Chapter 3
Kayog
As we made our way into the dressing room, I couldn’t help but smile at the excitement of my companions.
They were almost talking over each other, commenting about the incredible response we received from the crowd.
In the two years I spent performing with them, the popularity of the band had steadily grown.
While our performances were usually well-received, tonight undeniably went to another level.
“Dude, you totally killed it!” Devin exclaimed, slapping the back of my shoulder with a huge grin plastered on his face.
I gave him a smug smile. “Of course, I did.”
He chuckled and shook his head at me.
“That dove song was freaking chef’s kiss!” Benedict said as we entered our changing room.
“Hell yeah, it was!” Devin replied while putting his guitar back on its stand. “To think I was giving you a hard time about squeezing it in at the last minute like that.”
“I told you it was worth it,” I said in an amused tone, counting the minutes before I could make a discreet exit.
“You sure did, and I agreed the minute you sang it for us,” Adam said with a wink.
He grabbed that dreadful beverage called beer that humans enjoyed so much, passed a bottle to Carter, who gladly accepted it, then let himself drop in one of the two couches in the spacious room.
“So where did that come from? That hot Temern chick inspired it, right?” Devin asked, wiggling his eyebrows in a suggestive fashion. “I can’t blame you. I’d fluff her feathers, too.”
I never saw myself moving. One moment, I was staring at him as blind fury surged through me, and the next, I was grabbing him by the collar and slamming his back against the wall.
The horrified and stunned expression on his face reflected the shock I felt.
I’d never been one to settle matters through violence, let alone over some dumb horny male’s comments. But this triggered me beyond words.
“Whoa, Kai! Chill man! It was just a joke!” Devin exclaimed, raising his palms in a surrendering gesture.
“Don’t ever disrespect her,” I snapped in a menacing tone.
“Everyone, relax,” Benedict said in a soothing voice. “Kai, let him go, Brother. He didn’t mean any offence. You know he’s a moron. Let go,” he repeated, gently tugging on my arm.
I reluctantly complied, surprised that I would even drag this for so long. Being the peaceful type, my current behavior made no sense, especially considering I indeed knew Devin said offensive things without actual malice simply because he had the dumbest sense of humor.
As soon as I took a few steps back and dropped any menacing stance, Ben turned back to Devin and smacked him in the back of the head.
“We don’t disrespect women, remember?” Ben told him harshly.
Devin scrunched his face and rubbed the back of his head, glaring at the drummer then at the rest of us as if we were being overly dramatic.
“It was just a fucking joke!” Devin exclaimed.
“Stuff the dumb jokes,” Ben replied sternly. “Don’t ruin the best concert we’ve ever had just because you can’t help saying stupid shit.”
“Fine, sorry,” he muttered.
Despite the grumpy way in which he stated his apology, his emotions clearly broadcast the sincerity of his embarrassment and remorse.
I immediately felt bad for my excessive reaction.
Devin genuinely wasn’t a bad person. He just never thought before he spoke.
Before joining the band, he’d always hung out with the type of toxic males who sought their peers’ validation by demeaning others, especially females.
He had come a long way since then but still had much work to do.
“Anyway, that Temern female is indeed very beautiful and classy,” Benedict said with a friendly smile while giving my shoulder a gentle squeeze. “It’s good to see you finally opening up to someone.”
I snorted and shook my head. “I’m not pursuing her.”
As one, all four of my companions recoiled.
“Why the hell not?” Devin asked. “She clearly likes you.”
“Every woman does,” Adam interjected teasingly, making the others chuckle.
“Truth!” Carter chimed in. “And you wouldn’t have written such a beautiful song about her if you didn’t feel the same.”
“We’re about to go mingle with all the influential brats out there,” Benedict said. “This is the perfect time for you to talk to her.”
“No thanks,” I said in a gentle but firm tone. “You know that I don’t do crowds.”
“But you rock them!” Adam exclaimed with the same confusion he expressed every time I fled after a concert. “The fans worship you!”
“And there’s a big label rep in attendance,” Benedict added in a hopeful voice.
I frowned and gave him a reproving look while trying to silence the guilt surging deep within.
“Ben, you’ve always known the deal. I’ve been up front from the start that I’m only here temporarily. I have no desire to have a singing career.”
“But you’re the face of the band!” Devin said with a crestfallen expression. “We’re nothing without you. People come to see Kayog, not Echoes of Madness!”
“That’s not true,” I said with conviction, even though I couldn’t deny the partial truth of his statement.
“Your songs in and of themselves are magical. You guys composed the vast majority of our repertoire. There are tons of hot and charismatic singers out there who could join you and who would love to sing what you guys create. I may be the current fad but I’m very much replaceable. ”
“They won’t be you,” Adam countered stubbornly.
“No, and that’s a good thing. They will be themselves with their own appeal.
Remember that this is my last semester here.
Now is a good time to really put the effort into finding a new lead singer.
Talk to that label rep. I’m sure he has plenty of talented singers he could pair you with.
Your songs and the depth of their messages are really what makes this band, not the singing bird,” I said in a gentle voice.
Ben opened his mouth to say something. I didn’t know if it would have been another argument or him ending the discussion as was his wont when it came to keeping the peace. However, a firm knock on the door interrupted him.
“Come in,” Ben called out.
Narok—the Zamorian bouncer—poked his head in to look at us with an apologetic expression.
It always blew my mind to see this gentler side of the giant, considering his overall intimidating appearance.
Zamorian males were massive and averaged a height of seven feet tall.
Their species had everything in double: four arms, four eyes, a second set of every vital organ, including the naughty bit.
When they became angry, their eyes would take a frightening shade of orange that would have even the boldest feel a lot less cocky.
Their insane strength, speed, and lust for blood made them among the fiercest warriors in the galaxy.
“Sorry to bother you, but Director Wilson from the Enforcers is here to see Kayog,” Narok said.
“What the fuck?!” Devin muttered, echoing the thought that popped into my head as well as the expression plastered on our companions’ faces.
“Let him in,” I said, both confused and baffled.
A part of me also felt annoyed that I hadn’t perceived his presence. Or rather that I had not singled it out among the other people broadcasting the same type of eager emotion that he did. His had a different, more calculated and determined edge that should have made it stand out.
I really don’t need this right now.
I needed to go and could only hope this wouldn’t take too long. If I didn’t isolate myself soon, things would get ugly fast.
“I’m sorry to bother you, gentlemen,” Director Wilson said to all of us in a friendly tone as he entered the room.
“Is there a problem?” Ben asked, taking a step forward in a slightly defensive stance in front of me.
My heart melted for the brawny human. Although he was slightly shorter than my own 6’4, Ben had broad shoulders and thick arms that had people think twice about messing with him.
While he wouldn’t hesitate to throw hands if needed, his sweet face truly was a mirror into the cuddly teddy bear that dwelled within.
Still, I loved how protective he always was towards me and any person he believed to be in need or in danger.
It was all the cuter that if trouble truly arose, I was much better suited than he was to protect us.
“No, there’s no problem at all,” Director Wilson said reassuringly. “I would just like to have an informal talk with Mr. Voln. It’s not easy getting in touch with you,” he continued, turning to face me. “Do you have some time now, or should I leave a card, and you can call me whenever?”
How about never?
Naturally, I kept the rude thought to myself and gave him a polite smile.
A part of me considered taking him up on his offer to call him later so that I could get out of here before the pain in my head grew any further.
Another part deemed it better to get this done and out of the way immediately.
Anyway, knowing myself, I would obsess over it until I knew what he wanted with me to begin with.
“Now will be fine,” I said with the right level of distant politeness to make it clear I didn’t want this to drag on longer than necessary.
“Wonderful!” Wilson said with an excess of enthusiasm that hinted at the fact he knew exactly where I stood. “Is there a private place we can go discuss?”
“You can have the room since we’re heading out to mingle with the fans,” Ben said begrudgingly before giving me an assessing look. “You’re going to be okay?”
Once again, a wave of affection swelled within me. I would miss him greatly at the end of the semester once I moved on.
“Yes, Brother. I’ll be good,” I said with a smile.