"You are ready Lucia…" I heard my father's voice course through my very veins. Even though I had been around him as long as I could remember, his voice still sent chills down my spine. The man was terrifying, regardless of who you were or what you were capable of.
"Yes father." I nodded, keeping my eyes to the ground. I preferred not to look at him directly.
"Then you know what you must do… We have trained decades for this moment. And now it is time to go forth and fulfill your purpose." My father paused and I hesitated in fear, hoping that he did not change his mind about my being useful. "The trap has been set… The one called Murderface has betrayed the trust of the other prophesied ones… Now is the opportune time for you to strike."
"Yes father." I nodded obediently. "I will not fail you."
"You will not…" He hissed in a terrifying tone. "Or you will never be free." I trembled, unable to answer such a horrific threat. "Now go… go and show Dethklok the path that lay before them."
X-X-X-X-X
The hum of my motorcycle whirred beneath me as I approached Mordhaus. As expected, there was a swarm of people around the front gates, all demanding to be let in. News of Murderface leaving Dethklok had traveled fast, and from all over the world prospective bassists came to Mordhaus to audition. However, Dethklok had refused to hold auditions, claiming that they didn't need a bassist. Perhaps none of these hopeful musicians would do… but I certainly would… My bike sped further along the cliffside approaching Mordhaus, accelerating faster and faster to make the entrance I hoped for. With a loud roar, the machine revved into full gear and leapt over the cliffside over the heads of the mob. They silenced for a moment, seeing the coming death that hovered above them. With a loud and rather unsettling squelch, I landed on top of a few unfortunate souls, crushing them with the immense weight of my motorcycle. I got off of my bike, the crowd around me still silent and watching me closely as I approached the Mordhaus gates. My bass in its coffin case still clutching to my back, I began to climb the immense gates, scaling them with inhuman speed and agility. "What the fuck?!" I heard a person yell in disbelief.
"What the hell is she doing?" Another called.
"Get back down here and wait with the rest of us!" A third yelled, banging on the gates. It wasn't long before I heard the cocking of rifles around me. Klokateers pointed their guns towards me, poised to kill.
"Now, now boys…" I leapt from the gate, landing on the ground fifty feet below on my feet and dusting myself off, unharmed. "Let's not do anything we regret."
"Under the order of our lords Dethklok, we are to terminate any and all citizens found on Mordhaus grounds." One klokateer recited. "Prepare for execution."
"Try me…" I whisper, reaching for a knife strapped to my leg. They all pulled their triggers and I leapt out of the way, slitting each of their throats in a matter of seconds before they even knew what had happened. They all fell to the ground, gurgling and squirming in agony as they drained slowly. I licked the freshly coated blade, savoring the taste. I approached the doors of Mordhaus and knocked loudly. "Anybody home?" I called jokingly. The doors remained motionless and silent, the only sound heard being the still-arguing crowd behind me. I knocked again. "Answer me!" Finally a response. I heard a crackling voice over the intercom:
"State your name and your business." I recognized the voice… Father had warned me about this man: Ofdensen.
"Lucia Vaduva." I curtsied ironically. "I'm here to audition for the position of bassist."
"We are not accepting auditions, please leave or you will be terminated." The voice continued.
"I'm also filling in for another position that you may find of interest Ofdensen…" I called him by his name, letting him know I was not just some average citizen knocking on the door. "I hear you're in need of a bodyguard." Another moment of silence; Ofdensen was obviously debating whether or not to bother seeing me.
"Very well. You will be escorted directly to my office and we will discuss the details of your possible employment." Ofdensen submitted. The enormous doors opened with a loud creak and a team of at least twenty klokateers awaited me just inside, rifles armed.
"Do I really have to kill you too?" I smirked.
"Come with us." A klokateer responded, obviously not intimidated by the prospect of death. Not surprising given his profession.
"Fine. Just don't touch me… or the bass for that matter." I looked back towards the swarming mob. "Oh, and get my bike, won't you? I need to have it cleaned." The klokateers led me down corridor after corridor, the layout of Mordhaus being a seemingly endless maze of hallways leading to countless rooms. Finally, we arrived at Ofdensen's office; a very average looking door that led to a very average looking room. Disappointing for a man my father had been so careful to warn me about.
"Miss Vaduva… Please sit." The lawyer-esque man nodded towards a seat in front of his desk. "I insist." The klokateers behind me adjusted their rifles to let me know it was not a friendly request.
"Fine, fine." I unstrapped my bass from my back and plopped into the chair. "Don't get all antsy about it."
"Now it is my understanding that you have already killed several citizens and six klokateers on your way in here, is that true?" Charles stared at me from behind his glasses, his cold, calculating eyes trying to size me up.
"Afraid so." I gave a chuckle. "Hard to get to the gate without smashing a few heads, and your employees weren't all roses when I arrived. I was simply defending myself."
"You know you could have just introduced yourself like any other potential employee? This entrance is unorthodox, to say the least." Charles raised an eyebrow, looking displeased.
"If I had applied through paperwork, you would have never taken me seriously as an applicant… for either position." I smirked. "You know that to be true, and so do I." Charles was silent for a moment.
"Why do you want to become Dethklok's newest member?" Charles began with the easiest question, trying to further gauge my intentions.
"Easy… A passion for music imparted on me from my father. And let's just say Dethklok is very… special to me." I licked my lips, excited by the weight the hung on my words that was unknown to Ofdensen.
"Very well. And why do you want to be their bodyguard?"
"Easy… A passion for death imparted on me from my father. And let's just say Dethklok is very… important to me." I chuckled. I loved giving this man a hard time… Maybe a new hobby of mine?
"You understand the dangers that both of these jobs entail, correct? Death is around every corner." Ofdensen stated matter-of-factly.
"Believe me, I am aware. It is part of the reason why I was so excited for the openings." I leaned forward in my chair. "Death does not scare me Ofdensen." He paused, taking in my words and thinking deeply. I could see him debate his next move, conflicted between his distrust of me and my already impressive show of skill on his klokateers.
"Tell you what… I'll let you meet the band and audition. If they like you, you're hired." Ofdensen continued to stare at me expressionlessly. No doubt he was expecting the band to reject me as a bassist, based on my being a woman and their not valuing bass guitar in their tracks.
"It would be an honor." I stood up, hoisting my bass over my back and letting Ofdensen walk to the door, opening it and beckoning for me to step outside. We walked wordlessly down the halls towards Dethklok's recording studio. I could hear the beating of music even from down the incredibly long hallway leading towards the studio. Charles opened the door and I stepped inside, faced with the four remaining Dethklok band members staring up at me, surprised.
"We didn't order a slut." Nathan growled.
"Yeah, we're doing serious business in here! Why is she in here?" Pickles smirked, obviously heavily intoxicated.
"Oh come ons guys… There's always times for a breaks." Skwisgaar grinned, looking me up and down. I felt nauseous; disgusting pig. I looked towards the last remaining band member, Toki. He was silent, arms crossed, and not even looking at me.
"This is Lucia Vaduva gentlemen. She's here to audition as a bassist for the band." Charles explained. All but Toki burst into laughter.
"You must be kiddings me!" Skwisgaar howled. "Some sluts is gonna plays bass for us?"
"Who put you up to this?" Pickles chuckled.
"Come on Charles, this isn't funny. Stop wasting our time." Nathan glared at me.
"This is not a joke gentlemen. Please… it will only take five minutes of your time. If anything, it will be a good laugh." Ofdensen insulted me backhandedly. Oh? Was it going to be that kind of game? Very well.
"Now, now boys…" I tried to stay calm. "I promise I won't bother you for too long. I'll be in and out, promise." I cooed. Nathan raised an eyebrow.
"You ares from Romania?" Skwigaar asked, noticing my heavy accent. "Kinky…"
"Fucking… whatever." Pickles was still laughing and downing a bottle of whiskey. "Let's do it!" He cheered, throwing the newly emptied bottle at the ground and shattering it to pieces.
"Very well, please step inside of the recording booth Lucia." Charles showed me to the door, opening it, letting me inside, and locking it behind me. Clever Charles… anything goes wrong and you'll have me cornered like a rat. Or at least you think you do.
"Any requests?" I joked. Not a peep was heard from any of the band members.
"Shut the fuck up and play!" Pickles slurred after a moment of silence. I looked up through the window towards Toki, still silent with arms folded, having not even glanced in my direction since I had arrived. I had just the way to win them over… I took the bass off of my back and unlocked the coffin-shaped case it was held in. I strapped the instrument over me, plugged it in, and took a deep breath. Now… it was time to play. My black-fingernailed hands fluttered up and down the neck of the instrument, pulling off notes and melodies with incredible speed and precision. The tune I played immediately got Toki's attention, and he turned towards me in curiosity. "That's right…" I thought to myself "Now I've got you." After a few minutes I was done and not even breathing heavily. After all of the unorthodox training I had received from my father, I was able to do what I was born to do: serve Dethklok. There was silence as the band stared at me, slack-jawed. Even Ofdensen seemed mildly impressed, but mostly surprised.
"What… the fuck… was that?" Pickles was the first to speak up. "Did you see that shit?! Her hands was like fucking lightning-bolts!" Nathan was the next to speak.
"I didn't even know bass could be played well…" He admitted. "I guess Murderface sucked more than we thought."
"This bimbos gots good hands!" Skwisgaar chimed in. "She's gots my votes!" Toki was still silent.
"Well Toki, what do you think?" Charles asked.
"Y-yeahs… shes is goods." Toki nodded slowly, eyes fixed on me. I had him right where I wanted him…
"Very well." Charles looked both surprised and upset that the band had taken so well to me. "Follow me to my office to sign your contract. It will be only for a few months before you're open for a longer renewal."
"Sounds fair." I nodded. Perfect… father would be pleased…