Page 19 of Wicked Knight

As if he’s read my thoughts, he slides the hood from his head, revealing spiky hair.

A light suddenly bounces off his face, piercing the shadows. My mind fractures when I see him fully, and the air leaves my lungs.

Dmitri?

No way. It couldn’t be him. Hewouldn’tbe here.

My steps falter, but I pray no one notices. My mind switches to autopilot, carrying me through the next sequence of the routine while I focus on him.

On his face, on his body, on his presence.

Itishim.

The longer I stare, the more recognition forms, and I know I’m right.

As if I needed added confirmation, the light brightens, and I can make out the scorpion inked on his neck.

I see his eyes, his firm lips, his sharp chiseled jaw. And that hair. It’s a little longer than when I first saw it. And it suits him.

He’s actually here.

Noticing my attention is fixed on him, he curls his lips into a smooth grin, and those eyes imprison me like always.

Suddenly, the darkness returns as the light bounces away, taking him from me.

But I can still see his shadowy outline and his face in my mind’s eye.

Holy shit. Of all the places I thought I’d see him, this wasn’t one of them. Dmitri hasn’t been to any of my performances since I was…

Well, not since before his brother died and we stopped being friends.

I regain my focus and control of my mind to finish up the piece

When I do, the audience erupts into exuberant applause. My eyes dart back to the alcove where Dmitri stood. But he’s gone.

Gone, as though he were never there.

Disappointment pushes my heart into my stomach, but I paste on a smile and curtsey for the audience.

With my heart throbbing, I scour the audience, looking for him.

Where is he?

He couldn’t have gotten far. I check the alcove again, the balcony, the floor above, the one below, to the side and back again.

God, was I imagining things when I saw him?

What if it wasn’t him?

Maybe I wanted him to be here so badly I imagined him up.

No, no, no.

I didn’t imagine anythingorget it wrong. That was definitely Dmitri.

So, then maybe he left?

But why? The show has just begun.