“Perhaps we should straighten something out. Yury, isn’t it?” I glared at him. “You assumed I worked for you instead of being polite and asking.”
I could feel Murphy tensing beside me as she laid her hand on my arm. I had to take a slow breath to not tell this guy off.
“Yury, the show was fabulous. This must be the new lead.” Aunt Victoria appeared like magic. “I’m Victoria.”
“Good evening, Victoria. This is Sabrina and Gustave.” Yury spoke before the dancer could. “We are honored you could be here tonight.”
“I see you’ve met my nephew, Cota.” Aunt Victoria winked at me. “Sabrina and Gustave, why don’t you go enjoy your evening and dance with these two.”
ChapterThirteen
SABRINA
Yury had been a brute, as usual, after the show and I was worried I would be ordered to stay after and practice the rest of the evening. My feet were screaming, so the thought of more practice was eating at my stomach. There was one bright moment in the evening, when the cute guy that tried to help the first night was standing in front of me smiling.
“Murphy and Cota, take these two over to the dance floor so I can have a few words with Yury.” Victoria waved us away. “Get some food first.”
Murphy grabbed both Gustave and myself and pulled us away with Cota following behind. I wanted to be happy and enjoy it but knew better with Yury.
“Come on, let’s get you guys some food.” Cota handed me a plate. “How long have you been with the ballet?”
“I was handed over by my parents to the troupe around ten years old.” I picked at the fruit on my plate. “I started traveling with the troupe around fourteen.”
“Wait, your parents just gave you to them?” Cota stared at me. “Where did you live?”
“We lived on a compound with a lot of other dancers trying to make the troupe.” I glanced over to see if Yury was watching. “I was lucky to be chosen.”
“I don’t understand that kind of life, but I don’t suppose I would,” Cota smiled. “Do you want to dance a bit?”
“I cannot, Yury won’t allow me to,” I said. “Thank you for the food though.”
“Forget Yury, let’s go, we’re going to dance.” Murphy looped her arm under mine.
We spent the next few minutes dancing. I found myself caught between enjoying the freedom and being scared that Yury would start screaming at me. At one point Cota had joined us dancing. I turned in his direction in time to see a red faced Yury marching toward me.
“I must go now.” I ran from the dance floor.
Yury said nothing to me, but I knew I was in for trouble. We left the VIP room within seconds. Once we were out of ear shot, Yury grabbed my arm to turn me to face him.
“You have embarrassed our whole troupe by acting like that. You will stay in your room for the rest of our time here,” he demanded. “We will speak tomorrow about your position with this troupe.”
“What are you saying?” I begged. “Are you sending me to a different line?”
“A different line? I might just send you home.”
“Sir, I had no warning to prepare properly. I am working very hard to be better.” I choked back tears. “I’ll stay here tonight, all night, practicing. Please just don’t send me back.”
“Then you should have thought about that while you were out there dancing like something else.” He crossed his arms. “Go away from me now.”
I stood there crying, unable to move. Would he send me home? I had nothing to go home to. My parents would feel I disgraced them and Yury would make sure of it. I needed to make a change, but how?
ChapterFourteen
COTA
Yury was clearly surprised to discover I was a Hawthorne. He tried not showing it, but I saw the change in his body language. Aunt Victoria saw it too. I could tell by the arch in her perfectly shaped eyebrow. She was always proper but rarely fooled. I love that about her. When she sent us away to eat and dance, I could have kissed her. I wanted to get Sabrina away from the monster to see her smile.
I suppose if I agree to help Murphy, I could get to know Sabrina better and see what’s going on with Yury. He has to be stopped.