Page 8 of Inescapable Gravity

She could hear the notes in her head. Hell, she could feel the vibrations in her hand and arm, but she couldn't make herself touch the bow to the strings.

"Do it."

She heard the wild, surging pulse in her ears.

Whoosh... whoosh.

The music in her head screamed to be heard over the blood rushing through her veins.

Still, she sat there.

Her bow vibrating with her effort to touch it to the strings.

"Just do it."

As she forced air in and out of her lungs, she felt her body rock ever-so-slightly like a metronome.

One. Two. Three. Four.

One. Two. Three. Four.

One. Two. Three. Four.

The bass notes in her head.

D A B F G D G A

Her hand lowered the bow and the vibration of the first note rolled across her skin.

F E D C

Her notes descended through the scale and while she kept the pressure on the strings the same, she felt the pressure building in her lungs.

When the notes rose up, she drew in a breath and felt her shoulders lift at the same time.

To anyone watching her, the depth with which she felt the music inside her body was not all that evident in her mien. She'd been told early on in her studies that her face remained a mask most of the time.

Heather hadn't seen that as an issue.

It mattered what sounds she could pull from the instruments.

It mattered what emotions she could draw from the audience.

What did it matter that her outside expression was nearly expressionless?

Showing her emotions had never been a good thing.

Showing her emotions had taken everything away from her.

If she could have remained out of sight, she would have, but to make a career that would pay her bills meant that she had to put herself out in the public and draw attention to herself.

That's why she chose a performance name and a persona that would entertain others, but give herself the comfort of anonymity.

Nix.

It began as an attraction for Greek mythos as a child. She could read the stories and imagine these all powerful gods and goddesses moving heaven and earth for her.

Then, when she was seventeen and facing down the real horror of her life, she needed those mythological heroes and no one was there to save her.

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