Just noticed I'm not consistent with details in this story and I apologize for that. I was never really structured when it comes to storytelling plus I know I take loooong breaks in between chapters so I forget a lot of what's going on. I'll be keeping notes about these details and I'll try to revise the best I can. Thank you all for your patience
The air was warm but the breeze stayed cool, perfect for their night out, perfect for the scenic spot. It was still early in the night before the show so the spot worked out perfectly. Stacked high 6 paces away were emptied beer cars, some laid crushed on the ground holes dotted in them with small brass pellets. One of Sonny's friends, Dennis, had brought along a B.B gun for everyone to take turns aiming at the stack of cans. It was Athenas turn, but in her drunken state Dennis helped her out with aiming. Margaret was leaning against the car with Sonny's other friend Angel, someone she met before at her cousin's recording studio.
Her cousin, Andre knew almost everyone in the underground scene of music, and because of him, Margaret got into making music. On the first day she went to go live with her mom's side of the family she met her older cousin in his makeshift studio out in the back, there she learned how to make beats of all types with her cousin. There she met his friends, customers, and all bc types of music styles from rap to folk to gospel even. He never discriminated, she was taught to accommodate because Andre did. However, at times Margaret regretted this adaptation. Not only was it hard to switch genres almost entirely for others but to listen what kind of people were they as most of them knew nothing about mixing. Angel was no exception. He had tired Margaret since she got in the car with him talking arrogantly about his musical vision. He wasn't in Sonnys band so Margaret couldn't give a shit less, but she knew Andre's rule: If you're good at this, you gotta make money. Otherwise dont bother to come in the studio.
Listening to him she had to drown out a lot of the trash he was saying that didnt relate to the track she would be building and mixing for him. She just had to help her cousin out and herself out, they had to make some money out of their hobby because Andre wouldn't allow it. She still looked up to him even though her was 17 only 2 years older than her. She had to suck it up.
"Okay okay listen Angel," She interrupted one his rambles, "I know this shit is important for you love, j know how it is making music for people who keep hollerin at your name but you gotta understand many of yous comes to me and Andre for the same shit and it's not easy. Lucky for you, I'm charging you less so no matter what my offer still stand at $200 take it or leave it. Or shit buy one off Andre for double that."
It seemed like the cut and dry talk worked for Angel as it seemed like the only thing that Margaret said that made sense to him that night, "Oh shit really? Damn man why is Andre such a fucking tight ass alright you know what? $200 ain't that bad but you think I can add like a chorus?"
She almost rolled her eyes but had to keep a straight business face despite Angel being a dumbass and having one friend in the car with her crush and the other shooting off pellets with some poor boy trying to help her. She wanted to have fun...but was better home trained to have fun after business was sealed. If her wanted a chorus he'd get a chorus. "You got some of it written or am I gonna have to pull one out my ass for $70?" She asked straight to the point.
"Nah nah! I already got the lyrics written down here, here!" Angel took out of his pocket a folded piece of notebook paper and handed it to Margaret. "Its a short verse but I need a girl who could sing that because the way i got it in my head she's gotta have that vibrato and reach that fucking high note you know what I'm talking about?" Margaret wasn't a lightweight she counted 12 beers on Angel alone, so she hoped it was the alcohol making him talk like a dumbass.
Taking a glimpse inside the car in the back seat sat Melody and Sonny together showing each other their music tastes. Each 3 minutes Margaret would hear a different song coming from either ones phone. Remembering how Melody used to sing she wondered if she still did, taking a risk, knowing Margaret would be assed out on options she took Angel's request.
"Alright yeah man I'll have somebody sing your part. But hey! Remember now its $270!" She reminded firmly.
"Yeah yeah yeah man hey I'm not gonna try to gyp' you or anything you and Andre are my favs!" Angel said downing the last of his beer.
"Sure man whatever." Margaret said eyes squinting. She didn't like Angel much since he was kind of a finicky kiss ass but couldn't stress over it. $270 was coming her way anyways.
Snuggled in the backseat, Melody could feel herself being buzzed so she still had good conciousness on her side and proved herself wrong. Sonny wasn't a bad person not even a person pretending to be nice. He was geniunine and she couldn't be anymore happy.
"Hey so I wanted to ask but you sing?" Sonny asked softly.
"O-oh well yeah sorta," Melody said caught off guard, " Never got any coaching or classes though she I dont think I'm that good at all. Just sing really once in a while."
"Ahhh i see, yknow what I used to be like that. Still am. I would sing for fun and the only proper training i got was being in choir classes in high school." Laughing, Sonny went into his gallery with a beer in hand and showed Melody his picture.
"She that in the middle row on the right? Yeah that was me geez i was scrawny." He said as he continued to laugh it off. Melody smiled he looked the same as he did as a kid he had the most cheerful smile she ever saw.
"Wow hahaha, you look so tiny back then." She grinned.
"Yeah I was short up until freshman year," sonny said as he put his phone away, "So tell me, when did you start singing?"
Taking a deep breath melody began, "Ohhh I dont know really I just know I've been singing for all my life. I remember my mother singing to me but...that was a long time ago."
"Oh so it's just you and your dad then?" Sonny asked carefully, not wanting to upset her.
Thinking of a way to escape telling sonny she was living in mordhaus now, Melody explained, "Both parents passed on when I was very young. All i have now is an older cousin taking care of me. Weird how it happened too. I...had a bad caseworker. I think someone caught on to him because he then put me in the care of another caseworker and a day later my cousin came to pick me up."
"Sorry, I didnt mean to bring up old wounds." Sonny said gingerly.
Melody shook her head, "Its alright. No harm done. Just in a much better place now. How about your fanily?"
Sonny took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair, "well...its not all that good. I got kicked out when I was 16 my mom couldn't help me so I just wandered the streets. I was in a bad place for a while. Even now I have these periods of time where I'd rather be alone or things in my life aren't going so well. I was gone not too long ago but I'm glad to be making music again and making friends."
"I understand," Melody said, "Its nice to know someone like you. I feel I can relate to you. Being in and out of homes kind of ruined me."
"I dont think so." Sonny replied, "Nobody is considered "ruined" just because of what they been through. You cant place value on somebody's life like that. Were all invaluable."
Thinking through his words, Melody began to understand. However, after feeling unwanted and a burden for so long made her think that way. And itd be a while before her feelings would change.
"Hey Sonny!" Dennis called out, "The ginger here shot all my bullets, let's start heading to the show?"
Shrugging Sonny climbed over to the driver seat and started the car. Everyone piled in and took off for the night downtown.
The time was 2:35am, most of the bands already left the venue that Melody and her friends decided to stay at. Sonny had promoted the show and brought in most people there to him and his band play. Afterwards the owner allowed and after-party to take place at the venue when the show brought in large amount of revenue. Melody thought the scene was sketchy and strange at first but now learned that many of the people Margaret and Athena surrounded themselves with all understood each other. It felt almost like family to Melody.
"Psst, Mellow," Athena whispered in a drunken haze into her friends ear, "Sonny wants you to sing him a song. Sing him a song!" She then giggled loudly. Melody became frightened
"No no no," she replied in a slur, "I caaan't right now. Do you see how red my face is? And in front of all these people?" She squeaked out.
"This venue has a separate room, I'll tell him for you to meet you in there." Athena grinned wildly, hopping off her chair to the other room to make sure no one else was there.
Melody heart began to race. Panicking all she could think of doing in the moment was to look down to her hands rubbing against her lap to dry the sweat that came pouring out. She couldn't handle this type of setup. Her friends have been going too far with her boundries lately and Melody wondered if they forgotten about her nervousness or just didn't care anymore. Thinking it could be the latter since they both grew up without her in a free world...a world without Vincent and cruel words he spoke.
Noticing how her eyes were getting blurry with tears, Melody quickly wiped them away hoping no one saw her. Taking quick glances around she saw everyone drinking and having their own conversations, she was in her safe zone - nobody noticed. Looking over back to where Athena was, she was talking to Sonny. He stretched as Athena kept talking then suddenly he interrupted with an "Alright, Alright, I understand!" Before turning his attention towards Melody.
"Hey kid, back to our talk earlier, you sing?!" He said aloud reaching out for her hand, "Dont worry, Athena let me know already *HICCUP* about you being shy so." He drawled out in a low tone. Melody didnt like the idea at all and wished she didnt have to, but didnt want to cause a scene while seeing Margaret and Sonnys friends all having fun. Silently sneaking away into the other room Melody wished she wouldn't regret this.
The room was dark but as soon as the door closed the lights flickered on, two chair followed by an old Pool table Sonny hopped on to. "I think the guy here has more shit inside another storage unit so couldn't fit this in there. So I guess I'll lay down!" Sonny said with a drunken delight as he flopped down on the table.
Taking a chair to sit down, Melody tried to be calm in this situation. Alone. With a man she liked. Who she knew was older. In a room. All alone.
She felt this couldn't be right and began to gather enough courage to leave and go home, with or without her friends. "Hey Sonny, look I dont wanna do this. This just seems wrong. I want to go home." She said quickly and bluntly. Sonny took a peak from under his hat that layed on his face, taken slightly aback from what she said.
"What are you talking about?" He grumbled out. Taking a closer look at her disconcerting face, his last remaining brain cells sober enough to make the connection realized how she was seeing everything...
"oh...OHHHH YOU THINK-" straightening up from the pool table Sonny tried to pull himself together and explain, "I asked Athena not too long ago about your singing since we last texted and wondered how good you were. Dont take this the wrong way now, I wanted to hear you!"
Relaxing tensed shoulders, Melody unfolded her arms. She didnt need to be in the defense. Clearing her throat, she spoke after a stretch of awkward silence.
"So...I'm kind of drunk right now. So sorry if I sound choppy." She explained.
Sonny shrugged still sitting on the Pool table he took off his dark green jacket and his hat. Rustling loose strand soft hair back, he responded, "Dont worry about it. It's all cool."
Remembering one of the songs she showed Sonny earlier in the evening, she began to trace out and sing.
"I don't like you, but I love you
Seems that I'm always thinkin' of you
Oh, oh, oh, you treat me badly, I love you madly
You've really got a hold on me
You really got a hold on me
Baby, I don't want you, but I need you
Don't wanna kiss you, but I need to
Oh, oh, oh, you do me wrong now, my love is strong now
You've really got a hold on me..."
Sonny felt her singing in his heart. It reminded him of his past, and even though he didn't want to start crying in front of his friend he held back his sorrow and reminisced on good memories, including the ones that ended badly for him. His life wasn't something he wanted but knew all he could was move on.
"Hey Mel," he interrupted, "You sound wonderful."
She paused hearing the way he said those words. Looking in his eyes he was in another world, all she could see was a sadness she knew all too well.
Looking up he met her eyes, putting back on his hat he said, "You think you could help me out with a few songs?"
"Of course!" Melody responded loudly, "I-I mean yeah I can." She blused. Making eye contact with him she felt his genuine kindness in his light brown eyes. "So when can we start?" She smiled softly.
The entire car ride home felt like dream. Waving good bye to Dennis and Angel, definitely to meet again someday in a recording studio. Margaret had explained her setup with Andre, Melody initially didnt like the idea of her friend vouching for her without asking. However she remember Nathan's words: "Find your voice."
To find her voice, Melody knew she had to take both Sonny's and his friend offer. She felt it was right to be involved after missing out so much time being happy. Feeling she owed it to herself to be as carefree as she could. Especially being in the position she was in being related to Charles.
Pulling up back to Margaret's house, all three girls got out the car and said their goodbyes. Melody stopped my sonny's driver side window to say her own goodbye.
"So you'll text me the day and time and such?" She asked tucking her hair back.
"Yeah sure will and such." Sonny mimicked jokingly, both smiling.
"Whatever," Melody laughed, "Dont be surprised if I show up late on purpose."
" oh I already expect you too on account of your "watchman" eyeing on you." Sonny responded referring to her cousin who he had no idea how powerful he really was. It made melody nervous in a way for sonny's safety. She would have to act extra carefully from now on keeping her tracker at Margaret's and not telling the whole truth to Ofdensen.
"See you later Sonny." Melody said waving goodbye as she walked up to her friends waiting for her at the door.
Seeing their drunken smirks and eyes that teased the idea of their friend crushing on a boy they knew well enough made Melody roll her eyes. She knew they were well beyond in their plans to have Melody be around Sonny more often.
In the early morning, the unmarked black car pulled upbkn front of Margaret's house with Melody waiting outside with Athena. Neither one of the girls got enough sleep, Melody hoped Charles wouldn't hear about her tired face, the slightly dark bags under her eyes or worse, she hoped she didnt smell of the liquor and alcohol from the night out.
"Alright Mellow get some sleep." Athena mumbled in a sleepy haze. "See you next time, well be recording."
Hugging her friend back in a farewell Melody had to ask before she went, "I need to ask you something. I know we were having fun last night but please dont push me too much to talk to Sonny so much, I mean you and Mags have had experiences with crushes already but this is my first one. Please I'm asking you as a friend."
Nodding her head, Athena realized that she had pushed her nervous-ridden friend too much last night and forgot where they all came from. "Sorry girl, I was having too much booze and fun I didnt really take the time to think how you felt."
"That's okay but another thing before I go." Melody said sighing, "You think Sonny and I can actually be a thing? I mean he is older than us-"
"I'm going to tell you something but you're not going to like it." Athena interrupted, "I'm telling you this from the heart because something like this happened to me and Mags before. Get into details later, but we're not gonna allow you to get reckless with an older guy that shit can get fucked easily. Take it from me. We like hanging out with Sonny because hes never tried to pull shit with us. We just wanna have fun and he's cool with that. So sweetheart, have your crush on the guy, but know that he wont cross the line okay? Were all being innocent with you here."
Looking back into her friends green eyes, it showed a little bit of pain mixed with a stern undertone. Athena was never the type to get serious, usually being very laid back. Melody knew to take her advice seriously as her friends only wanted to protect her.
"I understand," melody replied, "Let me know if anything comes up. I'll see you later 'thea."
Gathering her bags she got into the waiting car, the klokateer took off back to Mordhaus in the early sunrise.
"The answer is no. Dethklok can't afford an "assload of fireworks that will out explode every other firework shows nearby." For the 4th of July." Charles said across the conference table. Weekly meetings with the band turned almost every other day as ideas for the holiday Toki and Muderface would come up with. The rest of the band would of course join in.
"Listen, Listen, that shits sounds all nice and good Toki, but I got a better idea." Nathan grumbled loudly.
"No, no idea that could jeopardize another lawsuit wont take place. Hosting/financing an already agreed upon city firework show will take place. Theres no room for debate here." Charles Cooley retorted.
"Ah jest hear us out Charles," Pickles said, "Look we can still go to that event, but Skwissgaar and I thought of something pretty cool; we'll have a power outage so that way our fireworks show will be the best."
"A power outage? On purpose? For the entire night?" Ofdenson asked with a cocked eyebrow.
"Yeahs wes going to lit all the Tijuana fireworks we bought. All 300 of thems." Swissgaar responded.
"You guys that wont happen. Causing a power outage throughout the city and even worse the entire county for the night will cause people to die not only in the streets but in hospitals as well-"
"Well thosche people are gonna die anyway," Murderface blurted out, "They probably wont be able to schee fireworks, fuck them."
"Answer still no sorry guys, were almost out of time for this meeting how's the album going?" Charles said straight to the point.
"Uhhhhhhh..." Nathan sighed out groaning. Soon one after another band mate started to groan in unison.
After 15 seconds of the groaning, Toki asked, "So waits no power outages? How's is that's any funs?"
"...answer still is no." Charles said firmly. "Anyways tomorrow well have to have a meeting with Knubbler and god I hope he can speak on all of your behaves. You're all dismissed!"
Stumbling through the hall Melody convinced the klokateer she could make to her room alone. Balancing from the wall to wall she made her way towards her room when suddenly she saw a door open. It was the conference room.
Standing as still as she can, Dethklok made their way down the opposite end. None seen her. Sighing out as soon as they were out of sight in the elevator. Melody briskly walked faster to her room.
"I gotta go before he-"
"Oh Melody, welcome back home."
Looking behind her, it was Ofdensen coming right out of the conference room. She froze in place not turning around.
"H-hey Charles..." Melody stammered softly
"You okay?" Charles asked observing that his cousin was still frozen in place not facing him. Walking over he put a hand on her shoulder as she was leaning against the wall. Not wanting to confront her in the hall, he allowed here to walk forward to her room. " you dont look so good."
Opening the door to her room Nelody knew he noticed her cold sweats, her dark undereyes, slight unbalanced posture, and even worse she feared was her smell. She had hoped spraying herself down in perfume and waiting outside with Athena would make the smell disappear, but had a feeling he knew.
Charles tried to keep count how many times dethklok stumbled back into mordehaus, the studio, the conference room, and press meetings, drunk and high after a night of partying. None showering signs of sobriety. None without painkillers, water, and Gatorade. Charles knew what he was seeing with melody was true. It felt strange to him knowing Dethklok was all business but she, she was personal.
Taking a step back from Melody after she sat on her bed, not looking at him in the eye. Charles knew the best thing he could do was direct discipline.
"I'm going to ask you again. Are you okay?" He said sternly standing next to her. She couldnt hide it any longer, the anxiety knotted with the vodka and beer and all melody could do was to quickly stumble to her personal bathroom and throw up in the toilet bowl.
"What did you do last night?" Charles demanded arms crossed.
Melody, head still in the bowl responded annoyed, "I dranked last night with my friends. Okay?" Sitting on the bathroom floor with her face in her hands, her headache began to give her another wave of dizziness. She wanted to sleep but knew she couldn't until the conversation was over.
"Well, I guess you regret it now." Charles said as Melody groaned in response.
"I delt with enough groaning this morning now stand up and get to bed. I hope you learned from this. It's one thing you disobey me but to put yourself at risk is just insulting." Charles continued helping his cousin into bed when suddenly Melody shouted back at him.
"Insulting?!" She yelled. "What's insulting is how you'll baby them when you talk to them but with me you give an attitude!"
Startled by her tone charles knee-jerk response was, "Because they have the potential to send the world into a shit-hole. You dont! You're a teenager."
"Oh you mean the Church of black predicting that? Whatever that is you just want me to be afraid of this world, or save the band a scandal if the media finds out about me!" She screamed back.
Giving her space by standing in the doorway charles let her continue, realizing it was a mistake giving her all the information too early. He figured prior to her coming her it would be better if she knew all at once. Like ripping off a band aid, but charles knew when he was wrong.
"You're right." He said calmly. "I only told you a partial truth but partial lie."
Confused and getting sick to her stomach again, melody began to get more frustrated with her robot cousin.
"The truth is, I cant really let you know what Dethkloks really up to. That's for later. Of course I added those ridiculous details of a cult and armageddon type of power that dethklok holds in order for you to not be shocked enough to learn the actual power they hold in this world. I know you didnt want any of this...neither did I so were gonna have to make this work."
Laying down in bed Melody listened to what he had to say. She had to otherwise he wouldn't leave. "I understand." She responded. "You have every right to not trust me with details so you throw me curveballs to scare me into not saying anything. If its secrets you wanna keep then keep them. I understand, I'm blood, but I am just like any other stranger in this world. I can pose a risk to dethklok." Looking away from her cousin, she couldnt help but to feel hurt. The only family she knew still had his reserves about her.
"Should've just left me with vincent."
After a moment of silence Charles couldnt deny her words but also couldnt verbally accept the facts either, "I'll leave you only to sleep off your hangover." He said quietly leaving melodys room.
Closing her eyes, Melody couldn't care less about the sting in her heart. All she felt really now was the sting in her stomach.
Abigail sat in Ofdensons office consulting him after the episode with Melody happened. She knew he would have to soften up on her and treat her with love. But trying to convince Charles that, Abigail knew it would be tough.
"Sir, she's a young girl. I remember drinking at 14 with some friends and their families and turning out okay. And you gotta remember she has been through tough homes, we still haven't gotten in contact with yet because you've been holding it off. So really what's going on with you?" She urged.
Sitting at his desk ofdenson twiddle his thumbs nervously before taking a sigh, "I'm afraid for her. Going through painful memories again in therapy...I dont wnat her to blame me. More importantly I thought giving it to her straight about the church of blackklok would make things easier...but I had to play it off as something ridiculous. And what you did in the recording studio with Nathan was also pushing it. We both made mistakes but we cant further this into a problem. It's best we leave it alone for a while otherwise things can go wrong." Clearing his throat Charles sadness began to come to light to him. Melody mattered to him now on a different level than Dethklok could.
"Charles, we all make mistakes. All I'm advising is to not be too hard on her. She's just a kid. I mean, you checked her Ring she did stay at her friends house all night right? She was safe drinking or not."
Smoothing out her pleated skirt abigail stood up, "And remember I'm always here to talk. I know knubbler and the rest of them aren't really the listener types. I'll see you next meeting."
Charles nodded as abigail left. Staring out the windows of his office, Ofdensen spaced out into the cloudless blue sky. He wondered why she lived and the other members of his family, including his own father, didnt? Why was she just showing up now? And what could Selecia want with her?
Suddenly his death phone rang. Picking it up he answered, "Hello, Ofdenson."
"We need to see you. You know where to find us." And man on the other end said horsely before hanging up. Charles knew who it was. And knew he had to plan out something for his departure long enough until he would come back.
