"Performing this new single for the first time ever on television, please welcome Iris Long and Pandemonium singing 'Monster of Insanity!"
The audience all stood up and cheered like crazy when the hosts introduced the next act. They had been waiting for this moment. Finally, the first of the two most anticipated acts that night was about to start.
Although the stage was still covered in darkness, the Black Stars and the Pandemonium fans could already feel their boss and their hubbies' aura emanating from the front. At least, that was what they were imagining.
The lights turned on with a loud click, illuminating the stage.
Everyone gasped when they saw Iris Long wearing a beautiful black and purple ombré gown. Her dark and dramatic hair and make-up made her look like a stunning evil demonic queen. Her cold eyes swept across the audience, making them squeal and shiver in excitement.
The Pandemonium members were dressed like gorgeous and sinful vampires about to seduce mortals with their music. Even the musicians playing the flute, violin and cello looked striking in their dark outfits as well.
They hadn't started performing yet but some of their fans were already starting to feel faint. They cheered and clapped their hands with everything they had.
Iris slowly raised her index finger and pressed it over her blood-red lips, gesturing for everyone to be quiet.
Director He, the two hosts, the show's staff and the other artists watching backstage were all amazed when everyone was silenced by just a single action from Iris.
"What powerful charisma," Director He commented.
The others were also frozen onstage, giving the audience a dark and alluring tableau of wickedly beautiful creatures.
Then Blaze suddenly opened his piercing eyes and swept his arms high up in the air. Thunder sharply beat the drums to match his action, making it more dramatic.
Silence once again.
Nervous anticipation and excitement made the audience tremble on their seats. Oh, they couldn't wait!
Blaze lowered his hands and wrapped them around the microphone and the mic stand. Then he began to sing in a whispering voice without music.
"I shout, oh I shout out loud
But nobody can hear my voice"
When he began to sing the next lines, Iris opened her eyes and her hands finally moved over the piano keys to play a mysterious melody.
"My words keep on drowning
Drowning in this sea of silence"
Then the beat changed. The drums suddenly upped the tempo for a short time, followed by a complicated opening riff from the lead guitar with the bass guitar adding texture. It transitioned to a mesmerizing piano melody, showing off Iris' swift fingers on the piano keys.
Both the guitars erupted now and then, yet they didn't overpower the piano. In fact, all the instruments harmonized in an unusually pleasing way. The violin and cello added another dimension towards the end of such a powerful opening.
The melody and tempo slowed down once again, making the listeners gasp in confusion. However, the thrill of the music boiled in their veins. What kind of music was this?
Blaze continued to sing in a stronger voice this time. Iris and the others played their instruments in a contrasting manner. It was light yet also foreboding at the same time.
"Demons in my mind, chaos in my heart
I lose control, oh I lose control
The world turns crimson
The darkness descends
I'm going insane, oh I'm going insane"
A haunting flute melody was like the call of the devil. The audience shivered until they were once again jolted by another change of tempo.
Iris sang next. Her voice was so sweet that it was the total opposite of the heavy music. Yet everything was oddly harmonizing. It should've sounded chaotic, but there was a seamless orderliness within the chaos of contrasting musicality in the song. It was so weird, yet very delightful.
"Cut me up, shoot me down
I'm a monster born from the heart
Your tainted love, your crazy love
Destroying me from deep inside
Save me, oh save me
I'm losing myself
I'm a monster created by love"
Blaze joined her and they sang together.
"Your love, oh your love
It's haunting me, it's turning me
Into a monster of insanity!"
The drums took over the music with Iris' piano providing the melody's undertone. Then to everyone's shock, the usually silent Night opened his mouth and began rapping. The original Pandemonium fans almost had a collective heart attack. What the hell?!
I cannot breathe
Your love is suffocating me
You think it's right but it's oh so wrong
Don't twist my words to hurt me more
I'm going crazy
I'm feeling dizzy
I still love you but I also hate you
You made me like this
I'm so insane
So drunk in love
There's no restraint
The rage inside is controlling me
It's a poison that's tainting me
It's like our world is made only of us
There's no one else allowed between us
You nurtured this monster inside of me
Our twisted love born from insanity!"
When Night finished rapping, the audience went crazy. So many panties got wet because of his shockingly amazing rap. But before they could even make sense of the situation, the melody changed yet again.
The drums slowed down and the classical instruments took over. Iris' fingers glided swiftly over the piano keys while the flute, violin and cello made the music soar. She began to sing, her voice so powerful and high that everyone got goosebumps.
"Take me away, oh take me away!
This sweet love, this poisonous love
It's killing me, oh killing me
Can someone hear me?
Can someone save me?
Oh that light, that glorious light
Is it salvation or just delusion?
Bathe me in the light
Cleanse me of this love
Oh, cleanse me of this tainted love
Ah ah ah~"
She punctuated it by singing in mind-blowing whistle notes. It sent the audience into frenzy. Everyone's minds went into hyper-drive. They couldn't think of anything else but the amazing performance in front of them. What the f*ck was going on with this performance?!
Then the seductive Eros stepped forward to the front of the stage for his guitar solo. More panties got wet (and also a lot of briefs and boxers). What was happening? Eros was playing so much better now compared to before his injury.
After the superb guitar solo, the melody and tempo reached crescendo. It was a brilliant harmony between heavy rock and classical music. Blaze finished up the song, almost shouting the lyrics yet still retaining the graceful melody.
"I'm a monster created by love
Your love, of your love
It's haunting me, it's turning me
Into a Monster, a Monster, a Monster of Insanity!!!"
The music abruptly ended.
One second. Two sec—
"I don't know what I just listened to but it's so freaking awesome!"
"Kyaaaah! Kyaaaaah! Kya—" This particular fan fainted in the middle of screaming.
Everyone chanted the names of Iris and all the members of Pandemonium. The situation was chaotic and insane. There was no order and the hosts couldn't find the chance to begin the after-performance interview.
Blaze helped Iris stand up from the piano bench like a knight, sending the fans into frenzy even more.
Iris faced the audience. Repeating her earlier actions before their performance, she swept her cold eyes across the audience. She slowly raised a finger and pressed it over her blood-red lips, gesturing for everyone to be quiet.
And just like before, everyone turned silent.
Director He laughed in delight, shaking his head in amazement.
Backstage, Jin Chonglin who was watching everything from the monitor closed his eyes. His hands clenched into tight fists. They trembled a bit. When he opened his eyes again, they looked dark and stormy.
His manager, Lin Dong, saw his reaction. Just like everyone else, he was also shocked beyond belief by Iris' performance with Pandemonium.
Jin Chonglin gave a bitter smile. "F*ck. It's my turn next."