Chapter 3A The Truth Is Unraveling

Silence. Utter silence followed Catherine's question, and no one seemed to know why. Anna’s eyebrows scrunched as if she was confused about why she had never thought of the question herself. James had a similar look on his face, and Ron, the person reading the lie detector, also stared at Phoenix, confused and waiting for the answer.

"Uh, well," Phoenix licked his lips, trailing his tongue across the corner of his mouth. "You see, after having so much success with my song 'Demons & Her,' well, both myself and my team wanted to try for the world record of, uh, most successful... uh, one song has been the most successful for a long time, so if I was to write another then, uh, that risks... Um." He laughed nervously. "Sorry, I realized I had to—I have to... Excuse me."

Then he got up, not looking at Catherine once before he left the recording room.

Anna laughed, but it was an awkward sound. "Okay, so, Phoenix has left the building. Uh. Is he coming back?" She looked at her personal assistant, who merely shrugged in response. "Okay, um. What do we do now?" She laughed again, but it was that awkward noise. "I guess we’re just going to replay 'Demons & Her' while someone finds Phoenix. Wow, what an eventful day we’re having!"

Everyone and everything in the recording room turned to chaos. As the song played, people were running in and yelling at each other. Catherine could hear Phoenix’s song in her ears through the headset:

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.

Not wanting to sit and listen to the song for the millionth time, Catherine took off her headset and was told she could leave if she wanted to. The personal assistant had said more eloquently, "You can take five, love. I don’t think he’ll be returning anytime soon. Just go chill out in the coffee room, and we’ll get you when he comes back." The personal assistant seemed reasonably stressed. "If he comes back, that is."

Catherine got up and headed out of the room. The hallway was in chaos too—people yelling and running up and down it as they searched for Phoenix. Everyone seemed desperate and genuinely stressed out. Catherine felt guilty that her question had caused this mayhem, but in truth, she hadn’t expected him to leave like that.

Taking the personal assistant's advice, Catherine went to the coffee room where Molly was supposed to be. She wasn’t there, and the room appeared empty as Catherine walked in. But as she went to close the door, she was grabbed from the side.

At first, Catherine thought it was Molly pulling one of her classic pranks, but then she turned to meet the desperate eyes of Phoenix Astar. Phoenix Astar, who was touching her arms right now and standing very, very close. Phoenix Astar, who looked equally stressed—if not more so—as he stared at her very seriously.

"What are you?" he demanded.

"What?" Catherine gasped, her eyes widening as she stared up at him in surprise.

"What are you?" he repeated. "A demon?"

"What? I don’t understand." Catherine stared at him. "Are you high?"

"Yes, but that’s neither here nor there," Phoenix replied. "How did you know my song overplays? How do you think about how I’ve only got one?"

"Uh." Catherine squinted. "I mean... I don’t want to be a dick or anything, but it’s been ranking number one on the charts for over a decade. Your concerts are just the same song repeated, over and over, and you literally never speak of working on another song, so it just, well, it’s kind of... evident. I was confused to find that no one has ever asked you that question before. I wasn’t trying to insult you—it’s obviously a very popular song."

"It’s just..." His words trailed off as he stared at her, his gaze scanning her face, analyzing, and then he started looking at her head. "You aren’t supposed to know that," he said, patting her head.

He was definitely high. "What are you looking for?"

"Horns."

"Horns?" Catherine repeated, slowly grabbing his wrist and guiding him away from her. "Okay, Mr. Astar, why don’t you sit down and I’ll get you a glass of water?"

"I don’t need water," he said. "I need a miracle."

Thankfully, he did sit down. Well, he more just threw himself down on the lounge, taking up the entirety of the seat as he groaned into the cushions.

"What am I going to do?" he murmured to himself.

"About only having one song?" Catherine asked him. "You could write another."

"No, I can’t," he said, turning to look at her, though he was still lying sluggishly on the couch. "I signed a contract, I can’t write or play more than one song."

"Oh, well, that sucks," Catherine said. "Seems counterproductive. Maybe you could leave your label and sign up with someone else? I mean, surely after all these years you’re sick of playing it, I mean, no offense or anything—your voice is amazing, but it’s not even a good song. It’s mostly just repetitive lyrics."

Phoenix stared at her before he straightened up, now seated upright and appearing far more rigid. He looked so serious it was starting to freak her out. "I can’t leave my label, that’s not an option for me," was all he said, but something in his eyes looked almost... afraid.

"Okay, well, what if you released some songs under an alias?"

"You don’t understand," he said, rubbing his forehead.

"Well, you could just leave your label if you’re that over it."

"I can’t leave," he murmured, more to himself. He was fidgeting now, biting his lip and staring around the room like he was nervous. "But you need to," he said. "You need to leave—go somewhere, far away, change your name... I’ll give you some money. You’re not safe. Not anymore."

Catherine almost laughed, but the look on his face told her he wasn’t joking. "What?"

Phoenix leaned closer, whispering, "If you’re seriously not a demon, there’s no way you can know what you know, so they’re going to know you know, and they’re not going to be happy about that. They’ll hurt you."

"What? Who?" Catherine felt her expression scrunch. "What do I even know?"

"Listen to me," Phoenix said. "If you aren’t going to leave, you need to write in your magazine that you were paid to make that statement."

"Paid to make what statement?"

"You need to say how much you love the song," he told her.

"I really don’t love the song," Catherine told him.

"Damn it!" Phoenix roared, slamming his fist down on the table. His entire face changed then—it was a glimpse of something dark, something demonic—but Catherine saw it before he recovered. "I am trying to protect you!"

"What... what are you?" Catherine stammered, slowly moving back toward the door.

"I’m the guy who’s trying to save your goddamn life!" he yelled.

"But your face..." Catherine stared. "It changed. It turned... you looked..."

"Demonic?" Phoenix stared back. "Holy shit, you can see that? You aren’t supposed to see that. Mortals aren’t supposed to see that. How is this even... possible? You’re trembling," he stood and approached her. His hand reached toward her but didn’t touch her skin before it—thankfully—retreated. "You really aren’t a demon. That means, somehow, by some weird oddity... you are immune."

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"Immune?" Catherine repeated.

"Look, we can’t talk here," Phoenix told her, still looking very paranoid. "Just, please, take my advice... print your article the way I said. I’ll cover for you. I’ll help you, but you need to help me help you. We can meet somewhere private. You can come to my house and I’ll explain everything, but you first must print the article as I said."

"I’ll print the article as you said," Catherine told him, "but I will not meet with you."

"Please," Phoenix begged. "I’ve never met anyone like you. In all my years of stardom, everyone is so programmed. Please, just, meet with me. It’s not safe to talk here."

Catherine started to refuse, but then the door opened. Her heart dropped until she saw Molly, and then it more did a sort of somersault because she didn’t want Molly anywhere near whatever Phoenix Astar was.

"Oh my God! Oh my God!" Molly squealed. "Phoenix, I’m such a big fan!"

Catherine could see the flushed look on Phoenix's face as Molly looked at her, hinting, 'introduce us.' Catherine exhaled. "Uh, Phoenix, this is Molly... my best friend."

"Thank you, Catherine," Molly replied, and then she smiled at Phoenix. "Phoenix, you need no introduction. You are... amazing. You are everything. I love your music!"

Phoenix looked at Catherine, then Molly, then back at Catherine... and smiled. It was that devil-may-care smile—the kind mothers warned their daughters about, and the kind that told Catherine he was plotting something.

“Molly, a beautiful name for a beautiful woman,” Phoenix said to her.

Molly looked like she might die right there and then. “I was just telling Catherine how I’ll be staying on my private island for the weekend. Perhaps you and she could come visit?” Phoenix continued. “Just for a night. I would love to get to know you more, Molly—you seem nice, but I do have to leave shortly.”

“Oh my God! Yes! Yes! We will gladly come,” Molly exclaimed.

“Great, just give me your address and I’ll organize your travel.”

“Travel?” she squeaked.

“Well, it’s a private island, so my own personal team will escort you—pick you up and take you via limousine, then boat, then car to my house.”

“Oh my God, yes!” Molly seemed flushed with excitement.

“Put your number in my phone,” Phoenix handed it to her, “I’ll text you. And you can let me know your details.”

As Molly entered her number, Phoenix looked at Catherine with a triumphant grin.

“Unbelievable,” Catherine mouthed and looked away. Phoenix knew she wouldn’t let her best friend travel solo to stay at his house, and he likely knew she wouldn’t say no to Molly about going and spending time with her idol. Even if Catherine refused to go, Molly would still go, so now Catherine felt she had no choice. Phoenix had tricked her.

“Thank you,” Phoenix said to Molly as she returned his phone. He texted her immediately to ensure she got it, and she squealed with delight. Then Phoenix turned and looked at Catherine. “I’ll be seeing you both this weekend.”

Catherine nodded icily, and then Phoenix made his exit.

Molly was in hysterics when he left, jumping and screaming and crying. “Did you see that!? Did you see?! All I had to do was walk into a room and… I told you we’re soulmates. He played it cool, but he felt it too. Please tell me that you saw.”

Catherine was still staring at the door as she mumbled, “I saw.” Saw that he was a manipulative Jackass.

“I can’t believe we are actually going to go to his HOUSE! On his ISLAND! I need to text everyone I have ever met right now,” Molly said, all her attention turning to her phone as she started to type furiously. “Shit, I should have gotten a photo or had him sign something. I guess I could always do that later. We’re going to his HOUSE!”

“Molly, no, you can’t!” Catherine said, snatching her phone from her. Something in her gut told her to keep this quiet. Molly gasped in surprise as Catherine took the phone. “If you draw attention, then paparazzi will be all over us and… and then he might not want to meet.” Granted, Catherine didn’t want him to meet with them—she wanted him as far away from her best friend as possible—but the lie sounded good. If Catherine was in trouble or possibly in danger, like Phoenix had said, then Molly might be as well. They both had to be cool and quiet about this. “We need to be cool. Act cool. Keep this to ourselves. Uh, Phoenix dates celebrities for a reason because they don’t treat him weird or do anything odd like fangirl afterward.”

“Right, right,” Molly said, shaking her head. “You’re right. You’re always taking care of me. What would I do without you?”

Not go to some monster’s island, Catherine thought to herself. But this was their situation now.

Catherine stuck to her word and printed the article as Phoenix had instructed in the magazine. If she hadn’t seen his face change, she might have thought he was simply saving face, but she’d seen his freak-out and fear up close, along with whatever made his face change like that. As days passed, Catherine started to doubt herself and question if what she had seen had actually been true or just a figment of her imagination. She started to tell herself it was just a trick of the light or some weird new celebrity surgical procedure or something, but she doubted it.

She really doubted it.

There was some kind of dark force at play here, and she had to protect her best friend at all costs. Her article had flopped, as she suspected, and now she had the reputation of a sellout and a liar, but at least Molly was safe.

A few days later, Catherine’s phone dinged, and she didn’t recognize the number. It read, “2 more days.” The text message was from a number that had 666 in it. Catherine raised her eyebrows before yet another text came through. This one said, “it’s me.”

Catherine: Who is this?

Phoenix: It’s Phoenix.

Catherine: How did you get my number?

Phoenix: Molly gave it to me.

Catherine: Okay, well, give it back. Maybe you TRICKED me into having to come to your island this weekend, but that doesn’t mean that I have to like it—or YOU!

Phoenix: You’re very hostile….

Catherine: Screw you!

Phoenix: Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?

Catherine: I wish you could see just how hard I rolled my eyes right now….

Phoenix: Very hard?

Catherine: Mhm!

Phoenix: Send me a pic then, or a video—do a retake.

Catherine: I don’t need to do a retake. I roll my eyes at you CONSTANTLY, you’re so annoying…. And freaky! I mean, what was up with your face???

Phoenix: Don’t text stuff like that….

Catherine: Why not?

Phoenix: You know why. I told you why…

Catherine: Fine. Well. After this weekend, you better stay away from me and my best friend! I mean it! I don’t know what sick game you’re playing with me, but I don’t like you. I don’t like your music. And I want you to stay away from me.

Phoenix: That’s a little harsh, don’t you think?

Catherine: It’s not nearly harsh enough!!!

Phoenix: Okay, well, bring an overnight bag with you in case you decide to crash.

Catherine: Believe me, I will NOT be deciding to crash. I will come so my best friend doesn’t go solo, and I will listen to your insanity, but that is all.

Phoenix: Okay, it’s a date.

Catherine: No, it’s NOT a date.

Phoenix: I’ll see you on our date.

Catherine: IT’S NOT A DATE!!

When Phoenix heart-reacted to his own message, highlighting the words ‘I’ll see you on our date,’ Catherine almost screamed. She knew celebrities often had different personalities than what was portrayed; they could be stuck up, mean, or cruel because of how they were forced to live their lives… constantly being pestered by people. But Phoenix was just downright annoying. Catherine didn’t understand how one person could be so irritating—if he even was a person and not some kind of demonic force.

Time was now Catherine’s enemy. She tried to avoid sleep because sleep made time go faster. She tried to do dull activities because, yet again, when you were bored, time dragged. But still, days passed, and they were now one day away from when they were supposed to go to Phoenix’s island home and meet with him.

Catherine didn’t want to go to his house.

She didn’t want to ever see him again, but worse than her own irritation toward him was how extremely smitten Molly was. Every text would have Molly giggling like a schoolgirl, even if it was just a friendly exchange.

“I think he likes me,” Molly proclaimed as she lay on their sofa.

“He’s a manwhore,” Catherine retorted, eating her salad. “He likes every woman.”

Molly groaned. “Well, I don’t see him texting you!” she said, sitting up. “What’s your issue? You’ve been a sour Catherine ever since he invited us over.”

“I just… I don’t know if it’s such a good idea to go alone to some celebrity's house, that’s all. You know they aren’t like how they are in the media. In interviews, they try to show their best sides, along with their social media platforms.”

“Everyone tries to show their best sides….” Molly retorted.

Yeah, but most people didn’t have demon faces, Catherine thought to herself. Of course, she couldn’t say that, so she just continued eating her salad.

“Can you just please let me enjoy this?” Molly asked, pleading. “I know you don’t like him for whatever reason, but I really do….” She fell silent for a moment. “I… I think I might even be in love with him.”

Catherine choked on her salad. “W-what?”

“I know it sounds silly. We aren’t even really flirting… I just—he’s so sweet. He texted me to say goodnight yesterday. He must be so busy, and he texted me to say goodnight…. When I see his name pop up on my screen, my stomach does the fluttery thing like—”

“Like you’re going to throw up?” Catherine interjected. She got that too when she spoke to him.

“No.” Molly rolled her eyes. “Like I’m in love. You know, like you were with your doctor.”

“Hey! I never said I was in love with Jasper. I don’t even think I’ve ever been in love, but that was entirely different. Yes, he started out as my doctor, but we dated, Molly. We took it slow, started as friends, and it just… progressed.”

“That’s what Phoenix and I are doing!” Molly argued.

Catherine exhaled.

There was no point in debating with her.

Absolutely no point as much as it hurt Catherine’s soul.