Accidental Demon Slayers: Melody of Light pt. 13

Max had gotten everyone checked in, and had made himself comfortable in one of the large, fluffy chairs that dotted the hotel lobby.  The lobby was huge, with vaulted ceilings, and wide, open-air arches that let the warm ocean breeze drift through the throngs of excited tourists.  The whole room was decked out in white marble, and the furniture was a soft, papaya pink. 

The place looked like a dream.

Rita plopped down in the chair across from him, leaning back.  He could see small beads of sweat trickling down her neck.  She fanned herself, and let out a laugh.  “After the winter we had, I don’t think I’m really ready for tropical heat.” 

“You’ll adjust.”  He leaned back, taking a deep breath.  The air was salty, with the faint scent of sweet tanning oil and fruity drinks. 

“The van to the Witch House is set to leave in a few minutes.  You sure you want to do the scout and intro first thing?”  Rita pulled her backpack onto her lap, and pulled out her laptop. 

“I just want to get anything related to work done as soon as possible.”  He leaned forward.  “Who’d you manage to get for crew?” 

“That would be me!”  Ashtyn sat on the arm of Rita’s chair.  She smiled, giving him a single wave. 

“She seemed interested, and I couldn’t find any locals, so…” Rita shrugged. 

He wasn’t sure if bringing Ashtyn along was such a great idea.  Sure, she knew how to deal with the supernatural stuff, but could she handle equipment? 

As if reading his mind, Ashtyn stood up and patted him on the shoulder.  “I worked tech crew on my college news channel.  I’m not a pro, but I know my way around a C-stand and lights.” 

“And I get to be your camera guy for this one.”  Rita didn’t look up from her laptop.  “With Rico out, hiring a new camera guy was up to Liz, and… well, she didn’t think we needed the extra expense.” 

At least Rita knew how to use the audio and visual equipment.  Still, he was getting the feeling that this particular episode was going to require a good amount of post production to clean it up. 

“It is what it is.  We’re just lucky Liz didn’t follow us down here.”  Max rubbed his temples.  His producer had been a headache before the trip, and the last thing he needed was her trying to ruin whatever free time he could muster. 

“About that…” Rita closed her laptop, her face scrunched in an “I’m sorry” pout. 

“She didn’t.”  Max just shook his head. 

“She did.”  Rita sighed.  “She’ll meet us at the house during the scout.  Don’t worry though, the network refused to put her up in our hotel, and God knows she wouldn’t pay for her own hotel room, so she’ll at least be sleeping on the other side of the island.  Plus, when the episode is done, it’s bye bye bitchy.” 

“Don’t get your hopes up.”  Liz’s voice made everyone freeze.  Even Ashtyn looked spooked, and she had never met the woman before. 

The three of them turned to see Liz standing the lobby, arms crossed, hair pulled back tight and a scowl across her face. 

“Liz, I’d say it was nice to see you, but I’m to tired to lie.”  Max stood.

“You may think that this is going to be some romantic getaway on the company dime, but…” Liz wasted no time getting in Max’s face. 

 “It’s on my dime, Liz.” He smiled. “I’m supplying the majority of the funding for this episode, not the network.  So, while I understand that you are here to represent the network’s interest in the series, you will not dictate my schedule, or the schedule of my crew.” 

Max looked her square in the eyes.  When they had started working together, Liz was like a different person.  She actually smiled, and laughed.  She was always business minded, but back then she had known how to have fun.  Once the show took off, though, she changed.  Suddenly it wasn’t about the show, but about who had more control. 

He knew that his staff hated Liz, and most of the time he did too, but they didn’t know the Liz he had started out with.  Happy memories could only account for so much, though, and as much as Max hated to admit it, if Liz decided she would make this trip difficult, he would replace her. 

Rita’s cellphone started chirping the bars of some lyric less pop song, and the sound seemed to cut through the growing tension that had invaded the lobby. 

“Perfect!”  Rita hopped up.  “The van is early.  How about Ashtyn and I go load up the gear, and you two... keep shooting death rays at each other.  Kay?  Perfect.” 

Rita grabbed Ashtyn’s hand, and pulled her away, leaving Max alone with his old friend, and current enemy. 

“What do you mean you’re supplying the funding for this episode?”  Liz’s voice was a low hiss. 

“I mean, I’m taking the reigns back for this one.”  Max never broke his gaze.  “Networks don’t like the idea of change when there is money at risk, so I removed the risk.  This isn’t just a format change, Liz.” 

Liz stepped back, looking shocked.  “What are you talking about?  There is no way the network would replace your show.” 

“The ratings haven’t been all that great, and they want something fresh.”  He did his best to hide the smile threatening to crack across his face.  “We’re giving them a new series.  After the first cut of the Fantasy Land episode, and a little ass kissing from me, they ordered a full twelve episode series.” 

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Max couldn’t believe it.  Liz actually looked hurt.  She wasn’t angry, mad or furious.  She was hurt. 

“I…” He knew he had to say it, but suddenly it didn’t feel like so much of a victory to him.  “I’m not sure if I want you on the new series.  So, this is your test.  I don’t want this Liz, this angry, bitchy, nasty woman who belittles her crew.  I want the old Liz.  I want the person who would stay up with me until sunrise figuring out new episode concepts, and who had a blast when she would jump in and work one of the lock ins with me.” 

“This is a business, Max, not summer camp.” Liz’s anger was returning. 

“Yeah, but my crew is people, Liz, not machines to be bossed around.”  Max turned, and started towards the front doors of the hotel. “Grow a heart, or find a new show to terrorize.” 

He waited for Liz’s response, but there was none.  He glanced over his shoulder, and Liz stood there, her face red, her hands balled into fists and a small trickle of tears streaming down her cheeks. 

He felt like a grade A asshole for what he had just done, but he knew he had to do it.  Still, he felt his heart tug slightly at the sight of someone he had once considered a close friend crying because of something he had said. 

He turned his head.  If he was going to be in charge of the new show, then he had to make the tough decisions, and sometimes he would have to be the bad guy.  You didn’t make it in this business by playing nice.  You made it by playing smart.

He just wished smart didn’t hurt so much.  

Accidental Demon Slayers: Melody of Light pt. 12

Rita had decided to drive.  Ashtyn still looked a little weak in the knees from her run in with the male model with the single letter name, and Rita hadn’t wanted to risk Ashtyn having a romantic swoon while behind the wheel. 

“So, I have to ask, why the heck would you stay on with this show?  I mean, after everything that had happened in Fantasy Land, I would think you would run screaming from anything even remotely paranormal.”  Ashtyn pulled a pair of oversized tortoise shell sunglasses out of her purse and put them on. 

“I guess I just want to know more.” That was Rita’s simple answer. 

“I can understand that.”  Ashtyn looked at her, or at least Rita thought she had.  It was hard to tell behind the dark lenses.  “I 90% of my day nose deep in this stuff, and part of me just can’t seem to get enough of it.” 

“You mean your goddess thingy?”  Rita had been filled in on the whole ‘inhabited by deities’ thing after she had escaped from the Nameless’ temple.  It interested her, but she wasn’t exactly sure how to broach the subject. 

“This was even before Tabitha.”  Ashtyn tapped her temple when she mentioned the name of her mental resident.  “I’ve always been interested in the supernatural, the paranormal.  Most people just call it superstition, but obviously, it isn’t all bullshit.” 

Rita couldn’t help but laugh.  She had been one of those people.  For a long time she had written off the supernatural. Working on Max’s show didn’t help her believe.  It probably made her even more of an unbeliever.  How many haunting had they faked?  She honestly couldn’t say.  It was all just a game to her.   Little did she know that a heavy dose of it ran through her own bloodstream.

Ashtyn was watching her.  “Do you feel it now?  I mean, do you feel it more than before?” 

“Feel what?” 

“That kind of pulse that moves through the air.  It’s usually pretty small, almost undetectable, but sometimes, in some places, it’s hard to ignore.” 

“Sometimes.”  All the time, Rita thought.  Ever since leaving that temple she had felt that presence.  It seemed to hang in the air, like a dense, invisible stream. 

She could feel it right at that very moment.  It was stronger here, stronger than she had expected, actually.  She couldn’t help but wonder if Ashtyn was feeling it the same way she was. 

There was something on this island.  She didn’t know what.  Maybe there really was the ghost of an old witch haunting the place.  The pulse didn’t have a form or a voice.  It couldn’t tell her what, or who it was.  It could just let her know that yes, it existed. 

“There’s magic here.”  Ashtyn sat back, glancing out the window.  “I don’t know what kind, but I can feel it, and from the look on your face, you can feel it, too.” 

“Is it bad?  Is it like what we faced at Fantasy Land?”  Rita felt her hands tighten on the wheel. 

“You would probably get a better idea of it then I would.”  Ashtyn placed her finger to her temple.  “It isn’t deity based, so it’s not connected to the Nameless.  If it were, Tabitha would probably be able to give me some information.  This is something else. “ 

Rita let out a sigh of relief.  She wanted to learn more, but she also was terrified to face any follower, or deity of the Nameless again.  She had made it out of the last battle in one piece, but she wasn’t so sure about how she would handle a rematch. 

Ashtyn gave her shoulder a light punch.  “Lighten up.  How evil could something be if it chose to live in a place as pretty as this?” 

“I guess you’re right.”  Rita let out a weak laugh. 

Rita was just glad that she was single.  If there was something there, and it was the old love curse, she was grateful that she was exempt from that one. 

She did wonder if they pertained to one-night stands, though. 

Rita glanced over at Ashtyn.  She gave her a once over, as she had done who knows how many times before.  She didn’t know if Ashtyn swung her way, but if she did, then maybe…

But would it really just be a one-night stand if something did happen?  Rita wasn’t sure. 

“Relax.”  Ashtyn’s voice cut through her thoughts.  “No need to get all tense.  We’re on vacation.” 

Right.  Vacation. 

Anything could happen on a vacation, right?  Rita could only hope. 

Pom Pom Angel: Love Rescue pt. 6

Gus and Nando stood over Missy’s passed out body.  They looked at each other, then back down to her, and to the wings sprouting out of her back.  She didn’t have a halo, and Gus was pretty sure that angels had halos, but he couldn’t be totally sure because… well, he had never actually seen an angel. 

“Is it dead?” Nando nudged the girl with his foot.  “I didn’t think that stuff would kill her.” 

The girl gave out a muffled moan. 

“I think she’s coming around.”  Gus could feel the tension that had been building in his shoulders release.  He didn’t know what he would do with a dead angel, or whatever the hell she was. 

Nando leaned down, looking at Missy’s face.  “She looks okay.  Maybe a little stunned, but…” 

Without warning Missy’s fist shot up, crashing into Nando’s face, sending him sprawling onto his back. 

“Who the hell gases a pretty girl?”  She sat up, rubbing her head.  “It got in my mouth.  I can taste the deathy poison.”  She gagged. 

Gus stood there, stunned.  His mind hadn’t finished processing everything he had seen in the park, and now he had a very pissed off angel type being sitting on his floor, coming out of a gas induced coma, and his roommate was sprawled out, flat on his ass, dazed and confused after getting knocked one by said angelic-esque creature.

“She doesn’t hit like an angel.” Nando’s voice was muffled by the sound of his hands covering his most likely bloody nose.  “She hits like a fricken freight train.” 

“Well, I am an angel!”  The girl crawled to her feet.  “The wings didn’t tip you off?” 

“I’m sorry, I just…” Gus was stammering.  He was too stunned to form full words.  “Why are you… what are you doing… how is this…” 

The girl shook her head, then she straightened up, fluffed her pigtails, straightened the skirt of her cheerleading uniform, and held out her hand.  She had a big, goofy grin on her face, and other than her bloodshot eyes, she looked as chipper as she had before.  “I’m Missy, your guardian angel!” 

Gus took her hand and shook it.  “Gus.” 

“I know.” She gave him a not so light punch in the shoulder.  “I’m here to help you.” 

“Help me with what?” Gus’s head was spinning a mile a minute.  He was pretty sure he would be passing out at this rate. 

“Find true love, of course.”  At the sound of Nando’s low, pained moan, Missy turned. “Is he okay? I didn’t mean to hit him that hard.  It was just, well, you did kind of run away from me, and then he did kind of gas me.  I guess me emotions got the better of me.” 

It was like watching Jekyll and Hyde.  A few moments ago she had been cursing and hitting, but now she was all gosh golly and gee willikers.  It would have been funny if it weren’t all so terrifying. 

“I’m fine.”  Nando held up a thumbs up.  “Just going to lay here and drown in my own blood for a few more seconds.” 

“Is this really happening?”  Gus looked from Nando, then to Missy. 

“Yep!” 

Shit.  That was the only word that would come to Gus’s mind.  Like his life hadn’t been messy enough before.  Now he had a bi-polar, angelic cheerleader trying to find him true love.  He thought he had it bad with his mother always trying to set him up, but at that moment, looking at Missy, he realized that he had it easy with his mom. 

Shit. 

Accidental Demon Slayers: Melody of Light pt. 11

Max had reserved three rental cars for them.  Kurt and Bobby got one, Rita and Ashtyn were in the other, and Clare and Max got the final car, a small brightly colored Smart Car with a large Heartsong Island decal smacked on both doors. 

Clare stood there, looking at the motorized, rainbow monstrosity that she was about to get into, and sighed.  As beautiful as this island was, it just stank of being a tourist trap.  The Skittle on wheels just drove that point home harder. 

“Come on, it’s perfectly safe.” Max gave her a soft nudge with his shoulder.  Both his hands were clasping their suitcases. 

“It’s just so… cheery.  Didn’t they have anything more subtle?”  Clare approached the vehicle slowly, as if she was approaching a sleeping wild animal.  “You know, like a bright pink Hummer?” 

“These are the only cars they allow on the island.”  Max made his way to the back of the car, and flipped open the hatchback.  “All of the vehicles are completely electric.  They help keep the air fresh, and the island beautiful.” 

“Did you just quote the brochure at me?”  Clare helped Max stuff the two suitcases into the back of the car.  There really wasn’t that much room.  “Thank God I packed light.” 

“Well, if I get my way, you won’t be needing many clothes.”  He leaned in close, the tip of his nose touching hers.  He kissed her softly. 

She let the kiss linger.  She had fallen for him, head over heels, and as much as she hated to admit it, his kiss made her melt a little.  “What about your show?” 

“It’ll only take a day or two.”  He closed the hatchback, and started towards the drivers’ side door.  “No lock ins, just some interviews with the locals, and a walkthrough of the house.” 

“I wish you had told me about this stuff before.”  She made her way to the passengers’ side door.  “I really didn’t enjoy figuring your episode out from an issue of Weird World News.” 

Clare had confronted him about it not long after Ashtyn had shown her the article.  He hadn’t spilled much, but what she had heard was enough to peak her interest.  Still, he was standing his ground.  She was not going along on this one, and as much as she wanted to fight him about it, she let it go.  She would still go.  She didn’t need his permission.  She just wouldn’t let him know she was going. 

They pulled out of the rental car lot, and started down the winding road towards The Hideaway.  Clare couldn’t believe how beautiful the island was.  The roads were lined by thick, lush jungle.  Occasionally the sea of vibrant green was broke up by some equally vibrant bird soaring through the trees, or by a smattering of stunning, exotic flowers.  She didn’t even know the names of half the things she was seeing, but it didn’t matter.  It had been too long since she had been to a place as alive as this. 

So much of her job required her to face death, in all its forms.  Her life had been filled with rot and decay for as long as she could remember.  She had almost forgotten what vitality looked like. 

“Speechless.”  Max laughed.  “I was not expecting that.” 

“It’s all so… bright.”  She glanced at him. 

“Are those tears in your eyes?”  He reached over, and gently wiped away a tear that had started rolling down her cheek.  “They are!” 

She hadn’t even realized she had been crying. 

“Thank you.”  She leaned over, kissing him on the cheek.  “As much as I fought you, thank you for bringing me here.  I needed this. I just wish…” 

She couldn’t finish the sentence. 

“I wish she was here, too.” 

Clare could feel her chest begin to tighten.  She took a deep breath, and rolled down the window.  Hot, humid air rushed into the vehicle, accompanied by the sent of moss and sweet, fragrant flowers.  She took it all in.  She soaked up the sounds of the animal life that moved around them, unseen, the smells of the living jungle. 

She missed Brittany, and she would never forget her, of that she was sure, but right now, at that moment, she needed to focus on life.  She knew it sounded selfish, but for the first time Clare felt like she had the chance at something special, and she needed to go for it. 

Brittany had understood that.  Knowing that fact made taking this trip easier.  She just wished her friend was there to experience it with her.  Brittany was just starting to understand the human world.  She was just starting to explore the beauty that it could contain.  She had seen plenty of the ugly, but she had only gotten a small taste of how wonderful things could been in this world. 

Clare turned to Max, to his big, smiling face.  He looked handsome, with a little stubble on his cheeks and chin, and his hair free of its usual shellacked state. Seeing him like that, like a normal, happy guy made something bubble up inside of her. 

“I love you.”  The words spilled out of her mouth before she had a chance to stop them.  They hung in the air for a moment, and Clare was shocked to find that she didn’t want to take them back. 

“I love you, too.”  Max’s smile grew, and her turned to look at her. 

It was such a simple moment.  There was no grand gesture.  It was just them, sitting there, and it felt right.  It felt perfect. 

Clare was in love.