A/N Thank you for still reading!

Enjoy!

Chapter 26

"You have to love dancing to stick to it. It gives you nothing back, no manuscripts to store away, no paintings to show on walls and maybe hang in museums, no poems to be printed and sold, nothing but that single fleeting moment when you feel alive." (Merce Cunningham)

~ B ~

Act I

Clutching Edward's fingers as if my whole life depended on it, I let him lead me on stage where the lights had fully dimmed. He stopped shortly after, turning to me with soft green eyes.

"Good luck," he said quietly.

The orchestra started playing a melodious tune, introducing the prologue. It was meant to be short, only a couple of minutes to familiarize the audience with Odette's curse.

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes as Edward's warm lips descended upon my forehead all too briefly.

"I love you," I murmured. "I'm going to make you proud."

"I know you will," he responded, his mouth curving into a discreet smile. "I love you, no matter what."

The scene, dark and silent, was waiting for me. Breaking away from Edward, I stepped forward; ready to brace whatever outcome I had to.

The moment my feet hit the stage, I was transformed. Gone was Isabella, the somewhat shy girl who'd started in the company all those months ago. She had been replaced by Odette; the graceful, vulnerable princess whose fate was about to take an unfortunate turn.

On a darkened background, I walked slowly, gazing past the audience towards an imagined horizon.

I stopped to gracefully pick up a flower, then another. The music was beautifully lighthearted, reminiscent of a fairy tale. Suddenly, it became ominous. My expression changed, showing the fear Odette felt in face of the unknown.

Behind me, a tall shadowy silhouette appeared, calling me into its darkness. I fought it, but to no avail. There was no escaping it.

Soon, Odette was no more as the awful Rothbart cursed her into a swan.

When I stepped backstage, my heart beating erratically, more from pent up nerves than the physical effort, I ran straight into Yovenko's broad chest.

"Very good lines," he said appreciatively, in his distinct accent I'd actually become quite find of. "Keep it up."

"Thank you," I muttered, my eyes restlessly searching for Edward.

"He just left," Yovenko answered my silent question.

As I started for the stairs leading to the staff rooms, the music for Act I reached my ears. I looked over my shoulder in time to see Emmett beam as he made his entrance behind the male corps. The background was now simply breathtaking, simulating a banquet en plein air. Perched up on a stool, holding a cup, Emmett saluted the audience. He was a natural, and the sight of him, so confident in front of the impressive audience, brought a smile to my lips.

I found Edward in Alice's provisory dressing room, talking to La Scala's artistic director and a woman I hadn't seen before. They smiled upon my entrance.

"Great start," Edward gushed, wrapping a long arm around my shoulders. "Mr. Accosi just arrived." He nodded in the man's direction. "He's very interested in watching your performance tonight."

"Indeed," he agreed in a thick Italian accent, taking me in with his ever-persistent blue eyes. "We are looking for new dancers here at La Scala."

I smiled politely. "Edward told me."

Mr. Accosi nodded. "We will have to see what happens after tonight's performance. Although, I have to tell you, a lot of people are greatly excited to see you on stage as the famous Swans. I suspect you are going to be a... how do you say... a huge hit?"

Edward chuckled, looking at me. "Let's hope so."

"Aren't you going to introduce me?" the woman asked, giving Edward a playful look. She had green eyes, much like Edward's, and wavy brown hair falling to her shoulders gracefully. Before he could speak, it hit me like a freight train. She was Edward's mother. The resemblance was striking.

"Isabella," Edward said cheerfully. "I'd like you to meet my mother, Esme Cullen."

"Oh," I breathed, suddenly overwhelmed, gently shaking her extended hand. "It's so nice to meet you."

She gave me a kind smile. "Likewise, dear. I'm sorry I couldn't make it earlier. My plane was delayed nearly five hours because of this dreaded snowstorm. I was afraid I wasn't going to make it in time."

"Yes, Edward told me. I'm so glad you're here, though. It means a lot."

"Well, I'll leave you for now. I just wanted to say hello. I must find my seat." She looked at me. "I heard your parents are also in town, Isabella. Maybe all of us can have lunch tomorrow."

"That would be lovely."

As she departed, guided by one of the staff members, I turned to Edward. "You look so much like her."

Edward grinned, a hint of mischievousness on his lips. "I got her temper, too."

"And by that you mean..." I frowned, confused. She seemed like a sweet lady.

"She's typically calm and diplomatic, until you step on her toes. Then, you should steer clear." He laughed, seeing my bewildered expression. "Don't worry; she's a wonderful person with those who deserve it. You'll see."

Some minutes later, Mr. Accosi, Edward, and I found ourselves watching Emmett's dazzling performance. Edward and Mr. Accosi talked amongst themselves, and I took the opportunity to steal a peek at the audience. I spotted my family, watching from the third row. Behind them, two seats to the left, were Aro and Sulpicia, and right beside them, Edward's mother.

My phone, which was resting in Edward's pocket, buzzed with a text. He handed it to me, and I was pleased to see it was from my mother.

I'm so proud of you, sweetie!

I replied quickly. Thanks, Mom! :X

Moments later, another text. I opened it, and was surprised to see Laurent's number. I looked around, expecting to see him. He'd arrived in Milan only a few days before Giselle's premiere, due to some family problems, but hadn't really tried to make much contact, other than the occasional chitchat in between rehearsals.

Just wanted to wish you good luck. I'll see you later.

I settled for a simple Thanks, as my reply, making a mental note to look for him after the premiere. Even though Edward didn't approve of my friendship with him, he'd proved a loyal friend, and loyal friends were difficult to find. As for his romantic interest in me... well, I felt he'd finally gotten through his head that it just wasn't going to happen.

I gave back the phone to Edward with a smile.

~ B ~

Act I ended with the Joker finishing his solo in a deafening round of applause.

Beside me, Emmett squeezed my shoulder encouragingly. "We're up." He looked down at me, his eyes bright. "We're going to kill it tonight."

"Take care of her, Emmett," Edward said from behind us, a hint of protectiveness coloring his voice.

Emmett grinned in response, not bothering to answer.

I gazed at Edward over my shoulder, and was thankful for all the positive energy both he and Emmett sent my way.

As the orchestra introduced Act II, Emmett did a few head rotations, closing his eyes as he did several breathing exercises. I'd never seen him do it before, but assumed it was his way of preparing himself before performing. Aside from those little gestures, he looked as collected as ever, which didn't do much for my own nerves.

I'd been on stage already, but it was so short, I didn't have time to get used to the idea of dancing in front of such a vast audience. Emmett, on the other hand, had been out there for a full act, which no doubt had him in a much better frame of mind than me.

The music slowly faded until there was complete silence, then abruptly picked up pace again, and Emmett dashed forward, holding his crossbow.

Taking deep, hungry breaths, I steeled myself.

I was going to do great. I had to. There was no other option. I was going to be a success and show everyone I'd earned the title of principal. Rosalie, and every other hater out there, be damned. It was my night, and I was going to make the most of it.

Stepping forward to meet Emmett on stage had to be the most crucial moment of my career up until that point. The music, the lights, Emmett's soothing presence, everything was simply perfect, and it gave my confidence such an unexpected boost.

I could sense the audience's excitement in the air. So many people had come specifically to see me—it was thrilling and intimidating at the same time.

Behind Emmett, the scene's background unfolded majestically:a lakeside clearing in a moonlit forest by the ruins of a chapel. Separated from his friends, Prince Siegfried watched as a flock of swans landed nearby. He aimed his crossbow, just as one of the swans turned into the beautiful maiden Odette.

En pointe, I made my entrance, revealing myself to Prince Siegfried. Soon, we were engaging in a profound pas de deux that, true to classical ballet, required physical closeness, but no eye contact. Even though I couldn't stare into Emmett's eyes, his hands were telling me everything I needed to know: he was there for me; he had my back.

Gradually, as I allowed myself to get lost in our dance, my mind went blank. All I could do was feel the music and the hard floor beneath my feet. There was nothing else but me and my partner and the music surrounding us. No pain, no bad memories, no self-doubt, only the adrenaline coursing through my body and making me feel as if I could literally move mountains.

There were some trying moments, evident to the trained eye, but even those didn't manage to deter me.

At some point during a pirouette, I let my leg down a bit too early and almost lost my balance. Fortunately, Emmett was there to rectify my little slip up. He gently placed his hand on my lower back, giving me a slight push so I landed in the correct position.

Then again, when executing a simple arabesque, I did the movement much too suddenly and felt a jab of pain in my lower back. For a split second, I feared I'd caused myself a stress fracture, but breathed a sigh of relief when the pain subsided almost immediately.

Keeping a detached expression, I managed to get through it all.

Halfway through our pas de deux, our first round of applause hit me like a bolt of lightning. I curtsied in front of the audience, trying to ignore the sudden tingling assaulting my body from head to toe. It seemed quite surreal, my being there, as if I was in some sort of alternate universe.

I took deep breaths, forcing myself not to lose the serene expression on my face that was trembling with the effort not to burst into an overwhelmed smile. The public's reaction to seeing Emmett and I dance together for the first time was amazing. I saw my mom clapping furiously, just as someone cried a resounding,"Brava!"

When the applause finally faded to silence, Emmett took my hand into his, guiding me backstage, where Edward, Yovenko, and so many others were watching.

I jumped into Edward's open arms, euphoric. I only had about four minutes before I had to be back on stage, and I clung to him tightly.

"My God, you're divine," Edward whispered into my hair, holding me.

"It's wonderful," I breathed into his neck, at a loss for more eloquent words. "Wow."

He chuckled, kissing the shell of my ear. "I know the feeling. Bask in it."

Alice, who was nearby, interrupted our intimate moment, her voice all business-like. "Bella, let me take a look at your dress."

Hesitantly, I pulled away from Edward, letting her do her work, while Yovenko went over the latest changes that we'd agreed upon earlier. All too soon, a member of the staff reminded me that I was due on stage in twenty seconds. Alice procured a light-colored lip pencil from her pocket, making quick work of retouching my lips.

Before I could exchange any more words with any of them, I was being rushed on stage.

~ B ~

Odette's variation was not only my favorite part, but also the part at which I excelled. Taking advantage of this was my main goal for the night. If I'd learned how to become good at impersonating Odile, I knew I could really make Odette shine.

I poured my soul into those fleeting minutes of dance, making sure everyone was going to remember my performance, at least for a little while, and was rewarded with the most genuine round of applause I'd had the pleasure of receiving. This time, it was all for me. Goosebumps broke out all over my skin as I finished curtsying and rushed my way behind the heavy curtains.

I bumped straight into Emmett and laughed.

"You're doing mighty fine, Bella Boo," he said jokingly.

"Thank you," I replied, confident, and appreciative of his praise. "It's amazing being out there. The energy is just... out of this world."

"They like you. It's going to be a great after-party. Just make sure you wear something comfortable. It's going to be a lot of standing and socializing. Everyone is going to want to meet you. And I mean literally everyone."

He stepped past me, turning around only to give me a playful wink.

For the duo's final pas de deux, the stage looked more alive than ever. Surrounded by the other swans, Prince Siegfried professed his undying love, as a reluctant Odette was being drawn away by her imprisoner. The scene left the handsome prince clinging to a feather from his beloved Odette as his eyes transfixed beyond the audience, thinking of the moment they would be reunited.

The instant I reached Alice, she was ushering me towards the fitting-room impatiently. "We need to have you changed quickly."

"Yeah," I agreed, passing by a smiling Edward. He was definitely in high spirits, and knowing I was the cause of that was enough to make me smile back.

Yovenko was discussing something with a staff person. When he saw me, he walked over, starting to speak as he trailed behind Alice and I. "Just remember, Isabella: you must do the full rond de jambe each time. Make sure the leg you're working is not too high or it'll never be a complete movement."

"I know." I sighed. "We've been over this only a few hours ago."

"I'm merely making sure you won't make it look like some sort of ornamented developpé," he responded bitingly.

I refrained from rolling my eyes like a petulant child, even though he couldn't see me. He went on, giving last-minute pointers about things I could try-out or improve, before finally leaving us for Emmett's company, who'd just come off stage.

In the fitting-room, several corps girls were already changing costumes. Alice helped me out of mine with dexterous hands.

"Your pointe shoes," she reminded me, and I took the pair she was handing me, crouching down on the floor to replace the ones I was wearing.

"I know I've said it before, but you really look so much better," she noticed as she helped me with the zipper. "How much did you gain?"

"About seven pounds, actually. But that was before my food poisoning. I don't know how much I weigh right now. I was too afraid to know."

"Well, your ribs aren't that visible anymore, so you're still good; still much healthier than a few weeks ago."

I smiled, grateful for the positive feedback.

A man with curly hair, speaking in heavily accented English, poked his head inside. "Two minutes," he announced, holding up two fingers.

"Right," Alice spoke in a rush. She quickly checked my make-up, seeming satisfied. "I guess we're done here."

"Thanks, Alice."

Michael, the dancer interpreting Rothbart, opened the door, looking ominously frightening with his long cape and the heavy make-up. "Come on, Bella. We're up in less than a minute."

With a fugitive glance to Alice, who was already checking on another girl's dress, I followed after him.

Odile was harder to interpret, and I was fully aware of that. There were actually few ballerinas who'd managed to command the character the way it deserved. I didn't expect perfection; I simply wanted to make it look as credible as I was able to.

"Be Odile," Yovenko said, and for the first time since I'd known him, he actually looked nervous. "Don't overthink it, just be. Be there, be in the moment."

Edward appeared from behind him, looking so much calmer than a few hours before, and I wondered if it was because he'd seen that I was handling the stage well. "No time for chitchat. Time's up."

Michael was the first to go. As I passed Edward, he looked me up and down, as though assessing me. His gaze met mine, and it was burning, suddenly igniting a fire somewhere deep inside me. His hand brushed over mine. Without speaking, he was telling me so much.

Throwing him one last look, I re-entered the stage.

Odile was sexy, confident, seductive, and even a bit nasty. For the first time in my life, I tried to be all that. With a contemptuous smile, my Odile stared Prince Siegfried in the eye, telling him the lies he wanted to hear.

He was spellbound, and so was the audience.

For those twenty-something minutes, I wasn't Isabella anymore. I danced, manipulating my way into the noble Prince's heart like a poisonous snake.

Something Yovenko had said came back to me; his words wrapped in a strange fog inside my head. "It's not the technical skills you're lacking, it's the emotional ones. When you perform, the audience needs to see the evil brewing inside of you."

I hadn't realized, up until that point, exactly how important that small piece of advice was to me. When done right, the character of Odile was quite the enchantress; stealing not only the Prince's affection, but also the spectators' quiet murmurs of appreciation. Given the right amount of passion and poise, she had the potential to shine even more than the gentile Odette.

When the moment for the thirty-two fouettes finally approached, I didn't hesitate for a second. Spin after spin, I turned towards the audience, each time with a frosty, over-confident smile on my lips. Before I was even finished, applause broke out, some encouraging, some in awe of the sheer speed. In my quest to give Odile that unique spark that ignited the imagination, I'd gained the audiences' favorable response, and that was what great performances were always made of—from start to finish.

When I was done dancing, I felt as if I'd truly given it my all. Mimicking a maniacal laugh at having deceived the enamored Prince, I let the evil Rothbart whisk me off stage, not throwing a second glance towards a heartbroken Siegfried.

"Da!" Yovenko exclaimed, appearing from nowhere and actually pulling me into a tight hug. "You did it, garna divchina!"

"What does it mean?" I breathed out, winded from my performance and taken by surprise with his sudden display of affection.

He pulled back, keeping his hands on my shoulders, and grinned radiantly. "It means beautiful girl."

I blushed, and it wasn't from physical exertion. "Thank you."

"We need you to change, Bella." Alice materialized beside me, almost frantic. "Now."

She pulled me away, and I turned to look at Yovenko, who was still grinning.

Edward wasn't anywhere in proximity, and I tried not to concentrate on the disappointment I felt. I knew it was a busy night for him, as well.

~ B ~

The final act felt like child's play compared to the others. I was comfortable in my own skin, already used to the stage and having so many pairs of eyes on me.

There were no words to express my feeling of immense pride in myself as I took the stage for the last time. It was something I'd never truly experienced.

Everyone had given a great performance. Siegfried's love broke the spell, leaving Odette the ever beautiful maiden never having to turn into a swan again.

The audience seemed to agree with the happy ending as applause erupted from every corner of the impressive auditorium. Stupefied, I realized there was clapping coming from behind the curtains and my knees nearly buckled with emotion.

I'd done it. All the tears, the hard work, the physical and emotional struggles had been worth it in the end. Nothing else mattered.

A light tremble took over my body, and I tried to mask it with a succession of reverences in front of such a warm audience. Soon, we were joined on stage by Yovenko and the orchestra conductor, and the applause intensified.

When the curtains fell, I stood there, staring ahead.

"You okay?" Emmett inquired, squeezing my hand.

I turned to him and broke into a beaming smile. My body felt light and so did my heart. "I'm wonderful."

"You did fantastic, and you're a lovely partner." He surprised me by kissing the back of my hand, his lips splitting into a grin. "That being said, we're so getting plastered tonight."

Suddenly, I was being assaulted by long thin arms wrapping around my neck. "I'm so proud of you, chica!" Victoria squealed excitedly. "You did so great, I can't even..." She trailed off, pulling back to look at me with bright eyes."You rocked it!"

I laughed. "Thanks, Vic. You're a good friend."

"A good friend?" She managed to sound offended. "I'm the best friend ever, you ungrateful slut!" She laughed, punching me in the arm.

"Ow!" I pushed her away with a chuckle.

Our playful banter was interrupted by Edward's brisk arrival. Eyes glowing, he placed his hands on both sides of my face, kissing me hard.

Some guys whistled teasingly as the rest of the corps exited the stage talking amongst themselves.

When Edward broke the kiss, I gazed at him, positively glowing.

He caressed my face with the back of his fingers. "You did so well, my Izzy," he murmured, looking as spellbound as I was. "I'm so incredibly proud of you."

"And you should be," Yovenko piped in. "Tonight she proved she has what it takes to be a prima."

My face almost hurt from all the smiling, but I didn't care. I was ecstatic."Thank you. To both of you. For believing in me."

"Well, for that, Edward takes all the credit. I admit I didn't trust his decision in the beginning."

Edward gave his old friend a cocky smirk. "I thought you would've learned by now, Maks. I'm always right." Turning to me, he took my hand in his. "Come. The night is not over—for any of us."

I went along willingly, excitement still bubbling throughout my body, because I knew he was right. Another Act was about to begin, in the form of an after-party.

A/N As some of you already know, Mid Night-Cougar and I decided to split this chapter in two. Part II will follow soon. It's done, we just need to make some adjustments.

For visuals, you can watch Svetlana Zakharova's Swan Lake performance alongside Roberto Bolle.