2. Chapter 2
Onyx
I n the back of the town car, I held my phone up, posed with my fingers in a peace sign and my tongue sticking out to the side of my red-painted lips, and took a shot. I examined the picture, loving how the fuzzy white earmuffs contrasted against my long, silky black hair. The muffs matched the white faux-fur collar of my jacket. I had black eyeliner, making my hazel eyes pop. I also had some shading and bronzer highlighting my cheekbones, and my red lips made me feel very Cruella—her fashion-icon era, not the puppy-killing one.
Perhaps I was a little dressed up for a trip by myself, but dressing nicely made me feel good, and I decided long ago it was perfectly fine for me to dress for myself. Happy with the photo, I went to social media. One last post before I deleted the apps from my phone.
MxOnyx: Feeling cute, might disappear into the woods for some downtime. Byeeee.
The likes and comments started coming almost instantly. The urge to check them was strong, but if I looked now, I would never stop. It was an addiction. One I hadn't been expecting, nor was I entirely used to, but it consumed all the same.
I closed my eyes and blew out a breath. When I opened them again, I uninstalled all the social media apps from my phone. It was the only way to guarantee I wouldn't stay glued to it for the next month. I was taking a much-needed break. Just me, staying at a rental cabin in the mountains for thirty days.
No internet. No posts. No appearances. No performances. A break. A chance to refresh and refill the creative well. I had my laptop, my keyboard, and several notebooks with me. Maybe too many to fill in a month, but could a person really have too many notebooks?
As I left the city behind, I already felt like I could breathe a little lighter. I'd been pushing myself really hard. Too hard. I always dreamed of making it, but hadn't expected it to happen so suddenly. I had been working on my songs for a long time, since I was thirteen and an angsty baby enby. Over the past fourteen years, my song style changed countless times, but I kept plugging away at it. Along the way, I’d gained a few followers until I managed to hit all the right notes—and algorithms—and found myself thrust into the public eye.
I just came off a twenty-city tour with never a moment to myself and I hadn't written a single complete song in the last four months. Sure, I could cheat and hire someone to write for me, but it wouldn't be the same. Performing was a high like no other, but writing tapped into the creative side that itched beneath my skin. It was a need, as necessary as breathing, and chocolate.
I couldn't continue to be ‘ Onyx, the viral popstar ,’ without tapping into that side of me. In order to make that happen, I needed to take a break and force myself away from the online world, where scrolling and reading comments could suck away hours of my life at a time.
So, here I was, on a sabbatical. The town car began its ascent up the two-lane mountain road. Seeing the trees lining the side of the road made me smile. There wasn’t enough green in the urban areas of Southern California. The poppies were in bloom, so there were long stretches along the freeway with splashes of the beautiful orange colors I loved seeing. Unfortunately, it never lasted very long and the hills would soon turn brown. It was nice not driving, so I could appreciate the sights. One thing I really enjoyed about touring was getting to see a wide variety of landscapes and scenery. I’d always found nature to be inspiring.
I could have driven myself for my vacation, but I didn’t want an easy out. I rented a cabin for the month and I planned to stay there as much as possible. It was said to have a fully stocked kitchen, so I shouldn’t need to go anywhere, at least not right away, and I didn’t want to make it too easy to just pick up and leave if I got bored or antsy. The whole point was to spend time alone.
Only two people knew the location of the cabin—my brother and my manager—to protect the information from getting out. Fame came with a price, which meant it was hard to go anywhere without someone watching. I loved the attention; I really did. Fans had been so loving and supportive—there were plenty of trolls, too—but I loved connecting and interacting with them. It was important to me; they were what got me here, but it was exhausting all the same.
We passed through the town and I felt a smile stretch my face. It was adorable. The shops, the bear statues everywhere… I loved it. There was something special about small mountain towns. I would have to allow myself a day or two to explore the town, but not today. Today, I simply wanted to settle in and relax.
“Almost there now,” the driver announced as he pulled onto a narrow driveway that climbed a path through thick trees. It felt like we were driving into another world. When we got to the top, a single cabin and a large barn were revealed. It was perfect, exactly what I envisioned when I made the arrangements. A haven away from everything. It was almost exactly what I pictured, except for the dark blue truck parked outside of the cabin.
Huh . Strange. My heart began racing. Maybe the owner planned to meet me to give me the keys or go over any instructions for the cabin. That must be it. I forced myself to calm down. My driver pulled up beside the truck and then came around to open the door for me. He held out his hand to help me out, and I stepped onto the gravel with my white fur-trimmed boots.
“Thank you.” I stood, brushed off my leggings, and looked at the cabin. It was picturesque. Cute. Cozy. Perfect. As the driver began unloading my luggage from the trunk, the front door of the cabin opened and a man in a T-shirt and beanie stepped out. My eyes landed on his biceps, which tested the limits of the shirt he wore. Add in the sexy black-and-gray trimmed beard, and he was the perfect vision of a mountain man. Did he come with the cabin, too? Because, yes please, I’ll take one of those.
The owner, perhaps? If so... why did he have a look of dismay and confusion on his face? Maybe I was earlier than I said I would be. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be a problem. I marched over to him and stuck out my hand.
“Hi, your place is beautiful. I’m very much looking forward to my stay here. Thank you.”
He took my offered hand, holding it in place, while a brow arched high. “Your stay?”
“Yes. When I saw this listing, it just clicked, and I knew it would be the right place.” I looked back at the driver, who held one of my bags in hand. “Let’s put everything in the living room. I can get it all sorted later.”
The driver walked forward and the cabin’s owner stepped aside to let him move past, while watching with a look of astonishment. He turned his attention back to me. “I’m sorry, uh, what’s happening here?”
“Um... my luggage? Yeah, you’re right, I probably packed too much. I always do. It’s one of my biggest flaws.” I gave a shrug while flashing the man an innocent smile. His gaze roamed over me before landing on my red lips. He seemed transfixed, making my skin feel warm. The power of red was undeniable. My driver walked past us again, breaking him free of his trance. He blinked hard and placed a hand on top of his beanie.
I leaned in and asked, “Am I too early?”
“Too... early?” the man asked slowly.
I must have been, since he seemed so caught off guard. “My apologies. I guess I should have called ahead. I was just really eager to get out here and away from the city.”
He nodded slowly as he repeated, “Away from the city?”
The driver was maneuvering two of my suitcases while struggling with my keyboard bag. I rushed over and grabbed it from him. “Here, I got it. This is the most important thing I have.”
I returned to the door where the owner stood, still baffled, looking as if he wanted to make an objection. I’d never thought about how strange it might be to watch someone move into your place. The few times I’d rented a vacation home before, it had always been contact-less and automated. This time, it was in the middle of nowhere, and there was no keyless entry, so I supposed it made sense for him to be here.
I met his gaze and flashed him a smile, loving the way his eyes automatically lowered to watch my lips. “Where would you suggest I put my keyboard?”
His eyes narrowed and his lips quirked to the side. “The kitchen table?”
“Great, thanks.” I squeezed past him and got my first look at the cabin. It seemed to have been updated since the photos were taken, which was fine. Actually, it was a big improvement. The furniture was rustic, the walls were a nice suede color, the tall lamps in the living room gave off a warm glow. It was sweet, cozy. Clearly, the owner put a lot of care into it. I could easily imagine growing comfortable during my stay here. It felt perfect.
My driver brought in my last bag, adding it to the collection between the wooden armchair and the stone fireplace. “All right, I think that's everything. Did you need anything else before I go, Mx. Onyx?”
“No, I think I'm all set. Thank you for your help.” I shook my driver's hand, and he tipped his hat.
“My pleasure. You have my number. Call me if you need anything.”
I watched as he got in the town car. He was based in L.A., so I didn't plan to make him drive all the way out here again, not until it was time to take me home.
“Wait! He's leaving?” The owner's eyes went wide.
“Of course! He's my driver. You didn't expect him to stay here with me, did you?”
He shook his head and stared at me. “I... suppose not.”
“I booked the place for myself, and I plan for it to stay that way. So don't you worry, I won't be having any guests while I'm here.” I walked around the living room, taking in the warm space, as I ran my hand over the back of the loveseat. The couch had a glossy wooden frame with thick cushions that looked really inviting. I was ready to kick off my boots and put my feet up on the matching coffee table.
“This is lovely.”
“Uh, thanks,” the man replied as he closed the front door and I could feel his stare warming my back. “While you're here ? I'm sorry, but... what?”
I looked over my shoulder at him as I tried to replay what I said that seemed to be causing so much confusion. Maybe it was all the fresh mountain air I heard so much about, or maybe he didn't expect me to be... me . I should start over and introduce myself properly.
Turning around abruptly, I didn’t realize how close he was until he almost knocked right into me. He gave me an apologetic look and took a step back. With my hand out, I said, “Hi, I'm Onyx, they-them. Mx. Onyx, if you prefer to keep it formal, though I'd rather not.”
He slowly shook my hand. “Theo, uh, Theodore Wilkins. I’m a... he.”
Theodore . A burly name for a burly man. Wait... “Wilkins? Huh . I don't recall seeing that name on the reservation. Are you the property manager?”
“Uh... yes? I guess I am. Did you say reservation? What reservation would that be exactly?”
Something about the way he asked gave me pause. He was expecting me, wasn’t he? I hope it didn’t double-book us somehow. “The vacation rental one?”
He pursed his lips and slowly shook his head. “No, sorry, not following.”
Shit ! I was in the right place, wasn’t I? I got my phone out of my jacket pocket and pulled up the reservation information. “This is 540 Mountain View Lane?”
His brows pinched together. “Yes. That’s my address. But this isn’t a rental. I live here.”
“You live here? Like... currently?”
He bobbed his head, and reality hit me. It was my turn for my eyes to go wide. I quickly looked around and saw the axe in the corner by the front door. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck ! I just walked right into a random guy’s house, which wasn’t great, but worse, with a deadly weapon within reach. I pressed back against the couch behind me and clutched the edge of it. He could be an axe murderer for all I knew, and his muscled arms told me he could swing it easily.
Disappear to the mountains . Sure, it seemed like such a great idea, which was probably how every single person in a horror movie felt before they became the prey. My eyes flicked to the door. Was I spry enough to dart around him and make it outside? Even if I made it outside, I’d intentionally picked a remote location. There was no one around to hear me if I screamed. Ice went through my veins, making me shudder. Just a few minutes ago, I’d been feeling great about this decision, and now it was all backfiring quickly. I should have had the driver stay until I knew everything was squared away, but I wasn’t anticipating any problems.
Theodore watched me carefully—if that was even his real name. Oh God! If it was his real name, then I was a goner for sure. Anytime a killer told you his name, it was because he didn’t expect you to survive to tell anyone.
He held his hands out in front of him. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you.”
They all said that, got you convinced you were safe and then took advantage of your false security. I moved backward, trying to put some space between us. “Listen, I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”
His eyes squinted for a moment before he turned around and opened the front door. That simple action gave me a moment of relief, seeing a way out, even if it was merely superficial. Theodore stuck his hands in his pockets and gave a wide berth. “You’re safe, Onyx. I’m sorry if I frightened you. I’m just confused. How did you get my address, exactly?”
Something about hearing him say my name had my flight response settling. Damn, it sounded good on his tongue. His deep, raspy voice was quite alluring. Of course, that didn’t mean he wasn’t a killer. Some of the most famous ones were known for their charm. But there was something about him that put me at ease. I felt my grip on the couch relax and I stood a little taller.
“It was a site for cabin rentals.”
“ Hmm . Weird. Do you mind if I look at it?”
I stared at my phone, wondering if it was a good idea to hand over my only means of communication to a man in an isolated cabin with an axe nearby. Stop it! He seems decent enough, I’m sure it’s fine. I handed it over to him.
Theodore gave me an appreciative half-smile before looking at my phone. His brows pinched again. “What the fuck?”
Intrigued, I stepped close enough to look over his shoulder. “What is it?”
“It’s my house, all right, but these photos were from before I bought it five years ago. These were the photos on the listing when it was being sold.”
“I thought they seemed a little dated, but a place up here is hard to find. The rental seemed appealing enough, so I figured it didn’t matter.”
He glanced up at me, his light brown eyes piercing into mine for a moment. “How long was your reservation supposed to be for?”
“A month.”
“A month? Really? By yourself?”
“Yes, really . I needed a break, and this seemed like the perfect place for one.”
A look of understanding seemed to cross his face. “It is... for me, I mean. Where are you taking your break from?”
“I’m not really sure I should tell you that.”
“Maybe not. Although, you are in my house and you showed up with a year’s worth of luggage, so, uh...” He stopped talking and scrubbed his hand over his beard. I waited for him to finish his thought, but it seemed to get swallowed up somewhere.
In the silence, I looked at my suitcases in the corner and felt my cheeks heat. A giggle rose in me, and before I knew it, it burst out of me in a roar of laughter. “Oh God! Why did you just stand there and let me bring all my things into your house?”
He was laughing now, too. A lovely, rumbly laugh. “I don’t know. Someone like you shows up at my door and makes themself at home... I was in shock.”
My laughter died off when I registered what he said. “Someone like me ? What does that mean?”
He waved his hand over me, and I braced myself for any number of transphobic statements I’d heard far too many times in my life. “Someone... stylish, beautiful, uh... you know what I mean.”
His eyes darted away from me in a way that not only relaxed my defenses, but was also incredibly endearing. The way he said it made me feel as if he hadn’t called anyone beautiful in a long time, that it was me he said it to made my heart flutter a little. I liked the way I looked and had worked hard to find my style and expression, but I knew some people still saw my square jaw and makeup, and spent too much time trying to put me in a box. I didn’t like boxes. Boxes were for cats, not people. But beautiful was one I’d happily accept.
“Thank you. I’m sorry for barging in like I did.”
He shrugged. “You didn’t know.”
I let out a heavy sigh. So much for my stay in the perfect place in the mountains. At least I was fairly certain Theodore wasn’t , in fact, an axe murderer, so that was something. I felt like a fool, though. “What do we do?”
Theodore’s eyes widened. “We?”
“Well, yeah, I mean, I’m the one who got scammed, but it’s your house they used for it. Do we go to the police?”
“Oh, right. No, I don’t think the police will be able to help. Besides, it’s a small unit up here, and I doubt they have a fraud department. You could report the site or get a lawyer and file a lawsuit.”
My eyes were burning with the realization of how royally fucked this was. A lawsuit would mean my name on a legal document, which wasn’t the kind of attention I needed, especially for something so ridiculous.
“Yeah, I suppose I’ll report the site. In the meantime, it looks like I’ll have to figure out somewhere else to stay.”
The man sucked on his teeth. “Yeah... fat chance of that happening. It’s a busy season, lots of folks coming up the mountain to get a taste of winter in Southern California or needing an escape from the city.”
I felt my heart drop. “Shit.” I really didn’t want to call my driver back, but I probably should. The thought of going home so soon made me want to cry.