"Again! Again! You must be flawless!"
The bittersweet sting of Caprica's cane knocked me into position.
The music started again, echoing into the Great Hall.
Her piercing eyes followed me across the floor. "Keep time!" Caprica shouted. "One, two ,three! One, two three!" The pounding of her cane harmonized with the vibrations of the music rumbling the floor with rage as soft as silk.
Time. It slowed dwon. Caprica's shouts faded and the music seemed to grow louder and louder. My body was at the music's mercy.
It lifted my arms and twirled my legs. Sweeping, huggin, fighting, it controlled my body with such grace. The sound swelled in my soul, sending my body soaring into the air. Leaping into the air, floating with the angles, I laughed at gravity.
Gravity grew angry, sending me down to earth in a solid stance. The music grew weaker and time began to tune back. The pounding cane became stronger while the orchestral vibrations grew weaker and weaker.
"That was better. You can be perfect by tomorrow night...possibly. Caprica said robotically. All I could do was nod.
I've learned to appreciate Caprica and her grueling training. This was honestly what I wished for years ago; a chance to be free and dance.
I lost my parents when I was young. My mother to the fever and my father murdered by those he owed money to.
"Aunt" Clarice was a cook in the royal kitchen. She took me in shortly after the death of my father because she was doing it out of the kindnesss of her heart.
I remember the strong scent of apples and cinamon in the kitchen. I would try to help out by baking cinnamon sugar pastries but they always burnt to a crisp. \
When the kitchen was busy, I would practice my dancing in the garden. One day, Queen Listeria was taking a stroll through the garden when she spotted me behing the marble fountain.
"What is your name child?" she asked.
"My name is Victoria Lilyton ma'am." I replied.
"You are a very talented dancer young lady. Have you taken lessons?"
"I haven't taken actual lessons your Majesty. My mother would sometimes teach me different techniques but she passed away a few months ago."
"Ah, I see. How would you like to be instructed by the finest dance teacher in the county?" she smiled.
That was when my life changed.
I owe my life to the Queen and I appreciate her as much as Carpica.
"I want you to meet me back here in an hour. Do you understand? You deserve a break." Caprica said strolling out of the Great Hall. She swayed her hips back and forth with a gentle tug and ominously, her heels clicked with each step.
"I understand ma'am." I nodded.
She didn't reply. Of course she didn't reply. Caprica was too ignorant to acknowledge the kingdom's new Prima.
