Page 55 of Heart's Temptation
Tony chuckled. “Only to family, fratello.”
What they didn’t know was I had no idea how this ended. In the original ballet, the firebird was captured by an ogre and the bird does offer him the boon, but then she casts a spell over the hunter and finds her happiness with the prince who has been looking for her ever since she disappeared into the forest.
How would The Debt, Sergei’s rendition, end? Would the ogre—me—die? And the prince, Marko, be the winner? How would art compare to our real-life love story?
The bell dinged, signaling an end to intermission and people poured in from the lobby, rushing back to their seats. A hush fell over the crowd. Excitement was palpable as the curtains draw back revealing a dark setting. A single light shone on the firebird at the mouth of a cave. Inside, sleeping against a rock, was the ogre. Niki lifted her hands as if to cast a spell, but instead she wove her arms as if to draw something forward. The ogre awakened at the same time the prince stood up from behind the rock.
The two regarded her and I was struck by the fact that their posture was identical. She bade the Ogre to rise to his feet, and he stood, moving in a trancelike state until he was standing next to the prince. They executed a series of steps in tandem, as they danced freely about the space.
In the second act, the prince no longer wore white, having joined the ogre in identical black attire. The two became one as they weaved around the firebird, coaxing and teasing her. Holy shit, they were edging her toward a menage. I was transfixed as she moved between the two dark beings, and offered both looks of love while all three alternated between huge moves, and intimate touches.
The firebird accepted the feather from the Ogre and destroyed it, ending her slavery to his wish. A puff of smoke covered the dancers and the crowd gasped. It felt as if the entire theater was sitting on the edge of their seats.
The ogre, the prince, and the firebird, moved in a hypnotic dance, synchronicity. It was a love dance, their holds growing longer and bolder as they fell as deeply in love as Marko and I had. The single light grew until the dancers’ world was filled with golden glow. The performance ended with the trio laying down in the cave and the Ogre wrapping a protective arm around the other two.
The curtain dropped and there was a moment of silence before everyone was on their feet clapping. It became clear in that moment why Niki had never allowed Marko and I to see much of her rehearsals. She’s wanted to finish her career with Marko and me.
Once the thunderous applause died down, the curtain rose, revealing the first round of dancers, the corp. They quickly bowed and waved, then hustled to the back and those that had fulfilled the principal roles lined up next. The prince and the ogre came out together and people went wild, shouts of ‘Bravo’ filling the theatre. The duo opened their arms to Niki, who approached wearing a huge smile. Even from here I could see her chest pounding as her lungs pulled in much needed oxygen. She’d given it her all.
The applause became thunderous. People jumped to their feet, including my family, the clapping so loud it thundered throughout the theater. Flowers were tossed onto the stage, hundreds landing in front of Niki. Her eyes filled with tears and she bowed her head, but whether in gratitude or to hide her face, I didn’t know. I felt it was a surrender to this moment. To the love of the audience, to this being her final show. Being in our fold, just the three of us and what the future held. Better, this was her submitting heart, soul and body to us.
I held my breath as Niki bent and picked up two roses. The crowd quieted down. Her eyes lifted, her gaze meeting mine in the crowded theater, and I knew what she wanted. Whispers broke out as I made my way down the stairs to the stage, just as Marko stepped out from behind the curtain on the other side. Everyone was locked in place watching the real love story unfold. When we reached her, she handed a flower to Marko, her grin so big I thought her face would split in two. Then she handed me the other, her head dipping once more in supplication.
For the first time in my damn life, I let the façade fall in public and allowed her and everyone to see just how much I loved her. In unison, Marko and I stepped back and applauded her. The crowd joined, screaming her name like they were at a rock concert.
Afterward people spoke, shook hands and congratulated me and us on the show’s success, but it was all like a dream. I was still lost in the spell Niki had woven on the stage and I could tell by the faraway look on Marko’s face that he was in the same state.
By the time we arrived home, the only energy we had left was to curl up into each other's arms and fall asleep.
EPILOGUE
Niki - six months later
A pregnant Gabriella fussed with my veil, while Isabella ordered the staff around like a five-star general.
It was my wedding day.
Gio and Marko had proposed to me the day after the show. Stacks of magazines and newspapers had been delivered by one of Gio’s men, and we’d sat in bed reading the reviews while drinking coffee until they pulled me to my feet so they could get down on one knee.
I gazed down at the ring on my finger. The center held two diamonds, one black and one clear. The band was made up of smaller pink diamonds all the way around. Of course, I’d squealed and said yes.
Nonna shuffled in with a cup of freshly brewed cappuccino and handed it to me.
“Thank you, Nonna.”
She smiled and patted my shoulder lovingly. Gaby removed the veil stating it was now perfect and set it aside so it wouldn’t get ruined. I took a seat, and the ladies joined me.
Gaby slunk back and put her feet up. She was bulging, about ready to pop, while Vittoria sprouted a tiny baby bump as she was only four months pregnant. I looked at their swelling bellies feeling a little rush of jealousy. I wanted a baby, a living combination of Marko, Gio, and myself, and had been off birth control for months now.
I’d chosen to get married at the Vitale mansion in an outdoor ceremony. Their property rivaled anything you could find in Tuscany, and this allowed me the Italian wedding of my dreams right here in my home city.
For proximity purposes, the pool house had been outfitted for me and my bridesmaids. The magazine photos I’d hung up on the walls in my teens were still there, reminders of how far I’d come as a person, and proof that dreams really do come true.
“It’s almost time Nicolette,” Isabella stated. “And the girls and I have gifts.”
“Something borrowed…” Vittoria went first, showing me a gorgeous black garter before sliding it up my left leg and placing it mid-thigh.
“Something blue…” Gabriella went next and placed a second garter beneath the first. I giggled; I’d need two so they could each tug one off with their teeth.