Chapter Eight:

(Si mi chiamano Mimi - La Boheme - Puccini)

Ari sat in the old armchair watching the brunette prepare a meal of soup and bread. Alice had welcomed her with kind words while Louis offered to buy her a home of her own. She had refused, knowing that the older man had already fallen foul of many of his peers for choosing to marry ( Read more... )

Chapter Seven:

(Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix - Samson et Dalila - Saint-Saens)

“Does Alice miss you?” Ari asked as she circled her finger on Callie’s chest.

Callie turned to face the smaller woman and smiled, “It has only been a mere few days…”

Ari chuckled, “Do you miss Alice?”

Callie blushed slightly before glancing around her empty ( Read more... )

Chapter Six:

Callie looked around the room, remembering how they got there. They had left the theatre in silence, walking slowly to their carriage, fearful to look at each other as the back of their hands touched. They had remained silent as the blonde took the taller woman’s hand in her own and led them up the elevator and into her apartment ( Read more... )

Chapter Five:

(Habanera - Carmen - Bizet)

(Che puro ciel - Orfeo ed Euridice -Gluck)
(Che fiero momento -Orfeo ed Euridice - Gluck)
(Che farò senza Euridice? - Orfeo ed Euridice - Gluck)

“How have I never noticed this place before?” Ari asked as they sat in their booth, served by a man dressed as a devil.

Callie laughed as she ordered drinks of ( Read more... )

Chapter Four:

“The what?” Ari asked as she linked her arm with the taller woman, holding her book in the other.

“The gargoyle and the bat,” Callie answered as it if were obvious.

They had walked the length of the Seine, ignoring its waterside buildings and crowds as they lost themselves in their chatter. They had only stopped in front of ( Read more... )

Chapter Three:

“Do you always come here?” Callie asked as she approached the small table in the corner where the petite, blonde was reading.

Ari smiled widely as she looked up at soft brown eyes and a full grin.

“Every morning,” she replied. “I like the coffee here, and one never knows when someone interesting comes along.”

“ ( Read more... )

Chapter Two:

She scuffed the heel of her shoe on the loose paving as she stood outside, her back against the rough brick sides of the theatre. She watched as the carriages proceeded past with haste, their horses kicking up stones with each touch to the ground. The buildings were once rich in colour now dampened by the memories of the revolution ( Read more... )

Part IV

Chapter One:

(A Doll's Song - Tales of Hoffman - Offenbach)

“Callie! Wake up! You’re due on stage!”

Callie groaned as she rubbed her forehead, before seeing her reflection in the mirror opposite her. She looked up at the other woman calling her and nodded.

“Callie, you need to stop drinking before a show,” The older woman ( Read more... )

Chapter Seven:

The land was to become cruel to them, their blanketing skies lit with storms, filled the valleys with rain. Ari’s body had weakened, her voice no longer filled with joy, her eyes pale, her heart slow. She struggled to waken, her chest rattling with a cough, her head heavy. Callie lit warm fires, made teas of herbs but could only ( Read more... )

Chapter Six:

“Don’t go… not yet,” Ari pleaded as she tugged Callie back into the bed. Callie stood next to the bed and looked down at the fair-headed woman, and smiled widely. She bent down to kiss her softly, letting her lips rest for a moment longer before pulling back. She pulled her clothing on, and kissed her once more before leaving the ( Read more... )