Author Note: This took me forever to write out, lmao!

I've been trying to keep some events like they really happened, such as this one. This chapter happens at the Sonic Temple Music Festival on May 17, 2019.

I will attach the reference video I used of the Festival should you wish to see it.

Enjoy!

(Songs used are

Uncomfortable by Halestorm

By Ghost:
Ashes
Rats
Absolution
Ritual
From the Pinnacle to the Pit
Faith
Miasma
Year Zero
Mummy Dust
Dance Macabre
Square Hammer

https://youtu.be/lx8N_S0x8d8

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Annie sat atop one of the many equipment cases stacked up out of the way, rubbing at her tired eyes as stage crew and managers from various bands rushed about, making sure everything was running smoothly for the upcoming transition between acts. She could hear the roaring crowd somewhere nearby, and the loud rhythmic sounds of the current band that was performing. It was getting closer for the guys to go on and Annie couldn't wait. She was tired and in a great deal of discomfort, and as much as she was excited to finally see her Cardinal and ghouls perform, she wanted the day to be over. 

The girls had insisted on what she was wearing for the event. A graphic tee for the band that had their logo on top of a rendition of Copia wearing some kind of cape and a spectral image of Papa in the background, and the back held dates for the current tour. Her legs, the main source of her discomfort, had been confined in black tight fitting jeans with carefully placed sections where it was rubbed thin with holes along the top of her thighs and a pair of black and white shoes that went up her ankles. Converse high tops, she thinks they called them. Those were comfortable at least. 

Her hair had then been pulled back and parted in several small braids  that came together in two high twisting pigtail type buns behind her head that had a lot of fringe. Cirrus had applied a darker look of makeup; dark smokey eyeshadow with thicker liner and dark lips. Mesh like gloves, one only covering her hand and wrist and the other reaching her elbow completed the look. She could hardly recognize herself by the time it was all done. She both hated and loved it, and although she felt kind of ridiculous she knew that it would help, possibly, conceal her identity in case any of the magistratus were in attendance today.

Sitting back she sighed and looked around. The current band seemed…loud. Everyone today seemed so loud. Was this what music out in the world was like? The lead singer of the current band playing, a woman, had a nice voice though. A sudden flash of silver to her right startled her momentarily before she relaxed, recognizing Dew as he nimbly hopped up next to her with ease. 

"Sup, darlin?" 

"What are you doing? Shouldn't you be with the others?"

"Excited. Can't sit still. You? Are you excited? You should be. I hope you are."

Turning to get a good look at him she couldn't help the smile, barely suppressing a giggle seeing him literally vibrating, bouncing lightly as he sits next to her. 

"You're worse than Sunny right now. And that's saying something."

He tilts his head back, letting out a loud chuckle. "Yup! Always like this before a ritual.  Can't you feel the energy out there? Gonna be so good up on that stage. You're gonna watch me, right? Not just the Cardinal. Cuz we'll be there too. Ignore Aether though. I'm more fun to watch."

He was talking so fast Annie could hardly keep up.

"Mhmm. If you say so." She laughs and nudges into him, the gesture taking him off guard and he almost falls off the case before catching himself. 

"Heads up!"

Right as he straightened himself a flash of green went flying past in front of Annie's face, swiftly caught by the gremlin. His eyes widen and he laughs, thrusting his free hand in the air with a holler of delight. 

"You're the man, Swissy!"

Before Annie can ask what it was her eyes widen as Dew tilts his mask up, turning his head to the side as he sinks his fangs - yes, Annie was certain they were fangs- into the can and pops the top, chugging down the liquid quickly.  Crushing the can against his knee he lets out a loud belch followed by another energetic cry, both fists reaching to the sky this time.

"Fuck yeah! Gimme another!" 

"You only get one, Dewdrop. Not my fault you shotgunned it!" Swiss laughs as he walks over, his signature wide toothy grin on his face as he sips at his own green can. "Why do you still have the can?"

"Huh?" The gremlin looks at the crushed piece of aluminum in his hand. "Oh. I promised Darlin here I wouldn't eat anything that wasn't meant to be eaten anymore."

"Really?" The multi ghoul looks between them before sliding a hand in his front pocket, his stance relaxed as his grin shifts to a smirk Dew recognized all too well as his voice dropped. "Look at you behaving like such a good boy then."

Annie was certain Dews' silver mask started to glow as though it was being heated from the inside as he sputters out an incoherent chain of half words before growling.

"Shut up, asshole! I don't need you doin shit like that and getting me horny before a ritual!" He chirps in Ghoulish. 

"Aww, is my poor gremlin getting too hot and bothered? All the more fun for when we get back to the hotel.  I love it when you're riled up just for me," Swiss chirps back with a wink. 

Annie rolls her eyes with a heavy sigh before responding with her own chirping sounds.  "And I can understand both of you, in case you've forgotten."

Both ghouls instantly straighten, eyes widening in slight horror before Swiss' wide grin is back in full force and he laughs loudly. 

"Shit, sorry sweetheart.  Yeah I forgot about that. Just ignore us, yeah?"

Annie smiles and nods, leaning back with a stretch. “So what is it that you guys are drinking?”

“This?” Swiss shows her the can he was holding. “It’s soda.”

“Soda?”

“Never had any, darlin?”

Annie shakes her head. “Child of the wilds, remember? If it wasn't provided by nature we wouldn't have it.”

Swiss steps closer and hands his drink over to Annie who takes it, sniffing cautiously at the opening. 

“Just try it. If you don't like it, that's fine. If you do, I can get you one, if you’d like.”

She nods and takes a sip before making a face as the carbonation bubbles on her tongue, the taste too sweet and somehow bitter in a way. 

“Ugh, no thank you. I’ll stick to water I think.”

She goes to hand it back to Swiss but Dew was quicker, snatching it from her and chugging the rest of the mostly full can.

“Hey!” Swiss stares at the gremlin, mouth agape as he silently fumes. “You fuckin pest. That was my soda!”

Dew belches again and crushes the can like the other, a shit eating grin on his face as he sticks his tongue out. “Whatchu gonna do about it, Swissy? Literally has my name on it.”  

“You’re impossible.”

Annie giggles, bringing her legs up to cross them carefully, forearms resting on her knees. 

The two ghouls begin bickering back and forth and Annie watches them with a warm smile, her anxieties and exhaustion fading away. She’s not shocked when Dew jumps down from his perch next to her and starts getting in Swiss’ face with a playful shove, the taller ghoul hardly budging as he laughs and grabs the smaller in a light headlock. 

“I hope these two aren’t bugging you with their childishness, love,” Aether says with a laugh as he steps to her right side, watching the grappling pair. She turns to him and sees him peel back the skin of a banana before bringing it to his lips. 

“Nah. Making me feel better, actually. How are you, Aeth? Nervous at all?”

“Hmm? ‘bout the ritual? Nah. Though if these two don’t knock it off Dew won't have the energy left for our banter on stage.” 

“Banter?”

Aether turns to her and smiles, giving a nod. He rests the hand holding the banana at his side and brings the other up to rest gently on her knee. “We have a lot of fun up on the stage. We love it, the crowds go wild for it. Though, I'm honestly not sure if we’ll have the time available to do it properly. These festivals always cut our sets down compared to a full ritual.”

“Are there always so many people?” She couldn’t hide the nervous look that crossed her face and his smile softened.

“Sometimes. Sometimes there are more, others less. It’s never the- Hey!”

He looks down suddenly and Annie follows his gaze, her hand coming to cover her mouth to hold back a laugh as they see Swiss kneeling down and taking a bite of Aethers forgotten banana in a very suggestive manner.

“Sod off! Just cuz Dew there drank your soda doesn’t mean you can eat my banana!” He goes to kick at Swiss but he jumps back with a laugh, chewing on the bite he managed to take. 

“Ya love me, Aeth.”

Aether rolls his eyes and takes another bite of his banana, chewing slowly as he watches the shifty multi ghoul.

“Say, sweetheart. Where’s your entourage?” Swiss asks, turning to her. Dew walks over to lean against the case on her other side. “Shouldn’t they be here?”

“Who? Mysti and Ace?”

Swiss nods. Annie shrugs. “Said something about making sure to find a good spot for me to watch. Should be back soon, though. I hope.”

Aether finishes his banana and tosses the peel at Dew, who catches it with a scowl. “The fuck?”

“You’re closer to the trash. Right behind ya, if you don’t mind.”

Dew turns and sees the proper bin and sighs, taking the discarded peel and crushed cans to dispose of them before returning, still grumbling. 

“Thank you for helping, Dew,” Annie says, reaching over to rest her hand on his shoulder. He relaxes under her touch and shoots her a smile. 

“Yeah, yeah. Just don’t make a habit of it, spaceman.”

Another fast paced song starts up from the stage and the crowd starts going crazy again. Annie leaned back and listened as the ghouls chatted amongst themselves. She wasn't really paying attention to the lyrics but one section caught her ears just right. 

“I did it all, to break
Every single preconceived notion that you have. 
I did it all to rape
every single one of your emotions and just to make you

Uncomfortable
I love to make you
Uncomfortable
I love to make you…”

She was sure they didn’t mean what her mind instantly jumped to, but she couldn't help it. Her eyes unfocused and her face fell to an emotionless mask as memories started swirling, mixed with flashes of cold dark eyes. Everything started to fade, becoming muffled to her ears as her heart started to race and thrum in her ears.

When a pair of strong hands grabbed hers she couldn’t help but to jump and snap her attention to the silver mask and blue eyes now in front of her face and she drew in a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. 

“You with us, love?” Aether asks softly, looking over her face with concern.

“Y-yeah. Sorry. Tired.”

His eyes flashed knowingly and she knew he didn't believe her, but he also didn't press it further. He didn't have time even if he wanted to. Cumulus came over then, telling the boys it was time to start getting ready and that Copia wanted to give his pre-ritual pep talk. Shooing them away, she turned to Annie and smiled softly. 

“How are you doing? Excited?”

“That's one way to put it,” Annie laughs, untangling her legs to gently ease herself off the case she sat on. Her left leg gave out when she put her weight on it and Cumulus caught her with her arms around her waist.

"Careful now. Are your legs okay? I know you hate pants but trust me, they're better than a skirt at these types of gigs."

Annie smiles and gives a small nod. "Yeah, they'll be fine. I can always climb on Ace's back if I need to get off of them. Speaking of, where are those two?"

Cumulus lets Annie go when she's steady in her feet and looks around before lifting her fingers to her mouth, letting out a series of shrill high-pitched whistles that make Annie's ears ring. She jumped when there was a sudden voice from behind the cases. 

"Yeah, yeah, sorry!  Sorry, I'm here!  Gah, why'd you have to whistle like that? I was on my way over! Do you know how many people I had to try and get through?"

An arm tinged with a rapidly fading electric blue glow wraps around Annie's shoulder. Cumulus rests her fists on her waist and looks at the tall ghoul with an unimpressed expression. 

"You should've been here over ten minutes ago. Technically, one of you should have stayed with her, but I don't have time to get on you for that.  Halestorm is done with their set, and I have to get ready with the others."

"I know it's safe back here. You've got the siblings on the crew and you guys. But you're right. Knock them dead, Cumulus. And tell Ciri to shred on her solo!"

Cumulus gives one last smile to Annie before turning to walk back to where the others are gathered. Out of sight, Annie turns to Ace and prods them in the side, making them jump and let out a giggle. 

"Hey!"

"Hey yourself. Let's get going, yeah? Kept me, waiting long enough."

Ace sighs and nods, running a hand over the shaved down side of their mohawk as they lead Annie through the area and out of the gates separating the backstage area from the tour buses. "Sorry, Levy. You good, though?"

"Not really looking forward to all the people, but yeah. I'm good."

"You'll be fine. Got me and Mysti with ya. And once Cardi takes the stage, you'll forget about the crowd." They laugh and pull her through another set of gates, taking her hand to start weaving through the crowd. 

Annie's hand tightened around theirs, her free hand coming up to clutch the back of their shirt as they pushed through the people. More than once, Annie stepped on the back of their heel from how close she was walking to them, but the ghoul didn't complain or make a sound. Before she knew it, the ghoul was pulling her around to stand against the metal barricade, standing partially behind and to the side of her. A shorter bald female to her right assumes a similar position before turning to face her. 

"Hi Sugar Cube! Good spots, huh?" Mysti asks with a wide smile, motioning to the stage they stood just left center of. 

Annie nods and holds onto the rail, trying to calm her breathing. She looked up and watched various people change and replace instruments after quickly setting up faux marble platforms. A backdrop was hanging behind it, looking almost identical to the stained glass windows back in the church.  Mountain's drum set was set up just to the left of the stairs, a guitar and mic on the connecting platform to the left of that. A couple of keyboards on stands are set up on the smaller platform to the right. She watched as a bearded brother with long hair - Kevin, she thinks his name is - do a final look over before giving a thumbs up and jogging off stage. 

Ace leaned down and whispered in her ear, “I can feel the tension and nerves radiating off of you. You okay, Levy?”

“Lots of people. And I’m excited to see the guys on stage. Even now, it doesn't feel quite… real. You know?”

“Oh, you have no idea what you’re in for, Levy. But you’ll enjoy it, I know that much.”

“Oh! It's starting!” Mysti chimed up from her right, bouncing on her toes and clapping before pointing to the stage, drawing Annies attention back to it. 

The stage was now void of anyone, the crowd in a quiet lul of anticipation. A sound came through the speakers, a low humming. Mountain was the first to appear, climbing some stairs from behind to make it to his drums. Childlike singing comes from the speakers, and the crowd lets out a cheer. 

“Ring a ring of rosies, 
a pocket full of posies. 
a tissue, a tissue, 
we all fall down.”

The crowd started cheering, and she could see Cumulus and Cirrus taking their spots at the keyboard. Next came Rain, Dew and Aether climbing up and over the middle stair section, taking their spots on the main area of the stage. Aether was to the left, Dew to the right, and Rain still on the stairs in the middle. Swiss pops up on the smaller platform next to Mountain, a guitar slung around his shoulders as well. The ghouls all stood relaxed, with their arms behind their back and when the next bit of singing they took hold of their instruments. Lights flashed with the beat Mountain hit on the drums, the girls on the keyboards and the boys doing some random notes on their guitars. 

Suddenly it was quiet, Dew and Aether jogging off on either side and the lights started flickering like crazy as Mountain let out a series of hits on his drums and cymbals. Behind her, the crowd started cheering with abandon, the energy surging tenfold as the guitars joined in. Annie could feel her heart pounding almost painfully in her chest.

Swiss rocked and swayed his hips to the music as he strummed his guitar, Dew and Aether hitting their notes, heads bobbing to the beat. 

Suddenly she saw him. Copia skips out from the left side wearing a very tight fitting black suit with a large embroidered grucifix on the left side of his chest, his hair slicked back and still wet looking as he makes his way to just right of center stage, bringing the microphone in his hand to his lips.

“In times of turmoil, in times like these
Beliefs contagious, spreading disease
This wretched mischief is now coursing through your souls
Never to let go, never to let go!”

He was leaning back a bit as he sang, his free arm moving to the music, stepping over more towards the center where he stood with his legs spread and reclined back. He stands up, pivoting on his left foot, his right coming up like he was kneeing the air in a way as he turned, shouting to the crowd.

“Sing it!”

Behind her, the crowd all called out loudly- “RATS!”

There was so much going on, Annie wasn't sure where to look or who to focus on. The beat of the drums made her heart seem like it was hammering much harder than it was. Sunshine was right. Seeing them on a stage, the energies were completely different. More overpowering, but not in a bad way. She was drawn in, much more than she ever had been when she listened to them at practice and she couldn’t get enough. 

Dew and Aether switched sides, Cumulus stood shaking a shaker of some kind while Cirrus was on the keyboard. Swiss was dancing and swaying while playing his guitar, his vocals blending nicely along with the girls to Copias in some sections. Just watching Mountain seem to go crazy on the drums made her arms hurt. Even Rain was dancing in his spot at the top of the stairs.

And she couldn’t get enough. 

“Columbus! are you with us?! Then sing it!” Copia asks the crowd and they reply in a roar, singing along with the next lines.

“They’re still coming after you
and there’s nothing you can do!
They’re still coming after you
and there’s nothing you can do!
Rats!”

The word echoes and the crowd claps with the beat as the keyboard's sound changes. After calling out to the crowd again, Copia walks off to the left once more. It wasn’t the first time he had done so and it confused her.

The first song ends and immediately they start the next one, Rain walking down the stairs. Aether stands to the left once more, and slowly raises his arms and the crowd cheers.

Suddenly there’s an explosion of smoke as a flare goes up, making Annie jump and shriek. Aether moves to stand in front of where she was, fingers still moving on the strings while giving her a look of concern from behind his mask. She smiles up at him and nods that she’s okay and he steps back to where he was, his steps as stomps to the beat as he moves and bobs his head. Copia suddenly appears at the top of the stairs from behind, leaned back with his legs spread, swaying with the music, his foot keeping beat.

“Ever since you were born you’ve been dying. 
Everyday a little more you’ve been dying. 
Dying to reach the setting sun!"

He lets out a growl and shifts, leaning back again and Annie can’t help but stare at him. She’s seen him in tight pants before, yes. But these…left little to the imagination. His thighs looked so thick and one could clearly see the outline of his bulge. Her cheeks were flaming and she tried to force herself to look away but when he sinks to his knees after the next lines she couldn't ignore the building pool of fire within her. 

“All those things that you desire,
You can find here in the fire!”

He gracefully rises back up, raising his free hand, moving it around as he sings. Between verses, he tilts his head back, moving back and forth on his legs, his hips giving small thrusts before motioning to the ghouls on either side of him.

Gliding down the steps, He swayed his hips before moving to the right, sinking down to his knees again, reaching out towards the crowd a moment before rising, On the far right of the stage he holds a sustained note before speaking to the crowd. 

“Now its your time to scream!”

The crowd roars back.

“That was alright, but I want to hear ALL of you now!” He calls out, walking back across the stage, arm raised up high. “From the bottom of your atoms! SCREAM!”

The crowd lets out a louder yell in response and Copia walks back off stage. Dew comes to stand in front of Annie now, smirking down at her as he plays. She can see Swiss behind him on his platform, rocking his hips as he also is on his guitar. She cant help but  smile wider than she already had been, her cheeks starting to hurt from it. Dew winks at her before scooting behind Rain, going back to his side of the stage. 

Copia appears from the back of the platform again, atop the stairs, easing back in that leaned back slight crouch with his legs bent. He switches between that position and standing tall, singing loudly until the song ends. 

He holds the microphone in both hands in front of him, looking out at the crowd, catching his breath a moment while they cheer, waving his arm out as the last notes fade.

“Columbus! Ohio!” He calls out through the microphone before singing as the band does a series of notes, the lights flashing like crazy. “United states of America!”

Holding the last note, the crowd roars in applause once more and they go into the next song.

“Alright!” His hand is on his hip as he looks out. “Yeah!”

Annie could see the wide smile on his face as the crowd started clapping, her and the ghouls besides her clapping as well.
 

 
“Clap clap clap, one two three four!” He laughs and tosses the microphone to his other hand as he heads down the stairs as another guitar picks up the notes. Copia waves his hand out over the crowd, eyes roaming over the sea of people. “Come on, give us the claps tonight people!”

Copia’s hand keeps time with the beat as he talks into the microphone again, walking from next to Dew to across the stage. When he steps behind Aether, the music changes slightly and when all the guitars and Rain on bass join in on their cues he slaps Aether on the ass hard enough to make the ghoul jump and look over at him before turning away with a shake of his head. Annie laughs and shakes her own head at the interaction. 

Copia, up on the stage, notices fans with phones turned towards him for pictures and video and he shakes his head, gesturing towards the Ghoul trying to get the attention off him. His ghouls work hard to know the music and the fans should record all of them, not just him. Shaking his head he skips back to the center, just barely making his cue to sing. 

“Tonight we’ve summoned for a  divine cause.
Remembrance, no, but for their future loss!”

He’s at the right side of the stage now, Dew, Rain and Aether coming to stand closer together near the stairs. Annie’s head is starting to hurt and she feels a shiver run down her spine but she shakes it off and focuses on the ghouls, watching them play until Copia comes back into her frame of vision.

“Our fallen angel vexed
Was banished from the sky
Recite now, from the text
And pray for all to die!”

Aether jumps from the stair he was on and Annie could see his shoulders shake in laughter as he jogs back to his spot. Copia stops in front of Annie, stepping up on a speaker as his face falls to something serious and, in her opinion, somewhat terrifying as he growls out the next lines, yet she can’t tear her gaze away. She’s totally fixated on him and she feels the heated pool in her spread like the blush on her cheeks as his voice gets lower.

“Our father, who art in Hell
Unhallowed, be thy name
Cursed be thy sons and daughters
Of our nemesis who are to blame
Thy kingdom come, Nema!”

On the last word, he catches Annie’s eyes and gives a small smirk and a wink before jumping off the speaker and dancing away. She has to hold onto the barricade in front of her as her knees go weak and she lets out a shaky breath. She heard the music, heard him singing but she was focused on trying to get her heart to slow, to take control of her fast breathing and relax before she could focus on the show in front of her. 

“You okay, Levy?” Ace yells over the music to her. “You don’t look so good!”

“I’m fine! Just.. uh… Fine!” She turns to them and gives a wide yet shy smile and Ace laughs, seeing how flushed she looked.

“Cardinal got you all hot and bothered with that growl, eh?”

Mysti reaches around behind Annie and swats at the ghoul, giving them a pointed look before shaking her head and turning back to the stage. Ace shrugs an apology and does the same. By the time Annie finally turned back, Copia was nowhere to be seen, the ghouls jamming out to the rest of the song before it ended with the lights turning off. 

Seconds later a single spotlight shone down on Rain as he, by himself, started the next song, his fingers moving quickly on his bass strings. He was followed shortly after by the others and once more Copia entered from off stage, singing normally and then dropping into a low growl again that sent more shivers down Annie’s spine. 

“You wield the scepter
you wear the gown.
from the pinnacle to the pit!
it is a long way down!”

Rain was at the top of the stairs now, dancing and leaning back as he played his bass with gusto. Normally so shy and reserved it was interesting seeing him so… wild looking  and carefree as he played. 

The flashing lights made her eyes hurt and she rubbed them, jumping harshly when fireworks were set off filling the area with a smell of sulfur and smoke. Annie opened her eyes when one guitar stood out and watched Dew at center stage doing a solo. Beneath his balaclava she could see he was biting his lip, his eyes intently watching his fingers so he didn't mess up his run and when he was finished Copia gave a clap before he shooed him away to take his spot. Annie couldn’t help but laugh again. Even still, something was nagging at her, but she couldn’t place it. 

Turning, all she could see was a multitude of unfamiliar faces, most everyone with smiles either dancing or clapping or singing along. They started pumping their fists in the air as the lights flashed again with the hits Mountain made on his drum making her feel dizzy once more. At the end of the song, yet another loud firework happened and she jumped again. 

Quiet, no new song started immediately. Turning back to the stage she saw Copia standing at the top of the stairs with a spotlight on him, a wide smile on his face as he panted lightly. 

“Thank you!” he called into the microphone. “How the fuck are you doing?!”

The crowd yelled back their response in various cheers and replies.

“Are you doing well?” More cheers. “Have you had a, uh, good day so far? Are you drunk?”

Annie laughed, a man behind her yelling ‘Yeah!’ that made her laugh louder. 

“Are you stoned?” A louder response from the crowd. 

“Oh my. Well, I’m a little both there myself,” he continues a chuckle as he descends a couple steps. “Alright, we’re gonna play you a song now about something that I feel… is strong here tonight. Do you know what that is?”

A chorus of cheers and ‘what’s from the crowd.

“Say what now?”

A loud man somewhere to her right yells out ‘Female orgasm!’ and she cant help but blush and shake her head.

“Huh?” He cups his ear as though he didn't hear them. 

 
The crows yells out ‘Faith’ followed by a series of ‘yeah!’ and he urges them to do it again, and again. 

“Faith!” he nearly growls, bringing his arm down as a guitar and the drums start. He stands there, a fist over his heart, tapping against his chest with the beat before he turns and lets out a loud growl into the microphone. Oh how Annie wished he would stop doing that. She couldn’t stand the fluttering in her stomach each time he did. Why was it affecting her so?

“There is a scourge in the guise of sanctity
a perpetrator with a quill
although its, often steeped in well spun mystery
the accuser sends a bill. YEAH!”

Hes back on the right side of the stage in that relaxed wide spread stance, rocking with the music. 

“I am all eyes
I am all ears
I am the wall and I'm watching you fall!
Because Faith is mine!"

Again, he growls and this time Annie lets out a soft whine. She takes a deep breath and looks at where he was but doesn’t see him until a flash of movement in from the corner of her eye brings her eyes up to him, in front of her once more on the speaker, facing out to the crowd. He’s rocking back and forth, his hips swaying and moving and she cant not stare. Those pants, so tight and revealing. What was happening with her? 

He stands tall and growls out, thumping his chest with the words with a hard expression on his face. “Because Faith is mine!”

He turns then, doing a slow sway dance with his hips as his arms move and he walks to the left a bit before turning and watching the ghouls on the stairs on their guitars, dancing on his own to the music almost like he was directing them in a way with how his arm moved. 

Solo done, he walks back to center clapping for them. He turns to the crowd and gets them going, fists pumping in the air shouting out a series of ‘hey’s to the beat. 

And yet again, his voice drops to an even deeper growl, his eyes flashing, the left seeming to have a slight glow about it. 

“I am all eyes!
I am all ears!
I am the wall! And I’m watching you fall!”

“OHIO!!!!”

He sings like normal, shifting back and forth between his legs, turning his body as his hips sway, slowly making his way backwards up the stairs finishing with another growled out line. 

The music cuts out, lights turning off and the crowd cheers loudly. Annie takes several deep breaths, turning from the stage to rest her face in her hands. Her heart was still pounding heavily, rushing in her ears and she shivered. 

“You sure you’re okay, Levy?” Ace leans down to ask her, a worried look on their face. “We can go backstage again if you’d prefer.”

“I should be okay. It’s just very intense. My heart won't stop hammering.”

A smirk crossed their lips and they spread them to give some witty remarks but a glare from the water ghoulette opposite them shut them up and they sighed with a roll of their eyes. It was fairly quiet, a prolonged note held by one of the keyboards. Cymbals tapped with the beat and then a guitar started and the crowd lost their minds. Women, mainly, started cheering and screaming. A second guitar joined the first and the lights turned red.  Swiss was on his platform, pumping his hand up in the air trying to get the crowd to join in. Lights flashed with the beat and Annie watched Mountain's arms lift high before most of the hits. 

Copia was suddenly at the top of the stairs, facing towards the ghoulettes with a hand raised before turning when the music paused, walking down the stairs when it continued. 

“I feel your presence amongst us. 
You cannot hide in the darkness.
Can you hear the rumble?
Can you hear the rumble that’s calling?”

Annie bobbed her head to this one. It wasn't quite like the others and she liked it. She could pick up Swiss’ voice at the chorus, loud and clear and she realized she hadn’t really heard him sing aside from that one night when they had the impromptu jam session after she woke up. She would have to sk him to sing again. He had a nice voice. 

“I can feel the thunder thats breaking in your heart. 
I can see through the scars inside you. 
I can feel the thunder that’s breaking in your heart. 
I can see through the scars inside you!”

The guitars joined back in, Aether nodding his head to the beat as he swayed back and forth. Rain swayed on the stairs again, also bobbing his head.

Copia was suddenly in front of her again, kneeling next to the speaker as he reached out to her, singing to what felt like only her. She reached out, her fingers barely grazing against his as she held his gaze, seeing the deep set love she saw every day in a different light. It felt stronger, and the pull in her jumped to life with yearning. 

“Can't you see that you’re lost?
Can't you see that you’re lost without me?
I can feel the thunder that’s breaking in your heart. 
I can see through the scars inside you!”

Pulling back he blew her a kiss, a warm smile on his face as he gracefully rose and spun, making his way back across the stage. Annie had to remind herself how to breathe. He was showing off Dew as he did his solo, clapping when it was over before walking  back up the stairs to show off Cumulus as she played on the keyboard.

“Can’t you see that you’re lost without me?”

 What was it about this song that was just resonating with her? There was so much emotion behind the lyrics. When he held a note, her soul seemed to soar, her heart feeling full yet breaking at the same time at how almost pained he sounded as his pitch changed with the sustained length. Feeling wetness on her cheeks, Annie reached up to wipe some tears away. Why was she crying?

Mysti nudged her, getting her attention. She leaned up to talk in Annie’s ear. “This next one is ‘Miasma’! It’s the one that Papa has a part in!”

The song was mainly cymbals and keyboards to begin with, the lights changing to a cool blue that lit up the backdrop in an eerie way. The guitars joined in, blending nicely with the keyboard. Once again Copia was nowhere to be seen. She longed to disappear backstage to find him, the pull within her wanting to be close to him but she resisted. The set wasn't over, and she didn't want to distract him. Plus, she promised Papa she would watch him with his saxophone. 

Rain swayed with his notes, once more losing himself in the music. Both Cumulus and Cirrus were at the keyboards. Aether was on his side, swaying slightly with exaggerated strums on his strings. Dew, surprisingly, was standing rather still, focused on his fingers as he played. Swiss had disappeared and it left Annie confused but she shrugged it off. 

The tempo seemed to increase a bit, the ghouls with guitars moving around more on stage as they played and after a few long moments, from the back stairs of the platform, she watched as Papa Nihil was helped up by two Brothers. A wide smile spread over her face as he shuffled over to the top of the stairs and got ready to play. He danced and swayed with more grace than she thought him capable of, Dew on one side of him, Aether on the other as they faced him. After holding a long note, Papa stumbled back, the Brothers catching him as he panted harshly. He stood tall and shook them off, lifting the mouthpiece of his instrument back to his lips as he continued to the end of the song before falling back into the waiting Brothers as the lights went out once more. Annie was worried, but Ace assured her that he would be well taken care of and she could visit him after the show. If she wanted her ear talked off, that was. 

Over the speakers shortly after, booming voices sounded and the lights flashed with each word and the crowd roared again with cheers.

“Belial. Behemoth. Beelzebub. 
Asmodeus. Satanas. Lucifer!”

Mountain tapped in on the cymbals and then the guitars joined in, the lights flashing and moving with the beat. The words repeated again and a single spotlight lit up Copia, back on the stairs.

“Since dawn of time 
The fate of man is that of lice!
Equal as parasites
and moving without eyes. 

A day of reckoning
when penance is to burn.
Count down together now
and say the words that you’ll learn!”

The crowd sang along, loud and clear.

“Hell Satan! Archangelo!
Hell Satan! Welcome year zero!”

Copia had his back to the crowd as he moved his arm, raising it and lowering it before turning and lowering in that slight crouch again. The words repeated and he stood tall, motioning with his free hand with each one, each time with more flourish than the last. Again he moved to the left of the stage, gesturing as he sang out to the crowd. When the chorus started he was back in the middle, and when it was time for the guitar solo he turned to Aether, directing the attention to the ghoul playing up on the speaker. Solo over Copia clapped and walked back to the center, singing his next part. 

Annie watched as Aether jumped around like an excited puppy as he played before climbing the stairs. A blush appeared tenfold when she saw Copia standing in that wide stance, his right hand lowered and mimicking his member, swaying his hips back and forth before moving his arm in a circle. leaning forward he reached between his legs and slowly leaned back, raising his hand to the sky with the lyrics. 

“He will ascend to the heavens, 
above the stars of God!
Hell Satan! Archangelo!”

He was climbing the stairs, facing the depiction of Lucifer as his foot tapped the beat. Giving a nod to the picture he turned back to the crowd, holding the last note. Plumes of fire sprang up from behind the platform and Annie felt another rush of energy. The guitars and drums faded to a recorded track as everything went dark. 

Suddenly, lights came on, the track fading as he spoke. “Well, Columbus? United States of America! You like that?”

The crowd gave a cheer, though not as energetic as before. Maybe they were as tired as she felt. 

“Yes, you do. Well, It’s a heavy track. But not as heavy as the one we are going to play you now.” He pauses a moment, partially for effect,  partially to catch his breath before speaking again. “We’re gonna play you a song that is so… heavy, that you will, it will make your, uh. Your asses wobble!” 

Annie laughed as he turned slightly, showing his ass towards the crowd as he grabbed at it. 

“How do you like that?” The crowd responded with cheers. “You like to have your asses wobbled?”

The cheers mixed with laughs and Annie shakes her head again, her heart fluttering as she watched her ridiculous Cardinal talk about wobbling asses. 

“Good start, good start. This song that we are going to play to you now, is in fact so gosh darn fairly heavy that it will, uh,” he steps partially off the speaker, crouched down as he wiggles his fingers before quickly turning to face the crowd. “It will tickle your taints!”

He looks over the crowd with a wide smile as he laughs. “Would you like to have your asses tickled? Do you want me to tickle it for ya?”

Once more the crowd is loud, laughing and cheering for him. “Okie Dokie! Join us now in- Mummy… Dust!”

His voice turned to a growl as he named the song. Behind him Dew Rain and Aether gathered on the steps as the lights started flashing green.

Next to her, Ace laughed and bit their tongue, shooting Annie a look because they knew what was coming, and she did not. If his growling from earlier had her that worked up, she would probably pass out by the end of this song.

The guitars started strong and low, rapidly playing before the ghouls separated to their spots as Coipa yelled to the crowd. 

“Are you ready?!”

“Yeah!” They chorused back. 

“Are you ready??!” He yelled louder. 

As they called back he let out a loud growl right into the microphone and punched the air as he relaxed into his spread stance, bouncing and moving his hips to the beat before standing and strutting over to Aether, partially kneeling on the speaker in front of Annie.

She watched as her mouth open in awed shock as he growled again, stepping fully on the speaker with his legs spread as he held the air and thrust his hips into it to the beat. Annie wasn't sure she could turn any redder. 

When he sang next, it wasn't like before. Every word had a growly rasp to it and the more he sang the more her stomach fluttered, her knees feeling weak as she trembled, doing her best to keep her eyes on him as he moved to the other side of the stage. He worked his way back to the left and turned to the stage, his eyes dark and shining, hips swaying to the beat as he trailed his hand up his thigh. 

Suddenly, a new sound took Annies attention from Copia and she looked to the stairs where Cirrus was holding a mix of keyboard and guitar, the boys lined up on the stairs to the right all facing her as she played her solo, rocking and bobbing their heads to the beat. Copia climbed the other side and waved his arm to give her all the attention, clapping when her solo was done before jumping back into the growly lyrics. 

Once more he was standing near her, one leg propped on the speaker as he looked out over the crowd before crouching down a bit as he swept his arm out with the lyrics. Standing on the box fully once more, he stood in that wide slightly crouched stance that really accentuated his thighs and he grabbed the air in front of him with one hand, the other holding the microphone to his ips as he thrust his hips into the air again, this time accompanying it with a hand movement like Annie saw him do last night on the couch before flicking his wrist and opening his hand over the crowd, leaning back slightly before leaning forward, swaying and dipping his hips to the beat.

Standing tall once more he called for the crowd to sing out, and they obeyed. With the ghouls backing the lyrics, most of the crowd sang out ‘In God we Trust!’ between cheers, and again he thrust his hips suggestively. 

As it came to a close he stood with his arms outstretched at his sides, panting heavily as he looked over the crowd with a smirk. 

Annie’s whole body was trembling now and she had a tight grip on the railing in front of her, the only thing keeping her legs from giving out entirely. The pull, which had been calm in her for so long, now raged like a caged beast fighting with all its might to gain freedom and she was having trouble focusing on much else. If Copia or the ghouls on stage noticed her, she didn’t know. 

“How did you like that?” His voice called over the speakers. “Was good, eh? Heavy?”

He paused to take a breath, waiting for the crowd to respond. 

“So, your asses. Were they wobbled?” The crowd gave a cheer but it wasnt quite enthusiastic and he rolled his eyes. “Say yes, goddamnit! How about your taints?”

The crowd was louder this time. 

“Now say ‘Tickled’.“

“Tickled!” they responded. 

“I felt it too! It was very good. Even at my age, I can be tickled over there.” He laughs and shakes his head before smiling wide once more. “Alright people. Do you want to dance?”

He looked over the cheering crowd before turning to the ghouls, motioning with his arm. “Alright, Go!”

Swiss had his arms raised and was clapping, Mountain starting the beat and a guitar joined in. It was different on the electric instruments but Annie recognized it as the one they sang that night. She hadn’t heard this one played in the rehearsals, but she was happy hearing it now. 

“Alright!” Copia calls again. “I wanna see your hands, i wanna hear them! I wanna know that your asses are wobbled! Ooh!”

A couple bars play, Copia swaying his hips before raising the mic  again, singing ‘Wobble Wobble!” before stepping off the stairs. 

“You’ll soon be hearing the chimes
close to midnight.
If i could turn back the time,
I’d make all right!

How can it end like this?
There’s a sting in the way you kiss me
Something within your eyes says this could be the last time

‘fore its over!”

Behind her it seemed like everyone was singing along because they were all so loud. She briefly wondered what it sounded like to them facing the crowd as she started dancing, swaying and twisting her hips to the beat. Copia stood in the middle of the stairs, swaying with the music before skipping to the left. Annie briefly caught Dew running up the stairs and throwing his pick at Mountain and a laugh bubbled from her watching it bounce off one of the cymbals and hitting him back in his mask.

Copia was in front of her again, swaying and dancing, glancing down at her as she started singing along. 

“Just wanna be,
Wanna bewitch you in the moonlight!
Just wanna be, 
Wanna bewitch you all night!

Just wanna be
I wanna bewitch you!
One last time in the ancient rite! 
Just wanna be, Wanna bewitch you all night!”

During the guitar solo he gazed at her again, his wide smile meeting hers and she saw him whisper ‘Te Amo’ before turning to face the ghouls. Her cheeks flushed and for the umpteenth time tonight her heart fluttered wildly in her chest.

The solo over, Copia skipped up the stairs, moving his hips as his foot kept beat. His voice cracked slightly but he kept going, swaying back and forth as he sang out. 

The song ended with a rapid series of cymbal hits, the guitars still screeching as Copia talked over it all. 

“Have you had enough?” The crowd roared back a resounding ‘no!’

“I’m guessing you want another song? Alright!” He turned to Dew and gestured wildly at him. “Take it away, motherfucker!”

Dew started in on the next song, standing on the speaker in front of Annie. Aether walked over, watching him before drawing back. With a loud explosion of sparks, Dew planted his feet and nodded his head almost violently to the beat, his fingers moving fast as his hand flew over the strings. 

Copia appeared from behind the platform again, standing on top of the stairs as he sang. 

 “Waiting in the night!
‘Neath heavens torn asunder!
You call on me, 
to solve a crooked rhyme!”

He leaned on one leg, kicking his other foot behind it before easing into that slight crouch he’d been doing all night, swaying widely back and forth from leg to leg. 

“And as i’m closing in
Imposing on your slumber,
you call on me, 
as bells begin to chime!”

“So i wanna know!” he yells out to the crowd before diving back into the lyrics. 

“Are you on the square?
Are you on the level?
Are you ready to swear right here right now, 
before the devil?

That you’re on the square
That you’re on the level. 
That you’re ready to stand right here right now, 
Right here right now!”

Covering his eyes he walks down the stairs, shimmying slightly as he walks over to the left, pumping his fist. Annie can hear how strained his voice is sounding, hearing how it cracks every now and then. It worries her but she cant tear her eyes away as he holds the mic in both hands and sways his hips in circles. 

Time for the next solo and he climbs up the stairs and down the back, disappearing once more before skipping back to the top of the platform.

All the ghouls on stage are going nuts with their dancing and headbanging, Copia swaying and dancing more than he had the rest of the song, doing more footwork. 

The music comes to an end and he continues the last line. 

“Right here right…. Noooooooowwwwwwwwww!” going from the normal tone to a high pitched one at the end, his arm raising up as he does. He stands there, arm raised as he pants heavily a moment before turning his head back down to the crowd. 

“America! Columbus! Ohio! And from anywhere else! We love you. Thank you all for being here!”

The crowd cheers wildly, sparks erupting from various points on the stage as the ghouls do a series of drum hits and notes on their instruments, Copia taking a deep lingering bow before disappearing behind the platform again. 

When the music fully stops, he reappears on top, his arms outstretched as he walks down the stairs, panting heavily. Dew, Aether, Rain and Swiss set their guitars on stands and walk over, Cumulus and Cirrus walking down the stairs followed by Mountain as they all line up, arms around each other's shoulders and waists before they bow. The crowd cheers wildly and Annie claps loudly, a wide smile on her face as she watches them. When they raise up, Copia’s hair is no longer slicked back, several strands hanging wild and loose on his face. 

With another bow they head off the stage, a few lights staying on to allow the crew to see what they were doing as they quickly start dismantling the set,  hauling off the instruments and microphone stands. 

Annie is still standing, trembling as her heart struggles to calm. Ace wraps their arm around her shoulders and gives a soft squeeze, drawing her attention to them. 

"Not bad for your first ritual, huh?" They ask, leading her back towards the side where they could gain access backstage.  Annie smiled, a blush still lingering on her cheek as she shook her head. 

“It wasn’t what I expected. At all. I knew Copia could dance, but that?” Giggles bubble out of her and she blushes again, lowering her head as she bites her lip to try and hide it. Ace and Mysti both laugh softly and nod, knowing what she meant. The shorter ghoulette linked her arm with Annie’s and leaned her head on her shoulder.

“Bet you didn’t know Boss man could move like THAT, huh?”

Annie turns redder and nudges into her, shaking her head. She’s about to reply when the hair on the back of her neck stands on edge and a shiver runs down her spine as she hears a soft whisper on the breeze say ‘run’.  Her smile immediately falls and her face pales as she stands tall and turns quickly, her eyes scanning the crowd behind her. 

“Levy?” Ace turns with her, looking over the crowd with a furrowed brow. Their eyes are bright and narrowed, on edge as they search for what she was seeing. “What is it?”

Annie ignores them, eyes searching the sea of faces until she finds a pair of familiar smirks. Her eyes widen and she starts to tremble violently from head to toe, ice filling her veins. She pulls away from the ghouls, stepping back as she starts mumbling, shaking her head. 

“No… not here… they can’t be… they can’t…”

Ace locks onto where Annie was looking, seeing two men smirking with a dark glint in their eyes and they take off running in their direction. Mysti, jared from her shocked stupor when Ace takes off, grabs on to Annie’s arms and in an instant the crowd is gone and replaced with a swarm of black and silver that jump apart at their sudden appearance.

“Darlin?!”