Page 13 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

I started leading her out on stage. The curtains were still down. Dante was grinning at me. He looked amazing in his King’s costume. I squeezed Janey’s hand and smiled as Dante took her hand from me.

“You’ll be brilliant, sweetie. I promise.” I winked once more andscuttled back off the stage to await my cue. Opening freaking night!

“Madi,” Bri slid up behind me, her hands landed on my hips. “Are you ready?”

“Are you?” I asked back.

We were the two main characters. This was a story of a stepmother’s resentment for a child that wasn’t her own. Forced to care for the princess after the King’s death. Forced to watch her blossom into a kind, gentle beauty that threatened the Queen’s very self-worth. Yes, I was the evil Queen, the bitch step-mom. But love was a funny thing, it could take you by surprise.

“I’ve got the jitters.” Bri admitted as she rested her chin on my shoulder.

“Me too.” I confessed in solidarity. The curtains were going up. This was it. The music started.

“Do you think they’ll like it, Madi? The ending?”

I bit my lower lip then stopped, not wanting to smear the lipstick. “I hope so. Everyone deserves a chance at redemption, but Queenie still buys it in the end and you get the throne. Stop talking now, Bri. I’m on soon.”

Bri tucked a stray wisp of my hair back and grinned at me. “See you on stage, Mummy.”

“Shush.” I hissed, while sneaking looks at the full auditorium.

All eyes were on Dante and Janey. The King and his little princess. The other dancers were in the wings like me, waiting for our moment to take to the stage. I looked down at my hands, they were shaking. Jitters. I inhaled deeply as the music changed and caught the eye of the artistic director. With my game face on, I exhaled slowly, releasing all fears in that breath and glided out into the lights. I was a ballerina; the stage was my canvas, my body the brush. I was going to paint my masterpiece tonight…

…Breathe.

“Too tight?” Bianca, the seamstress, asked with a frown on her features.

I nodded quickly. It was my third costume change. I was due onthe stage in under a minute and the bodice was having emergency repair work done to it.

“Hurry.” I commanded, trying not to bounce on my feet. Frantic energy was flowing through me. Nerves and excitement battled for victory through every fibre of my being. If the nerves won, mistakes would be made. I inhaled deeply to temper the overwhelming emotions that always came with doing a production on stage.

“Hurry.” I repeated. Fifteen seconds. I had fifteen seconds top.

“Go, go, go!” Bianca stepped back and I glided on to the stage.

The lights were bright, it was hot under the lights. Liam stalked me gracefully. His movements were controlled, brilliant and perfect. I danced around him, skirting out of his reach with little jumps. Gerrard grabbed my wrist from behind, pulling me into his body before we spun together. I could feel the excitement of the crowd, like a living thing, building, just building. Dante was in the wings ready to come on in his other role. The mask he wore obscured his face but I could see the gleam in his brown eyes, delight at watching our baby come to fruition. Our temporary dancers rushed the stage in a flurry of moves, some dainty and delicate, others forceful and frightening. The whole auditorium quivered. I could feel it, could practically taste it as we danced with abandon and flair.

I lived for this. Dante sashayed on stage, catching my gaze. We lived for this.

Agrand jetéwas executed by me. Liam had just completed the Arabesque lift with Bri. I twirled into the waiting arms of Eddie and we began ourpas de deux. Dante, my sweet Dante was fearsome. His depiction of warrior man, protector of the Princess was exquisite.Pas de deuxcompleted, Liam gracefully stalked me again, capturing me up in a lift. I let Liam’s arms carry me along then noticed one of our temporary dancers was out of place. A low hiss of displeasure came from me and he either heard it, or saw my face, I don’t know; but when Liam lowered me to the ground the man was where he should be.

I lived for this. It was the only time I felt alive, felt free. Dance was in my soul and a two hour show was not enough time, it was never enough time for me. The seconds flew by, the minutes raced and with a bittersweet heart my time was drawing to a close. The toll of thesecond hour was upon me, upon us all. And we danced with fierce joy, with desperation; for we all felt it, the yearning to continue. But the story we told with our bodies, our movements, was almost over.

The auditorium was silent as Bri danced her ascension to the throne, graceful as a swan and just as beautiful. Then the spotlight fell on me. My last costume change found me in the sheerest of bodices, white skirt billowing wildly like my now loosened hair. Dante, in matching white had returned to his role as King, or I should say the spirit of the King. The Queen’s demise had been portrayed in a violent and raw manner. The gripping choreography had the on-looking audience transfixed in their seats as they watched our story unfold. A story of hate, jealousy, betrayal and love; and a step-mother’s realization that the young woman she despised was the same little girl who once looked to her with child-like awe and trust. The Ice Queen’s heart had been melted, she had been redeemed by her sacrifice to save the one who now sat on her beloved throne. I danced into Dante’s arms and my vision swam with tears. It was a beautiful story, and if Dr Brown was here she would surely spout some psychobabble and draw reference to my life. We danced and I felt free, but as they say: nothing lasts forever.

The final strains of music floated through the air as Dante and I slowed our movements. Our spirits were at peace, together at last, watching over her. The new Queen, our little one, all grown up and ruler of the land. Then the lights dimmed and the curtains fell. It was over. I blinked at Dante, he blinked back as we held our breaths and listened. There was silence on the other side of the heavy stage curtains.Shit.

“Do you think-” I began to whisper then stopped as the sound of thunderous applause filled the auditorium.

Dante grinned widely and spun me around. “We did good, sweet cheeks.”

All the dancers on stage started running over to us and we hugged each other. Smiling and whispering as the applause got louder.

“We are the dog’s bollocks!” Eddie pumped his fist in the air triumphantly as the cheers went on. The artistic director strode into our midst, reminding us the curtains would soon be raised for our unified bows.

“Where’s Janey?” I yelled.

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