Free Black Adagio by Wendy Potocki Page A

the bane of Melissa's existence.
    “This is foolhardy!” he roared.
    “Does this mean you've heard?” she replied, a smirk playing on her rosebud mouth.
    “Of course, I've heard! Did you think this kind of lunacy would remain secret forever!”
    She leaned back, chuckling, her fingertips touching in a thoughtful pose.
    “Certainly not. I just never expected for it to reach your ears this quickly. I only just decided this evening to ...”
    “To destroy this school, and the lives of your students?” he screamed. The torrent of emotion was palpable and caused Melissa to wince in fear. “This academy, it’s what you've been ... no, what we've been working for!” he continued, his voice softening. His eyes pleaded with her for answers. His spirit crushed, Missy no longer thought his tirade was just misguided hubris since he seemed genuinely upset.
    “Aren't you being unreasonable in your assessment?” she responded, not wavering in her cool demeanor. “It's only a change in program. Viktor, surely you've encountered changes in programs before.”
    “Una, you know that is not the point!”
    “One ballet or another, we have to open with something, do we not?”
    “But this one, Una? You know it spells disaster for everything we've done!”
    “We?” she asked, tilting her head. “You keep using that word.” 
    “Yes, we ! You asked me for help in starting this school … and this company! I put my own career on the line and my own interests to rest, for you! But then you knew I would, didn't you, Una?” he asked. His hand trembling, his body wobbled as if it would collapse. Suddenly feeling sympathy for the old junk yard dog, he did seem to be in considerable pain, but why? Just because he didn't agree with Una's choice of a dance program? It made no sense.
    It was Una's turn to shudder. She closed her arms around her, shutting him out. 
    “I am not a young man, Una, as you can see, but I would still do anything for you. Nothing has changed—not for me.”
    Sniffing, she turned her head away from him, studying her nails, “Everything's changed. I am not that young girl anymore either,” she acknowledged wistfully.
    Taking an unsteady step forward, he looked at with adoration. “I won't have you talking like that. You are more beautiful than ever. In fact, you are the most beautiful dancer to ever step foot on stage,” he assured, his fervent devotion inherent in his solemn tone.
    Laughing, she smoothed her long skirt. Standing, it fell to below her knees, covering her world famous legs. Straightening to her full height, she met his eye.
    “But this is not why you're here. You're here about Alexei and what he has proposed. The decision about our debut is made. He will stage his ballet and you will not stage yours. This is such a wonderful opportunity, and the publicity will be generated for us! There is an aura, a mystery! And he knows the original choreography. His great-grandfather ...”
    “This is madness! Idiocy! Reckless witchcraft! You know what happened to that company! And to Monarch Ballet! And to your mother!”
    “Viktor! That was an accident!”
    “Was it? Or part of the curse?”
    “That is ridiculous!” Una replied, her voice becoming more strident. “My grandmother is still here and living quite nicely, or have you forgotten?”
    “I have forgotten nothing!” he swore. Rushing forward, he balanced tentatively on the hooked handle of his cane. “Not one moment, not one second. The only thing I don't know is why . Why did you end it, Una? Why? Did I do something so wrong to you? I loved you so much! I still do! I have never stopped, never! But you've never given me an answer! Do you hate me that much?”
    The huge man reduced to rubble, he resembled a skyscraper that had tipped over. Broken into a million pieces, his shambles lay in front of her to step on or sweep away. Her jaw clenching, Viktor reached out, wanting to be comforted by a touch of her hand. Steadfastly refusing, she