I can do this! I have to!
Odry got on Winnie’s back; the giant tiger-like monster would carry her on stage. She kept thinking frantically; Linden’s murderer sat there in the hall. She didn’t take the gun with her to the stage, of course.
I have to focus. I must do this. For the circus. For…Matty!
Odry saw Mateo finishing his number. He stepped back into the shadows near her, his chest rising and falling rapidly, his eyes shining with excitement. Mateo was made for this. And maybe…he was made for Odry.
For Matty!
Odry got her act together. The spotlight found her and Winnie. Her dress shone ghastly, glittering with a thousand tiny LED lights. She appeared truly majestic; the Lady of Daggers, a ghost Queen sitting on the back of her loyal beast. The lights illuminated the stage. Together with the video projections, it was an illusion of an abandoned theatre, with jungle wildlife growing into it. Mateo ran to the centre of the stage, a man banished from his hometown after the locals found out he’s a werewolf. He was looking for refuge in the abandoned cabaret theatre.
The dancers, dressed in ghoulish rags rose from the black artificial smoke around Mateo. They began a macabre dance, while Mateo’s eyes were turned to the Lady of Daggers. He didn’t run off from the ghastly sight. As he approached, Odry made a dagger fly at him. Mateo did a dancing number, with the blade circling him. Though Odry had watched this a hundred times whilst rehearsing, Mateo created a magic of his own when performing in the show. When the dagger moved around his muscled torso accompanied by a violin solo, he was the sexiest man Odry had ever seen. The dance ended with Mateo avoiding being stabbed, grabbing the hilt of the dagger, and throwing it aside. The lights flickered, Odry got off Winnie, who growled and lurched forward at Mateo. The latter turned into his wolf form. Both did an acrobatic dance-style fight scene. Winnie threw Mat into the air, and caught him, while Mateo turned into his human form in mid-air. It was truly impressive. Mateo ‘lost’ the fight, the tiger monster threw him to the ground, Mat tumbled, turning into human again and laid ‘unconscious’. The Lady of Daggers approached him with a blade in her hand. She kneeled, caressed his chest and his throat with the dagger. The lights and music changed to create a romantic mood. Odry touched Mat’s cheek with her pale hand. She had fallen in love with a mortal man. She hid the dagger, got up and turned away heartbroken - they could never be together, unless he’s dead and cursed like she was, but the Lady didn’t want to hurt her beloved. The lights went down low. Odry, Winnie and the ghoulish dancers ran to the backstage.
Winnie gulped water. The make-up artist corrected his impressive body art. Odry stood next to Bastille, observing the show through the monitors.
“You inviting Cassio was just disgusting!” She grunted.
“Not now, Odry!” Bastille barked.
Sheeeesh! I thought I was nervous…
Bastille’s sight followed the show in the monitors like a hawk. The stage came to life with colourful lights, video’s projecting a magical jungle, blooming with bright wildlife. Mateo’s dark silhouette laid among all these colours. A pair of magical hummingbirds flew toward him, to wake him up. Daffy’s and Danny’s bright costumes shimmered in the lights, their fae wings flickered catching light on their transparent surface. They did a dance in the air, Mateo joined in. More impressive acrobatics. The dancers dressed as fantastic tropical animals accompanied their tricks with a wild dance.
The Lady of Daggers had used her magic to get her beloved far away from the haunted theatre, but Mateo wanted to return and begged the hummingbirds to help him find the way back. They did warn him, but still agreed to show him the way. End of third act. The lights went dim again, creating the impression of a tropical sunset. The music played and the jungle sank into a dark, stormy night.
Mateo once again entered the haunted theatre, only to be greeted by the cursed souls of travellers, who had once sought refuge in the theatre, but were murdered by the Lady of Daggers, now their Queen. This time those were the fire dancers, swirling around Mateo, with burning torches, breathing fire in the air. The Lady hoped they would scare her love away, but he wasn’t intimidated. Then she took a torch and set one of the cursed souls on fire! This, of course, was Rouge. The fire couldn’t hurt her, just like any other external danger. She even did a little dance whilst burning. Then she disappeared into the black smoke. Mateo was brave enough to withstand the frightening sights. He approached the Lady.
Odry and Mateo did a number together. It was a slow tango. Luckily, they had re-discovered their affections before the show - the tension of desire between the two was almost tangible. At the end of the dance, they nearly kissed. The Lady of Daggers backed away, realizing he’s in love with her. She tried to scare him away one last time directing the dagger to fly at his chest. The dramatic music intensified, Odry made the dagger stop at the very last moment. Mateo’s character knew what had to be done for them to be together. He grabbed the dagger and stabbed himself in the chest. Not for real, of course. As he fell to the floor, the Lady kneeled by him, mourning his pain. She didn’t want her love to lose his life. All the lights went black, a lonely spotlight shone on Odry and Mat. Then it went dark suddenly. A silence overtook the theatre, but the show wasn’t over yet. The lights revealed the same haunted theatre, illuminated by a thousand LED fireflies. The dancers appeared, so did Winnie and the fae twins, twirling in the air above the stage. It was a little filler number, so that Mateo could change into a slick, glittery top matching Odry’s dress, and a dark cloak. The make-up artist worked like a machine, applying dark glitter around Mat’s eyes, and making his tanned face appear ghastly pale.
With black smoke rolling from the sides of the stage, the Lady of Daggers, and her beloved walk toward each other. Crowns made of LED lights graced their heads - it was a dark wedding, a union of two souls willing to suffer a cursed eternity together. They joined hands. Winnie kneeled by them, and they sat on his broad shoulders - he was a living throne. The fae twins poured beautiful tropical flowers on them. The fire dancers blew flames into the air. The dark couple held hands and the lights went dark again. This time the show really was over. The audience burst into a standing ovation. Winnie, Odry and Mateo stepped forward and bowed, spotlights tore their sharp silhouettes out of the darkness. The fae twins, Rouge, and the dancers joined them.
The troupe had bowed five times, before the curtain went down. Odry didn’t see Cassio in the audience. He probably had left before the end.
“Fucking awesome! We were fucking awesome, or what?!” Mateo bellowed walking into backstage with his arm around Odry’s shoulders. The cool champagne was already waiting for them. Bastille and the boys popped the bottles open. They poured Odry some lemonade.
“To Cirque du Macabre!” Mateo yelled, drank his glass empty, and smashed the glass against the floor. Oh, how Odry had missed this cheesy ritual of his! She even teared up - this was the best she had felt in months!
***
Odry was the last one left in the dressing room, because her massive gown had to be taken off carefully. The others joined Bastille in the lobby of the theatre, Odry could hear the loud cheering and chattering of the WIP guests - the show was a huge success.
She put on a dark blue cocktail dress, smudged some bright red lipstick on her lips and smiled at herself in the mirror. The stage had healed her grief. Maybe it could work out between her and Mateo, despite that it had been only a couple of months since Linden’s death. Odry grabbed her purse, opened the door, and went into the dimly lit hallway. Somebody was creeping toward her, looking over his shoulder. It wasn’t the bodyguard who was supposed to be there. When the dark figure faced her, it’s eyes shone blue.
“Ah, just the person I was looking for! Come here, bella! Let’s talk!” Cassio said with a heavy Italian accent. He pointed a gun at her, with his handsome face grinning shamelessly. A flick of Odry’s hand, and her powers ripped the gun from Cassio’s hand and made it fly behind a pile of props. He didn’t even get to make a sound before Odry had pulled the little gun from her purse. She marched toward him, pointing the gun at his head, determined, focused, her hand didn’t tremble. Her eyes were full of hatred. Cassio stood staring at her, hypnotized by Odry’s daring posture pointing the gun at his forehead.
“I owe you a bullet,” she said coldly.
Sweat broke out on Cassio’s forehead.
“No… no, wait, bella! I didn’t want to kill cousin Linden! Father told me to shoot Mateo if he tried to leave, just so Bastille wouldn’t have him… I.. the bullet went astray,” Cassio stuttered.
The fucking coward! He’ll get what he deserves!
Odry wasn’t listening. Whatever he said, it wouldn’t change her mind. His bullet killed Linden.
“No… please… bella, please!” Cassio begged. Odry didn’t care. She clutched the gun harder.
Let’s get it over with! Burn in hell, Cassio!
Just a fraction of a second before she pushed the trigger a large beast jumped over Cassio’s head and onto Odry. A gunshot ripped the fabric of silence. The bullet hit the ceiling, whilst Mateo turned into his human form, lying on Odry.
Cassio gave a short yell of fright, tripped backward, crawled away on all four and finally jumped on his feet, running away for his life. The doors on the other side of the hallway slammed.
“Let me go! Let me go! I can still get him!”
Odry struggled, held down by Mateo.
“Stop, kid! Don’t! It’s not worth it!”
Mateo got up. Odry refused to take his hand.
She still had her gun. Odry marched to the door, but Matteo grabbed her hand.
“Let go! I have to do this! Why did you stand in my way??!” She yelled at Mateo.
“Please, kid, stop! I did it for you! For the baby you carry inside! Don’t screw up your life!”
“My life has been screwed up ever since Cassio shot that bullet!”
“You have to let go, kid! Please! Maybe you can still be happy. I… I love you, Odry!” Mateo said all teary eyed.
“I hate you, Mateo! You fucked up my perfect chance! I will never forgive you!” Odry screamed in his face and marched down the hallway with her high heels clicking.
You got it back! 💜 Odrey has a hot temper, but hopefully she'll soon figure out that Matty did her a favor.