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Chapter Thirteen
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Sweet Music of the Night Chapter Fourteen
Noelle had never been into the bowels of the opera house. Intrigue surged within him as he gazed around the areas that were always hidden from sight and home only to the spiders and rats. And the inspiration for many of the eerie stories passed between the performers.Below the pomp and splendour of the velvet and chandeliers lay the dusty graveyard of forgotten scenery and costumes that had become food for moths and mice. One could imagine lost spirits lingering near their old costumes and lamenting their demise.All around him, the air was thick with dust and an unpleasant musty odour, the musk of many years of disregard. Even the spiders had given up, curled up, crisp and dehydrated in webs that had caught nothing but dirt and debris.As he descended the stairs, the wood creaking in his wake, Noelle hesitated and felt his heart begin to beat painfully in his throat."Are you certain this is the right way?" He asked stupidly, earning a wry smile from Julian."Of course. Do you reall
Sweet Music of the Night Chapter Fifteen
"Wine?"Julian pulled a bottle from near his bedding. It was an old-fashioned container, not the original. Taking it from the bar would be unthinkable, so he refilled a quarter when he could. It was tiny enough that it went unnoticed, and it was once in a blue moon. Julian rarely imbibed, fearing his skill on the violin and sobriety would be sapped. This rare indulgence surprised even himself, especially since his mother had always condemned drink.It was a hypocritical criticism. He'd seen the gin in her room, starkly contrasting her public disapproval."What kind is it?" Noelle asked and stepped closer. "I don't wish to be picky, but I find white somewhat bitter.""Claret. It's milder.""Very well."Julian poured with the skill of a footman, his hand steady and the bloody red fluid not even kissing the inner sides."Thank you," Noelle smiled when Julian handed him the glass, ignoring the slight crack etched like a spindly lightning bolt at the rim. "To your health and upcoming mag
Sweet Music of the Night Chapter Sixteen
A week slipped by in what felt like seconds.Noelle was engulfed in the whirl of rehearsals and the standard fraught preparations. Despite the rush, there was a palpable dedication and passion in every meticulous detail, a testament to their unwavering commitment to the success of the performances.Each evening, he meant to seek Julian, to have him set his mind at rest, but exhaustion clawed at every inch of his body, and the only place he sought was his bed. His last thought was always on the enigmatic musician, and he hoped he was watching or, at the very least, thinking of him. For Julian, each night passed in a long and uncomfortable fashion. He never slept well, in any case, surviving on adrenaline and taking naps as and when. The longest he had ever slept was just over an hour before waking and having to settle again. It was an issue he'd grappled with since childhood, a constant struggle that often left him restless and anxious. It meant he was often about before the perfor
Sweet Music of the Night Prologue
The fire burned violently and horrified onlookers watched as debris fell from the roof and narrowly missed the firefighters, desperately trying to quell the blaze. The screams of those still trapped behind the wall of the inferno would be etched into their minds forever. Hidden in the shadows of the alley a pair of violet eyes watched the scene with indifference. To him, it was almost poetic justice when he thought over his time there. He recalled it with bitterness. Despite the solace he found in the music that surrounded his mother's career and the enchantment of watching the stories unfold without words, the lack of magic in his real world still stung. He'd never called his mother 'mother.' She was always Aunt or Carlotta. He was supposed to be her ward after all. Disguising her indiscretion of spreading her legs before marriage.She still hadn't learned. Flirting and trying to seduce the ballet master who was twice her age, to push for bigger and better roles. She was a bea
Sweet Music of the Night Chapter One
The stage had a draw.It sang to both audience and the performer more beautifully than the fabled merfolk and its draw would not be resisted.Rich, tarnished boards and deep velvet curtains. Unlike the stalls and balcony with their crystal and chandeliers, it was plain as a newborn babe and yet vast in history, just like the building it resided in.The greats had stepped there. Their footprints were ingrained into those boards and surely they had left part of their aura and soul. A gift and guide to any fortunate enough to follow them.The grandeur of the opera house was still intimidating when one approached. Built on the behest of a ruler of old for his mistress, no expense had been spared in its construction. It was highly eclectic and borrowed inspiration from the finest around the world. Both facade and interior left no space without plushness or decoration, using a combination of deep hues and gold trim.Brass for cheaper seats. Even the lowest class, at least the lowest who h
Sweet Music of the Night Chapter Two
The jaunty piano tune filled the room and the corridors beyond. The only sound louder was that of Karl's voice, bellowing the normal exercise routine."Keep your back straight and watch the turn-out!" He banged his cane on the floor, glaring in one unfortunate's girl's direction. "Five plies in each position. Keep it graceful. You're dancers and not ducks! I won't have you clumping about like some of the opera singers!"Noelle sighed as he sank down into the first of many plies. He could count the number of times Karl gave compliments on one hand. Far less often than the snap of the cane against the back of the legs. That happened so often that most of them were immune to the sting.Karl strode about the room like a sergeant-major. His eyes were everywhere. He paused by Noelle and roughly adjusted his hip."Turn-out, boy. From the hips, not the feet!"Noelle bit his lip. His turn-out was from his hip. His foot had simply slipped. But Karl was an expert at making one feel awful and bri
Sweet Music of the Night Chapter Three
Noelle's body felt as light as air as the music surrounded him. His very soul was alight and his heart danced along with him.Sweat pooled on his brow, and glistened like tiny diamonds and leaving tiny, shimmering rivers as they ran down his cheek. He barely noticed, too full of beautiful images as he weaved his own story.He knew the other was watching but that seemed to spur him further, desperate to prove himself, determined to impress.Julian had left the stage for the stalls as he played, giving the man room and watching his movement with seemingly little expression. He was no instructor but he knew how dance should look, what made it watchable and what made a dancer stand out and become great. One didn't need a degree or any qualification for that. When he played he visualized the notes and music floating about him in a colourful mist, bright and bold or dark and sultry, one had to breathe it, allow it into the soul and it would work through you. It was a skill he wanted to imp
Sweet Music of the Night Chapter Four
'You're a fool.'That was Noelle's first waking thought as he opened his eyes to gloomy sunlight. The clouds were thick outside and the normally golden rays had been diluted to a murky grey. It was hard enough to get up even when it was bright. On days like this, it was nigh on impossible.'You're trusting a man you know nothing about. You never even questioned how or why he was there...a child would know better!'Damn these thoughts.He had to take any chance he got. And he was wise enough to flee if there was any threat. It couldn't be any worse than putting up with Karl and being sentenced to decay in the corps-de-ballet his entire career. Slowly, he made his way to the quaint cafe that was nestled in the sidestreets. A haven for the artists of the theatre and a bane of the waistline if one gave into the temptation of the fresh pastries. The scent alone was enough to make the mouth water. Sweet and savoury mingling with the warm aroma of ground coffee.A small shop, it had only h
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Sweet Music of the Night Chapter Sixteen
A week slipped by in what felt like seconds.Noelle was engulfed in the whirl of rehearsals and the standard fraught preparations. Despite the rush, there was a palpable dedication and passion in every meticulous detail, a testament to their unwavering commitment to the success of the performances.Each evening, he meant to seek Julian, to have him set his mind at rest, but exhaustion clawed at every inch of his body, and the only place he sought was his bed. His last thought was always on the enigmatic musician, and he hoped he was watching or, at the very least, thinking of him. For Julian, each night passed in a long and uncomfortable fashion. He never slept well, in any case, surviving on adrenaline and taking naps as and when. The longest he had ever slept was just over an hour before waking and having to settle again. It was an issue he'd grappled with since childhood, a constant struggle that often left him restless and anxious. It meant he was often about before the perfor
Sweet Music of the Night Chapter Fifteen
"Wine?"Julian pulled a bottle from near his bedding. It was an old-fashioned container, not the original. Taking it from the bar would be unthinkable, so he refilled a quarter when he could. It was tiny enough that it went unnoticed, and it was once in a blue moon. Julian rarely imbibed, fearing his skill on the violin and sobriety would be sapped. This rare indulgence surprised even himself, especially since his mother had always condemned drink.It was a hypocritical criticism. He'd seen the gin in her room, starkly contrasting her public disapproval."What kind is it?" Noelle asked and stepped closer. "I don't wish to be picky, but I find white somewhat bitter.""Claret. It's milder.""Very well."Julian poured with the skill of a footman, his hand steady and the bloody red fluid not even kissing the inner sides."Thank you," Noelle smiled when Julian handed him the glass, ignoring the slight crack etched like a spindly lightning bolt at the rim. "To your health and upcoming mag
Sweet Music of the Night Chapter Fourteen
Noelle had never been into the bowels of the opera house. Intrigue surged within him as he gazed around the areas that were always hidden from sight and home only to the spiders and rats. And the inspiration for many of the eerie stories passed between the performers.Below the pomp and splendour of the velvet and chandeliers lay the dusty graveyard of forgotten scenery and costumes that had become food for moths and mice. One could imagine lost spirits lingering near their old costumes and lamenting their demise.All around him, the air was thick with dust and an unpleasant musty odour, the musk of many years of disregard. Even the spiders had given up, curled up, crisp and dehydrated in webs that had caught nothing but dirt and debris.As he descended the stairs, the wood creaking in his wake, Noelle hesitated and felt his heart begin to beat painfully in his throat."Are you certain this is the right way?" He asked stupidly, earning a wry smile from Julian."Of course. Do you reall
Sweet Music of the Night Chapter Thirteen
"Will you be watching the performance?" Julian paused, the bow resting elegantly on the fragile strings, looking towards Noelle with his enigmatic smile. "Of course. I have many places where I sit and contemplate or watch the performances. The last great one, however, was the touring company from London. Their Aida was magnificent." Noelle stretched. His muscles became tense even with a short pause. There was a distinct chill in the air, and it bit into the flesh sharply. Even concentrating on the warm notes that evoked the heady air of Egypt didn't help. "I remember. I was an understudy for one of the dancers they used. I did perform in the matinee. Granted, it was not much, but it was an experience to see. They are returning in the Autumn with Rigoletto, but I don't think male dancers are required for that." "Possibly not. I seem to recall that one focuses more on male debauchery, so women would be the focal point," Julian's eyes lifted slowly. "Although, that is not always t
Sweet Music of the Night Chapter Twelve
Under Julian's watchful eyes, Noelle felt himself grow. His body felt lighter; his heart felt more open. Emotions he'd never experienced tore through his soul and radiated in his movements.Even Karl took notice, and his attention slowly moved from simple corrections to entirely focusing on nurturing the budding seed he saw.A mighty oak that could stand the test of time was beginning to break free.Alexandre leaned against the barre, sweat glistening on his temple, and watched impassively as Noelle repeated a section of his solo.A shiver of envy overtook the chill of the cooling moisture as he observed a rival he hadn't recognised.'Think of it as a good thing,' he thought, reaching for a towel to mop his brow. 'Challenges spur you and make you stronger. He might somehow equal me, but I will not allow him to surpass me.' He held back a chuckle. 'These are useful feelings for this ballet too. But I can't let them sully my own talent and hold me back.'Being pleased for him was a hard
Sweet Music of the Night Chapter Eleven
Darkness, sweet and soothingI do not dread your call.Into sleep or into deathInto your arms, I'll fall.Within your hold, I feel no painAll the world will slumber deepBut I'll beware the lies that never ceaseAnd pray for dreams you can keep.Noelle awoke sometime later, finding himself lying on the chaise in one of the offices. The sun seeped through the high window, burning his eyes and highlighting the dust floating aimlessly in the air.He rubbed his temples, trying to ease the ache that split his head in two,"So, you've come around at last!"Noelle peered through his fingers to see the slender outline of the ballet mistress. She was a stern woman with sharp eyes that missed nothing and set in a face that looked like skin on a skull, her cheekbones stretching the lined skin to the maximum.The dancers held her in high regard, her career one of the finest in the theatre. But it was a respect marred with trepidation and awe. One with such a history was someone who didn't appr
Sweet Music of the Night Chapter Ten
The next few days passed in a whirlwind of activity. No one, least of all Noelle, had a chance to catch their breath. With a new creation came new hassles: costumes, fittings, scenery. The list continued, and while Karl was resigned to using items from previous performances, it didn't make it any easier.And his temper remained taut and ready to snap. "For God's sake! I thought you were supposed to be the image of graceful spirits!" Karl's voice echoed across the stage. "You look like ungainly trolls! You are supposed to float, to fly!" He flapped his hands as if attempting to take off himself as he stormed to adjust the arm of one of the nervous women. "I'm in no mood for games!" Noelle flexed his foot backstage, glancing uneasily at Alexandre. The older dancer took it all in his stride, well accustomed to Karl's meltdowns.He noticed him looking his way and shrugged. "He's like this until opening night. Then, after the first good review, he calms down. I suppose you've never b
Sweet Music of the Night Chapter Nine
With Julian's voice and music ringing in his ears, Noelle threw himself into rehearsals. He read the myths with gusto, finding he enjoyed them more than he thought. Once or twice, he felt Alexandre glare at him—a cold bitterness shimmering in his eyes like moonlight on a mirror. His expression lifted when Noelle met his gaze—melting into a smile, albeit feigned, and he turned away to check his reflection. But the tension still radiated, even if it didn't mar his performance. If Karl had noticed, he didn't comment. Envy and criticism between his dancers was commonplace, and he had little time for it. As long as he didn't have to deal with a repeat 'accident.' As he watched the pair, he found his eyes riveted by Noelle. His heart jumped into his throat more than once.Even though his technique was not as precise, his leaps not quite as fluid, one couldn't take his eyes from him. And for a split second, he wished he had done more. But that revelation was soon pushed aside. He did
Sweet Music of the Night Chapter Eight
The moon hung low in the blue velvet sky. The soft, shimmering rays billowed down and crept from the high-set windows, trailing like silver ivy over the dark theatre.There couldn't be a finer spotlight. Noelle tentatively stepped onto the stage and looked around. The auditorium was silent. Empty. Nothing but a moth moved in the air, fluttering hopelessly as it searched for an escape. For a moment, he wondered if he had imagined his prior encounter. It was one of those lucid, maddening dreams that one had heard of.Just as he was about to step back, genuinely believing he was going insane, the low, doleful notes of a violin danced into the air.Julian was perched on the arm of a chair in the circle. His lilac eyes sparkled like the stars, but he stared at a world only he saw as his bow ran masterfully over the strings. "I thought you must have been a dream," Noelle whispered, his voice seeming louder in the empty theatre. "I'm still not sure if you're not.""Most would have called m
