Page 24 of Ondine, Vol. 2 (Cash City Omegaverse)

Audition

Ondine

H igh from the best date of my life I skip up to the house.

Arnold comes out the door looking like he’s got something important for me. I stop on the steps.

“Your phone rang a few times. It’s the symphony.”

Oh shit. Shit. Why would they be calling? My audition isn’t until well after my heat. Did I lose track of time? What day is it? Oh my god.

I take my phone from him and don’t even listen to the voicemail.

“Hello yes, this is Ondine. Did you recently call me?”

“Ondine! Perfect. We have folks in town here for a gala tonight. We thought instead of missing them for your audition in a few weeks, we move it to today, to accommodate their schedule. It’s totally ok if you want to keep the original date.

But this would be in your best interest to have all the staff here. What do you say?”

“Yes!” I blurt out before I even think about it. Fuck. Why did it do that?

“Great! Can you be here by 3:00 pm?”

I look at Arnie who doesn’t know what’s going on.

“Yes, that will work.”

She gives me a bunch of details I’m definitely going to forget and ends the call.

“Arnie,” I say between my labored breaths. “My audition for the Cash City Symphony Orchestra was just moved to today. Why did I agree to that? Oh my god. I need an outfit! I need my music. I haven’t played in days.”

“Relax. Take a deep breath.” Arnie leads me through some breathing exercises so I finally calm down.

Sebastian is with us now. He asks Arnie what’s going on and he relays the information.

Arnie takes me inside to the piano room and sits me on a chair and then kneels in front of me.

Jake comes sliding into the room and practically pushes Arnie over.

“Today?” He asks me and I nod my head.

“Ok, I think I have something for you to wear. Black? Yes?” He tells me how he bought me more clothes and shoes, and then he’s off to his room where I’m assuming these clothes are.

“I guess that’s settled. Come on, honey, let’s get you ready.”

I’m in the prettiest black velvet skirt that sits mid calf. And a matching velvet top with ? sleeves. Jake even had matching black flats ready for me.

I have a clean face and simple hair.

I clipped my nails short.

And I’m at the Wong Music Hall downtown Cash City. Sebastian drove. Shadow sat up front. I was in the back between Jake and Arnie. I left a message for Freddie. He called back but I was in the shower.

I know he called Shadow. I heard them on the phone while I was getting ready.

I warmed up already at the Meier house, but after I check in, I’m told what room I can use to warm up if needed. Which I gladly rush off to.

Jake nipping at my heels.

Sebastian leaves to make sure the place is secure. It’s practically empty and no one else should be here. Arnie goes with him. Jake and Shadow stay with me.

I play my practice songs twice over and go over the tricky bits in my audition song a few times.

Leaning against the closed door to the practice room, Shadow says, “You know Jake plays, right?”

I turn to him. He doesn’t look like he’s setting up a joke. I turn to Jake who shrugs.

“Not like you. Not like this.”

I’m ready to move on and get focused again, but Shadow says, “You have quite a bit in common actually.”

I twist all the way around.

“You both like to watch the same shows. Did you know that? Jake loves those Korean dramas and reality shows you like.”

Jake gives me half his face. He’s not looking at anything.

“You both treat each day like it’s the only one you get. And you both look at Sabbies like he’s the most precious thing.”

Jake frowns and nods his head.

“And both of you have alpha moms.” At this Jake turns to look at me.

“Oh yeah,” I say quietly. He told me about that in his letter. I wonder if he can relate to how I was brought up.

Shadow says, “Mine’s an omega as you know.” This conversation is so weird but we are all smiling. I ask, “What about Sebastian’s mom?”

Jake answers, “Oh she’s lovely. She’s an omega and acts just like a TV mom. Makes cookies. They talk on the phone all the time. Makes no fucking sense.”

“Ondine, I’ve been watching you play piano since you first arrived.

It’s how I’ve gotten to know you. Watching you play.

I like who you are when you play.” He looks like he wants to say more.

Or doesn’t quite know all the words. So, he says instead, “I hope you get this thing. You deserve it. I’ve already asked my dad and Freddie’s dad if they could help. They are looking into it.”

My mouth hangs open. “Really?”

“Yeah, I mean, you’re bonded to a Wong and being courted by a former Wong. There’s got to be some benefit to being with me.”

Wong Music Hall isn’t named after his family in particular, but another Wong pack in their clan that they are related to. I asked him on the way here.

“I appreciate it,” I say warily. “It’s hard without any connections. I can’t even believe I got this audition.”

“We’ve heard you play. We can believe it.”

This heavy iron weight lifts off of my chest. I didn’t even realize the pressure I was feeling. But knowing that I had connections to help me get this position is huge. What if I actually get this thing? I can breathe for the first time in a long time.

“You’re going to do great. Your pack will be in the mezzanine listening.”

I stand up from the piano bench and walk over to Jake. He’s wearing one of his gray suits and has a steel blue tie on. I run my fingers down the back of it. I can smell him so well this close. His birthday cake smell.

“Can I have this?” I ask, letting the omega in me out to play.

“My tie?” He asks.

I nod and go to loosen the knot. He takes over and does it for me. Once I have it in my hands I wrap it around my knuckles and then rub it across my lips and cheekbones.

He seems very pleased.

“Mine,” I say about the tie.

Then I step away. He looks like he’s trying real hard not to grab at me.

I walk the few steps over to Shadow. He’s not wearing a tie. Just a black duster over his wrinkly white button down. He is the picture of cool, but he hasn’t taken a breath the entire time I’ve been getting close to him.

“Shadow?” I say barely above a whisper.

“Hm?”

“What’s in your pocket?” I ask. Even though I know.

He pulls his hand out, empty, but I wait. He dips his hand back into his duster and pulls out a small pink book.

I stretch out my hand between us. He mimics me. I take the book in my hand and he finally inhales a breath.

Pablo Neruda’s Love Poems.

I already know he’s drawn all over the margins. The paper is soft from wear. I keep eye contact with him as I hold the book to my chest.

“Mine.”

He dips his head in agreement.

There’s a soft knock at the door.

“Miss Ondine. They are ready for you.”

I look between these two alphas, showing them how nervous but ready I am. Neither wavers in their expressions. They think I’m going to do great.

The assistant leads me to the wings of the stage. She tells me to relax and not worry. They are just looking to see my skills and not looking for a show. I know what she means. Hit every fucking key. They are listening to the notes. Don’t be a diva.

I am still holding Jake’s tie and Shadow’s book. My portable nest. Normally I’d ditch anything that makes me look like an omega. But she needs this. I need this.

I can’t because I don’t think I have it in me to pretend anymore. After my breakdown and then the marking, my omega side is at the forefront. She can’t be hid behind my old mask.

It’s scaring me half to death.

The assistant gives me the go ahead and I walk out into the lights. I can see four shadows and movement in the mezzanine. My alphas. I draw in a full breath, empowered by their silhouettes.

In the center of the theater are the judges. There’s four judges and about six other people.

One grand piano sits on the lonely stage. I pass it and stand next to the bench.

My hands are together over my stomach clutching the tie and poetry book.

“Ondine. Welcome. How’re you today?” A tall older man asks me with a kind smile underneath a very intense mustache. He’s the conductor. Oh my god.

“Matthias. I’m doing very well, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Likewise, but we met before. I came to a few of your classes. A couple of times.”

I laugh. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think you’d remember me.”

“It’s not everyday you meet someone of your talent. And not to mention your designation. I didn’t know at the time. Apologies.”

We’re already doing this.

“Do we need to discuss my designation for the audition?”

“Oh no, I’m sorry. My colleague here is kicking me under the table.

Please disregard an old man. She’s going to kick me again, but I have to say, we’ve been given the opportunity to use a grant for your salary if we accept an omega in the symphony orchestra.

I’m hoping that after today we have a better idea on how we plan to move forward.

I’m excited to hear what you have prepared. Do you want to get started?”

He’s not being a complete ass and I know it.

I would need a lot of special treatment.

Time off. Randomly. I’d need my alphas nearby.

They’d probably have to guarantee extra space for them.

Traveling with the company would be a whole other issue.

Security would need to be escalated. That being said, I don’t like that it’s already being talked about.

I just want to perform.

“I’ll be performing Johanna Wagner’s Wilf de Hitze No. 22.”

I give them a smile and bow. Then I sit at the piano. I set my nest on the sheet music holder in front of me.

An omega wrote this score. After her alpha died. She never performed it. She died by suicide shortly after the funeral.

She’s the only famous female piano composer. And she was an omega.

I breathe in, smelling Jake and Shadow on their items, and then begin to play.

I know this song. Like I know the beating of my own heart. And I want them all to know it. I cannot help feeling my heart crack and the blood there pour down my arms, between my fingers, and across the piano keys. I cannot help but perform this piece any other way.

I always wanted to love the way she mourned her love. I believe in that kind of passion even though I’ve never seen it.

The notes climb and expand, growing and moving and I’m at the helm. But barely.

Dammit to hell if I get them all right! They are right there! We fight against each other. I know how this song should be played and yet the song demands I let it play me.

This has always been my greatest critique—I play like a monster takes me over. But that monster has never been anything but my inner omega. It’s why I’ve always loved to play piano. It was, for the longest time, her only outlet. My only way of leaning into my omega side.

But for a position like this, they truly don’t want this preternatural thing at the helm. I fight her, for the sake of the audition. I try to move her aside like I’ve always done. To appease my beta boyfriend in college. To deter alphas from speaking to me. To continue being independent and alone.

It hurts to push her aside and try to place the beta-mask on.

My nest sits at the piano—Jake’s tie and Shadow’s book. Looking at it makes it even harder to suppress my omega.

Fuck it.

I can’t do it anymore. I can’t be afraid of her.

My shoulders give and my fingers heat to a passionate state as I trill the notes.

I let my control go. My body vibrates with the time signature, and the song slips into its frantic rhythm.

The song ends after four minutes.

My hands shake over the keys. A bead of sweat travels down the side of my face, joining more at my neck.

I slowly catch my breath and stand.

Fuck.

She said just to play the song. A pianist in a symphony orchestra doesn’t play a four minute song like she’s a melodramatic omega.

I grab my nest and face the judges. And I bow.

And they clap.

My ears ring, otherwise I might notice something in their claps. If they are unimpressed. Or perturbed.

My eyes dart up to the mezzanine but the lights are too bright above me, so I don’t see anything.

Did I miss any notes?

I dart my eyes to the piano.

“Thank you, Ondine. I understand how much work goes into an audition, and we appreciate your efforts. You’ve become an even better player than I remember. Can I ask you some questions?”

I think I say yes.

He asks me about my schedule and travel preferences. I have no idea what I answer. I’m confident. But I’m not even here. I’m with Omega Johanna in Austria two hundred years ago.

He asks me about my career goals.

I tell him I just want to perform.

My vision is blurry so I’m not sure how he reacts.

And I’m hot all over.

Oh no.

It’s not a heat spike. My bond sickness is rearing its ugly head. I can still keep it together. I just need an alpha. My alpha. I need Freddie.

I smile and bow my head and then exit the stage.