Chapter 9 #2
“This place is…” Words failed Everinne. It was nearly impossible to describe all the sights and sounds blending around her like a dazzling display of the wondrous. “Well, it’s remarkable. I’ve never seen anything so breathtaking.”
Reine clasped her hands together, the corner of her mouth lifting into an almost-smile. “The Mystic Obscura is designed to be a wonder to all the senses, with an obvious emphasis on the visual delights. We take great pride in the extraordinary and curious.”
Visual delights, indeed. With any luck, Everinne would be one of them.
As though reading her mind, Jarek gave her a gentle nudge.
“Everinne is currently looking for employment.” His gold gaze slid to Everinne and he offered a friendly wink. “She’s incredibly talented.”
“Oh?” Reine tilted her head, slowly folding her arms. Her rich amber eyes glinted with interest and her deep red lips curved.
If Jarek studied her like he was something he wanted to absorb, then Reine watched her like she was a coveted treasure she couldn’t wait to exhibit.
“And what is it exactly that you do, Everinne?”
She drank.
She partied.
She wasted her life away in an effort to avoid the nightmares of her past.
“Um, well. I…”
“I’ve seen Everinne perform on the chandeliers of the Grand Cru,” Jarek interjected smoothly, and Reine’s brow lifted. “She’s fearless.”
Reine sauntered closer, inspecting every inch of Everinne, from the strapless cut of her beaded dress to the absurdly high heels she wore.
“Heights don’t bother you?” she asked, pursing her lips together.
“Not in the least.” Everinne shook her head, tucking her messy waves behind one ear. “There’s something freeing about being so high above everyone else. You almost feel untouchable.”
“Mm, I like your energy.” Reine placed the tip of her pointed nail below Everinne’s chin, tilting her head up. “Uninhibited. A little intense in the eyes. Beautiful face.”
Reine stepped back, nodding sharply. “I think the hoops would suit you nicely.”
Everinne glanced around the menagerie. “Hoops?”
Jarek bent down next to her, then pointed up to the main stage where bronze gossamer curtains fell from the cavernous ceiling, concealing the scarlet silk dancer from view.
When they lifted a moment later, the dancer and silks were gone, and rain had begun to fall on the stage as a group of males with chains bound around their chests and shoulders appeared.
“The level we’re on is the menagerie. The hoop dancers perform on the main stage, up there.” Jarek bumped his shoulder against hers, already knowing he’d won her over. “For all to see.”
Excitement hummed along Everinne’s skin. This was exactly what she wanted.
Reine held out her hand. “Would you care to audition, Everinne?”
Her eyes widened and the nerves she’d kept safely stowed away flared to life. “You mean tonight?”
Reine lifted one shoulder, then let it fall. “I don’t see why not. There are no rehearsals at the Mystic Obscura. Our hoop dancers never have a set routine. They feel the music in their veins, in their souls, and allow the rhythm to guide them.”
Everinne found herself smiling without even realizing it.
Losing herself to music while dancing on a hoop high above the rest of the world sounded like the perfect means of escape.
She glanced over at Jarek, who gave an encouraging nod.
“I’d love to audition tonight.” Everinne accepted Reine’s outstretched hand. “Lead the way.”
Everinne followed Reine down a gilded spiral staircase, leaving Jarek behind.
She guided her through a series of halls beneath the iridescent glass floor, so the walls reflected dozens of prisms. Other Mystic Obscura performers mingled in the rainbow-hued hallway, some of them smoking stigs and laughing quietly, decked in glittering fabrics embellished with jewels.
Others, however, appeared more transfixed on their upcoming act.
They paced listlessly or lounged against the walls, their eyes glazed and out of focus.
Before Everinne could dwell on their strange, trance-like state, Reine swung open a door and led her inside.
“Wait right here.” She threw one arm out, waving toward the opulent sofa on the opposite side of the lavish space. “I’ll be back in just a moment.”
She walked out, leaving Everinne alone to admire the dressing room that thrummed with activity.
The walls were papered with dark pink and gold scrollwork, and four vanities were set along one wall with glowing lights outlining each mirror.
Jars of paint, pots of liner, lipsticks, powders, and glosses were scattered across the surface of each one.
Piles of silk, lace, feathers, and tulle were tossed over a chaise, and the cloying scent of floral perfume hung in the air like a hazy cloud.
An armoire stood in the corner, complete with velvet-lined drawers overflowing with necklaces, rings, and bracelets—all of them gleaming with precious gems. Six other females milled about the dressing room, applying the finishing touches to their makeup or adjusting their costumes, and not one of them spared her a glance.
Under normal circumstances, Everinne might’ve taken it as an insult.
But tonight, she was almost relieved.
Reine appeared again, pushing a rolling rack full of costumes into the room. She tapped the metal bar with the tip of her nail, eyeing Everinne once more. “These all look to be about your size. Take your pick and once you’re changed, come find me upstairs, and I’ll show you to your hoop.”
She left the dressing room again, this time with a snap of her fingers, and four of the females followed her out.
Everinne didn’t pay attention to the two who stayed behind, instead her gaze was drawn to the rack of costumes full of shimmering fabrics and exquisite accessories.
She ran her fingers along the satins and silks, toyed idly with the beaded fringe and lace detailing.
Since this was her audition, she knew she would have to choose something eye-catching, something that would leave the audience wanting more.
She opted for a bodysuit of sheer red satin with tiny crystals that covered just enough skin.
Since it was sleeveless, she put on a pair of gloves that came up over her elbows and sheer thigh-high stockings with fire rubies dotting the back seam.
Her hair was unruly, so she twisted it back into a simple braid, nothing compared to the elaborate styles some of the other females wore.
Stealing a hasty look in one of the mirrors, she shrugged.
Good enough.
“Oh, milazk ,” a female voice crooned. “You cannot go on stage without your face.”
“Without my face?” Everinne turned and faced a female with vivid blue eyes and wild hot pink curls that hung loosely around her shoulders.
Her pointy ears marked her as fae, and when she smiled, her dimples winked.
She was dressed in a pale blue skirt that was shockingly short and embroidered with fine silver lace.
The top she wore was the same color, but it was nothing more than a teensy corset, and the lace overlay reminded Everinne of intricate snowflakes.
“You want the audience to be able to see you underneath the lights.” The female took Everinne’s hand and ushered her to sit in a chair in front of one of the vanities. She gestured to the wide array of makeup scattered across its marble surface. “May I?”
“Um…yes.” Everinne sat, praying to the goddess that she wouldn’t end up wearing so much that she would have to scrape it off later before she went to bed. “Of course.”
“Wonderful.” The female instantly set to work, dabbing a rosy pink cream onto Everinne’s cheeks. “I’m Aisling.”
“Everinne.” She closed her eyes as the fae named Aisling dusted gold powder onto her lids. Then she peeked one open.
“That’s a lovely name.” Aisling swirled a tiny brush with a thin tip into a pot of black liner and Everinne closed her eyes again. “Is tonight your first show?”
“More or less,” Everinne murmured as Aisling slowly slid the brush along the length of her eyelids, fanning them out to a sharp point. “I’m auditioning.”
Aisling laughed, low and sensual. The tempting sound of it caused Everinne’s eyes to flutter open.
“No one auditions, Everinne.” Aisling applied a tint to her lashes next, lengthening and curling them. Then she grabbed a lipstick, a fiery red shade with an opalescent sheen. “If you’re performing, it means Reine already knows you’ll be a perfect addition.”
Those wretched nerves flickered inside of Everinne once more, but she crushed them.
If she could swing from the chandeliers at the Grand Cru without giving a fuck about anyone or anything else, then she could certainly dance on a hoop.
Her mind already knew the moves, her body would simply follow the music.
“There.” Aisling spun her back toward the mirror. “What do you think?”
A gasp slipped from between her lips before she could stop it.
The reflection of the female gazing back at her was hardly recognizable.
Oh, she knew she was looking at herself, those turquoise eyes with rings of gold around her pupils were a dead giveaway.
But other than that, it looked as though she was wearing a mask.
A striking mask of beauty that hid the painful magic inside her.
It had been so long since she’d truly looked at herself in a mirror, since she’d been able to face the darkness inside of her.
Now, here it was, staring back at her, beneath layers of powder and glitter.
A pretty little monster.
“Do you like it?” Aisling asked, an almost indiscernible tremble in her voice.
It jarred Everinne from the swirling torment of her thoughts. She looked up at Aisling and smiled. “Can you make me look like this every time?”
Aisling’s husky laugh filled the dressing room once more. “I’d love nothing more.”
She grabbed Everinne’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “Come on, I’ll take you up to Reine.”
Then she leaned close and whispered. “You’ll own the night, I just know it.”
Everinne followed Aisling back through the radiant quarters below the menagerie. Together they climbed another spiral staircase, but this one didn’t lead to the same place as before. Instead, it deposited them right below the base of the main stage.
Reine stood at the top of the stairs, waiting. When she caught sight of Everinne, her brows lifted with approval and a small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
Everinne approached her and Reine reached out to cup her cheek. “Captivating. Absolutely captivating.”
Aisling squeezed her hand once, then disappeared back down the steps, and Reine helped her up onto the stage.
Bronze gossamer curtains fell in a wide circle, obscuring her from the audience.
She could see through them, but they could not see her.
The scent of magic, heavy and dense like citrus and woods, hung in the air.
Glamour.
Reine snapped her fingers again, and this time a solid gold hoop appeared.
She handed it to Everinne and as she slid her fingers around the cool metal, a thrill of exhilaration coursed through her.
The spark of energy sent her blood rushing with anticipation, despite the goosebumps pebbling across her flesh.
“When you’re ready to be lifted, call out trivno .” Reine looked to the ceiling, then back down at Everinne. “There are no levers, or safety nets, or ropes here. Everything is controlled by magic. So long as you don’t let go of the hoop, you’ll never fall.”
Everinne didn’t care if she looked like she’d just gotten her first taste of a kiss, she couldn’t help the smile causing her heart to soar. She’d never been more ready, more prepared for anything in her life. She was meant to be here.
“Once you’re in the air, the curtains will vanish. As soon as you hear the first chord of music, that’s when you begin.” Reine cocked her hip to the side, surveying Everinne for a final time. “Yes, I think you’ll do just fine here. Welcome to the Mystic Obscura, Everinne.”
Then she spun on one heel and headed down the stairs, vanishing beneath the stage completely.
The gold wash of lighting illuminating the audience dimmed, and their murmurs and laughter faded into a kind of revered silence.
Everinne didn’t even hesitate. She settled herself onto the hoop, seating herself so her knees were pulled up and her arms fell to both sides.
“ Trivno .”
At once, the hoop gradually lifted her into the air. Higher and higher, until she felt like she was floating. Like she could walk among the stars.
Full darkness fell in the theater, the glamoured curtains faded away, and a dazzling beam of ruby light fell upon Everinne.
She inhaled. Exhaled. Tilted her head up to the ceiling and arched her back, knowing she’d enraptured the entire room with her provocative position.
She could feel the intense gaze of their eyes, the insatiable hunger of the mystical and fantastical grew with each passing second. All of them watching. Waiting. For her.
Strings hummed to life, there was the first tantalizing chord of a piano, and Everinne let the music take her.