The Luster of Stars in Moscow
⁇ 52
"Raphael's weakness is an easy target for me" Vladimir hissed in Cyzarine's ear.
The girl shuffled and gulped.
Cheri froze in the doorway with a pale face.
Right, thought. Cyzarine just leaked Rafael's secret!
"Previously, I didn't understand his strange behavior" Vladimir continued, lowering his arm from the wall, then slipping both hands into his pants pocket. "But if adjusted to the weakness, everything becomes clear" he said rambling. Then he moved away from Cyzarine and turned his body to face Cheri.
Cheri was wide-eyed and getting pale.
Vladimir slowly approached Cheri with a sly smile. "First, in my eyes Rafael was a rich young genius. Gifted and perfect as a god. No flaws at all!"
Cheri stepped back and hit the door frame.
The man is getting closer. "But now that I know," he said, stopping, one step ahead of Cheri. He leaned closer to Cheri's face. "Rafa's greatest weakness is himself - himself a double personality!" Vladimir smiled with a big smile.
GLAKES!
Not wrong again, thought Cheri bitterly. This man already knew Rafael's secret!
How'this? Cheri lamented in his heart.
"It has nothing to do with you!" Cyzarine shouted at Vladimir.
The man turned to the girl, but did not move away from Cheri.
Cyzarine lunged at Vladimir and snatched his collar. "If you don't have any business here, you better get out of here!"
Vladimir jerked Cyzarine's hand and pushed him.
Cyzarine slumped to the floor, swearing. "Excession!" his screams. "Then, what did you take me for?"
The man ignored Cyzarine and looked back at Cheri.
"Why, then, if you know Rafael's secret?" grunts Cheri tried to keep sounding calm. "Now what are you going to do? Are you going to use this as an ingredient to trouble him again? To what extent are you just gonna settle for troubling him?"
"To where?" Vladimir repeated Cheri's question with a scornful look on his face. "It depends on you" he said later.
"What?" Cheri.
The man reached out his hand to Cheri's face and scooped his chin, then brought their faces closer together. "I want to make an offer that you've been refusing all this time, once again" he said. "Join the Tsar Dramy!"
Cheri opened his mouth and choked. No, he said in his heart.
Vladimir tightened his grip and brought his face closer again.
"What if I refuse?" Cheri asked half stammeredly.
"I will publish Rafael's secret" the man threatened with a flat face. "And the story of Rafael ends!"
"Sy base!" Cheri tightened his jaw and glared at the man while growling.
"So.." the man smiled flatly. "What's your answer, Beautiful?"
Cheri frowned while closing his eyes.
If it gets published, he'll be stripped of public curiosity. He'll be blown to pieces a second time, he won't be able to make another drama!
"Alright," whispered the helpless Cheri. "I understand!"
Cyzarine screeched restrained and smothered his mouth.
Vladimir smiled in satisfaction and let go of his grip, then turned his back to Cheri and faced Cyzarine.
Cyzarine gulped with great difficulty, then inching pulled his body up slightly trembling.
Cheri looked at her with a disappointed look.
Cyzarine turned his face and bowed.
Vladimir walked slowly towards the table on which was a pile of manuscripts, Rafael's headphones and a mouthful of marionettes were concerned.
Vladimir snatched the marionette from the table and lifted her on the side of his shoulder. "Rafael's beloved Marionette is now within my grasp! What should I do with this doll?" The man hissed while squeezing the marionette until it was smashed to pieces, then turned to look at Cheri.
Cheri and Cyzarine gulped and held their necks in horror.
"What should I do to someone who is one of Rafael's weaknesses?" Vladimir now glanced at Cyzarine.
The girl blinked and looked at Cheri.
Cheri returned his gaze with a helpless look.
.
.
.
Cheri blinked and stuttered.
"Hei—you are... Have you listened to me?" The cat girl grumbled at Cheri.
"Yes, since then.you look weird!" Lila.
"We've agreed to check out Rafael's script, for the new MoscovArt performance we're going to play Joan D'Arc!" Sesha explained.
"Joan D'Arc?" Cher asked unsure. "The girl who could hear the voice of God became the French savior, right? So we're gonna stage a historical story?"
"Because it's Rafael's script, it's certainly not just a historical story!" Sesha. "Titled: Joan!"
"If the female lead wasn't flashy, surely no one would want to watch, right?" Kyle interrupted.
"Right," Lila chimed in. "Especially because there have been many theater groups who heard news about the departure of Rafael and the dissolution of MoscovArt Theatre."
"Well, the heroine is a beautiful, tomboyish 18-year-old girl! Cool, right?" The cat girl added.
Chery still doesn't understand.
"That hero is you!" Sesha explained.
"Huh?" Cheri.
The whole room nodded and smiled widely.
"Wait a minute!" Cheri protested. "I—"
The entire room was now frowning.
"I can't" murmured Cheri, turning his face and bowing.
"Cherry!" Kyle suddenly approached and persuaded him. "It's okay" he said gently. "You've been successful playing the Beautiful One. This time, you can too!" Kyle cheers him.
"But—" Cheri stunned. I must join Tsar Dramy, he said in his heart.
"You'll have to keep your move a secret until I let you!" message Vladimir before leaving. "Don't tell anyone!"
How'this? thought Cheri was frustrated.
Cyzarine, who knew about this, ran away!
Although Vladimir threatened us, but if Cyzarine is still here, at least he can still replace me as Joan.
"Stay acting as one of the members of MoscovArt Theatre!"
Vladimir's last words again possessed Cheri's head.
"I can't!" Cheri.
"No! You can do it!" Lila insisted. "We don't have any more players, Cheri! You're the only one best suited to play a heroic role like this!"
"Really! Go, Cheri!" Saul cheers. "We reply Vladimir Vallensky!"
"Sorry! I can't! I'm not coming!" Cheri.
The whole room was stunned to hear his decision.
I'm sorry, guys! Cheri batin teryl. Soon I'll be out of the MoscovArt Theatre!
Sesha suddenly got up from her stool, then kicked down the table. He leaned over, leaning his body at Cheri. "You can do it, Cheri!" she stared intently into Cheri's eyes. "Now that Rafael is not there, Cyzarine is also out. So did Evaline and the others. You yourself said you wanted to re-establish this theater while waiting for Rafael. Who else could play this role if not you?"
Cheri squeezed in his seat.
Sesha handed the manuscript to Cheri's hand while patting him on the shoulder.
The whole room was slanting and clapping.
"Good luck!" They cried out almost simultaneously.
Cheri was just stunned observing the script in his hand.
What exactly was Vladimir's goal this time?
"Don't tell anyone else until I let you!"
Why didn't he just take me, and instead tell me to wait?
What is he planning?
Is something really bad?