Two Make a Contract

Delphine is placed in a less ostentatious dress than her performance one, but it is no less fancy. Her hair is pulled back into a classic French twist before she’s sent on her way to the doors. Time to meet the crowd. Delphine must meet them as part of the effort to restore the opera. They all want to meet the esteemed singer, after all. The pretty bird who trills to the masses. Well, the wealthy masses now as it hasn’t been feasible to open the doors for those who cannot pay.

She shakes the thought from her mind because hopefully all this work for their last performance will have been worth it. This won’t be their last performance and she will see to it that it will never be. Delphine walks out with her head held high as the manager introduces her. The most wealthy attendees- the potential patrons- all eye her up and down.

Delphine hides the nervous swallow as she extends her hand and old, sleazy male after old, sleazy male kisses the back of it. More like slobbers on it, but she acts unaffected. Delphine must be unaffected, she must. The only potential patron who doesn’t drool all over her is one that makes the hair raise on the back of her neck. He’s younger than the rest and exudes dominance, danger.

“Delphine,” her manager Marie seems very eager to introduce her to the last of them. “This is Alpha Tiberius Augustus Apollion. He’s made the very generous offer to buy Austerus Luscinia and privately fund it, indefinitely.”

Delphine swallows nervously as he takes her hand, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Alpha Tiberius. I am Omega Delphine Wisteria Pollux.”

“The pleasure is all mine, you are a sun in the expanse of stars. Shining brightly and without equal,” Tiberius flips her hand around to press a kiss to her scent gland on the inside of her wrist.

Her breath hitches and she struggles not to snatch her hand away. Delphine very rarely lets others know of her presentation but when someone is introduced with their presentation, its manners to give yours in return. And then he kissed her scent gland. She wants to scream at Marie for putting her in such a vulnerable position. She keeps it a secret because a successful Omega is often a caged one.

It dawns on her then, that perhaps this was Marie’s plan all along. Delphine is a young, beautiful, desirable Omega with no mate and skills some would kill for. Delphine is a selling point. The selling point in an increasingly digital age where theatre and operas aren’t half as popular as they used to be. But an un-mated, songbird of an Omega? Delphine can feel her eyes start to glisten as it becomes clear to her just what Marie is planning.

Whoever owns the Austerus Luscinia owns Delphine.

“Are you the only one who’s made such a generous offer,” she asks carefully as others mingle around them.

Tiberius smiles blithely, “I’m sure I’m the only one who’s made it.”

The way he says that sentence has her skin crawling. Delphine can feel the danger rolling off the words and the Alpha before her. He offers his arm to her and she has no choice but to take it. Tiberius leads her around the opera front house commenting lowly on the changes he wishes to implement. Delphine can only smile while holding in her fear.

Delphine risks asking the question because she needs to know now, needs to know if she still has time to run, “Has the contract been drafted, signed, and notarized?”

“Yes, little songbird, this whole show tonight was just a taste of my patronage,” he eyes her with dark, glittering eyes that hint at amusement beyond compare. “Marie allowed me the reins to this show.”

“No,” Delphine whispers in horror, pulling her arm from his. “No, I had the reins! Marie let me plan it all! S-she wanted it adapted from some gothic romance play.”

Tiberius tilts his head at her with that smile that she is becoming to hate. Delphine can feel the first of her tears fall because of course the play she used to adapt the opera is one HE suggested. The one he WANTED. Tiberius swipes away the tear before gripping both sides of her face. He kisses her nose lightly.

“Don’t worry, little song bird, I promise it’s better this way.”