Dark Muse Read Free Page A

tomorrow.”
    “Lying mother…” Otis muttered. “Son of a
friggin’ traitor.”
    But the man simply ignored the accusation and
moved for the door.
    Poe shot out her arm and grabbed the teacher.
“Satch, you do know about the crossroads. Look at me and lie
to my face. Please.”
    Even though she was the only female in the
group, Poe had the biggest pair of stones on her and often
“out-manned” them in many situations. Muddy figured that when
someone had survived her kind of life, one either learned to ride
the monster waves or drown in the undertow.
    The teacher gently pulled away, as if he had
leprosy and didn’t want to infect her.
    “Please.” Her pale, silvery eyes pleaded with
him.
    He walked to the door. “I’m sorry,” he said
as he walked out. “You’re on your own this time.” Then he was
gone.
    But that night, an email arrived from Satch.
Three words in the subject line said it all.
    I can help.
     

Chapter Three

    Poe arrived first in the basement rehearsal
room Muddy’s dad had built for them between writing novels last
year. She always arrived first, as she couldn’t escape her father
quickly enough. By the look on her face, the night had taken a
negative turn. The clouds swimming in her beautiful gray eyes could
never hide the truth from Muddy, no matter how much she tried.
    “Bad night?” he asked, even though they both
knew it was just small talk.
    She clenched her eyes shut, as if those near
sightless orbs could blink out the awful life she endured day to
day. “Corey walked me over, but had to run back for his special
reeds.”
    A smile crept from her lips, as did Muddy’s
over how the lanky kid who used to live in the dangerous
neighborhood called Iron worried about how his lips might hurt if
he used the wrong gauge for his sax reeds. He felt even more
protective of her than Muddy did. She needed little of it once she
left her house, but it made them feel better to know they were
watching out for her.
    “I’m okay,” she said, plopping her tall,
svelte, but still awkward self on the worn sofa. “No different than
yesterday.” For someone who has visually impaired, she had seen way
too much for her age.
    The man drank too much and took it out on her
and her mother. Now it was just her. Neither of them had a mother
around anymore, another bond which bound her to his heart. Except
that hers hadn’t died—she’d left. Poe’s mother had abandoned the
family instead of divorcing such a violent man. The band figured
the police would believe a fellow officer, but Muddy couldn’t
comprehend how a parent could just leave a child. How one could
abuse his own daughter baffled him even more.
    “He didn’t—”
    “No,” she replied, cutting Muddy off. “Otis
is here.” She could always hear someone way before anyone else
could. They assumed her other senses took up the slack for her
eyes.
    If the man touched her again, he might just
snap and go over there. What Muddy would do once he got there was
beyond him, but his anger burned every time he thought of the man
taking out his life’s shortcomings on his daughter.
    He almost voiced his intentions when Otis and
Corey entered and sat in front of them. They knew her story, but
never asked. Still, they’d back up Muddy with anything he chose to
do.
    Muddy read the email over the phone to the
other guys. None of them had thought Mr. Satriani would actually be
able to help them find Zack. Now, he sent them the equivalent of a
map for buried treasure—of a sort.
     
    Muddy,
    I can’t find your brother, nor do I know
where he really is, but if there IS an answer, I know who has it.
Go to the address below and be as open as your music. Don’t go at
night, please, but go soon.
    Be careful. If this guy is real, if what I
hear is true that he can do, you could be in more danger than you
could ever dream of — but don’t go alone. There’s power in
your group.
    I wish I had some to give you.
    Satch
     
    “Well what are we gonna do?”