Monster (Night 2)

Nero felt free.

He didn’t care anymore. He couldn’t see his son, his marriage was falling apart, and he could finally eat food that he liked. He ate rice cakes slathered in jelly on his ride to Sky Stadium, saying that he doesn’t care if it's not indicative of a healthy diet, Alto can’t stop me .

Sky Stadium was a floating stadium that traveled throughout Paradis. It was the perfect attraction for tourists since it could reach all of them. It was the perfect place for performers because they saved transportation costs. Nero had never been, and he was amazed when he gazed upon it. High up in the clouds it was ridiculously cold and windy.

The stadium reminded him of a castle with its tall spires on the sides of the stadium. Beams of light poured out from the bottom of it, and he was excited, pressing his face up against the window as they came off the hyper way, into the glowing parking lot.

Mr.Mata dropped him off at the entrance for his target of the night and told him that he expected him back at home, as usual, and not to argue with Mr.Feardorcha. Nero nodded meekly, waved goodbye, and did not argue with him, the friendly driver somehow a lion tamer as well.

Nero pulled his jacket higher up to cover his curved ears from the cold, and walked inside.

Nero’s marriage to Alto gave him the same power his family had.

The power to control others .

He paid off one of the security guards to disable the metal detectors. He purchased tickets to the concert before everyone else, with front-row seats.

Lastly, he hired an investigator to find his target, and he had given him his target, and a secondary one. Nero wore all black, and tied his hair up in a bun, his tattoo on full display. He wanted people to think it was Enemy . He wanted to sow as much confusion as possible.

He came early, just to make sure he wouldn’t miss his target.

People filled the stadium to the brim as Nero stood patiently for the main event. The number of people in the stadium offsets the initial chill, and soon Nero was soaked in sweat, again regretting his choice in clothing in a perpetually tropical climate.

The lights dimmed, and soft music began to play.

The crowd cheered.

Rikka White walked onto the stage.

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Rikka loved singing more than anything in the world, but she knew she couldn’t sing. Her ability to sing came from her necklace, which had the soul of her grandfather, Michael, in it.

He had the most beautiful singing voice and the most dangerous of abilities.

Whatever he spoke came to be. But he was a mortal man and went from this world, long ago. She was entrusted to defend his power and to find other objects like it. Her job as a singer was the perfect cover for her to travel the seventh realm in search of the Celestials.

Rikka lived for the stage. Everyone else in her family was warriors, leaders, or diplomats. Everything they did was for power. Rikka never wanted that. She wanted to do what she loved. She wanted to sing. So sing she did.

The crowd moved as a singular mass unit, swaying to her song. She held control over them, literal control , with the power of her voice. Sweat poured down her face as she led the backup dancers in sync. The bright lights made her eyes hurt, but the pain became a reminder that she was powerful.

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She knew up on that stage, that she didn’t want power, because she already had it. Her family would never understand that they were trying too hard and going about it all wrong. True power was the adoration of millions willing to do anything for you without lifting a single finger, the power to spread love to everyone that heard her voice.

The first song ended and the crowd went wild.

Men loved her. Women loved her. They both wanted to be her. They both wanted her.

An enemy is here, Rikka , said, Michael. You shouldn’t be here. It's not safe.

It had been a long time since Rikka had heard Michael’s voice. It made her almost drop her Made For TV ™ smile while on stage. She whispered carefully while covering her mic.

“Where? There are so many people here! How can I know?”

The sword is with him, said Michael. You must take it from him.

The background music shifted to the next song and Rikka couldn’t focus. Dion walked onto the stage, and more cheers came from the crowd. It was time for their duet, a very dirty song, but with no vulgar words to get through the parental rating filters , named Louder .

Rikka and Dion’s song had been on the billboard top ten list last year. It was a fan favorite. She was thrilled that he decided to come to her concert at Sky Stadium, but now Rikka feared for his life and everyone in it.

During the duet, Rikka and Dion walked up and down what they lovingly called “the landing strip." It was a part of the stage that jutted out so the crowd could see them better. Fans cried as Rikka’s fingertips grazed theirs. Girls tried to pull Dion into the audience, but he steadied himself.

This concert wasn’t his first, and sometimes people would jump on stage.

Dion wasn’t surprised when someone did make their way on stage, but surprisingly it was a man because most of his fans were women.

He ran towards Dion and unsheathed a sword. The floor of the stage lit up into flames at the parts where the floor touched the soles of his shoes.

Chants of joy turned to cries of terror as everyone in the audience attempted to flee the stadium. The amount of terror was even heightened, as the stadium was in the air, and if it fell, there would be no escape.

Rikka pushed Dion out of the way. She pointed her index finger in the shape of a gun, at the man, dressed all in black. Her eyes glowed a deep dark blue.

She uttered a single word.

“Bang."

A giant whirlwind of energy surged towards Nero, tearing up the stage. Tears came from his eyes as the wind whipped against his face. Nero felt his body lifting off the ground as the energy surged closer.

He stuck his sword in the ground and held on for dear life. His clothes tore as he fought the immense amount of power for what felt like an eternity, but lasted only a few seconds.

Dion was terrified, the woman he had known was gone.

Rikka was totally different. Her composure was different. Her hair was no longer white and straight, but curly and blonde. Her eyes were a deep pulsating blue. She even stood up straighter.

There was no Rikka. Only Michael.