His Enchanted Swan

Chapter Nine

Yvette couldn’t believe her eyes, it was almost like looking into a mirror. Although, she did have some German heritage, maybe they just shared regional traits? Odelia soon looked, at her and smiled. She then made her way over to Yvette.

“You must be the Ying to my Yang.” Odelia said to her, as she extended her hand. “I’m Odelia Rothman, but please, feel free to call me Delia.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Delia.” Yvette replied, as she smiled, and shook her hand. “My name is Yvette Walsh, but I don’t have a cute nickname. So, you can just call me Yvette.”

“Oh I always liked French names.” Said Delia. “Since we’re going to be working together, I hope that we can become friends. I must say the resemblance is remarkable. It’ll make my performance of the Black Swan much more believable. By the way, I had seen some of the recordings of your dancing. You are very talented.”

“When did you see those?” Yvette asked.

“My uncle emailed them to me.” Delia replied. “He said that you had personified the White Swan beautifully, and he was right.”

“Thank you.” Yvette replied, as she couldn’t help but become flattered. “I’m sure you are also an amazing dancer as well.”

“That I am.” Delia proclaimed , as she soon gave Yvette a wink.

“Well, Miss Rothman!” Ariana all of a sudden, bellowed out of nowhere. “We are honored to have you here. I am the ballet director, Ariana Papadopolus. But please, feel free to call me Ariana.”

“I’m very pleased to meet you, Ariana.” Delia smiled. “My uncle tells me that you are an amazing ballet director.”

“Oh!” Proclaimed Ariana, as she smiled from ear to ear.”Well, I’m honored to hear that!” Ariana just stood there giggling like an adolescent school girl. Her smile continued as Bartholomew made his way over.

“Excuse me, Ariana.” Said Bartholomew. “I was wondering if you could do me a favor? I thought that maybe instead of Delia staying in a hotel, she could stay with you instead. I would completely understand, if you said no.”

“Nonsense!” Ariana gleefully exclaimed. “I would be more than happy to have her.”

“Wonderful.” Replied Bartholomew. “You don’t mind, do you Delia?”

“Of course not.” Delia answered. “I would very much appreciate it. I never cared much for hotels anyway. Who knows how many people have slept in those beds.”

I’m sure Ariana hasn’t had too many people sleeping in her beds.” Yvette thought, as she laughed to herself.

“Well, then it’s settled.” Ariana proclaimed. “Delia can stay with me.”

“Thank you, Ariana.” Bartholomew replied. “I realize that it is getting late, but if you don’t mind, I’ll help bring Delia’s things over to your place.”

“Excellent.” Said Ariana. “I’m parked in the garage. The two of you can walk with me to my car. I’ll give you both a ride over, and then you can take a cab back to the theater.”

“Sounds good.” Replied Bartholomew. He then turned his attention back to Yvette.

“I enjoyed working with you this evening, my dear.” He said to her. “I would like to see you here at three o’clock sharp, again tomorrow.”

“I’ll be here.” Replied Yvette. She then noticed that Delia, and Ariana were talking, as they began to walk away.

“Why did you cover for me this evening?” Yvette whispered. “You didn’t give me any different directions in the dance sequence.”

“Because I actually liked what you were doing better.” He whispered back. “You were one with the music, and it made you truly bring out the character. You have the dance steps down pat, but there is more to that. To truly bring the character to life, you must let the character become one with you. That is why I am telling you the actual fable of Swan Lake. It will help you to understand Odette. Once you make Odette a part of you, then you shall embody her in a way no other dancer ever could.”

“Really?” Yvette asked with a nervous giggle.

“Really.” Bartholomew replied reassuringly. With that, he shot her a quick wink. He then took her hand, and kissed the back of it. “Until tomorrow, my Odette.”

“Until tomorrow.” She replied.

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

As Ariana, Bartholomew, and Delia made there way to Ariana’s apartment, she unlocked her door.

“Welcome to my humble abode!” Said Ariana.

“You have a nice place.” Stated Bartholomew.

“Ooh, I love your view of the city.” Proclaimed Delia.

“Thank you.” Ariana replied. “The guest room is just to your right, you can put your things in there.”

“Okay.” Said Delia. “I’m just going to freshen up a bit.” She then grabbed her suitcase, and headed towards the room.

Ariana soon turned her attention towards Bartholomew. She couldn’t believe it, the handsome Bartholomew Rothman was in her apartment. It was too bad that his niece was there. Oh well, with her there, it was more than likely that he would visit often.

“Would you like some white wine, Bartholomew?” Ariana asked him.

“That would be lovely, my dear.” He answered her, with an amazing smile.

Ariana felt practically giddy, as she opened the bottle, and poured them each a glass. She then made her way over to him, as she handed him the glass.”

“Cheers!” She said, as she raised her wine glass.

“Cheers!” He replied. “To Swan Lake.”

“To Swan Lake.” She repeated. They then clinked glasses and each took a sip.

“Perhaps it’s just the wine talking, my dear.” Bartholomew said. “But you do look quite lovely this evening.

“Th-thank you.” Ariana replied, as she couldn’t help but feel elated. Like many women, she had admired him from a far. The thought of something happening with him, would be a dream come true. Her heart began to flutter, as he stared deep into her eyes, into her very soul.

“You’re welcome, Adriana.” He replied in a husky whisper.

“What did you just call me?” She asked in confusion. Something odd was going on, he was starting to frighten her. Her body began to tremble. His voice! When he called her Adriana, it terrified her. But why? Then, to her horror, she remembered everything from a past life. A flood of long forgotten memories, came crashing down upon her. Bartholomew said nothing, as he continued to look at her with a malevolent smile.

“Oh my god!” She cried. “I remember everything now! Who you are! Who I was! I remember all of it, and I know why you are here! You’ve come for Odette! Yvette is the reincarnation of Odette. No! I won’t let you take her away from me! Not again!”

She could feel the frightful tears welling up in her eyes, as soon as she realized that the dreaded Owl King stood before her. Of course he had perfectly personified Rothbart through the art of dance. That’s because he actually was Rothbart!

Ariana soon noticed the handle, of the butcher’s knife, sticking out of the butcher’s block. She grabbed it, and pointed the blade towards him. “Get the f**k away from me!” She cried. “Or I swear I’ll send you to hell, where you belong!”

He looked at her, and laughed. “You can’t kill me, my dear. I am immortal.”

“Go ahead!” She cried. “Take one step closer to me, and we’ll just see how immortal you really are. I don’t understand, why did you let me know the truth? Why are you letting me remember?”

“Because I need Adriana’s tears.” He told her, as he continued to have a wicked smile upon his face.

“Oh my god!” She cried. “You’re planning on creating another enchanted lake! You want to kidnap Yvette, and take her there! You want to literally make her your Swan Queen!”

“I shall make her eternally beautiful!” He replied. “Swan by day, woman by night, and forever mine!”

“Over my dead body!” Ariana growled. All of a sudden, she felt someone grab her shoulder from behind.

“If you insist!” She heard a woman whisper in her ear. To her horror she felt some sort of a blade, as it was being plunged through her back. She cried out in both pain, and terror, as she began gasping for air.

Ariana turned around, and saw Bartholomew’s niece looking back at her. Delia just stood there, and maniacally smiled at her. As she continuously struggled to breathe, the pain in her back started to subside. As time itself began to slow down, her body fell to the floor. Ariana soon began to lose consciousness, as she then took her final breath. It was after that, when final darkness over took her.

“Yvette!” Was her dying word, before she had become silenced forever.

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

“Good night, sweet Queen Adriana.” Bartholomew said, as he dumped his glass of wine onto her lifeless corpse. With that he reached down, and slowly turned her over, on her side. He then placed the rim of the glass under her eye. Ariana’s last remaining tear escaped her, and ran down into the wine glass.

“Perfect!” He said, as he stood up, and smiled. He then watched the tear run down the inside of the glass.

Bartholomew then looked at Delia. “You have done well my dear, and you shall be justly rewarded.”

“Thank you.” She replied with an eerily calm smile. “What else is family for? Just remember to keep your end of the bargain.”

“Don’t worry my dear.” He reassured her. “I will lift your family curse, as well as give you what you most desire.”

“That is all I ask.” She replied, as she continued to have a wicked smile. “Now then, tell me more about this handsome prince.”

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