Saturday, 1 November 1800 12:59 a.m.
At a fork in the path up to the house
Sugar Kelly reigned her horse to a slow walk, giving her the freedom to rearrange her long skirt without falling on her face. Once comfortable situated again, she clicked her tongue and urged the horse-whose name was Jack- forward. She patted his neck and promised him a carrot as soon as they arrived.
Jack was such a good horse. Sure, Sugar could probably run just as fast as he could, if not faster, but could she carry all her things on her own? Considering she carried everything she owned with her wherever she went, probably not. Not that she owned much, mind you, but there was enough of it that it would be a burden to deal with without Jack.
They came out of the trees onto what was apparently the main road up the mountain. Sugar could have come this way before, but the winding dirt road was easier on Jack, even if it did make them late. Oh well, no party really started until she got there anyway.
But it seemed they no longer had a choice as to their route The mountain path disappeared where Jack stood.
"Well, come on Jack." Sugar said, prodding him forward. "It won't be long now, and you can have a nice long rest when we get there, 'kay?" Wasn't that the truth. The elder who sent her had told her that she wouldn't be leaving this place for a while. And a thought like that was a hell of a blow to a Ravnos.
There had better be some interesting people there to make up for all this.
Suddenly, Jack started. Sugar glanced around, searching for possible threat. But there was nothing.
"What is it, boy?" she stroked Jack's neck, trying to calm him. The horse was obviously hearing something undesirable. After a few seconds, Sugar thought she could make out the sound of....hoofbeats?
She had no clue what it was....for a few minutes.
Then she and Jack found themselves bathed in a bright light. Jack panicked and whatever was creating the bright beam of light swerved to avoid them. Jack galloped onto the side of the road and it was all Sugar could do to hold on to him, never mind slow him down.
She had almost managed to bring him back under control when a loud crash and an even louder shriek made the horse buck up and throw Sugar to the forest floor. Jack ran in circles for a few minutes, then stopped, still jittery but unsure of what to do without his master.
Sugar jumped up and immediately turned to inflict a violent death upon whoever or whatever had done this to her and her horse.
Unfortunately, there was someone on the other side of the road who was equally pissed off.
"My CARRIAGE! Damn you, what the hell are you doing with your damnable beast in the middle of the road?!" a young girl with curly blonde hair screamed in Sugar's general direction.
"What in the name of all that is holy IS that thing?!" Sugar screamed back. "And what do you think YOU'RE doing, coming up like the hounds of hell are on your tail?! Or are YOU the hound of hell?!"
"Accursed gypsy!" the girl snarled.
Sugar spit in the dirt. "Good guess. I don't know what you are. And guess what? I don't care either. Have fun extracting your hell bound chariot from around that tree." Sugar smirked, swinging up onto Jack's back. "I'll let you go this time. Let's just say you're lucky my horse wasn't hurt." With that, she spurred Jack forward and they disappeared around a bend in the road.
There were not enough words in the English language for 'red' that would have effectively described the face of the girl with the car. She stood there motionless, immobilized and speechless with utter fury. How DARE that gypsy speak to her that way?! And her car! For a moment the girl considered sending a few dozen battalions of animated shadows after that gypsy. And her stupid beast.
The very mental image made her feel better. 'Alright, Courtney, calm down'. she told herself. There was only one place this road led to, so she would undoubtedly see the gypsy again. And long, drawn out periods of torturous fear of death was ever so much more horrible than simply being killed outright.
Oh yes. She would have her revenge.