Frank had spent half an hour in the backseat of the van with Zeth on the road to Hallow Woods, watching tree after tree pass by.
"Well, I'd rather buy a new lighting truss than repair the one Draco broke." Zeth was on the phone, checking his other phone with one hand and a tablet with the other. There were also a lot of papers between him and Frank, all sorted by importance, and Zeth reviewed them very often. "I understand. Really? And have you checked the location yet? Perfect. Okay. And do you already have the permits to film? Fine, thank you. Did you speak to the hotel manager? Great, I'll pick up the documents as soon as we get there. And did the Dean send you the receipts? No problem, I'll pick them up tomorrow when we go to campus. Just make sure that all the students in my program are exceptional and I will pay for their next year of college, no questions asked. Thanks. Oh! Egor, I also want a report on all the new residents of Lyonfort, I want to know which apartment they will move into and if they have any special requirements. Wait, he's back already? He came back earlier? Who picked him up? Okay, we need to keep an eye on that boy. The elevator in the south tower of my hotel broke down? But the technician will come on Saturday morning? Good."
Just listening to Zeth talking was overwhelming.
Zeth always had a lot of work to keep himself distracted, too many things to do and yet he looked radiant, in his element, but Frank already had a headache.
"Hey Zeth, I'm going to put my headphones on," Frank said and his friend just nodded, going through more and more papers. Frank wasn't too interested in listening to Zeth talking to Egor on the phone for another half an hour, so he looked for his most relaxing and serene playlist and hit play.
Taylor Swift soon came through his headphones. He cared little about what people thought of him, her music was relatable and always put him in a good mood when intrusive thoughts made him sad.
It was the best medicine for heartache too.
Frank tried to drown his pain with music, but this time it wasn't working.
Maybe he was overthinking but, why did Evie try so hard to stay away from him? Was it guilt? Or was it something else?
Because it didn't seem like much of a coincidence that it was not her who drove the van he was in, and it also didn't seem like a coincidence that she started up her van as soon as he and Zeth began to approach.
Frank had loved her for so long, even before he was famous, even before he lost his limbs.
She was his first kiss, his first love, his first betrayal and his first broken heart.
He thought he had lost her forever, but then she came back, literally to knock on his door.
Zeth was the one who brought her back into his life, albeit reluctantly, and now she was doing everything to avoid him.
Maybe it was because Frank's fame would put her on the spotlight. Maybe she was afraid of being found by some old enemy because of him. Evie had worked hard to have this new life, to be something more than the trained assassin they turned her into as a child, and he might be putting all of that at risk.
He couldn't understand all the reasons she never gave.
Maybe it was because he was still too young.
Young? Since when does being twenty-eight mean young?
"Frank," Zeth elbowed him, "We're here."
In no time, Miley Smills parked the van outside the Hallow Inn. There was a dim yellow light illuminating the stone steps of this place that, more than a hotel, was a castle as old as time itself.
Frank was the first to get out of the van when Miley, the hacker bodyguard with pink glasses and sweet eyes, opened the door. Immediately, hotel employees dressed in purple suits rushed to the vehicle.
"Wait, Egor, hold up..." Zeth lowered his phone, "Please take all the documents on my seat to the accounting office for Norm Bates to revise. I have already signed everything," he ordered a hotel employee who was taking their luggage from the trunk of the van, "Hey, Frank. Are you going in or are you going to smoke?" He asked as they approached the entrance. But then Zeth's sapphire blue gaze changed. Oh no. Zeth had already noticed Frank's sadness and now he would start asking questions. "Egor, I'll call you in the morning. Go to sleep. Thanks for everything." and then Zeth hung up, "You okay, Frank?"
"Yeah, I just need a smoke," Frank reached into the pocket of his cargo shorts, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and the silver lighter Evie had gifted him when they were still college students.
The lighter had 'F&E' written on it in cursive.
He lit one cigarette and took a deep drag.
"Do you want any?" Frank offered, but Zeth raised his hand no, literally looking up at his friend.
"No thanks," Zeth frowned, "What's wrong? Be direct, you know I don't like it when people beat around the bush."
"Zeth, have you ever had trouble, like, with girls?" Frank asked, taking a drag. "I mean, dates and stuff."
"I'm absolutely perfect, Frank. Do you think that's ever been a problem?"
"No, of course not," Frank laughed, smoking in silence for a few moments before he spoke again, "Is it true that you haven't had many dates?"
"You know it's true. I might be handsome but I don't like to take advantage of my gifts," Zeth said, inspecting his nails, "And I know it is hard to believe but I'm not interested in having a romantic relationship. I just have too much work to do and too little time for it."
"Yeah, I forgot about that tiny problem," Frank shrugged, "Maybe I'm just sad about the end of the world tour."
"Are you?" Zeth raised an eyebrow. There was no point in hiding anything from Zeth, he was simply too old and too smart for that, "Or is it something, or someone, that has you like this? I thought I told you not to beat around the bush."
"Fine! I can't get Evie out of my mind!" Frank admitted, running a hand through his black and white hair. His face betrayed everything he felt, even his bionic eye glowed a dark green instead of the usual bright shade. "Ever since Evie came back to me..." Frank paused, trying to remember how long ago that had actually been, "I've felt like I'm missing something. I just haven't felt whole again."
"And what's stopping you?"
"I guess nothing," Frank sighed, "Nothing's ever stopped me from pursuing my dreams."
"Even I couldn't stop you from falling in love with her in college, even though I told you I didn't like her." Zeth crossed his arms.
"And you were right about her, you are always right about everything, and you always know everything," Frank nodded solemnly, "I mean, you knew I was a monster, a Sparkman, long before I even knew it, I mean, that's why you melted down your collection of Vorpal Steel swords, isn't it? So that my normal prosthetics wouldn't get electrified. I feel bad that you had to..."
"My sword collection is fine with you," Zeth said, patting Frank's bionic arm, "I have never regretted melting them down to give you back your legs and your arm and everything else."
"You're a good friend, Zeth," Frank smiled genuinely, "But right now, I need your opinion. Do you think Evie is avoiding me?"
"Yes."
Wow, Zeth didn't doubt it for a second.
"Y-You sure?"
"When have I ever been wrong? It's not easy to be right all the time," Zeth said, running his hand through his hair, looking away from him out of shame, "Especially when it comes to Evie and you," his face went from cocky to sad, "Frank, I'm sorry I wasn't smart enough to realise it sooner. There was always something about Evie that I didn't like, but I never imagined it would be something so serious. At university I, I don't know, I think I should have been more astute and realised her intentions with you much earlier."
"Zeth, do you think she already has someone else?" Frank asked, half-shutting his eyes.
Zeth stood frozen, his sapphire blue eyes filled with terror.
"W-What did she tell you?" Zeth took a step back. It was so weird to hear him stuttering. He just never did.
"Nothing, that's the problem. She doesn't talk to me," Frank replied and Zeth sighed with a hand on his chest.
As if he had a heart!
Of course, for practical purposes, it was easier to put his hand on his chest than to hold the jar containing his heart, wherever it might be.
"Listen, Frank. I know you still love her, even after all the pain she caused you."
"I don't care about that now," Frank took a long drag on his cigarette, "Tell me something. Do you like Evie, Zeth?"
And there it was again, the look of fear in Zeth's eyes.
Silence stretched between them. Zeth even began to play anxiously with one of the bandages hanging from his arms.
Frank took another drag and still no reply.
Zeth wouldn't even look him in the eye, and finally talked after a few moments of apparent internal debate.
"W-What do you mean?" Zeth stuttered again, still not giving a direct answer.
"Just answer the question," Frank grunted rather weakly and Zeth swallowed hard. "Do you like her?"
"I mean... She has earned her place in the Monster Mash family. If my life was on the line, I would trust her blindly now." Zeth replied. "She has saved my ass, and the asses of all of you guys, on multiple occasions. So yes, I like her now, as a friend."
"I'd do anything to protect her and make sure she's safe."
"Frank, she's a trained assassin playing bodyguard," Zeth said as if he was too proud or too scared of that fact, "She doesn't need your protection."
"I know," Frank dropped his shoulders.
"Let's go inside, old friend," Zeth patted Frank's shoulder, "We need to relax a bit, don't you think?"
"Yeah," Frank stubbed out his cigarette in one of the tube-shaped ashtrays outside the hotel, "I'm following you."
"Mozart! Mozart, where are you?" There was a voice, an echo in the silence of the night. Frank stopped, looking around. He could only see the Fountain Roundabout of Clyde and Jeyk Hill The Founders across the street, which loudly gushed out clear water.
"You okay?" Zeth asked.
"Did you hear that?" Frank asked, but Zeth shook his head, "I don't know, I think my bionic hearing registered something."
"What?"
"A girl... Forget it," Frank replied, entering the hotel.
The lobby of the Hallow Inn was elegant, gold and sand-coloured, Zeth's favourite style. There was a huge chandelier hanging above their heads, and the walls were covered with paintings. One of them Frank recognised immediately. It was one of his own pieces, painted while he was in hospital recovering after the incident. Frank knew it was his best painting, and Zeth had hung it right above the reception desk for all to see with a gold plaque underneath that read: A Stormy Dream by Frank Rubinstein.
There were two men behind the desk in fancy suits and ties.
They greeted Zeth as 'Mr Rahman' and informed him that the rest of the band was already in the suite, gave him some logistical details, some papers, and then both Zeth and Frank headed to the elevator, a beautiful glass cube with gold finishes.
And up they went in silence.
Stepping out of the elevator they walked straight to the white door of the suite.
"Help me with the keycard," Zeth said and Frank took it from the pile of papers. "Are you sure you're okay?" Zeth asked as Frank inserted the keycard into the lock.
"Yeah, nothing serious," Frank sighed, opening the door.
The suite was spacious, marble walls and floor, kitchen to the right, living room at the back, and two hallways that led to the bedrooms and the shower.
Zeth had an exquisite taste in interior decoration.
"It can't be," Zeth pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers once he put the stack of papers on the table next to the door. "Draco, stop jumping on the couches! Alex, put on a shirt! Finn, if you're out of water bottles, I asked for more to be put in the minibar and don't forget to put them in the recycling bin because tomorrow the people from your charity are coming, and Everett! Please, if you're going to eat frozen burritos, at least heat them up in the microwave first!"
Yes, all the boys were chaotic without Zeth.
"I'm going to check on a few things," Frank said, walking to the living room, "In case anyone needs me."
Frank approached the suitcases that the hotel employees brought up here and took out his tablet to check the status of his charity page. He had donated millions of his income for brain injuries, people in need of transplants, and those in need of one or more prosthetics. He also founded a charity called 'Sparked to Life' which amassed two hundred thousand dollars since its launch last month. Frank was incredibly moved and uploaded a video thanking everyone.
And it seemed like he would upload another video since he was already close to reaching three hundred thousand dollars.
"Okay, now we have to check ticket sales for this Saturday's charity event," Frank said. He was speechless. All tickets had sold out, "Wow! Now that's good news! I can't believe that... Oh! What is this?" A notification about a vocal critic and coach popped up.
He had subscribed to that woman's blog, eager to know what she thought of them as a band, and finally, after so many years, she had written about them.
"No way!" Frank gasped, looking at his tablet closely. "Shit. Guys! Guys!"
Zeth and Alex, both sitting on the white L-shaped couch next to him, looked up.
"Are you okay, Frank?" Finn asked, leaning against the kitchen counter, drinking water from a bottle.
"A woman wrote an article about us!" Frank said, and the other three shrugged. "But not just any woman... Cadence Christensen!"
"The demanding vocal coach and wife of Faltom Operman of Phantom Records? Shut-up!" Alex gasped, standing up. "Fuck! I don't like this!"
"I don't care what Cadence has to say," Zeth said, immersed in the reports the hotel employees had given him, "Call it a... College grudge."
"I'll go get Draco!" Frank handed the tablet to Alex, who took a quick look as his friend ran to the vampire's bedroom. "Draco! Draco, where are you? A woman... What are you doing? Get down from there! You are going to get hurt! The ceiling fan is not for that!"
"Don't be surprised, Frank!" Zeth shouted from the couch. "Bats like hanging upside down!"
"Hey Alex, what does the article say?" Finn asked.
"I'm a slow reader, shut up!" Alex replied, and had to start reading all over again. He was never good at reading comprehension.
Monster Mash: Talented and Innovative or Well-Targeted Marketing?
By Cadence Christensen
Monster Mash. Who hasn't heard of them?
In the tradition of earlier boy bands, Monster Mash was promoted as a set of young idols who were musically compatible but also distinct in style and personality.
The first time I heard a song from this boyband, I thought two opera singers had decided to collaborate with two rock stars to sing a song with two teen pop singers.
It was the most confusing thing I had ever heard.
Unlike traditional boybands, these boys rarely sing in unison. This is where the group deviates from the norm, cementing their signature sound. They usually sing their choruses in duets, trios or at most quartets and mix their voices from time to time in a strategic way throughout their songs, something new in commercial teenage music.
Why? Maybe because their voices are so varied.
Only they know.
As a group that relies heavily on their voices to convey the drama and emotion of a song, they were ranked as the best vocal boyband of this year and have stolen the hearts of thousands of 'Mashers' all over the world overnight and through effort.
But how did it all begin?
They started as a duet (Zeth Rahman/Draco Von Stroker) in 2017, singing covers of popular songs to raise money for a friend who was in critical condition after an accident.
Their goodwill soon made it to the news across the country, hence their sudden rise to fame, and in 2019, they finally added more members to become a boyband and entered the recording studio to create their own music.
The resulting album (Stitched Together) was released in October 2020.
Filled with loud, fun, rebellious and energetic music about carefree revelry, first-time heartbreak and other adolescent concerns, it was an immediate hit both at home and in other countries and received generally positive reviews from music critics. Their popularity was fuelled in part by the song 'Monster in Love' that didn't stop playing wherever you went, but the song that marked a before and after in their careers was 'Hunter In Disguise' which was a major hit, became the group's most popular song and established them as superstars.
In 2021, the group began a national tour in theatres and auditoriums and released their second album (Bite Me, Darling) which used Pop-Rock as a colour the way their first album used Power Pop music. This album tossed aside the wilted tissues of their adolescent pop trifles in favour of protein-blasted rock anthems.
By 2022, the boys finally started a world tour in stadiums and arenas. This year also saw the release of the band's third album (Disembodied Voices), a rebirth that shredded their pop facade with a dark punk-rock attitude that proved Monster Mash as a multi-faceted force to be reckoned with.
Recently, they have released five songs (Howl At The Moon, Frozen Heart, Nine Lives, I've Seen The Darkness, Dragon Slayer) and three music videos (Howl At The Moon, Frozen Heart, I've Seen The Darkness) from their fourth album called 'Neon Wights' which so far is a messy, colourful modern pop risk that is greater than the sum of its parts. In my opinion, the boys still lack identity and fail to understand that their place is in punk and rock music. Going back to their pop roots seems like a risky decision, although this time they did it with a fresher, more confident and more seductive (And shoutier) sound.
Although I must admit that I'm a little impressed with this new style.
The catchy, shouty industrial-pop song 'I've Seen The Darkness' can be easily considered the second hardest hit-belt-song of the group right after the power ballad 'Rise Like A Kraken' although of course, none of Monster Mash's songs are easy to sing, so I'm sure that more than one mother like me has had to endure screams from their daughters when singing these songs.
The group has also recorded Pop-Punk songs for the soundtracks to the horror films Terrifrighter 2 (I'm Just a Clown) and Evil Dread Rise (Evil Rise). In addition, Draco Von Stroker confirmed by accident that they have a single ready (Slasher Mask) for the slasher film 'Thanks-Killing Day' which will be on cinemas on November 17 of this year, and rumour has it that they will release a single for the Fright Nights At Teddy's movie that will come out this month.
Now that we know where they came from, let me introduce the members of this boyband first.
The Leader: Zeth Rahman, whose vocal range is 3 octaves and 7 semitones (F2-C6)
The Cute One: Draco Von Stroker, whose vocal range is 2 octaves and 3 semitones (B2-D5)
The Older Brother: Frank Rubinstein, whose vocal range is 2 octaves and 8 semitones (A2-F5)
The Shy One: Finn Seamons, whose vocal range is 4 octaves and 11 semitones (F2-E7)
The Heartthrob: Alycandro Alfaro, whose vocal range is 2 octaves and 5 semitones (A2-D5)
The Bad Boy: Everett Frostakov, whose vocal range is 3 octaves (E2-E5)
But are they really talented?
Or are they just another product of successful marketing?