Chapter Three

Noelle's body felt as light as air as the music surrounded him. His very soul was alight and his heart danced along with him.

Sweat pooled on his brow, and glistened like tiny diamonds and leaving tiny, shimmering rivers as they ran down his cheek. He barely noticed, too full of beautiful images as he weaved his own story.

He knew the other was watching but that seemed to spur him further, desperate to prove himself, determined to impress.

Julian had left the stage for the stalls as he played, giving the man room and watching his movement with seemingly little expression. He was no instructor but he knew how dance should look, what made it watchable and what made a dancer stand out and become great. One didn't need a degree or any qualification for that.

 When he played he visualized the notes and music floating about him in a colourful mist, bright and bold or dark and sultry, one had to breathe it, allow it into the soul and it would work through you. It was a skill he wanted to impart to Noelle, for a dancer who could do that would be stunning.

'Beauty inside and out...' He thought with a sympathetic smile. 'And it needs to be shown to others.'

With a flourish, he finished the piece, amused when Noelle collapsed, breathing heavily as the fatigue set in.

He was weary himself. Music had power even over him, transporting him to different lands, and stirring emotions seldom felt.

It was why he adored it so much.

"It has been a long time since I saw a performer I felt was worthy of admiration. One without an ego that tarnishes their skill," he said calmly, gathering himself. "You will catch someone's eye and I will help you..."

"How?" Noelle looked up, his face flushed and his eyes still glazed as he woke from his dream. "Who are you? I don't even know your name."

"I don't know yours either," Julian smirked, making Noelle blush further.

"Noelle..."

"Noelle...a very poetic name," Julian said thoughtfully, committing it to memory. He placed the bow and violin down on the velvet seat almost reverently and wandered down closer to the stage, jumping up to it with the ease of a cat. "Mine is Julian. That is all you need to know about me. For now, anyway. I hope that my music will have piqued the skill you have of feeling it. When you dance, even when you exercise, feel it. You will catch even the most oblivious instructor's eyes." He paused, hesitating somewhat before making an unusual offer "and if you wish I will meet you here again. Help you rid yourself of those minor problems..." He sighed.  "The only living creatures I've helped in life are rodents and they don't have much grace or beauty about them. It will be pleasant to aid someone who may go far in life."

Further than into the belly of a cat or crushed under a coach's wheel. And a human he could at least have more than a one-sided conversation with. He understood the varied sounds the rats made but they could not respond as another human could.

Noelle's eyes widened, visible even in the gloom. He choked on his words several times before he was able to reply. 

He knew nothing of the man before him. Only what he saw. A svelte figure clothed in black, except for the white of the shirt beneath his tailcoat. A complete stranger whose eyes tore into his very being, making him feel naked.

But he knew he couldn't refuse. There was something secret. A door that called like a siren and needed to be opened.

"Yes!" He told him. "God yes! I would really appreciate your help." He told him, laughing happily, the sound echoing in the empty auditorium. "But I don't know how I could repay you. My wage isn't high. But I could introduce you to the conductors. They would surely give their blood to have someone such as you in their hands."

Julian shook his head. "I'm afraid that could never be. No one has seen me for years, you are the first. I will be honest and say I have never been too fond of other human beings. You are the first I sensed was genuine." He smiled enigmatically at his latter words. If there was something he was not yet ready to voice it. "You can repay me by becoming a success. That would do..."

He turned to find the violin case, the black leather well concealed in the shadows under the seat. He placed the instrument in reverently, folding the silk inlay over it before closing up.

"If you wish to meet again then tell me the best day..."

"I can stay late every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday," Noelle answered, registering Julian's words with sadness. Such a talent wasted. "I could perhaps try other days but it can be difficult. They hold other classes and the charwomen stay later."

"Tomorrow then. Friday," Julian said smoothly. "And should you get any other days you will no doubt find me or I will find you. One or the other," He offered a smile and gave a slow nod as a farewell gesture, backing away into the shadow, his voice echoed as he departed.

"Remember the music, remember to embrace it to you..."

Noelle sat watching the shadows settle and, as his muscles started to ache, wondered if he had simply imagined the strange encounter. Julian had vanished as only a phantom could and the unearthly music, while it still sang in his mind, seemed too fantastic to be real.

'Maybe I'm going mad,' he thought as he rose to his feet shakily. 'But if it improves my skills then perhaps it is a blessing in disguise. One must seize every petal of the rose thrown to you, thorns and all.'

He looked at the worn boards. The stains of bloody petals were yet to be cleaned. Another memory of the greatness whose footsteps he stepped in.

One day he hoped that others would dream to follow in his.