His Enchanted Swan

Chapter Ten

It was around 11:30 at night, by the time Yvette got home. She was completely exhausted. From getting caught in the rain, running to the theater, and the grueling practice, she felt like she was just about to drop. But when she got home, there was somebody waiting for her.

“Hey!” Exclaimed Fredrick, when she walked into her apartment. He was making dinner, her favorite, a margarita pizza. As she walked towards the kitchen, he took the pizza out of the oven. There was also a bottle of white wine chilling on ice, as well as a vase full of red roses.

“What’s all this?’ She cried, as she felt pleasantly surprised. “The pizza smells wonderful.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” He smiled, as he walked over to give her a peck on the lips. “I thought we should celebrate. After all, not only do you have the lead, but you get to work with the great Bartholomew Rothman. What’s he like?”

“Well, for the most part he’s quite charming.” She told him. “But when it comes to working with him, he can be a real bastard. But, it’s not like he didn’t warn us.”

“Oh really!” Replied Fredrick. “Then I guess I don’t have to worry about you running off with him, I mean he is a lot better looking than I am.”

“No one, is better looking than you.” She replied as she flashed him a coy smile. Yvette then wrapped her arms around his neck, and like magnets, their lips collided in a passionate kiss. His arms were soon wrapped around her waist, and they were caught up in each other’s desire. They slowly pulled away, and looked deep into each other’s eyes.

“Mmm.” He cooed, as he smiled. “What was that for?”

“For being you.” She smiled back.

“Well in that case, I’ll have to be myself more often.” He softly replied. “I love you so much. How was I blessed to be with a woman like you?”

“I guess you’re just lucky .” She said, as she flashed him a wicked smile. “Because I love you too.”

“Are you hungry?” He asked. “We don’t want the pizza getting cold.”

“We could just have it for breakfast.” She whispered. Fredrick said nothing, and flashed her a wicked smile. With that he scooped her up in his arms. This caused her to let out a surprised gasp, that soon turned into laughter.

As he carried her into the bedroom, she kept looking at Fredrick’s face. Perhaps he wasn’t some world famous ballet star, but he was the man she loved. Despite all the turmoil surrounding Alexander’s suicide, for the most part her life was wonderful.

She had landed the dream roll of a lifetime, and she was engaged to a man that she truly loved. Gently he laid her down on the bed, as she flashed him her best seductive smile. He then slowly crawled on top of her, and they soon made passionate love throughout the night.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Yvette had arrived at the theater at 2:55. At least this time the weather had been sunny. She called Bartholomew, and he came down to let her in the building.

“Hello, my dear.” He said as he smiled. “Right on time, I like that you are not late.”

“I guess I don’t want to disappoint you.” She told him.

“No.” He replied. “You don’t”

“Will Delia be rehearsing with us today.” She asked.

“Actually I practiced with her earlier.” He told her. “But she will be at rehearsals tonight.”

“Wait?” She asked in astonishment. “So you practiced earlier with her, your practicing with me now, and you’re going to practice later tonight? Where do you get all of your energy?”

Bartholomew just laughed. “I have a lot of stamina. Besides, I want you to know more about the character Odette. So before we rehearse, I want you to learn more about her, so you can understand how she feels. That will be the key to truly channeling the Swan Queen, as you perform as Odette. I hope you don’t mind.”

“No.” She replied, as she felt intrigued with the story. “You left off at a crucial point in your tale.”

“Well I’m glad to hear that, my dear.” He smiled. “For a true sign of a good story teller, is to always leave the audience wanting more.”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The years had past, and Odette had grown into a beautiful young woman. But unbeknownst to her, she had a visitor every night. He would watch her through her window, without her ever noticing.

She was of her seventeenth year, and had completely blossomed into womanhood. For almost ten years he watched the young girl grow up before his very eyes. Her pure heart, and optimistic outlook on life, amused him so.

Every night, before she went to bed, she would sing and dance. He would be in complete awe of her, as she placed him under her enchanting spell. For her voice was as beautiful, as her dancing was graceful. How he longed to dance with her.

Of course as a small child, she had dreamed of being a swan. There was no other creature that could capture her true beauty. When her body had fully ripened, after her sixteenth year, he began to watch her more closely. The thought of looking upon her as a child, in a state of undress, was completely detestable to him.

There were some men, some human men, who were in to such vulgar acts. But, he was not one of them. However, once her body had fully matured, he could not look away. In his eyes, her naked body was perfect, a work of art. Just as he had longed to dance with her, he also longed to caress her bare flesh, as well as feel it pressed against his own. After all, she was his Odette, his Queen, his goddess, his swan.

But just like tonight, as he watched her crawl into bed, he waited for her to fall asleep. As soon as she did, he quietly crept into her room. Slowly he made his way towards her, as he had no intention on waking his beloved sleeping beauty. As he watched her sleep, his heart was racing. Her inner beauty had captured his soul. His heart was her servant, and he could never let her go.

“Soon, my beloved soon.” He whispered. Her admirer then bent down, and placed his nightly kiss upon her cheek. He became more than pleased when a smile crept upon her beautiful, innocent face. As she did so, she let out a pleasant sigh. He reached his hand out, as his fingertips came close to her face, without actually touching her cheek.

“Until tomorrow night my love.” He whispered. Sadly, now was not the time to take her away. He promised himself that he would wait until the birthday, of her eighteenth year. He wanted her at an age where she could truly understand love. And so he would wait, but not for long. With a heavy heart, he turned to walk away.

He was just about to turn back into an owl, when he could hear her stirring behind him.

“Who-who are you?” she cried. “What are you doing here? Why are you here, what to you want?

He turned around, and saw her staring back at him. Her eyes widened with a look of fear, as she held her covers close to her body. Odette’s small frame trembled beneath her linens.

“Do not be afraid, my child.” He whispered in a soothing tone. “Do you not recognize me?”

She furrowed her brow, as she studied him. The young princess stared into his eyes, and soon looked at him, as if he was familiar to her. With that, her eyes widened, as if she had just made a startling revelation

“How could it be?” She whispered aloud. “It’s you, you’re the owl I rescued from Prince Siegfried. I can see it in your eyes. Every night for the past ten years, since you left me, I have dreamt that you gave me a kiss goodnight. But why, after all this time do you stand here before me? And how is it that you are now in the form of a man, a naked man?”

He couldn’t help but chuckle, as she made that observation, and turned her head. She was bemusing to him, as she was so shy, so sweet, and so innocent.

“I am an owl shifter.” He told her, as he gave her a caring smile. “You rescued me, when you were just a small child. I will always be grateful to you, and I have come to grant your wish. I had planned on granting it upon your eighteenth birthday. But I see you do not fear me, and are open to my being here.”

“What wish was that?” She asked.

“To turn you into a swan.” He told her. “So we can fly off together, to a magical kingdom where no one will ever find us.”

“You can really do that?” She asked with a look of amazement.

“If that is what you truly wish.” He replied.

“Yes.” She cried softly, as happy looking tears welled up in her eyes. “My father will soon force me to marry a man that I do not love. He shall make me marry Prince Siegfried. Please, take me from here. Take me far away from here!”

“Are you sure that is what you want?” He asked, as his heart soon began to flutter with anticipation.

“Oh yes!” She replied. “Take me away to your magical kingdom.”

“Then take my hand!” He told her, as he held it out to her. With a look of wonder in her eyes, she quickly got out of her bed. Odette, then took his hand. He smiled at her, as he kissed the back of it.

“Swan by day, and woman by night!” He proclaimed. “To our magic kingdom, we shall take flight!”

As he held her hand, he walked her towards the window. He soon jumped through it, and took her with him. As soon as they leaped from her room, they both changed their forms. He had shifted back into his owl form, and she was now his elegant swan. As they took off into the dark sky, they headed for the magical kingdom of the night!

****************************