At the Opera

Vienna really was lovely from the moment that Ethan and Brit left the plane. Brit could smell the sweet air of spring flowers as the door opened, but she could not see flowers between the dark and the light fog that seemed to cling to the ground. The car was waiting by the time they had walked down the steps from the airplane. It was a long sleek dark car with tinted windows. The driver matched the car in that his hair was black and slicked-back, and he was dressed in a casual black pullover and black trousers. He exchanged a few quick words with Ethan – both speaking a language that Brit did not understand. By the time she had buckled up, the luggage was in the car and they were on their way to The Sacher.

The Hotel Sacher Wien was a grand hotel that had graced Vienna for many years. Ethan told Brit that Princess Sissi use to stay there. They walked past a portrait gallery on their way to their suite. Brit paused by the picture that Ethan pointed out of the famous princess. It was obviously an older picture, and there was someone who looked remarkably like Ethan in the crowd around the princess. Brit looked to him curiously, and he gave her an impish grin gesturing for her to follow the bell boy to their suite. The suite was lavish. A wall was situated between the rooms and the windows, perfectly arranged so one could walk to see outside, but sunlight would not find its way inside. The room had a separate salon, a bathtub and shower suitable for two, and a plush sleeping area. Outside, it had a spacious terrace with a spectacular view overlooking the Opera House, which was a perfect place to dance until the sky grew light.

The opera house was lovely. Ethan had told Brit the story of the opera they would see, while she dressed in her best red gown. Brit stood very still while Ethan playfully lined her lips with a matching liptint. He then tried her patience by adjusting the rest of her make-up by touching up here and there with assorted soft brushes. Brit could hear the murmur of the crowd along the side walks as they flooded to the opera house, and was practically dancing in place for them to leave. Unable to paint cosmetics on his moving canvas, Ethan put away the brushes and escorted Brit out the door.

Crossing the street, Brit’s red gown swished prettily and Ethan picked her up once to swing her over a puddle near the curb. They followed the crowd until they were peeled off to ascend the sweeping stairwell to their cloistered box overlooking the stage. Brit leaned over the balcony to look at all of the people in their resplendent clothing until Ethan finally pulled her back settling her next to him. The lights lowered and the opera started filling every crevice of the house with sounds and sights. Ethan ran his hand through Brit’s hair while she sat astonished at the bright colors of costumes and dancing that accompanied the music. Whispering reminders of the storyline, Ethan ensured that Brit could follow the opera. His whispers became soft kisses on her neck and light nibbles during the first act. In the low lit box, it was as if they were in their own small world.

By the second act, the light nibbles had given way to Ethan’s fangs embedded in Brit’s neck. He casually observed the changes in her body as she listened to the sounds of Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute. Her heart rate raced as the tempo picked up and the drums sounded louder, and the pounding heartbeat forced blood into his fangs. When the music was soft, she almost rocked in his arms and her heartbeat slowed. Her blood simply seeped in then. The animated crowd caused the house grow warm. Brit’s perfume was stronger as she felt her body grow warmer and, though she could not move due to Ethan’s embrace, she could feel the light raking of his nails over her bare thigh beneath her gown with the fullness of her skirt covering his actions.

By the opera’s ending, Brit felt dizzy. She attributed it to the amazing music and dazzling colors, but Ethan knew that it was time to get Brit some fruit juice and food prior to ending the evening dancing on the terrace. She chattered through the meal as he redirected her to eat over and over again. She was excited to be in a new place and seeing new things. Only his reminder that there would be no dancing past sunrise caused her to quickly finish her late night dinner.