Prologue: Veronaville - Part Three
In just three days Veronaville will change forever.
Content warning: This story contains mature themes and may not be suitable for minors. For this chapter, adult references and one swear word.
Friday 8:20pm - 71 Bard Boulevard, East Veronaville
It didn’t take long for the party to be in full swing. The obligatory toasts had been made and while some made their way to the dance floor, others were enjoying the bar and buffet. The children for the most part were playing fairly well together and Goneril had put Ariel down for a nap in Oberon and Titania’s bedroom.
Hermia was, as discretely as possible, filling in her sister on the previous events of the day, gushing how kind and considerate Puck was. Juliette was about to press for real details when he approached. He greeted his girlfriend’s sister before bowing dramatically, taking Hermia’s hand, kissing her knuckles and formally asking for the honour of the next dance.
It was so sweet and over the top, but Hermia couldn’t help the enormous grin on her face. Even Juliette had to cover her mouth to hide her smile.
But as Juliette watched her sister with her boyfriend she couldn’t help feel melancholy. She didn’t know if she’d ever be able to dance with Romeo at a party. She didn’t think she could even call Romeo her boyfriend. She wasn’t sure if he really loved her or just loved the thrill of sneaking around because she was a Capp and he was a Monty. It seemed no matter how hard she tried to guarantee everyone else’s happiness; she could never find her own. She politely excused herself before she got upset, Hermia would never let her hear the end of it if she started crying.
Oberon and Titania tried to be subtle as they watch their son and Hermia. “Those two seem happy,” Oberon smiled.
“Must run in the family,” Titania smiled.
Not every member of the Summerdream family was happy. She really had tried to play with the kids at the party. She had shared her toys, as asked, with Hal and Desdemona but they still just wanted to play with each other. Once Ariel had been put to bed, Bottom was bored. She came downstairs and was excited to see Hermia who was always nice to her.
“Hermia,” she squealed.
“Hey sweetie, don’t you look like a little princess,” Hermia praised.
Bottom spun around to show how pretty the dress was. “Will you play with me Hermia, Hal and Desdemona just like playing by themselves,” she pouted.
Puck had made his way back to Hermia, “Tough luck squirt, Hermia plays with me.”
Bottom pulled her best sad face, “Just for a little while. Please,” she whined.
Hermia laughed, “I’m sure Puck can spare me for a little while.” Bottom was so pleased at Hermia agreeing to play with her she didn’t see Hermia wink suggestively at Puck.
Puck rolled his eyes and frowned, he couldn’t wait for his sister to grow up, “Fine, but I’m coming to find you in half an hour.”
As he walked away he could hear his younger sister planning, “First I’ll show you the gazebo, and then you can see my room, and then I’ll show you my new doll house.”
“Okay, okay,” Hermia conceded with a laugh.
“Isn’t it pretty?” Bottom asked enthusiastically. Titania and Oberon had just redecorated the outside space but due to rain forecast they had held the party inside.
“It is lovely,” Hermia agreed. She looked towards Puck’s younger sister, she wasn’t a bad kid, she just seemed to require a lot of attention.
“Can you teach me how to dance Hermia?” Bottom asked.
“Well, I’m not very good,” Hermia replied.
“No, you are. I saw you dancing with my brother. You two will get married and have lots of babies won’t you?”
She knew it was just a child’s question but Hermia wasn’t sure how to answer it. Not to mention it brought up a rather startling oversight of both hers and Puck’s this afternoon. Before she could jump into a full blown panic, she was distracted by a small hand waving in her face.
“Hermia!” Bottom sought her attention.
“Oh, um, sorry. Dancing, right,” she took Bottom’s hands in her own. “Step on my feet and I’ll guide you.”
Hermia lead Bottom back and forth for a few moments. “We’ll always be friends right?” Bottom asked.
Hermia smiled, “Of course, you and me Bottom, forever.”
Friday, 10.10pm - P.U.R.E, Downtown
Bianca and Kent met up out the front of P.U.R.E and decided to head up to the rooftop first. It was pretty quiet, but the karaoke machine caught Kent’s attention. He insisted they sing a duet, despite Bianca being adamant her voice was horrible and she shouldn’t be allowed to be near a microphone. They weren’t going to be signed up to a record contract anytime soon but they had a lot of fun.
Once it started raining they escaped inside and ordered drinks at the bar. A couple of cocktails and a whole lot of talking later, both of them were quickly learning that they really had a lot in common. Aside from similar opinions, they had several common interests. They both had a strong interest in culture, as well as food, although Bianca mentioned cooking was something she was still learning. Kent mentioned he’d been dabbling in cuisine lately and promised to cook for her. She told him how she had recently brought a sewing machine which interested him and he asked if she could sew clothing. She admitted while she’d love to be able to; fashion really interested her even if practicality won out in her own wardrobe, but she was barley past pot holders. He laughed and admitted he loved fashion too but that he honoured to have a pot holder made by her.
As Kent recieved his drink, Bianca noticed his eye follow another male patron across the club floor. Suddenly it all seemed to click into place, Kent not only had an appreciation for the arts and cooked in his free time but also admitted to being a fan of fashion. She didn’t know any hetrosexual man who would amit to that. She laughed realising that the fact that both his shirt and pants were ironed probably should have tipped her off. Bianca smiled, she didn’t mind, she was just really happy to have a friend who could make her smile and laugh like Kent did.
They finished their drinks and Kent suggested they danced. Bianca would have usually been self conscious, but with her decision that he was most likley gay, she felt no pressure.
Bianca hadn’t felt so free to enjoy herself in the longest time. She and Kent began requesting the tackiest pop songs and one hit wonders they could think of and the DJ seemed only too happy to grant their silly requests.
Friday, 10.50pm - Capp Manor, East Veronaville
When the home phone had rung Consort had ignored it. His evening had been taxing as it was and it was well past a decent time to call someone.
Then his mobile phone rang. It had been a necessity while he was working, but now in his retirement, he often forgot he had it.
Now thirty minutes later he had already finished another bottle of wine. His family was dead. They had all burned.
There had been a fire at the Summerdreams. “There will of course be an investigation,” the policeman had told him solemnly. Petrol, blast, deliberate. Consort had not heard much else the policeman had said, he had not needed too.
He could, however, still hear Juliette’s final words as she had left that evening. “Are you sure Grandfather? The whole family will be there, it would be really nice if you were there too.”
He should have gone to that silly party. If only he had known he would never see his children and his grandchildren again. He would have gone.
He should have died along with them. This was a proud family. Now it was one man with several bottles of wine and some new fangled portable communication device.
His secretary had had to teach him how to work the damn thing. He was suddenly grateful to the silly bimbo as he went through his contacts to the one he knew he could pay to bring justice. He had no doubt who was responsible. If the Monty’s had finally decided to bring this feud to an end they had just achieved it.
The call connected, “I have a job for you,” he barked into the line. The business world could be ruthless. So could Consort; which is why he had succeeded to the very top like he had.
“Go on,” the person on the line replied.
“Tonight. Now for Christ’s sake. The Monty family in Veronaville. Every single bloody one of them.”
There was a moment of silence before the other voice responded, “Ten grand. Each. How many?”
Consort thought for a moment. Patrizio and Isabella were taking care of those two teenage menaces, but didn’t Antonio have a couple of kids. Didn’t Patrizio have a daughter too? Consort couldn’t remember. “Seven, maybe eight.”
“All adults?”
For a brief moment Consort reconsidered. He was ordering the demise of four children, two of them not even in high school. But then he thought of his granddaughter, his blonde little angel Ariel, who had burned to death tonight. He reasoned that it seemed, inconsiderate, to leave another set of Monty brats without parents. “I’m only paying this exorbitant amount because I know you for your professionalism and discretion. Is there a problem?”
The call ended after Consort confirmed his bank transfer.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Of all the events that he had had a part in, it had never included children so young. He poured another glass and told himself it was too late to change his mind.
Author’s Note: Sorry for the wait, but now Uni is done it should be updated much more regularly. I hope to have the next chapter up in the next day or two.