Dance of Shadows Read Online Free Page B

eyes darting around the room. “I suggest you leave your preconceptions of ballet behind and come to rehearsal soft and malleable, ready to be molded.”
    Everyone glanced from side to side, eyeing the other students as if trying to figure out who would leave first.
    “But enough of that,” Josef said, suddenly upbeat. “Every winter, we put on a main stage ballet. I’m proud to announce that this year we will be performing Stravinsky’s
The Firebird
.”
    For the briefest moment, Josef’s gaze fell on Vanessa. She thought she saw a hint of recognition in his eyes before he looked away. Had he known her sister?
    “The ballet centers on Prince Ivan, who enters a magical realm called Kashchei, named after its ruler. There, the prince captures a Firebird, who offers to assist Ivan in exchange for itseventual freedom. When Ivan falls in love with one of the thirteen princesses, it is the Firebird who helps him defeat Kashchei and win his true love.”
    In the mirror on the wall, Vanessa thought she saw a flicker of something dark and foreign, but when she turned to look, everyone remained still.
    “The curtains will open on December 13. It is only September now, so this may sound far away, but I assure you it’s not. Casting will take place in one month. The main roles almost always go to the upperclassmen, so for our newcomers, don’t be disappointed if you aren’t chosen. Your time will come. In the meantime, I expect to see you here, on barre. Practice is everything.
    “There has only ever been one student who dazzled us enough to catch our attention from the very start. She was a freshman when we cast her in a lead role, and a magnificent dancer. Ethereal.” Josef closed his eyes, apparently conjuring her in his mind. “Unfortunately, she collapsed under the pressure and dropped out. Her dream was shattered.” He scanned the room. “Do not let this happen to you.”
    Margaret
. Vanessa glanced around the studio, but no one seemed to know who Josef was referring to. No one, that is, except for Steffie, who watched Vanessa with a curious expression.
    Embarrassed, Vanessa hugged her knees, trying to will herself to react more discreetly, when once again she thought she caught Josef’s eyes flitting over her. But it could have been her imagination.
    “Hard work and patience pay off just as much as talent. Which reminds me—the role of Prince Ivan has already been cast.” Josef scanned the crowd. “Zeppelin Gray, could you please stand up?”
    Vanessa saw his reflection first, his eyes deep and smooth like dark metal. He was sitting with the girls in the corner of the room. As he stood, he seemed to unfold himself, his shoulders broadening, his spine lengthening, until he towered over the rest of the room. He was like no one Vanessa had ever seen. He was too tall to be a dancer, too rough, yet he moved with grace, his black hair lustrous beneath the warm lights.
    Zeppelin
, she thought, her eyes traveling up the contours of his arms, when suddenly their eyes met.
    His gaze was startling, unnerving, and as he tilted his head his face seemed to change, his sharp edges melting. His sunburn gave off a brassy glow, making him look like a chiseled sculpture. Vanessa felt like she could stare at him for hours and still not see what lay beneath the surface. She faltered, her lips trembling, but she couldn’t look away.
    And then, without warning, he smiled.

    “Gorgeous, right?” Steffie said. “You should close your mouth. And stop staring.”
    Vanessa could feel herself blushing as she pried her eyes away from the senior playing Prince Ivan and turned back to her dinner. They were sitting around a thick wooden table in the building next to their dormitory. A giant brass chandelierdangled over the center of the room, which was loud with the din of conversation and clinking plates and silverware.
    Vanessa picked at her salad absentmindedly, wishing she had gotten croutons. The dining hall was the strangest she had