Swan Lake

Odile

A gloomy shadow, wrapped in a blue cloak, slid into the hall, and a long white hand with black claws grabbed Odile's hand and kissed it.

“King of castles,” Odile nodded, “you still frighten and destroy the owners of all palaces. Only you are the real master of their castles.”

The trumpets of the skeletal heralds sounded, and King Rothbert entered the hall with leisurely steps, wearing a black cloak trimmed with black fur, with a golden crown on his head. His aquiline nose, golden eyes and pale face frightened and destroyed a man, and Etienne froze in horror, looking at him. Rothbert kissed Odile's hand and walked away to the jubilant crowd of monsters, while Odile took Etienne aside.

“Let's get out of here,” he pleaded.

“Odette ...” he said in some unknown impulse.

“Who told you that I am Odette?” the beauty interrupted him in her sonorous voice. “I can't give you a ring,” she laughed, “but here, take one earring from my ear and remember me.”

She removed one pearl earring from her ear and placed it in his hand. At the same time, Etienne's hand burned like fire. The pearls lit up in his hand, and he could not open it so as not to drop the gift. He was at the mercy of his sleep and could not do anything with himself.

A pearl earring sparkled and shimmered in his hand and burned him with its deadly cold. The prince looked at it, one huge oval pearl surrounded by several more, smaller pearls. Who could have made such a wondrous jewel, but its power was not in beauty, but in the magical power that Odile endowed her with.

Etienne squeezed the beauty's generous gift in his hand, and she smiled and wanted to say something, but the wind that rushed into the room stopped her. A whirlwind of dry leaves flew across the floor and rustled loudly. The wind hissed and howled, he foreshadowed evil. He died down, and a girl with fiery hair, in a scarlet dress, appeared in the room. Her face was burned and scarred.

Etienne froze with horror, it was she - the red-haired witch. Violetta glared at Odile and Etienne. but the princess only smiled back.

“Hello, Violetta,” she said, “as you can see, I am still alive, your witchcraft is not stronger than mine, and I can prove it to you.”

“The holiday has just begun,” the red-haired witch laughed, “only tonight I obey you, princess, but what will happen tomorrow, no one can say.”

Odile looked at Etienne.

“Farewell, or just goodbye,” she said. Lightning flashed, thunder thundered, and now not a princess, but a black swan flew away into the darkness of the night. Etienne turned his eyes to the red-haired witch, she laughed with an evil laugh, and at the same moment everything disappeared. Etienne woke up in his bed. Did he just dream about everything? But suddenly a cold seared his wrist. He unclenched his hand, in his palm, sparkling and shimmering, lay a pearl earring, that very exquisite earring from the ear of a dark enchanted princess.

The day passed quickly in preparations for the ball. Guests came from all sides.

The prince will have to choose a bride from among the beauties who have gathered in the castle.

The castle sparkled with many lights against the black sky. The ball began. Every girl dreams of being the chosen one of the prince and then the queen.

Two thrones stood at opposite ends of the spacious ballroom. The door flung open, and the queen entered the hall, wearing a golden dress of lush brocade and a crown with rubies on long curls of exquisite hair. She was worried Etienne disappeared somewhere. Really, even today her dreams will not come true, the prince will not choose a bride for himself and will not forget forever about his quirks. He appeared later. So, it appeared. Thank God.

Etienne was waiting for Odette. The wait was agonizing. An incomprehensible fear filled his heart. He was afraid that the princess might not come, that the king of evil would keep her in his domain, and he would be unable to do anything. He was boldly ready to rush into battle, he could save her from anyone, but where should he run now. Etienne did not know how to kill the time before her arrival, and around him the eyes of hundreds of beautiful and noble girls looked at him coquettishly and bewitchingly, but none of them could compare with the swan princess.

Odette did not appear, and the clock on the castle tower had struck nine. The prince was waiting only for her, he thought only of her and no one else, and meanwhile the cat Clarissa on his throne was proudly and smugly stretching, encouraged by the queen pleased that day.

The queen watched for a long time as Etienne was watching the hands of the clock, but then she made up her mind and, getting up from her seat, led one of the girls, beautiful and dressed like a princess, to him. She was ready for anything to become the prince's bride, but in Etienne, all her pride caused disapproval and contempt, he was expecting only one girl in the whole world.

Etienne reluctantly took her hand, and she smiled with joy. Sheer pride shone in her eyes as Etienne did a few steps with her. The blue dress hugged her slender figure, her eyes glowing with blue fire from under her long black eyelashes. She was quite attractive, but after the first movements of the dance, heard the call of the trumpets, which announced that another princess was entering the castle, Etienne immediately left her. He expected Odette, but it wasn't her.

The Queen, although it did not befit her, comfortingly encouraged the beauty. Then she took another girl with the defiant beauty of an oriental princess to Etienne. She was in all scarlet and with a wreath of scarlet poppies on her dark-haired head. Etienne, under the forcing gaze of his mother, took her by the delicate hand and led her to dance. He did not dance with her for long, and at the first sound of trumpets rushed to the door. Odette did not come this time either.

The queen brought the girls to him two or three more times, but with each she ended, as with the first, and she had to console the disappointed beauties. There was no fun at this ball, All the girls looked only at the prince and imagined themselves in the place of his bride. Their dreams were in vain, the prince was sad, and none of the aristocrats could k****e fiery feelings in his heart and bring a smile on his face.

The queen had already begun to lose hope, but suddenly a thunderclap broke out in the clear night sky, and lightning flashed in the darkness, Etienne could not believe himself, in front of him right in the doorway stood a tall man in a black cloak, so expensive and magnificent that only a king of a powerful country could wear it. A black hat with a feather was not inferior to him, but on his stern face there was one flaw, a long, like an eagle's nose. Undoubtedly, once this man was beautiful, but now he looked like a demon, like a vampire, like ... Etienne was even afraid to think about it, like the king of evil himself.

Etienne gazed at the guest, bewitched, but he was not at all embarrassed by his gaze, he became even more formidable and majestic, he had the face and manner of a vulture and the grace of a king.

Etienne had never seen Rothbert's real face, but he could swear that this man was the most like him, but it was scary to think about it. His eyes blazed and shone, all the dreams of the dark world were imprinted in the strict features of his face, his gaze pierced through and there was nowhere to hide from him, he could find a person everywhere, and human fear only made him even stronger and more powerful.

The prince could not take his eyes off the unusual guest, and everyone in the hall also froze, not understanding where he came from, the king of what country he was. A fluffy black feather swung on his hat, but he did not even think to take it off to pay tribute to the prince and the queen. Complacency and narcissism were felt in him, as if he had already felt himself a winner in advance.

Etienne involuntarily drew attention to his hands, clearly accustomed to holding a sword and defeating all his enemies. His fingers, adorned with precious rings, were like the claws of a kite, ready at any moment to grab the throat of its victim, which he would not let go of his tenacious paws for anything.

The Queen involuntarily froze in place when she saw him. She, too, was embarrassed by his imperious look, as if he were the owner of this castle, but she never entered into a quarrel first, therefore, a shadow of hostility was not reflected on her face.

The evil genius chuckled at the prince. He came here from the world of darkness to forever separate Odette from her lover.

He waved his cloak. Etienne saw Odile behind the stranger, but today she looked just like Odette. Not a trace of her former princess of shadows remained in her face, but her gaze was sly, like a demon. She was a seductress who came from the world of darkness to destroy the young prince forever.

Etienne's vision was clouded by witchcraft. He saw Odette, and it didn't matter that she was dark-haired, the magic won. He was captivated by the green eyes, the cunning smile of a cat creeping towards its prey.

He could not take his eyes off the devilishly beautiful Odile, believing that Odette was in front of him.

She was wearing a black ball gown, with a full long skirt, which she supported with her snow-white hand. Etienne did not notice the color of her hair, he looked at her face and saw his Odette, and not the seductress from the dark realm. Odile was able to charm anyone. She bewitched Etienne, as from the very beginning and was conceived by her father.

She smiled at him from behind Rothbert, as if to say that she would soon disappear as suddenly as she had appeared. Etienne was about to rush to her, but Rothbert waved his cloak, and, indeed, Odile disappeared. Another beauty appeared in her place. She was a Neapolitan princess, dressed in a colorful and light outfit, adorned with golden feathers and long strands of multicolored beads. Bracelets tinkled on her arms, her eyes burned with gray fire, but she was just like any other girl. She did not have the bright and defiant beauty of Odile, she was only able to distract, but not become a fatal love.

She bowed before Etienne and the Queen in a graceful curtsy, but Etienne was disappointed, he waited for Odette to appear.

The girl had to be content with another gentleman, and Rothbert led the Spanish princess into the hall by the hand. Suddenly, behind Rothbert, Odile flashed again. She got used to her role as a white swan, but in fact her actions and designs were blacker than the pitch of her hair. She played a beauty with a pure heart, the beloved of a handsome prince, but she could not leave her cunning in the past, could not forget for a moment that she had come here to destroy Etienne forever.

For a minute they looked at each other, not taking their eyes off, and then she dived back and disappeared, and in her place was a Spanish woman in her magnificent outfit.

The Spaniard wore a black dress with luxurious scarlet frills, the waist was pulled into a corset, the sleeves were the same puffy, decorated with many laces.

Rothbert smiled ominously, he felt his victory over the prince and his kingdom. He has long dreamed of ruining this kingdom, leaving no stone unturned from what was once the kingdom of the eternal sun.

Etienne's head was spinning. The Spanish woman swam in languid rhythmic movements to the sound of the guitar, and the prince thought that it was no longer a Spanish woman, but Odile was dancing in a black Spanish dress with scarlet lace. Her hands, like the wings of a white swan, twisted and separated in a dance, and the frills on her skirt rustled and shone in scarlet gold against the black silk.

She was the only and irresistible, her appearance amazed with its secret strings and unearthly shades. She continued to dance and, bending over in the dance, smiled slyly at him. She seemed a real Spanish woman, at that moment Etienne thought that Christian, seeing her, could become his rival. No, it was impossible, because Christian loved the daughter of the king of darkness, not an innocent swan.

Thinking about this, Etienne was watching her, she delighted and frightened the eyes with her perfection. Suddenly the magic passed and it was Spanish again. Etienne averted his eyes in disappointment, but at that moment the hall was again flooded with bright light. Rothbert waved his cloak. The Spanish woman ran away, and Odile appeared before the astonished Etienne. Rothbert stepped aside and the hands of the prince and the beauty joined, but Odile's hand was as cold as January snow, there was no warmth in it.

Etienne looked at her for a long time, but he could not understand what had changed in her. Something new and inexplicable has appeared in her, not at all like the former swan princess.

“Odette,” said Etienne.

He himself did not understand why her name sounded so alienated and unusual in the silence.

“Don't say that name until midnight,” she warned him, and her eyes flashed mysteriously, “or we'll have to part forever.”

“Do not say that!” Etienne pleaded, “I was waiting for you so much, I was so afraid that you would not come.”

“Nothing would hold me back,” she said, and dropped her eyes.

“Let's go to!” Etienne whispered. “I will introduce you to the queen.”

“Not now,” she said coldly, “I came here only to see you, so that you would swear to me that you would always be my fiancé.”

“Yes,” he replied, “yes, I swear it to you.”

A victorious smile lit up her face and was reflected in the eyes of Rothbert watching them. Odile knew it was time to act, but she had to completely play the role of a white swan and get what she needs and what her father needs so much, who came here with her.

They had one plan, and she was going to carry it out. It was necessary to decide, now or never, but Odile was brave and could strike anyone with her beauty on the spot. Now she played the role of an insidious seductress, now she carried out the orders of her father.

“Are you sure that you will love me all your life?” she asked.

“Of course,” escaped from Etienne, “how could you think of anything else.”

“I’ll tell you a secret,” Odile said, “this is the night of the fateful holiday, today we must stay together or die. If we get engaged with the final blow of midnight at this ball, then I will be free, but before ...” “She smiled enigmatically.

Etienne froze in anticipation and stared at her. Odile was ready to destroy him and her sister, her soul was the same as before, her cunning was boundless.

“First,” she said, “you have to give me one thing.”

“Which one?” burst out from the prince.

“The one that I gave you, once upon a time, and which you had to keep all your life.”

“I guess, but is it correct.”

“Yes, you must give me a white swan feather and one more thing.”

“I understand, but I don’t know where I got it from,” Etienne guessed, but she only shook her head.

“Trust your dreams,” Odile said quietly. Etienne took out a white swan feather, and as soon as it was in Odile's hand, Rothbert smiled enigmatically and viciously.

Then Etienne handed Odile an earring, he did not remember how it got to him.

Before taking the jewelry, Odile lifted her hair. In one of her ears the same pearl shone, and the other was not decorated with anything. She slowly inserted the earring into her ear, and at the same moment, on the swan lake Odette, who had turned into a girl in the light of the moon, cried out in pain. Blood flowed from her ear, and her trickle dyed the princess's white neck crimson.

“We feel that something is wrong, lady,” one of the swan girls who approached her babbled, “you shouldn't leave today, it can bring trouble on you, as well as on all of us. Stay here who knows what awaits you in the human world.”

“No,” objected Odette, wiping the trickle of blood running down her skin, “no, today I must be in the castle, the salvation of all of us depends on this.”

Meanwhile, Odile and Etienne danced. The movements of the black swan were light and graceful, it seemed that her satin shoes did not touch the floor, and she herself did not step, but hovered above the ground.

Etienne was proud of such a bride, he danced with her and felt like the happiest person in the world.

“You’re not the same as usual today,” he said.

“It’s strange for me myself,” she replied, “there is enough unusual in life, but we have to think about our future and nothing else.”

“You’re right,” Etienne agreed, “all my life I have been looking for only you, and now I’m glad that you are here, just tell me that this is not a dream.”

“No, it's magic,” Odile said.

“I love you, swan princess,” he said, stopping in the dance and bringing her cold hand to his lips, while she glanced at the clock, midnight was approaching, but even before midnight, Etienne would be in her power.

The hand of the clock moved alarmingly in silence, as if announcing danger, imminent disaster, but Etienne did not care about the clock, he looked at his beloved and could not take his eyes off her.

“Do you agree to become my bride?” he asked, and she smiled enigmatically.

"Are you sure you want this?" She answered with a question to the question, and Etienne nodded his head.

“Only if there is no doubt in your soul ...” she began, but he stopped her.

“I'm sure,” he replied, and wanted to kiss her, but she staggered back and looked at him from under the length of her eyelashes.

“Then we must ask my father's consent,” she said.

“You have a father,” Etienne was amazed, that elegant stranger immediately came to his mind, he was dressed like a king, and could easily pass for her father.

“I thought. all your family is dead,” he said.

“There is only one immortal king,” she replied, “but fear nothing, although without his consent, I cannot become your queen.”

One glance was enough. Everyone in the audience realized that this was the prince's bride, the betrothal was to take place immediately. Etienne ran to the queen, but she already agreed, where else could she find such a beauty for her son.

“Poor Christian,” she thought, “God knows who is his bride, but certainly not a girl like Etienne.”

Etienne helped her down the steps of the throne, and she, smiling affably, went up to the beautiful girl.

It seemed that the holiday should have ended happily. Everyone looked at the prince and his chosen one. Fritz and Ben were also at the throne. They were richly dressed and did not show the slightest desire to travel through the swamps again. obviously unwilling to go back to the swamp. They were happy for their friend, and their joy was sincere.

The Queen smiled. She admired the chosen one of her son. The only thing that she lacked in her life was a girl whom she, by right of kinship, could call her friend and daughter. She had two prince sons, but every mother dreams of a beautiful girl. She would be ready to share with her all her secrets and make a strong friendship with the one who will later replace her on the throne. She put Odile's hand in Etienne's, but suddenly Rothbert lunged forward and tore their hands apart. He glared at Etienne with a cold, unfriendly look. Some insidious expression, incomprehensible to Etienne, appeared on Odile's face. She herself seemed like an evil genius next to her father, a real witch who for a moment became a beautiful swan, but this moment was over, and now Etienne saw the former merciless demon in front of him.

Suddenly lightning flashed in the sky and illuminated everything around, as well as the doors of the castle. The prince saw the real Odette standing in the doorway. Then, who was the one to whom he swore in love. Etienne looked at Odile in horror, and she burst out laughing with a terrible, malicious laugh of the devil.

Odette at the door was sad. She was wearing a snow-white dress, and a drop of blood remained on her neck. Her long blonde hair was blowing in the wind. It was she, but he betrayed her, swore his love to the daughter of the king of evil, the black swan. Etienne could not turn back time, everything was lost. He lost Odette forever, and the black swan mockingly laughed at him. Odile and Rothbert were triumphant, they were victors.

Odile smiled mischievously, she won, she ruined her sister. Suddenly she fell silent, she remembered the sad and beautiful face of Christian and his bitter words: "Goodbye, my black swan." She could no longer stay here, her heart pierced with a sharp pain. Did she really love a mortal, but there was only one answer, but she loved him more than life and could no longer remain evil.

Odette looked at Etienne with horror and mute reproach. He was guilty, he ruined everything.

A moment, and no longer Odette, but a white swan, flapping its long wings, flew away from the castle gates.

Odile and Rothbert also disappeared from the hall, while Etienne stood and could not believe what had happened to him.

“Odette,” Etienne shouted in dismay, and his mad cry was drowned in the thunderstorm.

“I’ll find her,” Etienne shouted. “I’ll find her, whatever the cost.”

He wanted to rush to the door, but Fritz and Ben held him back. They couldn't let their friend go to certain death.

“Think about it!” Fritz told him, “you will die!”

“It’s all the same to me,” he shouted, “let me go, I have to go after her.”

“This is crazy,” Ben said, “you must not go there, certain death awaits you there.”

“Let me go!” Etienne shouted to his friend.

“Never,” Fritz said, “I can't let you ruin youself,” he added.

Etienne did not care, the madness of lost love overwhelmed him and drove the young prince mad.

Casting only a glance at the stricken queen, the prince tore the ring of his friends' embrace, grabbed his sword and rushed to where his faithful horse was waiting for him.

The poor queen could only faint, and the prince was racing on his faithful horse to the swan lakes in a minute.

The road was difficult and winding, it led far beyond the kingdom, but Etienne was not afraid of anything. He was racing on his horse forward and did not want to turn back. His vow remained unchanged, his heart was faithful, as always, and nothing, no powers of hell, could stop him. He was proud and adamant, for which there was nothing but his love.

The horse flew like an arrow. Etienne was in a hurry and had no right to stop. He could not be afraid of devilish forces, his love was more powerful than Rothbert's wiles.

The prince could perish in a dark witchcraft forest, the trees of which intertwined with branches and dropped the night shadows on the narrow strip of the road. The obstacles were countless, but he had to overcome them all in order to find Odette again. There was no fear in his soul.

Etienne's horse suddenly stopped and whinnied in fright. Etienne tried to go on, but the horse backed away and reared up, loosening the wet dirt of the road with his hooves.

“What's wrong with you?” burst out from Etienne. The answer was female laughter.

Etienne felt uncomfortable, he pulled on the reins, but the horse did not move, but only whinnied excitedly.

“Odette!” shouted Etienne, and his insane cry echoed throughout the forest and surrendered in his own heart. It was all useless, she was not here. A premonition of some kind of danger seized the young prince.

“Do not rush!” the voice of a young woman, beautiful and clear, came from behind him.

A shudder ran down the prince's back, and his horse backed away in horror.

“Who are you?” Etienne shouted.

A strange glow appeared on the road, and he saw three figures standing in front of him.

They were three witches. Etienne immediately recognized the red-haired witch's maids.

One of them was devoid of eyes and eyebrows, her face was smooth, but she stared at Etienne as if she had eyes.

The second witch had no mouth, but she spoke and laughed, and the third lacked a nose. They were terrible, but the red-haired witch was the ugliest of them all.

“Take your time, young prince,” said the dumb witch. Her voice escaped from somewhere deep, it was raspy and hoarse, but its sounds pierced and resounded throughout the forest. Etienne looked at her boldly and did not look away.

“Let me go!” He ordered sternly, but the witches only laughed viciously, and he spread along the entire forest road.

“You are in a hurry for a dream,” said the witch, “you do not see what power our world has. She's just an enchanted princess.”

“She is my love,” Etienne replied boldly.

“Love?” the witch smiled, “you have sworn in love to the black swan.”

“It was a hoax, you yourself know that,” Etienne exclaimed indignantly.

“Odile's enchantment is strong, but it is your own fault that you succumbed to her. You have become a plaything in the hands of fate, only in our world you will be saved from eternal repentance.”

“Never,” said the prince, “I must go.”

“Where are you in a hurry,” the eyeless witch laughed, “you have lost your love, and now you want to lose your life too.”

“I never had any hope of living without her.”

The witch without a nose burst out laughing, and her eyes burned with fire. One could hardly find a more disgusting sight. She was one of those who managed to deceive him and made him swear in love to another, when he wanted to make a completely different girl his bride.

“The princess is not a swan for you,” said the witch, “you cannot compete with Rothbert. He is as strong as anyone, all the swan lakes and enchanted girls are in his power. Do you want to lose your head over the beauty of the princess?”

“There’s no way there,” the other witch echoed her words, “get out of here, or…” She paused for a moment, and a malicious smile stretched across her ugly face.

“Or ...” Etienne reminded her, “I don’t care, just give me a way and I’ll save my love.”

“Who knows,” said the third witch, “anything can happen to a person in the night forest. Wolves roam here, they are angry and hungry, they find many bloody corpses in the morning after a stormy night. Who can find out what really happened. People can only guess.”

The witches fell silent and bowed deeply before their mistress, a woman in a scarlet dress with long red hair. Etienne recognized at first glance her burned, scarred face.