Dark Muse Read Online Free PDF

her?”
    “Shut up,” he whispered, hoping she'd missed
Otis’ comment.
    The old man still sat there, shaking his
head. “No ma’am. It ain’t any of that. That there was ‘Silver Eye
Watkins’ up there on the walls with those so-called famous
musicians. They know what it means, what it takes to be the music. When ol’ Silver Eye brought them over, their
talent exploded from little seeds into whole fields of song. So,
unless you’ve been over , my beautiful little dear,
you have no idea what music really is, or can do. Got it
now?”
    Poe’s expression changed to something else,
as though she’d just smelled Otis after leaving Taco Bell. “Umm… I
have no idea what you’re saying at all. What do you mean by over ?”
    She turned to the rest of them. They simply
shrugged.
    “Bottom line,” he added. “If you want to find
your brother, sit down and tell me what happened so you can go over
there and get him back. But unless he’s got it , he’s
probably dead by now.”
    * * * *
    After Muddy finished his story, sweating in
the stuffy living room, nervous as all get out, the silence washed
over the group like a swampy wave. His fingers drummed the coffee
table, thoughts rolling through the possible options.
    Would Silver Eye believe me? Would he laugh
or think I’m nuts? What was up with that eye?
    When the tension swelled in the room, Otis
broke the taut line.
    “Well? How do we get Zack back? Can you help
us or are you just going to stare at Muddy there with that freaky
silver eye?”
    The old man’s head came up, and instead of
telling off the little drummer, he gazed around the room. “Who the
heck is Muddy?”
    Poe leaned toward her friend. “ Edgar here likes that nickname. It goes well with his last name, Rivers.
We’re all big fans of the blues and classic rock.”
    The eruption of laughter from Silver Eye
Watkins shook the photos on the wall. His eyes teared up and his
one foot stomped the floor.
    “Muddy Rivers? Muddy Rivers? You named that,
kinda like Muddy Waters? Was ‘Dirty Stream’ or ‘Cruddy
Creek’ already taken? Come on, speak up, blues boy.”
    The boy burned with pure embarrassment. He'd
always felt confident with the name, but now this old coot had
stripped him of his armor in one fell swoop.
    It started with Otis then Corey, and after a
few seconds of those two giggling to themselves, even Poe fell
apart. Suddenly, everyone cracked up, even Muddy.
    “I like the name,” Poe said. I think it fits
him.”
    The older bluesman gazed into Muddy's eyes.
“Okay, Edgar. ”
    More waves of laughter shook through the
group.
    “Please,” the Muddy begged.
    “Okay, boy . You want that name you
call yourself?”
    Muddy stared right back at the old man,
suddenly serious again. “Definitely.”
    “Then earn it.”
    I will , Muddy thought stubbornly to
himself. I will.
    “When do we start looking for Zack? I want to
find him before something bad happens.”
    A deep breath vibrated through the old man.
“Oh, but something bad has already happened if he’s over there
alone.”
    “I don’t even know where he is. Where is he?”
    “First,” Silver Eye said. “You need to know,
it’s not a picnic. He went someplace many musicians and artists and
writers went before, but not all have returned.”
    “So?”
    “So,” he said, staring at him with that one
dark eye and one unblinking silver eye, “are you willing to take
that risk?”
    No doubt about it. He’s my brother ,
Muddy thought, but the man’s comment did scare him a little.
    “I’m in.”
    “So am I,” Poe added.
    “Him too,” Corey replied, pointing his big
finger at the drummer.
    “I don’t have a date until this weekend, so
why not?” Otis, always hiding behind his jokes. Thankfully, they
had the old man with them.
    Silver Eye shook his head. “Good, ‘cept I’ve
never crossed over with kids before.”
    “I’ll try to leave my pacifier here if that
makes you feel better, gramps,” Corey said.
    “Watch