by Sam Ryan
“What? No,” Madilyn said, resting her hands defensively on her hips. “Why would you think that?”
“Because you always wear the warmest smile when she is around,” Jezebel stated, brushing out any wrinkles on Madilyn’s coat. “Also, you have a tale when you lie.”
Madilyn immediately dropped her hands from her hips so fast that her palms slapped the side of her legs.
“So you know about that,” Jezebel smiled, adjusting the collar around the lace at her throat. “Maybe instead of denying it, you should instead think of why that might be the case.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” Madilyn assured.
“I know you don’t.” Jezebel sighed, taking a step back from Madilyn. “Just think about it alright. Now for the final touches.” Jezebel walked inside her closet and produced a tricorn hat with gold lining around the edges, along with a silver headed cane with a dark black, wooden shaft. “No gentleman should ever wander the streets without their hat and cane.”
“This might be a little late to be asking this,” Madilyn said, taking the offered hat first and resting it properly on her head. “But is it not going to look suspicious for two women to be attending the opera together?”
“Not in New Albion,” Jezebel assured with a laugh. She held up the cane ready for Madilyn to take it.
“Let me guess.” Madilyn pointed at the cane. “Sword cane?”
“No.” Jezebel rolled her eyes. “There is not a sword cane in the world strong enough to be used in an actual fight.” Jezebel twisted the head and pulled, revealing a small dagger inside. “If you do have to use it, be mindful of the blood splatter. I really like that outfit and blood is a nightmare to wash out of silk.” She slammed the blade back into the cane and handed it to Madilyn.
“Thank you.” Madilyn took the cane and tested the weight out in her hand.
“Now that you’re all set, let’s get going.” Jezebel smiled, heading for the door. “Sophia is probably waiting for us.” She opened the door from the large walk-in closet to the Captain’s cabin.
Madilyn froze in place as she saw Sophia standing in the cabin waiting for them. The only word that Madilyn could think to describe her red and black lace dress was stunning. The way the ruffles laid on top of each other or how the dark red corset hugged her waist, accentuating her breasts and pushing her cleave together was truly breathtaking.
“You look good.” Sophia smiled, looking Madilyn over through the thin black veil of lace that was attached to her small hat, covering her eyes.
Madilyn suddenly felt Jezebel’s elbow nudge into her ribs, making her realize that she was gawking.
“You too,” Madilyn said, clearing her throat with a cough. She gave a pleased nod and had to keep her eyes from lingering on Sophia’s deep cleavage, instead snapping her attention back up to Sophia’s eyes. Even that was distracting given the dark eyeliner she was wearing that made her eyes pop even more than they already did.
Sophia snapped open a hand fan and covered her face while she laughed slightly.
“You two are going to knock them dead.” Jezebel smiled. “Literally, if things go sideways.”
“Which they tend to do.” Sophia sighed, hanging her head.
“I’m sure Jezebel has another knife cane if you want it,” Madilyn offered, motioning to the cane in her hand.
“No.” Sophia shook her head. “I don’t use weapons. Not like I could fight in this thing anyway.” She reached down and lifted up the bell of her dress and swayed it back and forth. “I’ll be lucky if I can run at a decent pace.”
“Well then,” Jezebel said. “Let’s head on down to the hanger. Clem and Max should have the Rabbit all ready to launch. And I’m sure Elena is already there waiting for us.” Jezebel’s lips smiled, though her eyes did not.
“Are you coming with?” Madilyn asked as she followed Jezebel out of the cabin.
“Elena and Clem are to stay outside the theater as backup in case anything happens.” Jezebel nodded. “Me and Max have our own business in New Albion. Allora wants us to do some reconnaissance on the Trevelians. So we’re going to take the Tortoise and come back after we’ve found something.”
“How do you plan on finding them?” Madilyn asked.
Jezebel turned her head and flashed Madilyn a childish grin. “That’s a secret.”
Madilyn rolled her eyes as they pressed on down the corridor. She was not oblivious to the turned heads from the passing crew as they all moved out of their way, pressing their backs to the wall. At first, Madilyn had thought them staring at Sophia, but she noticed that more than a few were looking at her as well. It was perhaps the first time she had ever turned heads. At least in a way that was flattering and not with looks of disgust. It made her slightly self-conscious but she did not hate the feeling either.
Jezebel had been right. She liked knowing that others thought she looked attractive.
Opening the door to the hanger, they all filed inside.
“You all ready to go?” Jezebel asked as they entered the hanger.
Clementine had her back to them as she stood staring into an open engine hatch, examining the machinery inside. “Prepped and ready for launch, Captain.” Clementine shut the hatch and turned around, placing her hands behind her hips. “Damn.” She gasped, seeing Sophia and Madilyn.
“Thank you.” Sophia smiled, snapping open her fan and fanning her face. “Glad to see after a thousand years I still got it.”
“You don’t look a day past five hundred.” Clementine smiled as Sophia passed on by. Then turning to Jezebel. “Max should be finishing up priming the Tortoise’s engines.”
“Good,” Jezebel said, readying to make her way to the adjacent hanger. “Try not to stay out too late.”
“Yes grandma,” Clementine groaned like a little kid. Then turning serious again, she looked over at Madilyn and Sophia. “Elena is already inside, so as soon as you two are ready.” She took a step back and gestured to the loading, tucking her hand in front of her stomach as she gave an over dramatic bow. “Your carriage awaits, my ladies.”
“Sir Madilyn?” Sophia smiled playfully, holding out her hand for Madilyn to take.
“Madam Sophia.” Madilyn smiled back, gently grabbing her fingers and escorted her up the ramp.
Elena was sitting patiently inside, waiting for them to arrive. She gave them both an approving nod but said nothing as they took their seats across from her.
“I have to land the Rabbit at the airdock,” Clementine said, walking past them and sitting herself down in the front chair. “So we will have to take a coach from there to the theater.”
“I recommend taking two separate coaches,” Elena said in her flat, throaty voice. “That way if anyone is watching, they are less likely to notice us following you.”
“So you two are just going to sit outside the theater for four hours?” Sophia asked. “You two aren’t going to get bored?”
“Not if we are doing our job properly,” Elena said condescendingly.
“My bad,” Sophia said, leaning back in the seat, snapping her fan open and absently fanned herself. “Guess you two can use this time to bond or whatever.”
Elena cocked her head to the side like she was not sure what Sophia had meant. Sophia only rolled her eyes, not bothering to elaborate further. Her breath would only be wasted.
The flight was a short one. Something that Madilyn had found a little disappointing. Flying over the lit up, golden city was breathtaking. Itona had been breathtaking in its own way, but there was something old in how that city had felt. Like the design was still behind the times, despite its advance technology. But New Albion on the other hand looked to be ahead of them. From the design of the buildings, to the way the streets were paved. All of it screamed that this city was on the cutting edge of everything.
The carriage ride from the airdock to the theater was just as enjoyable however. The numerous lights covering the fronts of the buildings was breathtaking, like a new kind of firew
ork show. Even though it was well after dark, the city seemed just as active and alive as most cities did during the day. Even more active, if she was being honest. It was as if the city itself was alive with its own pulse and breath, and it was only truly awake once the sun went down.
“We’re here,” Sophia said as the coach came to a stop.
Madilyn looked out at the large stone building with two giant support pillars on both sides of the entrance. A large stairway gradually led up to the front doors that were made of glass with intricate patterns etched into the glass. The name of the theater was spelled out in large lit letters over the doorway, taking up much of the space in front of the second floor. People in varying manner of dress, all elitist in nature, made their way up the stairs and through the giant glass entryway. Some of them were dressed more contemporarily, wearing black top hats and tail coats, while others were dressed in a more vintage style like Madilyn, wearing long petticoats of varying colors.
Taking her hat off her knee, Madilyn placed it properly on her head before grabbing her cane and stepping out of the coach. She stood off to the side and extended her hand out to Sophia who took and used it for support and balance as she climbed out, holding the front of her dress up as she did so.
Flashing each other a smile, they both made their way up the stairs. Sophia used Madilyn’s arm for support as they climbed, being careful of her footing so she did not trip over her own dress as she stepped up.
“Welcome,” the usher greeted as they walked up to the ticket booth. “Do you have tickets?”
“We should have tickets being held for us,” Madilyn said. “For booth 209.”
“Yes,” the usher immediately said, reaching down below the counter. Seems they were expected. Considering his lack of asking for identification as well as his immediate recalling of the reservation, he had likely been paid rather handsomely to give the tickets to the first person who asked.
The usher came back up with two tickets in his hand, tearing them down the middle in one fluid motion. “You’re seats are just up those stairs,” he said, handing them the stubs and pointing to a stairway to their right. “If you like, I can have someone escort you.”
“We’ll be fine,” Madilyn said, taking the stubs and shoving them in her coat pocket. Giving Sophia a nod, Madilyn held out her elbow to her once more. Gently wrapping her white gloved hand around the offered elbow, the two began to make their way to the stairwell.
“Um, Madam,” the usher called after them. They both stopped and looked back at the usher. “Your program.” He smiled, holding out a folded piece of paper with the theater’s logo stamped on the front.
“Thank you.” Sophia smiled, taking the program. “Wouldn’t want to forget that.”
The usher only smiled, nodding his head as they turned and walked away again.
“I wonder what this is even about,” Sophia said, shifting her hold on Madilyn’s arm so she could use both hands to look inside the program.
“We’re not here for the opera, remember,” Madilyn said, opening the door to their designated booth.
“There is nothing to do until we meet our contact.” Sophia folded the program back up as she walked to the red velvet seat that was placed in front of the balcony. “So there is no reason we can’t enjoy ourselves until then.”
“We should still keep a watchful eye,” Madilyn said, looking around the booth. It was a very nice booth, with a clear view of the stage down below. Next to each seat was a set of small binoculars for them to use in order to see the stage better. “This could still be a trap,” Madilyn reminded, running her hand along the wall, looking for any peepholes or false compartments.
“Then I will expect my gallant knight to protect me.” Sophia smiled, looking over her shoulder at Madilyn, casually fanning herself with her hand fan.
“Your knight?” Madilyn huffed, tipping the chair up so she could check the bottom for any message that might have been left for them. “What makes you think that I am your knight?”
“You are the one who took the knee and pledged yourself to me, remember?” Sophia asked, an amused smile on her face.
“Right,” Madilyn said, letting the chair drop back into place. She had forgotten about that. It had seemed the natural thing to do at the time. That it had been the best way to reaffirm her oath, as well as show her sincerity, but it all seemed rather silly now.
Madilyn strained her neck as she sat down next to Sophia, who still had a wicked and amused smile on her face. She was enjoying Madilyn’s embarr-assment, but then that was only fair since Madilyn had been the one enjoying Sophia’s embarrassment back when it happened.
“So, what is this play about then?” Madilyn asked, ready to talk about anything else. She took off her tricorn hat and rested it in her lap, her fingers gripping the brim.
“Supposed to be an original tale about New Albion,” Sophia said, looking down at the program once more. “Of a woman who brought her lover back from the dead.”
“Sounds morbid,” Madilyn stated, resting her hands on the arms of her chair.
“It’s opera,” Sophia reminded, tucking the program into her lap. “I would be disappointed if it wasn’t.”
Madilyn let out a snort as she tried her best to relax. The theater was filled with the sound of people murmuring as they took their seats and waited for the show to start.
“You think Jezebel and Max are alright?” Madilyn asked, trying to fill the silence. For some reason her heart was pounding and she felt anxious, which was causing her hands to sweat.
“I am sure they are fine,” Sophia said, not seeming to be all that concerned.
“Any idea what they are up to?” Madilyn asked.
“Who knows?” She shrugged, looking down at her lap, not paying attention to anything in particular. “We’ll likely find out later when we get back. Nothing we can do about it regardless. We have our mission and they have theirs.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Madilyn nodded. She dug into her coat and pulled out her pocket watch to check the time. They had arrived at the theater plenty early, not knowing how much time they might need before the show. If their contact had not approached them by now than they were likely going to wait until after the performance started. Meaning they had a lot of time to sit and wait.
“You know,” Sophia spoke up. “I don’t think I ever said this, so I am just going to say it now.” She turned her head and looked at Madilyn. “I am glad that you’re with me. On this adventure, I mean. Both you and Max. I know it hasn’t exactly gone the way either of us would have liked, or imagined, but I am still grateful that I got to meet you.”
Madilyn let out a sigh, leaning her head back and closing her eyes. She thought about everything that had happened since they first set out from Rouen. Things had been so much simpler then. Yet the world somehow felt smaller by comparison and she could not deny that she had grown a lot in those short few months since their departure.
“Me too,” Madilyn admitted. She opened her eyes and looked over at Sophia. “While I certainly do wish things had gone better,” she remarked. “I am still glad to have met you all the same.”
Sophia smiled and turned to face the stage. They sat in silence then until the lights around the theater began to dim and the orchestra began the overture. Once they finished, performers came out onto the stage and began singing, like they do in opera, but Madilyn could not understand a word of it. They were not speaking in Creep or in the language that they spoke in the Eternal Empire. This was a different language altogether.
“They are talking about the founding of New Albion,” Sophia whispered.
“You understand them?” Madilyn saw the smile on Sophia’s face as Madilyn asked that question. Her attention still on the stage below them. “Of course you do.” She sighed, shaking her head and went back to watching the performance.
“They say that centuries ago, two travelers made a trek through the north,” Sophia continued to translate. “The two travelers got
into an argument about the existence of chance and fate. So to settle their dispute they started playing a game of cards to see who was right.”
“Wait, cards?” Madilyn snapped her head around and looked at Sophia. Sophia had a childish grin on her face, but she did not return Madilyn’s stare. “You mean they are talking about you?”
“They are.” Sophia nodded. “Though their details are a little muddled. First off, there was three of us. Tara, Stella and myself. There was something that me and Stella both wanted and we couldn’t agree on who would get it. So we decided to leave it up to chance. We found a little inn and started to play a simple game of cards. It was basic enough. We split the deck in half and we each place the top card down. Whoever had the higher card, won the cards. If it was the same card, then we would play another until someone won and took the cards. And the game lasted forever.” Sophia rolled her eyes at the memory. “Not for ten years like they are saying here, but it did last for over a year.”
“A whole year?” Madilyn gasped in both shock and disbelief.
Sophia nodded her head, her eyes bugging out like she herself could not believe it. “Don’t ask me how. I think Tara was messing with our decks when we weren’t looking. It soon came to a point we no longer cared about whatever thing we were fighting over. We were determined to see this game to the bitter end. And just like they say here, people started to hear about this never ending card game and came from all around to watch. They started building shelters to stay in and then streets were made between the huts. Merchants came in, taking advantage of the crowds. Betting on who would win drew in even more people. By the time the game finally did end, there were thousands of people living here. Afterwards, most of them decided to stay, along with the gambling and prostitution.”
“Who won?” Madilyn asked.
“I honestly don’t remember.” Sophia sighed, shaking her head. “I do remember Tara made out like a bandit from all the betting though. Which only reinforces my theory that she was rigging the game.”
