Page 46 of Feral Touch
Kell just lifted his chin smugly.
“We're not touring again for another few months. You're just a slave driver.” Ren put on an expression of exasperation, but I could see the affection behind it. “We're going to be in the room across the hall if you need me.”
“Don't worry, we won't interrupt you kids. We wouldn't want to walk in on the two of you in a compromising position, after all.”
I let out a small squeak and ducked my head, blushing.
“We're here towork,” Ren stressed. “We'll be composing.”
“Is that what they’re calling it these days?”
“Shut up, you ass.” Ren laughed and pulled me out of the room, shutting the door in Kell's grinning face.
“Is he always like that?” I asked after a moment.
“Nah, this is tame. He probably didn't want to embarrass you. Well, not too much, anyway.”
Ren brought me to a room identical to the one we just left, except it had a grand piano in the corner. Ren didn't sit on the piano bench. Instead, he took a seat on the sofa and gestured for me to sit next to him.
“I don't know how much you know about our music—” Ren began.
“Almost nothing.”
“I figured as much. I've already picked out a few songs I'd like to try. Why don't we give them a listen and see if any resonate with you?”
I agreed. Ren picked up a remote from the coffee table and pressed a few buttons. Music began to play from speakers embedded in the walls.
The first song wasn't anything I recognized. I didn't know whether that was because they hadn't played it at their concert or whether all their songs had just blended together in my mind. It was fast-paced with a heavy, driving beat and rapid strumming.
“What do you think of that one?”
“It's nice.”
Ren quirked a smile. “Not that one then.”
“No, I mean it, it's nice!”
“I don't want justnice. I need a song that makes a connection with you. I want you to feel the song in your bones.”
“I don't know if any of your songs will do that,” I confessed. “The one I liked the best was your violin solo.”
Ren shook his head. “I don't want to choose a song that already has classical instruments in it. Let's try another.”
Ren played two more songs that were okay, but nothing special. I began to despair ever finding anything and was ready to just choose one at random. Luckily, Ren was patient.
Then the third song started and my breath caught.
It was almost the same as all the others, but this one had a lovely melody. Jayce and Kell's vocals harmonized in such a pleasing manner, I could practically feel myself drawing my bow across the strings to mimic that flawless sound. Most importantly, the deep thrumming of the bass almost punched me in the stomach.
“This one,” I said after the song came to an end.
“Yeah? You like it?”
I nodded fervently. “There's something about this one. I don't know. It makes me… feel.”
“It's calledOut of the Darkness. I wrote it myself.”
“Really?”
