Page 119 of A Dead Man's B-Side
“Why is that?” I asked.
I knew very little of Coldwell. When I started to notice him, I could only see that he kept to himself and sat with Callum’s crew in the Dining Hall. He could often be found whispering in Callum’s ear despite Ayana’ssecondstatus.
Marigold shrugged. “... Coldwell plays an important role in every decision Callum makes, essentially. I’m sure you’ve noticed. If you want to play as an insider, get rid of Coldwell first.”
The advice was the best I’d gotten concerning the hierarchy of the Queen’s Club and I wondered why Rain hadn’t been the one to disclose it to me, given her wariness in the success of my actions.
I smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind.” I moved to continue out before remembering something. “Thank you, Marigold.”
Her smile turned genuine, and I waited a beat before understanding filled her eyes and red filled her cheeks.
“Anytime.” She said and shuffled out of my dorm after me.
“Marigold.” I called out after her when she’d made it halfway down the hall, and as she turned with wide eyes, I sent her a single nod in gratitude. “Really. Thank you.”
I didn't need to understand what she’d mumbled back before continuing on her way–I was sure it was something similar to what she’d said moments ago.
Stepping out under the rare sun helped dampen the icy November air, and it was only a few minute’s walk of dry leaves crunching under my shoes down the main path away from the Quarters until I reached the theatre.
As expected, Callum was spotted in the third row of the theatre with a script in hand, watching the act play on in a dramatic darkness that seemed to set the mood of our impending conversation.
“Queen,” I started. Moving down the row towards him as he slid his eyes from the ongoing play to me in a slow and measured move. Almost as if he were expecting me.
“Ah,” he spoke lowly, his white hair coming off darker than it would under natural light. “Miroslav. I’ve been waiting for Ayana’s offer to provide something of worth.”
I took a seat, leaving one between us, and chose my words carefully. “It was merely my curiosity that led me here.”
The side of his lip quirked up in a barely-there smile, though not reaching his eyes. “As I’m sure was the motive for everyone in here. Strange thing–curiosity. Enticing as it is dangerous.”
“Is that the motto of the Queen’s Club?”
A chuckle rattled his chest as he leaned forward and placed his arms over the seat in front of him, the worn script hanging limply in both hands. “No. No, it’s actually Carpe Noctem. Latin forseize the night.”
I hummed. “Verytheatrical.”
He tilted his head side to side, eyes never leaving the tragedy playing out in front of him. “Eh. We are, in fact, a theatrical club. As you can see.”
I did see. The girl on stage performs a stellar, blood-curdling scream as her supposed lover lies limp in her arms, taking me only slightly by surprise. Her sobs felt real, and I almost felt the need to stand and applaud.
A memory of Callum pushing a poor boy off the stage for suggesting Romeo and Juliet came back to me as I watched the scene in front of me unfold.
It really wasn’t as far off as he’d made it out to be.
“Juliet crying for her Romeo?”
Callum made a sound of disgust that sounded as if it came from a deeper part of him. “I wouldn’t lower myself to dignify such a play on my stage.”
I didn’t understand his hatred with such a tale. It was overdone, I’ll admit, but it was still ultimately a classic.
“I wouldn't know why. What with my subpar knowledge of theatre. As I’m sure you know.”
Callum seemed to understand what I was implying, as he tilted his head back to me and winked. “If you wish to join the Queen’s Club, you need only ask. I’ll whip you up to shape in record time.”
I didn’t let it show that I wanted to bristle at his condescending tone. We both knew he’d been the one to extend an invitation. “The Queen’s Club is… interesting, I’ll hand you that. But why would I take Ayana’s word for it? Well, your words. What’s in it for me?”
Callum grinned, all teeth like a shark swimming quick and swift towards its prey. “I think my members will find you refreshing to be around.”
I tilted my head and appeared hurt. “Is that all I am to you?”
