"This dress is very similar to the one I wore earlier," Kasey said, entering Evie's bedroom in a long-sleeved black dress with an open leg. "I thought they would give me a uniform like yours, Evie!"
"There was no uniform for you, that's one of my dresses. You'll go incognito," said Evie, dressed in a black battlesuit with padding on its knees and elbows to provide protection and additional striking capabilities. The uniform had tall stiletto boots, a thigh holster on her left leg for her grapple gun and a holster on the right one for her Taser Gun.
"Plus, the fabric of the dress is bulletproof," said BC-13 dressed in his own skin-tight battlesuit, "I must admit, the dress looks better with stilettos than boots, Evie. Your sister has good taste."
"I had to wear these because with any other type of shoe, the dress dragged on the floor." Kasey said, sticking her left leg through the opening of the dress. "But other than that, it's a comfortable piece. Everything here has been pretty cool to be honest. And this apartment? I didn't tell you the first time but it's very cozy, Evie."
"For me there's too much stuff around here," BC-13 said, "I'm more of a minimalist."
"This was actually a room, boy," Evie laughed.
"There is nothing wrong with my almost empty bedroom," BC-13 said, "Just a bed, black bedspread and four white walls. Never leave behind the tradition of less is more during a desperate escape."
"But you have a nice kitchen, don't you?" Kasey asked, "The kitchen is the heart of the home!"
"I have a stove and a microwave on a cupboard, and my dining room and living room are practically non-existent. A couch, a television, a table and a chair."
"BC-13, that is not a home," Kasey shook her head, "No, no."
"Kasey, you look amazing but you should wear boots," Evie said, very serious while zipping up her battlesuit, "My boots are bulletproof, they might be a little big on you but..."
"These are just fine," Kasey nodded, modelling the black shoe, "These stilettos are the only thing besides my grapple gun that I have left from the Hunter Academy."
"Fine! Just remember that dress is bulletproof, but the open leg is a problem," Evie said, knowing well she couldn't convince the blonde to change her mind. But that's how Kasey was though, always putting fashion first, believing herself to be an unstoppable force of nature. "Small vulnerability to offer mobility, I learned that the hard way."
"I am too talented to lose a leg," Kasey joked and Evie grunted, "Hey! Paul, I need you to help me with the sleeves and some minor details."
"Got it. But hey! You look beautiful, Kasey," Paul said, sitting on the royal blue quilted bed, "Those pumps make your legs look longer."
"Were you looking at my legs?" Kasey raised a seductive eyebrow, making Paul blush.
"And you, Evie," Paul continued, turning to her, who was standing in front of her closet, checking her uniform for the first time in the full-body mirror, "You look really nice too. Coral-pink lipstick suits you."
"Thanks," said Evie, "I'm surprised you know the shade."
"Oh! It's just that I used to help mum put on her makeup to go to the hospital," Paul laughed, "Mum's always been like that. Vain. She used to wear heels higher than my IQ!"
"I plan to go visit her in the Spectral Tower tomorrow morning," Evie said, "Maybe I'll even ask for the secret recipe for her transparent cookies."
"She hasn't even told me the recipe!" Paul laughed, turning to see Kasey, "I'm sure your friend here will love Mum's American breakfast. I'm dying for Kasey to meet her!"
"Introduce your mother to a girl? Someone's in love," BC-13 whispered.
"Don't get involved in my love life," Kasey said, turning to look Paul straight in the eyes, "But yeah, I'm curious... Do you like me, Paul?"
There was an awkward silence.
"I think you're very pretty," Paul smiled slightly.
"Paul!"
"It's okay BC-13, I think he means it in a friendly way," Evie replied, winking at Paul. She looked into the mirror again, looking at herself over her shoulder.
"But I'm not exactly sure what this 'friendly' thing entails." BC-13 rebutted.
"If you were a monk you would be less square and prudish." Kasey shrugged, grabbing some yellow diamond earrings from the dressing table.
"Sure, take my earrings," Evie grumbled, crossing her arms.
"They're cheap and you have better taste than this anyway." Kasey chuckled.
"Hey!" Evie frowned, "Draco bought them for me and they cost him more than everything I have in this apartment combined!"
"Oooohhh! Draco!" Kasey wiggled her eyebrows and walked towards the bed, sitting next to Paul, putting on the earrings, "I think someone is in love and doesn't want to admit it. It's not just Frank anymore, is it, fake-sis?"
"My Life, My heart."
"Talk. Why haven't you told Frank you love him?" Kasey asked. She was so insidious!
"Because I don't know if it's real, or if I'm just being silly and imagining all these things happening between us. Anyway. I hope Jade likes the uniform, she's never worn a battlesuit in her life. If I wore flat shoes, I would love to wear the combat boots that Zeth chose for her," Evie said, frowning while checking her buttocks over her shoulder again, "I think Zeth exaggerated a little with my butt. It looks too big."
"You have sexy butt and boobs, but don't change the subject!" Kasey raised her voice, "You like Frank! You love him! Remember how you used to tell me that he was the perfect man? And now you're not even going to try and see where this could go!"
"I don't know, Kasey." Evie was getting sick of herself already, "I do like him, don't get me wrong, he's amazing and kind and handsome."
"Yeah, and he loves you," said BC-13, matter-of-factly.
"That's true," Paul put a hand on Kasey's shoulder and squeezed gently. She seemed surprised, but didn't say anything, "I mean, I don't want to be nosy, but the guy set up a whole date for you and you stood him up. I think he's the one who doesn't know where he stands anymore."
"What date?" Evie raised an eyebrow, "You mean the hotel room he asked for?"
"Oooohhh!" Kasey giggled.
"Frank and I used to watch romance movies together, Kasey. It's not what you think," Evie rolled her eyes, "Paul, I didn't stand Frank up, I was just busy."
"Wait. What room are you talking about?" Paul was so confused.
"You weren't talking about the room?" Evie raised an eyebrow.
"No. I was talking about that romantic dinner you decided not to go to."
"Oh. It wasn't a romantic dinner. Frank just invited Jade to eat after a long day."
"No. It was a date for you. Draco said he heard Jade say you were staying upstairs. Frank invited Jade to dinner afterwards but he looked really sad," Paul said and Evie froze, "Wait, you knew that the romantic dinner was for you, right?"
"No! I thought... I mean, I thought the room was for me and that Frank had called Jade just for dinner. I guess we didn't fully clear up the misunderstanding when he and I talked outside the hotel!"
"Oh! My! God! Evie! Frank loves you!" Kasey was so happy she could die.
But Evie felt very stupid for not having understood everything before.
Now she knew it was true, that Frank loved her and that without him, she felt like she was missing another part of her, but not just a part of her body, not this time. He was part of her soul, of her as a whole, of her past and the reason for her present. He had given her a second chance, he had given her a family, he had given her happiness. There was no way she could live without him.
She sighed.
"And do you think it's not too late to tell Frank the conversation about the misunderstanding was a misunderstanding?"
"Frank loves you, just be direct and that's it! Why complicate things?" Kasey asked and Evie didn't exactly know how to respond. Although for a second, she thought Kasey and Everett might be the couple of the year if they ever dated. "Are you going to talk or not?"
"But the night I was going to confess my love for them, BC-13 said something very true: Can you imagine if our thing doesn't work out and I lose everything forever?" Evie raised an eyebrow, "I could lose my job, my stability, my family."
"Everything I said was bullshit because I was jealous, okay?" BC-13 grunted and everyone gasped.
"Did Mr. Right just say a bad word?" Kasey raised her eyebrows.
"Evie, I have never been discreet about my love for you," BC-13 said, and no one seemed surprised, "But my happiness comes from knowing that you are happy. If the guys make you happy... If Frank makes you happy, just tell him you love him and that's it. Isn't that what you wanted? You've already washed away the blood on your hands, now it's time to do the same with your heart."
"Evie, they all love you," Kasey said, "I mean, they wrote 'Dragon Slayer' with you in mind. It's obvious because, for them, you are their protection, their attack and their ally in difficult times."
"I saw an interview where they talked about that song," Paul said, "They said they dedicated the lyrics to a girl. That girl is you, Evie. Frank wrote you are his 'Storm-Breaking Sword' because you are the one who has helped him survive all the dangers of the world."
"I just watched that interview to find the boys' weaknesses," Kasey said, "Alex wrote that you are his 'Silver Sword' because you are his weakness indeed, and Draco wrote that you are his 'Sacred Wood Sword' for the exact same reason"
"And Everett called you his 'Frozen Sword' because he knows you feel as numb as him." said BC-13. "And you are Finn's 'Seaborne Sword' because he thinks you are just like him."
"And Zeth wrote 'Golden Sword' because..." Evie gasped.
"Because you are a valuable treasure to him," Kasey said, nodding, telling her with a look that she knew her secret and knew that Evie doubted if she and Zeth were more than secret lovers. "To the Ken Doll, you are gold, Evie. And gold is a part of him, of his heart."
"And the song closes by saying that you are 'the perfect sword' because to them, Evie," Paul said. "You are already perfect."
"So the guys are actually interested in me and Jade is just a friend? God! I'm so stupid!" Evie covered her face with her hands.
"Well if you don't do something soon, Frank will get over you like I'm over Zeth." Kasey rolled her eyes and grumbled something no one understood.
"What did you say?" BC-13 asked very annoyed, "Did you say something about Zeth?"
"Someone has a crush," Kasey laughed.
"It's not a crush," BC-13 averted her curious gaze with a pout, crossing his arms, "I'm just... Impressed with the way he fights. That's all."
"Because fighting is sexy, isn't it?" Kasey chuckled.
"Alex things it is," Paul chuckled, "He has crushes on many videogame girls. He's very geeky even if he tries to deny it."
"God, Evie! You have six of the most coveted men of the moment at your feet and you continue playing cat and mouse," Kasey rolled her eyes.
"All of them, I'm sure, are in love with you," BC-13 said.
"No, Everett is now interested in Jade and that's a fact," Evie said, "He asked Jade out on a 'Just Date' on the set of the animatronics movie and..."
"Evie, I think there's more than one misunderstanding here," Paul said, "I was really sleepy but I kind of remember Everett was saying 'Test Date' until Jade told him to just say 'Date' and he kept on saying he wanted to have the perfect date."
"Was that a Test Date?" Kasey's eyes widened, "Evie! Everett doesn't want to be with Jade! He must have asked her for help to get a real date with you!"
"Evie, with all due respect," Paul said and she looked at him in the eye, "I think you should go to Frank first and tell him what you feel, but without masks. Once you figure that out, go to others and tell them you love them."
"Do you think I wear a mask?" Evie raised an eyebrow and Paul nodded. Oh! He was good at reading people, huh?
"I think your mask is what doesn't allow you to love them." Paul said it as a statement, not a question, "But who are you behind it? Who is Evie?"
Maybe Paul was right. Maybe that was the root of the problem. He was a wise boy, maybe as wise as Zeth, Kasey was the living proof of that, he made her change, he turned the enemy into a friend.
Paul could see the root of problems and solve them, and that's what Evie always wanted: The reason why she couldn't love the guys.
Now she had the answer, and all she had to do was to get rid of her mask and walk towards them, with her feelings and her truth and her love out in the open.
And that's when it finally hit her, and she knew for sure that she was meant to be with them.
And Frank would once again be the start of a chain reaction.
It was time to show him who she really was.
"You know? I now see why Zeth chose you as the leader of Fifth Octave, Paul," Evie said and sat down on the bed next to him, looking straight at him, "He chose you because you understand the world better than most guys."
"Are you finally going to tell Frank what you feel?" Kasey was very surprised when Evie nodded, "Wow! You have talent with stubborn women, Paul Ter Gheist."
"I love Frank and it hasn't been easy to keep myself away from him," Evie admitted, stood up and then walked towards her small cosmetics box, opening it slowly, taking out a case for coloured lenses. "It's time to take off all my masks, starting with my physique. It's time for him to meet the real monster, and not the hunter."
"Don't call yourself a monster," Paul frowned but Kasey patted him on the shoulder and nodded, smiling, "Wait... Evie... Are you a monster?"
"I'm like all Hunters, a monster turned monster slayer." Evie nodded, opening the contact lens case.
"We all are, I am a Felina." said Kasey, checking her nails, "Why do you think it's easy for me to seduce men? Pheromones are something special, baby!"
"And I'm a descendant of a Lesser House of Lightning Strike, that's why they kidnapped me as a child." Evie said, slowly removing her contact lenses.
Paul pointed his finger at BC-13 questioningly.
"I'm not a human either," BC-13 replied, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall.
"The boy is very square because his powers always play against him, especially in love." Kasey laughed, turning to look at Evie, "What are you doing?"
"I think Paul's right," Evie closed the contact lens case and looked down, her black hair covering her face, "I think the only thing stopping me from being with Frank is my mask." then she turned around. Paul gasped. "I think it's time for Frank to meet the real me."
"Evie! Your eyes!" Paul covered his mouth, "They are beautiful!"
"Thanks," she smiled sincerely, "I have had heterochromatic eyes since forever, and it's the first time I've shown them to anyone."
"Wow! That's amazing! You look more like Frank than I thought!" Paul was mesmerized. Her right eye was blue and the left one was green. Who would have known?!
"And my hair? It's actually blue," Evie said, taking a strand in her fingers, "I've dyed it black since I was a little girl, a Hunter shouldn't gather the attention, you know?"
"Oh! You're full of surprises, Evie!" Paul laughed.
"I never thought I'd wear these clothes again," Evie said, walking over to the closet, opening it slowly and searching for something while humming 'Hunter In Disguise' with a smile. "Where is it? Where? Where... Here!" She grabbed a hook and soon placed the clothes on the bed next to Paul: A black and white jacket, and an electric blue collared blouse.
"Are you going to change your clothes?" Paul asked as Evie looked for something in her closet.
"I want to be the Evie I was when I met Frank," she replied, pulling something else out of the closet, "Only with him could I be myself, and I want to go back to that moment." She put on the bed a black and blue chess skirt. "I swore to never wear these clothes again. They were the clothes I wore the day I kissed Frank for the first time," Evie bent down and pulled out an old shoe box from under the bed. When she opened it, she took out mid-thigh, electric blue stiletto boots, and smiled nostalgically. "It's time to give these clothes a new memory. Damn, I really need a new cell phone too, I need to call Frank."
"Do you want me to tell Frank to come over? I mean, my phone is brand new and fancy and I want to make the most of it!" Paul took his phone out, but she shook her head with a smile.
"Tell him to meet me at the Broken Tower in ten minutes." Evie took the clothes and walked to the door, "If Jade gets here, give her her uniform and tell her everything."
"Jade already knows it was all a misunderstanding," Paul said, "Alex told me that he already told her everything, including why everyone loves you."
"Then all that's left is to go to Frank and talk," Evie whispered, "Fine. Wish me luck."