Author's Notes: Chapter edited and corrected by Scott Fellman.
Spica Pov - September 28, 2008
"We're here, we're really here!" I squealed joyfully as I shook Primrose. She was squealing with excitement too.
"We worked ourselves to death, but we managed to get those tickets that were being given away at our work," I said excitedly.
"I know! I've never worked so hard, but it was worth every second!" Primrose said excitedly. I nodded vigorously. Primrose and I were sitting with the rest of the live audience for the television show. We were attending one of the most famous talk shows in the underworld, which had recently started gaining popularity, as it was the only one hosted by a succubus and in Pentagram City. So it was something special.
And now we were here.
The tickets were free, but most were given away by lottery, and unfortunately, neither of us managed to get one. However, The Astrarium and The Garden had some tickets to give away. A small competition decided who got them, and after a lot of hard work, we were lucky enough to win.
And we were here for a specific reason—the special guests.
"Good night to everyone in the underworld and everyone watching. I'm Dahlia Valentine, and as always, this is Pentagram Tonight!" Dahlia exclaimed cheerfully, and the entire audience erupted in cheers and applause. Dahlia let everyone calm down for a few seconds while chuckling softly. "I know, I know, you're all very excited. And I'll admit it, so am I."
"You all know why you're here. And you also know that we have a schedule to keep. But this is literally impossible to wait for. So we're going to skip our entire schedule and go straight to what we've all been waiting for! "
"A big round of applause for the cast of K-pop Demon Hunter!!" Dahlia exclaimed loudly. Everyone, including me, started shouting and clapping loudly as the cast of K-pop Demon Hunter entered.
Many of us had been waiting for this since the series premiered. But this event had been delayed. Mainly because Oppai Dragon Show had premiered around the same time, and they took the lead with the live shows. So, rumors say that the K-Pop Demon Hunter cast wanted to wait until things settled down before doing so. Especially with such important and distinctive people who would be difficult to reunite.
Lady Leviathan was the first to enter, greeting everyone animatedly, followed by a Verosika who walked confidently, and finally a more demure but equally animated Enid, who seemed excited to be there but wasn't used to cameras and show programs like the previous two.
Next came Lord Lucifer, greeting everyone with a slight smile, followed, to our surprise, by Lord Michael, who greeted us all—mostly devils—with a charming, friendly smile and not a hint of annoyance. Behind them, Raiser Phenex confidently emerged.
And finally, Lady Serena Prince appeared with an almost resigned expression that vanished in a split second. If I weren't trained to pick up on such subtle details, I surely would have missed it. But Lady Serena's expression softened into something kinder and warmer as she began greeting us all.
If they had made a huge racket before, now it was a cacophony of shouts and excitement. Everyone present, or at least a large part of us, were citizens of Pentagram City. With a glance, I could also spot several members of The Astrarium, like myself, now a member of The Garden, in the audience, not counting Dahlia.
Dahlia's almost fervent adoration of Lady Serena was typical of a succubus in The Garden. But unlike most, she controlled herself immediately. She had a job to do: present. And she was good at it.
So she exchanged lively greetings with the entire cast present, and then they began to take their seats. Seven seats were set up in two rows. The top row held Riser, Verosika, Lord Lucifer, and Lady Leviathan. The bottom row held Lord Michael, Serena, and Enid. All in that order.
"Ah... It's truly wonderful to be here with you all. Thank you for coming to Pentagram Tonight, all of you, with your very busy schedules. Especially to you, Lord Michael, it's truly an honor to have a seraph on my show." Dahlia said, sounding genuinely honored. Lord Michael smiled brightly.
"The pleasure is all mine, Miss Valentine. I must admit I didn't know what a talk show was, but I'm truly thrilled to be here," Lord Michael said with a broad smile. Dahlia sighed earnestly.
"It's a pleasure to have you here," Dahlia said, smiling. "It's an honor to have you all here. It's a truly impressive cast. Two Satans, high-class demons, a really famous up-and-coming singer, our beloved and illustrious leader of Pentagram City, and finally, who I'm told is the mastermind behind this whole wonderful series that has us all, supernatural and mundane, completely lost in awe." Dahlia said almost reverently as she looked around at everyone. "It's a shame Lord Vali couldn't attend."
"I apologize to all the Baby Saja fans watching," Dahlia said, looking apologetically at the camera. "Even so, I really must ask. Since we're talking about the wonderful cast of this beautiful series, how did this happen? How did this union of such important people actually come about, and somehow we ended up with this masterpiece that is K-pop Demon Hunter? " Dahlia asked excitedly.
"Oh, it was all Serena's fault. She blackmailed us all," Lord Lucifer said playfully, making Dahlia chuckle slightly. "Just kidding, just kidding," Lord Lucifer laughed. "Serena asked us for it. She and Enid had already created the whole plot and even some of the songs. She asked for some of our time and gave us a private presentation. After hearing some of the main songs, like 'How It's Done' and 'Golden,' or even 'Soda Pop' and the other Saja Boys songs, we were completely captivated."
"I must admit that I'm a highly talented pianist and composer, and I was completely won over. It was simply impossible to refuse after hearing those songs," Sirzechs said with a sigh of defeat, though a glimmer of excitement could be seen in his eyes; he really enjoyed singing and participating in the show, definitely. Dahlia laughed softly.
"Oh, there's no need to be humble, Lord Lucifer. I think we're all aware of the famous Oppai Dragon series, and that you're the composer behind the song," Dahlia said playfully.
"It's a hobby," Sirzechs insisted cheerfully. "It was something I did for my dear sister and her pawn." He chuckled slightly.
"And it's something we're working on!" Serafall interrupted happily, bouncing with excitement. "We're trying to convince Serena to make a villainous appearance in Oppai Dragon!" she exclaimed gleefully. I, like everyone else in the room, gasped in surprise and excitement. Serena grimaced as she crossed her arms.
"My schedule is complicated," Serena said defensively.
" Oh, that's a shame. I, like everyone else, am sure we wanted to see you as a guest villain. Your role as Jinu in K-Pop Demon Hunter is ruthless. But Jinu comes across as an intelligent, charismatic, somewhat funny, and, at the same time, deceptive demon. I'm sure you'd be splendid as a more traditional villain, like you would be for a children's show such as Oppai Dragon," Dahlia said with a sigh. I could only nod vigorously.
"Don't worry, we're trying to convince her," Enid assured, excitedly giving a thumbs-up.
"Then we'll have much more to thank you for than just the creation of K-pop Demon Hunter." Dahlia laughed happily. "Although, it's not really just that. Aside from your work in the hospitals, which is simply impeccable—curing wounds and diseases once thought incurable, like The Sleep Disease —we also have to thank you for the technological and musical boom the underworld has been experiencing."
"From the creation of social networks and cell phones that are attributed to you, to the creation of a record label like Pentagram Records, which, so far, has taken under its signature dozens of solo singers and musical groups from all backgrounds."
"It's simply wonderful to see," Dahlia said, almost reverently. Enid blushed slightly.
"Oh, no, no, no, no. I-I didn't do much. Serena and the other girls helped me with a lot of it. I don't know much about technology, much less programming. Or even how to manage a record label. I... I just contribute some ideas that pop into my head, and they're the ones who make my silly ideas a reality." Enid said, embarrassed.
"I wouldn't call them silly," Dahlia said gently. "Ideas are where it all begins. They're the most important part. You've changed so many lives. According to the latest surveys, over 95% of young demons, and 73% of adult demons, use at least one of the social networks you've created."
"Pentagram Records and its artists have completely dominated the charts for most-streamed and best-selling songs and videos in recent months by a wide margin. And K-Pop Demon Hunter has definitely swept across all recorded audience levels, not only in the underworld but also among various supernatural groups."
"And all of this came from your ideas. It's really important," Dahlia said firmly.
"And she's right," Verosika interrupted, standing perfectly upright. "She's the only reason I am who I am today. Just a few months ago, I was a simple succubus, singing in bars or private rooms for a few coins. Pentagram Records gave me the opportunity and the help to become who I am now. So I'm truly grateful," Verosika said softly. The entire audience erupted in cheers. Enid blushed deeply and squirmed slightly. Serena, beside her, giggled, took Enid's hand, and playfully kissed the back of it.
"Truly impressive," Dahlia said with a smile. "But it seems Enid won't be able to answer any more questions for the time being, so let's move on to the next ones—this one's for Riser. Everyone knows about your rivalry with Lady Serena in the Rating Games. You've challenged her week after week since her debut, and now you're working here with her. Has there been any trouble, any setbacks in your relationship?" Dahlia asked with an almost knowing smile. Riser snorted.
"What happens in the Rating Games stays there. I don't see the rivalry as a negative thing. In fact, trying to beat Serena in the Rating Games has helped me and my Peerage team improve a lot."
"And in front of the camera, there were no accidents. Our personalities might clash a little sometimes, but who doesn't? We get along well, and we work well together. I'm sorry to disappoint everyone who was expecting some dramatic fight behind the scenes," Riser said with an almost arrogant smile. Dahlia sighed dramatically.
"And there goes our juiciest gossip." Dahlia sighed ruefully before laughing. "And you, Lady Serena? How have you taken all this? You used to be important. You have a truly impressive list of accomplishments. Like founding Pentagram City, creating Distracted Globe, your victory against the Cadre Kokabiel, the White Dragon Emperor, and against Khaos Brigade, and more."
"There were advertisements featuring you in Pentagram City and other cities. You're the main model for Narcissa Black's clothing brand. She's the leading designer and seamstress in Pentagram City, and quite famous in other cities as well."
"But now, how does it feel that it seems to be multiplying, and that there are images of you all over the underworld? And that everyone is talking about you? "
"Is it difficult? Does it become overwhelming? It's common knowledge that you're not a public succubus; you're very private and an enthusiast of research and all that. So, how has your life changed these past few months?" Dahlia asked, leaning forward. Serena sighed wearily.
"Fans are amazing. And I truly appreciate all the support they've given me. But sometimes it's just too overwhelming. Until less than a year ago, I was a nobody. Literally. I was just another succubus in the brothel, hiding in the library with my nose buried in books or my face pressed against a cauldron of potions in some abandoned room I'd stumbled upon."
"Nobody knew who I was. I barely had two or three people I could call friends and with whom I spent time, and nobody else knew me, at least not in a positive way. Comparing my life then to now has been an incredibly radical change."
"I don't think I'll ever get used to it. But it's certainly nice. Although half the time I feel like turning invisible and escaping," Serena said with an awkward smile. Dahlia chuckled softly.
"Wow. That sounds like such a radical change. And it just shows everything you've done in such a short time, especially since you've helped so many people," Dahlia said gratefully. "But let's not dwell on that. We're here to talk about K-pop Demon Hunter." Dahlia quickly changed the subject. "And I've had a question for a long time. Lord Michael, as one of the four great seraphim, what's it like acting as a demon? Were there any issues with your role as Saja Romance? How did you come to accept the role in the first place? " Dahlia asked excitedly.
"Actually, I was ambushed," Lord Michael said, amused. "Serena, Azazel, Sirzechs, and Serafall practically surrounded me and made it look like a joint effort by all three factions." Michael laughed, and Dahlia chuckled softly.
"And we'd do it again!" Lady Leviathan squealed happily.
"And I'm glad you did," Lord Michael said cheerfully. "It was... refreshing and fun to be able to act as Saja Romance. To participate in something that has made so many people happy all over the world is something I'm very honored to have been a part of, and I don't regret it in the slightest." Lord Michael said with a bright smile. Literally bright, then he smiled even more mischievously. "Besides, being a demon wasn't so bad." Michael winked playfully. Dahlia just sighed happily.
"That's wonderful, Lord Michael." Dahlia smiled before bowing slightly. "Now, tell me, who in the group is best at what? Funny anecdotes, I want to hear everything!" Dahlia said excitedly.
With that, Dahlia took the lead, and the conversation lightened. They chatted back and forth, sharing experiences and anything else. They exchanged jokes and inside jokes. And it was exciting.
It was really fun. There was even a Q&A session for the audience. Unfortunately, I wasn't chosen to speak.
"Oh, that's wonderful." Dahlia laughed at Lady Leviathan's anecdote. " And I know I shouldn't ask. But I'm just as excited, like everyone watching, to find out what's going to happen in the next episodes."
"At this point, six episodes of the series have already premiered in the last three weeks, and each week had a double premiere. With each episode lasting approximately 40 minutes, they've given us over an hour of entertainment and wonder a week. " On behalf of all the fans, we thank you with all our hearts," Dahlia said, sounding practically faint. We all cheered in agreement.
"Oh, believe me, Dahlia. I had to fight tooth and nail to get the double premieres! Serena wanted a normal, boring premiere of one episode per week! It would have been torture! " Lady Leviathan interrupted playfully.
"And we are all grateful to you," Dahlia said, sounding completely serious. The audience cheered once more.
"A regular premiere would have sufficed," Lady Serena said with an adorable pout, crossing her arms. "The only reason you wanted double premieres is that you're too impatient." She finally snorted. Lady Leviathan didn't seem to care about the accusation; she just puffed out her chest proudly.
"Of course, Serena! When you create something as beautiful and amazing as K-pop Demon Hunter, you don't just release it weekly! It's physically impossible! It will be torture for our fans!" Lady Serafall said mockingly. Lady Prince rolled her eyes, amused.
"It would be torture for you," Lady Serena retorted. Lady Leviathan laughed amusedly.
"Of course," Lady Leviathan said, not even trying to hide it. Lady Serena just snorted and shook her head in amusement. Dahlia laughed.
"I can see they get along really well," Dahlia said, her eyes sparkling, then leaned forward. "But as I was saying, chapters 5 and 6 have just been released. And I was absolutely and completely captivated by the development of Rumi and Jinu's relationship."
"The script is simply... incredible. The way they talk about their past, their present, their weaknesses, and how they can overcome them together as long as they have each other's support. The playful banter and the adorable date they had at the aquarium are simply amazing. And then they finally closed with FREE and what I'm sure was the most magical kiss on supernatural television today."
"So my question is for you, Lady Leviathan and Lady Serena. What was it like acting out that wonderful moment? What were your feelings? What does the future hold for our new favorite TV couple? I'm torn between wanting to know what will happen to our characters and trying to hold back so I can watch it live and be completely blown away."
"It's so difficult." Dahlia sighed in pain. Serafall laughed softly.
"Oh, it was wonderful." Serafall sighed. "As you know, the song lyrics were written by Serena, and the script by Enid. They both did an excellent job portraying the struggle of both characters with their past and present, with their duty and obligations, and with each other."
"And that's wonderful. It was the result of wonderful writing. I'm really pleased with the result we delivered for the cameras," Serafall said with a broad smile.
"Oh, I'm sure the script and the lyrics had a lot to do with it, but I'm sure the chemistry between you two is entirely your own doing, especially your performance as Rumi; it's simply incredible. The lyrics, the chemistry, the looks, everything feels so... real."
"Is there something we, the audience, should know about the two of you?" Dahlia asked flirtatiously. Lady Leviathan laughed softly.
"Oh, believe me. You saw it; Serena is really attractive and gorgeous as hell. It's really unfair, I'm telling you. And I can tell you, you haven't seen anything yet. If you haven't fallen in love with her yet, you'll be obsessed later. I assure you. Especially me, since I have to act like Rumi. It's impossible not to be captivated when she sings directly to me."
"Unfortunately. I must deny any romance between us. We're just very good friends," Lady Leviathan said, winking at us. The audience groaned in disappointment as Lady Leviathan laughed.
"And you, Lady Serena? What are your thoughts? Is it possible something will happen? As we know, you have a lovely, adorable harem. You're quite the player in that area. Do you plan to expand it?" Dahlia asked, addressing Lady Serena. Serena chuckled.
"I totally agree that my harem is lovely and adorable. But this is the first time I've heard someone else call them that when Bellatrix is involved," Serena said playfully. Dahlia's eyes twinkled slightly.
"Then they're all fools," Dahlia said playfully. Serena laughed.
"Yes, they are," Serena said, her eyes glowing warmly. "And what about Serafall and me? Honestly, nothing's happened off-camera. She's a good friend. Although she's talked about our lyrics and script, she's also contributed a lot to the series."
"She's extremely talented. And she makes sure everyone is comfortable. She's the first to arrive and the last to leave. She trains, rehearses, and performs almost twice as much as everyone else, including me. And she's never complained about it."
"It's... truly inspiring to watch her work. And absolutely adorable how excited she is about everything. But she's just a close friend whom I cherish," Lady Serena said with a slight smile. I could see Lady Leviathan blush slightly as she shifted in her seat. Lady Serena didn't see her since Lady Leviathan was in the row above her, so Lady Serena just winked playfully. "For now," Lady Serena said with an amused smile. We all squealed loudly.
"Oh, Lady Serena, you've been keeping the fans entertained for weeks. You really shouldn't play with our hearts." Dahlia sighed ruefully. Lady Serena just chuckled softly. "And since we're sadly nearing the end of our time here, I have a request, only if you're comfortable with it."
"But they could sing 'Free' for us. I think we'd all love to hear them sing live," Dahlia said, slightly excited.
"Of course!" Lady Leviathan squealed happily and stood up without hesitation. Serene sighed, looking defeated.
"Okay, we'll do it." Lady Serena sighed. The crowd cheered excitedly as we watched Lady Leviathan and Lady Serena get ready. The crew gave them microphones and prepared a small space on the stage where they could both sing comfortably.
Serafall took the microphone in front of her, separated from Serena, and began walking away.
K-Pop Demon Hunter – FREE.
Serafall – Rumi – normal.
Serena – Jinu – Cursiva.
Ambos – Negrita.
♫ I tried to hide, but something broke.
♫ I tried to sing, couldn't hit the notes
♫ The words kept catching in my throat
♫ I tried to smile, I was suffocating though
♫ But here with you, I can finally breathe
♫ You say you're no good, but you're good for me
♫ I've been hoping to change, now I know we can change
♫ But I won't if you're not by my side
Serafall began walking, singing with conviction. Her voice resonating through the studio, and we were once again captivated, sighing with pleasure at it. Serafall circled Serena and finally looked at her, smiling.
♫ Why does it feel right every time I let you in?
♫ Why does it feel like I can tell you anything?
♫ All the secrets that keep me in chains, and
♫ All the damage that might make me dangerous
♫ You got a dark side, guess you're not the only one
♫ What if we both tried fighting what we're running from?
♫ We can't fix it if we never face it
♫ What if we find a way to escape it?
Serafall slowly approached Serena, staring intently into her eyes without ever looking away. Serena remained still, watching her with a complicated expression.
♫ We could be free, free
♫ We can't fix it if we never face it
♫ Let the past be the past 'til it's weightless
Serena looked at Serafall, licked her lips, and abruptly turned away, running her hand through her short hair before clutching her chest and beginning to sing.
♫ Ooh, time goes by, and I lose perspective
♫ Yeah, hope only hurts, so I just forget it
♫ But you're breaking through all the dark in me when I thought that nobody could
♫ And you're waking up all these parts of me that I thought were buried for good
♫ Between imposter and this monster, I've been lost inside my head
♫ Ain't no choice when all these voices keep me pointing towards no end
♫ It's just easy when I'm with you, no one sees me the way you do
♫ I don't trust it, but I want to, I keep coming back to
Serena moved away from Serafall as if she were suffering, pacing back and forth before, after the last few lines, she turned and looked at Serafall with hope and affection. Then she approached her once more as they both began to sing at the same time.
♫ Why does it feel right every time I let you in?
♫ Why does it feel like I can tell you anything?
♫ We can't fix it if we never face it
♫ What if we find a way to escape it?
♫ We could befree, free
♫ We can't fix it if we never face it
♫ Let the past be the past 'til it's weightless
They had gotten too close. Slowly toward each other. As if inevitably drawn to one another. Serena had to lean in slightly, but it wasn't a problem. They both began to sing into a single microphone, sharing it before Serafall extended a free hand in front of them.
♫ Oh, so take my hand, it's open (Free, free)
♫ What if we heal what's broken? (Free, free)
Serena gently took Serafall's hand, and the two of them drew their faces closer and closer. Serena was more than a head and a half taller than Serafall, but that wasn't a problem when Serafall began to fly slowly. They both seemed to have forgotten about the show and the audience. It almost seemed as if they were singing the only song for each other.
♫ I tried to hide but something broke
♫ I couldn't sing, but you give me hope
♫ We can't fix it if we never face it
♫ Let the past be the past 'til it's weightless
They both finished singing, their mouths almost touching. The entire audience held their breath, leaning forward to stifle squeals of excitement. They stared at each other, breathing slowly. Serena was the first to clear her throat and took a half-step back. I could see a faint expression of disappointment on Serafall's face, which I almost thought was fake since it lasted only a fraction of a second. And maybe I was projecting, because I felt genuinely disappointed.
I, along with the audience, groaned in disappointment.
"And that was Free, dear audience! Sung by none other than Lady Serafall Leviathan and Lady Serena Prince! I hope you enjoyed it, but unfortunately, our time is up. So, thank you for watching Pentagram Tonight! I'm Dahlia Valentine and that's all! A round of applause for the cast of K-Pop Demon Hunter!" exclaimed Dahlia as she appeared between them and raised both hands in excitement.
I sighed, feeling tired but completely satisfied and excited. It was a shame they didn't kiss, but it was a good show.
Author's Notes: I really wasn't sure whether to write this or not. But it caught my attention, and I wanted to experiment, and strangely enough, it was more complicated than I expected, but somehow it worked out, I think. I hope you liked it.