Chapter 33

Cate couldn’t stop squealing as we walked through the palace towards the dance studio.

“I always knew I was born to play the goddess of light, this is just a dream come true!” I tried to feign happiness for her, but in truth I couldn’t help but feel betrayed.

The Lycan Luna had chosen me to play the goddess of darkness, the role of the new moon. Perhaps it was some kind of cruel joke, reminding me I would never truly belong to high society despite being chosen as Lorenzo’s luna.

I lingered a few steps behind as Cate gushed at the choreographer, positively beaming at the fact that she got to play the heroine in the story.

“Well, you were the obvious choice for the role my dear. You know when I suggested the Lycan Luna choose you I specifically put you forward as a candidate for the goddess of light. A role only suited for the light of Blue Moon,” the choreographer said with a devious yet triumphant tone.

Wait. Julia Longkowski, the choreographer, was the one who recommended Cate? Of course it made sense that she got the better character. My demeanor changed from one of hurt to anger and I noticed all I had the urge to do was tell Lorenzo.

The thought made me pause and think about how Lorenzo and I’s relationship had taken such a turn in the right direction. One I wasn’t prepared for but am all the more grateful for now that we were here at the Royal Palace.

As we arrived at the dance studio, we were instructed to prepare and warmup by ourselves for a few minutes as Julia spoke with the pianist. I was stretching out my legs and putting on my pointe shoes when Cate sauntered over to me.

“Don’t look so down Eleanor, we both know the role of the goddess of darkness is perfect for you, what with you sucking the light out of everything,” Cate said in that sickly sweet voice she knew always got on my nerves.

“Save it Cate, I’m here to dance, not stoop to your level,” I bit back and all she did was cackle. “I think you should be trying to rise to my level sweetheart.”

With that, she bounced away to an open spot in the mirror as Longkowski returned to the front of the room.

I stood and gathered myself, trying to remember I was there to dance, not succumb to drama.

“Alright ladies, you will begin on opposite sides of the stage and enter simultaneously. Cate you will enter with a grand leap and then a series of fouette’s. Eleanor you will enter and simply strike a pose. The choreography seeks to highlight the goddess of light, so I want you to focus on technique but really let Cate shine throughout the piece,” Longkowski chided as if I were some novice she needed to dumb things down for. But, I knew if I was going to survive this process I needed to keep my cool, so I maintained my composure and did as I was told.

The rehearsal was an arduous four hours of non-stop movement and memorizing some of the most intricate combinations I’d ever attempted. What made it all the worse was how Cate purposefully would try and sabotage me — tripping me as we resumed positions, flicking my costume as she danced past, and even asking questions about my choreography to get Longkowski to scrutinize me more.

By the end of it all my ego was just as bruised as my feet and all I wanted to do was take a hot bath. But of course, no rehearsal could end without a full run through of what we’d learned.

As we began the dance I was so focused on the movement that I didn’t notice a figure appear in the doorway. It was only after the music stopped that I noticed the steady applause accompanying my labored breathing. I turned and gasped.

“Brava ladies, brava,” the Lycan Luna cheered as she entered the room and I tried to appear less exhausted than I was. “I am very excited by what I see. And, Eleanor, may I have a word?”

I gulped and followed the queen into the hall, doing my very best to ignore Cate and Julia’s whispers. We stepped just outside the studio and I held my breath in anticipation.

“Eleanor, I know you may have felt some initial hesitation towards taking on the role of the goddess of darkness, but seeing you rehearse in there reminded me so much of your mother and it confirmed that I made the right choice,” the Lycan Luna said as she put a reassuring hand on my arm.

“My mother?” I stammered, not sure how to process what she had just said.

“Yes, I remember choosing your mother to be one of my first luna dancers and seeing the beauty she brought to the soul of the new moon,” the queen paused and sighed, clearly reminiscing. “I simply had to see you take on the role in your own way. Please forgive my selfishness.”

I could barely believe what I was hearing, what with so much new information being thrown at me at once. I couldn’t help but break out into a grateful smile at the queen’s words.

“Your majesty, I truly don’t know what to say. I was already floored to receive your invitation, but you thinking of me and my mother’s memory in this way is truly touching,” I said, resisting the urge to hug her. “I will not fail you, or her.”

“I know you won’t,” she said with a wink before gliding off down the hall again. As I reentered the room I felt the lightest I had since arriving, and I collected my things with more confidence than ever, eager to tell Lorenzo about the events of the evening.

Cate’s POV

Cate had felt supremely at ease entering the studio, knowing she had secured the role she wanted and that the choreographer was in her pocket. It seemed like paying a bit of extra money for private lessons really did pay off.

That was of course until Eleanor pulled her little stunt with the Lycan Luna in the hallway. Could anyone blame Cate for listening? She couldn’t let that low life wannabe take away everything she’d worked for. Hearing that Eleanor’s mother had been a Luna Dancer made Cate’s blood boil. Cleary there was something going on

under the table because Eleanor wasn’t nearly talented enough to truly play this role… at least not that Cate would ever admit.

Back in highschool Cate was always second to Eleanor and she refused to let that happen again. While packing up her dance gear, a plan began to formulate in Cate’s mind. She knew there was a welcome dinner that evening, a semi-formal affair to introduce the guests to the rest of the royal family. She also knew the Grand Prince would be in attendance.

After leaving the studio, instead of returning directly to her room, Cate went by way of the kitchen. The staff bustled about preparing for the upcoming meal, but Cate caught one of the waiters who was loitering by the dishwashing station.

“You, who’s in charge of bringing out the food to the guests?” Cate hissed, shocking the waiter into submission.

“Uhh, we all help out, why?” The waiter didn’t have much going on inside that head of his, and despite Cate’s annoyance and disgust with his stupidity, figured he was the perfect target. She removed a small vial from her dance bag and shoved it into the waiter's palm.

“Make sure three drops of this goes into Eleanor Wright’s food okay? I don’t care what you have to do, just make certain it gets to her,” Cate instructed, also placing a wad of cash in the waiter’s hand. She then pulled out her phone and showed the waiter a photo of Eleanor, making sure he got the message before dashing out of the kitchen.

On the way out she snagged a piece of paper from one of the counters, scribbling a dining invitation and a few other promiscuous words onto it before signing it in Eleanor’s name.

Then, Cate finally made her way to the living quarters where she snuck towards the west wing. This area was typically only for members of the royal family, but the guards were busy preparing for the dinner. Cate snuck to the Grand Prince’s room, sliding the note she had written under the door then tip-toeing back down the hall and towards her room.

If Eleanor wanted to play dirty, Cate could play dirty too. She had given the waiter an aphrodisiac, and if all went according to plan, Eleanor would be a writhing mess all over the Grand Prince tonight.

Black Moon would be a disgrace, and Cate would come out on top.