Phoenix was over the moon. Catherine had agreed to go on a date with him. He hadn’t felt this level of excitement since he had first landed his record deal. Even back then, when they had made him record the song that wasn’t even his, it had still been thrilling—the kind of excitement that came with all the things that followed. But over the years, that feeling had faded, leaving him feeling empty and cold. Now, it was alive again, flooding his veins with a sense of urgency.
He had so much to plan. So much to do. He needed to get started right away because, in just a few days, he would be on the date of his life with the woman he really wanted to be with. Phoenix quickly pulled out his phone to call his assistant, ready to start making reservations.
“Can’t, sorry,” his assistant replied.
“What do you mean can’t?” Phoenix blinked. “You’re my PA! My personal assistant. You’re hired to do what I tell you.” There was a pause when Phoenix realized how that sounded. “I mean, within reason.”
“I’m hired by your manager—I work for your manager. We all do, even if that means serving you. We are hired by her, so when she tells me to plan your roster to match her schedule because you’ll be recording all weekend, I do so, without question. Didn’t you check your emails?”
No, Phoenix never checked his emails.
“Recording what?” Phoenix asked. They only had one song.
“A Christmas song,” his assistant said. “Check your emails and if you want to change your plans you’ll need to take it up with Demi. No way am I arguing with that woman. She terrifies me.” Phoenix’s personal assistant hung up.
She terrified him too. He exhaled.
But, alas, he did check his emails. Maybe the interview with Catherine made his demonic owners want to release a new song. Maybe they saw value now, in the profit that might bring in for them. Admittedly, the thought of singing literally anything else—any other tune, even if it was horrible—would have been a godsend. So Phoenix checked his emails. It was a whole lot of spam, and then…Demi.
Phoenix opened the email and read eagerly.
TO: [email protected]
SUBJECT: CHRISTMAS SONG
Phoenix,
You need to KEEP YOUR WEEKEND FREE!!
Attached are your travel details, the driver will pick you up at 8 am SHARP on Saturday morning. Will be home Monday. We are recording your new song.
Can’t miss this opportunity. Dress warm, it’s cold.
Lots of love,
Demi
Damn it, Demi, Phoenix inwardly scoffed. As excited as he was for any song that wasn’t "Demons & Her," he did NOT want to jeopardize his date with Catherine. Sure, Catherine would likely understand—he was a celebrity, a busy guy—but it might also give her doubts or more time to think and create doubts. Phoenix needed to spend more time with her, to show her that he was more than what he appeared and serious about wanting a connection with her. A relationship with her. He could not explain why he felt drawn to her as he did, but he also couldn’t avoid it—he knew that deep inside his gut.
So, Phoenix did the only logical thing he could do in this situation. He emailed Demi back.
TO: [email protected]
SUBJECT: RE: CHRISTMAS SONG
Hey Dem,
I know you’re always telling me to check my emails, but I forgot lol. Is there any way we can reschedule or something? I kinda made plans. Please? I’ll make it up to you. I promise. ;D
Love,
Phoenix
When Phoenix waited a whole thirty minutes, he realized emails were far too slow—at least considering the urgency of the situation and how often Demi checked her emails, which apparently wasn’t often enough. What a shitty manager she was, Phoenix thought to himself, even though she was the best manager he had ever had. Hell, she was the only manager he had ever had. So, with that thought and no other options, Phoenix tried another tactic. Text.
Phoenix: Hey, you. I know I can’t see you right now, but I just wanted to say how completely ravishing you always look!
Demi: What do you want? X x
Phoenix: A day off. Well, two.
Phoenix: Plz? I’ll make it up to you.
Demi: A day or two off is fine. X x
Demi: When did you want it? X x
Demi: Just let me know, as long as it’s not this weekend. X x
Phoenix: It might be this weekend…
Phoenix: I just really wanted to go somewhere.
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Demi: Where? X x
Demi: With who? X x
Phoenix: Uh…
Phoenix: Out on a date. I know it sounds lame, but plz.
Demi: Seriously???
Demi: With who??
Phoenix: Catherine.
Demi: The interview girl? The one who made you look like a MORON in front of thousands of live listeners? The one who you told me allowed someone to PAY HER to make that statement?
Phoenix: Yes, her.
Demi: No.
Demi: Absolutely not.
Phoenix: Why not?
Demi: Because you dating a girl who publicly humiliated you is stupid and it looks bad. I mean what if you’re spotted by the media? What will the headlines be? Hm? X x
Phoenix: Phoenix is so wonderful and forgiving?
Phoenix: Phoenix gives girl another chance?
Demi: Haha, very funny. X x
Phoenix: I’m not kidding.
Demi: Well, neither am I! I’m not moving it.
Phoenix: Please? Dem?
Phoenix: I’ll come record right now, just let me have Saturday night free.
Demi: Fine. But you owe me. BIG TIME! X x
Phoenix: Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Phoenix: You’re the best!
Demi: Don’t you forget it. X x
Phoenix: I won’t.
Phoenix: Ever <3
Demi: Just Phoenix?
Phoenix: Mm?
Demi: Get this girl OUT of your system. I don’t mind you having your fun—boys will be boys and all that, but nothing serious. You can’t afford to be serious right now, okay? Go get your kumbayas out with this girl then 100% FOCUS ON WORK! I need your head in the game. X x
Phoenix: Got you. I promise. My head will be 100000% focused on work after this date. Thank you, Demi, you’re the best!
It wasn’t easy making a woman like Demi understand. She was stubborn at the best of times, but thankfully, she understood sex. Well, the important role sex played in a man’s life—love, not so much, but sex…a succubus like her certainly understood.
Still, Phoenix had to come good on his end of the bargain. As per usual. So, he ended up meeting with Demi, flying out to New York, and spending the next few days recording his Christmas song. Phoenix had been excited when they showed up at the recording studio, but then he realized it was exactly the same song as before.
“Uh, Demi?” Phoenix looked at her. “How is this a Christmas song?”
She shrugged. “We’re putting a Christmas track in the background.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah, that shit sells. People love Christmas stuff.”
Phoenix wanted to ask why not just…record another damn song, but he knew the answer. Well, for the most part. It wasn’t that it wasn’t possible. It was. But Phoenix guessed that it was harder to curse two songs than one. So, he was stuck singing this same crappy tune for the rest of his life and only this tune. At least this one had a jingle to it, he guessed.
Phoenix exhaled in defeat as he stepped into the recording room and prepared himself to sing the same song that haunted him in his sleep.
Demons, they live inside us all.
Demons, they will make me crawl.
Demons, they made me fall.
Oooh, they made me fall.
Demons, all in the night
Demons, they make me fight
Demons - it’s just not right.
It’s just not right. Oooh. Oooh.
Demons, they live inside us all.
Demons, they will make me crawl.
Demons, they made me fall.
Oooh, they made me fall.
Demons, all in the night
Demons, they make me fight
Demons - it’s just not right.
It’s just not right. Oooh. Oooh.
But she,
she will break these chains from me,
she will set my soul free. She.
She is my deepest fantasy,
She means everything to me,
She will make the world see.
She.
Demons, they live inside us all.
Demons, they will make me crawl.
Demons, they made me fall.
Oooh, they made me fall.
Demons, all in the night
Demons, they make me fight
Demons - it’s just not right.
It’s just not right. Oooh. Oooh.
Demons, they live inside us all.
Demons, they will make me crawl
Demons, they made me fall.
Oooh, they made me fall.
Demons, all in the night
Demons, they make me fight
Demons - it’s just not right.
It’s just not right. Oooh. Oooh.
Phoenix was in the recording room, with the mic, looking through the glass at his recording team who shook their heads like he’d done a bad job. The thing about the curse was it didn’t matter how badly Phoenix tried to sing, it still came out exactly the damn same.
“Hm, you know, we got some interference,” said the producer, placing his thumb down to signal bad quality. “Can you sing it again? From the top.”
Phoenix inwardly groaned. Of course, they wanted him to sing it again. Why wouldn’t they want him to sing it again?
He resisted the urge to roll his eyes—or perhaps, pluck them from his skull. Hell, he had sung this song well over a million times, what was one more? Although Phoenix didn’t understand why they couldn’t just use his old recording. He meant, if they were just adding some Christmas-themed song into the background, then why couldn’t they just…reuse his old recording? Phoenix had no idea, but clearly, he was doomed to sing this same song—these same lyrics regardless, so he just tried to make the best of it. Phoenix just tried to tune out and focus on Saturday—on Catherine—on how his date might be.
It was the perfect distraction for his mind. Catherine, somehow, she soothed his soul.