A Tale Of Time

Two

                                                                                                                                                      Age of Vianna-Heler

                                                                                                                                                                          Year 2750B

                                                                                                        VITALE

I HATED movie premieres.

First, they were stuffy.

Second, the people in attendance were stuffy.

Thirdly, the movies- if they weren't mine- were stuffy.

Lastly, bad things always happened.

I should've known better than to attend the premiere that evening. But it was Opal's blockbuster film series finale and I'd be a 'horrible boyfriend' if I didn't attend.

Remind me why I was dating her again.

I mean you'd think I should've known better. The movie's plot was pitiful at best and I wasn't even going to talk about the cast. Opal was a good actress, one of the few I could tolerate but her co-star and the main character took the fantasy out of the story and made it mud.

Just mud.

But saying so was just rude so I kept my thoughts to myself. In the world of Lights, Camera and Action, one learned to say less of what you actually thought and more of what wouldn't get you on the front page of all gossip magazines by the following Sunday.

The second message that the universe sent and I ignored was the splitting headache from that morning. Recently, the migraines had been getting worse, causing temporary blackouts and a secret trip to the hospital. The doctor told me all about how she couldn't find anything wrong with me and then proceeded to charge me.

Bitch.

That morning, the worst one yet hit me as soon as I came out of the bathroom. I'd apparently- from the account the cleaning lady gave- slipped and landed on the floor. Because I was out cold when she'd found me.

And naked.

Could that day have been worse?

Yes, it could.

I would remember that premiere for the rest of my life.

OPAL SMILED for the cameras. Her dazzling megawatt grin was the reason she'd gotten the part at her very first teen fiction movie. Even if it had been for the role of the mean girl. Needless to say, my girlfriend was very adept at throwing that particular smile around. It made people love her, hell, it had convinced me to ask her out. It was  described by a magazine as, 'a smile that tells of mystery, like she has a dirty little secret to keep.'

Opal had very many dirty little secrets.

Like she the fact that she was cheating on me.

And she thought I didn't know.

"Smile, baby." She hissed at me through the award-winning smile, "You look like you'd rather be anywhere else but here."

I leaned down as though kissing her cheek. The cameras went wild with their clicking. I wasn't fond of personal displays of affection so my doing it was a novelty and doing it on the red carpet was as rare as a unicorn. I whispered in her ear, "Because I hate it here."

She snorted, "What type of actor hates movie premieres?"

Me.

I turned her in my arms and forced a small grin for the cameras. My grin had been described as dashing, rare and 'sexy.' How a facial movement could be called 'sexy' was beyond me. But they liked seeing it so I gave it to them. 

"Baby, let's go inside. I'm tired."

"Just a little more," She laughed as though I'd said something funny, "I need them to see me. Not everyone gets called to act without first going for an audition, Vitale."

Was that supposed to be a dig at me? 

Pathetic.

If you wanted special treatment, deserve it.

What didn't people understand?

The world wasn't fair, humans weren't fair. The top is a point, not a flat plain. Not everyone got there.

"Have your fun, Opal but I'm going inside."

I let go of her and placed a small kiss on her cheek before walking the rest of the way, down the carpet.

SHE WOULD be pissed. But I didn't care. It wasn't as if she wasn't going to meet her darling Alexander at the premiere later in the evening. Two-timing didn't become her.

The theatre was one of the best in the country. The capital of Vianna-Heler, Old Helirix, was a hub of entertainment and politics. It was where people who wanted into the latest gossip went to live. It was also very quiet and expensive so it was perfect for me.

The palatial space was decked in gold and purple- colors of the throne- because it was the only theatre that the Royal Family visited. The walls were covered with purple velvet and the floors meticulously scrubbed. Bronze painted stands lined either side of the lobby, manned by well-dressed women whose only jobs were to sell tickets and smile.

Yet they earned thrice the minimum wage in a country with a plummeting economy.

That evening was more packed than usual because only assholes paid thrice the amount they would at a normal cinema to patronize The Black Theatre. There were more cameramen and members of the press than actual moviegoers. They made it their point of duty to catch snippets of private conversation and misconstrue little things to typhoons of drama, enough to end careers and credibility. 

Knowing that dillydallying would encourage the vultures to attack, I walked down briskly toward the grand cinema hall one. This particular hall was separated from the rest by a gold curtain and three burly bodyguards each with their own personal invite list.

Ridiculous.

I straightened the lapels of my suit and nodded in greeting to some of the actors I'd worked with. Trevor Powell was an actor in a mystery series I'd been lead actor in two years ago. He was a character introduced to die within the season and cause the main character grief and doubt of his own capabilities as the best investigator in the area.

The only thing his character's death caused me was joy that his annoying presence would be deleted from anywhere around me.

The next was Tasha Jaxon. A plus-sized actress that had my utmost respect. She was one of the few I liked because she told things the way she saw it and gave no apology for it. Refreshingly real despite her being relatively green compared to others in the business. I hoped that the aimless merry-go-round that fame was didn't corrupt her.

I saw Alice Burns and turned my face right away. A vengeful b***h, that one was, with the face of an angel. She was notorious for sleeping with everyone's boyfriend or husband, making a s*x tape and sending it as an anniversary gift. It was done to her so why shouldn't she do it to everyone else? Just a little tip, Opal was the one who'd cheated with her fiancé then. It was a poorly kept secret, though. I avoided her with a vengeance, therefore. The scandal of being associated with her would stamp me for months.

Not worth it.

I was halfway to the gold curtain when the crowd swelled with surprise and excitement. I turned around at the sudden noise and spotted a throng of reporters with their cameras and questions surrounding a group that had just come in.

"Who is that?" A girl that I hadn't noticed said from beside me.

I looked at her. She was beautiful, long thick dark hair tied in a ponytail danced down her bare back and the little tease of skin encased in a royal purple cocktail dress told of a body well taken care of. When she met my gaze, I was taken aback by her eyes.

Violets in my mother's garden.

I'd never seen the girl before but I'd known her my whole life.

It annoyed me.

"Probably no one import-"

Oh it was someone important. Or important people rather.

The Royal family of Vianna-Heler walked in looking majestic. The Queen, Clarisse II of Vianna-Heler was an ice beauty. Her hair was platinum blond tied in the most severe bun I'd ever seen on a woman. Her dress was a conservative blue that fit her too thin frame just right. No scandal for excessive, no scandal for underdressing.

Impeccable as usual.

The crown prince, though ten, held himself with the regal posture of one who knew what his role was. He wore a grey three piece that had to be incredibly uncomfortable in the summer heat. But he looked composed, dark hair slicked back like a stray strand was as terrible as a sin. Aiden I was a true heir.

And the king.

Marcus I was a solid figure. His salt and pepper hair was slicked back like his son's and his midnight blue suit was tailored to  fit his bulky body. The few times I'd seen him in person, his eyes were always cruel and shrewd like he'd wanted to make me disappear.

Those dark eyes found mine across the room.

And somehow I knew that he hated me.

Why?

I had no idea.