Part 2
The trip to Matt's house had been uneventful, except for the glares of death from 'Will' and Taranee towards Lisa's back and the silent torture of upholding the loving relationship between Matt and Will on the Heart's part.
Soon everyone was settled in and the boys had tuned their instruments. Zafyra was sitting right next to 'Will' while Taranee sat on the other side of the Heart. The dark tension was palpable, but Zafyra smiled through it as if nothing was going on.
*God, you've got no idea how much I wished to be there with them.* Will grumbled.
*You are, in a way.* Zafyra replied dully, though she knew what Will was implying.
*I would appreciate it more if they didn't hate me.*
*I know, I know.* Zafyra replied annoyed. *With some luck we'll manage tomorrow.*
Will looked at Zafyra, wondering if things really could go that easily. The fact that Nerissa hadn't been calling on them was suspicious, but then again, Shagon had been lurking over Altermere Yan Lin in such a way that the woman could not warn the Guardians. Will knew he had to do it, but she just didn't like it to keep these things from her friends.
She was pulled out of her thoughts by an argument made by the other Angel of Malice and his host.
*Do you even know how to sing?* Matt argued.
*What's so difficult about it?* Shagon replied. *Just speaking on a tune. Can't be that hard. And I've proven I can play the guitar.*
*That's just lucky.* Matt retorted. *You're going to blow your cover.*
*Let me try before complaining.* Shagon returned, his eyes glowing green and his mask reappearing.
*WILL! Shagon's using violence!* Matt yelled while dodging a laser beam.
Will sighed tiredly while rubbing her temples while Zafyra giggled behind her hand.
*Do I look like his mother?* Will replied, but it was no use.
Matt and Shagon had engaged a brawl, but due to Shagon's older appearance, as well as being fuelled by Nerissa's powers, it was an easy win for Shagon.
*Fine! But don't blame me if things go wrong!* Matt muttered annoyed, clapping any dust off of him.
Shagon's mask disappeared and he grinned at Matt. He ruffled his hair, causing Matt to glare in return. Will and Zafyra exchanged a look before shrugging. It wasn't like they would be embarrassing themselves.
Matt grinned at the other band members, who nodded in return. He winked at the Heart, who reddened, but not out of embarrassment. The band had agreed on practicing "The Demon in Me" and Shagon, who was too proud to ask Matt for any advice, tried to rack his brain and found several lyrics from the song. Luckily the music that went along with it was complete and when the band started, he hoped he was doing it right.
The playing the guitar, as he'd shown before, wasn't bad, if not on Matt's own level of skill. His singing on the other hand... It could have been introduced as the next best torture device in the world. He was off-key, out of tune and apparently, he had the lyrics wrong as well.
Within his mind, Matt was laughing loudly without any mercy and Will was joining him, tears actually in her eyes because of the laughter. In the real world, Zafyra couldn't help but snicker while both Taranee and 'Will' raised their eyebrows. To them it seemed like one big joke. First Zafyra had the audacity to make demands and now Shagon found it necessary to embarrass Matt's image. 'Will' had been ticked off by it and she was planning on showing it to him, even if she had to disrupt the band's practice.
"Matt! Man, what's the deal?" Nigel asked, looking confused at Matt. "You're totally not... yourself."
"Yeah..." Matt muttered, trying to shut up his host within his mind.
*I wonder why?* Matt taunted.
*What's the deal anyway?* Shagon sneered. *I use your voice! At least it should sound as well as it does with you.*
*You just don't know how to sing.* Matt said with a shrug. *Now let me repair the damage you've done.*
*I don't think you guys have to repair anything.* Zafyra said, nodding at the outside world. *I think you pissed someone off with acting as if you couldn't sing.*
*He just sucks, that was no acting.* Matt muttered, causing Shagon to blast him with a laser beam and Will to chuckle.
All four of them turned their attention to the outside world, seeing how the Heart got up from the bench and took the microphone from Matt, sneering at him as she went.
"Maybe Matt's tired." 'Will' said, while only Shagon, Zafyra and Taranee got the sarcasm laying within. "He's been working so much, I guess his voice just needs a few minutes to recover."
"What do you suggest?" Nigel asked, raising an eyebrow as 'Will' took the microphone.
"Keeping you warm." She replied, though her gaze towards Matt was one that told him she had a fierce hatred for him. "Do you guys know the song 'When we stand together'?"
The guys nodded, including Matt. 'Will' raised an eyebrow and then glared at Zafyra, who coughed.
"Are you planning to sing for us, princess?" She sneered, though there was something that felt like a warning.
As if Zafyra did not want the Heart to sing. This of course, caused the Heart to be more defiant and she smiled sweetly at the demon.
"Why yes, unless the guys have any problem with it?" She replied.
The Heart could see Taranee's surprised glance and then turned to the guys. They looked rather surprised and weren't sure of what to say. They looked at Shagon for guidance and she could see Shagon's own annoyance reflected in his eyes.
"We're all yours." He said with a grin, apparently hoping she would fail just like him.
Too bad. Her Keeper was a rather good singer if she said so herself and, in contrary to what Shagon thought, she knew how to sing.
"One more depending on a prayer
And we all look away
People pretending everywhere
It's just another day."
'Will' glared at Zafyra while singing the first verse, who made it a point not to look back. Instead Taranee looked incredibly surprised as the Heart continued to sing.
"There's bullets flying through the air
And they still carry on
We watch it happen over there
And then just turn it off"
Nigel looked back at his band, who all grinned in return. They hadn't expected that Will could sing this well. Shagon was hiding his anger by playing the tunes Matt was directing.
*Didn't know you could sing?* Matt said surprised to Will.
Will blushed in embarrassment and twirled a lock of her hair.
*Well, you never asked and normally I don't sing for a public.* She replied.
*Unless you count the mirror as an audience.* Zafyra added, receiving a deathly glare.
*You sing great.* Matt said, kissing Will on her forehead.
Meanwhile the Heart continued singing.
"We must stand together
There's no giving in
Hand in hand forever
That's when we all win
Th-th-that's when we all win.
We must stand together
There's no giving in
Hand in hand forever
That's when we all win
Th-th-that's when we all win."
The Heart's eyes went back to Zafyra and she thought of all the things that had happened that day. Hay Lin had been in the cafeteria where Yan Lin had tried to tell her something, only for Shagon to interrupt it.
Hay Lin hadn't been herself that day either, seeing that her future boyfriend was hanging around with Uriah, something of which 'Will' wondered if Zafyra had played a role in it. And when talking about the family Lin, Yan Lin seemed more off than usual, even sinking in thoughts at moments.
"They tell us everything's alright
And we just go along
How can we fall asleep at night
When something's clearly wrong
When we can feed a starving world
With what we throw away
But all we serve are empty words
That always taste the same
We must stand together
There's no giving in
Hand in hand forever
That's when we all win
Th-th-that's when we all win
We must stand together
There's no giving in
Hand in hand forever
That's when we all win
Th-th-that's when we all win."
Unconsciously Zafyra had started to tap on the beat with her foot and sing softly, causing Taranee to look in surprise. Not only had the Heart surprised her with this song, but the fact that Zafyra was joining in was unnerving. It was almost as if she was singing, her voice matching that of the Heart.
For perhaps a second she could really see Will sitting beside her, instead of the glamoured Angel of Malice. A tear rolled down her cheek and Taranee found herself looking mesmerized at Zafyra. Had Zafyra really been lying when she cornered the Heart? The more the song continued the more Taranee seemed to wonder. She herself had found the hidden meaning within the song, for it was not only a warning to the two Angels of Malice, but also a way to keep the morale up. To help her remember that things would be alright.
But as she looked at Zafyra, she didn't find any offense. Shagon himself wasn't angered either. In fact, both looked longingly at the Heart, in a way Taranee often looked like when she was thinking of having Will back. Who were the Angels really?
"Right thing to guide us
Is right here inside us
No one can divide us
When the light is nearly gone
But just like a heartbeat, The drum beat carries on
And the drum beat carries on
We must stand together
There's no giving in
Hand in hand forever
That's when we all win
Th-th-that's when we all win
We must stand together
There's no giving in
Hand in hand forever
That's when we all win
Th-th-that's when we all win."
Taranee blinked a couple of times, finally realizing the song was over. The boys had been just as speechless and only when Zafyra started to applaud, did the others realize this wasn't a dream.
"Bravo!" Zafyra said and Taranee had again trouble with detecting the sarcasm.
The Heart on the other hand, gave her one dark glance that made Taranee shiver. Zafyra merely shrugged it off and moved a bit for 'Will' to sit down. The Heart evaded the pat on the shoulder, yet Zafyra managed to get a moment where the two looked into each other's eyes. Taranee could see how 'Will' clenched her fists and she felt her own heart thumb loudly as she too, looked into Zafyra's eyes. She knew they were glamoured, but they remembered her so forcefully of Will's eyes that she had to bite her lip.
"You sing beautiful." Zafyra said, again a hidden warning within her voice. "I just want to let you know that she'd preferred to keep it a secret."
Taranee paled. The last sentence was whispered so only she and the Heart could hear it, but she knew it was about Will. What did Zafyra know about Will?
The Heart gave her a wry smile.
"If it prevents breaking, I'll do whatever it takes." She replied softly but before Zafyra or Taranee could continue, Nigel patted her on her shoulder.
"Wow Will! You can sing!" He complimented, while the drummer and the keyboard player both gave their compliments of their own.
"Thanks." 'Will' replied, though blushing now.
"Matt, we might replace you for your girl!" The drummer joked, causing Matt to laugh as well.
Taranee could see a hidden anger, but it was more out of embarrassment than something else, within Matt's eyes. How come he wasn't angered about the warning? What was wrong with them?
"Let's see if I can beat her." He said with a smug grin.
*Oh, so now you want me to play and sing? I thought you could do that?* Matt said annoyed.
Shagon groaned.
*Come on!* He said. *If you don't, your girlfriend will take your place in the band. And I'll embarrass you even further.*
This got Matt to think. He glanced back, seeing both Will and Zafyra with a predatory grin on their faces. It unnerved him for a bit and besides, his pride was on the line as well.
*Fine.* He said as a guitar appeared around his shoulder. *But you owe me big time.*
Shagon shrugged with a grin.
*Sure.*
"Let's try 'The Demon in me' again." Matt said, strumming his guitar.
Meanwhile, almost on the other side of the city, Cornelia arrived at her house. She stormed in, searching for the one person who Zafyra could have met without them knowing. Her eyes landed on Kadma, who was sitting on the couch and watching television. Judging by the sounds, Kadma was watching a police drama. A feeling relief settled in her and she proceeded to walk to her room.
"Cornelia?"
Cornelia stiffened and looked down, finding that Kadma was still watching the television. How could that woman do that?
"Yes?"
There was a silence and Cornelia thought Kadma had forgotten about her.
"Is something wrong?"
Cornelia winced. Okay, she'd stormed into the house, but that didn't mean something was wrong...right?
"Why do you ask?"
"Because you look like it."
Cornelia sighed and placed her back on top of the stairs before walking down. She went to sit in a chair next to the couch and watched carefully how Kadma's eyes slowly turned from the television to her.
"It was nothing. I thought I'd seen Zafyra..."
"Did she say anything new?"
Cornelia raised an eyebrow. Kadma didn't seem surprised and Cornelia had a feeling she knew she hadn't met Zafyra in a fight.
"Do you know something I don't?" Cornelia questioned.
Kadma smiled at her.
"I know a lot more than you, but I think that's because of experience and old age." She replied gently.
Cornelia rolled her eyes in annoyance. Why was Kadma avoiding her? She wouldn't have a reason to unless...
Cornelia gasped and squinted her eyes at Kadma.
"You've met with Zafyra, haven't you?" She accused.
Kadma sighed and turned back to the television. She found the remote and turned it off before turning back to Cornelia. She crossed her legs and placed her hands on her knee, looking calmly at Cornelia.
"I never intended to." She replied calmly, a regal air around her. "How she knew where my location was is a mystery to me."
At this Cornelia blushed a bit, knowing she'd blabbed the secret out. But how could she know Zafyra was glamoured as well? She hadn't showed herself before and somehow Cornelia didn't like the fact that Zafyra had actually outsmarted them.
"What did you talk about?"
Kadma raised an eyebrow.
"Why do you mind?" She asked. "She did not ask for my hiding place, nor did I reveal it."
Cornelia bit her lip. It was obvious Kadma was still Kadma. Should she tell about Zafyra's demands?
Kadma's peaceful demeanour won it out from Cornelia's doubts and Cornelia told about what had happened. Kadma stayed silent during the explanation, but in the end she smiled. Cornelia raised an eyebrow.
"What's so funny?"
Kadma shook her head and grabbed again for the remote. The television flipped on and they were just in time to see the credits.
"I think it would be wise to hear her out." Kadma said. "For I think she might be different from what you think."
[A/N] Well... All this happened in 8:50 minutes of the episode, and I mean part 1 and 2. Which means this story has some more chapters than the others. Oh well.
I hoped you liked the change. I thought it fitted better than holding the real song.