"You are holding it completely wrong."
Julian Croft panicked. The British prodigy took a rapid step toward the center of the stage. He reached out with a trembling hand to snatch the priceless instrument away.
"You are going to snap the bridge, Parker," Julian yelled. "Put the Stradivarius down right now."
Ryan Parker did not move. He ignored the frantic prodigy entirely.
Ryan raised the antique wooden bow. He placed it gently against the ancient, tensioned strings.
He did not play a screeching, aggressive note. He simply drew the bow across the wood with absolute, terrifying grace.
The sound that spilled from the fifteen million dollar instrument was not merely music. It was pure, devastating sorrow. It was the exact opening chord of the Paganini variation Julian had just butchered,
