Monsterstruck

Chapter XXIV: THE RED PISTOLS

    “Verona? I can’t believe you’re here!”  Blaze mumbled as he stood up and resumed to his human form.

    “Didn’t these guys tell you that I’ll be here?”  Verona prompted wearing a sunny smile.

    “No,” he answered quickly and threw the Red Pistols guys a quizzical look.

    “Well, we thought you already knew.” Zion reasoned out, shrugging off his shoulders.

        “Alright, enough with that.” Verona dismissed and cleared her throat. She sat in the rattan couch and spoke to them.

        “Tomorrow night, we will all gather around at La Boracay garden. Don’t worry because we got some secret passage over there and ain’t no human could see us, the walls there are impenetrable by humans. It’s going to be an assembly between the Claymores (yoma males) and Seymours (yoma females.) I’ve already talk to the other yomas residing in this place and they are all going to be there.”

        “And what are we going to do there?” Leon asked, creasing his forehead.

    “We will prattle about on how we are going to capture our mortal enemies, the cresclunar warriors and most importantly, how are we going to snag that amulet away from them. I know you guys are aware of that zapping feeling we get everytime we came close at that amulet and that would be our agenda for tomorrow.”

        “Is Vylet going to be there?” Blaze heckled.

        Verona just shot him an impish grin as her ocher eyes flickered intensely at him.

        “Of course, she’s going to be there whether she likes it or not.” She answered flagrantly.

        “We’re gonna gather there in a yoma form right?” Paul probed.

        “Yes, if you want you could come there in human form.” Verona shot back with a sting of sarcasm.

        “So that Vygnet will recognize you.” She clipped feistily.

        “Alright, that’s safe.” Blaze quipped saturated with relief.

        “Why Blaze, aren’t you ready to reveal yourself to Vylet?  You can’t be hiding this forever if you want to win her over that cresclunar rockstar.” Verona retorted.

        “I know, I’ll think about it.” He mumbled in a guilt infused tone.

        “And it’s gonna be festive because we’ll hunt some, right before twilight,” she beamed flashing again her wicked smile. The men seemed so inclined with the idea, and they all exchanged a sinister look.

        “That sounds fun. Why don’t we prey on Craig?” Tyrone suggested with his murderous infused tone.

        “You goof!  It’s not going to be plain sailing because he’s a cresclunar owner. Besides Vygnet will not be pleased by that idea.” Paul shot back in acerbic tone.

        “I forgot that we got some martyr over here.” Blaze sneered.

        “I’m just being realistic; we can’t prey on him in a cinch.” Paul shot back.

        “He’s right. I’m not inclined with the idea of jumping the gun either. We have to scheme this carefully, on how we are going to get the cresclunar.” Verona told, still in her domineering voice and they went on prattling about the gathering for tomorrow night, the night of the wretched ones.

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        “I can’t believe such douche Paul is!”  Alex quipped with a tinge of disgust.

        “Let’s just respect his decision. Let him play along Tyrone’s band.” Eric muttered, wearing an unnamed facial expression. He was towering stiffly over them as they all holed up in a room.

        “But of all the bands, why did he choose on The Red Pistols? Not unless Paul wants to prove something to us.” Cameron grumbled.

        “Well, people change.” Jake countered glumly.

        “Enough dudes, Eric is right. Let him be in Tyrone’s band. We are all working in music industry, so we had to be fair with our judgments with our co-artist with their musicality as well as their personalities no matter how rotten they might seem.” Craig chastised calmly.

        “So that is being hypocrite, I guess?” Alex retorted with a low chuckle.

        “It’s not hypocrisy, it’s called respect Alex. If we want to last longer in music industry, we’ve got to keep those in mind. We must stay grounded; we have to believe in ourselves, in our music. We have to stay uncrippled with the negativity around us, it won’t get us anywhere.” Craig clipped.

        “I do concur with Craig. You guys have grown so much as a musician, that’s why record labels noticed you, and you got signed in. I hope you take it into account, let’s just hope Paul only the best as we do our own business, I hope the remnant of your brotherhood with him is still there.” Eric told them as they eyed each of the Clamor dudes squarely.

        After the meeting, the band went to rehearse their number for their gig tonight to be held at La Boracay bar, the seat of all the musical activities situated along the swinging discos in the island. They were also included in the line-up for tonight along with The Red Pistols.

        After the rehearsal, Craig trudged to a souvenir shop along the vicinity of the island. He pawed on the T-shirts, chokers, necklaces, and bracelets as his mind was having a little trouble on what he would buy for her. Suddenly, he spotted this fancy silver necklace which had these two tiny crescent pendants, as if each of the crescents when bind together, would make a full moon. He smiled as he held it in his dainty hands as he looked at the jaded sky.

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        Vylet strolled feebly along the shoreline as she passed by the people who were frolicking under the pristine sand. The sun started to bid goodbye, somnolent dusk now hanging above the horizon. She draped her arms around herself as the strands of her purple hair brushed on her cheeks. Sitting down in the pristine sand, she soaked her feet at the crashing waves.

        “I thought you’re not keen in water,” a delicious timber voice countered that runaway her heartbeat.

        Vylet turned around and startled to see him, standing behind her with his rockstar grin flitted across his face.

        “How was it?” She asked wryly.

        Craig sat beside her and let his hands held flatly in the pristine sand as he mimicked her position, feet under the crashing waves.

        “What do you mean how was it?” Craig asked as he eyed her dubiously.

        Vylet didn’t look at him; instead, she slid her gaze at the crashing waves. She never thought that the sound of it complemented with the beating of her heart.

        “How are you guys doing?”

        “Uh, we’re fine. We have just finished rehearsing and I took a stroll along the souvenir shops there and bought some stuffs,” he replied bubbling with enthusiasm.

        “That’s not what I’m talking about Craig.” Vylet shot back, irked.

        “Well then, what?” He asked as he creased his forehead.

        “With you and Vygnet.” She countered stiffly. Vylet felt her limbs went stiff and the water that tossed on her feet felt like an ice bucket poured on her.

        “What about us?” Craig’s voice grew more bewildered.

        “Come on Craig, I know deep down inside you, you have a thing for her. She’s been for you since ages, she’s beautiful, hot and she really cares for you. Don’t make a fool of yourself.” Vylet said coolly as she faced him.

        “I don’t see her that way Vylet, I don’t see her the way I see you. Yes, you’re right, she’s hot, pretty and she cares for me but that’s just it. I only see her as a friend, nothing more.”

        “Oh, please Craig!” Vylet let out a low chuckle and threw her palms in the air.

        “What brought this all on Vylet? What made you think of that? Are you jealous?” Craig speculated as a grin slowly swept across his face.

        “You made me think of it Craig, listen if you like her, then go for her! I just don’t want to be played, I’m not some of your back-up plan,” she snapped and rose. The look on his face made her regret on saying those words.

        “I can’t believe that you see me that way,” he mumbled as his lips pressed into a hard line.

        “I’m sorry.” Vylet said morosely.

        Craig just shook his head and walked away, feeling dejected. He clutched rigidly his would be present for her.

        Vylet was left there as frisson of guilt swept all over her. She wanted to run after him and apologized for what she just said.  But Vygnet’s voice was resonating in her mind, on how she talked out about that intimacy thingy involving him was what held her back.    

         Did she hear it right?  How stupid I was to accuse him such things! She was outraged with herself, for being prejudice, stupid and weak. The dejected look on his face, his cold chestnut eyes flickering on her, he was really hurt, and it was her fault. 

        She quickly trudged back to the hotel to say sorry to him, but as her feet treaded, she could feel her insides getting cold; her eyes were blazing with fire, a bad omen.

        “No, no, not now,” Vylet wished as she mused over herself and scampered toward an isolated area.