The Great Sacrifice

Chapter Ten

I looked in the mirror at myself, Would I be enough? Could I portrait this character in all the ways Mr. francesa imagined. I met my own tired eyes, I was afraid. I was afraid of not being enough, enough to pull from my mother shadow, enough for my father, enough for the public eyes, and enough to myself. My toughest critic was always myself always, I always caught my own mistakes when no one else did. Here though, Mr. Francesca noticed everything it was if I had taken myself and tripled it. A microscope so close, I sighed and continued to stretch.
"I was worried" my dad said, when I came in the door. I went to the stairs, "My fear is not to be enough". I gripped the rail,he sighed trying to whip away the exhaustion, "Lakelynn, I meant more then in a danc-". "I mean in everything, Am I pretty enough, am I smart enough, am I enough for my father, am I enough to escape my mother shadow, Am I? Dad, my fear doesn't stem from insecurity, but from the security all my life that has been provided. That's my fear" I said. Tapping the raining, I leaned over peaking his cheek, "Good night, Daddy".
The next morning, I wrapped my shoes in the corner. "You are such a pretty dancer" one girl said to another. "Thank you" the other girl whispered a reply. I didn't look up, to see them but I could imagine them, young, unsure, but trained. "Where is my Ballerina" called Mr. Francesca. I stood up, coming forward, "My star, my moon, my sun, tonight we will have dinner with some sponsors. Also costume fitting are soon, you are perfect size, try not to gain any weight" he said. I nodded, I danced practice ended early for us, and I went to shower and change.
"You look lovely" my dad said coming out his office. "Well, its a sponsor dinner" I said, securing my pearls. "Are those your mother's?" He asked taking a double look. "Yes" I said. "You never wear he jewelry" he noted. I sighed, but settled for a soft smile, "I need so extra confidence". He nodded, slowly "Why?" "For the Ballet I'm doing" I said. "Oh, should I change and be your date" looking him over I could tell he had plans of his own already. "Don't worry about it, Dad. You look preoccupied already" he made a face but she grabbed my cheek and pressed a gentle kiss on it. "Call me to let me know when you make it home" it was his own way of telling me not to wait up for him.
The dinner was what I suspected a lot of men and a lot of money, I was more than anything a accessory for Mr. Francesca a selling point. "Wine?" Asked one of the men. I shook my head holding up a water class, "I need to stay refreshed". One of the guys spoke up in French, "Usally, you don't disappoint, Allen. You bring fun girls". I tipped my glass back not making any particular eye contact. "This is business" he said back in French. "This is money, and I like to see what I'm paying for" said another husky man in heavy German. I felt myself shift uncomfortable, A man spoke in rough french and I could tell the conversation was one I was no longer interested in. I felt cold and disgusted,  each look made my skin crawl. Mr. Francesca was not pleased with his sponsors i could tell by the grit in his teeth, but he needed their money.
    I could no longer take it and stood, "Please excuse me as I powered my nose". Smiling sweetly as I walked put of the room. I took in the korean pleasing layout and tried to pretend the tension in the room didn't make me uncontrollably uncomfortable. I was to scratch for some reason as if to pull off, whatever it was that made them stare so intently.
   I fixed my room and took my time returning back to the room when, I enter there was a new presence in the room that dominated and controlled, his distaste was so obvious it made me falter at the door.
    His eyes broading and intense landed on me, "What a coincidence, Laklynn I was just telling them how I was coming to escort you home" he gritted. I felt a wave of relief run over me, and my face perked, "I was feeling peakish". "Of course you were" he spat. I met eyes with Mr. Francesca who looked apologetic, for not saving me, his stars, his moon, his sun.     Taking my arm, his grip was bruising,  he pulled me out without allowing me to say goodbye, he didn't stop till we stood outside in the cold licking at our skin.
     He let me go in a huff, "Dr. Avella" i started he cut in with a harsh tone, "Don't ever go out with men like that again". His fist balled at his side and i doubted he felt the whipping wind, i met his dark empty eyes, "I-I". "Do you know what those men where saying? Planning on doing to you?" He gritted. "Damain" I whispered. He only shook his head, "You put yourself in danger". He was lashing my pride now, and I felt myself become defensive, I took a step back and he took two large ones to close the gap, his het radiated over me, "Are you afraid of me?" He gritted. I only stared up at him, he growled and lowered his lips to mine rough. He held me and I kept my eyes open but only from a second as liquid fire filled my body and set me to boiling. My body responded to his like it was made for him. He chuckles tilting my head back. "Opened your mouth" he said. "Don't laugh at me" I whispered wrapping my arms around his neck, my lips parted and his tongue explored deep showing me passion and pleasure all at once. He kissed me till my lips were bruised and my lip stick was smear on us both.