Author's Note: So first off sorry for the delay with this chapter. I wouldn't usually say as such (after all you are reading this free of charge of course) but I intended for this chapter to be out by February, but all I had got done by that point (started writing this chapter around January) was a scene an half. Most of this was written/typed over the past two weeks. I've just been coming up against writer's block quite a bit, which when combined with not having much free time (and not being in a writing mood when having said free time) has resulted in this chapter taking ages. Hopefully it lives up to the wait?
Though I did admittedly write up and upload a 4000 word Avatar: The Last Airbender One-Shot in a single day a month or two ago, takes place just after the episode Bato of the Water ribe. No clue how I kept mananged that in a single, let along how my fingers didn't die from typing that much with barely any breaks in between. So you're welcome to check that fanfic out if you're interested.
Finally I highly recommend reading HiddenWitch890's fanfics Sanctuary and History Repeating. Utterly fantastic fanfics which were actually what got me to write a Hex Girls fanfic in the first place...though you can't read that fanfic since I took it down off this site because it wasn't that great (unlike this fanfic). Don't know how I forgot to recommend them in any of the past 10 chapters author's notes. Both Sanctuary and History Repeating definetly bring on the emotions quite a bit, and be warned are dark as hell at times (mainly the end of History Repeating). Though in between there's lots of lovely friendship and interactions between the Hex Girls, each perfectly in character. And oh just go read them already!
Also she and two friends (whose names I forgot, sorry!) actually did quite a bloody good Hex Girls cosplay, search InfiniteAngel Hex Girls cosplay on google and it should come up. Failing that they're on the facebook page for her cosplay. So I have to naturally mention that to. Would be amiss for me to not with me prior recommending her two Hex Girls fanfics and this being a author's note in a Hex Girls fanfic.
Anyway on with the much delayed chapter 11!
Four years after Luna's and Dusk's first day at Oakhaven High School…
"We've just landed at Sydney Airport and we're taxing over to gate 6 now folks." came a distinctly Scottish voice over an intercom system. "Please do not stand or open any overhead luggage compartments until we stop moving. And from me and the crew thank you for flying with us today and we hope you enjoy your time in Australia."
"Luna we're here." spoke the ever familiar voice of Dusk as Luna felt her self being lightly shoke.
"Ugh." muttered the keyboard player tiredly in reply as she opened her eyes to reveal the ugly blue fabric of the back of an airliner seat in front of her, complete with its faded grey foldout table. "What's the time?"
"How the hell would I know? We only just landed." answered Dusk in annoyance, before pointing at the small circular airliner window. "See."
Luna turned her head to look where Dusk was pointing. Sure enough out of the window she could see the runway of the airport slowly passing by, scorching sunlight shinning down on the ugly rugged black tarmac.
"You ok Luna?" asked Thorn, peaking her head round the side of Dusk to look over at her.
"Yeah, just the first time I've been on an airplane." replied Luna, feeling sick, tired and hot…and not the good kind of hot. Wearing a leather jacket and skirt on a trip to Australia was not a good idea on her part.
"Well don't worry, plane's just taxiing to the gate right now." said Thorn with a caring, almost motherly smile. "We'll be getting off soon."
"You haven't been on an airplane before?" asked Dusk in confusion.
"Yes." affirmed Luna in annoyance. "I thought I made that pretty clear when we were waiting in the lounge before takeoff."
"Dusk wouldn't have heard you Luna, remember she was too busy flirting with that hippy guy she was talking to." said Thorn with a giggle. "The one who kept going on and on about the Loch Ness Monster."
"I wasn't flirting!" retorted Dusk in annoyance. "He was just interesting to talk with."
"Oh sure. That's totally why you were fluttering your eye lashes at him." teased Thorn, receiving a punch on the arm from Dusk in return.
"Oww! What the hell was that for!" responded Thorn, her eyes piercing into Dusk.
"Being a bitch." replied Dusk with a smirk.
"Darlings you're really ruining the rhythm here." said Gus Boggs from behind them, his and Bond's seats being directly behind theirs in the centre of the isle. "Pray think first class of an aircraft is not the place for ratter tat tatting."
"Also known as stop fighting, please." added Bond, translating the manager's lingo.
"Fine." replied Dusk as she turned away from Thorn to look back out the window. Thorn merely let out a divaish huff in reply.
Great thought Luna. Now not only did she feel air-sick and tired, not only was the sun scorching hot but now Thorn and Dusk were also in pissy moods. Just what she needed on her first visit to the land down under.
Dusk frowned as she leant against the wall outside the women's toilet in the baggage collection area. She hated being in a crowd and that's just what the baggage collection area was, one big crowd of anonymous unknown people with all the noise which came with it.
Hopefully Luna would finish throwing up soon so the two of them could head back over to Thorn, Gus and Bond by the baggage conveyor belt things. Being in a crowd by herself always made her feel nervous, and a bit threatened.
Not that anyone was going to approach or harass her or anything, the wide birth they kept taking to avoid her causing Dusk to smirk. Definitely looked like she picked the right outfit for the trip.
The drummer had her blonde hair untied from its usual pigtails and was wearing a simple black t-shirt, studded black leather gloves, leather pants done up with a studded leather belt, her usual studded choker and to top it off a pair of black platform boots for that little extra bit of height. That combined with her usual frown and glare no doubt made her look unapproachable, if not intimidating to most of the passing crowd.
It also served as a disguise, not that Dusk saw any point at all in needing one. Last she checked most of their fans lived in America, Britain or Canada and there had been barely announcement that they were playing at the Vampire Rock Music Festival. So it wasn't like they'd get swarmed by fans or something stupid like that, but Thorn had insisted so Dusk had gone along with it.
Much like how Thorn had insisted they go to an interview later in the day that Gus had arranged with some TV channel, despite how much Dusk hated interviews. They always felt like interrogations, almost as if she was on trial.
A few minutes passed and then the crowd began to thin, most people having already picked up their suitcases and exited the baggage collection area. Now Dusk could clearly see Thorn, Gus and Bond standing over by one of the baggage conveyor belts, by the looks of things waiting for the final suitcase to appear on the machine.
Her sister was wearing, as usual, a form fitting black dress. Though unlike usual this dress wasn't V-necked at all and was done up by a zip and several buckles which ran up the front of the dress, each buckle done up tightly in order to accentuate her body. The guitarist was also wearing black elbow length buckled fingerless gloves, said buckles making the gloves fit her slender arms snugly, her usual red bat necklace, black and red striped tights and a pair of black platform boots near identical to the pair Dusk was wearing. The outfit was a lot less revealing than Thorn's usual clothing, though at the same time it still made her look striking and beautiful.
"Ugh." said Luna as she exited the toilet, snapping Dusk from her prior thoughts.
"You ok now?" asked the drummer caringly.
"Yeah, mostly." answered Luna in reply. ""The janitor isn't going to be later though when they see the mess they have to clean up." Dusk unable to stop herself smirking in response to the comment.
"We've collected all the suitcases now girls, ready to head through the security gate?" interupted Bond, who had appeared silently next to them. Or at least silently enough that Dusk hadn't noticed her.
"We're ready." replied Dusk eagerly, happy that they'd soon be exchanging the crowded airport for a cozy luxury hotel.
Two hours later…
The ensuite bathroom of the hotel room was quite sizeable, complete with all the amenities a girl or guy could want. A sink complete with a separate wash basin for washing one's feet, a large mirror complete with a long table beneath it for applying makeup, a shower with plenty of room to move around in, a bathtub so long that even Lurch of the Addams Family could lie down in it uncramped, hot tub and the obligatory toilet hidden off to the side of the room by a cubicle surrounding it, so not to have it ruin the picturesqueness of the rest of the bathroom.
Thorn couldn't help but smile at the sight. This was one of her favourite things about being a rockstar outside of the concerts, getting to live it up in the best of the best hotels. Even if most of the hotel's interior designs were hideously modern in style.
Oh sure it hadn't been like that in the beginning when they had to stay in relatively average hotels, but now that they'd become pretty successful they could afford it…or rather Decade Records was willing to pay for it because, as Alastair joked "Because you're worth it."
Naturally though what she was interested in was the hot tub. She had come to adore hot tubs, especially after the tiring trip to Australia. Sitting next to Dusk on a plane for however many hours it had been was quite the trying experience. Since as much as she loved Dusk, whom had come to be like a sister to her, the drummer was way too easy to annoy or anger and fidgeted all the time.
Then after stripping down Thorn stepped down into the hot tub and sat on the curved seated bit that ran around the edge of the tub, sighing as she felt the heat and steam of the hot tub embrace her slender body and she lay back against it. Her now partially wetted raven black and red hair clinging to her shoulders.
Admittedly the guitarist didn't make to full use of the facilities of the more luxury hotels they stayed in. Her sisters did but Thorn preferred to spend her time relaxing in the hot tubs. Mainly since she found the steam helped her vocal cords much like her potions did whilst required less effort to set up on her part. Though occasionally she did whip up a bit of perfume to dump in the water. The smell of peppermint and cloves combined with the soothing heat and bubbles did absolute wonders for both her throat and the rest of her body.
That and nothing was better after a concert or long trip than relaxing in a hot tub, letting the exhaustion and stress in her life wither and bubble away into nothingness.
When Alastair and her bought a house together someday it was totally going to have a hot tub, many many hot tubs…
Knock knock knock!
"What is it!" yelled the guitarist in what would be visible irration, if another soul had been present, at the sudden knocking on her bathroom door.
"You've got a parcel Thorn." answered the calm voice of Bond from the other side of the door.
"Oh." replied Thorn, still annoyed at being snapped from her trance of relaxation. "Just leave it on the vanity table!"
"Will do." replied the roadie.
The guitarist didn't even wonder for a second who the parcel was from. It'd be Alastair, it was always Alastair. He took the whole "treat your girlfriend nice" a bit too far. Not that Thorn minded of course, she just hoped the gift wouldn't be yet more jewellery this time around.
There was only so much jewellery a girl could have, let alone want, and her gifts from her British boyfriend had exceeded that number long ago.
Forty minutes later…
To my beautiful rockstar, Sally
I sincerely hope you enjoy your time in Australia. Beautiful country, as I know from when my family has visited there once in the past. Lovely beaches, sparkling seas, world famous tourist attractions and a unique ecological landscape unlike anywhere else on Earth. Ok it is filled with wildlife which wants to murder you but everything has its flaws. Think of it as a holiday of sorts, a bit of rest after your recent tour across America and Canada.
I myself shall be getting little rest in comparison. University is quite the time consuming effort, quite the amount of boredom too though I suppose I did not pick the most exciting degree in the world. Quite the comparison isn't it? You become a rockstar whilst I'm aiming to become an architect. You'll be making the entertainment and I'll be making the venues you entertain in haha.
Anyway I do hope you like the dress I sent you with his letter. Yes I know its purple, a colour you are not super fond of on you, but I thought it'd look good on you. Plus it'll surprise your fans and the music media, seeing you wear something which isn't black. Hopefully it's the right size too, since I admittedly forgot your measurements. And if not maybe it'll fit Luna haha!
Anyway hope you enjoy your time in Australia, especially the Vampire Rock Music Festival itself (both preforming at and watching the contestant unsigned bands).
Love from Alastair
Do remember to apply/use sunscreen whilst you are there. Don't want to ruin your ethereally pale skin now do you?
Thorn sighed as she put down the letter after finishing reading it for the sixth time. She couldn't help it, she missed him greatly.
The gothic musician had seen little of her long time best friend and boyfriend since she'd begun her career as a rockstar. Bar Christmas there was no regular time she saw him. Sure Alastair had regularly visited Oakhaven in the summer, on break from university, but Thorn had regularly been on tours in the summer. And whilst now that he had finished university her boyfriend came home to visit more often Thorn was often on tour or preforming at a concert somewhere.
Of course Thorn had made an attempt to fix the problem of herself and Alastair being apart so often. After talking with Gus Boggs, who was still their faithful manager after all this time, she'd offered Alastair the opportunity to be a roadie of sorts. Not to replace Bond Kuro of course, Thorn wouldn't dream of replacing the yellow clad girl, but to aid and spread out the workload.
The two of them would be able to see each other every day. Thorn had been sure Alastair would accept the offer.
But he didn't.
Alastair's reasons were perfectly reasonable and understandable. He already had several construction projects under way in Russia that he was involved in, as the architect. He's not the most social person and would hate the loud noise and atmosphere of a concert. He would distract her, and her distract him, from their respective tasks/jobs. He knew little to nothing about the music industry and roadie-esc stuff.
It was just that Thorn had naively come to and accepted in her mind the conclusion that Alastair would accept the offer. She was always far too foolishly optimistic.
"Thorn! We're heading to the interview in ten minutes!" called Bond from outside her hotel room door, startling the rockstar as she did so.
"Okay!" called back Thorn, having been snapped from her train of thought.
The rockstar then glanced over at the dress Alastair had sent her along with the letter, the object of clothing lying on a vanity table below a mirror. It was like her usual black dress in every way, except it was purple. Even the size was the same, surprising Thorn that he remembered her measurements so perfectly. It was sweet in a way, maybe a bit creepy too that her boyfriend remembered them so accurately but sweet none the less.
Though the dress really wasn't the sort of thing she wore. She wore dark coloured clothing. The dress however was a light shade of purple, not even Luna wore colours that light.
Alastair had however gone through all the effort of buying the dress, getting the size right and sending it all the way to her. It'd be a bit rude not to at least wear it a couple times, especially since Thorn had been the one to suggest if Alastair was going to buy her gifts he buy her clothes instead of yet more jewellery.
Thorn then headed over and picked up the dress. She'd at least wear it to the interview, Alastair would likely see it then and see she appreciated the gift. Since Thorn knew her boyfriend watched most of their interviews.
And if nothing else it'd provide a different talking point from the usual dull topics and questions.
Maybe it'd even help divert attention from the whole silly "Thorn of the Hex Girls is a Vampire" conspiracy theory the tabloids just didn't want to let go of, thought Thorn as she opened her mouth and bared her fangs at the mirror in preparation for the interview, smirking slightly at the thought of the unintended compliment. It was quite flattering that people thought she pulled off the vampire look so well, even if that caused them to harp on about a rumour that was obviously not true.
But silly tabloid rumours aside Alastair had said in his letter to think of the trip as a holiday, and holidays meant relaxing. So why not relax and try out her new dress in public?
Luna let out a yawn, stretching her arms above her head as she did so. The keyboard player couldn't help it, she was still tired from the flight. She hadn't slept a single wink unlike her fellow Hex Girls. Airplanes and her did obviously not mix well at all.
Though as far as studios that Luna had been interviewed went this was a pretty nice one. She was sitting on comfortable long red couch which curved slightly, as did the large glass window behind it. The view was magnificent, the entirety of Sidney harbour laid out in front of you…or rather behind you as it'd be for Luna throughout the interview. To the left of the couch was an as of now empty chair, presumably where the interviewer would sit. Meanwhile on the opposite end of the room were several cameras alongside their cameramen, sound devices, network staff hurrying about, thousands of wires criss-crossing across the floor and Gus and Bond talking off to the side of the leftmost camera.
Seated to Luna's right was Dusk, who was fiddling with her pale hands. No doubt the drummer was nervous, much like she had been in their past interviews. Not that it was Dusk's fault at all, she just wasn't a person who was that sociable outside of her close friends and that was perfectly fine…admittedly it was a bit of a handicap for a rockstar but lessened by the fact that she was the drummer and backup singer, and not the main lead.
Seated to Luna's left was Thorn in her new purple dress, the guitarist sitting in such a position that gave off the air that she was showing both the new dress and herself off. Which knowing Thorn was definitively the case. Thorn loved and took the newfound attention they now received with ease. The black and red haired rockstar practically basked in it the attention, her movement and mannerisms in the studio as vampiric and confidently seductive as she was on the stage.
Needless to say, based on research done by Gus Boggs, Thorn was the most popular of the three Hex Girls amongst their fans. Not that Luna minded. That kind of attention was not her thing, and neither was flocks of guys, and the occasional girl, almost drooling at the sight of her Luna's thing either…unlike Thorn where it was totally her thing.
Though Luna couldn't help but feel Thorn was trying to steal her thunder a bit by wearing purple version of her usually black dress. That was her colour!
Of course she knew the feeling was silly, it was just a fashion change. Not like Thorn was going to dye her hair orange as well…right? Right?
"Ready to be in-ter-viewed darlings?" asked Gus, putting an almost fabulous emphasis on interviewed and snapping Luna from her thoughts.
"Yeah." replied Dusk, looking up from fiddling with her hands with a timid fanged smile.
"Obviously Gus, interviews are always killer fun." replied Thorn confidently as she raised her hand to examine her fingernails, for what felt to Luna like the hundredth time.
"When's it start?" asked Luna, noting the lack of anyone who looked like an interviewer in the room.
"Whenever the silly dilly decides to grove their way over here." answered Gus, beginning to shake his hips slightly as he spoke. A mannerism Luna barely noticed now, having got used to how their manager commonly seemed to dance to music only he could hear.
"You mean they aren't here already?" questioned Thorn in annoyance, her scowl revealing the shining ends of her fangs.
"Yes darling, that's what I meant." replied their manager, smiling apologetically at Thorn. "I know it ruins the tempo, but there's nothing I can do chicklet."
Thorn merely let out a divaish sign in response. Luna knew her sister was used to being the one calling the shots, and thus hated to have to wait on someone else.
Not that Luna minded. The wait further delayed the trip through the outback they'd be embarking on later, a trip which none of the Hex Girls were not looking forward to, given how badly each of them faired in hot sunny weather.
Luna then smirked to herself. Looks like the three of them were too vampiric in their looks and mannerisms for their own good!
Four minutes later…
The interviewer had finally arrived and the interview was about to begin, much to Luna's happiness as she was sick of Thorn's constant complaining for the past four minutes.
The interviewer was an Asian woman named Nancy. She had dark eyes, long black hair woman pale skin that was on par with the paleness of the Hex Girls themselves. She was wearing a simple knee-length red skirt, black leather jacket black high heel ankle boots. Seemed like a nice person from how she'd apologized upon arrival…well that or she was trying not to lose her job. The later the more like of the two options.
"And 3…2…1 and we're live!" called one of the various staff littered around the studio.
"Good morning Australia." greeted Nancy, body turned to both face and smile at the camera. "I'm Nancy Chang coming to you live from our studio in Sydney, with none of than the Hex Girls!" Nancy motioned to the three of them as she finished, cameras following suit.
Each of the Hex Girls then smiled at the camera in what could only be called a vampiric fashion, their fake fangs shining in the bright studio lights.
"So girls what brings you to the land down under?" asked Nancy, holding out the microphone towards them as she spoke.
"Well Nancy we're here to open this year's Vampire Rock Music Festival, as the only signed band there." answered Thorn with a fanged smile. "And afterwards we'll be playing at concerts in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth."
"We actually intended to enter the contest a year or so ago, but couldn't since we discovered it's only for unsigned bands." explained Luna, feigning disappointment. "So it'll be nice to get a chance to play at the festival after all."
"And all those attending the festival will be getting a special treat." said Thorn, a fanged smirk gracing on her porcelain features. "The debut performance of what will be our latest single, as of yet unreleased."
And our first public performance of Getaway Yeah, thought Luna. Not that it was worth mentioning considering the song had already debuted on their last album, Ghoulfriends.
"Oh how exciting." replied Nancy excitedly, vague enough that Luna was unable to tell if her remark was genuine or not. "Anything you can tell us about it?"
"It's a lot simpler than our previous songs." explained Luna. "More memorable though, has a nice hook to it."
"Though Luna and I only worked on the melody for it. Dusk was the one who singlehandedly wrote the actual lyrics." added Thorn as she pointed over at Dusk, her movements simple yet salacious.
"Really Dusk?" asked Nancy as she held her microphone out towards Dusk, the focus of the cameras following suit.
"Yeah…but it is a pretty simple song." replied Dusk as she fiddled with one of her pigtails, a hint of nervous stutter in her voice at becoming the focus of both the cameras and interviewer.
"But more catchy." added Thorn, rescuing Dusk from the cameras as they immediately focused back on the raven haired beauty. "Hell of a lot of fun to sing too."
"Well I'm sure everyone attending the festival will be excited to see its debut." said Nancy, her tone transitional. "There was a rumour about there being an in-band argument during the recording of the album. Any truth in that rumour?"
"There was a brief disagreement at one point." answered Thorn, putting a noticeable emphasis on the word brief.
"But we got over it." added Luna dismissively, not pleased that the minor argument she had had with Thorn was being brought up in such a public way. Now she understood why Alastair's father refused to attend interviews. "After all friends may fight but true friends always make up stick together in the end."
"Especially when it was an incredibly minor incident." said Thorn, her choice of words sounding like something Alastair would say.
"Words of wisdom right there folks." said Nancy causing Luna to blush incredibly lightly in embarrassment. "Anyway people have been wondering what the story is behind the song The Meddling Kids, which debuted on your Ghoulfriends album." said Nancy, taking the hint and swiftly moving on from the previous topic. "Care to share what it is about?"
"Oh it's just about some people we met once." answered Luna as the microphone was still pointed at her. "Back before our first concert."
"Yeah they helped out with a bit of a trouble the town was having. Nothing big really." said Thorn dismissively, a bit too dismissively for Luna's liking.
Then again what else would they say? Hey these people helped us defeat an evil ghost witch who was attempting to destroy Oakhaven and the entire world? Of course not, that'd make them sound nuts!
Luna then blanked out a bit as more questions were asked, letting Thorn bathe in the spotlight whilst Luna did the disinterested rockstar routine and gave short brief answers if asked.
She did occasionally, usually when she remembered the Witch's Ghost incident, wonder how Mystery Inc. was doing. Luna hadn't seen in them since a couple days after the incident, when they left after their van got repaired, thanks to it slipping everyone's minds to exchange contact details.
"Lovely dress you're wearing by the way." commented Nancy to Thorn, snapping Luna from her disinterested daze.
"Thanks Nancy. My boyfriend bought me it." said Thorn as she ran a hand through her hair, purposely so it fell elegantly back down into place.
"Boyfriend?" inquired Nancy, her lips curled in a smile.
"Yeah we've been together for quite a few years now. Though we knew each other long before we began dating." answered Thorn happily. "He's the one who bought us our instruments in the first place, got them as a Christmas present to each of us."
"So he was the one to spark the idea to form a band?" asked Nancy, Luna glad the interviewer appeared to be moving away from the subject of relationships.
"Nope." answered Dusk bluntly.
"We would always work on projects and assignments in music class together. Where we all worked great together musically." elaborated Luna. "And we'd entertained the idea of forming a band a few times, but couldn't afford the instruments ourselves."
"Though in the beginning it was more of a hobby. Every weekend and some weekdays we'd get together and practice, just a fun thing to do together." added Thorn. "We didn't consider pursuing it as a career till way later."
"Ah quite the humble origin to the band then." said Nancy with what appeared to be a genuinely kind smile, before pointing the microphone over at the two backup singers. "So what about you Dusk and Luna? Any boyfriends?"
Luna felt incredibly put on the spot and embarrassed by the question. Sure the answer was no, but she couldn't just say that live on TV. She was getting to understand why Dusk hated interviews now, the drummer's description of them as 'interrogations' as apt indeed.
"No…but they're looking." answered Thorn with a wink at the camera as she butted into the question.
"Well you heard it here first folks." declared Nancy as she turned to face the camera.
Meanwhile Thorn turned to give a fanged smirk of amusement at her sisters. Luna just frowned back at her, Dusk no doubt glaring back.
"Anyway that's all we have time for today." said Nancy to the camera, Luna thankful that the interview was drawing to a close instead of producing yet more intrusive questions.
"Hope you enjoyed this interview with the spooky stars who were our guests today." continued Nancy, the three Hex Girls waving goodbye and baring their fangs at the camera as it panned over to face them as the interviewer spoke. "And from all of us at the studio we hope you have a great day Australia!"
Two days later…
"Wait you're not coming with us?" asked Luna in confusion, as she stood on the pavement outside the hotel beside Dusk and Gus. In between them was three suitcases stacked in a pile, with their instruments and Thorn's guitar stored safely in their cases next to it.
"Why not?" asked Dusk with slight hostility in her voice.
"Well dears Thorn insisted, and I do mean insisted, I take a brief holiday rather than come with you." answered Gus Boggs, before leaning over and whispering in their ears. "Pray think she wants the festival be a more casual thing, just you three like the old days."
"Ah." said Luna in reply, understanding what the manager meant. Bond had already left for the aforementioned beach herself, also convinced to take a holiday by Thorn.
"Besides it means I get to spend an utterly disgusting amount of time at Bondi Beach." said Gus with a big smile as he began shaking from side to side once more.
"So who's taking us to the concert?" asked Dusk cautiously.
"A man called Russell; quite the handsome darling. He's the business partner of Daniel, organiser of the festival." answered Gus as he looked down the road. "Should be here soon."
"He better be." said Thorn, startling the two eco-goths and band manager with her sudden presence behind them. "Better not be like that interview again."
"I honestly can't see why that tittle delay ruined your tempo so much chicklet." said Gus as he spun around to face her, almost as if he was doing a dance move.
Thorn looked like she was about to reply when a grey SUV pulled up and stopped on the road in front of them. The right hand window then rolled down to reveal the driver (because Australia drives on the correct side of the road, anything else would be quite frankly Napoleonic…please say someone got that joke), a smiling lightly tanned blond haired guy who looked to be in his late 20s or early 30s.
"Hello Russell darling, lovely to see you again."
"G'day guys." replied Russell in greeting. "Boot's open, you can put your suitcase and instruments in there."
"Why so hasty? asked Gus as Luna and Dusk picked up the box containg the blonde's drum kit and carried round to the back of the car, Thorn following behind with her guitar case…of course she'd opt to carry the lightweight piece of luggage. "Plenty of time for a chat."
"I would talk more Gus but I'm in a bit of a rush." replied Russell as the Hex Girls deposited the two instruments in the back of the vehicle, after opening the boot door of course.
The car boot had been almost empty, though the objects which were in it struck the orange haired young woman as being a bit odd. A of currently blank projector slides, two coils of climbing rope and a tub of costume makeup.
Then again the costume makeup was probably just being picked up for one of the preforming bands, same for the slides and the climbing rope was probably for the stage hands so they wouldn't fall whilst setting up the stage scaffolding. Nothing nefarious on Russell's part.
"Why so?" asked the Gus in confusion as he picked up two suitcases and carried them round to the back of the car whilst the Hex Girls went back for the remaining suitcase and instrument.
"There's been an accident on the route I was planning to take out of Sydney, so we have to take a detour which goes quite out of the way." said Russell as Thorn helped Luna carry her encased keyboard to the boot whilst Dusk took the suitcase. "Need to leave quick if me and your spooky girls don't want to end up sleeping in the middle of the desert."
"Pray think you are well reasoned Russell." said Gus as he opened the back seat door of the SUV to allow the three gothic musicians to get in to it.
"See you Gus." said Thorn, now seated in between Dusk and Luna…like usual. "Enjoy the holiday."
"I shall Thorn dear. You darlings take care of yourselves now." said Gus with a smile before he shut the door, sealing the three Hex Girls in the thankfully air conditioned vehicle.
"You three comfortable back there?" asked Russell as he turned to look back over his shoulder at the three of them.
"Fine." answered Luna, smiling back at their blonde haired driver.
"Well then let's go to the rock show." said Russell as he turned back around and started the SUV's engine up, each Hex Girl waving at their manager through the window as the vehicle began driving away.
Six hours later…
Luna sighed as she watched yet another bush go past the car window. They'd been speeding along the faded tarmac road through the dust and sand of the outback for what seemed like years. At first it had been cool, seeing an entirely new landscape and enviroment for the first time. Now however it was just dull and boring
"Just twenty kilometres to go now girls." said Russell, snapping Luna from her rambling thoughts. Out the window she could see a large sign confirming the driver's remark:
Vampire Rock
20 km
Finally they'd arrive at the festival site. She couldn't wait for the upcoming week, a week of life far away from a city or town.
Just herself, Dusk and Thorn and Mother Nature…well and the competing bands, stage hands and two concert organisers too. Regardless nothing would ruin this upcoming week.
Author's Note: A brief final minor note. Thorn's deceased mother's name has been changed from Veronica to June in all prior chapters. I felt it fits better and is a nice little reference to how the ever amazing Jennifer Hale voiced both Thorn in Scooby Doo and the character June from Avatar The Last Airbender. No other changes to any of the previous chapters were made other than the correction of spellings and typos (though I imagine I still missed some).