| Subject: Chapter 242 - Part 1 (16 and above) |
Author:
KatherineG.
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Date Posted: Wednesday, June 28, 07:10:27am
In reply to:
KatherineG.
's message, "Dreams in the Dark" on Monday, May 01, 06:55:47am
Extra note: This chapter takes a turn for the ugly; I've tried to make it as detail-free as possible. I'll rate it 16 and above for content and a few bad words. Sorry.
Dreams in the Dark (242/?)
by Katherine Gilbert
It had been yet another long, wonderful night, the last week taken lovely advantage of at every turn--even if it presaged nothing which would come. Unlike their love, all which lay ahead was dreary, at best--the numbness of separation and routine the most they could truly hope for. Still, for a little over one week more, they would be together; their hands tightened around one another's. And they would have to focus on this fact alone, if they hoped to see themselves through.
This wasn't the first time Premier's tortured pair had felt the future closing in on them, wasn't the only instance where they dreaded death or worse. But familiarity made the sensation no more comforting, the sadness of Michael's departure drawing close; their recent nights of sweet intimacy only took away some of its chill. For all they could hope, there was little good presaged before them. They could only pray that fate would be relatively kind to them again.
There were only so many miracles they could ask for, however, were only so many reprieves the world would give--or so they certainly feared. Still, as they stood together at the beginning of the red carpet, heard the crowd cheering and crying for them, they felt more blessed than they had for sometime. Everyone in this world went through doubt and pain; their loving eyes met. But not everyone had such an adoring audience, as they found their way through.
They made their way toward the premiere of their current film--depressing as the movie might be--with these thoughts circling in their minds. While such an event was highly staged, every moment directed, down to the color of the women's dresses, it was easy to be caught up in the glamour of it all. But glamour itself was an illusion--always was. No woman who had ever seen herself being made-up, going from "Plain Jane" to "Belle of the Ball," could doubt it. Just as a layer of makeup could cover a multitude of follicle flaws, so a bit of glitz hid away many a perversion and crime--serving Hollywood well. Events such as this one were simply the captivating movements of a sleight-of-hand trick. Any good con man knew that the real interest was happening wherever you weren't directed to look.
Nikita was smiling her best "Happy Star" smile, as she turned to wave at the gathered crowds, none of them understanding just what thoughts moved through either of their idols' heads. She was wearing a white dress tonight, something with long sleeves and enough translucent, gem-like stones to sparkle, yet sleek and thin--despite the fact that it was December. She supposed it was "winter white"--managing not to pull the fur stole which was part of the ensemble around her a little tighter. It might rarely get very cold here, but it was certainly cool enough to bring on a real chill--the earlier rain not helping. Still, perhaps it was part of Madeline's plan that she should catch a cold--or worse. The tutor certainly wouldn't be saddened by anything which damaged the actress's pregnancy now.
Her husband's arm went around her, rubbing subtly over her arm, as they turned back to the announcer who was covering the event--each of them managing to answer his predictable questions quite smoothly, however little of their minds the queries might actually occupy; Nikita looked to her mate, proper smile still in place, noticing his own. It looked so fake to her now, terribly out of place. Perhaps it was even why she had never warmed to him before she had met him--the falseness of that look striking her badly. But no--now, she knew the truth of him, inside and out; her own look became more genuine. And she knew that all his real smiles were dedicated to her.
They were kept outside for slightly longer than either of them would have liked, the actress's condition a constant worry for her husband. At what was probably either two or three months, she might not be showing yet--but that didn't mean that little Adrian didn't need his protecting.
It was this concern which worried Michael, this which drove him to want to get through his forthcoming duty and return home to her as quickly as he possibly could. While there were many allies who would be looking out for her, so many who would try to see her well, he was only comforted if he were beside her himself. It was he alone who could ever protect as she should be.
It was this desire which had driven him into the studio these past few weeks--his presence there unneeded, otherwise. Madeline had made it clear that--aside from a few interviews and photo sessions--he had no work at Premier, just now. But the fact that she wanted him well away from the place only made him far more interested in being near.
The tutor's motives continued to worry him, the safety of his wife and child difficult to believe in, once he was gone. The thought only made his gaze circle the crowd more shrewdly, as the couple finally started to make their way inside; he managed to hide the look--as much as any man needed to--with his smiles. But the falseness of this event, of everything in Hollywood, worried him now--this town finding it so easy to cover up even the most horrendous of crimes. Even the film they had made, the one they would be subjected to viewing yet again, made that so clear. In it, they were playing at detectives, glamorizing the world of criminals and crime--even its seediness supposedly appealing. Perhaps the good guys won, here--but only at a price; his gaze snuck over to his beloved worriedly. But it was one he wasn't ever willing to pay in real life.
They had almost made it to the door with this worrying thought, were being followed at a distance by Helmut and Kate, who were briefly being addressed by the announcer--Michael's heart still thumping in horror at what they would soon be witnessing on the screen, at all the death of Nikita's character was supposed to presage. But that was when all the glitz and glamour of the evening took a decided turn. And, like any good detective story, it wasn't one which any of the good guys had anticipated.
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