CHAPTER 1

Darkness began to creep softly behind her; playing her childish game, attempting to catch her by surprise. The dense foliage joined in blocking any last chance of light filtering through.

Light posts flickered like fireflies in response to the waning daylight, causing the path to bend and twist unnaturally in the twilight.

Wrappers danced around her on a curtain of air brushing against her leg as if they too tried to prevent her from going forward.

Whispers in the shadows teased at her senses adding validity to the lateness of the hour. She tried to focus on her surroundings… Insects were buzzing past her, cars honking in impatience, sirens piercing her ears, and familiar music from a local outdoor café drifting through the air. The sounds of the city were surrounding her… making her feel less alone than the path ahead

Needles of apprehension pricked her spine as she silently made her way down the familiar trail that led her way out of Central Park. The weighted bags slowed her progress some, making her feel even more on edge

She knew if she turned around no one would be there, but she could not shake the feeling that something was out there watching.

The rustle of a nearby bush carried by the soft breeze traveled to her ears sounded out of place. She stopped suddenly, but did not turn around. She tried to listen closer….dissecting the sounds….yes…she heard it…a breath…..so light…if it wasn't for her exceptional hearing……

Strong arms grabbed her from behind, pulling her backwards into the darkness. The first thought that came to her mind, she will recall later was that she could hear the canned goods roll out of earshot as the bags tore out of her arms. He was fast, she thought so fast that she could not let out a scream as a hand covered her mouth. The smell of his unclean flesh sickened her, but she forced herself to concentrate as he dragged her farther off the path .

"Make a noise, and see what you'll get" the beast whispered in her ear, each word punctuated with a heavy breath as he too fought to maintain control. "I want money."

A simple thief, incredibly, she was relieved.

He tightened his hold on her mouth, making it more difficult to breathe. He took his hand off her waist and searched through her back pockets, growling in frustration as each pocket turned up nothing. She held perfectly still as she waited for the opportunity to strike back. Anger slowly swelled within as she silently cursed at her mistake…allowing herself to drop her guard carelessly for just one split second. As she shifted her weight slightly to one foot to prepare to fight back, she was shoved to the ground. Not by the creep who was trying to rob her, he had disappeared, eaten by the night. However, something else instead, something that made muffled growls and frightening snarls something deep within the bushes that stilled the muted screams of a human being. Some thing she has never heard before.

She sat dazedly on the ground, waiting helplessly for whatever to come for her. Transfixed she saw it materialize out of the inky blackness. Real fear pounded through her filling her throat with thick bile, strangling any sound she could make. Ignoring the hard ground beneath her buttocks and the rocks that pierced her palms, her eyes stayed fixed on the emerging figure. Finally, she found the strength to back up; it stopped, as if uncertain to what to do next.

"Do not be afraid," He whispered, his voice coming out of the nothingness .

"I will not harm you. " She halted; looking up at him in shock still unsure of its intentions.

"Do not be afraid," he repeated again, the words spoken so softly that one had to focus just entirely on the speaker to understand.

"The Man?" She asked her voice tremulous, adrenaline still coursing in her blood causing her limbs to tremble as it moved through her body.

"He will not hurt you." The voice responded gently.

He moved forward slowly each step bringing him nearer. She noted how like a ghost he glided soundlessly over to her; the cape covering his body gave the impression as if he floated just above the ground. A gloved hand came out of the obscurity reaching… hesitantly; she stretched out to take it. As he pulled her up, oddly, she felt him tremble. She marveled at his strength; how easily he brought her to a standing position. She tilted her head back trying to see his face. Despite her unique eyesight, she could see nothing; his hood completely concealed any discernible features. Bravely she took a step forward, but stopped when he mirrored the action by retreating.

"Are you well?" he asked. While backing up further in the darkness.

"Yes, thanks to you" she responded as she brushed the dirt off her clothing, sighing in relief.

She did not hear the small gasp of delight as she timorously smiled up at him. She did not know that he could see every detail of her face at this distance. The bluest eyes she ever saw that sparkled up at him curiously. They reminded him of a clear summer's day; or that is how the poets describe it. The pert nose crinkled delightedly reminiscent of a pixie from one of his favorite fables. His eyes traveled to her lips, full, and….he shockingly admitted to himself…inviting. Then finally to her blond hair, yards of it, he decided woven together tightly, He was transfixed, wondering how long it really was.

'I have rescued rapunzel' he thought

"….name?

He mentally shook himself out of his voyage of discovery as she responded again, her gentle voice carried to him on a soft wind.

"What is your name?'

"Vincent"

"I'm Jessica…..Jessie" she amended

She turned away for a moment, distracted by the sounds of laughter traveling up the now fully lit path. She turned back, fully expecting to continue their conversation. She whirled into a complete circle stunned to discover that he was gone as if he never was.

"Damn" Slapping her hands against her slim thin thighs as she muttered under her breath.

She half-heartedly attempted to look in the bushes for her missing items, but came up empty-handed. Anxious to leave the park, she decided to continue down the path that would lead out of the park near to her current albeit temporary home.

*******

She did not bother turning on the lights as she made her way through the front room of her small brownstone. By now she knew every piece of furniture by heart as if she lived here for years but it had only been a few weeks since returning to New York. Sighing she tossed off her jacket and made her way through the house. She avoided checking herself in the mirror she knew what looked back at her…and frankly, she did not care; narcissism never played an important role in her life. Oh, men have told her classic beauty overwhelmed them…but that quickly waned, as their egos could not compete with the complexity that was Jessie. Some became intimidated, while others were aroused by her extraordinary amount of knowledge; yet none stayed long enough to know her…but; she admitted she made it difficult for them. Knowingly, she used her abilities as a cage to prevent them from entering her world. For her fears of having someone truly know her and the obvious physical danger outweighed the necessity for companionship. Plus….who would like what they saw underneath? Besides, she liked being alone….independent…didn't she?

As she walked through the kitchen out to the back porch, she mentally shrugged off her feelings of aloneness as if it were another piece of clothing so carelessly discarded.

Standing on the wide covered veranda, that overlooked the private garden. She leaned against the railing, releasing the tension that she had long kept with in her.

Taking in the many varieties of vegetation, brought her thoughts back to central park and the attacker. Biting back her self-reproach, she tried to focus instead on her mysterious rescuer.

Looking up at him from her perspective was not unusual, she knew she wasn't very tall, barely five feet. But it was the way he carried himself ….confidently…almost regal. She recalled too how silent he was, something very difficult for a man of his size. Despite his figure shrouded in disguise; Jessie felt herself responding to the serenity that surrounded him.

Then; when, he spoke….'ohhh my.' Her heart skipped a beat. There was something in his voice that was almost….primitive….male…beckoning her to him. Making her feel for the first time very female and vulnerable.

A tide of warmth filled her face bringing color to her normally cool complexion.

"Good grief" she grumbled, 'what the heck was she doing? She was losing it!'

Giggling softly at her foolishness, she wondered would he think if he knew what she was truly capable of. Oh well….It was very satisfying to know that chivalry was indeed not dead after all.

"Vincent….thank you" She whispered as she turned to go back inside.