Mad Court: Ch. 3 Jade Maniacs

The alarm blared, notifying Kai it was half past 8. The curtains flitted in a soft breeze as the sun glimmered through the gaps. He moved Zara’s hand off of him and rolled out of the bed to pick up his track pants. He stretched his neck and his arms before walking into the bathroom.

Day 3 of Mad Court Festival. 

It was the beginning of the end. Like every year, bands would play their finest music and sing their best lyrics to make sure they got through to the Round of 8. It was no easy feat. They pulled their A-game at every level. As they had once. But this year, Jade Maniacs had to pull up their socks because like Sienna proclaimed, Mad Court was definitely better. 

After freshening up, he quickly made a fresh batch of oatmeal with blueberries and bananas. He went through their itinerary and their track list. Kai and Vanya had curated new songs as their previous songs were no longer valid for this year’s competition. They decided they needed to change their sound. Their vibe. From their usual punk rock to the subgenre of alternative rock, nu metal. If they’d win, they would have their new album with a fresh sound. 

The track list for Day Three consisted of two new songs; Night with an Angel and Lonely Moon. Nu metal and pop punk. He hoped that it would carry them to the next round as it was something new they were trying.

Ever since they had debuted three years ago, Jade Maniacs had been a rage. No one believed that a debut group, which no one had ever heard of, would win the Festival. It garnered them huge fame and success. But with fame, there were definitely immense responsibilities, which none of them could carry on. 

There was a reason behind why they were quite ‘infamous’, they called them ‘the Devils of Rock’. Their numerous scandals always made the headlines of tabloids. Kai and Zara’s public sex video had been leaked on the internet, Robyn’s multiple DUI arrests, and Vanya’s very apparent self-harm wounds, which people pointed out as her encouragement of the deed and were extremely disappointed in the band. 

But it never stopped the people from listening to their songs. Because it was their music that echoed in everyone’s hearts and drove them in hordes to any of Jade Maniacs’s upcoming concerts. The venues were always houseful within minutes of the tickets going live and illegal black market sales were all-time high. 

Girls would throw not only their undergarments at Kai and Robyn, they would sometimes throw themselves at them. The boys lapped the attention. Although Kai and Robyn weren’t the only ones being prime focus, Zara and Vanya were flirted upon and often groped at their devilish after-parties. But Vanya’s judo background helped the girls get rid of any creepy guys, and sometimes even girls. 

Hands wrapped around Kai’s torso and a kiss snuck up on his neck. “Mm, why are you up so early? The Festival doesn’t start till evening.” 

“I needed to make sure the arrangement was perfect for today. Why don’t you freshen up and then we can meet up with the rest of the band for a rehearsal?” He unwound Zara’s hands. 

Zara pouted. “Since when do we do rehearsals? We are known as the Devils of Rock because we don’t rehearse.”

“This time it’s different. I’ve watched every band of Lucky 16 and their performances were better than ours. If we are going to be aiming for the fourth title, we need to get better. We need to be better. ” Kai stood up and faced her. “Our music is what defines us, Zara. It was the one rule we had. Our promise to never become another Hollywood waste. True, we’ve had our share of downfalls and embarrassments. But Mad Court is where we made our name and until we are together, we need to keep improving.”

 

Zara took in a breath. “Fine. I’ll get ready. Let’s grab a proper breakfast before we rehearse. I need energy to drum. Your oatmeal, it’s not going to do that.” Kai chuckled as he watched Zara prance away joyfully.

There was a reason why the four of them stuck together. He had met Robyn when they were in school. Though, Robyn looked completely different back then. He didn’t have three piercings in his left ear and a piercing on his brow. He didn’t wear black eyeliner nor had he dyed his hair pink. His wardrobe never consisted of leather jackets and fishnet tops. Robyn, in high school, was the class valedictorian. 

It always remained a mystery to people how he and Robyn became friends. They would reply it was their passion for music. Which was kind of true, compared to the actual truth. Months after they began jamming together, Robyn and him would sneak out in the middle of the night and go to the port where they had built a studio for themselves. It was there, they had found Zara, daughter of the port manager. 

Zara had an innate talent for playing drums, even though she swears till date that she never knew she could play before. Her neighbor and best friend was Vanya, who joined the group as their keyboardist. Vanya was younger than them by three years and Kai often saw her as his younger sister. He would take care of her and make sure she ate right. 

As time passed, the group spent their time creating music that reverberated their hearts and souls, jamming to melodies that defined who they were. When they officially made their band, naming it and all, they made a pact to one another that no one would change until they got really sick of each other. And so far, they seemed content in their own denials. 

Kai and Zara met up with Robyn and Vanya outside the stadium. “Can’t believe we are rehearsing. Reminds me of the old times,” Robyn commented. Kai stared at Robyn's hair. He had changed it again. The glaring blue was extremely distracting. 

“Can we just get over this? I have to get back to my room. I left my project undone,” Vanya said.

“We are not going back to our rooms, V. Once we are done here, we’re heading to the dressing room. So, your project, unfortunately, will be halted until further notice.” Kai patted Vanya’s shoulder which sagged in disappointment. 

Jade Maniacs got on stage and Kai felt a sudden familiarity of nervousness in his bones. Tuning their guitars and adjusting their amplifiers, the group rehearsed their new tracks. Music blaring, songs in tune, the magic was pulsating on their fingertips. Kai could feel the allurement in their sound. It had been a long time since they did this last and he could see and hear the thrill emanating from his band. Vanya’s rare smiling face said everything. 

They rushed to their dressing room, high and ecstatic. Kai quickly changed into his favorite black shirt and black jeans. Rolling up the sleeves, he displayed the ink on his arms that he was very proud of. A dark moon slowly melting into a still ocean, causing it to ripple in small concentric circles. 

He washed his hair and left it to air dry. He opted out of wearing eye liner but made sure he had his lucky rings on. He sat at the edge of the sofa and tuned his guitar again. Kai had always been cautious and liked things done in a certain manner. Which meant, he would tune his guitar again before he got on stage. He pocketed his neon green pick and fixed his black pyramid studded belt. He strapped on his lace boots before strolling out of the room. He needed his pre-performance ciggy. 

He walked out from the back entrance of the venue and took in a deep breath of fresh air before polluting it with nicotine. He leaned against the wall that was sullied by graffiti and watched the clouds roll. They looked heavier than usual. The wind blew ferociously, messing his hair that was already messed up. Crows cawed on the telephone lines and he could hear the chatter from the crowd that was filling up the stadium. 

After stamping on the filter, he turned around to step inside when he noticed another man standing beside the door, having his fill of tobacco. He looked like he was around Kai’s age. Dr. Dre’s Beats headphones hung around his neck as he checked out his phone. Music resounded from it and Kai could make out which song was playing. The man’s attire was casual, making it not seem like he was part of a rock band. He wore a dark green bomber jacket over a grey T-shirt that read ‘Justice is Coming’. His dark jeans complimented the white shoes he wore. But something about him unnerved Kai. 

The door opened wide, almost smacking Kai in the face. “Hey, Leon. Let’s go. The slots have been decided. We’re up fourth.” 

Augustus Murena. 

The groupie Kai had sent the previous night had come to him with a detailed background check on Euphonic Cavalry. 

Founded by Augustus with his childhood best friend Nerita Claridad in a small suburban town when they were just thirteen. It wasn’t until high school that they formed the band with Leon Sharpe and Brett Link. Unlike others there wasn’t much information about Leon. Where had he and his family come from? Who were they? Only thing that he knew was Leon’s parents moved to town after his father became a hotshot hedge fund manager and remarried a young socialite. 

Leon stomped his half-finished cigarette and pocketed his phone. He looked at Kai from his peripheral and his blank stare deepened the unsettling in Kai’s stomach. August noticed Kai and let out a small squeal. 

“Hey, Kai Scott.” August beamed. August, too, looked like he wasn’t the lead singer of a band. His white shirt was half tucked inside his dark washed blue jeans. A denim jacket was draped over his arm. Euphonic Cavalry looked more like a boy band than a rock band. 

“Please, just call me Kai,” he said. He rounded August and stepped inside the hall. He looked at August and Leon from over his shoulder. While August rambled to Leon, Leon’s eyes were dead set on Kai. Trying not to shiver in sight, Kai walked faster and back to the dressing room. Something was definitely up with Leon Sharpe. 

The Lucky 16 started in full swing. Bands transformed the ambience of the stadium with their ear splitting music which the crowd gobbled in ecstasy. Euphonic Cavalry had played yet another amazing gig and Jade Maniacs were up next. 

“Are you guys ready?” Kai asked. 

Robyn straightened his red faux leather military coat covered in studs before cracking his knuckles in his hands and neck. “You know it, baby.” He smirked.

Vanya nodded her head slowly while picking on the edges of her short black leather jacket. Zara leaned up and kissed Kai on his cheek. “Let’s get the party started.” 

Kai felt familiar jitters in his palms. The anxiety and nervousness comforted him. The hallway was jammed packed with bands and groupies. Walter, their bodyguard, pushed his way through to make way for them. Girls’ squeals and screeches irritated Kai. He hated that noise before he got on the stage. During any of the concerts or live performances, it was a silent rule that the backstage would be eerily quiet. It was just not him that hated the noise, none of them liked the irritation. 

As Jade Maniacs got on the stage, Kai heard the crowd howl and cheer vociferously. They fixed their stage and tuned their guitars. Vanya set up her keyboard while Zara tightened the bolts of the drum kit. 

“Are you guys having fun?” Kai spoke on the microphone. The swarm hooted. “Well then, let’s show you what a real band sounds like.” He grinned smugly. He grabbed his Fender and motioned Zara to start. 

Zara twirled the drumsticks in the air before tapping it against each other. “1, 2, a 1, 2, 3, go.” 

Kai strummed the strings of his guitar, playing the chords of their first song Night with an Angel when the ground began to tremor inordinately. 

“What the-” Robyn whispered. 

A loud roar boomed from above and the PAR can lighting instruments on the top steel truss began to descend on the stage floor.