Page 2 of The Prince from a Cruel Summer
You took all you wanted
And shrugged when it ended
A liar, a player, a shameless flirt
Let me ask you, Wonder Boy
(Tell me the truth)
Was it all for nothing?
(Ooh, You’re nothing to me now)
You knocked on my window
Under the midnight shadow
And smiled like the devil
(Watch out for the devil at your door)
A smarter girl would have turned you away
(Watch out, Watch out)
But I melted in your arms
Spellbound by your charms
I guess you didn’t know
How to handle snow
Fire and ice don’t mix for a reason
I guess I’ve learned my lesson
And after I turned my back on you
I never looked back, sugar plum.
(No, I never do.)
Complete darkness takes over, the spell I used to force all the electronic devices to shut down for a few seconds a secret recipe of mine. I slip out of my white dress in one fluid motion and run the length of the stage in the black leotard and harness I had underneath.
Dramatic exits have become part of my brand and made all the more impressive by my perfect night vision, a trait most dark Fae share that confounds mortals.
Every single person on my crew wants to know how I manage to zoom through the dancers and clip the wire onto my harness so quickly and perfectly every time, despite it being pitch black, and it has become a mystery I cater to every chance I get.
The wire hauls me all the way up, up, up.
When the lights flicker back on, I’m no longer at the end of the catwalk, but on the very top of the soundstage next to a giant cardboard cloud with a hidden door carved into it. Mere seconds have passed, and the crowd goes wild.
A giant spotlight showcases my location, andconfetti rains from the sky as I blow them one last kiss and exit through the door.
On the other side, I clip my wire to the long safety pole and climb down the ladder. Becky, my loyal assistant, is waiting for me at the bottom.
“Great performance, Beth,” she says. “Flawless exit, as always.”
