She'd known it lurked inside him, just below the surface. While they'd been traveling together when they'd first met, he'd been completely mired in it. As the weeks had worn on, it seemed to fade from him like a distant memory- still present, yet visited less and less often. She hadn't pried too much into what had happened- he'd told her a story she'd heard dozens of times before and would probably hear dozens of times again. She, too, was familiar with the ever-present beast, the hunger that would never die, and the fear of hurting the ones you loved the most.

As she made her way through the door, she was greeted by the sounds of an acoustic set being played by a woman on stage- not quite what she'd been expecting. The crowd was loose; milling around with drinks, some holding quiet conversations in secluded corners. Deanna felt a wave of nervousness, as though she were going to be the one playing in front of all these people. Through the sea of unfamiliar faces, she spotted one she recognized and made her way toward the stage.

Deanna: "Hi! Emily, was it?"

For a second, Deanna wasn't sure she'd gotten the right person. The girl in front of her seemed to jump slightly, looking somewhat panicked. She quickly recovered, however, a smile blossoming on her lips.

Emily: "Hi! Yes, it's Emily."
Deanna: "Are you here alone?"
Emily: "Yes, actually. Mary had some work to do tonight and Andy's out of town on business."
Deanna: "Do you mind if I join you?"

Deanna was startled as Emily's smile faltered for just a fraction of a second before returning.

Emily: "That'd be great! Have you heard them play before?"
Deanna: "Actually no, I haven't. I bet they're amazing, though."
Emily: "They're phenomenal."

The phantom whisper of pain brushed softly over Emily's face before she turned her attention back to the opening act, leaving Deanna confused and concerned. The girl standing next to her was surrounded by an air of defeat that showed through any attempt to cover it.

Raven: "And the streets don't change but maybe the name... I ain't got time for the game 'Cause I need you. Yeah, yeah well I need you... Oh, I need you. Whoa, I need you Ooh, this time...."

The young woman on stage finished singing, the last chord from her guitar dying in the cheers from the crowd. She smiled shyly, mumbling a quick thanks into the microphone before trying to dart off the stage. She only made it a few feet before James was suddenly bounding up next to her, whispering something unheard into her ear before walking up to the microphone.

James: "Let's hear it for Raven Rose, everyone!"

Deanna couldn't help but laugh at James' ability to capture the crowd, his natural showmanship pulling everyone closer to the stage. She was suddenly grateful she'd spotted Emily when she did, otherwise she'd have been watching from the back wall.

James: "Raven's going to be doing us the honour of joining us for our next set, which we'll be starting here in just a few moments."

The stage went dark as James & Raven walked off together, leaving the audience whispering in anticipation while a subdued and strange electronic music played over the sound system.

Deanna: "James is quite the performer, isn't he?"
Emily: "He's a natural."

Deanna shifted uncomfortably as an awkward silence once again fell between them. She was glad when she caught a glimpse of movement on the stage as the band members took their places in preparation for the show.

As the first chords drifted through the darkness, she knew it was going to be pure magic. James approached the microphone with confidence, the lights on stage coming up as he began to sing. His voice was mournful; full of more emotion than Deanna thought was possible from him. There was an honesty to it that couldn't be faked, his soul bared to everyone in the room.

James: "…There ain't no sense in making accusations- no matter if you're wrong, you're always right."

James: "There ain't no point in recrimination- I really don't have the strength to put up a fight. I don't see how it matters now, that tears shall drown the wind."

James: "I don't see why it makes you cry, that tears shall drown the wind…"*

Deanna was startled by the jagged sound of a badly missed chord, jarring and foreboding. She looked first at the woman James had called Raven, who was in turn staring with concern at Tristan.

Emily: "Oh my god…"

Deanna could only just make out Emily's voice over the band, who was continuing to play as though nothing had happened. She looked sharply from Emily to Tristan, who was once again playing, though no longer with the ease she was used to seeing from him. As the song ended, the crowd erupted into cheers, blissfully unaware that anything had gone wrong at all. The band launched immediately into another song, continuing to play for another hour.

As they finished playing, Deanna watched anxiously as Tristan bolted from the stage and up the stairs without so much as a glance in her direction.

Emily: "You're coming upstairs, right?"
Deanna: "Are we allowed to?"
Emily: "Of course!"

Deanna: "Emily…"
Emily: "I heard it, too. Come on."