Stretching her leg wide which didn't appear like a whore but like the move suited only for her. Her arms moved in sync with the long legs completely bare to stare. Other than the slim ends of her dress reaching to the mid thighs, there was nothing else covering her glittered legs.
Maybe that was her trick. Glittering the dress and self which left nothing for imagination yet led the watchers wait until she showed her part of body 'not' covered in glitters.
Every male testosterone was swayed with same feeling, though they tried their best to not show it. They could have imagined their own lovers in the place of Lucy, the dancer or they were already lusting over the same person but could not reveal to the woman companions seated with.
How much ever emotions they all tried to hide, Lucy could feel it all.
She had not opened her eyes. The eye paint she applied in black, if the audience were passionate they should notice her closed eyes due to the black patch made upon her eyes.
She rode the entire tune eyes shut. It was better to avoid watching those eyes wanting her come out bare or they could be believing she is 'bare'. Lucy smiled wider thinking that.
When eyes are closed, it instantly leads the mind to open. Lucy didn't have a flaw tonight for she ensured her last dance for them was a memory too difficult to forget.
The last dance.
That should have been the theme for tonight.
She controlled her teeth from erupting through the smile; that happy she was!
Her face was a background of body with black eye mask painted like that of a swan's and lips dark red. Her favourite.
As she did the last move, finishing it off with her arms graced and right leg folded behind the left. There was a silence 'heard' throughout the hall. The girls had stopped dancing, mostly wondering why there was no reaction yet.
Then, Lucy opened her eyes. The silence broke immediately, countered by applause so eat-threatening which none complained.
Lucy breathes moderately, she never let out her breath while performing which added to her magic like she was a natural.
That could be so, thought Madam Carry who watched it all from the back end reserved for elite customers.
It was every such time when she saw the girl dancing, her spirits would resurrect. Madam was on the brink of going penniless eleven years ago. She was planning on abandoning the girls or sell them to a brothel, until she saw the ten year old Lucy dancing for her parents' anniversary.
She remembered that day as if it was only yesterday. Her parents invited their friends and relatives for their anniversary. It was a last minute decision for Carry because she was too hungry for delicious food. And if her former classmate assured that, Carry thought to treat the good luck for that day.
Lucy's mother, Star didn't recognise Carry who studied with her once yet Carry gave her the best wishes for that day.
She was munching down the crabs and oysters when the lights dimmed down to show the small girl. In the beginning, Madam Carry ignored the child, too focused on important things but she also didn't mind some free entertainment.
While sipping her wine she saw the girl perform legs lift in the air and then back on the ground. Others cheered for her and Carry was left dumbfounded to see that.
It was not that she never saw the move. Only last week she started teaching Dove about the leg lifts. But that wasn't the reason for her astonishment. The small girl that in two plates did it excruciatingly slow which suited with the slow tune and Carry was sure she saw little Lucy hold one hand in the air as well!
She finished with that move in such a way that no one caught the normal dance turn magical in the end.
The idiots were only clapping and cheering for the kid who thanked in the perfect bow. Was it Star's work? Grooming her daughter as the perfect wife? If that was true she did a remarkable job till now.
The way resources have started being extinct, a chunk of coal, the size of her fist costed 500 bucks. And that was the price to get it legally!
Suddenly the good well wisher wished she had one thing her classmate owned. Just one thing was enough.
The result was in front of her. Enveloped in countless applause a hundred times louder than the one she performed for the first time.
The last decade worked wonderfully for Madam which won her the opportunity of claiming ownership of the hall if there were at least eighty percent of seats filled and paid to watch tonight.
Not only was the target achieved, she had surpassed her own limits.
Carry rusher to congratulate her children for their beautiful job.
Drinks were already filling the glasses with the girls hugging congrats to all. Lucy received the most of it from all. Even Dove put her arms around Lucy.
"We did it! Woah!!" Dove cheered for the folks.
"You all did it!" Madam congratulates them heartily. "I am very lucky to have all these captivating darlings." They laughed giggles after which Madam shifted to Lucy, "You outperformed yourself."
She pulled the girl lovingly. "No matter where you go, never forget who you are. You are a dancer. Never stop dancing." Madam Carry praises the girl.
It filled the twenty one year old, she felt like she was complimented by her mother. Lucy hugged her back. The others either didn't understand the statement or didn't bother much but Lucy was overjoyed listening it.
"I'll always remember that."
In the middle of the celebration which was welcomed for guests invited in the private party by the Manager. Lucy watched from the corner at the men talking to few girls, most probably building up relations to take the most beautiful for them.
"Hey." Bianca, one of her peers from the group who didn't hate her like the others did. She was the only one like that.
"Hi. Congratulations." Lucy had changed into a night gown with her favourite tamarind cardigan on.
"You were the star up there. You were amazing." The brown in Bianca's eyes livening up with a genuine smile complimenting her.
"That's not true. See, Coral and Lee are taking up all of amaze! I'm sure Madam Carry is soon going to put audition for new recruits."
Bianca couldn't understand the last part to which Lucy explained, "They could be taken by then..." Lucy laughed at the reaction Bianca made upon realising what her friend tried to say.
"You are too sweet B. I'll miss you."
This time Bianca's confusion was valid.
"Why? I am right here with you. No one is 'taking' me!" B chuckled.
Lucy didn't laugh with her. She was leaving and not telling about it to the only person who mattered here would be cruelty.
"I will be leaving at dawn. This is the last night here for me." B only continued staring her. "I am telling it to you because I don't want you confused the next day when I am not here. And... I couldn't have you hating me also. You know." She shrugged her cause.
She expected B to ask multiple questions like why, where, how? All she said was, "Thank you for telling me. I feel special." Bianca was such a girl who was genuine at what she felt. That was the prime thing Lucy noticed in her which was not present in other girls. Hell, it's difficult to see that in any girl walking on Earth.
"I am already missing you!" Lucy had a lot to say. Before she could think of modesty, she spoke anyways, "I don't want to force you or something. Can I ask you something?" Bianca nodded in agreement to go forward. "Why didn't you try getting out of here? I mean, I know you are different B. You are not like them. Dancing and being beautiful just to climb the ladder." Lucy thought she said too much because the girl stopped smiling.
Ready to apologise, Bianca's reply qualified her mum for a few seconds.
"I and the girls here are not different."
"B-"
"You and we are different." Lucy was hurt. It seemed even Bianca felt the same as others. All the years of her stay here, she had been through this the whole time. She was different!
The thing could have been unique if she wasn't hated by mostly everyone. Why? Because the world surrounding her and her only, was beautiful. As if she took away all the beauty within herself which cursed her to stay apart from else.
"You know why? We 'need' to be here. You don't." Bianca continued, "You never wanted to be here though you dance the best among us. We have no where else to go Lucy. That's why you are different. Don't be sad. I hope you reach your origins. You belong somewhere very special. I don't What is that called or where it is. I can only wish you good luck for that." Bianca, the most transparent woman turned out as a miracle for Lucy.
She never imagined hearing such delicately chosen words from any living soul walking the planet. Nonetheless, Bianca passed her a last hug before walking in the party to try enjoying it.
Lucy saw the girl appearing sad and at the same time capable of taking up the reigns in control. She was sure she didn't see another stronger woman than Bianca.