Dressed in their button-down shirts, suit jackets and bowties, the Monster Mash boys were ready to film their next music video.
Laska had taken care of their neon makeover earlier in the Throne Room, and once the guys were ready, they walked down the Infinite Hallway in silence all the way to the Ball Room.
Finn knew Zeth wanted to take the lift and step out of it with his fists up, kick the Solar door open and fight, but one shake of Finn's head prevented him from doing that.
They really hoped Evie had achieved something already, and both were worried for Jade and Paul, but knew Evie would protect them no matter what.
They walked in a straight line, in the darkness, with just some torches nailed to the wall lighting the way.
They were all glowing in the dark, all of them with neon clothes and hairstyles.
"Everett, keep the bow tie on," Zeth said and Everett groaned.
"I don't like to wear this much clothing for a video," Alex grumbled, "I want to show some skin!"
"Have you thought about Onlyfangs?" Draco asked and Zeth gave him a glare, "Oh. I mean, it was just an idea."
"I want Onlyfangs," Everett said, "I have artistic vision that I want to execute."
"I don't know, do you think anyone would pay to see me?" Frank asked, "I mean, Onlyfangs is not for me, but... Maybe?"
"Can we talk about that another time?" Zeth grunted.
"I think this colour suits me, what do you think?" Finn asked.
"Finn, arÄÈi grozav în albastru turcoaz," Draco said with a wink.
"I agree with Draco. Turquoise blue suits you well," Zeth said, "I just hope this project goes well. Sam said he will do his best to finish quickly"
Once inside the Ball Room, Sam Morgan greeted them and explained the entire concept, but none of them seemed the least interested. The Ball Room was dark, illuminated by neon lights, the colours that inspired Monster Mash's fourth album 'Neon Wights' which was very different from the darker tones of their previous album.
Instead of being jovial as always during video shoots, the boys were anxious.
Frank looked very thoughtful, almost disappointed, not even the neon green of his hair made him look bright. He needed a cigarette, that much Zeth knew because Frank wouldn't stop tapping his foot.
Draco couldn't stay still, and the bright red hair he now had made him look like a glowing red light pacing here and there, jumping around and drinking his fifth cup of coffee upside down hanging from chandelier.
Alex was walking around in circles, running his hands through his neon purple hair. He had been grunting and pacing since they got here.
Finn had blushed when Zeth told him in the Throne Room that his neon turquoise hair made him look cuter than ever, and Finn almost lunged to kiss Zeth because the neon blue of his hair made him look ten times more handsome. But now, both boys were giving each other worried glances instead of flirty looks.
Even Everett was lost in infinity, but it wasn't his classic inner peace; it was more of a look of concern. Zeth half-shut his eyes when a couple staff members, both women, began gossiping about how good Everett looked, saying he was the most handsome and that neon white was truly his colour. Zeth had to admit all-white suited him. Everett did look like a cover model.
"Alright, let's start filming," Sam Morgan said, with his black hair covering his face. "Come on, guys! Why the long faces? Looks like you've been told that you only have seven days left!"
"It's nothing," Finn said, glancing at Zeth, who gulped.
Paul's current 'mission' made Zeth feel physically sick. It was dangerous, and if something bad happened to him, Zeth would never forgive himself. Maybe he should go back the Infinite Hallway and take the lift to help Evie in case the blonde had gotten murderous.
No. Zeth had to trust Evie, no matter how much of a control freak he was.
"Well, we'll film the part where you guys sing the intro and the choruses. The rest will be recorded at the location that the film producers will lend us." Sam said, sitting down in his director's chair at the centre of the circular neon Ball Room. "Come on, guys! There's a lot to do, and we can do it!"
"What should we do after this?" Finn whispered in Zeth's ear. "You still haven't given me an answer yet. What will we do with the blonde? Do you think Evie can convince her to be our ally?"
"Evie won't, but Paul will." Zeth nodded, "I chose him not because of his powers, but because he is the best with people."
"And you really think that stubborn blonde will fall for Paul's smile?" Finn gulped.
"Paul must be even more nervous than us, he is face to face with the murderer. I trust him though. We're going to do our job, film, and then we'll see, but in the meantime..." Zeth said, looking up to see Draco hanging upside down from the chandelier, laughing like a child. "Draco, get down from there!"
Before long, the boys were in their places, ready, while Sam watched a monitor and a cameraman slid across the dry ice smoke and gave a thumbs-up.
Zeth took a deep breath. He just had to move his lips to match the lyrics of the song and dance a little, nothing complex. But right now, he was as tense as when the Zeldrichs crossed Guardian Fort to attack Evalon, starting with Moonfall.
Zeth had traded swords for microphones and martial arts for dance moves, but something about this setting, maybe the neon colours, the dry ice, the darkness, the howling, or the flashes of light with each lightning sound effect, reminded him of the Zeldrich War.
His skin prickled. He couldn't help it; his eyes darted everywhere.
"Hey Zeth... Are you okay?" Sam asked from his director's chair, looking at him through the screen. "Didn't I tell you to get into character? You look tense!"
"Yes, I'm fine, sorry," Zeth said with a little effort to sound convincing, "Let's do this."
The door burst open then, startling everyone.
"I'm sorry I'm late!" Paul shouted, "There was a lot of traffic!"
"And why is he here?" Sam asked.
"Good question," Alex muttered. "But I'm glad he's still alive."
"Traffic? The Infinite Hallway was empty the last time I checked," Sam said as Paul stood behind him, "Jesus! You look exhausted."
"Just a little sleepy." Paul clapped his hands and jogged in his place, "Everything is fine and I just have to escort our new friend everywhere as Evie said. I'm sleepy but I still have power."
"New friend?" Everett asked.
"I hope you don't mind us being spectators," Evie said, entering the Ball Room with Jade, BC-13, and... The angry blonde?!
"A su puta madre!" Alex immediately took a step back with a defensive arm up. "Y esta pinche güera qué hace aqu�!"
"We're going to die," Frank grimaced.
"We never really die," Everett said, lost in infinity.
"I don't think so. She looks calmer," Finn turned to look at Zeth. "I think you were right."
"I'm always right," Zeth checked his nails.
"What's that girl doing here?!" Draco asked, hanging upside down from the chandelier again. "Didn't she want to kill us?!"
"I didn't want to kill you. I just wanted Jade to be my hostage," the blonde admitted. "But I pose no threat now, I promise."
"She's direct. I like Angry Blonde," Everett smiled very, very slightly. "She seems less angry now, much more smiling and willing to copulate."
"You mean cooperate," Finn face-palmed.
"Ooohhh. Everett Frostakov, white is definitely your colour! And I like big men," Kasey bit her lip, making Everett bite his own.
"But you're going to behave," Evie said, nudging Kasey, "You're going to be a fine lady today."
"You're not my mother," the blonde said.
"And you're not here to flirt," Evie replied, "You're a watcher."
"How can you just watch with guys like these around?" Kasey joked. "Oh! Wait! I think..."
"Stop it," Evie insisted.
"Make me stop," Kasey half-shut her eyes, "I'm twenty five, I'm an adult already, you don't have to be my nanny. If I like a man, I will get that man."
"You are incorrigible!" Evie was getting exasperated.
"And you are such a prude! Just let me have some fun!" Kasey pushed her, "If I were you, I would have already..."
"Don't you dare say the F word!" Evie pushed her too, "I am mature enough to hold back."
"Oh! So you want to F them?" Kasey laughed. "And you? Holding back? Please! I think I saw you on a roof when that truck hit you."
"You know nothing."
"I know these men are hot."
"You have become promiscuous, I see," Evie crossed her arms.
"Oh! Look at you," Kasey rolled her eyes, "You are such a nun. Your knees must hurt from praying so much," but then she turned to look at Zeth, "Or perhaps your knees hurt for another reason?"
"Kasey!" Evie gasped, covering her sister's mouth, "You are being... Ouch! Why did you bite me?!"
"Oh! I swear promiscuity is not contagious!" Kasey laughed, "And if it were, I would be the one who would get infected."
"Why are you so vulgar?"
"And why are you such a mum?"
The boys watched them argue, and Zeth put two fingers on the bridge of his nose, sighing heavily.
"The rivalry between these two is similar to that of Duchess Kizah Rahman and her sister," said Zeth, "One is very elegant and the other is... I don't know whether to say flirtatious, rebellious or disastrous."
"Who were they?" Finn asked.
"They were the daughters of Duke Kade Rahman of Zeleste Island. Kizah Rahman was the mother of Zeth 'The Conqueror' and Rubina Rahman was the mother of the founder of House Rubinstein."
"I should have guessed from the Rubin," Frank said.
"Okay guys, let 'em girls fight! We have work to do!" Sam Morgan clapped twice. "Will it be too much of a bother to start filming now?"
"Go on, do your thing," Kasey said, sitting on the floor as if life didn't matter. "I promise to behave."
Evie and BC-13 looked at each other, both nodding with their hands near the holsters of their dart guns, just in case. Paul, however, motioned for them to calm down.
Jade was bouncing in place, clapping a little and smiling.
"Lights! Camera! Action!" Sam exclaimed, and the track played in the background... The song was loud, lots of banging and drums and cymbals, like heavy metal mixed with punk music.
It gave Jade more insight into what to expect from the band moving forward, as they shifted away from their pop era into a musical aesthetic that's as bold and outspoken as they were. It sounded rebellious, it sounded defiant, and for the first time, Jade didn't like the music. The screams of men and women that boosted the melody sounded like they came straight out of a horror movie, as well as the clanging of knives and the sound of chainsaws.
It actually scared her a little.
But she was the only one upset with this melody that sounded like pure evil.
Evie danced a little, elegant but she looked happy, while Kasey made horns with one hand and whipped her hair as if this were a rock concert. BC-13 was limited to only tapping a foot, typical of him.
A camera immediately panned to the left where Zeth walked among neon flashes of light, very confident, moving his lips along the lyrics of the song.
"I won't drink! I won't do drugs! I don't care about your plotline!" He pretended to sing... No, to shout, with a face as rebellious as his voice sounded on the audio track, punching the air as if he were challenging fate. This song was almost like 'Exorcist' but louder, heavier and more rebellious. "Slasher films! Are always sick! But I'm gonna stay alive 'cause..."
"I'm no fool, I know the rules to beat a psycho..." Frank flexed his pecs twice before turning and raising a dramatic hand for the camera.
"I won't get killed! I won't people-please! Attending a frat-house party!" Finn gave his all, running his hands through his hair, winking at the camera, "I won't get laid! I can please myself! I don't want some creep to stab me!"
"I'll rewrite your script and no, you cannot stop me..." Frank continued
"It's your film, but it's my fate..." Draco lip-synced, his arms outstretched at his sides, jogging a little in his place.
"Alright, guys! Cut!" Sam said and then motioned to the side. "Now let's film you all together under the chandelier for the choruses. You do your dance routine."
In a few minutes, all the boys were in formation, a perfect circle.
The camera would film the boys from below, rotating around them, to capture the beautiful chandelier and its many neon colours.
"Lights, Camera... Action!"
"Axe! Knife! Chainsaw! That's! What! You wrote!" The song played in the background while Finn and Everett lip-synced and the rest of the guys danced. The camera rotated counterclockwise, slowly, capturing every second in HD. "Dark e-e-eyes... And slasher ma-a-ask... Clichés! And tropes! Death by! Dumb choice! No, I-I-I... Won't die tonight!"
"And cut! That was perfect!" Sam said, clapping his hands, "Now, Everett and Alex will switch places to film the second chorus."
The boys did as they were told.
The music started again.
"Axe! Knife! Chainsaw! That's! What! You wrote!" Finn and Alex were lip-syncing while the others danced sexier than before.
They moved their hips and thrust, all perfectly synchronized, moving their arms and legs as if they were telepathic, addressing the rotating camera often.
Jade wasn't excited, and even she was surprised about her own numb state, but Evie? She was blushing.
"Will you pray once they are done?" Kasey mocked Evie, looking up at her from the floor.
"Shut up. You get used to their stripper choreos," said Evie, who was already fanning herself with a hand.
"Yes, but you know being sexy is part of their charm," Jade was smiling, but her smile faded when she turned to look at Kasey sitting on the floor. She had her blue eyes fixed on Zeth, and her hands on her cheeks like a girl in love.
"Okay! Okay! Cut!" Sam exclaimed, "Now Everett and Zeth switch for the final chorus, and this time the camera will pan slower to capture every high note Finn will lip-sync."
And then the music came back...
"Axe! Knife! Chainsaw!" Zeth and Alex lip-synced while Finn pretended to sing high notes at the top of his lungs.
"Kniiiiiife!" Finn was bending over and showing an effort that wasn't there. "Dark! EEEEEYES! And slasher MAAAASK!"
"Clichés! And tropes!" Zeth and Alex flexed their biceps while Finn pretended to belt high notes.
"DEATH BY! DUMB CHOICE!" Finn faked a long breath and leaned back with a hand up for the final part, "WON'T DIE TONIGHT! AH-AH NAAAAAH-AAAHH-OH!"
"And cut! That was perfect!" Sam exclaimed, clapping his hands, "Now let's film the rest and..."
"Sam, we're in a bit of a hurry," Zeth said, checking his watch, "Can we speed this up a bit?"
"Hey, Zeth!" Paul said, rubbing his chin, "I have an idea. We'll record everyone separately but at the same time."
"How?" Frank asked.
"I have talents," Paul winked.