Chapter 5
To say Aubrey had been thrown off would be an understatement. She had never planned on sharing the existence of her Agatha and Rio themed playlist, least of all with the other half of the duo.
The playlist stared at her:
A&R
From Eden - Hozier
Love Interruption - Jack White
Don’t Wanna Fight - Alabama Shakes
Heavy Cross - Gossip
The Chain - Fleetwood Mac
She was overthinking it obviously but that didn’t stop the anxiety that bubbled up. Kathryn probably hadn’t even listened to it. Shoots ran long yesterday and everyone was exhausted. They hadn’t even crossed paths again for how quickly Aubrey sped off the lot to the comfort of her hotel room.
Her solitude did nothing to stop her mind from spiraling. She had a horrible night's sleep, cursing herself for not just naming a random song when Kathryn had asked her what she was listening to. Her bad habit of being too honest had been a detriment many times, this was no exception. The dark circles under her eyes that morning were a nagging reminder of her poor choices.
Luckily, the makeup artists were fantastic and somehow, she didn’t look like death (pun intended) but instead, Cher? She wasn’t complaining. The shiny, lacy fabric of her jumpsuit was surprisingly comfortable and definitely not inhibiting with the amount of cleavage it was showing. It was right in the sweet spot of sexy and dark that was becoming a theme for the green witch.
But just as her confidence was growing, Aubrey felt a wave of nervousness wash over her yet again. Because, if Rio looked this good, then she could only imagine what was in store for Agatha.
_______
Aubrey made her way to set and once again was in awe of the intricate design of the space. She walked around the 70s themed music studio doned with velvet lounge chairs and clunky patterned accents. There were tapestries along the walls of witches on trial and the different ways in which their sentences were carried out, the imagery disturbing yet beautiful.
Guitars hung on the jagged stone laced walls and the giant door in the middle with its red stained glass moon phases was gorgeous. Aubrey ran her fingers along the carvings in the wooden door. Next to the entrance was a floor to ceiling mirror.
As she made her way in front of the mirror, she was greeted with a pair of blue eyes behind her.
“Boo,” Kathryn whispered. “Didn’t want to scare you again, I learned my lesson” she said smiling from ear to ear.
Aubrey turned around to face her co-star who, to no surprise, looked incredible. She forced herself to answer.
“Good call,” she glared teasingly. Her overactive mind was at ease now, their usual playful banter reassuring her that she hadn’t made things weird.
As she grew calmer, a carefree smile crossed her face. “So how are you feeling rockstar? I personally feel the most natural I’ve ever felt in this outfit. How about you?”
Kathryn chuckled at the clear sarcasm. “Oh absolutely. I feel like I’m embodying Stevie Nicks. Appropriate, don’t you think?” she said with a knowing grin.
Aubrey’s breath hitched, panic creeping over her again.
Fuck. Did she actually listen to it?
Eyes wide, Aubrey scrambled to respond. “Yeah well, she’s definitely witchy” she laughed breathily, hoping to change the subject.
To her relief, Kathryn didn’t press further. They were standing face to face when the brunette rested her hand on the younger actress’ shoulder, her flowing sleeve draping between them. “You know, this would be a great promo shot, we look good” Kathryn said as she turned her head to look at their reflection in the mirror.
Aubrey was surprised by the sudden contact but didn’t pull away. She was now directly confronted with her so-star’s side profile. She was left breathless. The brunette’s flawless skin shined under the dim lights, impeccably manicured eyebrows framing crystal blue eyes. Her nose sloped elegantly to the tip that gently jutted forward, a feature that was unmistakably Kathryn. Her lips, full and slightly pursed, they looked soft...
Aubrey allowed her eyes to trail lower, appreciating her co-star’s costume from a closer vantage point. Of course, it was at the very moment that her eyes fell to the outfit’s plunging neckline that Kathryn turned back to face her.
“Eyes up here Plaza” she whispered.
The younger actress froze having been caught but she could hear the playful tone behind the warning. She pressed her lips together, suppressing a smile.
Looking at Kathryn’s all too satisfied expression she raised an eyebrow, “Well, you’re about to tell me to check you out. I’m just practicing.”
It was Kathryn’s turned to be stunned. Finally the younger woman felt like she had a bit of breathing room as she took back some control in the dynamic. She knew she was pushing the line between their characters and reality but she couldn’t help herself and wanted to see how far she could go. She hadn’t been disappointed yet.
She allowed her gaze to travel to the hand still perched on her shoulder and gently took her by the wrist and guided it back down. “I told you, I’m a method actress.”
There was a flash of something in the blue eyes that now seemed a bit darker as they followed the path of Aubrey’s hand. Kathryn’s mouth was slightly agape.
“Alright places everyone!”
Before Kathryn could respond Aubrey turned toward the doors of the studio. “Showtime,” she said over her shoulder.
The coven gathered at the entrance, complimenting eachother’s outfits. They looked cohesive while each of them still kept their character’s unique style.
“ACTION”
Alice, at the center of the group, turned to face the studio. “Don’t drink anything. Don’t eat anything. Don’t touch anything,” she said with urgency in her voice.
“Feels like there’s a story there” the green witch interjected curiously.
“Check. Me. Out” the purple witch practically moaned, staring at her own reflection. She rolled her shoulders and unabashedly dragged her eyes over her own body.
The coven gathered around the giant mirror, each observing the looks the road had chosen for them. They fussed with the new clothes and analyzed the 70s inspired makeup. After the initial shock, they discussed their strategy to start and get through the second trial.
The group split up to look for clues while Agatha and Rio stayed behind. The green witch stalked towards her ex slowly, watching as her expression hardened in the mirror.
“Boo” Aubrey whispered, mimicking her co-star’s tone from earlier.
Kathryn felt warm breath on the back of her neck and she shuddered slightly as she trailed her hand up her collarbone. Her eyes darted around the room before she swiftly turned to face her nemesis.
“No,” she muttered sternly, staring intensely into amused brown eyes before walking away.
“CUT.”
________
There was a lot of work going into filming the big musical number of the series. The coven’s rendition of Lorna’s Ballad was certainly one of the biggest moments in the show with pyrotechnics, a live action demon and of course, the band of witches rocking out.
Kathryn was starting to feel the buzz before a big scene that she loved. It was no secret that she had a tendency to dance when she was excited. Aubrey made her way to the now bouncing brunette. She couldn’t help but smirk at the adorable habit.
“Someone’s excited” she teased, standing about a foot away from her co-star as she fiddled with her sequined hood that she had removed earlier.
“Always” Kathryn said as she shimmied her shoulders and flashed a toothy grin. “Ready for our jam sesh?”
“Oh, I can’t wait to play” Aubrey purred. She then reached out and moved a strand of Kathryn’s hair behind her shoulder.
The older woman went still for a moment before clearing her throat and adjusting the neckline of her vest, suddenly feeling very exposed. Aubrey broke the silence that fell between them. “We’ll have to wait a bit longer though, you need to scam me in the sound booth first” she winked.
Kathryn scoffed in faux shock. “Moi? Scam? I don’t know what you mean,” she said, clutching her non-existent pearls.
The younger actress cackled, throwing her head back exaggeratedly. “Whatever you say Stevie” she cooed as she twirled her hood through the air, walking toward the sound booth.
“ACTION”
Kathryn walked into the booth alone. Sighing exasperatedly, she stretched out her arms and neck, enjoying the rare moment of solitude away from the group. She sat down in front of the soundboard and tilted her head back, closing her eyes in silence. However, it was short lived.
“Knock knock” said the green witch, making her presence known as she confidently sauntered into the room.
Aubrey walked in on her co-star, sitting with her legs spread on the chair, chest out. The purple witch lifted her head up and they locked eyes. The confidence she had built up quickly dissipated. Aubrey forgot her next line and spit out some nonsense about fate bringing them together.
“PAUSE”
Embarrassed, Aubrey went through her lines again quickly. As she spoke with the director, she could see movement in the corner of her eye. Kathryn had bent over in the chair, elbows on her knees, resting her head on her hands. Aubrey saw the change of position as well as the new skin that it revealed.
She attempted to focus on the lines in front of her but she couldn’t help but wonder if this was part of the game. If Kathryn was goating her on; teasing her for getting distracted. It lit a fire in her.
She marched to her mark staring daggers at her co-star and then flashed her a devilish smile. Kathryn stared back, biting her tongue at the challenge.
The older woman stood up and walked toward her, looking suspiciously concerned. “You ok hun? We wouldn’t want another interruption” she said, annunciating the last word breathily before going back to her mark.
Oh it’s on.
“ACTION.”
Aubrey walked in, her hips swaying slowly this time as she approached her nemesis. “How’s the quest for power going?” There was no shakiness, her expression stone cold.
“Oh, it’s going,” the purple witch answered unconvincingly. Kathryn, who was sprawled out on the chair again, now tried to real herself back in as she felt brown eyes bore through her. She crossed her legs and closed her vest over itself, trying to dim the sudden feeling of exposure she felt under the harsh gaze of her co-star.
In an attempt to regain some control, she leaned back in her seat, feigning nonchalance. Agatha was brushing off questions about her journey to the road with her usual easy sarcasm.
Rio listened with clear suspicion behind her eyes. “I’m feeling impatient” the green witch moved her shoulders restlessly. “I’m feeling like I wanna cause some damage.” She pulled out her dagger and grinned with a nefarious glint in her eyes.
Kathryn couldn’t help but smile as she thought about how perfect this part was for Aubrey, she really manifested this for herself. Before she got too far down her train of thought she responded breathily “You’re too early” and raised an eyebrow jovially.
The green witch’s smirk dropped, showing the slightest hint of vulnerability. “It wasn’t up to me,” she admitted. Aubrey sat up on the soundboard, explaining how she unintentionally got dragged into this coven. She asked about the only male in the group, the question quickly deflected by the coven leader with an offhanded “Oh. Many hands.”
As Kathryn observed the look of suspicion that crossed her co-stars face, she took the opportunity to move in closer. She stood up with a deep sigh, closing the distance further as her gaze dropped to give a once over of the green witch’s outfit before locking eyes with her.
“Maybe the road is like Switzerland” she said as her lips curled into sly smirk. “What if we just call a truce?” She continued as she saw brown eyes drop to her re-revealed chest.
Kathryn turned to lean back against the soundboard, mirroring Aubrey’s position. Staring coyly into the other woman’s eyes she murmured “Just.. I don’t know.” She sounded tentative, unsure but it was clear who was in control.
“Just one more… big adventure” she inhaled deeply, staring longingly with her lips parted at the other woman before finishing: “you and me.”
As Kathryn inched closer, the almost whimper she delivered each line with sent a shiver up Aubrey's spine. Blue eyes piercing through her as the purple witch bargained with Death. But Aubrey was determined not to break, she composed herself, gripping the ledge she was resting on.
“Like old times?” Aubrey said, tilting her head to look up at Kathryn through her eyelashes. She slowly grazed the back of her hand along the purple witch’s thigh as she delivered her line. Kathryn’s breath hitched for a moment and her eyebrows shot up.
“Umm…” she looked down at where Aubrey was touching her. A long pause fell over the soundbooth.
“What’s my line?” she gulped.
“PAUSE”
Kathryn shot a pointed glare at Aubrey who was grinning in triumph. She huffed and looked quickly at the script presented to her, refusing to get out of her seated position next to the other woman as an unexpected feeling of defiance bubbled up in her.
Despite the short break, the tension that was in the air during the scene only seemed to grow. The older woman turned to Aubrey, ran her tongue along her top teeth as Aubrey’s smile still hadn’t faded. As the crew signaled they were ready, they both looked determined.
“ACTION”
“Like old times?” Aubrey said, touching the other woman in the same way she had earlier, now paying particular attention to her co-stars face as she did so.
Kathryn didn’t falter, she refused to look down at the point of contact between them and pressed on. “Work and play?” she whispered. Agatha was the one in control. Agatha was manipulating her ex’s feelings. Agatha was composed. She tilted her head and furrowed her brow, “It could be nice right?”
Rio knew she was being manipulated. Aubrey rolled her eyes and turned away, contemplating the offer being presented to her. As if she would ever say no to that face. The same face that was now staring into her soul, the same blue eyes that looked down at her lips hungrily. She knew she was being manipulated, but she didn’t care.
“So, you tell me – What happens next?” Kathryn purred. Aubrey swallowed hard, but responded promptly “I get the pleasure of watching you do what you do best.”
“Which is?” the older woman whispered.
A knowing grin appeared on Rio’s face before she answered “Kill all the witches around you. One by one”
“Then what?” Agatha continued to pull the words from the green witch.
Death obliged and fell willingly into her ex's trap, “You get your power, and I get my bodies.”
The blue eyes that had been looking at her lips needily shot up and flashed with satisfaction. Rio knew she had fucked up.
“Eyy! That's my coven you're talking about! I’m not that kind of witch anymore!” The green witch rolled her eyes at the other woman's antics, like she'd seen this trick a thousand times before. Seeing her ex dramatically wave her hands through the air as if she had no idea what was going on.
“CUT!”
The actresses were still sitting next to each other as the crew started shuffling to set up for the kick-off of the trial. Despite the scene ending, the air was still thick with tension.
Aubrey broke the silence with a soft laugh. “I can't believe you forgot your line, I thought you were a professional” she said as her tongue poked into her cheek.
Kathryn turned toward her with squinted eyes. “Look who's talking,” she shoved the younger woman gently, making her blush.
The younger actress cleared her throat and leaned forward to meet the challenge. “Well, I'll be sure to be more prepared next time,” she murmured, allowing her eyes to give Kathryn a last once over before getting up and leaving the sound booth.
Kathryn was left sitting alone, her mouth agape, before she let out a low chuckle. Just when she thought playing this witch couldn't be more fun, she was pleasantly surprised.
_________
The big musical number/demon exorcism was fantastic. Every aspect came together so well even though the practical effects were daunting. The studio was definitely hot with all the pyrotechnics as well as the impassioned performances the actors were giving.
Kathryn felt like she had just done a Zumba class for how much she had jumped around and waved her arms. But it was the coolest. She really felt like a rockstar in the best band ever.
The energy from her co-stars was vibrant and they pushed each other to give it their all even during the scary live singing parts. Patti took her chance to make everyone laugh with the ridiculous amount of random instruments she was playing ranging from maracas to the triangle. Once the final cut was called, they found that they didn't want it to end.
Kathryn stayed behind to thank everyone on the production team and crew profusely. Without them none of this would be possible. Exhausted, she made her way to her trailer to grab her things before heading home. She popped in her ear buds and hit play as she walked off the lot, a smile blooming as she listened.
She quickly tapped out a text to Aubrey before getting in her car.
I updated your playlist, hope you don't mind
Aubrey got into her hotel room and her phone buzzed right as she was about to throw it on the couch for the night. She quickly opened up the playlist on her phone and saw the new addition.
Just Like Heaven - The Cure
She hit play and closed her eyes. A warm feeling bloomed in her chest and she allowed the melancholic guitar riff to carry her off to sleep.
♫ "Show me, show me, show me how you do that trick
The one that makes me scream", she said
"The one that makes me laugh", she said
And threw her arms around my neck
Show me how you do it
And I promise you, I promise that
I'll run away with you
I'll run away with you ♫