tongue of the serpent ➵ a.b.

Chapter 8: Linger of Lust

"Great job, guys!" Jake says loudly, smiling. And I thought he was shy.

Ashley makes his way towards Kane and points at him seriously. He was wearing sunglasses. Ashley, I know your obsession, but we're inside. "What'd I tell you about those chords?" he says almost too seriously.

Kane nods and looks ashamed. I smile at him and he livens up.

There was no need for Frey, Cadell, or Astaroth on stage. Kane, not only plays bass, but plays guitar better than Cadell and Frey combined. Though Kane was our bass player, he was great at guitar. Since Three Cheers for Five Years was an acoustic song, only Kane was needed.

From the corner of my eye, I see Jake smiling, Ashley pouting, Jinxx neutral, Andy mixed, and CC just being crazy. Is that his default mood? Frey is preoccupied with his phone and Cadell is watching me and telling me happy thoughts with his eyes. And then there's Astaroth...Alone in the corner.

"You two are gonna kill it tomorrow!" Andy announces, making me giggle.

CC smirks, knowing what was up. He better not try and play any games around me. I'll kick him back to Africa! Or wherever he's from...

Ashley sighs inwardly and turns to the guys. "I'm starving."

Frey begins to laugh and screams, "I am too!"

I begin to use my power. "Give me food or I kill you all," I say into the mic, sending my voice through the surround sound stereos. "I am God!"

Andy puts his left arm forward, showing off his pentagram tattoo. "Begone foul demon!"

I roll my eyes and bellow into the mic. "You cannot escape the wrath of Satan!"

Suddenly, an unidentified voice screams, "I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOD!"

We turn around and see a little girl in the doorway of our studio. Okay, yes, it was a drag to call her a "little girl" considering she looked around 18. But she was short. As dumbfounded as we were, the girl skipped ahead to the front of us.

"Hi! I'm Celina!" she says shyly. I notice she's holding something in her hand. A clipboard?

I head off stage and climb down the steps to meet her. "Who're you?"

"I'm your new co-manager!"

What? Paul would never do that! He'd consult us first!

"Hold up!" Frey says, approaching her at an alarming rate. "You mean to tell me that Paul got a-"

"No no no!" she cuts him off. "Uh, I'm here to regulate your schedules. It's the TV companies problem that they need me to monitor. Just think of me as a co-manager! I'm in no affiliation with Paul, just the network." She smiles wide and gets on her tiptoes to act taller. No one would give a job like this to her! Was she an intern?

"I'm not having anyone tell me when to do shit!" Kane counters at her sweet frame.

"Kane!" I almost shout. Be nice to her, would ya?

"Calm the fuck down!" Astaroth screams at the top of his lungs. "I'm trying to work, in peace!" he mumbles through gritted teeth.

Jinxx comes forward and speaks calmly. "Yeah, everyone calm down and listen to what she has to say."

Celina hangs her head down and I head to hug her. "Hey," I whisper, "Don't listen to them. They're dickwipes."

The single tear streaming down her face is wiped away and she smiles. Hugging me, I noticed her forehead reached to about my shoulder blades. And I thought I was short!