cat food before going to open the window and greet Midnight. I set down the open can and watched as he (or she) dove right in, not even so much as a ‘thank you’ meow. I gently pet him before retreating and closing my window, leaving the little crack so I could hear his meows when he was hungry again.

I went back to my routine of coffee, then eating half a bowl of cereal as I scrolled through news on my phone. Nothing of importance today, I thought, munching on the half-soggy cereal that was probably expired. But just because the average citizen’s news wasn’t anything of interest didn’t mean there wasn’t something else going on. I never let my guard down.

I rinsed my bowl in the sink before heading to my closet to grab my work uniform. I was hidden behind a curtain, but the Velvet Eclipse still insisted that I wear something low-cut and fitting in case I happened to run into someone. They had “an image” to uphold, as they told me when they passed me the black velvet dress with a thigh slit that left little to the imagination.

Dressing, I grabbed my makeup to do the familiar smoky eye and red lips. I looked like I was someone who belonged on a stage, not behind a curtain. But I didn’t want to be known. I didn’t want anyone to recognize me so they could finish what they started 10 years ago.

The music filling the club during the day, before my shift, was as dull as the place looked in the daytime hours. Sometimes I wish I were able to work the night shift or dare to come here during off-hours to see this place alive. But then I remember I’m not welcome here other than for my skills. I was not on the “elite” that the Velvet Eclipse catered to. I was a lowly, hourly worker.

As I slipped behind the curtains, I saw that Ashley was standing next to my bench, wringing her hands and looking distraught. I slid down, arching an expectant eyebrow at her. She looked relieved to see me. “Nova.”

I tilted my head, indicating she should speak. “I know you told me I should run names by you before I commit to someone. But I’ve been seeing someone for the past couple of weeks, and everything was going perfectly. I think I’m in love. But then, last night, he received several calls from someone he said was his mother. Until he finally shut off his phone. It has me kind of second-guessing who he is and what he’s hiding, because someone is always hiding something. Especially in the beginning, so…”

I held up a hand and reached for my phone, opening the Notes app. I typed out a single-word response. ‘Name.’

She smiled at me, relieved I was going to help. “Drake Vesper. He’s from here.”

I nodded, jotting down the name. If there was one thing I was good at, other than playing the piano, it was gathering intel. It was my thing. Had to be if you’re constantly living in fear for your life. ‘I’ll find out everything as soon as possible. Don’t worry.’

She grabbed my hand appreciatively. “Thank you so much. Have I ever told you you’re like a sister to me?”

I offered her a small smile, indicating I felt the same. She was a sweet girl. But self-conscious. She had a lot of hair, red and curly, that she had never perfected how to wear. Big glasses that hid most of her face, and small lips. She was a little rounder, which I thought just made her look more appealing if I were into females, but it didn’t stop her from being self-conscious.

She often threw herself at the worst type of men. Not that she knew when she got into bed with them, but she usually didn’t ask the right questions when it came to men. She was just happy for the company and attention from someone. I felt for her, which is why, after the last attempt, she gave me a name and let me conduct my research on them before she made a decision. It seemed it hadn’t struck a chord with her since she was already in love again after two weeks.

I shook my head, signaling to her she should get back to work so I could start mine. She threw me one last smile before sauntering off to the kitchen, where she cooked gourmet meals throughout the day. She was stuck on day shift with me, but she was an aspiring chef and was grateful for the job, as was I.

As I turned towards my keys, I cracked my fingers. It was a habit I had never quite gotten rid of from my childhood. The music in the club thumped out, indicating it was my time to shine. I didn’t need sheet music for the Velvet Eclipse since they wanted the same songs on rotation throughout the day. And I’d memorized every note of every song in the five years I’d worked here. It never changed in all those five years.

Several hours later, and my fingers feeling as if they might fall off, I reached out for the nearest waiter who passed me. I needed a break, but they needed to start playing the music that had been playing in my absence before I could abandon my post. Brian, I think his name was, nodded and scurried off to start the music for me. Everyone here knew me, knew I couldn’t talk, and were very accommodating. I didn’t have a bad side with anyone here.

As the player’s notes started, I stood and stretched. Ashley may have had a new creation I could test out, as she did practically every day. The rumble in my stomach told me I should go find out.

I was halfway towards the employee hallway when a familiar scent filled my nostrils. I stopped dead in my tracks and lifted my nose to the air, trying to catch the smell. I must have imagined it because as quickly as it was there, it was gone again, leaving me standing there sniffing the air like an i***t.

As I was scolding myself, the scent returned, this time stronger. It smelled like burnt forest with a hint of leather. It was masculine and overpowering. More so than it’d ever been back when I was a teenager. I spun around, desperate to find the source, a new kind of panic filling me.

The scent grew stronger as it approached the curtains. Dare I reveal myself? I looked around me, seeing no one to stop me, and slipped out of the curtains, determined to find the source. I hadn’t walked a couple of feet when my eyes landed on him. The one person I never thought I’d see again.

A decade didn’t erase the dimple in his cheek, the straight white teeth, and the gleam in his eye that said he was a bad boy with good intentions.

No, it couldn’t be. It couldn’t be him. Why would he be here? In the Velvet Eclipse? Had he come looking for me? Was he here for me? But the grin on his face wasn’t because I had just revealed myself. No, it was at the dark-haired beauty next to him, who was laughing at something he said that I couldn’t hear from across the room.

But as if pulled by some invisible force, his eyes shifted, and suddenly they were locked on me. The smile on his face dropped, and his mouth formed an O as he stared at me. Thorne Valebryn had found me.