"Finn told me that I'll go to Lyonfort with you in your car. I feel very special now." Jade said, walking out of the hotel into the cold air. There were some employees in purple suits putting all of her gift bags into the trunk. "Where's Frank?"
"He's already on his way home." Zeth said, texting and not turning to look at her.
"Alone?"
"If you mean in his car, yes. But maybe the force is with him," Zeth said, opening the door of his golden Rolls Royce for her, even though the tuxedoed chauffeur offered to do it first.
"Ha-ha. Very funny. I was wondering if he went back to Lyonfort with, I don't know, Evie?"
"With a trained assassin asleep in her back seat? I would never allow it, and I don't think Evie would either." Zeth laughed as he closed the door.
After he walked around the luxurious car and got into the back seat, Jade immediately inhaled his cologne. His masculine scent was familiar enough that she could pick it up in the middle of a crowded city street. It smelled like a mixture of man and gold, if that made any sense, and she didn't mind that at all.
"Do you mind if I work on the way back home?" Zeth asked out of the blue.
"Whatever!" She grunted, shaking her head.
"Good..." He rubbed his palms on his thighs and looked away from Jade, then cleared his throat, "And how was dinner? Any suggestions?"
"I would suggest Frank talk less about his ex."
"I was talking about the food. I've been told it's excellent but I can't eat a single bite or drink anything, and sometimes I think the guys are just flattering me because I was the one who I selected the dishes that would be on the menu."
"I didn't know you liked cooking."
"No, no. I've never liked cooking. I can't eat anything anyway." Zeth said, and laughed nervously. "But the chef who helped me make the menu? He's one of the best in the world."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah. I'm friends with Robert Irvine." Zeth winked.
"Oh! Well... I guess the food on the menu sounded very appetizing but, I didn't order anything more than a glass of wine, but it was a very good wine."
"And you want to tell me something else?" Zeth raised an eyebrow, "Maybe why Evie didn't show up for the date?"
She blushed, staring blankly at him.
"Zeth, it was a date!" Jade said as if it was obvious, "It would have been super awkward if Evie was babysitting me, don't you think?"
"Yeah, you're right." Zeth grimaced, "I should have gotten you another bodyguard so Frank could enjoy his date."
"Oh! Only Frank matters now?" Jade pouted and crossed her arms, "Of course. You don't care if the girl enjoys herself, only the guy should have a good time."
"You don't know me. What always matters to me is that the girl enjoys herself."
"And now you make an inappropriate comment."
"I didn't say anything inappropriate."
"It sounded sexist."
"What?" He laughed loud then, "Oh! I understand! Sure. Yeah, I guess you misunderstood."
"Anyway, it doesn't matter now. The date was a mess."
"I don't believe that," Zeth said, "I saw Frank talking to Evie outside the hotel. They both looked very happy. Frank's greatest virtue, and flaw as well, is that he forgives everything and everyone."
"Yeah right, that's why he keeps falling for his ex's games," Jade really couldn't stand this anymore.
"It bothers you that he is happy?" He looked too curious for Jade's liking.
"I'm upset because he keeps insisting on being with his ex when he's obviously interested in someone else."
"A poly relationship is about loving more than one person at a time, you know?" Zeth said, "If Frank wants to be with Evie and someone else, it's fine as long as Evie and everyone else agree on.... Wait, you also suspect that Frank is in love with..."
"Ha-ha! In l-o-v-e? It's not love, Zeth. If it were, he wouldn't just talk about his ex." Jade rolled her eyes, "He could be with a super special person, but he insists on getting back with his ex. He should learn something from you, because you do pay attention to the person who matters, not to a perfect-looking girl."
"Frank is a lot shyer than me," Zeth said, "And I guess he expects his crush to make the first move, you know?" Zeth could understand that Frank didn't want to come out of the closet and tell Finn that he loved him, something that was already too obvious. Zeth was direct with Finn because that's how he was, but he didn't have the right to get Frank and Finn together just for a bromance that he wanted to see become a romance.
"So Frank is the type who doesn't make a move until the other person does?" Jade put a finger to her chin, "I'm not a big fan of that but, okay." Jade never thought she had to make the first move to get a guy to look at her, but she'd only make the exception because... Superstar? Or maybe just to prove Evie wrong? Was this out of love or pride?
"And you're planning something to get Frank to move? Are you going to kick the anthill?" Zeth asked. Maybe Jade didn't understand that Frank came from a very conservative family. Because yes, Finn and Frank were an ideal couple that hadn't happened yet, but she just couldn't force them to do anything.
"If he doesn't do it, I will," she nodded. Because she would make sure that Frank and Zeth both loved her openly no matter what.
"Jade, I made my move because I care little about what anyone thinks of me as long as it doesn't tarnish Monster Mash's reputation," Zeth said. "But you are in no position to..."
"Oh. I see! You don't want Frank to steal your spotlight, do you?" she wasn't happy with Zeth judging her like this. She knew him enough already, and he was, maybe not jealous, but being competitive. Maybe Zeth wanted to be Jade's favourite, her only boy.
"Do you think I'm only interested in the spotlight because I openly love the same person Frank secretly loves?" Zeth smiled, looked out the window, and shook his head a little. "Love is love, Jade. Secretly or not, it's up to everyone to decide who to love and whether to say it or not. If Frank wants to wait, that's his business."
"If you say so," she replied. She just didn't want to argue. "Do you mind if I sleep on our way back?"
"Well, I will make sure we are back home before midnight in one piece. Get some sleep. I'll let you know when we are outside Lyonfort."
"Thank you." She smiled as she laid down on the soft leather interior of the car, resting her head on Zeth's warm and somewhat hard thighs.
He widened his eyes.
"Umm, Jade?"
"What?" She asked, grumbling, looking up at him from below, and the way he looked at her was, to say the least, curious.
"I just... You are down there, on my thighs," he bit his lip, "I think it is not appropriate because..."
"Oh shut your mouth," she rolled her eyes, "In your dreams."
"What?"
"I'm just going to sleep. Don't get your hopes up," She turned to avoid his eyes, settling herself comfortably on his thigh to sleep long and hard.
A week ago, the thought that she would be in the same car as Zeth sleeping on his leg would have felt like something out of a fanfic, but now... It was normal, as normal as brushing your teeth or seeing your friends from school.
Maybe the magic was gone.
Maybe the boys had already become an everyday thing.
Because at this moment, she no longer saw them as world-famous artists, no.
Now they were just 'the boys' and that's it.
And Zeth was just another boy she knew.
Perhaps Zeth had already become irrelevant.
Soon, she drifted off to dreamland where everything was quiet and perfect, and she could breathe normally again...
Her dreams were filled with glee.
It was a concert in a dark place, full of people jumping and cheering on the boys. But something was off. Every member of Monster Mash was human, with no traces of colourful hair or fangs, nothing, no trace of bright colours or monstrous features. There was a lion resting on a tree branch, watching all the fans at the concert, keeping an eye on them, and on the same branch was a little blue bird. There were two black cats fighting in the audience as well, rolling around on the floor biting and scratching each other. Jade also saw Melody among the people with a blonde cat sitting on her shoulder, like a parrot, and this cat had bright blue eyes.
Finn was dancing inside a water tank with chains around his torso, and Zeth was literally singing on fire, with flames burning his perfect tanned skin.
Frank was dancing with a blonde woman in a golden dominatrix costume, and she was holding a golden shield in one hand and a spear in the other. Frank suddenly fell face-first on stage, and it was strange, because his bionic legs were suddenly gone.
Everett was on his knees, with an ice sword in one hand and a shield in the other, looking at the ground as if he had been defeated, and Draco was holding his stomach as if it hurt, crying.
Alex was in the back, holding his face with one hand. He emerged from some kind of broken mirror. Jade wasn't sure, but she thought she saw blood and a long cut on the left side of Alex's face when he took off his hand.
One of the guys from Fifth Octave was there too, on stage, and he was carrying a huge wall clock in his hands. Boomer Boogingham? Yes, that was his name.
Just then, someone grabbed Jade's arm, pulled her around, and shoved her face into their chest. The world went black, and all the sounds of applause faded away. There was no music anymore.
No.
There was only her with her face buried in someone's pecs, almost suffocating.
And then she felt like she was ascending quickly, flying through the air.
Oh Jesus!
The suffocation was real!
"Oh God!" She opened her eyes with a gasp, realising that she was, in fact, suffocating on Zeth's thigh.
She rose up quickly, trying to catch her breath, fixing her hair.
Zeth chuckled softly, looking at her through heavy-lidded eyes.
"Are you alright?" he asked, and his voice was so low that she shivered.
"Yeah, I'm okay," she nodded. "Are we almost there?"
"I was going to wake you up. We're already in the Forest of Catalos," he said. His phone was in his hand, close to his ear. "Jade, I'm on a call. You don't mind, right?"
"Oh! Of course not."
"Sorry... Yeah, it's Jade, she's awake now... Where were we? Right! I also think she wanted us to capture her," Zeth said to the person on the phone, probably Evie. The chauffeur was driving fast along the long dusty road, "Yeah, I got that, thanks. Wait. Has your contact already gotten the figures? Tell Egor's assistant's assistant that I say thanks." Zeth then hung up.
"Why do you think the blonde wanted to be captured?" Jade asked, and Zeth shifted his shoulders, huffing.
"She made sure her face was on camera more than once, her alias was the name of a famous huntress. It sounds suspicious." Zeth reached into his pocket to pull out the phone he had taken from the blonde. "I think she wanted us to find this."
"Is that hers?" Jade cocked her head.
"It was," Zeth replied. "There was no evidence of anything useful regarding the hunters at the restaurant, but there was evidence of someone who paid the blonde to scare you, but her client's phone cannot be traced. I think whoever sent the waiters is someone wealthier than Kasey's client."
"Waiters?" Jade laughed.
"Hunters disguised as waiters," Zeth said.
"That sounds confusing, but I guess everything went well?"
"Obviously."
"How do you always keep everything under control?" Jade asked, "I've always wanted to have control but I can never get it."
"I'm a natural conqueror," he said.
"Really?"
"My name is the same as Zeth 'The Conqueror' in case you don't know, and he was the first king of all Evalon, and he was born under the constellation of the Lyon and the golden Comet Zeth just like me."
"Comet Zeth?" Jade laughed.
"It was a comet that prophesied the birth of a conqueror," he replied, "My name means 'conqueror' in the language of the three goddesses by the way."
"If you say the word conqueror one more time I'm going to get dizzy," Jade laughed and he did as well.
But then his face softened, his sapphire blue eyes locked on hers, and he licked his lips.
"So, I'm in danger, Zeth?"
"Everything's going to be just fine, okay? Don't worry." He said. She nodded.
"I hope so. Hey, but what were you talking about with Evie when I woke up? Did I hear something about some figures?"
"Well, I didn't want to ruin the surprise," Zeth said. "Evie told me about some exclusive collector's dolls she could get for you. And I bought them."
"You know? You take away the fun by saying that your 'bodyguard' got the gift."
"Maybe," Zeth nodded, "But I can't take credit for achieving the impossible if I only paid for it, can I?"
"You could say that you got them and you paid for them."
"It wouldn't be fair to Evie," Zeth said, "And I'm no jerk. I've given credit where credit is due for over six millennia, and I'll continue to do so."
"Oh! You're a hopeless romantic!" Jade said sarcastically, and looked down.
"I'm sorry I'm not as flirtatious as Alex or romantic as Frank," Zeth said, "But I'd rather just make things clear. It makes life simpler and saves time, which I hardly have."
There was knocking on the window.
Zeth lowered the glass.
"Do you need anything, Alfaro?" Zeth asked.
"Yeah. In case you haven't noticed, we're already outside Lyonfort."
"Oh. Just what I was talking about. Time is never enough time." Zeth sighed, turning to look at Jade. "Ladies first."
He opened the door, and she stepped out with a grunt.
They headed toward Lyonfort in silence.
The cold air and pebble-filled ground were no longer so novel or unfamiliar to her at this point.
The Fifth Octave boys were already walking towards the castle on a guided tour by Egor, all of them except Paul.
"Mr. Rahman? I mean, Zeth," Paul came closer, his face showing concern, "I heard Mr. Hunch said they were bringing Mum here?"
"Let me check it," Zeth took out his phone and nodded, "Your mum is in the Spectral Tower, sixth floor, the apartment at the end of the hall. The movers will arrive at your mum's house on Monday at eight o'clock at night. I have a team that will help you pack. They are trustworthy."
"Oh! Thanks, Zeth," Paul said, yawning. "I am exhausted! I really need some sleep. I'll see you guys later. I'll go with my mum and..."
"I don't think so, Paul," Zeth said."Baphelise made a magical room for you in the Solar, you will move in with us."
"Really?"
"Yeah. It's mostly because we're celebrities and we all need to be in a safe space. We also have monster fans that live here," Zeth said, "Baphelise is also working on a lower level for the Solar for your bandmates, I hope it will be ready by tomorrow morning, Fifth Octave will have to sleep in a guest room tonight."
"How do you get so much done in such a short time?" Paul asked, "Building isn't cheap or fast, is it?"
"Baphelise can create pocket dimensions faster than anyone in the world." Zeth said, laughing as he checked his phone, "You're right about that though. It's not cheap at all. You can go visit your mum if you want, I'll give you a map of the castle in the Solar."
"I want some coffee," Frank said, and Finn nodded.
"I want water."
"Zeth!" Evie shouted, walking closer followed by Everett, who was carrying the unconscious blonde on his shoulder. "You and me, my training room, now!"
"Hey Zeth, remember that song you were writing the other night?" Alex asked, and Zeth nodded.
"Right drawer of the kitchen island," Zeth said, turning to look at Draco. "Don't do anything stupid while I'm with Evie."
"I was thinking of playing video games to de-stress," Draco shrugged. "There's not much to do here. Lyonfort is boring."
"You can help me write the song," Alex told Draco, ruffling his scarlet hair. "Just don't write any nonsense like 'Split that banana baby' like last time."
"No video games," Zeth said, "Draco, you still have a song to arrange to re-record."
"I'm going to take a shower," Jade said, "Zeth, can I use your private bathroom?"
"No problem, take my bed too," Zeth turned to face Finn, then back at Jade, "Don't push any limits, Jade."
"Why did you look at me?" Finn asked with his arms crossed.
Jade didn't understand that either. Maybe Zeth thought she would try something with Finn? Oh God! Maybe Finn had fallen in love with her too?
Duh! Obviously! The poly relationship was with the whole band, not just Zeth and Frank!
Jade followed everyone through the castle's huge courtyard and main hall, but this time turning right. Ahead of her, Frank walked, treating her almost with indifference.
Maybe he was just walking normally?
No! You don't ignore the girl you just asked out on a date like that!
But Frank also had a worried face, he kept fiddling with his silver lighter, and Alex noticed this strange behaviour.
"Hey, Frank. Are you okay?" Alex asked. Lyonfort was almost empty, everyone was probably already sleeping. "You look as worried as when we literally made a fool of ourselves after the Global Awards."
"Don't even remind me of that night, you drunken moron." Frank said with a grumble. The guys were celebrating after winning four awards and couldn't wait to show how excited they were in an interview with John Carson on they way out of the event.
However, they had enjoyed the free booze a little too much.
As John greeted the guys, Alex yelled out a 'Woo-hoo!' and then started to sing 'Cielito Lindo' at the top of his lungs.
Zeth warned John that he didn't realise what he was in for.
And Zeth was definitely right, as always.
John told the guys that Mashers had voted for them to win these awards. Alex then threw shade at their lack of victory last year and their voting scandal when the band lost despite having the most votes.
Draco then put his arms around Alex's neck, and the two of them spun around like a helicopter mid-interview while Everett clapped and Finn beatboxed.
John then told the guys he felt like the after-party had already kind of started for them.
Frank and Zeth, who were not in high spirits, tried to diffuse the tension, but Alex replied he just wanted to have fun, get drunk, and enjoy their awards.
Draco then chimed in that he felt like when he was younger and drank wine every day back home in The Titan, Bloodfort and the Great Pyramid before the war. Zeth put a hand over his mouth before Mr. Fangs said anything else.
Alex then asked John what he was drinking tonight and collapsed in giggles while Frank told him to get up desperately.
Zeth said the interview should stop, thanked John, and then said he hoped they got an invite next year while Everett made a Russian Dance; Finn, Alex, and Draco clapped for him.
It was impossible for Frank and Zeth to get the boys out without being intercepted by other reporters and interviewers.
Things went from bad to worse after that.
Alex licked the award he was carrying, saying that it was his property, telling the camera that BJs started because of the tradition of licking things to make sure no one else touches them.
Draco was so drunk that he mistook the microphone for the award and started talking and talking and talking without realising his mistake.
Finn said he was thirsty and drank water from a vase he had stolen from a table during the event.
And Everett fell like a cow to the ground mid-interview, so Frank and Zeth had to carry him into the SUV.
Fans were loving the videos after they were posted everywhere, though.
Some even claimed they couldn't watch a drunk Monster Mash interview in public because it was really hard not to laugh or smile.
But for Zeth and Frank, that was the worst night of their lives.
"Guys, I think I need to tell you something," Finn whispered, by Frank and Alex's side. Paul and Draco were too deep in some random conversation about body oil to notice, and Jade had stayed so far behind that it was impossible for her to hear. In fact, she didn't seem to have any intentions of talking to anyone, she just walked mumbling something with an angry face. "I think Jade is confused. I think she thinks the poly relationship is..."
"Finn, wait a minute," Alex said, "Something's wrong with Frank."
"Are you okay, Frank?" Finn cocked his head, "You look like Alex the morning after the Global Awards."
"I'm fine. I'm just thinking that maybe Draco knows something and he's not telling me. Do you remember what he said in the elevator?" Frank asked, "Do you think Evie is hiding something again? Do you think Zeth knows something and hasn't told me?"
"That's ridiculous, Frank," Alex replied, "It's obvious that Evie is no longer the liar from college. And Zeth? Please! The guy has always had balls. If there is any secret, he would be the first to reveal it."
"Although if Draco knows something, it's also strange that he hasn't said anything," Finn said.
"Maybe it's nonsense, or a misunderstanding like what happened tonight," Frank said, "It turns out that Sue misunderstood and asked Evie for help instead of Jade. Evie set up the room with Sue and sent Jade to the restaurant. Jade misinterpreted something Evie told her and anyway, I invited Jade to dinner. Evie thought I did that because I liked Jade but no, not even close. It was all a misunderstanding in the end."
"Maybe what Draco said in the elevator was a misunderstanding too?" Alex asked.
"Frank, I don't think your date was a misunderstanding," Finn frowned, "I think Jade..."
"It was a misunderstanding, Finn," Alex said, "Don't dwell on it. Everything is fine now. It's like what happened between Draco and I. He thought I hated him because of his feelings and I thought he loved me because of my pheromones."
"Hey, are you and Draco already on good terms?" Frank asked.
"That's how it is," Alex smiled, "Draco and I? We can't live without each other, you know? Besides, what would that little Animaniac do without me?"
"It seems that tonight was a good night for problems and reconciliations," Frank said, with a finger on his chin, "Though I still have my doubts about many things... I'm worried. Evie said that she warned Jade about men, especially Zeth. And I can't help but wonder why that's relevant? It's the only piece that doesn't fit in the puzzle of the misunderstanding."
"Hey Jade! Why don't you come over here for a second?" Alex spoke up, startling Frank and Finn.
"What are you doing?"
"Easy, Finn," Alex winked, "The best way to solve this is to talk, you know?"
"You need anything, Alex?" Jade was speeding towards him. She studied Frank thoughtfully, "What's wrong? You look worried, like in those Global Awards interviews."
"Frank has a question for you." Finn patted Frank's shoulder.
"Oh, okay? But before that... Frank, I would like to talk to you in private," Jade said.
"Hey, the lift is here!" Draco shouted right next to Paul, "You guys coming?"
The ride up was silent.
Frank and Jade were the closest to the door, and both were eager to rush out of the elevator as quickly as possible while the other boys looked at each other rather awkwardly.
The tension in the air was unbearable.
"What do you want to talk about?" Frank asked Jade, breaking the ice, "Can you give me a clue?"
"I... I know that when you like someone, sometimes it's hard to say it," Jade bit her lip, "And I want to give you a hand. I know you may think it's difficult, that maybe you're afraid to leave the past behind and love without feeling guilty, but I will help you with that."
"Oh well, that's nice of you but, I don't understand what you mean."
"I'm talking about feeling that love for that special someone without feeling guilty, Frank." Jade said as if it were obvious.
"Wait, is this about Evie?"
"Evie," Jade was sick of that name already, "No! I'm talking about..."
"Wait, I know what you mean!" Frank gasped, "How could I be so stupid and blind?" Frank whispered, glancing sideways at Finn, discretely of course. "But how do you know that? No one knows!"
"Wait, what are we talking about?" Jade frowned.
"About my fear of admitting what I feel," Frank again glanced discreetly at Finn, "How did you know?"
"Ummm, Zeth told me you are shy," Jade raised an eyebrow.
"Obviously," Frank should have assumed that Zeth already knew about his love for Finn.
"I don't understand anything! Talk! Spill the tea!" Draco shouted and Paul and Alex elbowed him at the same time. "Ouch! What?! What did I say?!"
"Better talk about it outside the elevator, Frank," Finn said, looking him straight in the eyes.
"There is not much privacy in the Solar, but... Do you want to see my workshop?" Frank asked, and Jade moved a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"Is it at the end of another endless staircase?" Jade asked.
Frank chuckled and shook his head.
"Out of the elevator, turn left, down the hall... Wanna come with me?"
When the elevator door opened, Frank and Jade stepped out first.
Draco and Paul came out of it next.
"Do you suspect something?" Alex asked Finn, watching as Draco opened the door to their Solar, telling Paul how excited he was to have a new roommate. Jade and Frank went down a hallway to the left, getting lost in the darkness that was barely illuminated by torches on the walls, "Or do you know something?"
"I honestly can't tell, Alex," Finn replied, "But I think Jade is very confused and no one has noticed but me, and I think this is a misunderstanding."
"Confused how?"
"I think Jade confuses being nice with being in love. Jade thinks she's Evie and thinks Evie is her!" Finn said, finally!
"Wait. How?"
"Jade thinks she's a protagonist in a romance book, and she thinks everything we've done has been because we're Wattpad boys who want to impress her or something." Finn explained, "She doesn't understand that it's Evie who we find attractive."
"Oh! I've already talked to her about it." Alex said dismissively.
"Wait, you already told her that Evie is the girl we love?"
"Yeah, I even told her that men in romance books are not realistic and she didn't seem too happy about it," Alex rubbed his nape nervously, "I think she's pretty clear on why Evie's got us all head over heels."
"Oh, well," Finn shrugged, "If she already knows... I'm glad you already told her. It would have been terrible if she was still confused about how things really work here."
"Hey guys!" Draco shouted, poking his head out of the door of the Solar with a huge grin on his face, "You guys have to see this! Paul's room is a-ma-zing! Just ignore the demonic Michael Jackson that appears from time to time when you turn off the light."