Once Frank had changed into a sleeveless button-down shirt and black tie, he and Jade left the room.
She was still shaking a little.
"I should call my friend," Jade said as she walked down a long hallway, "I'll tell her I found her cat. And you! Oh! I will tell her to come over!"
"Oh, sorry, Jade but, Zeth is going to get mad if we bring another girl here," Finn said.
"But she is your biggest... Fan?" Jade jaw-dropped, looking around once she stepped out of the hallway. "Wow! This suite is gigantic!"
"Zeth calls it a Solar, but Suite sounds fancier," Finn explained, walking to the kitchen to get a couple of water bottles.
"Well, I don't know who the decorator is but this definitely doesn't look like an old castle!" Jade was astonished.
"It took a lot of money and time to make it look like this." Frank said, "Zeth bought and remodelled the whole place, and it became quite popular since the Mashers knew that Monster Mash originated here in Hallow Woods. I had to move my entire family to a secret location after my house became a tourist attraction. And the place where the auditions took place is upstairs. It is a must see for the Mashers."
"It's like a small museum. Guided tours are common around here as you may already know, and the first stop is always this hotel," Finn said, gesturing for Jade to sit in one of the chairs in the small white and gold dining room. Her phone was there, on the table that looked like it was made of marble, "Most of the population of Hallow Woods are foreign students, and many can stay in the south tower of the Hallow Inn in case they cannot afford staying in a dorm or in a frat house in campus grounds, for a reasonable price. Unless they are part of Zeth's study program, then they stay here for free."
"Wait," Jade said, grabbing her phone off the table, "You mean Zeth owns this place? Oh god! Dad said something about it! That he knew the owner but, that doesn't really make sense."
"So you didn't know Zeth owned the hotel?" Finn asked, looking suspicious.
"No! And I didn't know you guys lived here!"
"We don't," Frank replied "We never stay here for long anyway. We're going home at dawn."
"You guys live in Hallow Woods then?" Jade asked.
"We live near here, but not exactly in town," Finn said, and he gave Frank a withering look, as if telling him he was the one who should take control of the conversation. "But tonight we're staying here. Zeth says that it is better to do this in case some fan has followed us. We love all of our fans, but we don't want them to know where we live for obvious reasons."
"I won't say you guys are here, I promise," Jade said. Maybe Melody was her friend, but she couldn't betray the boys like this.
"No problem anyway," Finn replied. "The people of this town protect us all the time. University students too. We've helped this town grow, so the few who know we live near Hallow Woods usually deny they know us."
"We know almost everyone here," Frank said, then walked into the kitchen area to stand next to Finn, who offered him a water bottle.
"But we don't know you." Finn said sternly.
"Do you know my dad?" Jade asked while Frank drank from the bottle and Finn cocked his head. "Do you know Erich..."
"Are you Erich's daughter?!" Frank yelled after choking on his water, showering Finn. "Fuck! It's a small world!"
"The next time you get unexpected news, don't drink water!" Finn grunted, taking napkins to wipe his face.
"So you know my dad?" Jade asked and Frank nodded.
"I used to be his neighbour across the street! And I went to his gym four times a week so of course I know him! That means you're the girl who used to play with Franklyn when..." Frank started to say something but Finn shook his head, "Long story. Anyway! Zeth will surely bring you the documents you need to sign and I think afterward we can see if, I don't know, we can talk or something? Sleepover maybe?"
"Hey, my friend has a blog," Jade said, squeezing her thighs together a little. "Do you think you could say hi to her? A short video only!"
"And your friend, does she have a name?" Finn sounded distrustful of her. Why?
"Oh! It's Melody, the third most popular girl in college."
"And you're popular?" Finn raised an eyebrow.
"What? Oh. No, I just... I live in her shadow," Jade said, and Finn's gaze turned less insidious, as if he could understand her.
"And you'd like to stop living in her shadow?" Finn asked and she, biting her lip, nodded.
"Well... How about we give you an interview?" Frank wiggled his bushy eyebrows, but Finn nudged him. "Come on Finn! She is Erich's daughter! I don't think Zeth will mind!"
"Oh! I'm glad to know that you're okay, Señorita!" said a voice. Jade turned to see Alycandro walking out of the hallway she herself had come out of. "You don't look pale anymore."
"I am better now, Alycandro. Thanks for bringing me here," she said.
He dismissed with his hand.
"No hay problema! And call me Alex!" He laughed. "Besides, it's been a long time since we had a special guest."
"Seriously? You hardly ever have guests here?"
"Almost always, it's just us and the makeup team, the staff, and Evie..." Alex scratched the back of his head. "Anyway, it is a pleasure having you here."
"So, Judy. Alex was worried sick about you," Zeth said, walking from the hallway with slow, firm steps, holding Mozart in his arms, stroking the cat's head like a movie villain. "He kept asking about the linda señorita who fainted."
"Shut up, Zeth!" Alycandro yelled so loudly that even Mozart bristled.
"Oh! Thanks for worrying but..." Jade cleared her throat, "My name's not Judy, my name is Jade."
"Hey, the girl..."
"Wants a picture?" Alex interrupted Finn. "Sure!"
"I still have my doubts," Zeth said, checking his phone with one hand, "But I guess a photo is not gonna kill us," and then he sent a text message to someone.
"Jade would like to interview us for her friend's blog," Frank said and walked towards Jade, putting his hand on her shoulder.
"Oh! No! I just wanted..." Jade tried to speak, but nobody listened.
"If it prevents her from suing us for Alex's recklessness, I'd be honoured," Zeth nodded with a smile once he received a response from who he had texted, but then his face turned serious again, "But I still want her to sign the documents."
There was a sound outside the huge sliding glass door leading to the balcony, like a metal cord. Jade turned quickly but saw nothing.
Maybe this place was actually haunted?
"It's been years since we had a non-professional interview," said Alex.
"The last time was here in Transylv Island before the world tour," Frank said, turning to see Jade. "I think we all want to do this."
"I never say no to an interview," Zeth put Mozart on a small golden cat bed in the corner, though the embroidered name was Sphinx.
"You also have a cat?" asked Jade, but Zeth grunted, bothered by the question. He preferred to ignore it, pretending that he did not hear Jade while petting Mozart, "I see you have a fancy bed for the cat." Jade tried again but Zeth, again, ignored her.
"Oh, Zeth bought that," said Frank, perhaps too aware of the awkwardness of the situation.
"Sphinx... Proper name for Zeth's pet," Jade chuckled, but Zeth grunted again.
Was he angry that she was here?
"Sphinx was more like family," Frank told her with a shy smile on his face.
"Sphinx was an orange tabby whose rear legs were paralyzed." said Finn, opening another water bottle, drinking from it desperately, "Zeth rescued her from the streets while we were in Egypt."
"Oh! Poor thing!" Jade gasped, "What happened? Why was she paralyzed?"
"When we found Sphinx, she had a nasty wound to her back side." said Alex with his eyes, sweet like honey, fixed on Mozart, who snuggled into Zeth's hand while purring, "Zeth took Sphinx to a vet in Cairo, and paid a surgery to save her. He even purchased wheels for her."
"She was the greatest treasure I'd ever had in my life," Zeth whispered, and although he had a nostalgic smile on his face, his voice cracked with sadness, "And I have a lot of gold in my room back home, so that's saying something."
"Sphinx was the joy of all of us," Frank said, placing his bionic hand on Jade's shoulder.
"And what happened to Sphinx?" asked Jade, but Frank shook his head, lowering his gaze. He needn't say anything else, "Oh, I see. I am very sorry for your loss."
"I don't want to talk about that," Zeth said, standing up, "I never wanted to even though I knew she would not survive long. I gave her the best life I could, and I want to keep that memory." Zeth cleared his throat, shaking his head as if he were shaking off sad thoughts, "Okay. Finn, bring something to improve the lighting, and hurry up."
"I have a light ring," Finn said, leaving his water bottle on the kitchen island, walking quickly to his room. "I'll be right back!"
"And I have some cards for you to write down your questions," Frank opened a drawer of the kitchen, pulling out a black marker and several blank cards.
"Zeth!" Finn shouted from the room almost at the end of the hall, "There's a... Ghost here, and she looks a little stressed."
"A ghost?" Zeth raised an eyebrow and Frank struck a cover girl pose with his hands on his hips, pursing his lips and blinking like a girl. Then he began to walk with one foot in front of the other on his tiptoes. Zeth understood immediately. "Oh! Sure! The Ghost!" Zeth again pulled out his phone and quickly texted, "I'll take care of the ghost, Finn! You just get that ring for the interview!"
"Did someone say... Interview?" asked Draco, who came out of the hall to Jade's left, wearing a red shower cap and a red towel around his waist. He had a red rubber ducky and a back brush in his hands.
Jade was about to faint again.
Draco was the guy with the most muscle on his chest after Frank, and even though he didn't have a six-pack, the aesthetics of his frame was as attractive and hot as danger.
He smiled brightly and waved with the brush.
"Hello! I see you're feeling better now!" Wow! Draco was so loud! "Oh. OH! I like your Monster Mash shirt!"
"And I like your..." She paused for a moment to avoid saying that she was completely crazy about his body, symmetrical face, and charming aura. "I like your ducky."
"Oh! And he has fangs just like me! I painted them myself!" said Draco, pointing to the ducky's black beak. "I know it's a bit childish, but I can't shower or bathe without Count Quacky!"
"And you're not going to shower," Zeth said, snapping his fingers. "Jessy is going to interview us."
"M-My name is J-Jade."
"I can do that shirtless," Draco said, raising both arms to flex his biceps, squeezing poor Count Quacky. "That would be hot, wouldn't it?"
"Oh, that would definitely be sexy," Jade said, biting her lip and squeezing her thighs together.
"Control yourself, girl," Zeth said with a frown, texting furiously. "No one is going to be shirtless in any interview, let alone with that horrendous bathing cap you're wearing, Draco!"
Heavy footsteps made Jade turn and look up.
Dressed in a white bathrobe that was as large as the curtains of her room, Everett appeared, drenched and leaving a puddle that looked like a lake beneath his feet.
Jade's mouth dropped open.
His eyes were red, it seemed like they hurt, and he was breathing heavily.
"Okay, I've got the light ring and..." Finn stopped dead on his tracks as he exited the hallway, staring at Everett with narrowed eyes, "Seriously? Big Guy, did you really take a shower?" Finn asked. Everett grunted and nodded, "Didn't you say you were worried about, you know, Trojan horse?"
"Evie said that..."
"No! No! The ghost, the ghost!" Finn lost his mind.
"What ghost?" Everett cocked his head, and then rubbed his eyes with one hand. Even his eyelids were red.
"I'll explain later, Big Guy," Frank said, sighing.
"I can't believe you took a shower with, you know, Trojan horse in here?" Finn eyed Jade discretely, "We were all supposed to be on our toes!"
"I never let guard down," Everett said, "I always kept eyes open, even when I washed hair... Then eyes burned and I screamed."
"I didn't hear you scream," Draco looked very confused. The boys all looked at each other, equally confused.
"I just screamed inside," Everett replied, with a red-eyed look filled with pain, "I'm screaming right now."
"Oh for fucks sake... Draco, go get dressed!" Zeth snapped his fingers at the shortest guy, then eyed the tallest. "You too, Frostakov."
"Give me a second," Draco nodded, walking back into his room. Everett walked past Jade, entered the hallway and slammed the door of his room shut.
"Oh for fucks sake. Frostakov!" Zeth shouted, "What did I tell you about slamming doors?!"
"Only from ten in morning to eight at night! I know!" Everett shouted back.
CRASH!
There was a noise, like glass breaking, and a moan.
"What was that?!" Jade asked.
"Ay no puede ser... Draco! What did you break?!" Alex shouted.
"Oh. Ahem... Guys? The ceiling fan in my room fell! Toooootally on its own and definitely not because I hung upside down from it!" Draco shouted from his room.
"We're a bit chaotic, aren't we?" Frank whispered near Jade's ear.
She nodded.
She was already starting to get sick of her own nervousness.
These guys were nice, friendly, ready for anything, and they didn't treat her badly at all.
Why was she so anxious when everyone treated her like they had already known her for years?!
Wasn't it already a good time to relax?
"Is this outfit okay, Zeth?" Draco came out of his room wearing a red vest and spiked bracelets.
Zeth was texting someone again, but he quickly looked up.
"Simple but yeah, all good," Zeth lowered his gaze. "But wear pants. Your red boxers will be on camera."
"Obviously!" Draco put his hands on his hips. "I meant from the waist up!"
"Looks good," Zeth nodded.
"That shower cap messed you up. Do your hair!" Alex told Draco. "I don't recognise you without your pompadour."
"You sound like my father!" Draco grumbled and slammed the door behind himself.
"Draco!" Alex yelled.
"I know! Only from ten in the morning to eight at night! I know!" Draco shouted back.
"No one would believe how old Draco really is." Alex rolled his eyes.
"I'm ready," Everett came out of the hall wearing a white tank top and blue sweatpants, running a comb through his hair, and then he turned to look with narrowed eyes at a trembling Jade, "Trojan horse looks fearful."
"I beg everyone's bloody pardon?" Jade asked.
"I have all my cards on the table in case this game is rigged." Zeth said, pointing at the L-shaped couch. "We'll wait for Draco while Janice sets up her things. The light is perfect over there isn't it, Janice?"
It took Jade a moment to understand that Zeth was talking to her, but she nodded when his beautiful sapphire blue eyes landed on her.
"Oh! Yes, I mean, yes but... My name is Jade," she said, this time a bit louder.
"Cards? Will we play poker?" Everett cocked his head.
"Come here," Finn motioned for Everett to crouch down a little, then whispered in his ear, "Zeth has already deployed all the bodyguards in case she has a tracker."
"Ohhh! Why didn't you say it like that?" Everett said, patting Finn's head, "You little people are very complicated."