Chapter Text
The world can see things as simpler than they really are, although in some cases... they aren't.
To everyone, they were simply a pop-star group, but they were much more than that.
They were hunters.
«Demons», a name with a notorious reputation, had various representations depending on religion and place of origin. The only thing everyone knew for sure was their evil.
Demons fed on human misfortune, draining their life force, their soul, what makes someone who they are, the purest and most complex form of being itself. Since time immemorial, it was always this way: they channeled that energy and power into evil incarnate, called «Roo».
That was until certain heroines appeared, warriors, priestesses, purifiers, among many other names bestowed by the rescued victims. Born with voices capable of repelling darkness, they sang songs that proliferated values like love and hope.
Hunters who protected souls and connected with people with their music. With that power, the first hunters created a barrier to protect the world, dubbed the "Honmoon."
Each generation, a new trio of hunters is chosen to fulfill their duty: to create a barrier strong enough to protect the world and keep demons, like their leader, away from our world forever, creating the "Go lden Honmoon."
...
"And now that duty belongs to you." A woman with pale hair and slight wrinkles spoke to the young people in front of her. "Victory is within reach. It is your voices, your songs, that will create the Golden Honmoon."
The trio of young people, dressed in white robes, looked at each other with nervous but determined expressions. The three held hands, feeling closer and stronger, looking at their teacher, firm in their mission.
"Yes, Sera." the three answered together.
...
The stadium was packed, completely sold out weeks before. Fans lined up eagerly, being interviewed by the media, many holding signs, merchandise, and personalized outfits, all to show their support for the group about to perform.
"Let's go Huntrix!" some shouted to the camera broadcasting the event, the last show of their live tour.
"We love Huntrix!"
The camera focused on a group of fans, the question was...
"Which member is your favorite?"
"Lute is my favorite." replied a girl from the group. "She's the main dancer; no one is better at creating choreography than her."
"She was a rebellious child." said another interviewee. "They nicknamed her the black sheep of the family."
"She's great," said another interviewee, with great seriousness and admiration. "Who else would wear a sleeping bag at the Met Gala?"
"Yeah, she's an inspiration." The trio of fans of the young choreographer spoke to the camera, with serious expressions, imitating the aforementioned members. "We love her."
The media moved on to another group of fans, a happier and more energetic one.
"We came for Emily!" said a girl from the group.
"She raps and writes her own songs." another girl from the group commented happily.
"She grew up in the US." a boy from the group spoke up. "In a place called Burbank."
"She's the prettiest member." A fan also spoke up.
"But when she raps, she's scary; it's like a completely different person." The boy spoke up again.
"Very scary." A couple being interviewed sternly expressed their opinion to the camera. "So you better not mess with her."
They moved on to other groups of fans, who had abundant merchandise and signs with encouraging messages.
"We love's Adam!" the girl group shouted in unison.
"He's pop royalty." one of them said excitedly, clutching her sign. "His mother was a Heaven Sister."
"But his mother passed away, and it was Sera who raised him." her friend added. "Under her tutelage, the two created Huntrix."
"Adam's voice is just incredible, like..." A new trio of fans was interviewed.
"He makes us cry!" a group of men told the interviewer while shedding tears.
The channel that was broadcasting cut to the stadium, panning to see how packed it was.
"They're taking a break, and they need it." a girl spoke with her Heaven Sisters wand lit up, looking melancholy. "But we're going to miss them!"
Right after that, there was movement on the stage, and the crowd went wild, shouting cheers of joy, eager to see the trio of singers.
...
"Everyone was all right?" the band's manager asked the staff, checking that nothing was out of place. "Okay. Ready? Ready." He analyzed everything while the assistants set up everything necessary for the show, but then he realized the most important thing. "Where are the guys?"
The manager, Gabriel, took out his phone and looked at the plane's location. They should already be here. When he saw the graphic, he was surprised.
"What? Where are they going?" According to his app, the plane was flying over the stadium, and not only that, it was passing right by. "It can't be..."
Gabriel wished for a second he had listened to his mother and been a church father instead of a pop-rock group manager.
...
"Okay, this is our biggest show yet." said the lead singer, a man with brown hair and lightly tanned skin. He had piercings in his left ear and a subtle rocker style.
"The most songs." said the youngest member, the group's rapper, a young woman with little pink skin and freckles, hair dyed pastel blue, and her clothing in pastel shades combined with bright, bold colors.
"The most moves." said the group's dancer, a woman with pale skin and sharp eyes, with a mocking smile and a neutral expression. Her long hair was white due to bleaching. Her style was a combination of modern pop and rock.
The three of them were holding each other's shoulders, forming a small circle.
"And that means..." Adam paused dramatically. "More carbs, bitches!"
"For the fans!" They shouted in unison, letting go and raising their fists, beaming.
They were sitting together in front of a small table full of snacks and food, their own requests.
"Hell yeah, I burn ten thousand calories dancing, I need this." Lute said as she grabbed a large portion of fries.
"Following your choreographies burns all the fat I have. At this rate, I'll just be a walking stick!" Emily laughed, grabbing a burger and quickly taking a big bite, letting out a joyful sound.
"You mean a million, maybe a quintillion?" Adam mockingly replied, grabbing a pair of BBQ pork ribs; they were his obsession.
"That number doesn't exist." Lute replied with her mouth full of fries.
"It is for our fans." the man replied with his mouth full of meat and sauce.
After finishing her burger, Emily grabbed a bag of fried plantains, similar to chips. It was a striking taste, but it was her favorite. She tore open the bag, craving more, and brought a large amount to her lips.
Amidst various snacks and greasy dishes, the table looked like a war zone. Luckily, they had napkins and wet cloths to clean themselves. They weren't fucking pigs, of course not.
While they continued to enjoy the delicacies, the plane crew looked at them with bewilderment and nervousness, not because of their display of appetite, but because of something else.
When they finished everything on the table and cleaned themselves properly, Adam especially with his face covered in sauce, the main course arrived.
"Okay, girls, it's time for... our ramen!" Said the leader with his plastic container. A famous instant ramen brand had collaborated with them. The plastic featured their faces with different designs, each with three flavors.
Both girls raised their own ramen, as if they were glasses filled with wine.
"Happy fans..." Lute and Emily proclaimed, and Adam just smiled as he joined them, clinking the plastic containers in a toast. "Happy Honmoon!"
As they approached to taste, they noticed a small problem.
"Wait, there no water in this." the youngest said with a sad expression, and the two remaining members also had the same frown.
"Uh, excuse me, miss?" Adam was the one who called the flight attendant. As a leader, he should have taken the initiative, although he only did so because he wanted to eat already.
"Yes, mister hunt─rix?" replied the woman, who was watering a plant with coffee. Adam ignored this for the sake of his stomach.
"We'll order hot water and─"
"Right away. You're welcome. Arrideverci. Goodbye." She replied with a crooked smile and robotic gestures, walking away from them toward the cockpit.
"Um, okay?" The brunette looked at the flight attendant with a raised eyebrow, but his phone rang. He left his ramen on the table and took out his device.
It was Gabriel.
"Hey, Gab!" the three greeted. It was a video call. The girls leaned closer to see their manager on the screen.
"Yeah, hello!" the friendly voice of the man with dyed blonde locks answered. "Emm, What are you doing?"
"We're eating ramen for the pre-show." replied young Kadmon, turning the phone toward the girls so his manager could see.
"Pre-show? B-but what about the show-show?" the man on the other end of the line asked nervously, but was interrupted by a group of fans who took his phone. "Hey!"
"We love you!" the fans shouted at the camera.
"Aww, we love you to!" the three responded, moved. Another group of fans grabbed Gabriel's phone while crying with emotion.
"So sweet." Lute and Adam said through tears. Emily was so emotional that she couldn't manage anything more than to babble through her tears.
Another fan picked up the phone.
"Hey, look at this!" The young man lifted his shirt, revealing a large tattoo of a red heart with the name «Huntrix» on it.
Emily and Adam were able to express their discomfort and some pain. Tattoos are very painful. The younger one tried it once in the US.
She cried a lot after a few seconds and gave up on the idea of getting a tattoo. All that remained was a black dot that looked more like a mole.
"Sick." Lute praised with a proud smile.
Gabriel quickly retrieved his phone irritably.
"Give me that!" he yelled at the fan and then looked at the camera worriedly. "Why you so late?!"
"Late?" the brunette asked, confused, while the girls ate some chips packed in foil bags.
"Fifty thousand fans are waiting for you." Their manager emphasized. The trio looked out the window, noticing how they were moving away from the stadium. They frowned at each other and then looked at the plane's staff. "They made signs and everything."
Upon closer inspection, the plane's attendants were acting strange. One was robotically stacking pancakes, another was staring out the window, and another was nervously looking at the warehouse shelves.
"How can you be late?!" the man on the other end of the device said, distressed and defeated. "I wish you were here."
Emily looked at the 'people' with her mouth full of fried food angrily and pouting, Lute with irritation and annoyance, and Adam with tiredness and deep fatigue.
"keeping making show Gab, we're getting in three." he replied while the manager continued speaking anxiously, then pressed the hang up button without taking his eyes off the staff.
As soon as he hung up the phone, him grabbed the corner of his eyebrows and groaned in annoyance. Lute also groaned and exhaled loudly.
"Ahhh! I wanted to finish my fucking ramen!" she said loudly as she glared at those people.
"They never let us eat, damn it!" Adam said through his teeth, clenching his fists.
Emily chewed what was in her mouth angrily, looking more like a squirrel with acorns on its cheeks.
"I want my ramen!" The youngest member's words were barely understandable over her mouthful of snacks.
Adam grimaced and stood up to get this over with.
"Hey."
"please taking seat." the flight attendant replied, holding a pot of coffee.
"Yeah, let's get this shit over with, you're a demon, right?" the man said with a bored expression.
"What do you mean?" the 'woman' said nervously.
"That weird smile, you've been watering a plant with coffee for a while now." Adam pointed out, slouching. "And those guys, c'mon."
The other staff members were making strange, very stiff movements, not to mention the pilot fiddling with the buttons.
"Please, we're not idiots." he said with annoyance.
"Uhh- we're just─."
Adam didn't let her finish because he grabbed one of her arms by the wrist, lifting it up and showing the definitive evidence.
"Oh look, patterns." the brunette said with boredom.
"O-oh, this? This are just..."
The leader of the group stomped on the demon woman's foot, who screamed and revealed her true form with smoke pouring out of her. He collided with his accomplice and also transformed into a demon. Adam, bored by this, shouted.
"The rest keeping come out. We're in a hurry!" Lute and Emily stood on either side of the man, one holding a bag of chips and the other sipping a drink through a straw, frowning.
"Oww, you got the patterns" Lute said with false sadness. "Now you gonna die."
"The only ones die tonight are your─"
The dancer burped, interrupting the demons' speech.
"Ah...I said the only ones die tonight are your—"
Adam's stomach growl interrupted the speech again. Adam clutched his chest and covered his mouth with his fist. Emily was in a similar situation.
"I'm sorry, what?" the brunette mocked.
The demon leader got tired of not being taken seriously.
"Your fans! We'll gonna eat your fans!"
"Wooooow" the three said at once, their expressions cautious.
"No, thanks." Emily said with a frown.
"Uh-huh, yeah, don't even think about it." Lute gave them a deadly glare. "No."
"Not our fans." Adam warned them, putting his hands on his hips and then smiling.
"If you mess with our fans..." Emily crossed her arms.
"We're need to making hurt." Lute concluded with a smile, looking for a fight, and cracked her fists.
A slight ripple materialized through the plane, the power of the group of hunters.
The demons looked at the ripple with fear and caution, but they wouldn't go down without a fight.
"Ugh, you came at a bad time, But you just crossed the line ♫︎ " Adam's voice began to grow louder, Lute adjusted her gloves, Emily fixed her earrings and smiled playfully, the brunette fixed the collar of his jacket with a carefree style. "You wanna get wild? ♫︎"
"Okay, I'll show you wild! ♫︎"
Lute and Emily wasted no time launching themselves at the demons with kicks and punches, immobilizing them. Adam calmly walked up to the larger demon while continuing to chant.
"Better come right, better luck tryin', gettin' to our level ♫︎" Before the demon could speak, he silenced him with a gesture of his hand, while grabbing the metal jug of hot water. " 'Cause you might die, never the time, tryna start a battle ♫︎" He gave a roundhouse kick that sent the demon flying into the driver's cab, never spilled a drop of water nor did lose his intonation.
"Bleeding isn't in my blood, you'll be crying when I'm done ♫︎" Adam threw the jug to Lute, who while singing caught it in the air and turned towards the demon and hit him according to the rhythm of the song, all with a smile.
"Beating you is what I do, do, do, yeah ♫︎" Lute finished hitting the demon and threw the jug to Emily, who caught it with agility.
"Body on body, I'm naughty, not even sorry ♫︎" The youngest sang as she poured the water into the ramen, Lute and Adam joined her with their respective containers and she filled them as well while spinning. "And when you pull up, I'll pull up. A little late to the party ♫︎"
The three of them struck at the group of demons that charged at them with simplicity and force while making a gesture of denial with their fingers.
♫︎ (Na-na-na-na) ♫︎
"Locked and loaded, I was born for this. There ain't no point in avoiding it ♫︎" While the demons were recovering, Emily and Lute were ready to eat their precious ramen, but Adam took it away from them with a stern expression. "Annoyed? A bit. Gonna beat ya, What's not clocking? Time is ticking! ♫︎" pointing to his own packaging, which said it would be ready in 3 minutes.
Adam left the three containers on the table as the trio walked towards the demons with confidence.
"Knocking you out like a lullaby ♫︎" The dancer sang with a mischievous smile.
"Hear that sound ringing in your mind ♫︎" The chestnut complemented while his boots stepped confidently each step.
Emily summoned her small daggers, three in each hand. Lute summoned her spear with a long, sharp point. Adam summoned his trusty sword with one hand. The three walked calmly and confidently.
"Better sit down for the show. 'Cause I'm gonna show you♫︎"
"How it's done, done, done ♫︎"
With each word they slashed, splitting the demons in half, some with several cuts simultaneously.
♫︎ (Huntrix don't miss) ♫︎
"How it's done, done, done ♫︎"
The sounds of weapons cutting through the air and evil filled the plane, the fight dragged on until it reached the long-awaited three minutes, so they could taste the noodles.
♫︎ (Hey) ♫︎
♫︎ (Huntrix don't quit) ♫︎
"How it's done, done, done ♫︎"
♫︎ (Run, run, we run the town) ♫︎
♫︎ (Whole world playin' our sound) ♫︎
At that moment, turbulence shook the plane, disconcerting Adam and the girls. The containers with the instant noodles flew out, but luckily, all three managed to catch theirs respectively.
♫︎ (Turnin' up, it's goin' down) ♫︎
Apparently the plane had been split in half by the fight and the demons themselves trying to escape, the demonic flight attendant laughed at them as she took off with the front of the plane, the trio stared at her in irritación.
♫︎ (Huntrix show this, how it's done, done, done) ♫︎
"Yeah, this plane trash." Lute said with a frown.
The three of them hurriedly ate the still-hot ramen, slurping the noodles and then quickly gulping down the broth, and by the time they were done, their smiles and expressions were more serene.
"Okey." Adam encouraged the girls, they had a concert to give. "LET'S DO THIS!"
"Yeah, something about when you come for the crown ♫︎" While singing he jumped out the open door of the plane, Lute and Emily followed him, launching into free fall. "That's so humbling, huh? ♫︎"
"All of a sudden you running away from a fight that you started like, what? ♫︎" Lute sang as she looked around, there were still demons falling beside them.
"Nothing to us, run up, you're done up, we come up ♫︎" Emily looked at the demons in front of her, with that determined attitude of hers and the amused smile. "From sunup to sundown, so come out to play ♫︎"
"Won either way, we're one in a million. We killin', we bring it, you want it? Okay ♫︎" With a fixed kick, Adam hit a demon and stood on top of him as if he were a chair. "Heels, nails, blade, mascara! ♫︎"
He pulled out a hand mirror with a gothic design and applied eyeliner, giving him a punk and pop style. When he finished, threw the mirror at Lute.
"Fit check for my napalm era ♫︎" The dancer combs and defines her hair while also leaning on a demon.
The mirror reached Emily, who took the opportunity to see herself while she put on makeup for herself and the demon she had trapped.
"Need to beat my face, make it cute and savage. Mirror, mirror on my phone, who's the baddest? ♫︎" She posed for the mirror but then looked at the demon with amusement. "Us, hello? ♫︎"
They soon separated themselves from the demons with cuts, some of them were still falling so they would have to eliminate them on stage.
"Knocking you out like a lullaby. Hear that sound ringing in your mind. Better sit down for the show. ♫︎"
"It's them!" Shouted the audience, who saw their idols arrive through the air.
" 'Cause I'm gonna show you...♫︎"
♫︎ (I'm gonna show you) ♫︎
The trio landed in the smoke of the production, the demons got up sore and confused, behind them the silhouettes of the hunters stalked them.
♫︎ (I'm gonna show you) ♫︎
"How it's done, done, done! ♫︎"
The three emerged from the smoke and plunged their weapons into the demons, deliberately missing for added entertainment. One demon was thrown into the audience.
"I don't talk, but I bite, full of venom ♫︎" -Lute grabbed the microphone and sang while feeling the song in her veins.
♫︎ (Uh) ♫︎
"Good costume." praised the fan who was next to the devil, and took a picture with him.
"Spittin' facts, you know that's ♫︎"
♫︎ (How it's done, done, done) ♫︎
Emily, upon noticing the demon in the audience, threw one of her blades, making it disappear in red smoke. The fans thought it was part of the show and screamed with excitement at the look the youngest member was giving them.
"Okay, like, I know I ramble ♫︎" The light-haired girl began to rap energetically. "But when shootin' my words, I go Rambo. Took blood, sweat, and tears to look natural, uh ♫︎"
♫︎ (That's how it's done, done, done) ♫︎
Adam took the microphone, the light focused on him during his solo, being the center of attention, he took a deep breath and began to sing.
"Hear our voice unwavering. 'Til our song defeats the night ♫︎" He walked confidently onto the stage, followed by Lute and Emily, and felt his lips lift into a smile. "Makin' fear afraid to breathe ♫︎" Grip the microphone tightly and the highest and longest note of the song emerged. " 'Til the dark meets the light!~♫︎"
♫︎ (How it's done, done, done) ♫︎
The audience cried out in excitement, everyone's souls making their presence felt with that distinguished neon blue color, illuminating everyone's chest.
"Run, run, we run the town ♫︎" The three of them began to sing together, while following the steps of the agreed choreography.
♫︎ (Done, done, done) ♫︎
"Whole world playin' our sound ♫︎"
♫︎ (Done, done, done) ♫︎
"Turnin' up, it's going down ♫︎"
♫︎ (Done, done, done) ♫︎
"Huntrix, show this, how it's done, done, done! ♫︎"
"We hunt you down, down, down, down ♫︎"
♫︎ (Down) ♫︎
"We got you now, now, now, now ♫︎"
The three of them saw the barrier turn gold for brief moments, they looked at each other with anxious smiles, it was working.
♫︎ (Got you now) ♫︎
"We show you how, how, how ♫︎"
♫︎ (Show you how) ♫︎
"Huntrix don't miss, how it's done, done, done! ♫︎"
With the last verse, the trio posed for the audience just as they rehearsed. The song ended, and the Honmoon lit up brightly. The audience cheered for the hunters.
The band smiled with emotion and sincerity.
...
The group left the stage, they had played their entire album to make up for the delay, came out tired.
"Did you see that? For a few moments, the Honmoon turned golden!" the man mentioned excitedly.
"Yes, we did it." Lute nodded energetically and proudly.
"How exciting!" Emily squealed, waving her arms and shaking Adam with adrenaline.
"Okey, you know that this means, it's time to release..." Adam calmed them down so he could present his point. "THE song."
"Yes, finally time!" Lute clenched her fists with a smile.
"We're the turning gold! Yeeeees!" Emily jumped for joy.
The three of them started celebrating in the elevator that took them backstage.
During the celebration, Adam felt his throat dry and itchy, causing him to cough.
"Ack—that was weird." He joked as touched his throat, stemming the girls' excitement.
"We'll take a break. Don't push yourself too hard, Addie." Emily said, placing a supportive hand on his arm and giving him a warm smile.
"Yes, you need it. All that work will turn you into Sera." Lute crossed her arms as she joked, but also expressed concern.
"Ouch, that was a low blow, Lute." Adam nudged her friend. Emily laughed at the interaction. "I just need some water."
The elevator doors opened.
"Did someone say 'water'?"
They were greeted by their group of assistants; they had everything they could ask for.
"Hi, Gabriel." the three greeted together, exiting the elevator.
"Hey." the curly-haired manager replied with a smile. "Water! Now!"
The staff acted quickly, putting them in comfortable robes. Adam drank from a bottle with a straw that an assistant held for him, while Gab spoke to him.
"It was the best closing act of the tour. Although, a guy in a demon suit? I didn't expect you to prepare a number on your own."
Emily was congratulated by her assistants and fed honey buns covered in sugar, her favorite.
"I'll admit they were good special effects." The staff commented.
"Sure, «special effects.»" Lute replied with a mocking smile. Her makeup and nails were being done as they walked.
"It'll cost a lot of money, but look at these numbers!" The curly-haired man pulled out his phone and showed the charts for the most-streamed band. Huntrix was at the top. "They're a hit!"
"To celebrate, I've booked you a week at the most exclusive resort in the country." Gabriel excitedly told the team.
"Sorry, Gab, we already have plans." Lute said with an amused smile.
"What? What plans?"
"Only the best tickets for..." Emily leaned toward Lute with amusement.
"To be on our couch!" they both answered simultaneously and happily.
Amid cheers of 'couch!' from both girls, Adam stayed with Gabriel for a few more seconds.
"Go to the resort, enjoy it, you deserve it for putting up with us!" the brunette encouraged while patting him on the back, addressing his group.
"Me? Oh no, I couldn't." he replied modestly, but it was clearly fake. "Just kidding. Bathrobe!" The attendants placed a bathrobe on the manager along with a sleep mask. "See you in two weeks, guys!"
"Bye, Gabbie." They said their goodbyes and turned to leave and go to rest.
"Ah right, finally a damn vacación." Lute said as she left with Emily following her.
Adam followed behind them both, with a smile that hid something.
"Yes, vacation." he said, clasping his hands together, planning something.
It wouldn't bad to release the new song ahead of schedule, right?
After all, they're very close to achieving their goal.
He's very close to freeing himself from this curse.
Lute and Emily can forgive him later; he has a song to release.