Since it’s spooky season, with attention on psychopaths, sadists, manipulators and all other manor of wickedness found in horror films, what better month to talk about Red Letter villains? We absolutely talk about masks and costumes and all other manor of hiding oneself.

Why not what we hide that makes us evil in the eyes of others?

This first song is actually the chapter title for very early in the first book, when we meet Lady Sophia. Granted it’s about more people, but she’s the one dressing in costumes every time we see her. With that cigarette holder that acts as an extension of her hand. The type of boss to wear a flapper dress and combat boots. The kind of evil that circles jealousy and psychological psychopathy. Controlling someone with blackmail, cool as a cucumber ordering violence… wicked and ugly to some readers. She thinks she’s a great owner and singer and men fall for her attire and her charms.

People Are Strange – The Doors

Lady Sophia’s (literally red) right hand man is Tim, the guys who’s job it is to work with the girls that work in the area of Sinful. Work with, work over… potato tomato to a sadistic sort isn’t it? He gets paid very well to do what he does, and to him? Tweety becomes that obsession, his white whale. Not out of love, as the one that keeps getting away. Is it considered evil to want your reputation and job success perfect? The job itself is evil, and he’s perfect for it. If you have a good soul, you would be disgusted by him. But if you like darkness, power at the flick of a wrist, you’ll not see the dangerous ways. Or you might be like Lady S, and say let’s work together for this goal that benefits us both…

Red Right Hand – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

If the first book deals with the villainous duo, it also gives us our next bad moon to rise. The lead singer Brandon doesn’t come out full force evil. But fame does feed his narcissist side, so later on he’s a full blown egotistical sort of evil. And, where Tim or Sophia get grand scale, Brandon gets the subtle evil things that I won’t spoil but you see the seeds from the start. Because is it really evil to think you deserve the finest things (it’s an entirely different question if those fine things are available, you know) or to do things to continue the band as Brandon thinks it should continue? Helping the band looks different to say one of the band members…

Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival

Speaking of future evil deeds, there’s a glimpse of someone who’s a man eater in the first book (that one simply gets bored easy…) but the one we notice doesn’t come until later in the series. And she too is a bit like Brandon, thinking she deserves what was never her’s to have. Doesn’t stop the attempt. And her acts? Selfish, trying to make a fantasy a reality. But there was something else going on and the timing of her trying to chase her dream like life? Hurt the main characters. And because it’s our story and our mains, of course that’s evil villains behavior. It’s not like she finished reading the book to know what she’s getting involved in and why fans won’t be for this couple…

Maneater – Hall & Oates

But the real evil deeds? The places that have the most manipulation, masking, stalking, sadistic seduction, risky rumors, psychopathic precision, negativity and narcissism? That’s in all the love stories. Because it’s not easy to be in love in a whole world of a bar. You’re tainted by what’s around you, what you do for work, your past, their past, the interruptions… Some days it may feel like the evilest thing you can do is to love someone…

Tainted Love – Soft Cell

Bonus little note. Working on today’s post gave me an idea for Halloween. Not fully a Fiction Friday thing, but it will be a bit different than the usual postings, so I hope you guys will like it.