By Kochan
Chapter 7: Destitute
Author's Note - Shoujo-Ai/Yuri Lime towards the last 1/4. If this isn't your cup of tea, stop before you get there and hit that little 'back' button on your browser. Otherwise, enjoy!!!
The deep, tuba-like rumble of the foghorn brought Helena's attention about from the score sheet she'd been focused on. She looked out the tint-darkened window of her suite on board the 'Renom' to see the 11pm Kowloon to Macau ferry preparing to leave from Tsim Sha Tsui terminal. Her own luxury yacht was already enroute to Macau with 30 minutes of the voyage remaining.
Tonight's performance was to be a big one; an audience of a thousand at the Macau Cultural Centre Auditoria. She was to be headlining an elite recital for ambassadors, political heavyweights and opera connoiseurs alike. Christine Lenger, Mezzo Soprano of the highest order was to duet with her on 'Sous le dome epais' from Delibes's 'Lakme', a global favourite for its highly challenging and melodic Coloratura Soprano role. A delicate smirk curled at Helena's lips. Tonight, that role was hers. There had been Dame Joan Sutherland, Sumi Jo: her greatest influences, her idols. Now, it was her turn to cast forth her favoured piece in all it's glory. Soon, she would ascend to just such a status.
She tapped her pen in an almost subconscious manner against her full lips, painted in the lightest of pinks to match the brilliant white, full length satin gown she had donned. Elaborate frills and victorian lace complimented the hem, sleeves and collar of the dress along with a styled bow located just above her full bosom. The remainder of her makeup was light, yet elegant in its presentation. Constance had done a wonderful job with the least amount of cosmetics just as she had asked. After all, she was looking to pass as a Viennese Countess, not a Parisian Whore. She was Helena Douglas, crown of the Douglas empire, of all that her father had built up and left to her; Stocks and shares worth trillions of francs, a fleet of cargo and cruise liners, enough jets and helicopters to form a small air force, 2 commercial airlines, small to medium enterprises numbering into the thousands and 15 multinationals including a wholly owned Research and Development facility known as DOATEC. Indeed, the Douglas Organic and Anthropological Technical Enhancement Centre itself was worth more than 70% of the family holdings. In summary, far more than any Viennese Countess had ever envisioned having at her disposal.
Helena let out a laboured sigh as her eyes closed. Despite the immense wealth, she did wish she had been born 4 centuries back as a Viennese Countess; life was so much simpler then. All she wanted to do was sing, like her mother. But here she was, a poor little rich girl with an empire worth more than the GDP of a medium sized country. An empire that came with a price too dear, even for her: that of her parents' lives. Both killed...no...assassinated within months of each other. Another sigh, tears threatening to escape as her thoughts came to her mother. Perhaps Papa had had his share of enemies, but why Maman? Maman didn't have to die.
"Non, I promised myself I wouldn't cry any more. Not another tear." she whispered to herself in a voice shattered by the passing wave of emotion. But she knew it was a promise she couldn't keep as the tears came...uninvited.
But then there was a gentle rap at the side, followed by the soft, dulcet voice of Constance. "Mademoiselle Helene?" Her 18 year old maidservant called from behind the cabin door. Constance was her closest and dearest friend, an orphan taken in from young by her parents and raised much like a younger sister, but for the purpose of serving as a maid. Now, Constance was all that remained of what had once been her family and for this reason had become so much dearer to her.
Helena held her breath and squeezed her remaining tears back, then called out in as best a voice as she could manage, "Entre, Constance." How did she always seem to know just when to knock?
The door slid to the side with a swish and her fair-skinned, auburn haired little maid stepped through the doorway, complete with makeup kit in hand. Constance may have been younger and more casual than most on Helena's entourage, but even with a pair of dark jeans and a cropped red tee her mistress found her to have no end of grace and charm. Helena closed her eyes and sniffed, keeping silent after, knowing how fortunate she was to have Constance. The girl had the gift of a perfect servant: Anticipation. Through the years, the girl had learnt to know when her mistress was going to be hungry, when she was going to be tired, when she was going to need comfort, often even before her mistress herself knew. And here she was once again with her soft tissues, dabbing at the spilt tears, reapplying foundation, mascara, shadow and liner even before Helena herself had thought to call.
She opened her eyes after to gaze down at her sweet angel, "Merci, Constance. You make me beautiful once more."
Constance shook her head, "Mademoiselle Helene is always beautiful. Constance would just like to make her happier." she readied the tube of lipstick, "Mademoiselle has been biting her lip. This is the sign of sadness, non?"
Helena lowered her gaze a moment, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks, "You know me too well, Constance." she whispered before parting her lips for the reapplication. She couldn't take her eyes off her maid, watching the younger girl's own lips pursed with such innocent seduction as she worked, doe eyes intent on her job.
And then she was finished, closing the little makeup kit with a click. "Voila. No more crying, mmm Mademoiselle?" she smiled, rising to take her leave.
Helena took gentle hold of her arm, "Attende, Constance." Silence passed between them as their eyes met. Then Constance closed hers, Helena doing likewise as she leaned forward, hand warm at her maid's soft cheek.
Their kiss was soft, light...no words exchanged, none needed.They embraced after, cheek to cheek, drawing the other's scent deep, savouring it.
"Constance." whispered Helena after the longest of pauses. "Why do you not seek a companion of your own?"
The girl in her arms turned her head and Helena felt a pair of soft lips nuzzle at her neck, "Mademoiselle teases. Constance is hers and hers alone." came the hushed reply.
Helena couldn't help but smile, it was just what she so desired to hear, "Oui, I would go insane with jealousy were it any other way." she giggled and the younger girl did likewise.
Then Constance sang in a whisper:
'Oh! maîtresse,C'est l'heure ou je te vois sourire,
L'heure bénie où je puis lire dans le coeur toujours fermé de Lakmé!"
('Oh! mistress,
It is the hour that I see you smiling,
The blessed hour where I am able to read the ever closed heart of Lakmé!' )
Helena couldn't help but laugh, almost hard enough to draw tears once more. "Cherie! Those are Christine Lenger's lines!"
"She is your slave for a night, I am yours...for eternity." Constance nuzzled her again.
Constance knew just what to say, and when to say it. Helena felt so warm within she could find nothing to answer with for a moment. She whispered after, "Constance?"
"Oui, Mademoiselle?" The reply was punctuated by a soft kiss at her neck.
"Ah, just Helene will do Constance." said Helena, turning her head to return the kiss.
"Oui, Mademoiselle." Helena felt a bite this time.
She framed the girl's face in her hands, fingers smoothing over the soft milky cream of her cheeks, "After the concert...would you share my bed?"
"Bien sur, Helene." Constance beamed, adding the sweetest of smiles to the prettiest of faces.
Helena smiled and leaned in to kiss her again, deeper this time. Moist lips parted to invite probing tongues within. Hands roamed down over supple hips, up over full breasts, squeezing, teasing, flowing. Then flushed and breathless, they held each other at arms length.
A smile curved at the edges of her maid's lips, "Helene?"
It was Helena's turn to reply, "Oui Constance?"
Her maid reached to the side for the cosmetic case, "Your makeup, Mademoiselle."
Helena giggled...how could she resist? And as Constance painted her lips once more, she swore tonight would be her most powerful performance yet, to make her mother proud in the skies above.
Her eyes closed as she dedicated it in mind, 'Joyeux Noel, Maman.'
* * * *
Author's notes
DOATEC - Douglas Organic and Anthropological Technical Enhancement Centre. Anthropology is the science of human beings. Put that together with the cloning and it starts to make sense.
Renom - 'Fame' in French. Fame as some of you might know was Helena's father's name. Here's a link to what the yacht is like.
http://www.sirwinstonluxuryyacht.com/intro.htmSous le Dome Epais (Beneath the Thick Dome) - Perhaps the most reknown song from the Opera 'Lakme' by Leo Delibes. This was the Soprano duet used by British Airways in their TV advertisment years ago with hundreds of people holding up placards on a beach to form a pair of eyes, lips and nose. They come together and form a face at the end. In the Opera, 'Lakme' is the daughter of an Indian priest and 'Mallika' is her slave. It is these two characters who perform the duet together. 'Lakme' requires a Soprano (Helena Douglas) for the role and 'Mallika' a Mezzo Soprano (Christine Lenger). (This is why Constance mentions about Christine being Helena's Slave for a night)
Mezzo Soprano - Medium Soprano - sings about 1/2 an octave below Soprano.
Coloratura Soprano - (Music dictionary definition): Florid passages either written into an aria or inserted by the singer to show the singer's dexterity and skill; a voice (usually soprano) who can sing that type of music. A Coloratura Soprano is capable of hitting C7, which is the C above High C(C6) and above. Helena is capable of hitting C8 (That's GOOD).
Bien Sur - Of course
Joyeux Noel - Merry Xmas
Phew! Only 4 weeks for this one. It wasn't anywhere near as tough as the last 2 chapters though. Right, enough of the notes - on with the replies!!
DarkAngel - Cheers! DA! Hoped you like the latest installment, though its quite different to the previous 2 chappies.
Tiger5913 - (Curtsie) Thanks for reading once again, oh fellow kick booty author. Jann Lee's an arrogant prick. That's how I see him, that's how I'll write him. When I do that section I'll make sure I just how he did. Rating WILL be bumped up as well.
Preacher - Welcome home, Preacher. Nice to see you got some movement on IA again. I'll drop a couple of reviews in - now that THIS is done. Nope. Sorry, no Helena doing any patented 10/11 hit combos in this, but hell - she's on the job at mo *^^* It's only been 4 weeks for this one fortunately.
Pisces - Hey, thanks for reviewing! I'll have to drop over and put a review on your Cruise fic as well. Hope you enjoyed the read!
Next Chap - Whoo!!! Back to Japan! Ayane time!