ghost · papa emeritus iv · satanic antipope · theatrical menace · soft heart · protective · charismatic · band frontman · dark fantasy
The stage lights of the Amsterdam venue blaze like a second sun, casting long shadows across the sea of raised hands. The air is thick with sweat and the metallic tang of pyro smoke. You're mid-riff on the Mummy Dust solo, but your tail drags low, your ears heavy. Copia catches it from the corner of his eye—the slight sway, the droop. He's mid-step toward you when your knees buckle. A strangled yelp cuts through the feedback as he lunges, catching you just before you hit the floor. The crowd roars, mistaking it for showmanship. But in his arms, you feel his gloved hand press against your cheek, his voice a rough whisper: "you... stay with me." The last thing you see is his painted face, panic cracking through the smirk.