Black Adagio (52 page)

“You don’t understand. I never go back on my word. I gave him what he wanted. See for yourself.”

Viktor stepped out of the shadows. Like a wave, a ripple passed over him. Another change taking place, before her stood a replica of the man on the web. The one that Joan had found. It was Irwin Belmont.

“No, it can’t be!”

“Yes, it is Irwin. Not Foster, not Viktor, not Zoe—Irwin. It was he that you saw in the halls, and not who you thought you saw. After all, this is his home and he was as fascinated with you as I am. Even he understood your potential. Irwin, why don’t you show her what you wanted. Reveal your true appearance.”

Irwin Belmont’s features altered as if underwater. Stretching to a ridiculous height, the hairy, loathsome creature stood before her, his eyes glowing. They were the eyes she’d seen in the forest.

“Yes, Irwin is a Leshy. He loved the forest so. Not only because it masked me, but because of its intrinsic beauty. I rewarded him for his obedience and love for me, and I can do the same for you.”

“No!” she cried, trying to see if Angela had made progress. The rope was cut, her hands were free. All she needed was the gun.

“Think about this, Melissa. Todd would only leave you. And your career? You’d dance a few years and get hurt, or grow old. And what about your father? He’d become involved with one alcoholic after another. He’d never change. You’d become disappointed and become like your mother.”

“No, it’s not true!” she said eyeing the gun. She was starting to get that feeling in her stomach. The one that told her she was going to lose.

“It is true. Think of your mother and how she rejected you. Think of how you felt when the police unfairly accused you of being behind the disappearances. And remember the hurt that was brought about when that hideous Viktor Szelak criticized you and promoted lesser talent because he’d never gotten over Una leaving him. And then there was Una herself, did she not betray you? How dare she take money over choosing you? You were relegated to playing a rat, when you deserved the lead? How fair is the world, Melissa? Remember that I was the one that pulled you out from the ranks—and not the ones that should have embraced your talent.”

The sadness of those moments overwhelmed her. They ate into her, amassing with all her other hurts. Her whole life had been one big exercise in futility.

“I’ve tried before to find someone. It was me at Palace Ballet. I’d heard their dancers were the best, but there was no one that could dance my steps. And I tried again with Una’s mother, Maya, but she was not anyone near what you are. When you told me of your dreams, I knew we were fated to be together. I was so happy that I could have cried. Don’t you understand that I am giving you the chance to be worshipped! And I am not bad. I am a leveler. It is what The Innocents understood, and they will spring up again! Already there is a youth trying to collect kindred spirits. These deaths will ignite true believers to come together once again!”

Staring ahead, her mind was going blank. Although she was denying it, dance was what she’d wanted all along. Looking at Todd, his eyes blinked open and then shakily closed. She did love him, but there was something in her that only loved so much.

“Melissa, they had to die. No one can know the steps to my opus. They conceal the secret of death.”

“But Brandi …”

“Brandi was a little nothing! She interfered in my plans! Una was going to give your part to her! I couldn’t allow that! And I needed to see the steps on you—to see how they fit! And they fit like a crown!”

“But Larabee and Hotchkins and …”  

“Irwin must eat, my dear. He can’t always rely on the animals to sustain him.”

“Then he was killing those animals?”

“Yes, for food, and to leave at my altar.”

“But what about Todd?” she asked in a whisper. 

“Todd will be part of the audience. He will watch you and applaud.”

“Missy, he’s trying to get into your head. Nothing he says is true,” Todd muttered, his head shaking. “I love you, Missy. Can’t you see that I love you?”

“Do you? For how long?”

“As long as I’m alive.”

“You don’t know that, Todd. No one can see around corners.”

“I do. I want to marry you. Have children. Grow old.”

“And what if you change your mind? What if I do? What if you die?”

“That’s what life is, Melissa. It’s filled with things we can’t control.”

“And that’s the point,” Alexei interrupted. “Isn’t it, Melissa?”

“Yes,” she answered in a hushed tone.

“No! Melissa listen to me. Please,” Todd beseeched, his head rolling to one side. With great effort, he took her hand. Kissing it, he gazed into her eyes.

“Prince Charming,” he said, trying to evoke the pact they’d made. The one with secret words that would identify them as not having changed.

Leaning down, she kissed his lips, her eyes fluttering closed. Slowly opening, she stared into his, her mouth pursing to speak.

“There is no Prince Charming.” 

Tears in his hazel eyes, he’d lost her to the dark.

“No! It doesn’t have to be that way! I’ll show you … I’ll show you,” he explained, his strength giving out before he could finish.

“Remember your childhood, Melissa. Remember how hurt and alone you were. It will always be like that. Always, if you choose the other way. You will never accomplish what you want. Never. You will die alone. Yes, people can speak a good game, but they can never deliver on what you desire.”

With the attention focused on Melissa, Angela seized the opportunity. Lunging for the gun, she grasped the handle as Melissa’s foot kicked it away. Not comprehending what she’d just done, she looked up into Melissa’s eyes.

“Sorry,” she apologized. Gently resting Todd’s head on the ground, she kissed him tenderly, as Irwin twisted Angela’s head. The loud snap in the air assured she was dead. Irwin dropping her, she crumpled to the ground, her face twisted in a cruel joke.

“Do you promise?” Melissa asked Alexei.

“Yes, I promise.”

Irwin brought out gasoline cans from the corner. He sprinkled the noxious liquid over the corpses, and flooded the basement with the flammable fluid.

“Then, I’m ready,” she said leaning back. She didn’t want to fight anymore, didn’t want to worry about jealousy and heartache. She should have been home, but her father had cared more about a stranger than her needs. It was indicative of how it would be.

Irwin lit the match, flames bursting around them. She inhaling the first plume of smoke, cringing from the odor.

“You promised,” she said, looking into his calm eyes.

“And I will deliver,” he said bringing his hands to her face. With a touch, she fell backwards, drifting off into an endless, painless sleep.

A sweet concoction of chiffon and tulle filling her dreams, she came back to consciousness—having no idea how long she’d been out. Raising her head off the ground, the starry sky was above her, the limbs of trees looking as if they touched the black velvet. A frosty coolness touching her cheek, her head moved to the side, She was in the clearing—the one where the party had been held. Lying in the snow, she was surrounded by the Holybrook Woods. Dressed in a costume befitting Desiree, it was provocatively sublime. Black pointe shoes decorating her feet, she arose, seeing the stage.

The stroke of midnight caused spirits to spill out of the trunks of the trees. Hidden, they’d waited for the right moment to awaken to her dream. Ethereal and light, some were no longer encumbered by flesh. Recognizing many, others were welcome strangers that had given their lives to be in attendance of her debut performance. Her audience took their seats. Christina, Larabee, Zoe, Justin, Kurt, Brandi, Barbara, Collette, Manny and Todd sat in the front row, while other honored guests scattered amongst the tree stumps and logs.

The quiet of the late evening engulfed her in its magic spell. Walking to the stage, she was ready to begin. The stars illuminating the space, they lent a supernatural luster. Like limelights of the past, they brushed the proceedings in a soft haze that highlighted her supernatural beauty. The snow shimmered under the light of the moon, the crescent shape adding a startling note to the scenery. Never was there such a perfect place to dance—and the setting was all for her.

Strains of
Danse Macabre
filled the forest as Melissa began to dance. Unlike anything she’d done before, she wasn’t encumbered by needless guilt or shame. Not having anything to prove left her free to dance with the partner of her dream.

The choreography came easily, everything held to magnificent perfection. One with the music, she didn’t second guess herself or give in to ridiculous fears. Stepping out into the pique, she held the arabesque that was limitless in line. Todd lovingly studied her, his face expressing the rapt delight he received from viewing.

Velofsky’s burned in the background. An apt backdrop, the flames licked the evening, adding a touch of drama. The orange fire rose higher in the night sky as the ballet school fell to the onslaught. It was the way of all flesh, to die and be buried in graves, but that was no longer her concern. She was finally free. Melting into the adagio, there was no longer anything to resist. She was what she was, and as the partner of Death, she would dance forever.

Adagio. 
Slow and sustained movements; also, the section of a pas de deux in which the ballerina, partnered by the danseur, displays her mastery of lyrical movement.

Allegro. 
Fast movements

Arabesque. 
A position in which the dancer stands on one leg with the other leg extended in a straight line to the rear. Positions of arms and height of raised leg may vary.

Attitude. 
A position in which the dancer stands on one leg while the working leg is raised behind the body with the knee bent.

Ballerina. 
The principal female dancer in a company.

Bal
lon. 
The ability to stay in the air during jumps.

Battement. 
A kick, either high (grand battement) or low (petit battement), executed in any direction.

Cabriole
. 
A batterie movement. One leg kicks high to the front or the back and is held in this extension until the supporting leg meets the raised leg in a beat or in multiple beats.

Coda. 
The finale, finish, or tail of a ballet.

Corps de Ballet. 
The chorus of a ballet company. Sometimes called the ensemble.

Demi-Pointe. 
Distributing the full weight of the body on the toes and ball of the foot.

Développé. 
The unfolding of the leg. Accomplished by raising the working leg to a passé, the leg is simultaneously straightened as it extends to the front, side, or back.

Emboité. 
A turning jump that starts in 5th position, a demi plie, is followed by a 180 degree turn onto one leg. Repeat on other leg until facing front.

En Arrière. 
To the back.

En Avant. 
To the front.

En Dedans
. 
Inward, toward the body.

En Dehors.
A french term meaning "outward." A movement moving away from the body.

Entrechat. 
A jump directly upward. The body maintains a straight line while there are multiple changes of positions of the feet in the air. An entrechat is an elaboration of the changement de pieds.

Épaulement.
A twist of upper torso. Enhances line and gives finishing artistic touch to a position.

Fouetté. 
A turn or spin on the supporting leg. The body is propelled around by a whipping motion of the working leg. These are usually performed by a female dancer.

Glissade. 
A gliding step starting from fifth position, opening into second position, and closing in fifth. It may be held to the floor or used as a low leap.

Jeté. 
A leap in which the dancer propels himself with a push off from one leg, covers space in air, and lands on the other leg.

Pas de Bourrée. 
A traveling step in which the dancer may move in any direction. The calves are held as closely together as possible while the dancer executes a series of swift miniature steps in fifth position.

Pas de Chat. 
The step of the cat is a leap that starts from a plié in fifth position. The leading leg is drawn up with bent knee, followed almost immediately by the other leg. At the peak of the leap, both knees are bent outward to the side, and the toes are nearly touching.

Pas de Deux
. 
A duet. A classical grand pas de deux consists of an entrée, adagio, two solos one executed by the ballerina; the other done by the danseur and a coda.

Piqué. 
A turn begun by stepping out onto a straight leg.

Pirouette. 
A turn of the body done while standing on one leg, the other leg being held in any one of a number of traditional positions. In classical ballet, the pirouette is done on demi-pointe by the male and on pointe by the female, dancer.