𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍:
Everybody needs some loving
(1990)
DIANA HARETON PLAYED THE VIOLIN ENCHANTINGLY. The serene and rich melody can hypnotize one to do whatever she pleases.
And that was exactly what she was doing as she played the violin solo on stage in front of thousands of people, even live on television.
The audience was so silent that the sound of her playing the violin engulfed the whole opera house.
Eloise reveled in the fact that she had them wrapped around her dainty fingers.
They were so mesmerized by how she played that they could not even mutter a single word.
And it never ceases to make Eloise satisfied that her music is heavily appreciated and adored by many.
Music. It was her comfort, her safety net. It savors her every mood. It balances her with who she was before that she was only a girl that turned into a woman rapidly without notice.
She gracefully stopped her lustrous playing, and for a minute, Eloise could tell that the audience before her was indeed still charmed by her wistful tunes.
Until a woman stood up and clapped loudly, shouting, "Flawless!"
Then, one by one, the audience stood up and clapped their hands in delight, and flowers were suddenly thrown in her direction.
She stood up from her seat and walked in front of the stage, softly and confidently waving her hand in acknowledgment of their appreciation. She blew a kiss towards them, and a man caught her so-called kiss with a bewitched face.
She laughed and curtsied her way backstage, where she was greeted by the crew, who threw hugs and kisses on her cheeks left and right, along with a quick compliment and a bouquet of flowers.
"You played captivatingly, Diane, as always!" Flora, her assistant for bookings and events, told her with a big smile on her face, handing her another bouquet of flowers, this time filled with lavender. "This came for you today. They told me to make sure that you received it."
Eloise smiles and sees a small card stuck in the middle. She flips it open and reads aloud, "Never failed to amaze me with your performance, darling. -J.W"
"An admirer, I see," Flora says cheekily, with teasing eyes and wiggling eyebrows. Eloise lightly giggles and says, "You can say that,"
Flora tells Eloise, "Better give them a shot. Anyone needs some love these days," with a smirk, as Flora continues, "Oh, right, before I forget, the crew is celebrating your performance upstate. Do you want to ride with me?"
"I'll head to my apartment first, change into something appropriate for celebrating. You go ahead. I'll catch up." Eloise tells Flora, and Flora nods, walking towards the exit, leaving Eloise alone backstage.
She heads towards her room backstage until she feels a sudden presence behind her and an awfully slow clap. She turns around, ready for a fight, until she sees who that person is.
"Jane," Eloise breathes out. With the Volturi's attire, they can all be easily recognized anywhere; their black coats and a large 'V' gold necklace, and, of course, their eyes, which seem the bloodiest of red compared to other vampires.
"I presume congratulations are in order," Jane tells her in her smooth and silky voice. She was stalking towards her with a bored expression on her child-like features.
"Thank you, Jane," Eloise tells her, her eyes scanning the corners of the backstage, expecting other members of the Volturi Coven to pop out at any moment.
"Need not worry, Eloise. Or Diane? Ivy? Whatever you please. Aro sent me alone." Jane tells her with a smile as she notices Eloise's expression falter for a moment and then become guarded.
The Volturi have still been keeping an eye out for her activities over the decades. And Eloise knew why.
"Is it too much to ask why Aro sent you to see me?" Eloise politely asks. Not wanting to anger the woman in front of her, Jane might be small, but she was violent. With her gift added Eloise could easily lose.
"No. Not really. We've been monitoring you over the decades,"
"I know."
"We didn't try to be discrete, Eloise. So we know that you know that we are keeping a close watch on you." Jane tells her as she walks around backstage, observing every prop with a disgusted expression.
"What for? I have done nothing wrong since I left the Mexican Coven in the South. I volunteered for humanitarian projects at UNICEF with the mortals, and lived a lower profile than most of our kind." Eloise tells her with a clenched jaw.
It bothered Eloise that, after trying to seek redemption for the immoral sins she had committed by helping the humans who needed aid. She felt that the Volturi never stopped keeping tabs on her; she felt their presence every day, lingering.
"I know, and Aro sends his praises for that. He was delighted that you associated yourself with mortal affairs."
"Then why can't your coven leave me alone to live in peace amongst the humans?" Eloise asks. Jane was suddenly in front of her. Head tilted to the side with a grin.
"You know why, Eloise. How does the mortal saying go? Old habits die hard."
The three self-proclaimed kings thought Eloise would return and join Maria in the South.
"Rest assured. I will never go back. I built a life here with the mortals." Eloise tells her with a tight-lipped smile. Jane nods her head and says, "We know, Eloise. It's not wrong to make sure."
Jane continues, "And Aro's offer is still on the table."
The Volturi have been trying to recruit Eloise to join their Coven of vampire royalty. Eloise was again a useful asset. With her fighting background and skills, Aro would be delighted with her presence. But Eloise is sure that she doesn't want to be in a Coven for now.
"And I kindly, again, decline," Eloise tells her softly. Jane hums and says, "I know shame. Although I wouldn't really want your presence near me every day."
And I the same. Eloise wanted to say something but dismissed it and shut her mouth tightly. Jane then gives her a wooden box with golden vines decorated and embedded in it. "Aro sends his gifts,"
A gift? Eloise almost scoffed out loud-more of a bribe.
"Please do send my gratitude to the kings," Eloise tells her with a curtsy. Jane rolled her eyes, and she was suddenly gone with a drift of wind.
"What a bitch," Eloise mutters to herself as she grabs her bags, and drives towards her apartment to change and head to the celebratory party the crew threw for her.
•| ⊱✿⊰ |•
A SOFT, ENTHRALLING VOICE. Made Eloise look up from what she was doing, only to be greeted by Audrey Hepburn's entrancing singing.
"Her hair was fiery as the sun, her laugh so bewitching and her smile so spellbinding, her heart only for the purest of kindness, Ivy."
"Audrey," Eloise says as she hugs the woman who has aged as gracefully as a fine wine.
"Ivy, honey, ever so sweet. It's nice to see you again," Audrey smiles and pecks her cheek.
Audrey Hepburn joined UNICEF in 1989 and became their ambassador. She was grateful to Ivy for introducing her and encouraging her to join UNICEF; her only request was for Ivy Whitlock to be on her team.
Years of drought and civil strife had resulted in a terrible famine in Ethiopia, where Ivy joined Audrey on her first trip. Audrey made sure that Ivy was always by her side. In a way, Audrey became Ivy's companion.
Ivy was with her when Audrey spoke to the media in the United States, Canada, and Europe about the projects for several weeks, giving up to 15 interviews per day. It was a turning point in her dedication to the organization.
Audrey embarked on a series of UNICEF field tours, stopping by a polio vaccination project in Turkey, women's training programs in Venezuela, street children's efforts in Ecuador, drinking water projects in Guatemala and Honduras, and radio literacy programs in El Salvador.
She visited schools in Bangladesh, poor children's services in Thailand, nutrition efforts in Vietnam, and displaced children's camps in Sudan.
Eloise had never seen a woman so dedicated to her work for the betterment of the world. And she admired her gratefully.
Eloise trusted her so much that Audrey knew what she truly was. Eloise Hareton is a vampire.
Yet, that didn't seem to frighten Audrey. In fact, she also knew her as Diana Hareton.
Audrey always watched her plays.
"A wonderful performance last week, Diana," Audrey tells her in a whisper, and Eloise lightly chuckles and hugs Audrey.
"Thank you, Audrey. always watching my performance." Eloise tells her, and Audrey then exclaims lightly, "But of course! How could I not? My friend is playing live on television. I couldn't be more proud,"
Eloise shakes her head with a wide smile and asks, "How was your week, Audrey?"
"It was delightful! I spent my days with my children. They are such darlings, and Robert is ever such a sweetheart. We visited the orphanage to see their current situations, and he was always so patient when I discussed them with the people who handle the orphanage." Audrey wistfully tells her with her eyes sparkling as if in the cartoons if eyes could be shaped like a heart, she is sure Audrey's eyes would be.
Eloise could easily tell Audrey Hepburn is irrevocably in love with her long-time partner, Robert.
After two failed marriages, Audrey never gave up on the idea of love. The third time's always a charm.
"You have hearts floating around you," she teases, and Audrey laughs, "Can't blame a girl. I'm a lover of love. It's a wonderful feeling, you know? When you go home, you have a person you confide in. Just talk about anything and everything. When you're not, you just soak up in each other's warm and comforting presence."
Eloise exactly knew what Audrey was telling her. She had felt and experienced it before with Jasper. "Enough about me. How are you?"
"I've been well. You already know how my week was, and the other days, I just stayed at my apartment." Eloise tells her as Audrey gives her a soft smile.
"You miss him, don't you?" Audrey asks as she places a comforting hand on Eloise's shoulder.
"Every day," Eloise answers her without hesitation.
Audrey tells her with a light squeeze of her shoulder. "I'm sure he misses you just as much, maybe even more," she continues, "Nothing is wrong with wanting to be alone, El. But sometimes, trying to be independent can be so difficult that you just need someone to lean on. To be vulnerable with." Audrey tells her as they sit down on the sofa, with Eloise placing her head on Audrey's lap.
Audrey continues, combing Eloise's hair with her fingers, "But nothing is more important than truly loving yourself first. Love can wait. It concurs,"
"You are the best, Audrey. Do you know that?"
"I've been told, but coming from you, I'm very flattered."
Author's Note:
➵ I just love Audrey Hepburn, it would be a crime not to involve her!