Written Dreams by Beth Burnett

Author:Beth Burnett [Burnett, Beth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Brisk Press
Published: 2018-06-16T22:00:00+00:00

Encore

Dry ice drifted across the darkened stage and I relished the feel of the vapours on my heated cheeks. The stage was ever-changing and ever still, and the performer must follow its demands.

Ella stood silhouetted, head to chin, her shape carved into the swirling mist. A shoe in the hand at her side, her hair obscuring her face. It was the moment when the prince strolled in to find the one who’d stolen his heart only it was me, not a prince, and I’d managed to get through the rest of the show but now I had to walk on and let through every bit of feeling I’d managed to moderate so far.

I felt a warm, large hand squeeze mine and blinked at Will and Lauren. They had been cheering me through every step, every line, and had seen through me the second I mentioned I’d had lunch with Ella.

I took a sharp breath, waiting, as the music built from the pit, rose up. Ella’s chest rose and fell and she glanced my way, winked and, one, two, three, the lights snapped on: left, right, spotlight.

Showtime.

“But where is she?” I called from my position in the wings. “I have searched high and low. She must be here.”

“Don’t know what you mean, Sire,” one of the bitches snapped into her microphone. “Why don’t we try on the shoe?”

“You have, twice,” I snapped back. Didn’t need a lot of acting to do that either. “Where?”

I strolled out onto the stage, backward, hoping I didn’t clatter into the table and chairs to my right... somewhere. Will motioned to the left and I shifted, one quick thank you look and I turned.

Ella stood in the centre of the stage as if trying to hide her shoe.

“Miss... are you alone here?” I asked, hoping the audience missed the squeak.

Ella hurried to the edge of the stage only for Will to step into her with an “ooh!”

She looked up at him, aghast, as her slipper dropped to the floor. “Pardon, M’lady...”

Will took her by the arms and grinned down at her. “My, you are a find, aren’t you?” He let through his deep tones and Ella backed up as if afraid.

“Please, ignore him,” I said, letting my own voice through. “He’ll more likely bore you with tales of swordfights.”

Ella looked back to me and our eyes met. “You are... a girl?”

I walked to the slipper and picked it up. “And you are not what you say either.”

Her shoulders sagged. “Then how can I marry you?”

Will laughed. “Because she’s me and I’m her... you see?” He twirled Ella around. “I want freedom, adventure and my dear sister... she wants you.”

Ella hugged herself as the audience gasped. “She does?”

I held up the slipper. “If you are who my heart tells me.”

Ella came over and sat on the chair, I stooped, attempting not to smack my sword on the floor and slid on the slipper. “You would marry a commoner such as I?”

“There is nothing common about you,” I whispered, meaning it more than I meant to.

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