A darkened room, with only one light shines down from the heavens and onto a gray world. Upon this stage many triumphs have been forged and yet so many have fallen to the deception of the arts and the greed for power over beauty. This is where it started so many years ago; the life of a youth with a gift and yet the gift became a curse. The youth was so young and naive to see the lurking darkness behind the curtains of this empty stage. So child-like, the youth was betrayed by her innocence and was forever condemned to the fate she had found.

"Name, miss?"

"Isabelle-Marie Rosette Merkitt"

She was beautiful and she longed to dance forever upon her toes to the sweet melody of those great composers. Oblivious to the dark arts, she fell into the audition room and performed her dance.

"You may begin, Miss. Merkitt."

Closing her eyes for mere moments, she fell under the spell of the music and let her body be consumed. Swaying in the dim-light, she turned and pirouetted to the tender melody that now controlled her soul. Attitudes followed with grand jetés and arabesques pulling her across the floor as the light followed her every move. Poised and petite, she still made the dance more than what it seemed.

Every movement Isabelle made kept the attention of the judges. Her kindred-spirit made her vulnerable and innocent to the comments being made by the owners of the company. Even though Isabelle was young and timid to herself, the judges saw otherwise. They saw a dancer, with a soul and a heart; a dancer with nothing holding her back except for her own innocence. Could Isabelle become more than what she seemed, or was the child-like innocence protecting her from the world of ballet that she needed to overcome and accept? Innocence or ballet?

"Her innocence is what makes her vulnerable."

"She can overcome that small detail."

"But it could destroy her…"

"But we need her more."

"She is everything we've wanted."

"But can she be unleashed upon the world?"

"Can she become more than herself?"

The owners of the company paused on their silent discussion as they watched her final movement; an attitude followed by a grand fouetté en tournant and ending with a grace full leap into a swan. The judges remained silent as the young dancer arose from the floor and contained herself. She approached the chair before the judges as they sat waiting for her. She had already been interviewed before her performance, but they still had one more question to ask her before making their final decision.

"Miss. Merkitt, why do you dance?"

Isabelle paused for a moment or two, pondering on the question as her mind processed. Thoughts and memories of watching endless ballets and theater performance brought to the cause. She had trained on her own, taught herself from recordings and books of mindless research. Isabelle had study for this since she could remember and had performed only once at her school, in which this was why she was her. This company had contacted the school after seeing her talent show performance; they wanted her for a special role, a role that only few could perform.

But Isabelle knew the answer of this question even before she had her flashbacks and memorable training and research days. She danced because it was her soul; it transformed her into something more than a human-being. When Isabelle danced she felt like dancing on air and flying high on to the sky with nothing hold her down and crushing her dreams. Her dream was to be a dancer and to be only what made her feel real in this world of chaos and confusion. Isabelle had never wanted to become apart of that world, but only to watch it drift away as she stayed contained in her world of dancing and warmth of love.

"I dance, because dancing is who I am. I dance, not to pleasure others, but to pleasure myself. I find myself more and more dancing than anything else in this world. I dance because I want to dance."

The owners of the company stared at her for awhile and then consulted with each other. They would continuously glance back at Isabelle, still sitting and waiting as they tried to come to a conclusion. The answer was staring them right in the face, but to remove the innocence from her soul to create the character they needed was going to be difficult until they accepted her true-being. After gaining her trust that was going to be the closing mark of her innocence and childhood.

"We've made a decision."

Isabelle sat there with anticipation building up inside of her. Everything she had wanted was just on the tip of their lips.

"Congratulations Miss. Merkitt."

Now was the beginning of what seemed like an easy task for her, but would soon become a nightmare that she would never awaken from. Rehearsals began at once after all the roles had been filled, and still Isabelle did not know of which part she was playing for the unknown ballet. Basics of bar and numerous combinations were learned at these rehearsals while the owners watched her progress in talent.

Isabelle's instructor, Monsieur Debussy was particular attracted to her talent, but also secretly her beauty. While the older dancers did turns and kicks, Isabelle would be set aside to work on her pas de deux, her jumps and also her lifts, in which he assisted. Her naive-ness kept her blind to the secret desires that were held in his heart. If only she knew his dark fantasies that danced in his head, his deepening desire to hold her and be more than just student and instructor.

Alas she was only of 17 years, while his body and soul where of 21 years. Oh how he wished to see her more and be with her, but not even the owners (the judges) of the company knew of his passions. But to be lightened, Monsieur Eric Debussy would also be playing one of the main roles and he was the only one to know of the secret ballet. He would have his chances with her, even if it were during the performances.

Eric watched Isabelle from afar, hiding his feelings from her and the company owners. But every time Eric worked with her, the temptation and desires would awaken and tried to escape. He knew one day that he would not be able to bare it no more and that he would make his feelings very clear to her and everyone. But for now he locked them tightly in his heart and harnessed them for the ballet.

After two months of bleeding toes and weakened feet, Isabelle was still the only one standing in class while others took breaks and rested. That's when the owners of the ballet company announced the name and roles of the ballet.

"The ballet that we will be performing this season is: Swan Lake."

"The leading roles will be played by Isabelle-Marie Rosette Merkitt as Odette and Odile, the White and Black Swans."

"And Monsieur Eric Debussy will be playing the role of Prince Siegfried."

The two dancers looked at each other; Isabelle was in shock as Eric ran to her and hugged her in his arms. He was happy that now he had a chances had being closer and happier with her.

"Congrates Isabelle." He smiled.

"You too, Monsieur Debussy. I guess, we will be working together a lot more now." She said staring up at him

"Yes Isabelle."