Superstar Calling

Chapter 6

“Announcing Her Majesty, The Queen!”  

I watched, open mouthed, as Venus VonCleave walked out on the a huge platform. Hundreds of people stood up, clapping wildly. Venus slowly looked around, that disgusted look she always has painted on her face. She raised a white gloved hand and the clapping stopped. There were a few moments of complete silence and then her gaze fell on me. Venus’s eyes narrowed and she shouted out to me.  “Quintessa Dawson! Thou art not befitting to the royal standards. Off with thyne head!”  

I felt the blood drain from my body as I was dragged away by two guards. They pushed me so I had  to kneel next to a large block of wood. When I did, they shoved my head down on it and forced me to keep it there. I could see a basket in front of me. I swallowed, understanding why it was there. To catch my unconnected head. I raised my eyes and saw the crowd cheering. Why were they so glad to see me die? I felt someone’s presence near me and out of the corner of my eye, I could see the Queen. She knelt beside me and hissed in my ear.  “Did thou really think thou could write all those horrible things about me and get away with it? Now thou shalt pay the price.”

She straitened and stalked away. I closed my eyes and heard the executioner pull the rope. The blade fell and before I could blink, I was dead. 

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“Gaaah!” I bolted straight up in my bed and looked around the room, sweating madly. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and peered out the green curtains. It was still dark. I glanced at the clock on my night table. It read 12:34PM. I sighed. I was glad that I wasn't dead. It was only a dream. But that  dream made me realize that Venus might be more evil than she looks. Who knows if she would actually kill me if I did it all wrong? Maybe she would! I shuddered involuntarily and walked back to my bed. I slipped under the covers and closed my eyes. I should stay far away from that woman.

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The next morning, I remembered the dream, my thoughts, and my doubting of Venus, and laughed. What was I thinking? Venus would never kill me! I was doing something for her! I chuckled again and pulled on a white tank top. I had decided to dress western today. I pulled out a red and white plaid button down and slipped it on. As I snapped the last clip, a knock came on my door. 

“Come in!” I called happily, knowing who would enter.

The door opened and Amy walked in, her curly brown hair tucked into a braided bun. I smiled widely, happy to see her again. Over the past few days, we had become quite good friends. I had taken her to lunch twice now, and was trying to arrange a time to do it again. She walked in, holding the usual platter of food. She had taken to bringing me my food so that we could talk more. Venus didn’t like it when Amy took time out of her day to do something other than working, so Amy stole short conversations with me in the mornings. I beckoned her over to sit beside me on the bed. She picked up my laptop and opened it. She typed in my password, I had given it to her, and looked at Venus’s biography. 

“How far are you now?”

“A little less than half way. It’s been hard though. I don’t know how to say things nicely.”

She gave me a sympathetic look. Her expression quickly changed and she stood up. 

“What is it? What’s wrong?” I asked franticly, worried at her sudden mood change.

“Nothing is wrong, it’s just that I almost forgot to give you this.”

She pull an envelope from her apron and handed it to me.

“It’s from Venus.” 

Interested, I broke the letter’s seal. Inside, I found a blue tinted paper folded inside. It read:

Quinn,

I am holding a party tonight in the event room. Please come and meet some of my friends. You are to add them in my book. The party starts at 7:00. Thanks.

~V

I sighed and put the letter next to me. I didn't want to go to a party tonight. I had been perfectly happy in my own room with no one but Amy to talk to. I’m not a really social person. Well, not in the way Venus wanted me to be. But it was impressive that Venus said please and thank you. She must really want me to come. 

“What does it say?” Amy asked, seeing that my face had fallen. I looked up with tired eyes. 

“Venus wants me to go to a party and meet some of her friends. I just want to stay here and write some more. But,” I said with another sigh.  “Venus wants me to put them in her book. So I kinda have to go.” 

I picked up the letter and double checked the time.

“At least I have the whole day before I go.”

Amy’s eyes lit up and she clapped her hands together.

“This is a party right? Can I do your hair?”

I smiled and nodded. This would give us more time to talk. Amy gave a little squeal and pushed me over to a chair. While she put my hair into any complex braids, we talked about lots of things. I learned that she had once lived in Minnesota before she moved to LA to get a job. I asked her about her family and she told me that her older brother was training to be a lawyer. 

“If he gets to where he wants to be, I can quit this job and go be with my mother. He’s still pretty far away though.”

She paused, one strand of my hair still wrapped on her finger. 

“I just want her to get better. My mom, I mean. I couldn’t bear it if I lost her.”

I could see tears start to fill her eyes in the mirror reflection. I didn’t know what to say. I still had both my parents and the hardest thing in my life right now was this book. I could never even imagine what it must feel like to know that your mother is on the brink of death. I turned around in the chair and looked Amy in the eyes. 

“You are already doing all you can for her, and I’m sure she really appreciates it.”

She looked back up into her own reflection and smiled a little. 

“Yeah, I guess so. I just wish I could do something to heal her. This doesn't feel helpful, going around day by day, dusting stuff and bringing people food. I wish I could- I wish…”

She stopped, a few tears rolling down her face. My hair had fallen out when she let go to wipe her cheek, but I didn't care. My friend was more important. I stood up and hugged her tight. She sobbed again and buried her face in my shoulder. 

“Everything will be alright, Amy. Trust God and it will all work out.”