Page 14 of The Paranormal Investigation Bureau
“Like I was born to dance with her,” I admitted.
Beyla just looked confused. Did she not feel what I felt? How could she not?
“I’ve never danced like that with anyone else,” she said. “But this—”
“No buts, Beyla,” Madame Lucinda said, holding up her hand. “Do you know how many chances you get in life to find a partnership like this? Some people never get it. I’m not ignorant of what goes on in this company behind the scenes. Bevan earned that role, and Bellatrix’s knee will make it hard for her to do that particular part. Ivory is dancing the role she should be dancing. Everything is happening the way it should be.”
“Do you know the history ofThe Sugar Skull Girl?”Beyla asked. “Everything about it has been scrubbed from the company records, and Marsden is being shifty about it.”
Madame Lucinda’s face darkened. The deep wrinkles in her face became more profound. She immediately clammed up.
“I… was an apprentice withThe Pthe first time it was attempted. I’d ask Marsden for details.”
Madame Lucindaadoredtalking about ballet history and old shows. I hadn’t tried looking into the history ofThe Sugar Skull Girl.There were no drag roles, so I figured I wasn’t going to get a part in this one. After they announced the cast, I was planning on doing some research.
Beyla had already gone there, and why was there nothing there? We still had tutus Madame Lucinda had performed in, and the original sets. Even if it had just been a concept and the funding had fallen through, there would be receipts, surely. I’d expect Madame Lucinda to have spent two hours telling us exactly why the ballet never got funded… so what the fuck was going on?
She didn’t want to talk about it, then kicked us out of the studio and told us to go bond over coffee to build up trust in this new partnership. Beyla looked like she wanted to press her, but didn’t.
Did Beyla know something we all didn’t?
Chapter14
Beyla
There was so much shit I needed to be doing. Madame Lucinda had answers, and she seemed to like me. I knew I was just there undercover, but it seriously meant a lot to me that she’d singled me out to partner with Bevan. There was just as much stink in the air when he was announced as a lead as when Marsden said I was the understudy. He was a strong dancer in class, and had caught my eye when I was off to the side. Partnering with him was akin to a religious experience for me.
But, I couldn't focus on that, I needed to be doing damage control with Nyx, so she didn’t smother me with a tutu while I slept. I needed the full story of how this ballet went so sour, or I was doing understudy for nothing. I couldn’t protect these petty bitches plotting my demise if I didn’t know what I was dealing with.
I was running low on friends at that moment, and if this ballet didn’t kill me, an angry ballerina would. I couldn’t deny there was a connection with Bevan when we danced, he was one of the leads I was going to be protecting, and he seemed sweet.
I thought we were going for coffee. I didn’t know my way around New York yet, so I followed him all around the city. He led me to this hole-in-the-wall Indian place and got us a table outside.
“I don’t know about you, but Madame Lucinda’s classes are brutal, and I need actual food, not coffee.”
It smelled terrific outside, and I was starving.
“Is she always that brutal in class?”
“Yes, but when Marsden is there, it’s a million times worse. She might be ancient, but I think she has a crush on him… like anyone else with a vagina.”
“I don’t,” I pointed out. “I think he’s infuriating and needs to keep his dick in his pants. Despite that, pretty much everyone thinks I fucked him!”
I was still mad about that. This was a professional ballet company. It was afamousballet company. Roles should go to the best dancer, not who warmed Marsden’s bed.
Bevan snorted and ran his fingers through his white-blond hair. He was pretty handsome. He was a warlock with this ethereal look about him with hair that was this shocking shade of white, and it wasn’t bleached. Bevan’s eyes were an intense shade of blue that rivaled the ocean. He was tall, even for a male dancer, but I felt totally safe partnering with him.
“Marsden is totally straight, but Julian has been trying to go there with him for ages. I know you’re going to have the bitches ofThe Pafter you for getting understudy, but I was just as shocked to get the lead. Everyone thought it was going to Julian, including Julian… then he got a solo instead of a lead, so he’s going to be gunning for me now, and not in the same way he was when I joined the company.”
I rested my elbow on the table and held out my pinky. I liked Bevan, he was easy to talk to, and I felt a real connection with him.
“Pinky swear we won’t let these bitches take us down?”
I was here to stop a massacre, but it wouldn’t hurt to have friends. I’d also have to survive psycho ballerinas and Julian. Bevan hooked his pinky with mine and kissed his thumb. His bright blue eyes met mine through his unusually long eyelashes, and my heart did this weird stutter thing.
Focus, Beyla.Bevan was flirting, and he might be bi, but that didn’t mean I had to go there. I could admit I was having fun in class and with him, and even with Arden and Nyx, but that was probably over now that Marsden ruined it. Still, I knew I wouldn’t be sticking around when all this was over.
Two men plopped down at the table next to us. I recognized them from class, but hadn’t been introduced. Still, I knew Merlin and Nicolai from videos and interviews. Merlin hit me with a massive wave of incubus vibes, but they had trained me to fight that, even if it was hard. I snapped my fingers in front of his face.
