Possessed by Kira Saito Page B

progress,” said
Ivan.
    I held my hands and inhaled the air,
which was filled with cigar smoke and exotic accents. Elegant men
and woman sipped champagne, whiskey, Sezeracs and what appeared to
be St. Charles Punch. Conversations about stocks, theatre, fashion
and politics were everywhere in fluent French, Spanish, and
English. Couples danced in a refined fashion to the grand piano
music that invigorated the atmosphere. The whole scene was almost
overwhelming to the point of being excessive.
    Ivan took my hand into his. “Let’s go
for a spin on the dance floor.”
    It’s not like I had a choice or
anything, so I followed him. We started to move and Ivan let out a
small laugh. “You’re such a bad dancer.”
    “ I know, and yet you still
want to dance with me,” I said, as my eyes met his.
    He smirked. “I bet you’re thinking
about how your feet are moving. Being all paranoid.”
    “ No. I’m wondering what
we’re doing here. Now that dinner is over, enough with the
suspense. Let me in on why you brought me here. Oh wait, don’t tell
me- you just wanted to see me dolled up in a ball gown.”
    “ Prince Charming has given
you quite the ego, hasn’t he? We’re here to watch a
show.”
    “ Show?” I asked.
    “ Yeah. It’s gonna be
fun.”
    “ What kind of
show?”
    “ I show that I used to
preform in.”
    “ You used to be an
actor?”
    “ I did. I played the part
they wanted me to play.”
    “ That’s pretty
cryptic.”
    He smiled as he led me towards the
bar.
    “ What would the lady like to
drink?” he asked.
    “ A St. Charles Punch,” I
said quietly, as the sinking feeling in my stomach returned. I felt
my throat get dry as goosebumps crawled up my bare arms.
    “ How much are you worth,
queen?” asked Ivan, as he handed me the flamboyant cocktail. “How
much is your box worth?”
    A took a huge gulp of the sweet
cocktail and tried to make sense of his question. “You can’t put a
price on a person,” I said firmly.
    He pinched my cheek and took a sip of
his Sezerac. “You’re so cute sometimes. Come on now, it’s
starting.”
     
     
     
     

Chapter 16
    The Show
     
    We entered a large room that was
located a few steps above the barroom. Like the space below, it was
massive, and consisted of a shiny marble floor leading up to an
elevated platform that served as some kind of stage. Directly above
the stage there was a gigantic cover that was propped up by thick
Corinthian-style columns. The wall directly behind the stage was
covered in a mural of some sort.
    To the left side of the stage there was
a long table where a group of serious-looking men sat. Given the
fact that they were absorbed in the mountains of papers that were
in front of them, I assumed they were directors, writers or
producers. Perhaps investors?
    The audience consisted of roughly two
hundred people, mostly men. Some were smoking; others were casually
reading newspapers or deep in conversation with the person next to
them.
    “ What kind of show is this?”
I asked. Clearly we weren’t here for the opera or some Shakespeare.
For a second I actually livened up and thought it would be a Moulin
Rouge-type number. However, given the vibe I got from the crowd, it
was highly unlikely that they were into musicals.
    “ Let’s have a seat,” said
Ivan, as he ignored my question and made himself comfortable on a
wooden chair. Reluctantly, I sat down and looked at the stage. As
it lit up, the chatter of the crowd grew louder and the smoke
thicker.
    I noticed a few disgustingly grimy men
who loitered in front of the stage. With their tobacco stained
mouths, dirty clothes, and red noses, they were totally out of
place amongst the well-dressed guests. Were they actors?
    “ It’s starting,” whispered
Ivan in morbid excitement.
    One by one men, women and children
started to march out on stage. All of them were well-dressed. The
men wore matching black suits, top hats, and crisp white shirts.
Their shoes gleamed under the stage