The Calling Read Online Free PDF Page B

struggling, they’d pay her something, wouldn’t they?
    Romney leaned against the alleyway door, waiting for her, she realized. He smiled, followed her inside, and locked the door behind them. The metallic click echoed through her brain for a few seconds, but then she put her nerves aside. Starting any new job would make her nervous. All performers were nervous before they went on. Those emotions made their senses sharp, made them give a good performance.
    Everyone was stretching, bending, working kinks out of legs and backs. Primavera waved, then yawned, her jaw stretching wide. Rima grinned at Primavera, then ran for the black swing as if to claim it first.
    â€œMy turn, my turn, my turn.” The childish words skipped around in Miki’s head. She ducked her head and smiled, then started to stretch her own body without speaking to anyone. She sensed that no one wanted to talk. But the silence was comfortable.
    Barron turned and called to the square box in the balcony. “Let’s test the lights as we work, Elah.”
    â€œI thought Davin was running lights,” Miki whispered to Kyle.
    â€œJust last night. He can repair anything electrical. But Elah usually is in the box. He doesn’t dance.”
    That’s why he’s so grouchy, Miki thought.
    â€œBarron doesn’t dance anymore, either.” Kyle stood close to Miki and filled her in on some background. “He only directs. Your partner will be Davin.”
    â€œOh.” Miki hadn’t realized that there would be partners, but if they had three women and three men, that would be natural. She wondered what kind of dancer Davin would be. And she felt her pulse quicken in anticipation of meeting him.
    Both Kyle and Romney were tall, thin, and beautifully muscled. Their faces were too long to be truly handsome, but they really did look like twins, even though they had denied it. Brothers? Maybe she’d find out later when she got last names.
    â€œWhere’s Davin?” Barron asked, getting impatient.
    Primavera shrugged. “Don’t ask me.”
    â€œProbably still asleep.” Rima started off the stage. “You can take my place, Miki. I’ll find him.”
    Romney grabbed Miki’s hand and tugged her toward the black swing. “My lucky day.” He grinned at her, his white teeth glistening like rows of pearly corn. Wherever he had started life, life before vampire, he’d had a good dentist and braces. Some parents who probably hated what he was doing now.
    Not many parents said, “Yes, become a dancer.” Miki was lucky. Her father had been a dancer, yet her mother urged her to follow in his footsteps. Her mother had always supported the arts even though a broken ankle had sent her in a different direction.
    â€œYou sleep here?” Miki asked softly as Romney lifted her onto the trapeze and their faces were close for a second.
    â€œCheap lodging.” Romney nodded. “Want to see my room?”
    â€œNo, silly. I was just curious.”
    Really curious, but she put the snippet of information aside to think about later. Maybe she would look around the building during a break. “You often arrive in a van. If you—”
    â€œWe often go out—to eat.” He smiled and leaped up behind her.
    Romney pumped the swing high. It flew out and up much higher than the red swing. Miki’s heart rose and fell with the sensation of flying. She’d have to work carefully if she was expected to move around with the bar soaring.
    Suddenly, with an abrupt movement from Romney, the trapeze bar bounced and bucked. She had to squeeze her hands tight on the velvet ropes to hold on.
    Romney placed his feet on the floor and stopped the swing abruptly. “When I fly off to the side like that, you have to keep the swing balanced.” His face grew red with anger.
    â€œI’m sorry. You have to tell me beforehand. I didn’t know what to do.” Miki felt