FAUST 1997 "Introductions" -- by Nytshaed 9809.01 ©1998 Chaotic Works Inc. No part of the manuscript may be published, posted or reposted without explicit written permission by the Author. This story is of an Adult nature and is intended for persons over the age of 18.

Nyt snuggled down deeper into the large comforatable seat as the Death Records Corporate Lear roared through the low cloud cover blanketing long island that evening, and aimed it's nose toward JFK. She glanced out the window as the Co-pilot announced the imminent landing, and noted her belt needed to be refastened. She rehooked it, and then picked up the promo materials sitting on the seat next to her she had been reading. 

It was a press kit sent to her by Swan, the president and CEO of Death Records bringing her up to date on the Band FAUST and it's infamously notorious lead singer AJ. 

He was a babe as far as she could tell, tall dark and sinisterly handsome, long thick hair, black as pitch that fell in waves to his hips, wispy bangs graced the tops of his startling violet eyes, and his olive skin tone was more from tan than the exotic heritage he claimed. She had heard of him and his band before, it was hard not to. They were the biggest thing to come along in the rock world in the last twenty years. No one sold more records, sold out more venues, and won more awards and press ink than FAUST. 

The band seemed to generate this dark undercurrent of mystery and danger that made them all the more attractive to succesive generations of fans. From its Heavy Metal roots in the late 70's and 80's, to the hard edge of Alternative sounds of the 90's, FAUST was the leader that all followed, and imitated to no avail. 

The lineup had changed several times over the years, only AJ remaining the seminal founding member as singer/guitarist, and Swan as the illusive, reclusive Manager. Former members of the band were never mentioned once leaving and more times than not, met with tragic ends. This was not part of the press release, just common knowledge. Even in the recent traumas and bizarre goings on in her life lately, she knew this much. 

The single exception was Sophie D'Arque. While she was not a member of the band, she was as much an insider as anyone could ever hope to be. She started life with Death Records at the age of 19 when Swan spotted her at a show at his legendary rock palace, the Paradise in the early 80s. His lust for the young vivacious girl spawned a mutually agreeable and profitable relationship that lasted for several years, before she left his side and joined AJ as his lover and confidant.

Obsession and desire to posses became love for AJ, and against all odds, he won her heart and bested his demons for quite some time. They lasted until the mid 90's before because of his pedigree and her desire for a more "normal" life broke them apart. Sophie then left Death Records with a sizeable severance royalty, and the blessings of Swan. She returned to her native California, and after a chance meeting at a NAMM convention, met and won the heart of guitar virtuoso Stevie Blaze. He was single after his divorce, and starting life anew . Sophie rescued him from the single life and moved with him to New Orleans to start a family.

It was Sophie who had called her younger cousin Nyt to look into taking a job as a tour assistant for FAUST when Swan had called her. She had felt that getting Nyt out of San Francisco and the trouble she had gotten into down there would be an improvement in her life. She chuckled as she looked over the color 8 X10 of AJ from the kit. His fiendish smirk seemed to be a practiced pose used to attract and entice females. Nyt had some tricks of her own up her sleeve, and it was because of these, Sophie figured she would be able to handle herself. In reality, no mere mortal man would stand a chance against her, but then, AJ was no mere mortal. In fact he wasn't even Mortal.

"Just avoid the talent on this tour and you will do just fine..." Roger said as the Packard Limousine pulled into the parking lot of the Civic Arena, and up to the gates to the sheltered loading dock area. A group of fans waiting outside for a glimpse of the band peered into the red tinted windows, clicked off pictures, and screamed to no avail for a couple of reasons. Firstly the well known car did not contain any band members at this point, they were still sequestered at the hotel, and secondly, the specially tinted glass allowed viewing out, but absolutely no vision in or a photograph to be taken. Burly security guards pushed the screaming throng back, allowing the car to pass. Nyt marveled at the desperate intensity of the fans, but it was not much different than reactions she had seen in the past working for other bands. The thing that was different this time however, was the BAND she was working for this time. It was the notable and notorious FAUST. Death Records number one touring act and money maker for over 15 years now.

"If I am to avoid the talent, that will make it sorta hard to do my job eh?" She said gathering her things as the car pulled into the back of the concert hall and the huge roll up door rumbled down behind them.

"Just don't try to get FAMILIAR with them if you catch my meaning. People who do, have short careers with us."

"Especially AJ." Nyt added with a smirk.

"Especially him. He travels in his own circle and has his own personal entourage."

"Swan told me that. But it seems he is a staff member short these days..." She said, aluding to Sophie.

"Don't EVER bring that up if you want to survive." Roger said with a sudden seriousness that made her uneasy.

"I wont."

"Good. Here we are!" He said changing tone of voice and demeanor instantly, as the door beside her was opened by the driver.

Nyt stepped out and slung her duffel bag over her shoulder as she surveyed the organized chaos of the backstage scene. Before her were parked three of the most massive tour busses she had ever seen. She knew they couldn't be nearly as big as they appeared, but were forbiddingly impressive just he same. Roger had told her that all three were custom built from the solid rubber tires on up to the bullet proof red tinted glass and emergency life support and power systems. If the world suddenly came to an end, one of these busses would be a good place to be.

She didn't realize how long she had stood there looking them over until Roger walked past her, and she fell into step behind him to hear what he was narrating to her as he walked along.

"One bus is for AJ, one is for the rest of the band and the third is the crew bus. We have three semi trucks that carry the stage and the equipment. You'll be driving the Band's Bus. Crew Bus is driven by Rob, and AJ's bus is driven by Chet, and Jackie is AJ's main bodyguard. He's a good one to avoid confrontations with as well. I believe Swan went over all of the job details with you..."

"Yeah he did. Pay, breaks, sleeping times, expenses. I got most of it figured out."

"Good, I'm tired of driving that damn thing. Don't get me wrong, it drives like a Cadillac, but I prefer not to have to handle two jobs on this tour."

Roger pulled a lanyard out from under the tour jacket he was wearing and used the key on the cord to unlock the middle bus in the row. All three were identical with no distinguishing marks, she wondered how he could tell which bus was which. He swung the heavy armored door open with a hiss as the seal was broken and cold, conditioned air escaped. Roger made a sweep with his arm, indicating she was to go first.

"After you..."

Nyt stepped on the the deep plush carpeted stairs and ascended them. As she reached the top of the stairs, and turned towards the back of the bus she paused, a most unexpected scene was before her.

Sitting on one of the couches at the front of the bus with her back to her was some Neo Goth type of chick dressed minimally in latex and leather. She was seated between the thighs of a supine male, with long black hair, reclining on a pile of pillows. He looked naked from her vantage point, and as she stepped further into the bus, she saw the girl was doing an elaborate cutting on his outer left thigh with a straight razor. Blood ran off of his leg onto a black towel made all the more pitch with the sanguinous flow. His hands were folded behind his head, and judging from the beatific smile on his face, and the raging ample hard-on under the black latex bike shorts he was wearing, he was enjoying himself immensely. Both he and the girl were oblivious to her entrance. Her entry did not go unnoticed however.

"Who the fuck are you?" A voice growled off to her right, behind the drivers seat.

Nyt looked to see a second male, almost a carbon copy of the first, only the hair was not as long, and instead of Speedo, this one was dressed in Armani. His cold blue eyes seemed to bore right through her. She felt her heart skip a beat as she noticed his right hand had disappeared under his coat in a tell tale fashion. He held his hand there, but let the hammer click be heard. This roused the pleasure victim on the other couch who opened his eyes to quietly observe.

"I.. I am the new driver..." She said nervously looking at Roger who had just stepped up behind her.

"Go ahead. Go on in..." He said from behind her then stopped short when he viewed the grisly and unexpected tableau.

"SHIT!! AJ!! What the fuck are you doing on the Band bus?!"

Nyt still had her eyes on the armed man on the couch, and she watched as he smiled slowly at her, and removed his hand from under his jacket, placing a toothpick he had pulled from there in the corner of his mouth. He leaned against the back of the couch, then looked over at AJ.

AJ turned his attention from watching Nyt to Roger, and replied calmly.

"I'm in the Band aren't I? I'll go on any fucking bus I want."

He then looked down at the elaborate design on his leg, and slowly sat up to grab the girl behind the head and roughly pull her face to his for a long slow kiss. He broke the kiss and whispered something in her ear before laying back down. When AJ sat up, Roger noticed his leg and the condition it was in.

"Jesus Christ!! What the hell have you done?? You can't go onstage with that!! You'll bleed all over the fucking place!!"

"Keep you shorts on. I'll be fine. Your friend there looks like she's gonna faint though..." He said referring the the visibly shaken Nyt. Saying that, he made eye contact with Nyt for the first time. As he did so, he smiled and she felt a cold sensation creep over the inside of her head, and run down her spine. The sensation spread throughout her body, and she felt paralyzed until she saw him blink, the trance broke, and he smiled wide.

"Two months, eight days" He said matter of factly, then held out his right hand to her. "I'm AJ. Welcome to my Circus."

Nyt reached out and shook his hand, the warm touch of his skin against hers sent the strangest sensation up her arm and throughout her body.
"I'm Nyt. Nice to meet you AJ."

"That goon over there is Jackie. He covers my ass." He said glancing over at the man in the suit. "Don't cross him and you'll be fine."

Nyt looked over at Jackie as he reached out to shake her hand as well. After doing so, he lifted her hand up to gently kiss the back of it.

"Welcome to the Family Nyt." He said in a deep resonant voice. "Enjoy your stay."

"Great. Introductions made. Nyt your bunk is at the back, why don't you drop off your stuff, and meet me outside and I will finish showing you around."

Nyt nodded and moved between the couches to the back area of the bus. After finding her bunk, she tossed her duffel bag inside, and peered around the back a little before leaving. It was definitely one of the plushest buses she had ever seen. Her bunk was actual a wall sized double bunk that afforded lots of sleeping space, and other amenities she would investigate later. After finding and using the bathroom, she headed back up to the front of the bus. The girl was gone, and Jackie watched while AJ wound a roll of gauze around his still oozing thigh. Neither seemed to pay her any mind as she walked between them and went to leave the bus. She started to descend the steps, then paused just before exiting and looked back over the stairwell wall at AJ.

"I was just curious. What did you mean when you said 'two months, eight days' earlier?"

Jackie removed an unlit cigarette from his mouth.
"He's a mind reader. It's how long you have to live." He said in a quiet monotone.

Nyt looked over at AJ for his reaction, it had to be a joke. He didn't even look up at her to answer.

"Right again Jackie."

Nyt suddenly felt sick to her stomach and rushed out of the bus to catch up with Roger. The sound of laughter followed her out of the bus as the door slammed shut, and relocked itself.

Part Two by Jennifer 9807.23

It was after midnight now as Nyt strode across the dark parking lot. Sickly street lamps cast a lurid glow over the wet asphalt. Her day had been interesting, to say the least. 'Two months, eight days' - his voice echoed over and over through her mind in a somber refrain.

She stopped before the roll up doors of the concert hall and glanced about, searching for a bell, or something that would allow her access to the concert hall. As she searched, squinting in the dim glow of the lights, the bulb above her slowly faded and a black pool seemed to surround her. She gasped slightly, eyes widening in sudden fear, and turned quickly, the door at her back.
"Alright, girl, now get hold of yourself," she muttered, warily searching the night. Another light faded and dimmed, then another.

Her breath came faster now as she fought panic. To her discomfort, she now stood alone in the pitch-black lot. Fighting for control, her breathing slowly calmed and she now coolly assessed her situation. Just then, a figure stepped from the shadows, and she jumped.

Icy eyes glowed at her in the darkness (must be my imagination, she thought, swallowing hard) - blue or lavender? She couldn't tell in the oily darkness. He slowly came closer, smiling - she could just see white teeth shining in the reflection of the moonlight that suddenly appeared, to her relief, from behind the clouds.

"Jackie! Damn you, you scared the LIFE out of me. How the hell do I get back inside to the bus?" She stood straighter now, against the door.

" 'Scared the life out of you?' ", he murmured, as he slid next to her. "Is that a prophecy, or just an unlucky expression, my dear?" His thigh was uncomfortably close to hers, and she could have sworn she felt his hand stroking her ass, his fingers slipping lightly across her pussy, quickly and furtively, as he stepped past her. She felt a sudden wetness between her legs, shocking her, and she fought control of herself, willing him not to notice the heat that had risen in her face. In silence she followed him back inside the concert hall.