CHAPTER 2

Forest sat silently under the street lamp in a small marble garden where a small fountain stood and rose bushes was used for a fence around it; she had woke up just before the sun had set and had somehow managed to avoid an encounter with Jayson, she had wondered around and had found this place isolated and quiet; she had wanted to be alone, away from the other tourist and it was perfect the spot was not so far from the hotel that she was staying. She had taken her notebook and a pen with her, she looked down at the notebook and began to write...

She was a wild cat; untamed by any man, he wanted her more than anything – her eyes reminded him of twilight; rare and beautiful, her hair was like silk flowing in the night sky glowing with a reddish hue in the moonlight. Her taunting laughter mocking him...seducing him...alluring him to damnation. If he had to die he would gladly die by her hand – she infuriated him, haunted his days and tortured him by night with her image. He wanted to capture her – to let her never again ran wild with her band of thieves; the daughter of the King of thieves; the Princess as everyone knows her. He the Captain of the Royal guard had never met a more challenging and enticing thief; he'd been Captain for eight years, his men feared and respected him, never had he struggle to obtain those who oppose the rules but when he'd met the notorious woman known as 'Princess' among the other thieves and criminals – he'd been taken by complete shock. He had pictured a big muscular woman whom no man would even dare to touch not trivial with but instead what he found was a young beauty with flowing black-red hair that reached till her knees and violet eyes that gleamed with mischieve and dangers untold and her stance was that of defiance as if she had no fear in the world, her lips were blood red seductive, he'd been taken in by her and been tricked so easily and then she had escaped him slipping through his fingers. Now as he walked down the corridors of the castle he thought how would he capture her? He wore a navy blue jacket and black breeches, his wavy black hair reached neatly till his back, normally he would tie it back with a blue ribbon however today he had left it loose, his sword was on his left side; he was considered as a handsome man that no woman would deny him...except The Princess. He stopped once again feeling the need to have her no matter what, when he felt arms encircled him and a seductive voice whispers in his ears.

"You have been avoiding me lately Captain Rolando." The woman whispered and pressed against him, "I've missed you so much the bed has gotten cold."

Rolando took her arms away and turned to face the red haired woman who wore a red gown her blue eyes watching him, devouring him.

"You always know how to appear – I'm in a foul mood today." He said and gripped her wrist tightly, she flinch visably but smiled.

"And was it the 'Princess' who had put you in such a mood?" She asked knowingly it had been the talk of the castle for the week of the 'one who had alluded the fierce Captain'

Rolando pulled her closed to him glaring down at her.

"You have some mouth on you wench – I could do with some destraction." He said and let her wrist go she encirled her arms over his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. Rolando welcomed it willingfully uncaring he felt nothing for this woman; nor would he ever for another. As he thought this and began to kiss her back he thought about the black-red haired woman how would she taste, would she cower before him with he finally have her in his hand would she beg for more or would she be willing like Charlotte? He broke the kiss and grabbed her wrist hurriedly through the corridor until he found an empty room where he started to attack her neck, pushing her dress down until her...

"Good evening young Lady – what are you writing so intently?" A smooth voice avoid from emotion broke through Forest's writing abruptly – she jumped nearly dropping the pen and notebook as she did, she placed her hand over her chest feeling her heart beating faster. Her face burned red with embarrassment, she turned towards the direction the voice was coming only to see a man with wavy black-brown hair that reached till his shoulders, he wore a black cloak; his skin was pale against the street lamp and she had to fight the eager to touch it but it was his unusual eyes that drew her in – he had red eyes, or was it only her imagination but in all the man was handsome; too handsome.

"Geez, you could have given me a heart attack you know?" She said accusing but then sighed he merely watched her his red eyes gleaming, waiting for her to answer his question. She looked at her notebook " I'm writing a romantic novel." Then she looked up at the stranger again noticing his bored, uninterested expression but nonetheless he spoke in a calm voice.

"I see. I'm sorry." He walked towards her and went to sit down next to her watching her and listening to her nervous heart beat, he had smelt her; the scent of lavender and had followed it here were he was a bit surprise to find the woman he had seen this morning out of curiosity he had watched her writing intently unaware of anything around her as her pen had moved from side to side, but he had notice the anxiety in her heartbeat and then he had seen the blush on her face; he didn't know why but before he could have stopped himself he had found himself wanting to know what she was writing. Now as she held the pen again he could see her writing slowly but nervously the silence stretched on yet he just watched her not saying anything – just observing her.

"You'll laugh if I tell you this but I don't really believe in love anymore – yet I am a romantic writer ironic isn't it?" She spoke and put her pen down she faced him her emerald green-blue eyes watching him, she couldn't write further because she felt nervous writing a 'hot scene' when someone was silently sitting next to her watching her. He merely watched her with a bored expression, but now she could see that there was a sadness in his eyes; one that went deep.

"Are you often alone?" He asked and she looked away from him toward the fountain.

"I'm afraid so." She fell silent and then looked at the sky as she leaned on the bench noticing the stars shining "My friend couldn't come with me, his wife is having a baby and if I know him he'll be sending pictures soon." The smile faded and she returned her gaze at the notebook. "So here I am alone on a vacation." She looked at the stranger with a smile again."I don't mind it you know, I am actually glad to be away from my homeland for a while – I can write in peace and enjoy the tour, I am looking forward for the week's end; We will be going to the Castle." She said and turned her attention to the castle, " After this vacation I'm hoping that I'd be finished with my book." she didn't notice the stranger leaning back on the bench, his expression stayed unreadable but somehow deep within him he felt pity towards her – she didn't realize what would happen at the castle, that she might never get the change to write her book finished.

"Well, I better get going – I've wasted enough of your time stranger." She said and stood up ready to leave, it was time she get back to the hotel.

"What is your name?" he asked and she turned around with a bright smile.

"It is Forest. Forest O'Maley and who might you be sir?" She asked watching him as he stood up and watched her, for a moment she thought he would laugh at her name or say something offending.

"You may call me Marcus." He said in a bored fashion but nevertheless held his hand out to greet her.

"It is an honour to have met you Marcus and thanks for listening to me a bit." She said and took his hand she was shocked that his hand was cold – but she shook it off to be the cold air that had made his hands seem so, he looked down at her and then let her hand go slowly.

"It was my pleasure...let's meet again soon." He said for a moment they stood there.

"I'll probably be here tomorrow night if you care to listen to my silly talking." She found herself saying, she shook her head. "Bye, Marcus."she turned around abruptly walking away.

"Until tomorrow than...Good night, Forest." His smooth voice traveled towards her and she stopped turning around but he was no longer standing by the bench in fact he was gone, it was as if he was never there.

"Hey, Forest you do realize it is late don't you?" Another voice broke her from her thought and she turned with narrow eyes at Jayson who came running towards her.

"I'll walk you back." He added as he stopped before her he held his arm out but she simple ignored him and walked on her mind was on Marcus; a part of her was hoping he would be here tomorrow so she could talk to him, he wasn't much of a talker so it was almost like she was talking to herself but somehow she knew he was listening to her.

"Hey Forest, you listening to me?" Jayson said and then saw the notebook a sly smile cross his face as he grabbed it out of her arms "What is this?"

"Hey give that back." She said and he walked before her she fallowed him trying to get her notebook back he was reading it with a smile.

"So you were writing naughty things...shame on you." He said and she grabbed her notebook back furious.

"Leave me and go annoy someone else."

"But, you are far more interesting to annoy – look you are red in the face." He pointed out and she narrowed her eyes at him walking before him ignoring him. They were unaware of Marcus who stood hidden in the alley way watching the two of them – he could see the man was after her but she had no bond with the man, he turned and made his way to the castle once again – he knew the other might be worried if he doesn't return soon. Her smile lingered for awhile in his mind – before disappearing.