When Evie entered her apartment, she found BC-13 waiting for her, standing in the middle of her living room making sure Paul had put everything back into place correctly.
"How's our blonde guest?" Evie asked.
"She's sleeping. I had to sedate her and put her in a cell, only four walls, floor, and ceiling. There are seven ex-Hunters guarding the door," BC-13 replied, with his hands on his hips, "We know that even a pin can help her escape. A former huntress undressed her so she only has a blanket and her underwear on, from what I was told."
"Inhumane, but necessary to keep everyone safe," Evie yawned and started walking towards one of the grey couches. "By the way. When were you going to tell me that you and my fake-sister had met before?"
"For how long have you known?"
"Since she got here, I guess," Evie shrugged. "When she saw you here, she seemed very familiar with you, almost like she was hitting on you, the kind of teasing between exes. And I thought I heard something about a kiss between punches. I don't want your feelings to get in the way."
"Don't worry. It won't happen. We were never a couple by the way." BC-13 clarified.
"When did you and Kasey meet?" Evie asked.
"Years ago. Kasey and I made our way into an underground laboratory near the Franken's Town Mountains under Vanessa Helsee's orders. The facility soon began tearing itself apart with the activation of a self-destruct system, and we were forced to escape. Kasey fell down a shaft. How exactly she survived or escaped from the laboratory is a mystery to me. She and I kissed that night."
"To this day I'm finding out that it was you who finished my mission," Evie laughed.
"What are you taking about?" BC-13 asked.
"The Hunter Academy requested for a full-scale investigation of Franco's Pharma's activities, but Vicoriano sent his assets to track down and eliminate all The Hunters in the area." Explained Evie, "I had just killed the facility's chief researcher with a broken bottle, I was in his apartment when I was attacked. I had to hide and was later informed that I would be a diversion while two agents infiltrated the laboratory in Franken's Town... But, about Kasey... Do you love her?"
"You always fall for forbidden people," BC-13 put his hands on his hips. "But I'm warning you, you can't date your fake-sister's love interest or your best friend's boyfriend or ex. Much less your ex's best friend."
"You know something?" Evie frowned.
"About you and Zeth?" BC-13 asked, "Your secret is safe with me. But your fake-sister? She knows something."
"Shut your mouth." she said with a friendly laugh as the boy looked her up and down. "And Zeth? He is not that lucky."
"And Frank is that lucky?" BC-13 ran a hand through his black hair. "Because I don't think he's as handsome as me!"
"Seriously, you should spend less time with Zeth." Evie had to admit that BC-13 could be funny when he wanted to.
"Maybe I should spend more time with Frank. Maybe he can share his secret with me. First you, and now Jade? There's surely something charming about that guy!"
"It must be his voice. It's very emotional," Evie replied, looking out the window. She finally relaxed her posture but without losing her elegance. "He has a very sweet and masculine voice, actually."
"You know, the first time I heard Frank on the radio, I thought it was Zayn Malik," BC-13 said, sitting on one of the grey couches. "His voice is identical to his."
"Who?" She stopped looking out the window to look at him with the corner of her eye.
"You don't know who Zayn Malik is? Come on! All teenage girls were crazy about him and his bandmates!"
"I was raised to fight and I was paid to kill, not to listen to music or read teen magazines, BC-13," she replied, sitting down in front of him elegantly. "Well? Who is Zayn Malik?"
"Zayn was born on January 12, 1993 in Bradford, England, to Patricia Brannan and Yaser Malik, and is of Pakistani and English-Irish descent. His real name is Zain Javadd Malik, Zayn with a Y is his artistic name and..."
"Hey! Hey! I only asked you who he was," she had this mocking smile on her face, the one he could never get enough of.
"Well, since you always ask for every bit of information to be mentioned," he winked at her. "Miss Control Freak, you're hard to please."
Evie laughed, and so did he.
"It becomes addictive to investigate everything, huh?" Evie said, and the boy moved his shoulders.
"Old hunter ways. Gotta investigate everything, every little detail," BC-13 sighed. "Those days, huh?"
"You leave the hunters, but you never stop hunting," Evie said and then snapped her fingers. "Zayn Malik! Of course! The one with curly hair? The one who worked at a bakery?"
"No, that's Harry. Zayn was the 'bad boy' of the band."
"Well, if you say Frank sings like Malik, I'm surprised his voice is like that of the 'bad boy' because he's anything but," Evie blushed for a moment, and BC-13 leaned forward with his hands on his thighs.
"You have feelings for him, don't you?"
"I have no idea who Zayn is, so no," Evie waved her hand dismissively, but then lowered her shoulders and sighed, "We're talking about Frank, I know. I won't fool you."
"It's hard to wear a mask when you're talking to someone who can see through it. You told me that when you found me sad after Chatwick beat me up and I told you I was okay," BC-13 said, narrowing his eyes. "We were still children, learning body language, graphology, and psychoanalysis long before we started learning multiplication tables."
"Sometimes it feels like we learned to hack and fight long before we even learned to speak," Evie frowned as she stood up from the couch.
"And we learned to hate before we learned how to love, but I think you failed that class," BC-13 was always like that in private, a playful and challenging friend, sometimes too insidious. "You know, something doesn't feel right here."
"What?"
"I don't know. I just feel like there's a communication barrier," BC-13 said.
"There won't be anymore," she said, "I promised Frank I'd tell every secret there is. But it's not up to me alone."
"Hey, about the poly thing? I don't know. Do you think I could..."
"Be a part of that?" Evie laughed, "I don't know, I'm not sure if it's exclusive to singers or if it's something flexible."
"Oh! Okay! How about you let me sing you a song by Monster Mash?" BC-13 said, clearing his throat, "Three... Two... I'm just a cat in black! I could be your black cat! Babe! Everyone's misinformed! Black cats won't bring you bad luck!" He winked, and Evie had to admit that BC-13 had a good voice, almost identical to Alex's but less seductive. The boy could sing, that was true, "So fuck what others say! This is how I was made! So let... So let me be your amulet! Be your amulet! Let me be your amulet! Your amulet!"
"You're so romantic," Evie clapped her hands and he gave a playful bow, "If you fall in love with one of the guys, I can recommend you."
"You know I'm straight," BC-13 smirked, "You'll never give me a chance, will you?"
"I never said that," she winked, "You're really cute, you know? I just don't want to feel like I'm an 'S Word' but I don't dislike you."
"Wait. What?"
"Anyway. I am not going to do this right now. I need some sleep." She started walking towards the hallway, yawning.
"Evie, let me try a Zeth Rahman here," BC-13 said, lowering his gaze, "The Age of the Disputed Lands."
Evie stopped just before she walked deeper into the hallway to her room.
"What about it?" Evie raised an eyebrow.
"For an entire year, Houses O'Pry, Rubinstein, Alfaro and Von Stroker all tried to claim the abandoned Madlands." BC-13 replied, "The Alfaros claimed they deserved The Madlands because they had Hill ancestry, as did the O'Prys. Bloodimir Von Stroker wanted to have it all without being able to handle it, as if being the Lord of Bloodstone and Robleston wasn't enough for him. And the Rubinsteins..."
"The Rubinsteins just wanted to prevent Bloodimir from taking The Madlands because they still blamed Draco's sister for King Viktor Rubinstein's death, even after more than six thousand years. Yeah, You and I were the best in Evalonian history class. I don't get your point," Evie said, crossing her arms. It was a habit to lie by now, because she did know what he was trying to say.
"Evie, in the end, no one kept those lands because Queen Zafira gave The Madlands to the Shadowmen that Franco Rubinstein and Mother Alycia had created to defeat the Madmen." BC-13 said after a long sigh, "It was two years of war that left almost all the kingdoms bankrupt for nothing. You have given your time, and almost your life on more than one occasion for Monster Mash, and you still have nothing. Tell me then. Do you want to keep fighting for nothing? Because if you don't make your move now, someone who doesn't deserve those guys' love is going to come along and ruin everything."
"Do you think they'll give their hearts to Jade instead of me even though I think I deserve their love more than her?" Evie asked and BC-13 shook his head. "God! I sounded pathetic!"
"You said so."
"People do stupid things for love," Evie nodded once more, turned around and walked slowly to her room.
"And you are living proof of that." He whispered.
"I heard you!" She shouted from her room.
But then there were two knocks on the door.
"I'll take care of it!" BC-13 said. Upon opening the door, he resumed his serious boy act. "Mr. Rahman, Mr. Seamons, how may I help you?"
"I told Zeth that maybe Evie was asleep, but he didn't listen," said Finn, who looked a little embarrassed. He was dressed in a pink sweatshirt that was too baggy. He did look cute, BC-13 had to admit.
"Obviously she has time for a visit as important as mine at any time," Zeth replied, crossing his arms. "And I think my plan may give us the upper hand here. Where is Evie?" Zeth asked, poking his head into the apartment, "I hope she's still awake."
"I knew you know something I don't," Evie came walking from the end of the hallway to the door with some wedges on, dressed in an electric blue nightgown, "What do you know, Zeth? Speak, I'm sleepy."
"Well! I'm obviously so smart that I already figured everything out... With Finn's help, I won't deny that. This boy is a genius!" Zeth said and messed Finn's rainbow hair a little. "I already know who your fake-sister's client is, Evie. And I also know why Kasey wanted to be captured. But we need to confirm that theory, don't we?"
"She wanted to be captured to find this place," BC-13 replied, "We already know that."
"You're wrong," Finn said and BC-13 cocked his head, "You should listen to Zeth, you know he's always right about everything."
"Zeth?" Paul came walking down the hall, rubbing his eyes and yawning, Zeth and Finn smiled at each other, "You wanted to see me?"
Paul could barely stay awake, and less than five minutes into this meeting, he was nodding off, falling deeper and deeper into a deep sleep until...
"Paul?" Finn asked, and Paul quickly opened his purple eyes, sitting up straight in his seat, "Did you listen to a word we said?"
For a second he didn't know where the hell he was, whether in a hotel, in his room, on a plane or his mother's house.
Grey couches, elegant style... Of course, Evie's apartment.
"Yes, of course! I heard everything!" Paul replied, rubbing his eyes.
"And what's the plan?" Zeth raised an eyebrow.
After clearing his throat, Paul replied.
"I heard... The 'Slasher Mask' music video thingy... And then I didn't listen anymore."
"I think he heard less than a half of it." Finn rubbed his forehead.
"He didn't hear anything," Zeth rolled his eyes. "Firstly, Laska will be here in two hours for our makeover. Fifth Octave are getting a slight makeover for the Hallow Inn show as well. Pay attention, Paul!"
"Well, I'm not like you! I must sleep!" Paul said with circles under his eyes so big they looked like bruises.
"Have you tried recharging your energy?" Zeth asked, "Your monster species can stay permanently awake by absorbing energy from their surroundings, but you can try with TV static, don't ask me how I know that."
"Zeth, you're crazy if you think I'm going to let my fake-sister go straight to the Solar where you live," Evie said, crossing her arms on the grey couch in front of him with BC-13 next to her, both sitting as elegant as royalty. "You're practically giving Jade, and everyone, away."
"No, because she won't hurt Jade, nor any of us," Zeth said, standing up, pacing with a finger on his chin. "She wanted us to see her. She wanted to come here. But why not just call an army of hunters if she has two thousand six hundred and twenty six monsters and two hundred and sixty two former hunters here? No, she's looking for something else, something bigger, and Lyonfort is her first stop. And her client? I think she just wanted to scare Jade, no harm at all," Zeth stopped and looked at Evie. "But Kasey wants a hostage."
"I don't think so," Evie shook her head. "The customer always comes first in this business. If someone paid her to scare Jade, that was it."
"But if Kasey uses Jade as a hostage, that's a scare and helps her personal plan. Two birds with one stone. You're right, Zeth," BC-13 nodded. "And Kasey isn't afraid of the client."
"And we know who the client is." Zeth snapped his fingers and turned to look at Paul, who was already snoring with his mouth wide open. "I just hope he's awake to follow the plan."
"But Kasey is one of the best and quietest hunters of all time. Getting information out of her won't be easy," BC-13 pointed out, and Zeth sighed. "She's good, and even if she breaks into your Solar..."
"She's too talented to break anything," Evie interrupted.
"Either way," BC-13 stood up, "Even if she arrives at the Solar as planned, I doubt she'll reveal her plans."
"My fake-sister will only talk if she feels at home again. Believe me, Kasey is very mouthy when she feels comfortable." Evie said, and everyone cocked their heads. "Zeth... Do you have what it takes to make an American breakfast?"
"Uh, yeah... Sure," Zeth moved his shoulders and Evie smiled.
"Good, because you'll make sure it is all visible." Evie then glanced at the clock. "Poor Paul, he must be exhausted. Can relate. I once spent forty-three hours awake hiding from... That doesn't matter."
"And are you sure that's why Kasey is here?" BC-13 asked Zeth. "You're putting Jade, and everyone, at risk with this plan."
"Not if Paul makes Evie invisible," Zeth said and Finn nudged the purple-eyed boy, who immediately opened his eyes and sat up. "You won't let her out of your sight for even a second, you understand?"
"Hey, I can handle myself, Zeth. I can follow her without her seeing me, even without Paul's help," Evie frowned, and then grinned when she saw the expression of distrust on Zeth's face. "But you're a control freak and you don't want to take any chances, I know."
"We should hurry, then. The sun rises soon, and the effect of the sedative will not last long." BC-13 reminded them. "Let's get started. You two need to film a music video, and we, along with Paul, will do our part."
"I haven't been this nervous since I fought the Zeldrichs in Evalon," Zeth said, ready to leave, placing a hand on the door knob. "I don't understand how I could live with so much pressure on my shoulders back then."
"I don't understand how you can live under so much pressure nowadays," Finn stood up, and when he tried to wake Paul, Evie held up a hand.
"Let the boy sleep, let him stay here. I'll take care of him." Evie smiled kindly.
"You two focus on your job and we'll focus on ours," BC-13 said.
With a nod, Zeth and Finn left the apartment.
They both turned right outside Evie's apartment and took the stairs up. As they walked down the hallway back to the Heart of Lyonfort, Zeth got lost in his memories, almost melancholic or even scared.
"Your past still haunts you, like it haunts Draco," Finn said, breaking the silence of this dark, torch lit stone hallway. It was oppressive.
"I don't have as many sins as Draco on my list, but it does affect me," Zeth walked slower. "Evalon was a horrible place. It was kill or be killed, trusting no one."
"You sound like Evie," Finn put his hand on Zeth's shoulder, who stopped walking immediately. "You can tell me if you want."
"Evie was trained to kill or be killed, but in Evalon, there was no training. One mistake could cost you your head," Zeth looked Finn straight in the eyes. They looked glassy. "In Evalon, you were nothing but disposable, there was no shortage of enemies waiting to kill you. In the end, there was no escape for anybody. Draco knows more about that than I do, but my past is full of death and grief too."
"Did Draco kill people too?" Finn gasped and Zeth, albeit quietly, replied something that left Finn paralyzed.
"Draco killed his own father with a sacred wood spear," Zeth had never looked so terrified in his life, "Don't tell him that I told you."
Finn was silent for a few moments.
"Zeth? If you need to talk about your past, you know that I..."
"I don't want to talk about it. So many people tried to kill me that I don't remember all their names. I killed many, I saw many more die. That's in the past," Zeth shrugged and ruffled Finn's hair, "Come on, we still need to tell the guys about the plan."