CLAIMED BY THE RUSSIAN TYRANT

Anastasia spun in a flawless pirouette, the private studio mirrors reflecting her red hair tightly secured in a bun. Her pointe shoes glided across the studio floor as she extended her legs in a perfect arabesque. In two weeks, she would dance as Odette in Swan Lake on the Billiards stage. It was the role she had bled for since fleeing the gilded cage of her family in Russia and their never-ending drama. But as she landed, spotting her reflection, the stern voice of Dean Victoria shattered the music. “Anastasia Sokolov! My office, now.” What could be the problem? Anastasia wondered. Dean Victoria only summoned dancers when they had done something wrong, and Anastasia never did anything wrong. She was disciplined. Perfect. One of the best. In the dean’s office, she shuddered as the air conditioner hit her sweaty skin. Dean Victoria peered at her over her glasses and sighed. “I’m sure you’re wondering why I called you here, Anastasia.” Anastasia nodded, her heart thudding. “You’re one of our most promising dancers. But I am so sorry to say that your enrollment here will have to be revoked. Your parents haven’t paid your outstanding fees of $230,000.” The words hit Anastasia like a punch in the face. $230,000 was literally nothing her family couldn’t handle. “No, that’s not possible. Have you tried contacting my father?” The dean sighed, slowly taking her glasses off. “It was your mother who called to cancel your enrollment.” Anastasia gripped the chair to stop from falling off. Suddenly, the fatigue of her dance practice was making her feel sick. She knew her parents never supported her ambition to be a ballet dancer in America. They only allowed her here because Dmitri, her betrothed, was also enrolled here. But why now? Why did they get to ruin everything right now, with a life-changing performance looming ahead of her? Storming into her dorm room, she dialed her mother’s number, fingers shaking. “Why would you cancel my enrollment, Mama?” Silence. Then— “Is that what you’ve learned in America? Speaking to your mother in such tone?” Her mother drawled in Russian. “No I—“ “Your father has had a heart attack, you fool.” Her mother cut her off. “He’s requesting your presence immediately, and all you can think about is ballet?” Anastasia froze, the phone hot against her ear. Maximo, her father, was as strong as a horse. To the extent that she sometimes wondered if he was even human. But hearing that he had a heart attack… Swallowing, she softened her voice. “Forgive me, Mama, but… what caused it?” “What caused what?” “The heart attack.” Her mother scoffed. “He’s getting old, that’s what. The least you can do is act like a decent daughter and come immediately.” Anger tightened Anastasia’s chest. “But—I have an important performance next week. I can come after that. My career shouldn’t be destroyed because of this. I’m sure papa can be tended to without me being there.” “So dancing in a tutu is more important than your father’s life?” her mother spat, voice loosing its patience. “I always knew you’d end up like your traitor sister.” “Mama, wait, I didn’t mean—” “Be in Moscow with Dmitri by Monday.” And with that, her mother hung up, leaving her to slide down her door to the floor as uncontrollable tears of frustration racked her. She didn’t have her own money, only what her family sent her as a monthly allowance, and that wouldn’t cover the outrageous amount she was owing the Billiards dance school. Wiping her tears with the back of her hand, she decided that Dmitri would understand. She hadn’t seen him for a while now due to intense practice. He could help her talk to her parents and convince them to let her stay until after her show. She just needed to dance as Odette, then she could go back to Russia. She grabbed her keys and headed to his dorm across campus, switching her pointe shoes for boots. Reaching his private suite, reserved for elite students, she knocked softly but no answer came. Frowning, she tried the handle. It was unlocked. Suddenly, a low male groan vibrated through the door, followed by a loud smacking sound. She froze. Dmitri never had friends over neither did he have a roommate. “Tell me, Dmitri,” a husky voice said. “Does your little Swan f**k you better than I do?” Anastasia’s eyes widened in horror. “Answer me, Dmitri. Does she do it like I do?” “She’s a chore, Philip. A dumb spineless chore,” Came Dmitri’s voice, strained and breathless. “Just shut up and f**k me already.” The "spineless chore" pushed the door open and froze. Lo and behold, Her fiancé, her perfect blonde Russian match, was pinned face down to the bed, naked, sweating and panting, while Philip, Billiard’s dance instructor slammed into him from behind. Their moans echoing together. Anastasia’s breath caught, the world tilting. She stubbed her shoes on the doorframe by accident. The sound echoed across the room causing both men to freeze mid-thrust. Dmitri’s glazed eyes widened in horror as he glanced at the door. At Anastasia, his fiancée. Before she could turn and flee, he was off the bed, clamming his slick hands around her bicep. Dmitri didn’t even bother to cover up. He stood in front of her in his raw, naked glory, his face twisting from shock into something angry. "Don’t you dare walk away," he hissed. "Let go of me! You’re disgusting!" Anastasia sobbed, thrashing against his grip. The smell of him, sweat and lube, made her want to vomit. He jerked her back toward the room, palming her mouth with his slimy hands when she tried to scream. His eyes darted to Philip, who sat on the edge of the bed looking completely amused. “She can join us, you know. I wouldn’t mind.” Anastasia felt sick to her stomach. Philip was a married man with three children. A dance instructor. And to top it all off, it was against Billiard’s law for staffs to engage with students. “Shut your i***t mouth, Philip. She’s too sensitive,” Dmitri hissed before pinning Anastasia with a glare, his fingers crushing her bone. "You won't say a word, Anastasia. Not to your father, not to the Academy.” Anastasia couldn’t even recognize her voice when he removed his disgusting hands from her mouth. “Why? Are you scared of what people will say? I don’t even—What—happened to you Dmitri?” He turned purple with anger. "What do you mean what happened to me? You think you’re so pure? I’m a man, Anastasia. I have needs your 'virginity' can’t satisfy. You brought this on yourself with your endless rehearsals and your 'waiting for marriage' nonsense. I got tired." "My virginity?” she whispered, feeling her knees buckling. "That’s your excuse?” He gripped her chin painfully, “It’s not like you had anything to offer other than that!” “And cheating on me is better?” “This isn’t cheating.” His voice dropped, patient, like he was explaining something painfully simple to a child. “Cheating is when a man puts another woman in your place, Anastasia. Someone who could actually replace you. Philip isn’t a woman. He’s a release. That’s all.” His jaw tightened. “I did this to protect what we have. Because I would never disrespect you by putting another woman in my bed.” Anastasia stared at Dmitri in disbelief. He held her gaze like he was waiting for her to agree with him, like he’d said something rational. “You’re a coward, Dmitri.” Anastasia said finally . “A coward and a liar who is scared to come out of the closet!” His eyes flashed red then. “I’m not a f*****g faggot, you entitled little b***h. If a single word of this reaches Moscow, I will tell your father that you were the one found in another man's bed. Who do you think he will believe, huh?" With a shove, he released her. Anastasia didn’t wait. She turned and bolted into the night, the hallway blurring as tears streamed down her cheeks. She wanted to scrub her eyes out. She wished beyond anything that it was all a fever dream. It wasn’t. Dmitri who would literally beat an innocent guy to a pulp if he said he was gay had apparently been one, in secret, for years. What else was she in the dark about all this time? What else had Dmitri been lying about? One thing was certain: she couldn’t face him anymore, and she certainly couldn't face the staffs at Billiards. She was leaving, and she was leaving immediately!