1 The Dance

How did I get here?

Atop the old Cargona Industries Building, sat a woman staring out into the city that was so full of life and lights. A lifeless smile twisted the woman's lips and her hazel eyes were empty and hollow. Her skinny frame was wrapped in a long shapeless dress that fell past her ankles and her long black hair hung limply around her face. Next to her was an empty bottle that used to hold pills.

How stupid am I?

A half-crazed giggle left her mouth, as she thought back at the miserable life she led.

Once the darling of the wealthy and powerful Cargona family, Alessia had everything she could ever ask for. She had the love of the parents, her brother, the world. She thought she had the love of her cousin, Caterina, and the only man she ever loved, Nicholas. How wrong was she?

For them, Alessia threw everything away. She dropped out of the city's most prestigious university in her junior year. When her parents and her grandfather tried to convince her otherwise, she heartlessly abandoned them, opting instead to listen to her cousin and leave home to be with and support Nicholas and his dream of reviving his family's textile company. With the 'help' of Caterina, she stole from her grandfather's company, giving Nicholas the resources to build his company up, while bringing her entire family down for it.

What have I done?

The giggles slowly turned into sobs.

Her brother, Noah, along with her father, were imprisoned for industrial espionage,because of her. Her grandfather died shortly afterwards, and her mother was driven out of the family home by Alessia's uncle, and Caterina's father, who now had control of the company. All because of her. Alessia was left with nothing. Absolutely nothing. Nicholas had abandoned her the minute that there was nothing more she could give him, falling into the arms of Caterina. The one who had convinced her to drop out of school, to steal from the family company, and to do all that she could to help Nicolas.That same person took the only thing she had left in the world.

Her child.

Her tears slowly subsided, the hollow look in her eyes disappeared, holding sorrow and grief in its place. Her head tilted up, looking up at the sky, searching.

Her baby boy, Michael. Despite the betrayal that she had gone through, Alessia could not bring herself to regret giving birth to Nicolas' child. She had a reason to live because of him. But he was born ill, and she had no money, no education, and no way to provide for her child, leaving her with no choice but to beg Nicolas and Caterina for help. She made her way to the manor that once housed her own proud family and begged and cried with her ailing child in her arms for hours outside the front gates. When Caterina had finally come out, it had already been 3 hours. Just when hope had begun to creep its way back into Alessia's heart, Caterina spoke.

"Think long and hard about where you are and who you are. The best thing for that child is to die. With a useless mother like you, won't it just suffer anyways?"

Caterina spoke those words in the softest voice, and after one last look of smugness and conscension, she retreated back into the house. Seconds later, guards appeared and proceeded to drag Alessia and her child into the road.

Three days later, Michael died. And gone was her reason to live.

But I will see him again.

At that thought, Alessia began to smile. The pills had already started to take effect. Her body felt loose and for the first time in ten years, she felt light. She stood up, stumbling a bit before breaking out into dance, going along with the melody playing in her head.

"Enjoying yourself?"'

A deep voice that held a trace of laughter interrupted Alessia's uncoordinated dance. A small frown donned her face as she tried to focus on the tall dark figure who leaned on the wall by the fire escape. The figure stepped forward into the moonlight, allowing Alessia to see the man in front of her.

He stood tall, towering over Alessia easily. His wide shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs complemented his domineering stature. Messy black hair sat on top of his head, and his dark eyes seemed to stare deep inside a person's soul. His pink lips were slightly upturned on his face,as he watched this strange woman.

"As a matter of fact I was. But I suppose you can join me if you wish"

Alessia's voice was smooth and held a kind of laziness that intrigued the man. She stood in a long and shapeless dress, and her hair was messy and tangled but she seemed to have a royal air about her. But her eyes seemed sad, and hopeless.

His eyes seemed to darken but the smile on his face widened as he took a large step forward, and with exaggerated flourish, took a deep bow before extending his hand out to her.

"May I have this dance?"

She let out a small giggle before putting her hand in his. He wrapped her in his arms, and began to sway back and forth. His arms were warm, and for the first time in a long time, she felt safe. She laid her head on his shoulder and allowed him to glide with her across the roof of the building. Feeling her relax in her arms, the man's arms tightened around her waist.

"What's a pretty girl like you doing up on this roof alone, hmm?"

She let out a harsh laugh at the stranger's soft question, before shrugging.

"There is nowhere else for someone like me to be. This is my punishment. There is nothing left for me out there."

The man frowned, pulling away slightly to look into the tired and resigned face of Alessia. He could feel her body becoming heavier and heavier in his arms. The man's eyes flickered to the empty pill bottle, widening before turning back to the woman, who was swaying in his arms. He reached into his coat pocket for his cellphone, but was stopped by a frail hand. He turned his eyes to the woman, ready to argue, when the look on her face stopped him.

'I'm not a phoenix, there is no coming back for me. I don't deserve forgiveness, and I don't deserve redemption."

The smile on her face was wavering, as tears streamed down her gaunt face. The pain in her eyes became so palpable, that the man could feel it in his own heart. Her body became more and more lax until she could no longer stand on her own. The man lowered Alessia unto the ground, as her eyes got heavier. Hesitating for a moment, the man's cool hand brushed her hair out of her face before lowering his lips to her ear. He whispered into her ear, his cool breath washing over her face, and the warmth of his body spread to Alessia's cold body.

"You are forgiven."

"You'll gain redemption."

Alessia's eyes widened, searching the eyes of the beautiful stranger who was stroking the hair back from her face. His eyes were honest and kind, unlike the cold that clouded his eyes earlier. He didn't know why he felt so much for this woman, but he wanted her to feel comfortable in her last moments. He didn't know what caused her so much pain, but he wanted to take it away.

Alessia could see what he was trying to do, and it was as if the pain in her heart was slightly alleviated. No one had cared for her in so long. She raised her hand to stroke the man's face and smiled genuinely for the first time all evening.

"Thank you for the dance."

And then she was gone.