Absence and Obsession of Love

The Enchantress, The Duke and The Writer

~Present Day~
As the four magical words were scribbled into the storybook Audrey began to tell the story, as I interpreted her words.

"You see in those days, men often went to the Moulin Rouge just to see the one they called 'The Enchantress', Satine. All those who hadn't, weren't complaining about the surprise enchanting views they received. Men yearned for the beautiful woman just to look into their eyes for even a small moment during her exquisite numbers. Every night they would crowd the bar for her. Just waiting for her appearance as the star, and boy did she display just why she was the star of the show..."

"Audrey.... Is this story going to be, you know, appropriate?"

I lifted the pen from the page that was beginning to fill with little printed words that summarised the story told by the young woman.

"Of course.... But you wouldn't to want to miss out any of the details in the story though would you? Every single one is important! You're a big boy aren't you...!"

Audrey raised her voice, in a way that made her sound younger. Like a small child complaining, trying to get her way. It was hard to push it away when those ravishing purple eyes stared into mine.

"Okay... Continue..."

And so she did,

"On this particular night though, Satine was to preform 'Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend' and just before her magnificent descent into the club, she was told a that this night could change her life forever. For the Owner of the bar, The Duke, had taken the time to come and watch her preform. He was a man who invested and owned many establishments. And he was determined to own many more by the end of the century, in less than a few months it would be 1900. Yet he had heard talk of one of his performers that enchanted all that saw her. He needed to see this for himself. If he was pleased, he would invest not only more in the club, but Satine herself. She could finally become the real actress she had wanted to be. That was her dream you see Henry, she longed to act on a real stage in front of a real audience. It was her passion and she was damn good at it."

Audrey giggles to herself before carrying on in her soft storyteller tone.

~ 1899 ~

As the lights of the club dimmed down to a glowing blue, her swing descended from the ceiling, and she enchantingly sung the first soft verse of her number. The dance floor below her was beginning to become a thick sea of black. All the men in the room instantly became bewitched, including the special guest of the club that night. The Duke. A relatively small man, but power with his wealth. He had piercing cold eyes when he was angry, and a moustache that seemed to take up most of his face. Despite his looks, he was a man who always got what he wanted. And now...he wanted Satine.

Satine's heart raced faster than a hummingbirds wings, her dream would finally could come true, and she could leave this place, she could become something more. Cheers stung Satine's sensitive ears as her vocal chords belted out sweet notes of harmony. She was a sight to be seen, radiating like the sun. Her red locks were curled into ringlets on her shoulders, bouncing gracefully as she danced seductively through the sea of men, but kept in place by a black top hat. Her lips were painted a vibrant red that any man would have loved the pleasure to smudge. And her sparkling silver short costume hugged her curves, showing them off as she preformed her specially thought out choreography. The other choirs girls helped out with her song from the sides, contributing small amounts of less elaborate dancing, for Satine was the star of the show.

Every night her numbers were choreographed to target a powerful and rich man. As Satine sung, her shinning bewildering sky blue eyes scanned the sea of black. Every man looked the same to such a beautiful woman who was blind when it came to the desire to want a man. Yet every night she was able to pick out the man she was to try and charm. Tonight was no different. She easily strutted over to the frozen man, and pushed him onto the ground. The man was in complete awe with her as she slid on top of him continuing to sing. "Cause we are living in a material world," Around the two of them was a circle of other rich men, but they all disappeared in Satine's eyes. She was focused on staring, deep, deep down into the man she was singing too. His eyes were locked with hers as she neared him very closely, his eyes almost seemed to pop out of his head. He was falling under Satine's spell. It was only a few short seconds she was there laying on top of them before she rose above him. Splitting her legs around his body and shimmering as the choreography demanded. All the other men stared on with jealousy as Satine continued, "...and I am a material girl!" The dancer gracefully spun and turned, sending an exaggerated air kiss back to the man before continuing on with her original number. Success yet again, she had magically enchanted the man and not one person around him had noticed a thing, apart from Satine's radiating body and dance moves. Now she had to complete a fantastic performance for The Duke who was somewhere in the crowd, and with that she was closer to her dream of acting than she was ever before.