n't s

re

stening to the unfamiliar silence of a place too bi

sound made m

ps in t

ng somewher

o low to

e never t

did the man

ltering through the tall curtains.

I s

mbered e

al

bl

ing I'm going

h twisted

k sounded a

fr

le voice called gent

lowed.

stepped inside carrying a tr

l bre

etely abno

eat," she said caref

asked before I

red slightly. "

se qui

urse

ile I sat here tryin

ued, "that once you finish,

t formed i

r w

hesi

aid qu

uss the

hit like

tra

en being pretended

s pap

p in leg

e vanished

thing. I needed strength. I did

ting hot water pound against my skin li

did

ing

t expensive. Soft black pants. Cream blouse

still felt like I was we

into the

rds sto

it

cou

ay," on

stairs, each step he

it less intimidating. Sunlight streamed through massive

bea

led per

a large set o

rd knoc

from inside s

slammed p

oors

s filled with books, a large desk, floor-

d

hone pressed to his ear, sp

he spoke that language.

n I entered, eyes imme

y chest - unwanted. C

entence into the

filled t

toward a chair in

it

ed sta

ow lifted

er stand,

amusement flick

in

esk and picked up

d calmly, "is

curled in

signing a

u w

N

ze sha

le

't get to kidnap me and then hand

n the roo

ger

didn'

t thr

lder and slid it acro

ad

dn't

ted, softer this ti

I steppe

ned

ge made my s

ge agr

tion c

ial bi

ce requ

y restr

ed page

th

eath

s this?" I

ed: Family Line

ed up

s completel

family hist

id quietly, "you

through

said. "I

e Elena Rossi. Grandda

me like a p

andfa

or ten

have to do with

ightened

said slowly, "once sa

ind

ha

ou were born. My family wo

"That doesn't m

ade a

landed l

ightened.

es hel

pened to your family

le

rushing

d in an acciden

es

nearly

ching me?" I ask

yea

flood

's in

's lo

urred my

iage... it's

sion chang

hing

quietly. "It s

se stu

art

lowly, like approach

aid, "I could have

ath hi

I did

shing lightly against

a man who igno

pounded p

y, "makes you untouchable. Leg

I whispered before

gerous flashe

d, "is not in

tretched

arged. Te

l tonight," he

do w

deci

sted. "And if

e droppe

ay," he said. "But you l

llowe

want that," h

withou

ld be

didn't even

n at the con

back

to give up my li

" he

ng you to

tightened

you," I

aw fl

kno

hat bot

es dar

es

esty sh

epped

t," he

dismissing me wi

ing legs, contract c

d behind me, one terrifying t

igned

st be marryin

a world where love and da

which one would