Series: Indigo Ballet #1
Publication date: November 15th, 2024
Synopsis:
When Indigo lands a role in Ballet Russia's touring production of The Nutcracker, it's a dream come true... Or is it? Her arch nemesis is also part of the production. So is dashing Russian viral video superstar Dimitri Volkov, who's playing some kind of game she doesn't quite understand.
As Indigo dances alongside the rising stars of Ballet Russia she struggles to rise above constant criticism from Ballet Russia's Director, Yuri Kanofsky. But first she'll have to dig deep and silence the doubts running through her mind if she wants to rise to their level and drive her ballet career forward.
When unexpected events turn Indigo's world upside down overnight she's forced to decide how much she's willing to sacrifice to get there.
And one innocent mistake just might cost her everything.
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Excerpt
I try one last time to talk some sense into her. Into all of them. If Olga gets caught, who knows what might happen? "Just for the record, I don't think this is a good--"
"--You've already told us what you think," Monique interjects. "So be a good friend and help us."
"But what if you get caught?"
"I already told you I've taken care of it." She digs around in her bag and pulls out a red mask with cat ears. She places it over her face to demonstrate. "See? Perfect anonymity. No one will ever know."
I have to admit the cat masks are kind of genius. They're elegant, like something you'd see at a masked ball, designed to cover just the upper half of the face. Embossed curlicues wrap around the eyes. Monique blinks at me, waiting for me to say something. "Okay," I say at last. "But make it quick."
"It's a three-minute ballet," Monique replies. "We'll be done before you know it."
Moments later they're scrambling out the door, giggling and shushing each other, before erupting into laughter. Subtle, I think to myself. The door shuts behind them with a click.
I stand close to the door, but not too close. I don't want to be obvious. A trio of young dancers passes by, but other than that the hall is quiet. I glance at my phone. They've been out there five minutes and already it feels like an eternity.
A moment later I spot Irina Skylanskaya coming down the hall toward me, sans dog. It's strange to see her without the dog and I wonder where her dog is. Act casual, Indigo. She nods at me as she passes, and I nod back nervously. When she disappears into the studio at the end of the hall I breathe a sigh of relief.
Another glance at my phone. It's been eight minutes. They should be done by now.
That's when I spot Dimitri heading my way. Oh, no. I don't think I can handle lying to him. I look down at my phone again, pretending to be engrossed.
"Did you find something interesting?" he says. I sense a hint of laughter in his tone.
"I did," I say, moving a bit further away from the door. "It's about--" I think quickly about the last thing I opened on my phone. "--turtles."
"Turtles?" He looks confused.
I'd been helping Charlie write up his Christmas list, and he said he wanted a pet turtle. But then he wanted to know what turtles eat and whether he'd be able to manage the care and feeding of the hypothetical turtle. I'd looked up the answer for him.
"My brother thinks he wants a pet turtle," I explain. "He wanted to know what they eat."
"What do they eat?"
"Lots of stuff, actually. Cooked chicken, crickets, worms, and leafy vegetables. Also, they're incredibly fond of fairy moss."
"Fairy moss?"
"It's a kind of floating fern. Very delicate, like fairy wings."
"That is interesting," he says, suppressing a laugh. "I am going outside for a break. Come with me. You can tell me more about this fairy moss."
"No!" This comes out more forcefully than I'd intended. I'm not sure which of us is more startled. Get ahold of yourself, Indigo. That's when I realize I've grabbed his hand. He looks down at our hands, then back up at me. I release my grip. "What I meant to say was... um... maybe another time? I have to get back to rehearsal."
"Okay," he says. "Tomorrow?"
I nod before I can stop myself. This is what happens when you've been taught to always be polite, I think wildly. You agree to things even when you instinctively know you shouldn't. Then it hits me: I can always make up an excuse later. Even though part of me wants the chance to be alone with him, the other part knows it's probably not a good idea.
The door swings open and Monique and the others burst in. Dimitri steps back, wordlessly letting them through.
"Oh my God, Indy, you are not going to believe what we got!" Monique says, breathlessly. "It is sooooo good!"
Dimitri looks confused again.
Olga looks at me, then him, and narrows her eyes. She says something to him in Russian. He answers in a single syllable, then throws up his hands, and exits into the courtyard, shaking his head as he goes.
"What was that about?" Monique asks.
Olga's lips tighten. "Nothing," she says. "It was nothing." But the way she looks at me tells me it was more than nothing.
Her work has been praised as "poignant and honest" with "emotional hooks that penetrate deeply." She writes and blogs about dance and has interviewed and photographed a diverse collection dancers and performers including Clive Owen, Nicole Kidman, Glen Allen Sims and Jessica Sutta. She is the author of Build a Ballerina Body and The Daily Book of Photography. Grier's work has also appeared in Conscious Dancer, Discovery Girls, Skipping Stones, and Dance Advantage, among others.
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