Chapter 77: Encore
It had been a long time since Banella had taken in a performance at her theatre, but these were desperate times. Adopting her most powerful saunter, she made her way back where the cast would be preparing for tonight's show. When she arrived, everyone was too busy to take notice of her. Rose was admiring himself in the mirror and was talking in a range of accents. Sugar and Summer were dancing together, but it was clear they were having one of their quarrels. Summer's eyes were fire and Sugar was emitting a low hum as he flared his wings.
Banella cleared her throat and all eyes turned to her. The music stopped, and Banella relished in the power she held among her performers.
"Has anyone seen Thornspine?" She asked once she felt the dramatic silence beginning to thin.
"Are you talking about my nephew?" Rose spoke in a thick Light accent that was not his own. "He has been missing for a fortnight and-"
"Shut up Rose." Sugar hissed, rolling his eyes. "No one really believes Thorn is your nephew. You can drop the act."
"He said he was going to check over a few things before the show." Summer purred, giving Sugar a disapproving look and shake of the head. "Do you need us to pass on a message? Has he done something wrong?"
"Nothing of the sort." Banella snapped. "If you see him, please tell him I want my box prepared for tonight." And with that, Banella left her performers in a stunned silence. It wasn't until they thought she was out of earshot that she heard whispers, then the rising song of violins.
Everything was going according to plan, not that there was much of a purpose to her night out. Banella supposed Leo was getting into her head again. She arrived early, so as not to attract the attention of theatregoers, and settled down in the darkness of her box. Here, she could observe everything without being seen by anyone below. Only those who knew she was there would be able to look close enough to see her within the shadows.
After about an hour, the theatre started to fill. Dragons filed in and took their seats, talking quietly to one another. To Banella's annoyance, she noticed quite a few seats remained empty as the start of the show grew nearer.
"Is this seat taken?" A voice behind her caused her to jump. Even though she had hoped to catch a glimpse of her former lover tonight, nothing had prepared her for actually seeing him in the flesh. It was almost as though she was staring into the face of a ghost. She was soon aware that she was staring at him wide-eyed and mouth agape. As she regained her composure, Leo smirked and settled down on the cushion beside her.
"What are you doing here?" Banella hissed in a hushed tone, now aware of the anger bubbling within like a stew over a fire. How dare he catch her off guard like that?
"Don't tell me you didn't read my letter. I delivered it personally." Leo's voice was like honey and it left a sickly sweet feeling inside Banella. Why did she ever think she wanted this? Yet at the same time, she felt as though maybe things would start going right now, and she cursed herself for the thought.
"I got your letter." Banella snapped.
"No need to be feisty, princess." Leo said, adopting the nickname Banella hated down to her core. His eyes flashed, he knew he had gotten under her skin. "I'm not here to bite."
"Then why are you here?" Banella hissed, growing more and more resentful of his stupid grin with each passing moment.
Before Leo had the chance to respond, the lights dimmed and the curtain began to rise. Summer stepped out onto the stage and the performance began.
Banella tried to pay attention to the show. The cast had put a lot of work into it, and really, it was her own accomplishment. She had written the script, she should be proud of it, but all she was aware of was Leo's burning gaze. It made her feel like she was young and foolish, like all she had built was paper and glue. She could feel his judgement boring into her and breaking down all the walls she had worked so hard to build. To him, all this was nothing but a feeble attempt to escape, and he was probably right. What was all this really, in the face of everything? She held no throne, no family, and nothing she cared for, not anymore.
The rest of the performance dragged on in silence. Banella wanted to scream at Leo, to demand he tell her why he had come and what he wanted, but she wouldn't dare cause such a scene and disrupt such a masterpiece. Still, she seethed, loathing the control he still had over her.
After what seemed like an eternity, the cast took their final bows and the audience burst into applause. Banella rose to her full height and turned to leo.
"You must have had a purpose for coming here." Banella told him evenly, staring unblinkingly into his eyes. Leo seemed a little startled at her ferocity, but to his credit, he was not shaken.
"I simply wanted to visit and old friend." Leo said, his voice once again as smooth as honey.
"Don't lie to me." Banella spat, her voice like vemon. "If that were all you wanted you would have turned up years ago instead of skulking in the shadows."
"I have been off seeking my fortune, princess." Leo laughed. "If anyone has been sulking in the shadows, it's been you. What have you been doing here all these years? You've forgotten who you are, princess."
Banella growled as he emphasized her nickname. Leo raised an eyebrow at her response, as if he had won. Fat chance. Banella wouldn't let that happen.
"I know who I am." Banella began to circle Leo, flexing her claws.
"Prove it then, because you sure didn't know who you were when your kingdom was in shambles, begging for a fresh, strong ruler." Leo was not even fazed by her attempts at intimidation, he just looked mildly bored.
With a roar, Banella sprang at Leo, but he was ready for her. He kicked off the ground, catching her neck in his talons as she lunged into the space where he had once stood. With one deft movement, Leo forced her to the ground, pinning her down with his large claw pressed to her throat.
"You've always been weak, Banella, that's your problem. You have no backbone." Leo explained calmly. "If you really wanted that throne you would have taken it at any cost. That's why I came, I wanted to see such cowardice for myself, to make you pay for all the time I invested in you." His grip grew tighter, it was getting harder to breathe. "This is what true power is."
"Do it then, kill me." Banella rasped. "You're right, I'm better off dead."
"No, letting you live is far more satisfying, knowing you'll continue to plod along in your pathetic, insignificant life." Leo stepped off Banella and she gasped, desperately working to fill her lungs again. "Goodbye princess, thanks for nothing."
There was the sound of wingbeats, and Banella was left alone in the darkness of the empty theatre.
What's this? And update? Two days in a row?
By the way, there are more performers than just Rose, Sugar and Summer, those three are just the main three that live and work at the theatre permanently. There are always several other actors and performers hired for different show runs.
