London, National Opera, dressing rooms


She was angry at him but also with herself. How could she have let him get to her so easily. With rushed steps she headed to the changing rooms. Nobody ever got under her skin as he just did. With a simple gesture he swiftly took her hand and kissed it, not leaving her any time to react. That bloody bastard wasn't playing fair. Her blue eyes were blazing and electric, the tension was high. Amber wasn't used to such anger. Usually she just didn't care, and left people with an arrogant smug. But only seconds later, a smirk was drawn on her ruby lips, she could also play at this game. Amber could feel Harry's intense stare down at her bum, so she untied her bun to distract him from any perverted thoughts. Even in the dim light of the narrow corridor she knew he was still watching, his wealth giving him the feeling, he had no rules to follow. What a jerk, Amber thought.

As Amber arrived to the changing rooms, Eleanor wasn't there yet. The dress rehearsal was taking a little longer then she expected. They didn't rehearse the the final group scene today, since it was just the usual routine they have been working on for weeks. Amber took the hairbrush out of her toiletry and sat down on the wooden bench to slowly brush her brown hair. She loved the feeling of smooth, untangled hair, one of the weird things that relaxed her. But it didn't seem to work this time. Anyway, after a few strokes, she stood up and placed her headband to keep her hair out of her face, while the make up artiste was working her magic. She came in, shortly after Amber had started to spread out the pearly white foundation. She took out a few brushes and completed Amber's transformation into Odile.

Eleanor was exhausted, she had to redo the last scene three times, because one of the dresses malfunctioned. She didn't even bother to take her points off, and rushed to the changing room she shared with Amber. The sound of her points on the ground made her smile, hard and soft at the same time. As Amber's personality, she chuckled. She pushed the door open and didn't believe what she saw. Amber was equal to a dark queen. A black swan, full of hidden despair and an apparent coldness. She was entwining fear with elegance. Beautifully terrifying. Enrapturing Eleanor, frozen on the spot. Amber's eyelids were charcoal black, smokey on the clean edges. Powerful, her icy blue glance enhanced by the dark contouring. Her cheekbones were heighten by sharp, dark red strokes. Heart-shaped bloody lips, embellishing her already bold attitude.

"- Wow.", Eleanor gasped. She didn't expect that.

She didn't know what she expected at all, but this incarnation do Odile had never been seen before. Choreographers and Artistic Directors usually didn't put a dramatic or melancholic dimension into Odile's personality. They would rather focus on Odette's lost love. But this year the ENB and Leroy wanted to focus on the sisterly relationship Odile and Odette shared. The broken bonds and raw emotions of lust, revenge, grief and love.

"- Thanks.", Amber answered sharply. Somehow Eleanor didn't expect her to be so on edge. Amber usually gave of a cool impression not an angry one.

"- Something wrong? Is it because the performance tonight? If it is, don't worry you're perfect.", she tried to reassure her.

Amber shot an irritated glare at Eleanor, and rolled her eyes to the sky. Eleanor had been training together, apart from classes, a lot in the past few weeks. She had never ever seen her in such an ill-tempered state. Her jaw was clenched, and her lips pursed. A stern look locked on her face. Guess not because of the performance, Eleanor thought. She tried to figure out what was bothering her. But Amber snapped before she could ask anything.

"- Harry Styles kissed my hand."

Eleanor didn't know whether she was stunned because she bothered to remember his name, or because he actually kissed Amber's hand. But she simply answered:

"- And what's the big deal about it? Mustn't be the first time somebody would do that to you."

"- He did it without my permission." Eleanor had to suppress a laugh as Amber said that.

After all Amber was still Amber, feeling the need to dominate everybody. Her cold look as a sign of superiority. She probably didn't even meant to do it, but couldn't help herself. She has always been that cold and imperious. Even at the academy, during the special classes Eleanor taught, no girl would dare to act against her. Even though they probably hated her out of jealousy. Nobody disturbed her apparent iciness. Eleanor felt it was normal, that somebody, as daring as Harry Styles, irked her.

"- That's okay, don't worry about it Amber.", she chuckled, but Amber kept her steely face, Let's go to the main stage, the show starts in 2 minutes and you're in the second act.", she continued.

Amber seemed to remember something and softened her face back to her usual cold look, and stood up. Eleanor followed her out. She could admire the amazing work they did to her hair. Her ears were covered in black feathers, blending in her brown hair. Her tight chignon was adorned with onyx pearls. An ebony jewel on the back of her head, glowing with stygian glints. She followed the regular "tap, tap" of her points backstage, near the spotlights, where the heat was almost unbearable.

Amber stood next to the person playing Odette's lover, the one Odile was going to steal from her. She couldn't remember his name, but she had slept with him a few times. He was worth around an 8 out of 10. He was one of ENB usual lead dancers. Although she was quite new, he enjoyed dancing with her. She had a natural talent for the "portés" (A/N when a man carries a woman in classical ballet). She would be almost flying in his arms, elegant and precise. He was quite the gentlemen in Amber's opinion. His blue eyes and blond hair, were adorable. She remembered his irish accent clearly.

Amber enjoyed sleeping with other dancers, they were muscular, perfectly proportioned and handsome. The choreographers disliked these sexual relationships, since they were usually leading to fights among the dancers. The "corps de ballet" had to be committed to have an intimate time. Amber smiled at that thought. "Like that was going to happen.". To Leroy surprise, in her and her partner's case, it lead to better synchronization and good chemistry. Odile had to be attractive and desired to be believable. Amber just tested her theory in real life.

"- Ready?", he whispered to her ear, as they heard people get seated and the orchestra tuning up their instruments. Soon enough, the noise stopped and ENB artistic director gave the welcoming speech. After a round of applause all the lights went off.

"- As ready as I'll ever be.", Amber smirked letting Odile's soul overpower her. She could feel her on the tip of her fingers. She was ready dance, enrapture the audiance.

The first flock of swans went in as soon as the first note lingered in the air. Swift and soft on their points. Only an eight-eight time later, Eleanor left the darkness of the curtains for the bright blue spotlight after whispering a cute:

"- See you later Niall.", she winked and left for the first act.

So that was his name, suits him, Amber thought. But somehow she started comparing him with Harry. He didn't have the mysterious edge Harry mastered, which also angered her. He rather was the open, joking type. Amber couldn't imagine herself dating him. She was ripped out of her thoughts as her music started. Her act, her moment, her pride. As if she was flowing on her points, she stepped onto the stage with a bright smile on her dark lips.

Notes

Here you go Chapter 4!! Hope you enjoyed it :D

and thanks for a lot for the last comments, it really made me want to continue writing ^^

What do you think is going on between Niall and Amber ? (Well at least for Niall ^^)

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love you guys :D