Servant of the Queen

It was early in the morning when Chrysidea came downstairs for breakfast. As usual, Chrysalis was seated at the end of the long table in her throne, reading the morning newspaper and having a coffee.

“Good morning, my daughter,” Chrysalis said without looking up from her paper.

“Good morning, mother,” Chrysidea answered.

Chrysalis turned a page and cleared her throat.

“We’re going out tomorrow,” she said bluntly, putting down her paper so she could stare across the table at Chrysidea.

“Oh!” Chrysalis’ daughter sat up in surprise. It had been almost half a year since her mother had taken her out to anything. “Where are we going?”

“I’ve been invited to a movie premier,” Chrysalis said smugly. “It’s for The Error in Our Suns, in which I play the leading female role. And I’m bringing you all with me.”

“Wow, really?” Chrysidea’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. “I haven’t been to a premier with you in forever! Is Aunt Ivory coming too?”

“Yes, and the sirens, too. So find yourself something nice to wear and get into character. I’ll be the toast of the town, and all that adoration and love will give me more power than just doing modeling.”

“Oh. Right.” The princess had somehow forgotten that her mother drew power from the love of the masses, as did she. “What time are we leaving?”

“Let’s say five or so. The actual showing isn’t until seven, but I would prefer to arrive early and sign some autographs. It’ll take some time to drive to Manehattan anyway.”

Chrysidea sat there, waiting for some kind of comment about her performance, but to her surprise, nothing came. Chrysalis simply picked up her paper again and went back to her coffee.

Deciding not to push her luck, the princess ate her breakfast quickly and quietly, then crept away, making as little noise as possible.

Chrysidea made it back to her room and breathed a sigh of relief. Then she grinned. A movie premier! It would be just like old times, before her mother had turned all frosty from her going to school.

She moseyed over to her bed and picked up her phone off the bedside dresser. “Now, what did she say that the movie was called? The Error in Our Suns? Oh, I should go tell the sirens!”

Chrysidea bolted from her room and crossed the hall to the sirens’ room. She knocked twice on the door and stepped back, as was polite to do.

A few moments later, the door eased open to reveal a sleep-addled Adagio, still blinking the drowsiness from her eyes like an owl.

“Oh. Hey there, princess. What’s the matter that you have to wake me up at this unholy hour?”

“Mother wanted me to tell you that we’re going to a movie premier tomorrow evening,” Chrysidea reported. “She said to pick something nice to wear.”

“Is that it?” Adagio yawned. “I thought it might have been something important. Pick out an outfit and get ready to watch a movie tomorrow night. Got it.”

Then the orange-haired siren closed the door again, most likely shuffling back off to bed.

“Huh.” Chrysidea said. But she refused to let Adagio’s attitude dampen her spirits. She skipped back to her own room, and began to search her closet.

The following evening, Moonglade found herself waiting in the foyer, wrapped in a black and red strapless dress with sensible but elegant flat shoes on her feet. It wasn’t anything too revealing, but at the same time, nothing too disastrous as well. She didn’t like eyes on her, but she enjoyed looking her best. She was half an hour early, but she would rather be early to leave than have everyone wait for her to get ready.

Beside her Adagio sat primly, wearing a purple and violet cocktail dress with an incredibly deep neckline, wearing nothing else underneath. It had sequins sewn into its panels, making her glitter whenever she moved. She was looking at something on her phone, scrolling through its contents with her thumb. Aria and Sonata were still upstairs, getting dressed for their night out.

“My, aren’t you two quite the early birds?”

Ivory Wings came walking towards Adagio and Moonglade. She was clad in a crisp, white suit that matched her hair. Her usual glasses had been replaced with a pair of half-moon spectacles. She looked quite striking.

“I, uh, didn’t want to be the one to keep everyone waiting,” Moonglade said.

“We have about twenty minutes until your mother’s due to show up,” Ivory said with a glance at her watch. “It would be best if we were all assembled here before then.”

Moonglade snorted with a suppressed laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Adagio asked, looking up from her phone.

“Oh, er, nothing.” In truth, her aunt saying the word ‘assemble’ made her think of one of the comic books that Home Run had shown her, about a group of heroes called the Revengers, with ‘Revengers Reassemble’ being their rallying shout. It was also pretty funny, with a lot of jokes mixed in despite the serious content of the plot. “Just something Home Run showed me.”

“Home Run this, Home Run that…” Adagio moved her fingers and thumb up and down like a mouth talking. “Seriously, all you ever talk about these days is that boy.”

“O-Oh… Re-really?” Moonglade hunched low and twiddled her fingers, averting her eyes. “D-Do I really?”

“You’ve done him, haven’t you?” Adagio smirked at her.

“I… uh, umm…” Moonglade’s face turned bright red and her twiddling thumbs got faster. “N-No. Not yet.”

“Well, no matter,” Ivory cut in. “The important thing is that Sonata and Aria get down here before your mother does.”

There was a crash upstairs, followed by a slew of muffled voices.

“Get it out of my haaaaair!” Aria’s voice echoed down the hall.

“I’m sorry, I’m trying!” Sonata’s answered. “I didn’t know bubble gum was that sticky!”

Ivory Wings rolled her eyes. “I’ll be right back. Just need to get some solvent from the lab.”

She strode off in the direction of the stairs and disappeared from sight.

It was Adagio who broke the silence.

“Alright. This time I can’t really blame the Rainbooms for this. It’s not the first time Sonata’s been told to keep gum away from other people’s hair.”

“Mhhm.”

More sounds came from upstairs, including the sound of breaking glass and a screech that could have come from an infuriated owl.

“That… doesn’t sound good,” Moonglade muttered. She half-rose to see what was the matter, but Adagio gestured for her to sit down.

“Your aunt’s already there. If she can’t handle it, then you definitely can’t.”

The thuds and screeches continued, with a cat yowl added in for good measure.

Finally, a good fifteen minutes later, Ivory Wings reappeared with Aria and Sonata close behind. All three of them looked a little unimpressed. Sonata’s hair was done in a long braid, and Aria had gelled her hair for a more windswept look. Both were wearing sparkling gowns done in magenta and turquoise.

“Here we are,” Ivory announced. “Now, be good and sit down. I don’t want Ebony Wings to catch you squabbling on her big night.”

“She started it,” Aria growled.

“Did not,” Sonata shot back.

Adagio sighed. “Just be quiet, the both of you. If Ebony sees you fighting, she might not take you to the event.”

Still grumbling, the two other sirens sat as far away from each other as possible, glaring at the floor.

Moonglade was just about to take out her own phone to read a comic or something when she heard the clack of shoes on tile.

“Ah, good. You’re all here.”

Ebony Wings strode into the lobby, and she looked absolutely fantastic. Her pretty face, which was always well-taken care of, had been enhanced with dark red lipstick and smokey eyeshadow. Her body was wrapped in a sheer dark green dress that had slits up her legs, which were encased in black stockings. Overall, she looked every bit the movie star that she held herself to be.

“How do I look?” Ebony asked, striking a pose. The light struck her dress and made it glitter.

“You look great,” Ivory nodded. “You’re not wearing your crown?”

“No, I don’t think I will,” Ebony replied dismissively. “My fans don’t need a crown to signal royalty.”

Ivory Wings rolled her eyes and sighed. “Alright. Let’s get to the car then, it’s almost an hour’s drive to Manehattan.”

Moonglade liked taking the limo. It was spacious and cool inside, with tinted windows to prevent people from looking in. Her aunt was at the wheel, nodding her head to some upbeat eastern music from her phone. Ebony was lounging in the back with the sirens and her daughter, relaxed and completely at ease. Aria and Sonata seemed to finally have stopped fighting, and were seated on either side of their eldest sister, staring out the window at the passing cars and lights.

“Moonglade, you wanna see something?” Adagio smirked as the young changeling turned her head to face her. “For the paparazzi, if any of them get lucky…”

She parted her legs to reveal she was wearing nothing underneath.

“A-Adagio! Wh-why?!” Moonglade’s face went entirely red and she clamped her hands over her eyes.

“Relax, daughter,” Ebony Wings said, seated beside her. “Actresses do it all the time. I suppose it gets them more popularity.”

“In all the right ways…” Adagio licked at her lips.

“You mean the w-wrong ways?” Moonglade couldn’t imagine herself ever doing something like that.

“Well, I couldn’t imagine it either,” Ebony said boredly. “I have a reputation as an actress with no scandals to uphold. Comes with the territory. Besides, I don’t need to pull a stunt like that to get people gawking over my perfect body.”

Ivory Wings looked in the rear view mirror and rolled her eyes.

“Anyway,” Ebony declared. “Tonight is all about me. And Easel Allgone, that other actor who played the male lead, I suppose, but mostly about me. I’ve been exercising my wrist so that I can sign photos faster.”

“Wow. Just wow.” Ivory shook her head.

They drove on in relative silence, as the skyscrapers of Manehattan began to loom around them like trees in a jungle. Ivory Wings eased up on the accelerator here, not wanting a speed camera to catch her haphazard driving.

Ebony produced a hand mirror and examined her lipstick in it. Satisfied that it was perfect, she put the mirror away and helped herself to a bottle of Prench mineral water from the limo’s cooler. This she drank with a straw to avoid smudging her makeup.

It was obvious when they began to enter the area that the premier was meant to take place in. Tall lights had been set up, painting the area in shades of gold and white. Journalists, photographers, and movie fans lined the street leading up to the theater. Other limousines joined theirs on the road, each one glossy black beneath the glaring luminance.

Ebony Wings breathed in deeply, a sly smile on her lips.

“Do you feel that? All those people are thinking of me, and it’s intoxicating. Have a sniff, Moonglade, and taste the power of the masses.”

Moonglade did as she was told, and had a sniff. While it wasn’t directed at her and therefore weaker, she could still tasted the sweetness in the air, the delicious, nourishing nectar of adoration that was oozing through the cracks in the car.

“Mmm. It does smell good,” Moonglade agreed.

“And that’s only a little taste of what’s to come,” Ebony said smugly. “Ivory, are we at the red carpet yet?”

“Almost,” Ivory called from the front. “Get ready, we’ll be there in about four minutes.”

“Places, everyone,” Ebony announced, shuffling over to the limo’s side door.

The car rolled slowly to a stop, and Moonglade could see the flashes of cameras as the reporters and journalists and movie fans pointed their cameras and phones at their transport.

“And here, we, go,” Ebony Wings said as she put on a dazzling smile and pushed the door open.

As with all the movie premiers she had attended before, the roar of the crowd was something that was expected, though not perhaps welcomed. It always made her wince as the incessant chatter and cheers washed over them.

Ebony Wings stepped out onto the red carpet, a thousand eyes on her as she sauntered down the path, waving and posing for photographers.

“C’mon,” Adagio poked Moonglade, getting her attention. “Let’s go join her.”

Without waiting for a response, the eldest siren slipped out of the limo and onto the carpet, sashaying along behind Ebony Wings, who had stopped to sign some photographs. Squeals of adoration rained down around the actress, who stood there, her pen racing as she signed autograph after autograph. Moonglade walked along behind her mother, smiling shyly as the photographers trained their cameras on her. This part, she never really enjoyed, though it always tasted so good.

Ivory Wings remotely closed the limo door once all her passengers were out. Moonglade assumed she had driven off to park the car somewhere and would come to join them later.

Various other actors and actresses who had been involved in The Error in Our Suns were also strutting the red carpet, signing autographs, posing for photos, and in general just doing what Moonglade had seen her mother do dozens of times.

The sirens were also getting in on the fun, and Moonglade wondered, not for the first time, if her father had also been like that. She herself simply waved and smiled before hurrying into the theater, where there were no cameras.

The inside of the theater was draped in red and gold curtains, with soft orange lights dotting the pillars. Various posters of films past were hung up in the lobby, mainly of films from over fifty years ago like Come with the Wind and Hero of my Storm, as well as newer ones like The Revengers: Ult of Agetron. The roar of the crowd was almost muted in here, so Moonglade relaxed a bit and picked up a box of complimentary popcorn and began to eat some.

It took almost half an hour for the others out on the red carpet to finally get inside the theater. Ebony Wings looked supremely pleased with herself, and the sirens were sporting similar looks on their faces.

“Aaaahh…” Ebony said, approaching her daughter. “I never get tired of that feeling. The crowd loves me, more than life itself! Much more energizing than anything else.”

“O-Okay...” Moonglade nodded timidly. She hid the box of popcorn behind her back. “Can we go watch the movie now?”

Ebony Wings sniffed, but ushered the group over to some stairs. “This way; I’ve got a box reserved just for us.”

They climbed the spiral staircase and soon found themselves in an overhanging platform which had an excellent view of the screen, as well as shielded them from the gazes of anyone who might be too inquisitive.

To Moonglade’s surprise, Ivory Wings was already there, seated in the box and drinking from a glass of champagne.

“There you are,” Moonglade’s aunt said. “I was almost thinking you wouldn’t show.”

“And miss my own debut? Never.”

Sonata put a hand to her chin. “But you’ve been in tons of movies before this. So this isn’t really your debut, is it?”

Ebony glanced at Sonata and waved her hand dismissively. “Potato, tomato,” she said dismissively. “Come on, take a seat. The best thing about watching movies at events like this is that there are no commercials.”

The seats were comfortable, with plush seats that could recline. Moonglade didn’t want to push it too far back, just in case she were to fall asleep. The chairs were ridiculously comfortable and her mother wouldn't be happy if she were to fall asleep during one of her movie premiers.

Soon, the lights dimmed and the silver screen lit up from the projector.

The rest of the next two hours passed by in a blur of sound and color. The film starred her mother, who played a college student who was suffering from cancer. She met with a boy who also used to have cancer, and they developed a relationship.

As the film wore on, Moonglade heard the occasional snort or snrk of suppressed laughter coming from her left. She looked over to see her aunt curled up on her chair, holding a hand over her mouth and trying not to laugh. Moonglade gave her aunt a puzzled look. This wasn’t a comedy movie at all, so why was she laughing? She tried to remember if her aunt had reacted like this in any other premiers, but this was Moonglade’s first time going to such an event with her aunt.

The movie kept going, growing steadily more tragic as more unfortunate events befell the characters. Moonglade sneaked a peek at the sirens and her mother on her right. Sonata Dusk was on the edge of her seat, her eyes brimming with tears as a particularly poignant piece of violin music swept across the theater. Aria, for once, did not have a grumpy expression on her face, and was in fact looking somewhat impressed with the movie. And the eldest siren was staring at the screen listlessly, as if she was thinking about something else that had nothing to do with the movie at all.

Ebony Wings sat tall and proud in her chair, still as a statue except for her glimmering, liquid eyes. Moonglade knew her mother well enough to tell that she was feeling very proud of herself, and a quick sniff confirmed the girl’s suspicions: she wasn’t here for the movie at all, but for all the admiration of the crowds and their praise. The movie was just the icing on the cake.

The film crawled to an end, with the male lead dying in a most tragic fashion, leaving her mother’s character all alone. She knelt over the grave, crying diamond-like tears as the camera faded to black.

The audience below rose to their feet as the credits began to roll, clapping as spotlights shone upon Easel Allgone and Ebony Wings. The applause filled the theater, and Moonglade couldn’t help but feel a little bit envious of all the power that her mother was receiving at the hands of the humans.

“Please join me in thanking Ebony Wings and Easel Allgone for their roles in The Error in Our Suns!”

Moonglade’s mother stood up and bowed, and bouquets of flowers were thrown her way, landing in the box around their seats and giving off a sweet scent.

“And that, everyone,” Ebony said just loud enough for her entourage to hear. “Is how it’s done.”

She looked back down and Moonglade and raised an eyebrow. The message was clear.