ACT ONE: EUROPA

Scene 5: Lady Macbeth

From the moment Devon had met Mademoiselle Marie Mer he had gotten a strange feeling from her. She was a demanding woman who cared greatly for theatrics. Now, he watched as she commanded her troupe across the stage. Her voice echoed in the large auditorium. She sat in a red padded seat with her legs crossed staring at the practicing actors on stage, her stare was intense, like an artist looking at their painting, like an army general watching the battlefield. She barked another order and clapped her hands, a sign they had to start the scene again.

Devon and Emily waited backstage, Peeking past the red curtain. Earlier that day they had been taken to le Grand Rex and had even been given a bit of history about the building by Mademoiselle Marie Mer. Sofía handed them off to Marie and since they had been doing odd jobs around for the theatre troupe and Emily had grown annoyed.

She came next to Devon, holding a large roll of fabric in her hands. He looked down at the roll of dark blue sheer fabric. Its transparency was clouded by golden dots and stars that had been embroidered onto it by hand. "I hate this" She complained, watching the performance. "Oh, make me a coffee, carry this fabric, stand still, let me practice makeup on you," she imitated a french accent "I don't want to do odd jobs around this stupid theater, I want to train, I want to fight. Madwoman Marie Mermaid or whatever it is is getting on my nerves".

Devon and Emily jumped out of their skin as the voice of the playwright came from behind them. "It's Mademoiselle".

Emily turned back with a flustered face. "Like I care! I don't want to work for you!"

"I'm afraid you don't have a choice," she mocked them "If you want to be kept safe you'll do as I say". Her voice became more stern.

"And if I don't?".

"Then I'll be more than happy to show you how a guillotine works. Personally". She smiled, turned on her heel and left.

Emily sighed. "Is she really that bad?" Devon asked her, his words hushed as to not be overheard.

"Of course she is! There's nothing I can do, I should bring this to the costume designer, see you". Devon waved his friend off. He decided that with nothing to do he would watch the performance. He wandered backstage and found the corridor to the audience after fifteen minutes. They were still practicing when Devon sat down next to Sofía.

He watched the performance without having a clue what was going on. It was some sort of confrontation scene between a son and his father. Devon leaned back. He didn't know if he had a father or even if he had a mother. His heart felt sorrow about it. Not remembering them painted his face blue. To them their son must have mysteriously vanished. He looked back up at the performance. Both characters brandished their swords. The fight was good but he could tell it was fake.

After the scene wrapped Sofía and Mademoiselle Marie Mer clapped, the latter gave out some more orders but told the actors they could take a quick break. She got up and walked backstage leaving Devon and Sofía alone.

"Devon if it wouldn't trouble you, could you perhaps get me a coffee?" Sofía asked, turning to Devon.

Devon jumped up with a thumbs up.

"Thank you. Two sugars but no milk".

He wandered backstage where a table sat with sweet and savoury snacks. There was also a large and very steampunk looking coffee machine. Devon hastily took a cup and approached the machine like it was some sleeping lion. He stared at the beast when he placed the cup down. It was much different from a kettle.

"Coffee can confuse, can't it?" It was Mademoiselle Marie Mer who had walked next to him. She picked up a pink macaron and took a bite. They both patiently waited until she finished when she instructed him on what to do. She was a good teacher, her voice and instructions made perfect sense to him even after she stuffed multiple macarons in her mouth. "Et voilà. One coffee". One arm was folded while the other was holding half a vanilla macaron close to her mouth.