"How do you think Jade will take the news?" BC-13 asked Kasey in Evie's bedroom.
"I don't give a damn how she takes it. Reality is one thing and her fantasy is another. I'll just wait for her to come out of the bathroom to talk," Kasey replied. She had been modelling in front of the mirror over and over again after the quick adjustments Paul made to her dress. "I just hope she doesn't touch any of the thousand hair treatments Evie uses. She and I used to fight like real sisters when I did."
"Okay. How do I look?" Jade asked as soon as she entered the bedroom, standing by the mirror next to Kasey, "Damn. My butt looks flat in this uniform, although I love the combat boots."
"Yeah, I love your boots too." Kasey said, walking over to a black cat-shaped purse on the bed, "Are you sure you don't mind lending me this, Jade?"
"Oh do not worry! Zeth bought me too many things and almost none of them are my style, you can keep some of them if you want." said Jade. She was a little envious of how good the blonde looked in that dress, and wished to one day be as perfect as her. They were both equally short, but that confidence? That posture? Wow! "You look amazing Kasey, really. I wish I could model a dress like you."
"I could show you how." Kasey said, grabbing her grapple gun from the bed, putting it in her purse.
"I would love that! I want to learn to walk as a model like you and Evie do!" Jade grinned, "Hey Kasey, I need help with my hair. Can you help me fix my bun?"
"Oh no, I'm not good at it, that's why my hair is always down," she said, grabbing a strand of wavy blonde hair that barely touched her shoulder.
"I can help you," BC-13 said. Jade had even forgotten that he was in the room. He was like a shadow sometimes, watching everything and everyone as if he was some sort of secret agent or something... Technically he was.
"You know about hair?" Kasey chuckled, "Gay best friend vibes. The only thing missing is your ideal man, I vote for the Ken Doll."
"Shut up." BC-13 grunted.
"Hey, BC-13. I don't think we've gotten to know each other well," Jade said as he grabbed a comb clip from a drawer, "What's your name by the way?"
"You don't want to know," Kasey laughed.
"Definitely not," BC-13 pulled out a chair for Jade to sit on and she soon did, looking at the boy in the mirror.
"You know, so much mystery around you intrigues me," Jade said as BC-13 grabbed some bobby pins from another drawer.
"I'm not mysterious, I just pretend I am," he winked at Jade, and she blushed. Why?!
"BC-13 the stylist," Kasey said, approaching the window, sticking her head out, "I don't see anything from here, maybe I should go up to the battlements. If I'm not mistaken, I may see the Broken Tower from there."
"Don't be nosy, Kasey," BC-13 said as he lay a row of bobby pins up and down the length of Jade's head, "So, you think I'm mysterious, Jade?"
"I don't even know your name to begin with," she said while he twisted the length of hair and loosely rolled and folded it in.
"I don't see why it's important to know my name." He pinned the twist into place.
"You look like your name is Pedro," Jade said and BC-13 laughed lightly. "And you are the perfect match for Evie!"
"Call me whatever name you want, I don't mind. And Evie and I are just friends, she doesn't reciprocate my feelings and I'm okay with that, don't play cupid," he said, but Jade kept thinking that this boy had many more mysteries than she could tell, perhaps as many as Zeth, "Okay Jade, I will accent the side with the hair comb," BC-13 said, sweeping it along the side of her head, pinning the hair back for a romantic look. "Perfect! You have a beautiful, wavy texture, Jade."
"A French twist?" Kasey walked towards them with a finger on her chin, "Love it. It's a true classic."
"Are you sure your uniform is okay?" BC-13 asked as Jade stood up, nodding, "I can call Paul, although I'm also good at making clothing adjustments."
"No, it's okay... Where's Paul by the way?"
"He went with Draco and Alex to talk about the poly relationship thing." Kasey said.
"Well, I always liked to think that Alex and Draco could be a couple. Thanks BC-13," Jade nodded and he smiled at her, "But nothing can happen between the two of them, right? I mean, Alex is straight. Or do you think Paul wants something with Alex? Or with Draco? Or maybe... I don't know, with me?" She added, looking at Kasey for reassurance, but Kasey frowned. "What? Did I say something wrong?"
"Haven't you noticed? Have you really not noticed what's really happening, Jade?" Kasey approached, looking her up and down mockingly, "I guess you..." But Kasey frowned and fell silent, "Wait. I had you close in the car but, in this light, you look different."
"Is that bad?" Jade got nervous.
"No but your skin... It's really thick. And it's a little yellowish, almost golden."
"My mother is of oriental descent and that was literally so rude," Jade rebutted.
"No! I'm not talking about that! Who cares about skin colour anyway?" Kasey replied, "I mean your skin is golden, almost like... Scales?"
"Hey, I'm not a spy who makes millions like you, I don't use facials to have smooth, porcelain skin like you and Evie." Jade was getting angry.
"Facials are the best for your skin, and facial treatments too," Kasey said and BC-13 glared at her, "Ha. Fine, ignore my comment."
"But Kasey is right. These nails? They're not human," BC-13 said, examining Jade's hands. "Feline claws?"
"Nope," Kasey said, and her nails grew long and sharp, "Hers are thicker than mine, like triangles instead of razors."
"Kasey, did you just..."
"I'm a Feline, Jade," Kasey cocked her head, "Your nails aren't. I am a descendant of the Jocatssons who were once allies of Zeth during the Zeldrich War. In fact, I believe they lived in this castle, although I am not sure."
"But I thought you guys hunted monsters," Jade said, gasping. "Are you monsters too?"
"Vanessa Helsee had the brilliant idea of hunting monsters using monsters," Kasey explained. "And all because her father was killed by Mother Alycia Alfaro, the immortal and most powerful Lycan who ever existed."
"I don't see any similarity to Mother Alycia's nails either," BC-13 said, looking carefully at Jade's hands, "I'd been to Vanessa's Hunting Lodge many times and Alycia's nails were like transparent sickles, these are very short, almost human. Could Jade be a rare half-breed? Like the winged wolves of House Moonblood?"
"This makes no sense." Kasey took Jade's hand and examined it.
"I don't see any characteristic features of any known species." BC-13 then looked at Jade's face very carefully, taking her in his hands while Kasey walked to the bed and checked the inside of her purse, "No one has heard from Evalon since the 1920s. Perhaps she is a new species of monster?"
"Get off her, BC-13! Now!" Kasey ordered and when he stepped aside...
SNAP!
"Ouch," Jade flinched.
"Jesus Fucking Christ! Kasey!" BC-13 yelled.
Jade felt a sudden pain in her neck, and there was a loud, constant rattling.
Kasey had a Taser Gun in her hand and was holding it tightly, her eyes wide.
"Kasey!" BC-13 was startled, "Did you just shoot Jade with a Taser?! Don't you have any idea of what it means to be a morally stable person?!"
"Yes. I shot her, and she is still standing!" Kasey said, lowering the Taser, "She can stand electricity like a Sparkman, but I don't see any green veins that indicate an electrical recharge."
"What are you talking about?" Jade put her hand to her neck where the electric shock had taken no effect. She could feel a slight prickling sensation and felt blood oozing from two tiny wounds. She looked around. "Why don't I feel the electricity?"
"I don't know, I used full power," Kasey said and BC-13 snatched the gun from her.
"I can't believe you shot at an unarmed Jade with a Taser gun!" BC-13 yelled at Kasey, who shifted her shoulders carelessly, "Where did you get that thing from, Kasey?"
"Evie always hides guns under the bed and I put it in my purse," she admitted.
"You know that you could have seriously hurt Jade, right?!" BC-13 was yelling now.
"I saw thick skin similar to that of a Sparkman and I took the shot." Kasey rolled her eyes, "I thought that was a nearly correct diagnosis."
"If you were a doctor, you would have killed someone already, Kasey!"
"Why are you so skittish, Pedro?"
"Sorry to interrupt," someone said at the door. Jade looked up and her heart jumped into her throat, "Jade, can we talk?"
"Zeth?" Jade cocked her head, "Are you okay? Your eyes look red. Were you crying?"
"Let's talk outside," Zeth pointed out the hallway, "I need to talk to you about the 'thing' so to speak."
"Sure, lead the way," Jade nodded.
"You go talk to the Ken Doll, I'll go spy on Evie," Kasey said, grabbing her cat purse, taking out her grapple gun.
"We'll go to the hotel in an hour, Kasey." Zeth said, "The soundcheck still needs to be done, you know? And we still need to..."
"Yeah, yeah, I'll meet you downstairs in no time, Ken Doll," she climbed up to the window, winked at him, opening her arms and dropping herself back, free-falling. Then came the sound of the grapple gun firing, and Kasey moved up through the air, landing gracefully in the battlements in a superhero pose. "Woah! Evie was right, this dress is amazing for mobility," she said, taking a small electronic telescope from her purse, "Okay. Let's see..." she turned east, "That must be the Broken Tower." Kasey smiled slightly when she saw Frank and Evie giving each other a passionate kiss. He held her hips and she held onto his neck while their lips danced. "How cute, it almost makes me want to have a boyfriend."
Then there was a growl, and Kasey looked down. A few floors below, Alex was climbing out of his bedroom window, using his claws to climb down the wall from the fourth floor into the rose garden below.
"Well, well. Looks like things didn't go well between Paul, Draco and Alex," Kasey fired her grapple gun and the hook got stuck in a crenet, "They say curiosity killed the cat, but the cat died knowing," Kasey then jumped from the tower, swinging down several floors, landing softly on a stone path of the rose garden. "Sorry Alycandro, I'm addicted to knowing everything," She said, walking with her head held high, crossing her leg seductively with each step, "And I can't mind my own business."
She walked slowly towards a fountain in the centre of the rose garden. This place was very nice, The sound of the water was relaxing and the torches gave it a very nice medieval touch. The garden was laid out beautifully in the same style as all of the gardens in old castles. There were stone benches placed everywhere and flowerbeds, bushes and trees, with little ponds here and there.
She sat elegantly with one leg crossed on the edge of the fountain, and waited with a big smile on her face.
The laboured breathing and the smell of American breakfast approached. Lycan sweat. Always the aroma that the prey enjoyed the most.
"You know? I used to sneak out the window when I needed time alone," Kasey said as she saw Alex approaching, "I'd go to the roof and listen to music and stare at the stars during my fake-family life with Evie." She finished, looking up at Alex, patting next to her for him to sit down.
"Were you spying on me?" Alex asked and she laughed.
"I have better things to do, I just saw you and decided to come down here," she winked as he sat down with a grunt next to her, "You know, if you have any problems, you can tell me. I won't solve anything but I like a bit of gossip."
"If you say so." He said, leaning forward, placing his elbows on his knees, clasping his hands together. "Well. I'm a little dejected about a topic I didn't think would come up again. I really don't want to talk about it. Draco stayed up there with Paul talking and they asked me to leave. I just hope Draco doesn't get a new best friend," Alex started to laugh a little sadly.
"Oh. That's why you are here," she said, shrugging and putting both of her hands between her thighs, "There are a lot of vampires in the night. I would say there are a lot of fish in the water but you don't love Finn."
"I'm straight, girl. I'm not in love with Draco."
How cute.
To her, this was almost comical. Alex was huge, a brute and tall, she was short, elegant and athletically thin, and here he was, like a puppy hanging his head, talking about his problems with a stranger.
Men always did that.
"You two have some serious chicken soup on the stove that neither of you will eat." Kasey said, patting his leg comfortingly.
"It's not the first time I've heard about chicken soup." Alex sighed, "You also think that Draco and I would make a nice couple, right?"
"I don't really care."
"You are as brutally honest as Everett," He looked at her, frowning.
"Thanks," Kasey winked.
"You know, I came down here because I'm looking for a little distraction. How about you and I..."
"Nah, you're not my type. But I can listen to you and say nothing."
"Okay, how about we get to know each other a little bit? I'm Alycandro Alfaro, I'm rich, I hate following rules, and I have mommy and daddy issues."
"If I wanted to meet you, I'd be the first to say it," Kasey replied, "Let me guess. Do you think I'm the typical girl who falls in love with the emotionally constipated guy? Because let me tell you, you're missing the tattoos, the leather jacket and the red room full of whips, although that one is optional."
"Wow," Alex laughed, "I feel naked in a bad way."
"How about we go from the first chapter of a teen book to the 'Oh! Pizza Boy! I don't have any money to pay you!' to save some time? That's more my style."
Alex chuckled, shaking his head.
"So you're that kind of girl," Alex laughed and she raised an eyebrow.
"Meaning?"
"A dude with boobs," he laughed, rubbing his palms together.
"Says the chick with a dick who tried to pick me up with clichés," she mockingly pouted.
There was a long silence...
And then they both burst out laughing.
"Dude with boobs? Seriously?" Kasey elbowed him. He was laughing heartedly.
"You called me a chick with a dick!"
After a couple of laughs, Kasey fixed her hair and looked him in the eyes.
"Don't beat around the bush, Alfaro. You came down here, alone, secretly... I don't think you came here to cry, there is already enough water gushing out of this fountain and many girls looking at us from behind the trees over there, there and there." She pointed, waving at one of them, "He is taken, girl! Move along! Bye! Bye, bye!"
"You were right about that though. I actually came down here to... You know," He ran his hand through his hair, straightening up a little, laughing. He was getting comfortable, huh? She lowered her gaze, looking at his fingers. Yes, it would be easy to break them if he went too far. "It's hard to deal with an addiction when it's so easy to get what you're addicted to. It only takes a second. Pheromones, a little flirting, a little bit of flexing and that's it."
"Well you won't find that with me, I was trained to not fall for the charms of people like you." she laughed, patting Alex's sweaty bicep, "There will be no relapse tonight, not with me at least."
"Really?" He arched an eyebrow, smirking at her.
"I can't believe you actually think you have a chance." She said, grinning, making Alex laugh.
"Maybe I can sing for you?" Alex wiggled his eyebrows, clearing his throat, "I tried to be the good wolf, always failed. So why should I try that once again? It could be my silver blade. My next mistake... Please, someone LOVE MEEEE!" Alex sang at the top of his lungs, leaning back to hit Frank's high note, "BAD WOLF! You're a renegaaade! THAT'S WHAT MY! Pack used to saaay... WOLVES WILL HOWL! But without me... Can't they see? I'm wild and free. I'M A BAD WOLF! Renegaaade!"
"Wow, you sing beautifully," Kasey said, her blue eyes locked with Alex, who winked at her.
"Thank you. This is the first time I've ever sung it without crying, you know?"
"This is the first time a man has sung for me without me dying of cringe."
"Wait, what?" Alex frowned, "Has anyone sung for you before?!"
"Do you think you can make someone like me fall for your tricks? P-lease!" Kasey laughed loud.
"Well... Yes, I thought I could. You want to torture me?" He raised an eyebrow, biting his lip, looking her up and down, probably wanting to touch her.
"I'll give you a kiss on the cheek at best."
"Because you like me, right?"
"I just want to say I kissed a superstar, but the Ken Doll is always busy."
"And I want to say I kissed death," he winked.
They both laughed loud again.
"Oh God! Do you get dates with pickup lines like that one?" she put her hand on his thigh, patting twice, "Amateur."
"Do you want me?" he bit his lips, breathing heavily.
"Don't play the seducer with a girl who was trained to seduce."
"Fine, you win... But I warn you, I'm not easy to seduce," He nudged her, "It will be hard to make me fall for you."
"A challenge?" She laughed again, rolling her eyes, "Don't worry. I like challenges. Have you seen one lately? I don't see any around."
"You like to play rough, huh?" he faked a yawn, stretched and put his arm around her, "So, Kasey, I heard you don't have a boyfriend. Right?"
"You haven't heard shit about me in your life. But I'm open to dating a millionaire," She said quickly, looking at him in the eye, "There is a guy, in fact, a millionaire, famous, nice voice... Quite a Bad Wolf."
"And is he handsome?" he wiggled his eyebrows and she turned his face away with one hand, pushing his arm off her.
"He's hot," Kasey bit her lip, "Very muscular. All body, no brains."
"And does he have a name?"
"Yeah." She wiggled her eyebrows, "We all have a name. I chose my name, but my last name? Ugh. I had no choice."
"You like me?"
"Put your hand on my leg and let's see if you make me nervous," she said, winking, "Come on, do it. Let's see what happens."
"That sounds like fun," Alex put a hand on the smooth thigh that came out of her dress.
Ooooh! Hands with calluses? That was hot.
"Oh! I feel aroused!" She said mockingly.
"Really?"
"I'm colder than Teddy Bear Frostakov's ass."Â Kasey moved away his hand, staring at Alex with half-shut blue eyes, "I'm only interested in real men, I don't get paid to babysit no one."
"Well, I might be interested in you. I love dangerous women," he leaned closer towards her face, "And I think you need a man who can handle any situation. Look. You are a strong wolf, girl. And only a strong wolf deserves a strong wolf, don't you think?" He flexed his biceps, and boy! The guy worked hard! They were the size of her head. Oh yeah. She had him wrapped around her finger, that much she knew. He was thinking with his dick right now.
"You like girls who are out of your limit I guess." she said, allowing herself to touch the wolf's bicep, marvelling at the hardness of the muscle, "I'm not looking for anything serious. One night and I'm gone forever, and I don't date boys who are supposed to be in love with my fake-sister."
Alex fell silent, paralyzed.
"Wait... Y-You're right, I'm... I'm in love with Evie but, I mean, I'm not monogamous and a poly relationship is... To love more than one person."
"Keyword? Love," Kasey said. "You don't even know me, Alfaro."
"Love. Evie, the guys and I will be in a serious poly relationship and... And just now I realise my mistake," he frowned, covering his face with his hands, "What the hell am I doing? No, I can't be my old self again! I can't have sex with you out of..."
"In your dreams!" She laughed, moving closer to his face with seductive eyes, blinking slowly, her fingers tracing the prominent veins of his bicep. "You're terrible at serious relationships from what I see."
"Exactly. This is not an open relationship, it requires commitment and I almost ruined everything before it even started!" he avoided her gaze, "It would be disrespectful to Evie and the boys. Why am I so stupid? What am I doing anyway?"
"Wasting time," she put a finger on Alex's chin, making him look at her, licking her lips.
"Maybe," he sighed heavily, "I am way too bash and reckless for my own good."
"But have you stopped to think that maybe you need someone as irreverent as you?"
"You?" He chuckled, evading her piercing gaze.
"Yes. I just won't be your relapse."
"If you say so," Alex said, closing his eyes, "I don't know you but, I'll be honest. I like this little cat and mouse game."
"Good to know, mouse," she put a hand on his thigh, smiling, "Now how about..." she moved her hand up, higher and higher until her fingers were dangerously near his bulge. He swallowed hard, breathing heavily, "How about we continue this game some other time? When you've answered the messages Finn sent you maybe?" she said, holding up his phone.
"How did you..." Alex widened his eyes, checking his pockets.
"It's easy to steal when your target is thinking with his dick... Down, boy," Kasey patted between his legs, standing up, "Here, catch," She threw the phone and Alex barely managed to catch it. "I hope you don't mind," Kasey then took Alex's wallet out of her purse, "I have expensive tastes. I'll keep the money," She threw the wallet and he caught it with one hand, "Hey boy! A poly relationship is not something new for me, but don't expect me to go down on my knees easily," she took out her grapple gun from her purse, aiming up, "I'll be nice and won't tell anyone about your bad attempt at flirting with me. I have ended many marriages, don't let me end your future relationship with my fake-sis. She's worth a lot, she's a great girl, but if you tell her that I said that, I'm going to deny it, got it?"
"So you won't give me a chance?" Alex asked and she shook her head, "Great."
"Wow, you give up easily. All your charm went down the drain," She fired the grapple gun, and he stood up, hands on his waist, looking down.
"You say you like pushy boys?" Alex looked at her with a slight seductive smile and she winked.
"I hope you like chasing the clouds." She said, "You won't have anything from me, not unless everyone in your poly relationship is okay with me joining, and even then, don't get your hopes up."
"I like your style, girl. Maybe if you join us..." he tried to get closer but she put a hand up.
"I'm a lioness, the best there is around here. Either you become the strongest lion, or I'm gone, simple as that. See you around," and then she pulled the trigger of her grapple gun and went up at full speed.
Alex stared at her from below.
"Wow! What a girl!"
"Hey! Alex!" he heard Evie's voice. He looked up at the Broken Tower. There she was, standing next to Frank. "Wait!" Evie did a perfect dive from high above, flipping in the air to shoot a grappling shot from her weapon, swinging full speed towards him, rolling on the ground once she landed.
"Hey Evie! Your eyes look cute!" Alex bit his lip, "Anyway! Girl, you know you're all I've ever wanted! And I'm so crazy about you that I would sit through an hour of Evalonian history with Zeth just for you! But your fake-sister is..."
"Out of your limit, Alex." Evie crossed her arms and looked at him furiously. "I know that sometimes you fall in love with more than one person at a time, believe me, but Kasey? Are you serious? And what were you doing with her? Were you going to relapse? Because if it wasn't for her being her, you would have been in trouble! You're so unstable! Thank Kasey for rejecting you!"
"You heard us? How?"
"Frank has bionic hearing," Evie pointed back. Alex looked up, watching Frank shoot out his bionic hand. He began to descend slowly, rappelling down the Broken Tower. Alex needed a grapple hand like that to go after Kasey... But Evie actually had a grapple gun in her hand right now! "Are you listening to me, Alycandro Alfaro?"
"Dame eso," Alex snatched Evie's grapple gun, firing it upwards, "Voy por ti, rubia enojada!"
"Alex! Wait!" Evie gasped.
He pulled the trigger.
He then moved up fast, very fast, too fast...
Ouch!
"Alex crashed into a gargoyle?" Frank asked, walking towards Evie, retracting the metal wire of his bionic hand until it was back in place.
"Yes he crashed into a gargoyle," Evie said, pulling a small electronic telescope out of her purse, "And he's unconscious in a vaulted ceiling two floors above us. I'll go get him."
"It takes time to learn how to use these things," Frank said with his grapple hand up, taking Evie by the waist, crushing her against his body, laughing with her, "I'll take you up there, my love."
He shot his grapple hand, and quickly, both of them ascended.