The red shoes

Hi! This is my first ever fanfiction, based around twilight and a film I watched, something to do with a dancer who was given these red shoes which she had to dance in till she died. Oh yeah I don't own that either. This deals with kidnapping and some other sensitive material- I think I mean that so YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED (sorry for the dramatics) if you don't like don't read and don't complain. I'll try to limit that stuff though, and everything that is is just to emphasize Bella's situation. On the bright side it will (hopefully) also include smut, romance, canon coupling and lemons, but as I said this is my first so when they come, be generous. Sorry this is so long :-)

Disclaimer- stephanie meyer owns the characters and a bunch of the settings and ideas. Not me, shame 'bout that.

For the purposes of this story Bella does not have balance issues and loves ballet.

Chapter 1-BPOV

I brushed my hair once more and looked in the mirror as I tried to pull it into a bun. It took me a few tries but eventually I had my long wavy brown hair in check and tied up with a deep blue ribbon.

"I really need some new shoes," I muttered to myself as I pulled on my worn baby pink satin dancing shoes. I hated getting new things, at least at the moment. Until Phil was signed, money was tight and I didn't like causing trouble, keeping going to ballet was my luxury and I was grateful for it. Victoria had told me she'd see if she could get me some new shoes though for free. Victoria (the new ballet teacher) had been taking special interest in me since she came I thought as I fixed my skirt and started the walk to the ballet studio. The new shoes, extra sessions for free... she's probably trying to get me to move up a grade early I reasoned. I wasn't sure whether to be flattered or to find it creepy; I wasn't used to the attention.

-FLASHBACK-

"Bella can you stay behind for a few minutes?" Victoria called across the room as I headed to the door. My feet slid across the smooth wood as I ran over, trying to be as delicate and quiet as she was always telling us to be. "Thank you" she said. "Bella I've been meaning to talk to you about having some extra lessons—"

"But I can't," I interrupted.

"Why not?" Victoria asked her violet eyes glittering wildly. My face burned with shame and I looked at my feet. Victoria waited a few seconds then repeated herself, her normally soft singing voice harsher than usual. "Isabella I asked you a question, why not? Ballet is important to you, isn't it? If it is you have to put in everything you have to improve all the time, you have to get better!" By the end of her speech she sounded worried and I immediately felt bad, she was so concerned about my future and I was making it sound as though I couldn't be bothered.

"I'm really sorry Victoria I DO want to get better but..." I trailed off.

"But..." she continued her pale skin seeming to glitter in the small slices of faint light escaping through the edges of the curtains.

"I don't think my mum can afford it, at least not until Phil gets signed," I mumbled, but she seemed to hear me and she laughed sounding relieved pulling me into a icy hug.

"Don't worry about that Bella" she said. "You don't have to pay extra, you have talent that needs coaching if it's to be worthy of being watched."

-END FLASHBACK-

I shook myself out of the memory as I arrived at the studio. Tonight would be another late one. Victoria had scheduled a practice and she had said she wasn't sure how long it would be; sometimes they went on for hours until she was satisfied.

I went in through the front door that was almost always unlocked, (who would want to steal from a ballet studio anyway?) and started stretching on the bar.

A few minutes later I thought I heard the front door open and shut so I went to the middle of the room and stood in 5th position waiting for Victoria to come in. A few seconds later she walked in, with someone in tow.

"Bella this is James," she said, sounding nervous but exited. "He's a sort of… talent scout and he wants to see you dance." I nodded calmly but felt confused, Victoria hadn't mentioned this, I looked over at James, he looked like Victoria, his skin looked hard and pale and I would have bet that it was cold too. His eyes were a brown that had the same ruby-ish tint to them as Victoria's and the way he moved had a grace that felt almost overwhelming.

He nodded at me and smirked as his eyes trailed up and down my body. Then he opened his mouth and spoke, his soft voice sending shivers down my spine. "I think I left something in the car, I'll go and get it if you two want to get ready or discuss this." And he left. I pondered his words as I waited for Victoria to start talking, I hadn't heard a car, I was sure of it, he must have parked around the block for some reason, though I wasn't sure why he'd want to walk the extra distance, it was really very hot today in Phoenix.

Victoria came over, "I got you some shoes."

I looked at her, exited. "Really? Should I wear them now?"

She shook her head. "No, if James thinks your good you can have them afterwards, you'll need a new pair."

That reminded me. "Am I allowed to be talent spotted like this? I'm only 16. Not that I'm not grateful," I hastily backtracked, "it's just I thought you had to go to auditions and stuff." I trailed off.

Victoria raised her eyebrows at me. "Yes you do often have to go to auditions but I know James and I mentioned you to him."

I had been thoughtless again, damn it. "Thank you" I said. "I'm really grateful for the opportunity." She looked at me and sniggered, muttering something under her breath then she walked to the cd player and put in a disc. James came back into the room holding a bottle of water and went to stand next to her. She pressed play.

Strange music filled the room, it was a whole orchestra playing, it sounded Italian, dark and beautiful, but I didn't recognize it. I looked over at Victoria and she paused it. "Just follow your instincts," she said, and I nodded. She played the music again and I started to dance. I let the music take me and soon I was surrounded by walls of colour and sound. I danced until the music stopped and finished my pirouette facing James and Victoria.

James was nodding happily. "Yes," he said, "you have talent, you'll be perfect." Victoria looked pleased as well.

I suddenly realised how out of breath I was and how thirsty. I looked longingly at James' bottle of water which he hadn't appeared to have touched, how long had I danced?

He came towards me and gave me the water, clearly I had been staring at it too obviously. I took it and thanked him. It tasted funny, I looked at the bottle, it said lemon and lime flavoured, I took another sip. It definitely wasn't lemon, or lime for that matter. I took another sip and for a second I blacked out, I rocked unsteadily on my feet, control momentarily leaving my body. I took another huge swig from the bottle, not wanting to faint in front of... In front of who? Who was here? There was James, but who was James? Maybe he wasn't here after all. Then there was Victoria, or was there? I couldn't see her. I wheeled around the room but everywhere was blurry; I couldn't see her. There were voices and I felt a rush of movement and the weight off my feet.

I was here, I knew that. I held onto the knowledge. I couldn't see myself but I was here. I felt the last of the water being taken from my hand and poured down my throat, some reflex allowing me to swallow.

I was here. I knew that.

I was here.

Then the world turned black.

I knew I was still here. I still existed.

And then I didn't…

Is this too short? I'm afraid that the first few chapters at least will be around this length, that is if anyone thinks I should keep going? So if you can... Review please :-)