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Once dressed in a lovely emerald dress with a black cloak tossed overcaleche It is the sweetest little thing, with an open top The driver hurriedly helped e and cla drive

"Where shall I take you, ma’am?" the driver asked

"Into the heart of the city," I responded

The beautiful black horses trotted over the cobblestones streets, tossing their e The stars were brilliant above low The caleche rolled sedately through the night past iant ho its way down the lanes lined with oak tress

I sat in contented silence gazing out at the city where ine that the carriage was taking me back to Sir Stephen’s stately hoathered in the parlor waiting for me

But that was merely a dream

I could feel the difference in not only s, the shadows slithering along the walls, the thick gloo in the trees, and the h the darkness The night was alive with h the cacophony of sounds that drifted through the night: the sighing of the wind, the creaking of the tree lih the underbrush, a drunkeninto a bush, the cries of a baby in the house we passed

The horses trotted haughtily along the edge of the Danube I leaned forward to gaze out at the dark waters How beautifully theover the waves I shed with bittersweet contentment

May and I had picnicked on the shores of the Danube with soarian aristocrats soon after our arrival in Buda It had been a glorious day full of sunshine and laughter

The driver turned the caleche onto the pontoon bridge and soon ere in the city of Pesth that lay across the river from Buda It was the poorer, hter and drunken singing of those still prowling the night began to drift on the wind and a feral smile spread on my ruby lips

"Driver, leave me here," I ordered

"It is not such a safe place, ma’am," the driver cautioned me

"I am not such a safe lady, driver," I responded with a sly sry My eyes were glittering and I could feel the sharpness ofto rise within le with anticipation

I let myself down from the caleche and turned to peer up into the anxious face of the young driver His eyes were such a lovely shade of green They re when the trees are in full bloolish countryside is a lush paradise As I se doard Fear blossoaze I not only saw, but also felt the tensing of his body Prey is always frightened in the presence of a predator

"Listen carefully, driver," I said gently, trying to look as non-threatening as possible "I want you to go so accosted An hour before dawn, return here forUnderstand?"

"Yes, ma’am I will return here," the driver promised fervently

"Then be off with you!"

I wavedabout, disappearing into the night

Whirling about, I stared down the darkened street lined with taverns This was good hunting ground Severalenthusiastically at the top of their lungs The funny thing was that each one was singing a different song As they neared me, they abruptly stopped their off-key chorus and stared atlady such as yourself should not be here," one of theed to slur after a moment From the lascivious look in his eyes, I could vividly see his point But I a lady

"So to a young lady such as ered out of the grasp of his comrades and broadly smiled atsolady back to her ho my head "Really? Well, I would rather that you did not Nohy do you not go ho very wicked happens to you"

"Leave her alone, Bela," one of the other rimy hand to aret it!"

"I bet your father would pay a nice sum if I return you safety to hian to nod vigorously "Yes, I’rab for my arm When I jerked away, he teetered on his toes, his arhten hi on me, the inebriated h

I caught his ar hiained h the air, ar crash in a pile of refuse

Satisfied, I whirled about, wiped my hands on my cloak, and continued uely a uttered by the drunks as they helped Bela to his feet

Past all sorts of hideous, yet intriguing places, I strolled along in contented silence I felt the full extent ofcould truly touch me or hurt me I stood atop the mortal world, untouchable and content I was nearly drunk with the thought of athered around brawlers, sidestepped drunkards passed out on the road, noddedmen off the streets into their bordellos, and s to hawk tobacco

"Should you not be home in bed?" I asked one particularly dirty little boy

"Howin my velvet cloak and fine dress "You look expensive"

"You could never afford libly

"I have a bit saved up," the boy assured ave ly irresistible, yet cocky smile

I was charmed by the boy and could not help but smile down at him "Why do you not buy food with that ," he responded with a smirk

The boy was probably no older than twelve I was not sure if it wasthe boy’s interest in rant flirtation, but a little saddened by it This was not a child, but a s boy’s body The bruises on his face told of beatings and there was hollowness in his eyes that spoke of hardship<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>