Chapter 97: Beatrice's Metamorphosis X

Everyone was silent before claps started echoing.

It was a strong portrayal, a powerful performance.

"Well then, Miss Falcon?"

Victor said without commenting on the first performance.

It was better to watch both performances before saying anything.

Beatrice took a deep breath.

She knew very well how amazing Clara was, and this performance showed it again.

'But… I can do better,' she thought.

She could tell that she could do better.

She had checked the play Medea on the internet while memorizing the short sentences she would utter.

And she knew, instinctively, that she could perform it in a different way.

Something better.

She took a deep breath and stepped to the center. Before preparing the look she wanted for her portrayal, she covered her face with her hands and then slowly knelt down.

This time, Beatrice is Medea.

Medea kneels beside her children, shaking from head to toe.

Her hair is messy, her face wet with tears. She clutches their small hands, her whole body trembling. The dagger wobbles in her grip, her breathing rough and uneven.

"No, no, no. Why must it be me?"

Her voice is raw, filled with pain. She lifts her head toward the sky, eyes wide and desperate. She presses her hands against her chest as if trying to stop her heart from breaking.

"I gave you life. I fed you. I held you when you cried. And now... now I must..."

She cannot finish.

She gasps for air, almost dropping the dagger.

She shakes her head again and again, trying to push away her last bit of doubt.

"It is better this way. Better by my hand than his. Better now than later when you will suffer more."

Her breathing turns frantic. She grips the dagger so hard her knuckles turn white. But she cannot do it yet.

She lets out a long, broken scream. Her body shakes violently as she fights against her own mind.

Then, suddenly, she moves.

The dagger falls.

Her children cry out.

Medea lets out a deep, painful wail as she covers her ears, as if she cannot stand the sound. When it is over, she collapses over them. Her arms wrap around their still bodies as if trying to bring them back.

Silence.

She stays frozen, shaking, her breath coming in short, harsh gasps. Then, a loud sob rips from her throat.

She clutches her own hair, pulling at it, rocking back and forth.

"Jason... Jason... look what you made me do."

Her voice is not just sad. It is filled with rage, pain, and madness. She lifts her face, and it is unrecognizable. Her eyes are empty, her face streaked with tears.

She is no longer Medea the woman.

She is Medea the monster.

Once again, the whole place turned silent.

This time, longer than when Clara had performed.

"Wow," Lawrence uttered.

Julian whistled.

While Gideon sighed in defeat, Marianne looked at him wide-eyed. She did not expect such a performance and she could only look at Gideon who seemed like he had expected it.

This was even more powerful than what Beatrice had shown during her audition.

This had more depth. Her acting was superb.

Then someone started clapping, it was Clara.

She, too, had a defeated smile.

She wanted the role, but even she could tell the difference.

Her portrayal showed Medea as someone in pain but still in control. She held back her emotions, making the scene powerful but not too overwhelming.

Meanwhile, Beatrice's portrayal was much stronger. She completely fell apart, making the audience feel her grief in a raw and painful way. Her sorrow and madness took over, making her final moments with her children impossible to forget.

The rest of the group snapped out of their reverie and joined in the applause.

"You okay?" Victor asked Clara.

"I feel bitter. Treat me to some frappe after this," Clara replied honestly.

Victor smiled. He already knew she was aware of the outcome.

No, all of them were already aware of who could portray Medea better.

And knowing that she was unaware of the play they are doing, Beatrice is truly something else.

"She is a talent that Echelon Dominion must take under its wing," Clara added.

Victor nodded before walking over to Beatrice.

He slightly frowned when he got close.

"What's wrong with you?" he asked.

Beatrice blinked, "No, uhmmm… nothing."

Beatrice composed herself, fixing her hair and wiping the remnants of her tears.

"So, how did I do?" she asked seriously.

"How did you do?" Lawrence butted in.

"You did great. Medea will become a success with you as Medea," his eyes were shining brightly.

Beatrice was stunned by his expression and words.

She had seen him behind the stage from time to time, but this was the first time she came face to face with him.

"Oh, sorry, Lawrence Caldwell, the Artistic Director of Echelon Dominion, third year."

He extended his hand toward her. Beatrice, confused, accepted the handshake.

"Beatrice Falcon, first year," she introduced herself despite knowing that they already know who and what year she is.

Then she slowly turned to Victor.

"Uhmmm…"

She knew that Lawrence had most of the voice in ED, her research had told her that.

But Victor was still the Head of Acting and Performance.

"As he said, you will surely bring Medea to new heights," Victor said.

He extended his hand toward her, and she accepted it.

"Welcome to Echelon Dominion."

The others cheered.

"You were amazing. It's my complete defeat," Clara approached and shook her hand as well.

But to everyone's astonishment, big drops of tears fell from Beatrice's eyes.

"Wh- Why are you crying?" Lawrence suddenly panicked.

"Uhmmm… I… Why… am I crying?" Beatrice choked.

The whole group didn't know what to do as they watched her cry, unable to respond properly.

"Well, that's a big loss on our side," Gideon sighed.

"Maybe it's time for some reformation as well," Marianne said, feeling that it was too bad.

"What do you think?" Gideon asked her.

The two of them had stepped out of the place.

"Samantha is also our lead in the year-end performance. Why not make it into a competition? Not an announced one, but within the two groups. With how that young one performed, I can already assume the worst. After all, LC stagnated after it reached its current standing," Marianne said, looking at him.

Gideon thought for a bit before nodding.

"Very well. Shall we do that?"