So sorry about the delay- these essays for AP US History are killing me… Anyways, here's the next chapter. Read and review! But you must enjoy it before you review… so read and see if you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I claim only my original ideas- Phillip Pullman is to be credited as my inspiration and as the brain behind the His Dark Materials Trilogy. I claim no possession over the ideas presented in the trilogy or in Lyra's Oxford.

Chapter Ten

We waited until nightfall before approaching the tower. It was no small matter to avoid the invisible enchantments that would signal our approach, but Konstantin led the way and we were at the base of the tower within a few minutes. Boldly, I strode up the winding ramp to the top floor. People waiting for admittance into the tower were slumped all over the walkway, and we were careful to avoid stepping on both them and their dæmons.

We reached the floor where my former room was, and managed to break into an abandoned room that for some reason or another had a shattered window. Sounds of raucous laughter rang out below, drifting through the tower from the party rooms several floors down. Konstantin sniffed the air as we pulled open the door onto the lighted corridor, and flashed the warning that our room smelled of something unnatural.

I nodded and gently walked on the balls of my feet, keeping my center of gravity balanced so that I made almost no sound approaching my room. The door was closed, but it had been smashed through when the mysterious men had chased us, and my small form easily fit through the splintered hole.

I rushed to the bed, frantically searching the sheets for the small clarineto's case.

"Riva, there's people coming! We must have tripped some sort of alarum," Konstantin whispered fiercely, watching me anxiously.

"I can't find it!" I cried. Pounding footsteps sounded down the hall as my fingers grabbed the familiar case. I jammed the pieces together, as gently as I could, but in my rush my actions were rather violent. I placed the reed on the mouthpiece, fastened the ligature, grabbed Konstantin, and pictured the city where I had grown up in.

The chords I played seemed to slow time- I could feel them wrapping around me like a warm cocoon. The footsteps entered the room, and hands lunged for us as I felt a great wrench and the room disappeared.

Konstantin licked my face as I came to lying in a pile of rags in a familiar alley. They were dirty, but didn't smell too bad. I felt around and found the clarineto neatly packed into its case lying on some clean cobblestones. After putting it into my pocket, I rose and looked around. Busy streets lay at each end of the alley, and Konstantin silently trotted behind me as I stuck my head around a corner.

I was just a few blocks away from the school I had run away from so long ago. A man with a copper-colored cat dæmon looked at me oddly and quickly Konstantin and I rushed to the other end of the alley. I brushed myself off before stepping out into the street. As the anbaric street lamps came on, it had begun to drizzle slightly, and I was without an umbrella. Suddenly a large umbrella appeared overhead, as if I had made it appear out of thin air.

Surprised, I turned to face the man with the cat dæmon. He was wearing a fine black suit covered by a long navy blue pea coat. A quick glance at his face showed him to have short black hair and dark brown eyes. He looked to be about twenty one, and there was something in the smile he offered me that told me that he had no trouble finding someone to keep his bed warm when he wanted it.

"You aren't dressed for the weather, miss," the man said, escorting me down the street.

Konstantin watched the man's dæmon with great interest.

"I've just arrived," I replied, stating the truth.

"One would think that you might have thought to pack accordingly," he said. "My name is Cole Nevin, and my dæmon is Rennen."

I glanced at Konstantin before replying. "I am called Riva Mischa, and my dæmon is called Konstantin." We had walked quite some distance before I realized that my stomach was growling. "My apologies, Mr. Nevin. I haven't eaten in quite some time."

"Why don't we go back to my flat? I have plenty of food and drink there," Cole offered.

"That would be wonderful," I replied.

The rain picked up, and by the time we had gotten to Cole's apartment, I was freezing. As Cole unlocked the door, Konstantin shook off his fur and we stepped inside. The flat wasn't lavishly appointed, but it was much nicer than the flats that I had grown up in. The furniture was of middle class quality, but the floors were covered with plush reddish-brown carpeting. The walls were lined with books, and the soft anbaric lighting made me feel like I was lost in some magical library.

"I know it's not much, but it keeps me happy," Cole said, having hung up his pea coat at the door. "I'll be with you in a moment- I fear that if I spilt something on this suit, I would be forced to buy a new one." I nodded, and he disappeared in to the bedroom of the flat. He didn't quite close the door all the way, and I could see that he had a muscular torso.

Konstantin gave me a sharp nip, silently scolding me for looking. I sighed, and then turned to study the books on his wall. There were poetry volumes from all over the world, and I was about to scan Cole's other wall, but he emerged from his room, dressed in dark pants and a grey sweater.

Rennen looked at Konstantin as if she knew that he knew that I had been watching her human. Konstantin whispered something in her ear, and Rennen laughed softly. I couldn't avoid looking at Cole, and to my surprise, he was looking at me.

I began studying the carpet with great interest, and Cole moved into the kitchen area. "Would a salad and some roast be alright? I'm afraid I'm not the greatest cook," he informed me.

"I don't mind, Mr. Nevin," I said.

"Call me Cole- Mr. Nevin makes me feel like I'm thirty, and I'm only twenty-three," Cole called from the kitchen as he cooked. I was only off by two years when I guessed his age. Interesting.

Dinner was ready within a half-hour, and I began eating ravenously. Cole coughed politely, stopping me with a mouthful of salad. "I'm afraid I pray before my meals, and I ask my guests to do the same." Embarrassed, I bowed my head as Cole prayed aloud. There was a sinking feeling in my stomach as I looked over at his hands. On his right ring finger, there was a Magisterium ring.

Dammit! I thought. Ensnared by a Magisterium official already… Quickly, I finished eating and watched Cole cut his meat into bite size pieces. "Er- Cole, may I use your bathroom?" I asked.

"What's wrong, Riva?" he asked calmly. "Have you realized that I work for the Magisterium? Do you think that I have summoned the Magisterium's soldiers, that they're waiting outside for you to leave? Did you think that I didn't recognize you right away, even though you are dressed rather oddly?" Rennen let out soft chuckle.

My skin was crawling with disgust that I had allowed his charm to deceive me so easily. "Why would you bother to feed me, then?" I asked. Konstantin's hackles were raised, and he was growling softly. I stood abruptly.

"How else could I bring you to trust me?" Cole asked. "At the rate you were going, I thought you might never realize my loyalties. I had expected you to examine my bookshelves as I dressed, not me."

My cheeks were red with embarrassment and anger. "I did. And I noticed that you have a fine collection of poetry."

"I suppose you didn't notice the books on this shelf here?" He motioned at the wall behind him as he stood as well. "You aren't as smart as my superiors credit you. These are all Bibles or works concerning the Magisterium's teachings." I turned from Cole's handsome visage and ran to the nearest window. Peering outdoors, I saw that there were Magisterium soldiers pacing around the perimeter of the building.

Cole laughed as I bolted out the unlocked door, Konstantin running along with me. I reached the stairs and instead of heading down them, out to the streets, I climbed all the way to the roof of the building. In desperation I reached the edge of the roof and looked down. Blackness was edging my vision, and I heard Cole's voice cry out from somewhere nearby that the sleeping medicine was kicking in.

Sleeping medicine? I wondered woozily. He must have slipped it into the food… I felt my legs give out, sending me forward. Just as I began toppling off the building, I felt someone grab me and pull me back onto solid grown. Konstantin collapsed on the ground as the blackness finally took me.

So here's Chapter Ten. I've magically managed to type it within about eight hours (including my six hours of sleep last night)… Poor Riva- she always seems to be in some sort of trouble. At least she still has the clarineto- as far as we know… Reseñe, por favor! A mi me gustan las reseñas buenas. (For those that are unable to comprehend Spanish, I said Review, please! I like good reviews a lot! – actually, I like any reviews a lot. oO)