by Simon Archer
“It isn’t you in a dark, secluded part of campus, with your suit on the floor, waiting for me?” Hailey said with a shy smile. She maintained control over her gaze, keeping it solidly trained on my eyes, but I noticed the desire flooding her gaze.
“We have to start the performance early,” I explained, jumping to the most important part. “And if I put that suit back on, you might try to make out with me.”
“I might try to make out with you if you don’t put it back on,” Hailey joked.
“No, that thing is cursed,” I said with an accusing point at the suit.
“Your suit…” Hailey began, the skepticism already obvious in her voice, “is cursed?”
“That’s why I can’t put it on,” I said urgently. “I know it sounds crazy, but just trust me.”
“It does sound crazy, but I do trust you,” Hailey said, squeaking out the words through a tight throat.
I sighed, “I don’t know what to do about this.”
“Neither do I,” Hailey admitted with a defeated sigh. “Gods, you’re--”
“Don’t you dare say ravishing,” I snapped, taking a step forward defensively.
“I was going to say hot,” Hailey finished, a confused look coming over her face. “Ravishing sounds like I want to eat you, which, well, I mean…” Another cough burst from her to hide her awkwardness.
“Like I was saying,” I said, trying to keep on the subject. “We have to start the performance early to stop the fighting and make everyone feel like they are in love again.”
“The fighting’s stopped,” Hailey reported.
“Well, that’s good!” I exclaimed, a flare of hope surging through me that I might not have to do the performance after all, no matter what my mom's weird foreshadowing song might have said.
“But the dance is a dud,” Hailey continued, her face falling. “After all that, some students had to be taken to the med bay, and it kind of killed the mood. The Elemental Officials are thinking about calling it.”
“No, no, they can’t do that,” I cried out desperately. “We need to get Aphrodite here to fix all this. We need to light that spark again.”
I paused and looked at Hailey for the first time, really looked at him since she entered. She wore a red floor-length gown. It was a mermaid cut with a bustle at the bottom that flared out into a short train. It was sleeveless and embroidered with crystals along the bust. I cocked my head as I recognized the color of the dress.
“Did you…” I pointed wordlessly down at my shirt on the floor before redirecting it to Hailey’s dress.
Hailey’s eyes followed my finger and looked down at herself. “Oh, this?” Hailey giggled softly, “Yeah, Jade may have told me what color your dress shirt was. She helped me find this so I could match you.”
I scoffed at Jade’s meddling. But secretly, I appreciated her extra effort.
“That was very thoughtful of her,” I said softly.
“I thought so,” Hailey agreed with a toothless smile.
We looked at each other for a moment before I walked over to her and I reached out and ran my hand along her exposed arms.
Hailey’s eyes scanned me from head to toe, taking particular interest in my chest, which made sense now that the other exciting parts of me were hidden. When her eyes met mine again, she let out a long, low whistle.
“Gods, Cameron,” Hailey whispered. “You’re something else.”
I smirked, “Really? Now?”
Hailey raised a brow, “Why not?” She made a show of looking around, “We’re the only ones in here.”
I saw her point, and I couldn’t deny that seeing her in that dress was doing things. Things that were very obvious since I was standing in just my boxers.
Hailey’s hands roamed down and she laughed, “Seems like at least part of you wants me.”
With a sudden fierceness that surprised her, I gripped Hailey’s waist, lifted her up and swung her around until I sat her down on the counter in the room, settling myself between her legs. She recovered quickly and grabbed my face, quickly pulling me closer and firmly locking her lips with mine. I found the zipper at the back of her dress and pulled, sliding the straps off her shoulders and letting the fabric loosen and drape over my hand. I wrapped my other arm around her, pressing my palm against her bare skin, while she gently ran her fingernails down the muscles on my back. She hooked her fingers beneath the waistband of my boxers and forced them down my thighs as I slid my hands down lower on her waist, pushing her dress down into a puddle around her hips. She leaned forward, pressing her body against mine as she playfully bit my lower lip and slid her hand down my stomach and between my legs, wrapping her fingers around the length of me. I groaned in response, gathering up the skirt of her dress so that I could slip my hands beneath the silky fabric.
Before I could work my hands completely up her thighs though, Hailey let go of me, her hand clamping down on my wrist to stop me. I looked up at her, puzzled, but she wordlessly stood up before me. She released my hand and let her dress fall completely to the floor, leaving nothing except her bra and lacy underwear. I pulled her in close by her waist again, and she wove her fingers through my hair as she kissed me deeply. As her tongue brushed across mine, I slid my hands down to her thighs, wrapping my fingers around them and hoisting her up. She instinctively wrapped her legs around my waist and looked down at me, her hair falling over my shoulders and creating a canopy over us both.
While she kissed me, I held her up with one hand while using the other to unhook her bra. It fell forward onto my face, but she quickly yanked it away and tossed it haphazardly to the side. I playfully teased her nipples with my tongue, first one, then the other, as she moaned with pleasure and gyrated against me. Her movements, pressed against my hips, left me craving more of her, and I took a couple of steps forward, setting her back down on the countertop. I quickly ripped off her underwear, but when I met her eyes, they were dark and hungry, and I knew just what she wanted.
I dropped down to my knees and began kissing my way up her legs, until I reached her upper thighs. She writhed in anticipation. She knew what was coming, and I was all too happy to oblige. I ran my tongue forward until I found the familiar nub, and danced circles with my tongue while holding Hailey’s gyrating body in place. She moaned loudly, her voice echoing through the empty kitchen as she threw her head back in ecstasy. Her hands tangled themselves in my hair as I continued to work, pulling my hair taut in an encouraging response to my movements. Suddenly, Hailey yelled out, yanking harder and pulling my head up to hers. I quickly wiped my chin clean with the palm of my hand as she reached down between my legs and pulled me closer, eagerly guiding me inside of her. I wrapped both arms around her waist to anchor her in place as I drove forward, causing a sharp intake of breath as Hailey welcomed me, her back arched and her nails digging into my arms.
I kissed my way down her neck, across her chest, and down to her breasts, never slowing my rhythm as I continued to rock in and out. Hailey moved against me, moaning into my ear as I inhaled the sweet scent of her skin. She continued to claw at my skin, pulling me closer, and as I kissed my way back up her neck, she pulled me flush against her, so that I could feel every inch of her body as it warmed mine.
Hailey’s breathing became faster and shallower as we moved together, and her moans shorter and higher. I felt her body tense and still, but I didn’t let up my assault until I felt her body twitch and collapse against mine, her voice now coming out in softer squeaks. I felt my own climax approaching, and I held her close as I kept up my rhythm, her uneven breath and renewed moans driving me forward, amplifying the sensations that ran through my body. Finally, I hit the peak, clutching her firmly as I gave one final thrust forward, and her gasp told me she felt everything that I gave her. I stayed there for a moment, my hips pushed forward and my fingers dug into her hips until the waves crested, and then I slowly let up, rocking back on my heels. I looked into Hailey’s eyes and saw a look of pure satisfaction. I gave her
a playful smirk as I stepped back and released her, and as she hopped off the countertop and reached for her bra, I looked around to find out where my boxers had disappeared to.
Hailey laughed as she was clasping her bra back on, “You know, I don’t think this is what they mean when they say to prep the kitchen.”
I opened my mouth to say something to her in response, but the slam of the kitchen door interrupted me.
Sasha barged in with a pile of fabric obstructing her view. She sashayed in far enough and kicked the door shut behind her with her leg. The pile of clothes plopped down on the ground. Then, the drama teacher unsheathed the two rapiers, which she carried one of either side of herself. Unlike the costumes, she treated those with care and set each one on the kitchen counter, like newborn children.
The daughter of Dionysus looked back and forth between the pair of us as we just stared at her in awe. She didn’t seem affected by the fact that we were both just standing in our underwear, our clothes scattered on the floor.
“Well, don’t just stand there,” Sasha hollered, putting on her director’s voice. “Get changed! We’ve got a show to do.”
Gone was the compassionate mentor from before, and back was the dictatorial director who demanded the best out of us. Hailey and I hopped to attention, as was in our nature, and searched through the pile to find our designated costumes.
We split ourselves up, each changing on either side of the kitchens, backs to one another. Even though I did sneak a peek over my shoulder once or twice.
Sasha coughed in my direction, loud enough to be obvious. I snarled at her but continued putting on piece after piece of my Renaissance outfit.
Considering my mother’s background at the Faire, she would have been proud of the ensemble Sasha provided. Despite its weight and clear dysfunction for fighting, it was a nice piece. I was shrouded in black, all dark colors, whereas Hailey was a vision in flowing white.
The final touch was soon added. I slipped Hailey’s white feathered mask over her face and then took my black domino off. Sasha didn’t give us a second to examine anything, though. She looked me over, adjusting the cape so that the hem stayed on the side and removing a stray piece of string from my sleeve. She did the same thing to Hailey.
“It’s showtime,” Sasha said in her classic singsong voice. “Places, people, places!”
The drama teacher’s slim hands slapped themselves on the small of our backs and pushed us out the door. Hailey tumbled out first with me quickly behind. We made our way to the quad, and a sorry sight met us there.
The music, while still playing, did nothing to bring people to the dance floor, which was completely empty. Students sat on the sidelines, nursing sore legs or lumps on their heads. Some of them hovered by the snack table and nibbled on sweets without really looking at what they were eating. No one was in our privacy pods. Even the chocolate fountain stopped flowing.
It was a pathetic sight indeed.
“We’re doomed,” I muttered, speaking the obvious thought aloud.
Sasha swatted at me gently with her handkerchief. “Don’t talk like that. We still have a chance. I’m going to handle the music. You two get to the center of the dance floor and begin after the fourth count of eight.”
“Wait, music?” I turned to ask Sasha, but the spritely teacher had already headed for the DJ’s stand by the cafeteria. I looked at Hailey desperately. “She never said anything about music!”
“She’s probably trying to add to the ambiance,” Hailey reasoned. “Gods know we need it.” My girlfriend sighed, and I heard the defeat in her exhale. “I don’t know how we’re going to manage this, Cameron.”
Part of me agreed with her. I want to tell everyone to go to bed and rethink another way of getting Eros here. Start from square one. It seemed utterly hopeless.
But then I thought about what my mom had said. Yes, it had been in one of her silly songs, but something about the words was impossible to ignore. They were too true, too accurate. The silk and the red of my suit had distracted everyone while an infection raged on campus. If that part was true, then surely she had to be right about the steps.
I took Hailey’s hand in my own. “We can do this, Hailey,” I said, trying to infuse her with confidence as well as myself. “We have to do this. It’ll work.”
Hailey looked into my eyes, and I pushed the small belief I had left into my gaze. I watched as her own gaze softened from worry to determination. She squeezed my hand and led me forward, out onto the dance floor.
We positioned ourselves on opposite ends. This was how we were to begin, on different sides, only to come together in the end, her in my arms, united in death.
The deep bass of the party music stopped with a record scratch. I fought back a chuckle at the cliche of it all. But then, after a moment, a violin played a single note.
The battle had begun.
Dueling with rapiers was a different style to the combat Hailey and I were used to. In fencing, the technique focused on bursts of tight movements instead of a constant onslaught of attacks. The sequences could be strung together into one long line of attack, but it was a chess game of movements.
It wasn’t until I was in the middle of this choreographed fight with Hailey did I recognize the beauty of Sasha’s show. It was well-timed and well-executed. Precise and measured. She knew the beats and drilled into us when to land them.
My feet shifted into the correct positions. I stayed on my toes during attacks and straightened my back during my thrusts. I felt the movements in my body and was able to ooze each emotion into every action. I fell into the story and felt possessed as the tale of Achilles and Penthesilea consumed us.
Achilles dived forward, the tip of his rapier aimed low as he struck towards Penthesilea’s knees. She swung her sword up in a round arch to block the blow with enough strength to push him away. The warrior continued his routine with a series of strikes, and the Amazon met each with precise timing.
Achilles whipped the blade behind his back and teased Penthesilea. She fell for it and aimed her own blade around the side to match his attack. But with a quickness that she thought only the gods possessed, he spun the blade back towards the front of him and threatened a slice along her abdomen.
Penthesilea doubled over with a cry but scurried away before her enemy could land another blow. She swiped desperately at his shins, a foolish attempt that he simply avoided by side-stepping out of the way.
First blood had been drawn.
Rage burned inside Penthesilea’s heart. She watched as a cocky smile spread across her enemy’s face, clearly mocking her. Unable to let such a slight go, she unleashed a series of furious combinations on him. She attacked near his right ear, and Achilles had to rush to block while maneuvering back. Penthesilea pushed Achilles across the battlefield with wide steps and lengthy lunges.
Music swelled around them, only amplifying the adrenaline running through her veins. It ebbed and flowed with their movements as if the Muses could predict their choices and matched the music perfectly.
Surprisingly, Achilles held his ground and forced Penthesilea to slide her blade down his so their hilts clanged together. He switched the duel to a contest of strength rather than technique. The two soldiers pushed against one another, muscle bulging, sweat dripping. A cross of metal divided the two, but as they gazed into one another’s eyes, both warriors recognized the determination and the strength of will that would not fade easily.
Penthesilea had enough of the standoff and wrapped two hands around the handle of her rapier. She shoved Achilles off with one heavy push, accompanied by a fierce grunt.
He aimed low again, but Penthesilea knocked her sword into his, consequently throwing him off balance. Here, she saw her opening and slashed against his upper arm, finally evening out the score.
Achilles didn’t take kindly to finally being hit. His next few attacks surged with an energy and stamina that Penthesilea hadn’t seen before. She defended herself and matched him blow for
blow, the clang of steel on steel ringing in her ears. However, she couldn’t find the opportunity to attack as he kept her so consistently on the defensive.
Achilles fell back and gave each a moment to breathe, but the break only lasted mere seconds before he attacked again. Fire was in his eyes, blood pounded in his ears.
For the first time, the Amazon was afraid.
She wasn’t prepared, as she was too focused on his eyes. The tip of his sword slammed against her wrist, forcing her to drop her blade. It skittered away from her, and before she could dive after it, Achilles held the blade to her throat.
A steady rhythm from the drums echoed all around them as Achilles held her in his hands. The tension crackled in the air even though it looked like the battle was almost over. All he had to do was take one step forward, slice her throat, and he would claim victory.
It was at that moment that the effect of the battle, the performance melted away. I could no longer be Achilles. I had to be Cameron, or the next part wouldn’t work.
Sasha added this next sequence late in the rehearsal process. I didn’t know how she knew about this part of my powers, but she claimed it would be a showstopper, a real twist for the audience if they thought Penthesilea had a fighting chance, only to have it stripped away from her seconds later.
The trick took more concentration on my part, as I had only ever done it once before, and that had been in the heat of battle. When I was actually on a battlefield and not a pretend one, the stakes were different, so I wasn’t sure it would work.
While I circled Hailey, the tip hovering millimeters away from her throat, I curled my free hand into a fist. I reached out for the blade, remembering how the steel felt in my hand. I recalled the sensation of molding and bending the metal to my will while in the forge. The blade I crafted with my own hands, from my own mind, I beckoned it towards me, and coincidentally, towards Hailey.
With a quick glance at the blade, I snapped open my hand. Hailey nodded and the rapier zapped into her palm, and I didn’t have time to be relieved that everything went according to plan. I had to continue the performance to finish what we had started.
