Page 6 of Sonata
5
Viola
Hands trembling, I slipped the buttons of the corset until it squeezed my ribcage tight enough to barely allow me to breathe. The satin skirts that fell to the floor were much easier to put on; the gathered fabric on the sides made it look like layers upon layers of dark clouds were swishing around my legs with each step. If I wasn’t dreading my situation and the cursed place, I would’ve loved being dressed as if I’m a part of some fairytale. As things were, Seraphina managed to gibe at that silly part of me that believed in happily ever after’s and good things happening to good people, as well.
The reflection staring back at me from the narrow mirror was a stranger. Skin too pale since I haven’t seen the sun for who knows how long made the smoky look of my eyes stand out stark, turning my hazel irises bright green and pop like two emeralds glued to my face. My usually chocolate brown hair seemed too dark, almost black, and my clavicles were sticking out enough to be very noticeable.
After the guy left, which reminded me that I never asked his name, I had to face Seraphina while still thinking about his blue, glaring gaze. It didn’t make her very happy that my eyes kept glazing over while she droned on with her threats but not even the pin I suffered like my skin was being peeled off my bones wiped his handsome face from the forefront of my mind.
Being a cheerful person, I never paid much attention to those with the bad boy vibe, assuming -correctly, I might add- they all had too much drama going on for my liking. Life was hard for everyone, so I chose to be happy and deal with things through humor and laughter. Gloominess and pessimism didn’t have room inside my head, so why couldn’t I get him out of my mind? Realizing I was rubbing at the center of my chest, I dropped my arm to the side with a sigh. It was getting harder to find things to be optimistic about lately, no matter how hard I tried.
In the middle of everything, ever since the night when Melody played and Harmony and I were forced to watch, I felt like something was off. Nothing I could actually pinpoint or see, but it just felt wrong. The air in the building was charged with tension keeping me constantly on my toes. That’s why for the first time when Seraphina told me it’s my turn to play, I felt excitement. I wanted to see Melody and Harmony, and I knew that as soon as my eyes landed on their faces, I’ll feel much better.
“You are being silly, girl. Everything is the same, and you’ll see them soon.” Putting as much conviction as I could in the tone of my voice worked.
My shoulders squared, my spine straightening, and a weight was lifted off my shoulders. If the hottie was able to walk through walls and come and go as he pleases, it brought new hope blooming in my chest. Not that I tested the theory, but I was sure where there is a will, there is a way. All I had to do was communicate this to the girls and tell them I found a way out. I was sure working together, we will be out of here in no time.
The glossy satin of the elegant fabric draping down my legs ended up with wet blotches when I wiped my sweaty hands off it, and with a grimace, I swiped the violin in passing, headed for the door. Screw all the acting timid and watchful while being squished like a bug under that witch’s shoe. I wanted out of my prison and I was ready to make it happen.
“You are a woman, Viola. A strong, powerful woman, act like it.” Repeating my mantra under my breath, I closed the door behind me and walked down the long gray hallway with my head held high.
In all the planning the witch had done, I wasn’t sure she counted on the person I am. Melody had her backbone occasionally, but it took some time for her to stand up for herself. Harmony, on the other hand, would shrink back, hoping to disappear until you crossed every boundary ever created in the history of humankind. I’d run then after her switch flipped, but it took some doing to get there. I was often misjudged, too, which was unfortunate for anyone when they stepped on my toes. I loved making people happy, acting silly and making them laugh, but my fuse was short. Call the movement a New Age, hippy, or whatever you want, it clicked with me, and I did believe we all had a goddess inside us waiting to be acknowledged.
I embraced mine a while ago and will not bend my spine for Seraphina, a hot guy, or anyone else.
I was done playing nice.
With everyone.
My shoes made soft thumps on the tiled floor as I neared the corner that would take me to the performance area at the front of the church. The stone building made any sound echo for long minutes, adding to the ominous vibe it was giving off. Tightening my hold on the violin, I continued straight instead of taking the corner, heading for the other side of the church that was forbidden to us. Seraphina promised all kinds of pain if we dared look this way. There was still a good hour before she wanted me to play, so I had time to do some damage. She would regret the moment she decided to keep us here against our will.
The air had a subtle change as I passed the fork that would’ve sent me to the Chalice everyone saw. In a few steps, my surroundings had a drastic makeover, too. From gray stone walls and flat tiled floor in a slightly darker shade to an opulent hallway with crème paint and brass sconces lighting my way. How nice for her to live a life of luxury while my ribs felt bruised from the springs poking out through the thin mattress on my bed. Somewhere in the back of my mind I was sure alarms were blaring, telling me to turn back but they were so faint I couldn’t hear them.
Wooden doors met my gaze on each side, dark brown and looking like they were solid wood. I tested a couple of them but they were all empty, and any furniture inside was covered with white sheets reminding me of movies with houses that were haunted. That didn’t stop me either. Regardless of how dumb the idea was, I always saw it to the end out of sheer stubbornness, if nothing else.
So, when the voices reached my ears, coming from further ahead, I froze in my tracks, leaning forwards and straining to hear better. I recognized Seraphina’s voice immediately, although she sounded more animated and like she was back when I first spoke to her to organize the audition that got us in this mess. That alone told me she wasn’t talking to any of my friends because I couldn’t imagine them having better living conditions than mine. It was there in their eyes every time I saw them from across the room. Still, I couldn’t help but hope one of them was there with the witch.
“…it will be absolutely marvelous, I assure you.” Seraphina was saying, her tone muffled from the closed door as I inched next to it, pressing my ear on the hard wood. “I am yet to miss the phrases for the best performance in the state to date.”
“I still wonder how you manage to have the humans write about it while you dangle the Muses in front of their noses. It’s a dangerous game you are playing, one I’m not very sure I like to be part of.” The second voice was unmistakably masculine and nasal. I just couldn’t tell if that’s how the person talked, or it was because I heard it through the door.
“I haven’t been alive for close to a millennium because I was stupid, Phillipe.” Seraphina snapped before collecting herself. “I assure you, darling, I know exactly what I’m doing. A week at best, and I will be too powerful for anyone, human or supernatural, to take me down.” She purred, raising bile to burn the back of my throat. “But I have no need to continue convincing you. You’ll see it with your own eyes and hear it with your own ears soon enough.”
“This better be as you say, female. If I notice one thing amiss, I will be ripping your throat faster than you can utter a word from one of your spells.” The man didn’t sound like he believed her, and I had the dumbest idea for only a split second to maybe ask him for help. I dismissed it with the next breath. If he was inside that room with her, I was sure no good will come from that.
“Let us not talk about it anymore, darling. You’ll see I am right tonight.” Seraphina’s tone made my skin itch, and her next words made me push off the door shivering in disgust. “I have missed you. Take off your clothes.”
Taking a few steps back, I stuck my tongue out as far as it will go, gagging soundlessly in the hallway. The idea of her naked made me shiver violently like a dog trying to shake off flees, arms swinging wildly at my sides. I had every intention of facing her and swinging my violin at her head, but this changed my mind. I could always do it the next day without suffering the trauma of the image my mind created at that moment. Not because I was a prude. But because I hated her so much, that the idea of anyone even looking at her in any way but disgust was unfathomable to me. Stupidly, I kind of felt sorry for the guy in there with the witch at the same time.
It was like that, shivering and gagging like I’m trying to spit out my internal organs in the middle of the bright hallway that the hottie found me coming seemingly out of nowhere. I froze, sticking my tongue out at his face, and watched him with wide eyes. My heart jumped in my chest before pounding harshly over my ribs while we watched each other mutely. He was dressed in all black, the long sleeved t-shirt stretched to its limit across his broad shoulders and chest. It made his blonde hair and blue eyes stand out more, but the outline of his pecks and abdominal muscles lured my eyes down to the narrow waist. The many pockets on the pants were pulled tight over powerful thighs, and I swallowed thickly, finally dragging my tongue inside my mouth where it belonged. His feet shuffled slightly, and my eyes snapped back to his face. When a deep line formed between his eyebrows, in my panic, I did the only thing I could think of.
I cocked my arm and chucked the violin at his head.
