A/N: If you can read this, I would really appriciate some reviews. Otherwise, I'm going to delete this story. I'm sure every author understands that it's a lot of work to write something that no one reads. Thank you if you have replied and thank you for reading.

br> br>Chapter 4

br> br>"I don't even know where to start. I'm only here because my sister begged me to come talk to you." The frightened girl began.

br> br>"Maybe we should start with your name. And then your sister's name." He said, finding it rather funny that he had been so fascinated by this girl and didn't even know her name.

br> br>"Well, my name is Rana. I have an older sister Minada. But my younger sister, the one who sent me... she... she doesn't have a name." She said in a hushed voice.It wasalmost as if she was embarrassed for her sister.

br> br>"She what?" Asked Erik in confusion. How could someone not have a name? What would they say to call her attention?

br> br>"She did have one, naturally. But no one remembers it now. It was some sort of a flower, but there are so many different names it could have been. We all just call her mud flower."

br> br>"And how did a name like that get started?" He asked, feeling rather curious how such a name could come about. But hiding any possible sign of intrege. The last thing he needed was for word to get around that he was interested in a girl. No, not a girl. A woman.

br> br>Erik inwardly kicked himself for thinking thoughts that could very easily get him into trouble. He shouldn't have even let this girl Rana into his tent. Yet here she was telling him about a girl that was as mysterious to him as he was to everyone else.

br> br>"Our father." She said. Causing Erik tosnap back into the conversation."He said that she carried too much filthiness to have a name. We... wedon't share the same mother with her. Her mother was not gypsy. One day a lady just showed up and handed her to my father. Said she was his daughter and the mother had died in childbirth. I know you are not a gypsy, but I'm sure you understand why he didn't want her."

br> br>"Indeed I do." He said. His voice not as cold as it had been."It's a disgrace to have a child outside of your own kind. Having a child by a non-gypsy would be quite a stain to such an impressive blood line as your father's."

br> br>"How... How would you know about my father's blood line?" Rana asked, suddenly reminded of how dangerous the man she was talking with was. SHe had gotten carried away and felt as though she were talking with any, well, normal person. But this man was not normal. Not in any way.

br> br>"Oh don't sound so frightened." He said with more thana little resentment. "I've spent enough time with you gypsies to know a high lineage when I see and hear one. You father has a very distinctive voice. Most would call it thunderous or intimidating."

br> br>"And what would you call it?" She asked. Slightly harsher then she had intended.

br> br>"Annoying." He said without hesitation or emotion.

br> br>"Well, it does get rather old. But when he's mad he does things that would frighten even you." She said with an expression on her face that easily told she was remembering some terrible thing.

br> br>"Nothing frightens me." He said with finality.

br> br>"Then why did you help my sister?"

br> br>Erik stiffened at the question. This girl was now prying into affairs that did not concern her. He had helped her sister because he couldn't resist. Something inside him had compelled him to do something to help the girl. And he was powerless to resist it.

br> br>"Was it not because you were frightened for her?" She continued. Not as a challenge, but as a general curiosity.

br> br>Erik took a deep breath. This girl had brought his guard up and he had to convince himself not to snap at her. Gypsy curiosity, he reminded himself. Why couldn't they ever mind their own business?

br> br>"No." He said finally. "I was thinking about what a mess it would make to have her strewn all over that field. Not very good for business you know." He replied with a voice as unemotionless and caring as a rock.

br> br>The girl grimaced at the thought of her sister not only being killed but mauled by those powerful creatures. She couldn't help but think that maybethis repulsive, horror of a manreally didn't have a care but for his business and his profits.

br> br>Erik wasextremely glad at that moment that his mask covered his entire face, for he found himself nearly sick at the sight his mind had pictured. He bit his lip to keep himself calm. He could have said that about anyone else and not felt a thing. But thinking about that happening to this girl, this mud flower, made him feel nausiated.

br> br>Rana stood and straightened her skirt. "I knew she was wrong." She said with a sudden coldness. "I knew that you were nothing but a heartless monster." Her voice was low and emotional. Nearly on the brink of tears.

br> br>Did this girl wish to die? Erik thought to himself. His rage boiled inside him at the name she had called him. He was on his feet in an instant and stood with his face only inches from the girl's.

br> br>"If your sister thought so highly of me, then why did she not come and talk to me herself?" He hissed. Venom almost dripping on every word.Rana might have the ability to speak coldly, but no one had themenicing voice that Erik could command. It could make a grown man quake with fear.He had to suppress the extremely strong urge to grab a hold of the girl's neck and squeeze until she stopped moving and the life drained from her eyes. But his thoughts then led from Rana's hazel eyes to the sapphire eyes of a mud flower and he shut his mind off to thinking such dreadful things.

br> br>The girl seemed to not care that this man had the power and obvious willingness to kill her where she stood. Her words came without the fear-inspiring sound as Eriks, but insted was now unemotional and meant to sting with all the power that they held. Causing Erik's mind to whirl and the girl to spin on her heal and stalk out of his tent.

br> br>"Because she's a mute."