CHAPTER ONE

Pivot.1.2.step.pivot.turn...

I counted the steps in my head, dancing to an imaginary harmony. My dress flared out, making the dance look even more graceful. I swung my hands above my head in an elegant ark, twirling, slowly, finishing off the dance.

Mirrors stretched all around the room, reflecting my every movement.

I stood up, straitening from my half bow that signified the end of my dance, a smile of exhilaration was still glued on my face. I sat down and flexed my bare feet.

My dance instructor always forbade me to dance in bare feet during her lessons, but I always found it easier without shoes. I wiped my sweaty forehead and sighed a sigh of pure joy. I loved to dance, especially ballet.

The graceful postures always made me happy and proud to dance such a beautiful dance.

I took a final deep, refreshing breath then stood up to continue my dance.

I closed my eyes then opened them again, replacing the reflected image of me on the mirrors with an audience. I swivelled my eyes to the vacant, stationary grand piano in the corner and pictured a man sitting on the empty stool in front of it, fingers at the ready.

Then the tune started to play.

The sweet melody of the introduction filled my head, then the song started, and I danced. I flowed from pose to wonderful pose, blocking out everything except the exhilaration of the dance. My mind came jerking back when the music reached the crescendo of the chorus. The one step I couldn't do was coming up. It was a simple step that my dance teacher had shown me a million times. She would put her left ankle over her right so the underside of her foot was parallel to the wall, then a simple jump would finish the step.

But, just as the notes reached the middle of the chorus of the song, I took a deep breath and prepared my self for the unfeasible step.

I twirled then leapt forward, placing my left ankle on my right. Just before I was about to jump and finish, I wobbled and fell, falling hard on the wooden floor.

I gave a muffled yell as pain shot through my left shoulder. My imaginary crowd gave a round of loud jeers and catcalls, but I sent them away with a flick of my thoughts.

My dance was really a partner dance near the end, but I had no one to dance with. I didn't need a partner anyway. I stood up, and, ignoring the pain, stretched my arm and shoulder. My dance teacher had taught me how to fall properly, but I had little time to get my body in the right position before I hit the ground.

I stood up and tried again. I conjured the same imaginary crowd and piano player as before, but this time the crowd waited expectantly for me to start. The musician flexed his fingers and started to play the same tune as before. The sweet melody filled my every movement, like I was one with the music. Again the climax of the chorus was drawing near, and I prepared my self for the one move that I couldn't do. I readied my feet but slipped before I could attempt to jump again. The crowd disappeared as pain shot through the opposite shoulder. Now that the imaginary throng was gone, I saw a single, solitary figure reflected in the mirror in front of me. I turned to see the solid figure of my father.

"Azure, its time for dinner; come with me to the dining hall." He smiled. "Are you ok?" he asked as I picked my self up from the hard, unforgiving floor.

"Yes, Father," I muttered. "I'm fine." I followed my father down the hall of the castle.

My family were given quarters in the castle due to the services my grandpa bestowed to the king long ago. Both are still alive and the king has given me permission to practice in the studio.

I quickly re-did my brown hair into its bun, as it had became messy whilst I was dancing. I flattered my dress and hurried to keep up with my father's long strides.

The dining hall was elegant, but nothing to the Grand Dining Hall the king feasted in. It was more than perfect for our small family.
I was met by my mother, her perfect rings of blonde never out of place and blue eyes always sparkling.

"Greetings, Azure!" my mother said when I was standing in front of her.

"Greetings, Mother." I said politely, bowing respectfully. It was rumoured that my mother was having an affair with the recently widowed king. Everyone must pay high respect to her now. Father wasn't very happy, and they talked little and argued a lot.

"Where have you been? You are five minutes late! The food is growing cold!" said mother, Genevieve.

"Sorry, mother." I replied hastily, bowing again before sitting down. Genevieve patted her hair gingerly in case - heaven forbid - a single hair was out of place, then straightened her gown and sat gracefully at the head of the table.

My father plonked himself down at the other head, and I sat in the middle, surrounded by empty seats and resentful feelings. My mother glared at my father, Walter. He glared back. We ate our food in silence, as always.

After dinner, I went to bed. I was forbidden to go to the dance studio after dinner, so there was nothing left to do. I lay awake for a long time, not able to find sleep. A feeling of dread was filling my body, but I had no what I could be scared about. Finally a troubled, nightmare filled sleep found me.

I woke early. The morning mist was still lingering outside my window. All was quite. But something was wrong.

I leapt up from my bed, throwing the covers aside wiht my haste. I bounded from the room and ran down the dark corridor, my bare feet thumping on the polished floor. I didn't know where I was going, only that I must get there quickly. I skidded to a stop in front of an oak door between two smouldering torches. I realised this was my parents room, a muffled sobbing sound was issuing from behind the door. I slammed the door open to find four figures in the room. One, to my amazement, was the king. And sobbing uncontrollably into his shoulder was my mother, he blonde hair still perefect. A man was kneeling in front to the grand double bed and there, lying motionless on the bed, was Walter, my father. No breath escaped his mouth.

He was dead.

I knew he was from the happy expression on his face. He hadn't looked that happy for a long, long time. I dropped to my knees, tears streaming down my face. My mother heard me and let go of the king.

"Stand up, Azure, and bow to your king, King Isaac."

I stood up gracelessly, bowing a stiff bow. The king nodded.

"Azure, you do understand that without a man we will be unable to support ourselves." I knew what she was going to say. King Isaac was going to be my new father...

I cried harder. No! No! No! This was wrong. My mothers crying had stopped and a stony look of held back glee was pasted on her face. NO! Mother had probably poisoned father or something... She didn't love him! She never loved him!

"The King has asked me to marry him, and I have accepted. He is your new father!" The words echoed around my head. NO! NO! NO!

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?!" I screamed at my mother. She looked taken aback at my words, but a thin smile was playing across her lips.

"Walter died in his sleep. He stopped breathing. I had no part of it and you should be grateful that the King has accepted us to be part of his royal family." Genevieve replied coldly.

"Come and give your father a hug!" said the king in his loud, booming voice hard. I walked stiffly over to the Emperor and reluctantly embraced him stiffly. My mother nodded approval and I let go of my new father.

"You may go now..." said the king, dismissing me so he could be alone with my mother. The other man in the room was removing Walter's body.

I ran to the dance studio, imagined my crowd and people and danced my heart and soul out. It was a different dance from the one I did before. I knew this one from memory. I danced for my father, and danced for my sorrow. I danced for my unknown future.

CHAPTER TWO

Three days later my mother was declared pregnant.

I was always expected to wear jewellery and frilly, pathetic dresses that made every day actions, like breathing, laborious. I was to sit almost all day on a small throne on the left side of my father. My mother would sit on a medium sized throne (which had been made days before my mother was made queen), on the right of the king.

My life couldn't get any worse. I longed for the dance floor.

Only late at night was the only time I had for myself. To dance. And still there I was watched by bodyguards only intent on their weekly pay. It was awkward dancing in front of people I didn't care about me at all. But still I didn't give up my passion. It was the only comfort I had in these dark times.

At least my mother was happy, and that's all that mattered, wasn't it?

But sill I couldn't get that one dance step right. It was frustrating beyond belief.

To Be Continued....

By Amber =)