A Spinoff of Stardom and the new book Jealousy and Obsession
The air crackled with anticipation, thick with the smell of stale beer and the electric hum of amplifiers. The crowd’s low murmur had been steadily building, a restless beast waiting to be unleashed. Then, she stepped into the pit, and the beast roared.
Desiree Beaumont, or Des as everyone knew her, moved with an effortless confidence that belied the tremor of nerves she always felt before a show. But it was masked, hidden behind the dark kohl lining her eyes, the dramatic swoop of her black eyeliner, and the deep crimson stain on her lips. She was a force of nature dressed in rebellion. Her black leather pants hugged her legs like a second skin, reflecting the stage lights like polished obsidian. A matching leather waistcoat, open to reveal a hint of lace beneath, clung to her torso. Her long, raven hair, usually contained in a severe braid, was let loose, cascading down her back in a cascade of inky waves.
The roar was immediate and overwhelming. “Des! Des! Yes!” The chant echoed around the packed arena, a rhythmic pulse that vibrated through her bones. It was the sound of adoration, the sound of a thousand voices expressing the visceral connection only a true artist could forge. They weren’t just cheering for a musician; they were cheering for the embodiment of everything she represented: raw energy, untamed spirit, and a refusal to conform.
She gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod, acknowledging the love, the hunger in their eyes. It was a silent promise, a pledge to unleash the burning music within her. The band Obsidian Haze was still backstage, their silhouettes dark against the backstage lights.
She moved through the pit, the sea of faces parting before her, hands reaching out in supplication. But her eyes weren’t focused on the screaming masses. They were drawn, as if by an invisible thread, towards the edge of the stage.
There, amidst the smattering of privileged guests, stood Matt Adams. He was different from the rest of them, his posture relaxed, yet his gaze was intense, fixed on her with an unwavering focus. His usually easy smile was gone, replaced by something akin to awe. He wasn’t shouting; he wasn’t reaching; he was watching, absorbing her presence like a man parched in the desert drinking at a spring.
Desiree knew Matt from a distance; their paths occasionally crossed in the music scene’s back alleys. He was a movie producer known for his meticulous eye and ability to craft some great movies. She had always admired his work and found him intelligent.
Now, under the harsh glare of the stage lights, his gaze felt different. It wasn’t just admiration but something more profound, a kind of recognition that made her heart skip a beat.
It was unsettling yet strangely alluring. It was as if he saw past the leather, past the makeup, past the persona, and straight into the core of who she was.
She moved again, making a slow, deliberate turn, her black hair swirling around her like a shroud. Her eyes met his for another searing moment. The crowd’s roar faded into the background, and the world shrank to just the two of them.
He seemed to be trying to decipher something in her gaze; his brow furrowed with an almost painful concentration. She could see the questions flickering in his eyes, the unspoken words hovering between them like an electric charge.
Then, a stagehand gave her the signal. A low, guttural growl of a guitar riff rumbled from the stage. Her feet, already itching to move, instantly responded to the rhythm.
The spell broke. She allowed herself one last glance at Matt, a flicker of a smile playing on her lips, before turning towards the stage, the band, and the night she was about to command. She was Des, the rock video queen, and it was time to claim her throne. She knew, with a certainty that settled deep in her bones, that Matt Adams wouldn’t be just another face in the crowd tonight. He was a variable, a new note in the symphony of her life, and she was already curious about what the song would sound like.
Deborah C Langley
Jealousy and Obsession is out this year.
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