I was holding my books after one very long and draining class on dancing. It was weird this time around, it wasn't just dancing, but we were taught to kind of give a seductive performance to each other, and whoever delivered the dance best was well applauded. I didn't want to go first that time, but chose to instead watch the others give a go, and each time the more experienced Kalfas sighing and shaking their heads, as though a terrible fate would be assigned to the girls if they didn't do it right.

Finally, I realized Nigar was watching me and as we made eye contact she waved for me to come up and show my moves to the rest of the people in the room, and there were at least 20 or so girls and a few eunuchs, who apparently weren't men as I thought they were before.

I strutted up to the platform and perched against the dark wall and motioned for the musicians to begin playing. It started out low and soft as I made long strides from the wall, abruptly stopping and posing when I reached the edge of the platform. 

My arms began making waves in the opposite directions as I wiggled my fingers at various girls, and then I lifted my chin up and made eye contact with Nigar, who nodded approvingly. I twirled and then made a wavy scoop motion from my feet up to my shoulders, and then the opposite the way down as I crouched and moved my left arm down one leg, and my right arm down another as the music intensified a bit and moved faster.

I spun upwards quickly using one leg and then backed up a bit with teensy steps on my toes as I made soft waves with my fingers. I slide left and began making large waved to my left, and then slid to my right where I repeated it on the right side, and then I moved forward, my hips moving left and right as I made the wave motions forward, and then upwards. 

I moved a foot forward as I did a scooping motion and then wrist circle waves upwards and tilted my body about 90 degrees as I made a final pose, my chin up, foot outward, and arms frozen in a wavy motion as though I was a statue for this part of the dance. 

The music slowed as I made some small twirls, each time stopping to make a beautiful and seductive pose, and for a moment I forgot that I was in the presence of more than 20 girls, several eunuchs, and of course Nigar Kalfa and the other Kalfas judging my every move. I felt almost like I was alone, dancing on the thin, invisible divide between the beach and the ocean, as though it was sunset and I was beginning to fall towards the waves. 

This made me stride forward again, towards the edge of the stage, where I repeated my very first dance moves, and making wave like motions, though more and more faster as the music escalated before it arubtly stopped in a final collapse and I dropped to my knees with my chin down and my arms in the air, in a wavy X motion.

I received no applause, which was apparently customary here in the Ottoman Empire, but a lot of whispers and looks between my fellow new girls. I took that as I succeeded in achieving my goal with my dance, and probably aced that performance for the class, though I wasn't quite sure why I needed that much effort in the first place.

As I walked out, taking my books, a woman pulled me aside. I recognized her as Gülfem Hatun, the former concubine of the Sultan, who had also hosted the party I went to a while ago where I had met Hürrem Hatun, Mahidevran Hatun, and the great and powerful Valide Sultan, the Sultan's mother and harem ruler. Gülfem was her treasurer now, so she had a pretty important role around here, especially in making sure everything went smoothly, and no problems arise.

"Gülfem Hatun," I bowed respectfully to her. She was after all, higher in rank than myself here, which did feel a bit icky inside but I'm sure when I get rescued I will go back to my happy and high rank privileged life in gorgeous Spain like before. 

"Francesca Hatun, I watched your dance. I have to say, I am very impressed by how well you did it, better than most new girls at the moment," she congratulated me. "Where did you ever learn to dance that well?"

I blushed. "Well, I only learn from the best. The rest of the girls here are really good and I try to watch them as much as I can, and of course Nigar Kalfa is a very good mentor."

"Well, your hard work was very obvious, and for that you will be rewarded." Gülfem Hatun nodded and smiled at me. I was a bit confused what she meant by rewarded, but at this point Gülfem was already walking away from me and towards the Kalfas. I started walking away too, but I ducked behind a corner to see what Gülfem Hatun was doing. She began speaking to the Kalfas, and she briefly paused to look around herself and see if anyone was there I supposed, and then she began talking a bit louder.

"Francesca Hatun. I think she would be a good candidate for it." Gülfem Hatun said assertively. What do you mean by good candidate? For what? Do you want to sacrifice me?

Oh Dios, I heard even back in Spain rumors of the Ottomans being cannibals and sacrificing people, perhaps that dance was a test to see who was unworthy of living this life?

My mouth made a perfect O when Nigar nodded. How can she agree to such injustices towards me? Am I not her favorite student? Or did she know from the start to prepare me for death?

Then the next thing shocked me. 

Nigar Kalfa said, "She will be perfect for dancing for the Sultan tomorrow night."

What? Dancing for the Sultan?