The Black Onyx Pact (18 page)

«She looks like you in an impressive manner, Guillaume, only an idiot wouldn't understand that she is your daughter.» he says, thinking on how many possibilities there were to meet the daughter of a friend in a populous city like Paris.

«Nah, she looks more like her mother. Isn't she beautiful?»

«She is, indeed.»

«And she is also sweet, Romain. Come on, let me introduce you to her.»

«No.»

Guillaume frowns.

«Why not?»

«Nothing, I think it's better to let her dedicate to the customers for now. There is time.»

«Okay.»

They both remain silent for a while, looking at her.

«Her name's Sibylle, this Gallery is hers.» begins to tell Guillaume to an interested Drakkar. «She started her career many years ago, when she was just a teenage. Since then she has sold dozens of artworks and has donated a good part of the money to charity. She founded an animal rights association and has never ceased to volunteer for them. She has toured the world and gained fame in the artistic field, appreciated by the greatest artists. But then
—
», he shakes his head and sips some champagne, «then she married that bastard. Sibylle is a good soul and
—
believe me
—
I don't say this because I'm her father, she really is a wonderful person. Her husband wasn't rich when she met him, on the contrary, it was thanks to her that he started his own business career. And when he became rich he began to treat her like she didn't deserve. That's when we started fighting seriously. You know the rest. She fell in a long period of depression, she seemed to have forgotten the meaning of life. She didn't want to go out, she didn't want to eat, she didn't want to take a shower either. If it weren't for her friends she would probably be still in that dark abyss. You cannot imagine how happy I am to see her smiling again, to see her painting and talking with people. But now, she told me that she is resolute to have that bastard back. How can she be that stupid?»

Drakkar nods. He can feel all the love that Guillaume has inside, the love of a father.
«You know, Romain, I think she likes a man. And it's not her ex-husband, I think is a man whom she met just twice or three times. Can you believe it: she hasn't even seen his face!»

Drakkar turn slowly to the side, cupping his mouth almost choking with his own saliva; but this time he is more discreet and Guillaume doesn't notice it. He turns back to Guillaume, asking with neutral voice:

«How do you», he coughs, «how do you know about this man? Did she tell you?»

«Yes, of course.» answers Guillaume.

Drakkar looks surprised.
«Does she tell you these kind of things?»
«Of course, she is my daughter and she always told me everything. Our relationship is very strong, well, apart the year without talking to each other. Anyway, she tells me these kind of things but, of course, she spares me the details. She just told me that she met this
‘
wonderful
’
masked man with whom she has spent some unforgettable nights.»

Drakkar takes the bottle of champagne from the ice bucket and pour some more champagne for both.

«What else did she tell you about this guy?»

«Well, she told me that his
‘
name
’
is Drakkar. See? He doesn't even told her his real name, how can she trust a person like that? God, why is my daughter such a
‘
bastard
–
magnet
’
?»
«Well, maybe he did tell her but your daughter wants to keep the secret to respect his anonymity.»
Guillaume thinks about it for a second.
«Probably, yes. Anyway I like him more than her ex-husband. Anyone would be better than that asshole, even the most dickhead on the planet! And moreover I don't think this Drakkar is a bastard, she said that he is good with her, that he is passionate but sweet, and above all she told me that he made her feel alive, he made her feel happy. She talked so good about him I had to stop her because I really don't like to hear about a stranger whom
—
», he moves his hands and lips in an attempt to find another word, instead of the one that is in his mouth, but he doesn't find it. «You know what I mean, Romain, right? I don't like to hear about a stranger who
‘has fun’
with my daughter.»

Drakkar nods smiling.

«I understand perfectly, Guillemet.» he says, calling him by the nickname Guillaume hates so much.

They change subject and start talking about engines in general and their passion for motorbikes in particular.

Half an hour later Guillaume face lights up when he sees her daughter's friends entering the room: Alma, Nora and Virginie.

Alma is dressed in an elegant white suit and her hair is a cascade of fluffy little symmetrical waves.

Nora is wearing a black mini skirt, black fishnet stockings, combat boots and a dark top. She wears goth make-up and her hair is combed upward.

Virginie is dressed in an elegant blue chiffon evening gown and a pair of silver rhinestone high heels sandals. Her long straight hair is wonderful and her make-up is exquisite.

Guillaume smiles happily, waving his arm and when the women see him, they stop in astonishment.

«Sibylle's dad!» cries Nora running to him.

Guillaume hands over the chalice to Drakkar, knowing what the girl was going to do. And precisely as he thought Nora runs towards him jumping on him and wrapping her legs around his waist. Drakkar is pleasantly surprised by that vitality. He loves spontaneous people. But he is also a bit worried the women could recognize him by his voice and his imposingness.

«Guillaume!» yells Nora happily.

«My little Nora. Good to see you too, dear! How are you?»

Nora looks at him showing her eyes shining with joy, she hugs him again laying her head on his shoulder. The other two women arrive to them.

«Romain, meet Alma and Maxime.»

«Virginie.» corrects him Virginie, with his baritone voice.

Drakkar elegantly hand kiss Alma.
«
Enchanté, madame.
»
He does the same thing with Virginie.

«
Enchanté, madame.
»

Guillaume laughs.

«Romain, Virginie is a boy, his name is Maxime.»

Drakkar looks at Virginie and smiles gently.

«What my eyes see is a beautiful girl and like one I'll treat her.»
Virginie covers her mouth with her hand.
«Oh! And who you might be,
monsieur
? Apart for being a wonderful and handsome creature like few in the universe?»

Drakkar laughs, but is Guillaume that answers.

«He is Romain. His grandfather saved my father's ass in the second world war.»

Drakkar bows his head. They all talk amiably for another half and hour. They talk about the art exhibition and their personal taste. But when Virginie goes to call Sibylle, Drakkar gets away with an excuse. The man goes to the other side of the room to look Sibylle from distant, almost hidden by the crowd in the middle.

The dj of that evening
—
a boy with green hair and red eyeliner
—
puts on an electronic music and, as soon as Sibylle hears it, she starts to dance approaching the dj desk. The boy smiles and claps his hands turning up the volume. Sibylle closes her eyes moving and keeping the rhythm that beats in her blood. Many people turn to look at her smiling. She doesn't care about anything or anyone, not even Jaqueline who is trying to call her because an important guest has just arrived. But Sibylle cannot hear her, she is into the music now. Someone accompany her movements clapping the hands while she dances gracefully all alone. Drakkar is watching amused, comfortably leaning with his back against the wall. He drinks slowly his champagne looking at her with a smile. He is not surprised to see her dancing passionately: she is Sibylle, she is a free woman, a woman who does what she like, what it gives her pleasure, what makes her feel good. He admires her for that, he loves her way to see the world. He likes her genuine curiosity, her way to approach new things in life. And she is incredibly beautiful. She is sexy even with that mechanic overalls. She is feminine in every gesture, in every word, in every smile. When the song ends, everyone claps and cheers and she curtsey to thank all. Then it's time for Nora and Virginie to show their talent: they go behind the dj desk and prepare to sing a duet, a love song. The funny thing is that Virginie, despite her deep voice, sings the part of the woman and Nora that of the man. Alma and Guillaume are soon dancing slowly in the middle of the room, tight in an intimate embrace. Drakkar realizes that they are not just friends. It's clear that they relationship is something more intense, one can sees it from the way they look at each other. Later, Virginie and Nora are at their third duet, delighting the audience that sing along with them. Sibylle is, however, listening to the endless talk of an important auctions director. When the man finally leaves, Sibylle goes to the buffet to get a drink.

«Sibylle?»

She turns to look the smiling waitress dressed in a delicious orange saree who gives her a note and leaves.

She opens it and reads:

“
My desire is to dance with a sibyl,

under a starry sky,

during the new moon,

in a Spring night,

on a rooftop of Paris.

                       Drakkar
”

The woman startles and looks around, but doesn't see any man who can be him, none of them is massive enough.

“
On a rooftop of Paris
”...

She understands where he is! Sticks the note in her pocket and runs upstairs, arriving in few minutes on the top of the building. When she arrives on the roof she looks around, but doesn't see anyone; so she walks to the railing and watches the city lights. She hears a melodic music and looks down to the river: on the banks of the Seine there are many couples dancing, accompanied by some musicians who are playing various instruments. She smiles, touched by that romantic image. But suddenly she feels a presence behind her.

«Don't turn around.» orders the warm voice of Drakkar. «Close your eyes.» he adds.

She obeys. Few seconds later something silky touches her eyes: a blindfold. The man knots it tight then hugs her from behind. She looks so tiny in front of him, she barely reaches his chest. He gently caresses her shoulders, her arms, her neck.

«Some say that the Seine is actually a river formed by the tears of lovers, tears of joy and sadness. And as long as people continue to fall in love, it will continue to run nourished by those drops of love.» He bends to kiss her neck. «Maybe we are not in love and we will not shed a tear, but we are in Paris, a city where even sex has the taste of romance; where a woman abandons herself to the emotions without inhibitions, without fearing to be judged; and where a man can ask a woman to dance with him under a starry sky, without fearing to sound mawkish.» He licks her ear with the tip of his tongue. «Do you want to dance with me,
madame
Sibylle?»

«I do, Romain.» she murmurs enchanted.

He leads her by the hand to the center of the clearing; then takes her in his strong arms and begin to dance slowly, face to face, breath against breath. Sibylle inspires his strong smell, clinging to him with a sigh. Drakkar smiles and kisses her hair, placing his hand on her back and the other around her shoulders. She is so petite... His
petite leveret
.
«Thank you», whispers her deeply moved, «you made this evening wonderful, my colossal lover.»

He smiles.

«You made this evening perfect, my
petite leveret
.»

The man looks up at the sky and sees two shooting stars. Closes his eyes holding his breath, silently expressing his secret wish.

“Some lose yet gain, others gain and yet lose.”

—
Lao Tzu

~

A few days later Saphir is in front of Drakkar's house. She is dressed in a emerald
1960
's dress and her hair is strangely down. She is very beautiful with her hair stroking her shoulders. She knocks for the third time, while the dogs bark loud from the inside.

«Go, boys, go grab your owner by his ankle and drag him here.» she tells them.

Finally she hears a grumble and a second after Drakkar opens the door in his underwear, turning his back and heading to the bathroom. Saphir enters shaking her head.

«Romain, shouldn't you be “ready for action” all time?»

She follows him to the bathroom where the man starts to pee with the door open.