So, if you read the notes on the previous chapter, you would've seen that I said this would be a slow burn... I seem to be incapable of doing that so there is a bit of –stuff- in this chapter. I've got the next chapter planned out and I can't wait to write it so it shouldn't be too long. ;)
Two weeks had passed since she had seen Landa at the restaurant. He hadn't contacted her, which is a relief. The young German boy continued to pester her whenever he had spare time, but other than that life was same as before. She continued working in her cinema, alongside Marcel, who she deeply adored but didn't love. This caused a bit of an awkwardness between them a few months ago but it seems to have passed now and Marcel has moved on. He was her best friend, only friend, and she was glad she didn't lose him over that.
The premiere was approaching, with only 2 days left until the big event. The fear of seeing Landa was creeping up to Shoshanna. He hadn't recognised her at the restaurant but something told her he wasn't finished with her. The Jew hunter didn't seem like the type to leave his business unfinished.
He had been on her mind more than anyone else the past two weeks. She didn't know what to think, he seemed civilized enough. However, he did not know her true identity. How would he react if he found out he had ate strudel with a Jew? He probably would've shot her right there in the restaurant, and continued eating his strudel as if nothing happened.
Night of the premiere:
Shoshanna stood at the railing, overlooking the lobby of her cinema. Watching the guests arrive, she kept an eye out for a particular uniformed man, but there was no sign of him. She was determined in keeping him a good distance away from her, needing to know when he arrived. However, she got pulled away by the star of the night, Zoller.
He walked her to a vacant corner of the lobby, just to the right of the staircase. She had decent view here so she didn't mind.
"You look very lovely tonight," he said, sipping his glass of champagne and looking directly at her.
"Thank you, you too," Shoshanna replied, not really caring and downing her own glass.
Zoller starting talking about something to do with the premier, but Shoshanna drowned out the noise. She deposited her champagne flute onto a nearby table, and looked up, catching the eyes of a very particular uniformed man from across the room.
Landa was here. He was in her cinema, leaning on the railing of the stairs with a champagne glass in his hand like he owned the place. He was staring at her with a look of utmost concentration. His face betrayed nothing, but from the way he was looking at her, she knew something was up.
They had looked at each other for what felt like an eternity, her heart hammering and mind working overtime to piece together what would happen, when Zoller snapped her out of it.
"Are you okay? You've gone pale." He looked her over. She really had gone pale after the strange eye battle.
"Yes, I'm fine. Just need to use the lady's room," Shoshanna quickly said and left Zoller just standing there by himself. She didn't dare look at Landa, and went the opposite direction from where she had seen him. Scurrying away quickly to get away from the lobby.
She closed the door behind her and pressed her back against it, seeking any support she could get. Breathing in and out deeply, trying to calm her nerves. She wouldn't cry, she had makeup on and couldn't look at the guests after a breakdown. Had he followed her though? Maybe he was standing on the other side of the door? Shoshanna hoped for the sake of her that that wasn't true. So, she stayed inside the bathroom until there was a slight knock. Oh.
"Excuse me, will you be long?" came the voice of a French woman.
After a mini heart attack from the knock, Shoshanna calmed herself again before quickly answering "No, I'll be right out."
Shoshanna emerged back into the lobby, scanning the room for the German man. He was nowhere to be seen. She wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing. Where had he gone? Probably in the theatre as many guests were beginning to move in as well.
Having a few chats here and there with some important people from the government, she made her way around the lobby with the last few remaining. It would benefit her to make a good impression, after all filling out the whole venue was quite a profit for her and Marcel.
She was just heading towards the projection room, when she walked past the entrance to the main theatre and briefly glanced inside, once again seeing Landa. She only saw him do a double take of her before she walked hastily towards where she had been going. This time his face showed something that she couldn't quite place. Oh well.
The projection room was familiar to her, it was a small and clustered room. And she had enough of a big task to distract her from Landa. He had been on her mind this whole evening and it was becoming exhausting to even think about him.
She had been playing the movie for about half an hour, when a knock sounded on the door. Shoshanna, unbothered, opened it wide. Only to be face to face with Landa. He looked down on her, his face expressionless.
He moved towards her so she took a few steps back. He closed the door behind him and flicked the lock across.
She was again alone with the Jew hunter. This time however, was different. He was different. She knew, he knew.
He didn't say a word, it was extremely unnerving. Why wasn't he speaking? He started to slowly approach her, making her retreat until her back hit a cabinet. Now only a few inches between them, she looked up at him as he looked down on her. Neither said a word until he broke the silence.
"Shoshanna." he said in a quiet voice.
Shoshanna gasped, backing into the cabinet harder, just to try get away from him.
"Have you been avoiding me this evening, Shoshanna?" he continued, this time with a stronger voice. "I wonder why."
*You know exactly why* she thought.
This could not be happening. She had to get out. Needed to flee. So, she tried to hastily move to the side and away from him, but got cut short by his strong arms on either side of her head.
"No, no, mademoiselle. You aren't going anywhere." He chuckled.
He was so close to her, uncomfortably close. She had to try again, if not now, when?
Shoshanna tried once again to flee, pushing his left arm with both of hers to get free, but the colonel was too strong, he grabbed ahold of her wrists and pushed them against the cabinet and to stop her from squirming, he pressed his hips against her to hold her still.
"My, my aren't you a feisty thing?" he whispered in her ear as he pressed against her.
She was now properly stuck, sandwiched between an old metal cabinet and Landa. There was no escape for her, now what?
"Shoshanna, I did not think you would live, my dear." Neither did she, but she was lucky enough to have met some farmers far from LaPadite's home who had hospitalised her.
Shoshanna, breathing deeply to calm herself couldn't escape the smell of the man. Tobacco, musky cologne and leather. His proximity was so distracting, it was putting her guard down.
"Why so quiet my dear?" after seeing her reluctance to answer, he dipped his mouth to her ear and whispered, "Answer me, Shoshanna."
She had no words; all she could do is whimper in return.
"Tell me, where did you go that night?" Once again seeing her reluctance to speak, however this time he tried a different tactic. He pressed his hips firmer into her, making her gasp in surprise, fear and something else he couldn't quite place his finger upon.
Shoshanna couldn't believe herself. As Landa had pressed into her, she felt a tugging sensation at the pit of her stomach. His proximity and actions were making her aroused. She was disgusted with herself. This man killed her family and she was reacting this way to the Jew hunter.
Landa saw her face flush, and her eyes trying to avoid his. "Look at me," he said and pressed harder into her, pushing her wrists more fiercely against the cabinet.
Shoshanna released a small sigh; she couldn't help it. She had not been this close to a man many years. It was only human nature, Shoshanna told herself.
Understanding dawned on the colonel's face. Oh, the girl was getting aroused. By him. He felt his loins stirring in response. The girl was going to be the death of him.
"Why, Shoshanna. One might think you're enjoying our little situation." he decided to play around with her. She has, after all evaded him a few times now; Landa couldn't just let her go again, especially without a little scuffle.
Shoshanna's eyes darted to him, and widened as she realised, he knew what he was doing to her. "Let me go," she pleaded.
"And why would I do that? You're so much fun, Shoshanna."
Did he have to keep saying her name over and over again? What has gotten into this man? Isn't he supposed to be Jew killer?
"Are you going to kill me?" Shoshanna looked up at him, and stared into his eyes.
Landa, seeing her fear, chuckled. "I haven't decided that yet," he said as his eyes bore into hers.
"What are you going to do then, colonel?" she asked.
"What do you want me to do, Shoshanna?"
"I don't know what you mean." They had been staring at each other for some time now, neither willing to break the eye contact.
The colonel bent his head to whisper in her ear again, "Is this not what you wanted, Shoshanna?" he said as he rolled his hips against her core, making her moan in response.
"Landa..." Was all Shoshanna could muster in this heady state.
"Mhm?" his mouth was still by her ear, making his voice rumble through her. "Have you got anything else to say?"
"No."
Landa pulled his head back to look at her once more before retreating to the door. "I'm not done with you Shoshanna," he said before leaving the room and shutting the door behind him gently.
Shoshanna was awestruck. What had just happened? She had been so close to the Jew hunter. She had basically moaned his name like a lover would. What was wrong with her?
As much as the man disgusted her, she couldn't help but still feel the blush that stained her cheeks.
She turned to the projector, it looked as though no more than 5 minutes had passed since she had abandoned it. Why did it feel like an eternity to her?
She played the rest of the movie normally, with no other surprise visitors. She had seen her guests out, with no sign of Landa anywhere. He must have left after dealing with her.