This is a work of "fan fiction" based on the novel, "Lost Souls" by Poppy Z. Brite. All credit for the original characters, places, and some backstory mentions, belong to Ms. Brite and her publishing affiliates. Only newly introduced characters, places, and original elements of this story are entirely from my imagination. Character descriptions are a blend of the original book descriptions and my interpretation of them.
All songs included in this work will be solely owned by the original performers/writers and will be credited. Creative liscense is taken in including them in this story.
No harm is intended toward author, muscians, or people and situations to whom there may be a resemblence.
warning warning warning warning
The content herein is rated by me as being at the high end of MA (Mature Audience). It includes strong language, violence, sexual themes, including same sex pairings, religious themes, and fantasy horror.
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Summary: One is dark.
One is light.
Brought together by evil
and prejudice, they struggle
to make sense of their love and
their place in the world.
TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
Cast of Characters:
Ghost.........................21 year old psychic, pale skin, straight, long blond hair, sky blue eyes, thin, about 5'8". Lead singer of "Lost Souls?". Modern day hippie. Boyfriend of Steve Finn.
Steve Finn.................22 year old rebel, black, shoulder length, curly hair, 6' tall, thin, but muscular, dark brown eyes. Guitar player and singer of "Lost Souls?". Boyfriend of Ghost.
Ms. Deliverance........Ghost's Grandmother, deceased. Was an herbalist, some psychic abilities, thought of as a kook or a witch.
Kinsey........................Owner of the Sacred Yew, Missing Mile, North Carolina's only club. 65 years old, 6'1" tall, salt and pepper hair worn in short, low ponytail. Friend and mentor to Steve and Ghost.
Terry...........................40 years old, blond wavy hair below ears, 5'10", owner of the Whirling Disc" record shop. Never quit being a true hippie. Friend of everyone, has a band called "Gumbo", drummer for "Lost Souls?" as needed.
R.J...............................24 years old, brown straight hair, below ears, with bangs. Black frame glasses, shy 5'7". Bass player for "Lost Souls?" and "Gumbo". Friend since childhood of Steve, and later Ghost.
Trevor...........................6'2", thin, long to the waist, straight, ginger hair. Comic book creator and illustrator. Owner of the murder house. Very shy. Boyfriend of Zach. A newcomer to Missing Mile, NC (this character was in the book "Drawing Blood" by Poppy Z. Brite. Same disclaimer applies)
Zach..............................5'6", dark, crazy curly hair, nerdy, glasses. Boyfriend of Trevor. Computer hacker. Singer for Terry's band "Gumbo". Newcomer to Missing Mile, NC from New Orleans, Louisiana. (this character was in the book "Drawing Blood" by Poppy Z. Brite. Same disclaimer applies)
Christian........................Very tall, thin pale, mysterious. A vampire from New Orleans. Worked for a while at Kinsey's club as bartender.
Nothing...........................15 years old, 1/2 human, 1/2 vampire. When born, Christian delivered him, then took him to another state and left him on a couple's doorstep. They kept him. Dark, shaggy hair, searching for who he really is. Comes to Missing Mile, NC because he likes "Lost Souls?" music, and stalks Ghost.
Zilla, Twig, & Molochai...Vampires who befriend Nothing, Nothing's father is Zilla.
Maxey..............................Singer, guitar player of a band in Los Angeles, CA. Tall, dark hair. Falls in love with Ghost, then trys to enslave him.
Miz Caitlin.......................Herbalist and friend of Ghost and Steve. Longtime friend of Ms. Deliverance.
Man & Woman of the Mountains.....Knew Ghost and his Grandmother years ago.
Ann...................................Steve's former girlfriend, deceased.
Linda................................Steve's sister
Lisa...................................Steve's sister
Bill.....................................Lisa's husband
Stevie.................................Linda's son
Mandy................................Linda's daughter
Melody................................Ghost's sister
CHAPTER ONE
It was early afternoon at the Sacred Yew. Ghost and Steve had just finished their sound check and rehearsal for that night's show. It had gone pretty good, and a big crowd of Club Kids, as they were known, were expected. Whenever Lost Souls? played at the Yew, Kinsey, the owner and bartender of the club, could always count on the kids of the night to show up. Lost Souls? was practically a legend in Missing Mile, North Carolina. This is where Steve and Ghost had first began their band. Just the two of them. Kinsey had known both boys since they were Club Kids themselves, actually even before that. Growing up in Missing Mile, everybody knew everybody and everybody's business.
Kinsey had been very busy getting his bar ready for the night's opening. However, he had a problem. He was dangerously low on supplies. He kept a fully stocked bar, including sodas for the minors. He also provided a few foods to snack on, such as sandwiches and homemade soup. But, things had gotten backed up the last few days, and Kinsey hadn't had time to go shopping for supplies. The nearest grocery was half an hour away. He was pondering how he was going to make it all come together in just a few hours, when he had an idea. He mentally, slapped his forehead. Why hadn't he thought of it before. There were two perfectly fine young men with a car right in front of him, Steve and Ghost.
They'd always been happy to lend a hand around the place. They always felt grateful to Kinsey for giving them a place to learn the ropes and practice their music.
"Hmm," he thought, "I'm gonna ask Steve and Ghost to run over to the grocery for me."
At the moment, Steve was just hanging out by the pool table, knocking balls around, and Ghost was sitting on the floor by the stage, writing on the wall again with his markers. Damned if he knew why he let Ghost deface his bar like that, but it was kind of cool, in it's own way. The kids had all taken to it and added their musings to the wall, too, and called it their own. But, it was Ghost who'd started it all, late one night when he and Steve were just starting out. They were both really too young to even be in a bar, but Ghost had thought of some new lyrics for a song they were working on and couldn't find a piece of paper handy.
He always had a couple of markers stuck in his jacket pockets, so he pulled them out - sky blue and red, and wrote the words to the song on the blank wall so he wouldn't forget. After that, it just became a habit of his. Everyone else loved reading whatever he wrote next. Usually, it was the first thing the kids did when they got there...read the wall. Ghost wrote on it every day, something new, something bizarre, an interesting word or two, lyrics...a sort of journal entry on his day. It was pretty amazing, actually. Over the years the wall was pretty much covered. He had started a second wall awhile back, and this was the one he was working on now.
"Well," Kinsey thought to himself, "it encourages the kids to read at least. That's beginning to be a lost art these days, what with texting, abbreviated letters for words and such."
He shook his head, "Enough wool gathering," he said, "back to the business at hand."
"Hey, Steve, c'mere a minute," Kinsey hollered over toward the game room.
Steve took one last shot at the table and ambled over to the bar. He was wearing his usual get up...black leather jacket and tight jeans. His dark hair ruffled out in crazy whorls and spikes, untameable.
Kinsey had known Steve since he was a little kid. He'd had a pretty rotten childhood, but he'd managed to turn out all right. A seemingly dangerous heartbreaker on the outside, but full of angst and emotion he barely kept hidden on the inside...a good guy at heart.
"Hey, Kinsey, what's up?" Steve asked, as he neared the bar.
"I need a favor from you and Ghost. Think y'all are up for the challenge?"
"Uhh...sure, Kinsey, guess so. What 'cha need?" Steve asked.
"Well, I'm really low on supplies for tonight and I'd like for you and Ghost to go over to the big grocery and pick up some things. I'd do it myself, but I'm swamped here. What do ya say?"
Steve was about to quickly agree to the task, then looked over at Ghost and heaved a sigh. "You want me and Ghost to go shopping for ya?" He looked a little hesitant at the thought.
"Yeah, Steve, ya got a problem with that? If so, never mind, just thought if y'all had some free time this afternoon...", Kinsey's voice faded off, but he gave a look that said in essence - you know you kinda owe me, and I know you're gonna do it.
Steve sighed again and nodded assent. "Ok, but when exactly do you need the stuff, Kinsey, 'cause if we leave now, it'll be hours till we get back, and we still gotta get ready for tonight."
"Jesus, Steve, how long do you think it takes to get a few supplies... thirty minutes up there, thirty minutes back, and maybe an hour in the store. But probably not that long with the way you drive," Kinsey said.
"Ok, ok," Steve threw up his hands in mock defeat. "But, really, don't expect us back any time soon, ok?"
"And why the hell not, Steve? What excuse would you have for taking all day for a simple errand, huh?"
Kinsey was getting exasperated at Steve's reluctance now. Maybe he should have never brought it up, but Steve asked him a question then, and Kinsey struggled for an empathetic reply.
"Have you ever been shopping with Ghost, Kinsey? Have you?" Steve implored.
Kinsey took a second to respond, wondering what exactly Steve was getting at. "No, can't say that I have, why?"
Steve rolled his eyes. He then started in on a long monologue, while Kinsey just listened, sort of dumbfounded at the rush of words coming at him from Steve. At first he thought to interrupt him, after all he was in a hurry for his supplies, but couldn't get a word in. Despite himself, he got interested in hearing all about how Steve and Ghost did their shopping. It was a completely new look at the dynamics of those two that he'd never taken the time to see before, and Steve seemed so eager to talk to someone about his feelings on the subject.
Kinsey almost laughed at the earnestness of this Steve he thought he knew, but evidently didn't, and all because of the word, shopping, that brought it all forth. He caught himself in time, though, and swallowed his almost formed laugh. He was being bombarded by fact after fact, incidents of pain, caring, and frustration, and yes...love. It went on and on. Kinsey was helpless to stop the words...didn't want to now anyway.
To be continued......check back often for added entries!
Peace, Love, & Writing!
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