Rena walked down the hall with Alexandrite by her side. Her and the other guys chatted about various things but Alexandrite was pretty quiet the entire way. Rena noticed this and decided to try and make him feel more comfortable during his stay at the palace.
"Alexandrite," she began, making him look up from the floor that he had found so interesting, "how long are you and your parents here for?"
"About a month, I think. And please, just call me Alex," he said.
"All right, Alex, I hope you enjoy your stay," she said, and then added in a whisper, "just watch out for Deimos and Eros. They're the troublemakers around here." She was trying to get a little laugh from him to make him loosen up and it seemed to work when he smiled widely and she heard a noise from his throat that sounded like a chuckle.
Rena smiled back at him and then heard Deimos, who was walking on her other side say, "I heard that Rena. We're not that bad, really," he said, turning to say this last thing to Alex.
"Yeah," Rena said sarcastically, "that's why you guys were sent to clean the stables for an entire week last month."
"Yeah, well, mom wouldn't have caught us if Eros hadn't sneezed just when I was about to . . ." Deimos trailed off during his explanation to justify their actions.
"They were trying to sucker the guests to have their fortunes told by the 'Great and All-Seeing Deimos'. He sat at a table and Eros was behind a curtain making noises and special effects but then Aunt Raye went by and wondered what was going on and Eros sneezed violently and pulled a little too hard on the curtain and it all came tumbling down." Rena explained to Alex, who had an amused expression on his face.
"I wouldn't have sneezed if you hadn't asked for all of that smoke," Eros said, crossing his arms in a huff.
Rena, Hermes, Metis, Puck, Proteus, and Prometheus all laughed at the two guys as they started arguing back and forth. The argument became so heated that the two of them stopped in the middle of the hall but everyone else kept going and it wasn't until the group was standing at the door to Alex's rooms that they noticed they were alone.
While Deimos and Eros rushed down the hall to catch up with the others, Rena said, "Well Alex, these are your rooms while you're here. I hope you like them. Your parents rooms are right across the hall," she said, pointing at a pair of doors on the opposite side of where they stood.
Metis, who had taken Deimos' place beside Rena, stepped forward and opened the doors, both doors swinging wide as the entire group followed Rena and Alex into the room.
Alex saw that they had stepped into a very large room with a four-poster bed on one side that could easily fit four people comfortably. On that same wall was a single door that led to a large walk-in closet. On the other side of the room, sat a large vanity with a circular mirror perched on the back. On the same wall was another door that led to a private bathroom with a large Jacuzzi tub and marble counter top. On the side of the room opposite the doorway in which they stood was another set of double doors. These doors had numerous glass panes that could be seen through and led to a private balcony.
Alex noticed that his things had been put away in the closet and around the room. Rena then saw that, lying on a stand near the closet door was a lovely violin. She looked over at Alex and said, "Do you play the violin?"
He noticed that she was smiling and said, "a little, yeah."
"Aunt Michelle is a violinist herself. You should bring it with us when we go to the music hall."
"All right, when are we going there?"
"How about right now. We're actually supposed to be in there at this time but with your arrival and all we got out of the regular schedule," Rena said, while Alex walked over and, quite gently, removed the violin from the stand and place it in a case nearby.
Alex followed them until they came close to an open set of doors. Everyone could hear the beautiful music wafting through the halls as they approached and entered the enormous music hall. He saw that there was a beautiful blue haired woman playing an enchanting melody on her violin while a blonde haired woman who was dressed more to look like a man accompanied her. Alex knew that these two were Amara and Michelle, Puck and Proteus' mothers.
The entire group had stopped talking as soon as they entered the hall and were now just listening to the tune. As the tune wined down and soon stopped all together, the guys clapped loudly and Puck even whistled while the two women stood and bowed to their audience.
"What are you guys up to?" Amara asked, looking around at the boys until her eyes settled on Alex.
"We were just going to show Alex the music hall and I wanted to see if he would play for us." Rena said, looking over to see the slightly shocked look on Alex's face.
"What do you play Alex?" Michelle asked, just noticing the violin case he held.
"The violin," he said, just loud enough for her to catch it. He still was quite shy around all of these people. The only friends he had back home were the guards that were posted around the palace and the servants that did the chores.
"Well, I would love to hear you play," Michelle said encouragingly.
"All right," Alex said, somehow unable to say no to the woman or the encouraging look he received from Rena.
Alex mounted the stage and began to get ready while everyone took seats in the front row. Rena sat directly in front of him, with a smile on her face, and Alex couldn't help but notice that she had a lovely smile to match her eyes and, from his vantage, she was quite well endowed. He shook his head to rid it of these thoughts and placed the violin beneath his chin.
He began playing a beautiful melody that they had never heard before. Rena watched him for a moment and then closed her eyes to get the full effect of the song on her ears without the distraction of her other senses. She never heard a sour note or a faulty cord throughout the entire performance and when he had finished and was lowering the violin, she opened her eyes and clapped along with the rest of his audience.
Alex was blushing a little at the praise and he flushed even more when Michelle said, "that was wonderful. Would you possibly be interested in playing a duet with me during a performance we are giving in two weeks?"
He was a little shocked that someone as talented as Michelle would want to play with him but, as he glanced at Rena and noticed her encouraging smile, he gladly accepted. "Good, we can start practice tomorrow. Here is the music," she said, as she handed him some sheet music and then, "I'll see you guys later." With that, she and Amara quit the room.
"Congratulations Alex! I know you'll do well. We're all in performance next week, except Charon. He pulls the curtains."
"What will you be doing for the performance?" He asked, curious to know what she could do.
"Me? I'm singing," she said proudly. Just then, Raye walked onto the stage where Alex and Rena were now standing.
"Hello Aunt Raye," Rena called out and received a smile from Raye.
"Hello all, what are you guys up to?"
"Aunt Michelle wants Alex to play the violin with her during the performance."
"Really?" Raye asked, shocked that Michelle would ask someone so young but knowing that, if that was the case, this boy must be quite talented.
"Yep, he played for us a minute ago and he was great," Rena said, turning to Alex and noticing his cheeks flushing once again.
"Well, why don't you take a seat Alex and you can see what the rest of these guys are doing for the performance."
"All right," Alex said, jumping down off of the stage after returning his violin to the case. He wanted to hear Rena sing, for even on the dark moon, it was rumored that the princess had a lovely voice rivaling all others. She was said to have the voice of an angel and he waited expectantly, hoping to hear this angel that stood before him.
Alex noticed that Charon was still seated a few seats from him. Later, he found out that Charon, the son of Trista, was the curtain puller because he absolutely refused to perform in front of people. Rena also confided to him that, although Charon didn't say much, he actually had a lovely singing voice used only for friends and close relatives.
Hermes and Deimos were in charge of special effects and scenery. With Hermes brains and Deimos ingenuity and imagination, the two designed spectacular sets and beautiful effects for certain parts of the show.
Puck and Proteus provided the piano and the harp accompaniment while Metis played percussion. Eros could sing and, although he didn't really want to, he would be in a duet with Rena. He had begged and pleaded for Charon to do it but nothing could change his mind once it was set.
Rena was also a great dancer, as Alex soon found out, as was Prometheus, surprisingly. Prometheus might look small and weak but he had muscles under that wiry frame that were just waiting to be used.
After setting everything up and talking Eros into practicing the duet, Raye gave the signal for them to begin. Alex listened as Rena began and was immediately swept up in her beauty. Eros sang quite well, but was a lacking contrast to the angelic voice that permeated from Rena.
Once the song ended, Raye scolded Eros for not using his best but Eros protested that he couldn't do any better. Meanwhile, Rena kneeled down on the stage and motioned for Alex to come closer. He rose, placing his precious bundle in the seat next to him, and stepped towards Rena. She then startled him by asking, "How good of a singer are you?"
"I, uh, don't really know," Alex said, not quite sure how to answer such a question.
"Well, come up here and lets find out," Rena said, giving him another of her encouraging smiles that he could only just barely resist. He didn't know what it was about this girl but he was bound to find out.
She saw his hesitation and said, "Aunt Raye knows how everyone here sings, and that's why Deimos is in charge of the setting."
They both chuckled at that and Alex, relaxed some, climbed back up to the stage while Rena proceeded to break up the argument that had continued while they had been talking.
"All right Alex," a flustered Raye said, stepping down into the seats to better view the performance, "let's hear if you can match our little princess here."
"Here are the lyrics," Rena said, blushing a little at Raye's compliment as he handed the music sheets to Alex.
"Thanks," he whispered, lowering his head to hide his own flushed cheeks. He was doing more blushing today than he had ever done in his entire life and it was all because of the little angel in front of him.
The song, he noticed, was more upbeat than the one he had heard sung just moments ago. It sang as though the two were trying to outdo each other through music. As the music started and Rena began to sing, Alex cleared his throat and, as soon as his part began, his voice quavered a little at the beginning but soon strengthened. Rena was pleasantly surprised at the strong, deep tenor that he projected into the auditorium.
Raye smiled, as did Eros, at the prospect of a new singer and a replacement for Eros. Everyone stopped what they were doing to listen to the two as they became lost in the magnificent music being created. Rena and Alex became lost in their own little world as they watched each other's eyes. They each sang with such passion that it was as if they were singing the truth of their words as they poured from their mouths.
No one noticed that Rena and Alex were just watching each other and noticing nothing else because at the moment they had begun, others had entered the room. Queen Serenity and King Endymion smiled proudly at their granddaughter while King Diamond and Queen Emerald were shocked to find their son on a stage, singing. He had always hated being in front of people and here he was, singing with a magnificent voice.
As the two singers continued to challenge each other to do better than their best, the newly arrived royalty proceeded down the aisle and stood watching. If anyone had looked closely, they could see that King Endymion, Metis, and Puck, all had slightly annoyed looks on their faces at how close the two were standing.
The song ended all to soon as far as Alex was concerned and it was greeted by a loud applause from all in attendance. The two were stunned at their new audience and flushed in a pleasant embarrassment.
Raye stood up and asked, "How would you like to be the new singer for the duet?"
"Uh, sure, I guess," Alex said, and saw that his parents were smiling at him. He barely noticed the glare he was receiving from the king as he turned to regard Rena.
"This is great," she squealed in delight and proceeded to give him a big hug. It lasted only a moment and Alex was almost reluctant for it to end. He had grown quite fond of his new friend in such a short time.
"All right!" Eros hollered and proceeded to jump up onto the stage and smack Alex hard on the back causing him to stumble a little under the enthusiasm. "I don't have to sing," he said, hopping a little around the stage in excitement not looking at all like the eighteen year old he was suppose to be.
"Don't think just because you're not singing that you're off the hook," Raye scolded the boy who immediately stopped and looked at her abashedly.
"Awe, come on Aunt Raye, how about I just help with the scenery or be a back up curtain puller in the event that Charon cannot perform his duties," he said, looking at her with puppy-dog like eyes.
Unfortunately, Raye was immune to such things and instead assigned Eros to clean up duty. He groaned and hunched his shoulders as he made his way backstage to the supplies. Everyone chuckled lightly and even Charon managed a halfway amused twitch of his lips.
"Alexandrite," Queen Emerald said to gain her sons attention, "your father and I are going on an outing with the King and Queen. We shall see you at dinner, alright?"
"Yes mother," he said.
"We shall see you all there. I want you all dressed in your best in five hours time," Queen Serenity said. She noticed a few of the guys frown, knowing that they hated their formal wear, and so she continued, "for now, why don't you all take Alexandrite down and show him the pool. It is quite a warm day but it is too nice to spend indoors."
This earned her a few cheers and Rena turned to Alex and said, "this is great. Come with me and I'll show you where to go."
Rena grabbed Alex's left hand in her right and practically pulled him off of the stage. She stopped for a second for him to grab his violin and then dragged him out of the hall, the others hot on their heels as they each headed to their own respective rooms.
"Do you bring a bathing suit with you?" Rena asked when they were halfway down the hall and she released his hand, completely unaware of the bright blush that had graced his cheeks the entire time.
"Uh . . . yeah," he replied as they stopped in front of a large set of doors.
"Wait here a minute while I get my suit," she said and then disappeared as she entered the room. Through a crack in the partially ajar door he could see a large four-poster bed, similar to his own, with white silk sheets draped over the mattress.
Before he could get a closer look, Rena came bounding out, a cloth bag over one shoulder in which, he surmised, she must have a bathing suit. "Let's go get yours now," Rena said, as she led the way through the palace to his own rooms which, he noticed, were only three doors down on the same side.
He quickly stepped inside and looked through the dresser until he came across his own suit. Picking it up, he made his way back over to Rena and together they made their way down to the pool.
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