𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐲 • 𝐉𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐊. × 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

2. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐣𝐚

Words: 4,411

One Year Ago in The Past, November 29th, 1899

The Moulin Rouge Dressing Room, Your POV

"Quickly, Onyakapon, lay her down." Mademoiselle Dryse said, straightening out the loveset.

As Onyakapon laid you down, he moved the hair out of your face and adjusted your head so you were more comfortable. Madam Dryse took a small vile of a medication you'd been taking for these blackouts and held it up to your nose. As they waited for you to inhale it, Madam Hitch looked at him.

"The doctor doesn't know what causes these blackouts," she said looking away.

"How can they? They've poked and prodded her for blood tests and sleep studies, and still nothing?"

Madam Hitch shook her head, and as she did you started to wrestle up, "Doctor Hange says it might be Tuberculosis, but she's not sure. Maybe even some sleeping sickness,"

Madam Dryse, better known as Hitch to you, was a beautiful woman. She had short blonde hair and amazing taste. Most amazing of all, she was the Moulin Rouges mom. A girl in need could go to Hitch, and she would have their back. Between rough nights with gruesome men, or getting too drunk, she'd always find a remedy.

You blinked your eyes open and saw the two over you with disturbed faces, "Hitch," you breathed, "oh, these silly costumes..." you excused.

She laughed, "oh Y/N they aren't silly when you look so amazing in them, don't worry, I'm sure it's not the costumes," she eased.

"Maybe," you said looking away, but then you remember the Duke, "Hitch, the Duke!" You shot up and held your head, "I need to get back out there-"

"Not so fast," Onyakapon put his hands on your shoulders, "you need to rest for later tonight, I'm sure that twinkle toes Duke has really come to like you, Y/N," a blush tugged at his cheeks, barely noticeable to the eye.

"Yeah, with a patron like him, you'll be the next Parisan star!" She yelled, throwing up her hands.

You looked away at the comment, then back with a downward smile, "yeah..." you trailed off, "a star."

"What's the matter?" Hitch tilted her head.

"It's nothing," you murmured as she gave you a disbelieving face, "just a bit stressed is all."

Hitch's face became cheeky again and she hugged you, "you'll be the best actress in the world, Y/N! You'll be what they write books about!"

You hugged her back, wincing at this supposed 'dream' you had, "I'm going to fly away from here, Hitch," you looked at the bird that sat in the cage on the window sill, "I'll be as free as a bird let out of its cage."

"Is everything alright?" Monsieur. Laurant barged in.

You pulled away from a teary eyed Hitch, "of course, Monsieur. Laurant," she replied.

"Thank goodness," he breathed out, then pointed at you with his conducting stick, "you certainly did make that Duke get hot pants for you!"

"How did I look?" You asked.

"Oh my dear, you looked wonderful! However could he resist making you a star? It's all coming together! At 10 o'clock you are scheduled to meet with him, remember."

One Year Ago in The Past, November 29th, 1899

The Elephant, Your POV