CHAPTER 177: ADMISSION OF GUILT

There was a chill in the air.

Averie felt it; it was suffocating him.

Gazes as sharp as nails were prickling him.

"So," Averie turned to the crowd staring at him, "please understand, this is just a coincidence. We were coming up with scenarios; my being at odds with the Kim family came up, and we just used this unhinged possibility for our song."

He threw a cautious glance at Julia.

She was staring at him with uncertainty in her eyes.

’You are also at fault, damnit. You are the sister-in-law of Patricia Kim, but you did not know me? What planet are you leaving on?’

Begrudgingly, Averie did admit that living in London and not being close to her husband may have played a part in her ignorance.

"So, please do realize it is merely circumstance that finds us here."

Hyerin nodded aggressively. "Yeah, the song is trying to be edgy and intentionally over the top."

"Yes, yes." Averie smiled, rejuvenated by Hyerin’s timely support. "We were very self-conscious while writing it. It means nothing. It’s meant to be a parody of itself."

Averie had no idea what that meant or if it meant anything at all. But the man knew he was good at waffling, and he used it to his advantage.

While watching his cocaine-fueled rapping on the screen, he prayed that his past self’s sins would not come to bite him.

Quinn, with his bloodshot eyes and swivelling head, took off his jacket and threw it at the audience.

Cheers erupted from the geriatrics sitting on the velvet chairs.

A close-up showed him sweating heavily, his gaze unfocused.

"You are bad, you are bitch, you are craven, you are zilch."

He slapped his thigh. A hand shielding him from the light, he scanned the audience.

"Oh, it’s eleven. They hate you so much, the devil asked me to send you to heaven."

He pointed his mic at the crowd, but no one sang back.

They didn’t know the lyrics. So, they just awkwardly cheered.

"Oh, Kim," — Quinn made a sad face — "why you trynna be him? You are a dud, a stinking turd."

The crowd was getting into it.

"You don’t know the streets, why you trynna be blud?"

In the background, shaking his head, Prince Oblivious quietly added: "Tonight, I’m out for blood."

"See, see!" Averie passionately pointed at the screen. "Look at those backing vocals! It’s all meant to be a joke."

While some nodded, Celli enjoyed herself.

What began as a ridiculous song was starting to sound really good.

Quinn clutched his mic with both hands.

"Your wife’s

rife with trife. What a sight! I know how to incite; don’t need no insight. Cause I’m on-site."

"That’s right," yelled Prince Oblivious. "He’ll lie to her tonight!"

"Harsh words, I’ll show her sympathy. In my voice, there’s no empathy."

Julia’s eyes narrowed. It was starting to sound a little too familiar for her.

"No roses, no goodbyes. I’m off to kill your husband. Oh my, oh my!"

With every word Quinn blurted out, the layer of sweat on Averie’s face thickened.

The music became a little less intense.

Quinn took a knee.

He addressed the crowd, reciting in a hushed tone.

"She’s old. I don’t need to be told. But not too cold for a bold gentleman."

Averie felt the cringe advance into his bones. ’How did I say all those things without cracking up?’

"What I’ll do to her, I’ll keep secret."

The drums picked up, and Prince Oblivious stamped the floor. "’Cause he’s romantic!"

"Oh, I’m fantastic!"

Quinn stood up as music boomed in the theater.

"I heard you have a daughter; don’t ask me how I sought her."

The audience was clapping and cheering like madmen. Someone was kissing their wife, and someone was dancing with their dog.

"Will you hate me more if I shoved her out the door? Will she cry, try to deny, as I call her grandmother a whore?"

Min-Ha, Celli, and Yoko were losing their mind at the song.

"Holy, this is fire!" said Yoko.

Averie would enjoy it more, too, if he didn’t have to worry about Julia’s rising eyebrow.

Veins on Quinn’s neck bulged.

"I’ll make her eat raw batter; you think it don’t matter? I’ll go even further; I’ll make her call me Father."

Prince Oblivious turned to the heavens. "Oh, he goes even harder!"

"I’m not trying to be seen; only vying to be mean. I’ll tattoo her name on my chin; smile at your picture with a vivacious grin."

"Oh, yes, baby!"

"Oh, gin in my bin; don’t ask me where I’ve been."

"No, don’t ask me now!"

"What’s a parody? This is no comedy."

"No! No, no!"

"This is Quinn, coming for you, Kim."

He slapped his insteps together as his voice boomed.

"I’m full on tilt! ’Tis my admission of guilt!"

Fire burst out from the stage, and Prince Oblivious hummed into the mic.

"Holy!" Min-Ha rocked back and forth. "It slaps!"

Averie wished that weren’t the case. At least then, nobody would have taken it seriously.

"So..." Julia stared into his soul. "What’s with the song?"

"A coincidence."

"That’s a very specific coincidence," added Mrs. Nakamura.

’My god, who even invited you here?’

Averie wanted to run away, but he knew he had to sit there awkwardly.

What else could he do? The show wasn’t over yet.

As the song reached its end, the picture flickered.

It showed the two men lying on a sofa in a red room. They were covered in white powder, and young ladies were asleep at their feet.

Quinn was muttering something in his sleep. Clutched in his hand was a ballerina dress, perhaps that of the lady carrassing his chest.

***

Unlike BSPH, Long Live the Quinn was not an instant success. There was no big internet frenzy even after the first episode.

But the second episode had an impact.

My Cocaine in Your Urine (feat. Prince Oblivious) attracted the attention of millions across the globe, thanks to the rapper’s popularity.

Within 24 hours, it surpassed ten million views on SilkTube.

- It’s like I’m experiencing my first love for the first time.

- It’s so cringe at times, so why do I love it?

- Am I the only one finding that guy hot?

- Who’s the guy beside Prince Oblivious? A new singer? Rapper? What’s with his style?

- The lyrics are so ridiculous and simple. This has gotta be a parody.

- This reminds me of the early 00s.

Averie felt his popularity rising even on his little dot on the map of the sea.

People who happened to catch the show, mostly because of the song, often tried to chat with Averie.

It was a phenomenon that Averie noticed while he was having breakfast on Monday, and unfortunately for him, it didn’t seem like it would stop.

They asked him if he was ’Prince Curious’

from the music video. Some even chanted Long Live the Quinn while passing by him.

He should’ve expected it, but it was still surreal to be recognized by people who did not know him only two days before.

"Oh my! He is here! He is real!"

It was afternoon, and Averie recognized that voice.

It was the same lady calling herself ’so bad’ on the night of the murder, the one who liked older men.

He could not forget the dread of that night.

"I watched your music video and then your show on CBC’s platform with some of my friends," she blabbered, her face flush red.

She couldn’t even make eye contact but danced around as if the floor were lava.

There was something about TV that made the people on it look magical, especially if the common man had the chance to meet them in person.

For once, aware of the scrutiny surrounding him, Averie decided to act nice towards his fans.

"Can I have a photo?"

"No."

Instead of photos, he offered autographs.

’Can’t have my location leaked. The moment they know I am on a ship with a dead man, I’ll be executed in public.’

He was being wary.

Yet, he did not notice the raven that had been watching him since the morning.

***

While watching his favourite actor through the eye of the raven, Lucifer—fiddling with his champagne glass—recalled the moment he took over Averie’s body and everything leading up to it.

It was only through sheer coincidence that he had managed to overhear a certain clandestine group’s plans on the cruise.

"Invite Jonathan Kim."

That was what their leader had said in a room so dark even the raven couldn’t see through the window.

’Jonathan is a fool, and their members are very influential, so it worked. He accepted the offer.’

They had him killed.

’They must have known Averie would come under suspicion.’

Or so thought Lucifer. He had no idea what their true intentions were.

’The dagger was serrated. The police will link the murders without an effort.’

He hadn’t planned on involving himself with their affairs, but it only seemed prudent to enjoy the show they were putting on.

’Did I get carried away?’

He didn’t want the actor to take the blame. He wanted him to entertain him more. He wanted him to show him more of his acting, more of his madness.

’Should I not have interfered?’

He was aware of their plan to plant evidence that would lead the authorities to the actor.

’But why?’

Nobody knew. Not even Lucifer.

’I thought they practically worshipped him. What’s their goal?’

He could have stopped the murder from happening, but aware and in Averie’s body, he watched with glee as the man’s heart was pierced through.

He was there.

Unaware was the killer—of the devil lurking in the shadows.