"Why are you here? Wh-who are you?" My voice was shaking.

Again, like the other times when I had seen him, he didn't say a word. He just…kept staring at me. It unnerved me a little. The man seemed to sense it and immediately let me go. I scrambled away until my back hit the wall. The eerie moonlight filtered through the curtains like a slithering snake. It was both magical and frightening.

"Say something!" I yelled.

He simply stood there, those calm eyes still fixed on me. I grabbed the book on my bedside table and threw it at him. Probably not the smartest thing to do but I wanted to see if it could hurt him, if it would make him say something.

The book just went straight through him. By now I was trembling all over, a cold rush of fear drenching me like heavy rain. He came closer, putting his gloved hand to my face. I started to feel strangely at ease, comforted by his touch. My eyelids were drooping and before I knew it, all was dark.

I awoke to the sound of my mother calling me. Jumping out of bed and hastily changing I ran to the dining room, and sat down beside her at the table. The cheerful sunlight was pouring in like watered down champagne, a gold veil covering everything in sight. Father was absent that morning, having needed to attend a meeting in the royal court. So it was just me and mother; we talked as we ate breakfast. Thoughts of that mysterious man keep crossing my mind, always interrupting my line of thought. Although mother was speaking to me, her words barely reached me. Again I got that distant feeling, the one which makes you think everything around you is so far, far away.

Afterwards we went to browse in the market. A maid came with us to carry goods mother was buying. It was a nice day, I felt happy. We ate lunch at a local stall selling fresh seafood, my favourite, and then we walked along the promenade. I turned to say something to mother when I realised she wasn't with me, but was talking to a man. He was tall, dressed in fine clothes so I'm guessing that he's a nobleman. I wanted to leave but didn't want to leave her either, so I forced myself to go over there. Great.

As I approached they stopped talking and the man was looking at me. At first I wondered what was so alluring about him… and then I remembered. He is the man that I saw in my dream! Or at least he really looked like him with his blond hair and sky blue eyes. His boyish features captivated me, those chiselled features making him a living statue. He was certainly tall; I'm guessing around six foot in height. I laughed inside as I got near, the top of my head barely reached his shoulder.

"Let me introduce you; this is my daughter, Hitomi." My mother beamed. Sometimes she can be so embarrassing.

"She's a pretty thing isn't she?" The man commented. His voice was deep, and to my alarm made my heart flutter slightly.

What's wrong with me? First I start seeing people others can't see, and then a new stranger sets my heart in flight just by talking! Worried I was blushing, I mumbled an excuse to mother about seeing this dress that I had to buy, and promptly ran off. Running as far as my legs would carry me, I hid behind a wall to catch my breath. Crouching down I buried my head is if this would make things better. Why did I run away just then? God…if you're listening… stop this nonsense!

Somebody tapped my head… it was him! That creepy silent guy!

Without thinking my legs had already begin moving in the opposite direction to him. But he grabbed my wrist to hold me back. It started raining and before long it became heavy, as if tiny crystals were falling from the grey sky. We stood there in silence, him still holding my wrist. I wanted to ask him again, who he was and what he was doing following me around, although I knew it was no use so I kept quiet. The sound of falling rain was somehow soothing to my shaking soul. I watched as everything was covered in this slippery wet liquid coming from the heavens. After a while I noticed my breathing had gone back to normal, and that I had been sheltering under the connection bridge behind this building for some time. Still, this didn't worry me at all. I turned to face him but was preparing myself to see nothing. I was expecting him to be gone, to disappear before my second look at him which he does so well.

"I'm still here." He said upon seeing my surprised expression.

The rain had stopped at last. Finally he let go of my wrist, and I didn't know what to do with myself. I knew I should go back to find mother, although something invisible was restraining me. I was rooted to the spot, unable to move even an inch. Slowly he walked towards me, closing the gap between us. He was so close he could… I was paralysed. I looked away in shyness, but then he told me to look up. Moving with such grace I was unsure he was even moving at all – until his lips landed on mine. They felt so soft; the gentle touch of his lips was like being tickled by feathers. Kissing me again and again, he was giving me butterfly kisses... My heart was pumping faster... My insides felt like they were melting... Delicate, fleeting pleasures to my senses...

"Hitomi! Hitomi where are you?"

My mother's voice broke the spell which was binding me to this moment. I didn't want it to end, not now. Searching his burgundy eyes I wanted to hold onto something, I wanted him to speak to me. Instead he embraced me in his strong arms, holding me, wrapping around me like I was a new born. I smiled to myself... the top of my head hardly reached his shoulder...

But why wasn't his heart beating?

Pushing him away I stood back, afraid of what I have discovered. I opened my mouth to scream but all that came was nothing. Would that scare him away? If it did how come I was bothered? He looked at me with sad eyes.

"Your mother is searching for you." He reminded me.

I grabbed his hand to stop him from leaving. I wanted to know what he was, why his heart was still, how he was always there one minute, then gone the next. With a gentle tug he got out of my grip, and I watched him disappear as he walked away.

When I turned around the corner a familiar face greeted me. It was that man mother was talking to. He asked me if I was alright, I merely nodded in reply then proceeded to find my mother. She found me first, and hugged me tight. I was numb…so numb…

The man with the fair hair drove us home in his horse carriage, with him taking the reins. Mother hugged me throughout the short journey home, but spiritually I was lost. Whenever I saw a dark patch of shadow in the passing scenery, that man with the wine coloured eyes came into my mind. What black magic was he using on me? Why me? The road was smooth and shortly we came to a stop. We had reached the mansion. Leaping off the fair haired man opened the door and helped me and mother out.

Sitting on the plush sofas mother ordered the servants to bring food and drink. The two of them were talking. I was still in a daze, one which refused to shift. Something mother was saying captured my attention.

"Yes of course I remember, but you see the agreement was for when she came of age."

"I know" He replied.

"There is still one month to go. And besides… I want to spend as much time with her as I can now. (Sigh) I'm going to miss my little baby."

"Mother!" I jumped to attention. "May I ask who is this man!"

They could both sense the urgency and the alarm in my voice. Mother took my hand and rubbed it gently, as if to sooth a sore spot.

"This is Allen Schezar, the high General you are betrothed to since you were born."

"What?..." was all I could manage. That, and to let my mouth hang open to catch all the flies.

"I understand you must be scared, Miss Hitomi, since we do not know each other very well and have only just met."

His voice was smooth and gentle, like a gentle wind brushing close to my ears, almost teasing me. I became mesmerized by those sky blue eyes again, unable to tear myself away. Mother interrupted this little contact by clearing her throat.

"In that case, may I suggest the Light Festival as a starting point then?"

I can't believe this….my hearing must be going awol….my mother was asking him to court me! How absurd! I was livid to say the least!

"How dare you! Both of you! Have you ever considered MY FEELINGS and what I THINK to this arrangement! Well!" I screamed at them, the pure shock draining all the colour from their faces.

Stomping out of that room was the only thing on my mind. Clouded with anger I couldn't think. I just walked as far as possible, as fast as possible. This place which I once loved so dearly, with parents I adored so much, were now nothing more than a cage, with the key being marriage to a stranger. Will this really be my fate?... It was quite some time before I noticed there were no buildings or people around me. Only trees and trees and yet more trees.

I was in the middle of a forest. Yippee.

Shivering, it was growing both cold and dark. The sun was setting taking with it the golden light of day. Where the hell was I? Facing the way I had come, I had hoped that it would take me home soon or at least take me into the city. After what felt like hours had gone by, I realised I was lost. Admitting defeat I sat down on the dirty earth, not caring that my expensive silk brocade dress was getting muddy.

"Awoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo……"

My head snapped to the left. Then to the right. Wolves! I had to run, it didn't really matter where, I just needed to move. Branches caught my dress and snared my hair, but I had to keep going.

"Heeeelp! Somebody help meee!"

Deciding it wasn't loud enough, I breathed in deeply and screamed with all my might. It echoed so profoundly that it rung in my ears like a giant church bell being hit. Then I was on the run again. The howling was growing louder and getting closer too. Now fear had entered my blood stream, causing my heart to pump so hard it was beginning to hurt. Tripping on a stone I fell forwards but managed to stop with my hands. Getting up I didn't stop, trying my best to keep the wolves far behind me.

Then I heard low growling.

Something began pulling the hem of my dress and to my horror, it was a wolf! I screamed a second time and this seemed to deafen it, if somewhat slightly, making it let go. But before I could even take a step I was frozen on the spot. Before me were a pack of wolves…all angry, snarling, bearing their sharp teeth at me. Then they all sat down and howled into the night. Goosebumps covered my body like another skin, fear weakening my knees and my resolve to run. I was afraid, so very afraid. Hot tears cascaded down my cheeks as I knew there was no way out now. Two of them bit my dress again, sinking their teeth into the fabric.

Then another leapt into the air and knocked me off balance…