In a Town Called Blooming Orchid

Chapter Two: Nox Aurumque

      Aside from playing the flute, Jewel was a soprano and loved to sing. Blooming Orchid did not have a choir, although she had wanted to start one for a long time. Jewel would talk to anyone that would lend an ear about how she would start a choir eventually and usually everyone was supportive.

     Whenever Jewel was alone or busy she would quietly start singing Nox Aurumque by Eric Whitacre to herself. It's a choral piece written entirely in latin, and Jewel had always said that it was her favorite song. The title translates to "Night and Gold".

     So when Knightley passed out an orchestral transcription of the piece to the orchestra, everyone was shocked.

     "What?" Heather asked when she received her copy. The rest of the orchestra also murmured a bit, shocked and confused.

     "Alright everyone, quiet down," Knightley called, shushing the ensemble. "I had a composer friend of mine arrange this for our concert. We may have a soloist with us to sing it. And yes, it is in memorial for Jewel. Any more questions?"

     The orchestra was silent. Some of them were happy they were doing this, others noticed how nonchalant Knightley seemed to be acting about Jewel's death, but no one raised their voice. Knightley began rehearsing the piece.

     By the end of rehearsal Knightley had passed out 3 pieces for the winter concert. Tchaikovsky's 4th, Winter from Vivaldi's Seasons (Which they did every year), and then Nox Aurumque. Everyone was dismissed and it was time to go home.

     Garret and Robin hung out a little bit in the lobby talking to Heather before they would leave.

     "That was the most suspenseful rehearsal ever," Heather sighed while putting her cello in its case.

     "Yeah, for real," Garret agreed.

     "Do you guys wanna go to lunch?" Heather asked the two guys.

    "I'm game!" Garret beamed. Robin laughed a bit and nodded his head in agreement. Then Byron walked out into the lobby.

     Everyone was staring at him a little bit angry and upset. He seemed very confused and hung his head as he put away his instrument. It was clear everyone was taking their frustration over Jewel being replaced out on him.

     "Why are they all looking at him like that?" Heather asked putting her hands on her hips. "None of this is his fault,"

     "Yeah, but Knightley did almost completely ignore Jewel. I think it's a bit understandable," Garret replied.

     "I agree with Heather," Robin mumbled. He seemed very lost in thought. Staring Byron down with a dazed expression.

     "Hey! Byron!" Heather called to the man. Byron whipped his head around and she motioned for him to come over to her. He did as she requested.

     "My name is Heather, this is Garret, and this is Robin. Would you like to go to lunch with us?" Heather asked. "We'd love to get to know you better," She smiled at him as sweetly as possible.

     "O-Ok! Sure. I need a ride though. Knightley drove me up here," Byron stuttered. He had a very shy tone of voice.

     "I can give you a ride," Robin chimed in. "Garret and Heather probably want to ride together, so..."

     "Cool," Byron said softly. Robin grinned. For some reason, during the whole rehearsal he couldn't stop looking at Byron or thinking about him, like he invaded his mind. Byron's dark hair was gorgeous, he had such a cute voice, and Robin caught himself getting lost in Byron's eyes.

     Robin had only ever dated one person, Sophya Rivierez, a clarinet player. It ended poorly because he found himself never being attracted to her or liking her the way she liked him. But with Byron, he actually felt something, but Byron is a boy, and Robin is definitely not gay. Well, as far as he knows.

     The foursome were about to leave when in through the door walked a young man dressed very fashionably in an all-maroon suit, with heart shaped sunglasses on. He had a tiny yorkie on a leash. It was Anthony McGregor.

     Anthony pushed his way through all the people when he came up to Robin and Garret.

     "Well, well, well," he said, he took off his sunglasses. "Thing 1 and Thing 2, what a pleasure," Anthony, Robin, and Garret went to the same college and that's where they learned about Blooming Orchid's orchestra. Anthony was a raging homosexual, and had a flirty personality, which made Garret very uncomfortable. He was always overdressed everywhere he went because his dad, Jewel's ex husband, was very rich, and chose to throw money at Anthony rather than ever be there for him.

     "Anthony! Hey, sorry about your mom," Heather said, placing a comforting hand on Anthony's arm. He swatted her away.

     "I don't have time to talk. I'm a busy guy and I have a schedule almost as tight as my ass. Where is Knightley? I'm here to discuss the concert and the memorial dedicated to my mother," Anthony spoke quickly, it was slightly disorienting. Robin pointed to the direction of the concert hall.

     "He and Sherry are still in there," Robin said.

     "Thank you Blondie," Anthony said, replacing the glasses onto his face. "Come on, Tinkerbell," the little yorkie stood up and the two trotted off into the concert hall. The four musicians then left to go out to lunch.

     In the concert hall, Sherry and Knightley were having a heated discussion. Knightley had her up against a wall and a hand up her skirt, kissing her neck as she squealed in her high pitched voice with her shirt off, only in a bra. And Knightley was reaching take that off too, before he was interrupted by an "AHEM" coming from a certain gay who had just walked in to see this discourse.

     Knightley jumped off of Sherry and threw her her clothes upon seeing Anthony. He buttoned up his own pants. And the two scrambled to cover themselves.

     "Oui oui, what do you need Monsieur Mcgregor?" Knightley asked, embarrassed. Anthony rolled his eyes.

     "I'm here to talk about the upcoming concert. I was assuming we'd be leaving an empty chair to recognize my mother. Also, I'd love to give a speech and maybe have some members of the orchestra that knew Mother well speak of her," Anthony proposed. Knightley shook his head.

     "We are playing Nox Aurumque for her. That's it," Knightley stated. Anthony looked shocked and then smacked him.

     "How dare you! What is your problem?" Anthony scolded him.

     "I do not want to overwhelm our audience," Knightley said. He began to pack his sheet music up in a bag.

     "Sir! My mother was murdered! The whole town is in shock! She was a member of YOUR orchestra. How could you not do something?" Knightley started to leave but Anthony followed him. He gave Tinkerbell's leash to a confused Sherry, who joined them out.

     They were at Knightley's car in the parking lot. Luckily, Anthony was parked right next to Knightley. Anthony continued to yell Knightley's head off.

     "Ok Ok! Fine!" Knightley shouted, throwing his hands up in defeat. "Let's make our entire audience cry!" He pushed Anthony away and got in his car. Sherry gave Anthony his dog's leash, pushed her glasses up, and got into the car with Knightley. They then drove off.

     "What the fresh hell?" Anthony crossed his arms. "If I didn't know that man as well as I do I would say he murdered my mother," He said. He reached down and picked up his little dog. He began to get into his car when he noticed a note on his windshield. He picked it up. It said 'Look in your trunk'.

     Anthony slowly went and opened up his trunk. Inside, he saw the most terrifying thing he has ever seen. It was a flute case. Jewel's flute case. It had a bloody handprint on it, like she had grabbed it, and there was a polaroid photo of her dead body taped to it, clearly seconds after her death as the bullet wound in her chest looked fresh. Anthony screamed in terror and immediately called the police.