Chapter Five

Aria smoothed down the white silk of her dress, swirling around in front of the full-length mirror. "How do I look?" she asked.

"Perfect," I told her. The white of her dress was a slashing contrast to her warm olive skin and black hair. The single strap looped around her neck and a long slit up the side of the skirt revealed a strip of leg.

She smiled at me. "Thank you. You look good too. Dramatic."

I looked down at the dress. It was black and strapless with a full tulle skirt that fell to the middle of my calf. Aria had managed to highlight my eyes with smoky eyeliner because she claimed my eyes were my best facial feature. It gave me a darkly dramatic and mysterious look. "It's your dress," I reminded her.

"Yeah, but it looks better on you," Aria responded with a smile. "You should go goth. It suits you."

"Thank ya, Ah think."

Aria smiled. "No problem," she picked up her shoes, a pair of gold sling back stiletto heels. She got back to her feet and winced. "Oh boy, I have a bad feeling in the small of my back."

"Why don't you wear another pair of shoes?" I asked.

"This is my only decent pair of shoes I have, can't wear Converse with this dress. Well, I guess I could."

I laughed at the thought of Converse along with the dress that must have cost at least three hundred dollars. I pulled on a pair of long elbow length gloves. I loved to wear gloves when I was dressing up. They made me feel elegant and graceful but constricting at the same time. I looked at my gloved hand and pulled on my own shoes—simple black ballet flats.

"I'm green with envy," Aria told me looking at my feet. "Oh well, we'll be sitting down in the theater, right?"

"Are y'two ready?" Remy called through the closed door.

"We'll meet in at the stair case in a minute," Aria yelled back. I heard what sounded like a sigh and repressed a giggle. Aria stepped out of her shoes and massaged her feet for a moment. "A'ight," she sighed as she reinserted her feet. "Let's go."

I grabbed my purse and followed her out of the room. Both boys, impeccably groomed and dressed in tuxes, were leaning against the wall, looking like they'd settled in for a long wait.

Etienne looked up a grin spreading across his face. "Ma Belle," he greeted sliding in front of Aria and whipping out a red rose for her. She smiled and took it, brushing a quick kiss across his cheek and linking arms with him.

Remy appeared at my elbow, offering his elbow to me and I gently placed my fingers on it. "Y'look stunning," he told me.

"Thank ya." I never knew how to deal with compliments, never would. We walked out into the humid New Orleans night. I could feel my hair wanting to frizz, but whatever Aria had given me to use in my hair was a miracle product.

After a long, forty-five minute drive I found myself in downtown New Orleans. I had never been to a city this big. And I was gawking about like an idiot, Remy noticed this and laughed. "We really need to get you out of de mansion more, chere."

"Ah've never been in a city this big before," I responded as we walked to the theater.

"Dis is nothin', chere," he told me with a slightly laugh, "take down next Mardi Gras, den ya'll see somethin'!"

"What other woman's breasts?" I asked

Remy looked at me, red and black eyes, surprised. "What?" I asked. "Am Ah not supposed ta know that word or somethin'?"

Remy laughed. "No, chere, not at all."

We stepped inside the crowded lobby. We were early and they weren't seating yet, so I stood and gaped around the opulent lobby. There was a red carpet rolled out right underneath my feet. That was so lush and thick my feet sank in it. Baskets of flowers were placed underneath key lights. Alternating with a few busts of founders of the theater.

I gently broke away from Remy and floated over the only woman bust and began reading the plaque.

"Well, what's a trés belle fille like y' doin' here all by yourself?" A voice asked.

Startled, I whipped around. "Bonsoir, mademoiselle," He took my hand and raised it to his lips. Suddenly, I was more thankful for my gloves than ever before, but even with them I yearned to go scrub my hand with plenty of antibacterial soap.

"Actually," I began to correct him but was cut off by a familiar voice.

"Julian Ripper," Remy drawled appearing out of nowhere. "I see y'met m'wife—Anna Marie."

Julian swept his gaze from me to Remy and snorted. "Shame f'r her." He bowed with a flourish. "Remy, madame." He said the last with particular emphasis.

"Who was he?" I asked, pressing close to Remy. I didn't like him.

"An ," he replied flippantly, taking my hand and toting me around. "Let's go."

There was something wrong, something he wasn't telling me. But I didn't protest and simply allowed myself to be dragged out of the lobby and up the mezzanine. I sat down next to him.

And Remy and I talked. I mean actually had totally normal dialogue. I was almost disappointed when the lights began to dim for about four seconds. The moment the opening score burst into life from the orchestra pit. I was captivated.

I had never seen a play like this before. Caldecott County was never going to be a cultural icon. I spent every second of it on the edge of my seat., trying to bite my fingernails.

I sat for a few minutes after the lights came back on, letting my eyes re-adjust to the lights and marvel at it.

"Come on; I need a program." Aria said, grabbing my hand.

Etienne rose and stretched. "'Ow 'bout we go run out t'get d'car? He suggested. "I don' wanna stan' in line f'r t'ree hours. We'll bring it aroun'."

Aria dragged me down stair and got her program and then we started outside. "They should be here already," I frowned..

"They probably got, or," Aria observed thrusting a hand out to indicate the traffic, "they're stuck in this mess."

"Let's start walking, maybe we can meet them half way or something." I recommended.

The two of started down the sidewalk and Aria stopped. "Hold up, I can't walk another step in these shoes." She stepped out of them and picked them up. "Ugh. How do other woman do this?"

"Ah don' know. Must be," I started but was cut off by, a heavy force pushing into me. I fell hard on my knees, a small shriek escaping my lips. "Stay down or y'r'copine dere gets it," a voice hissed in my ear.

I swallowed, and remained very, very still. I looked up through my hair and looked at Aria. She stood straight. But then she relaxed, eyelids fluttering and her body going limp.

"Merde!" The shadowy figure swore and lunged for her. Crack! Aria whipped her stilettos out and snapped him across the back of his head. He fell. "Run, Aria!" I screamed, before something cold prickled against my neck. I watched Aria''s stocking feet fly over the sidewalk, closely followed by another set of feet. I had a bad feeling about this.