We sat on a bench in the park. A very observant man passed us but stopped to stare in confusion.

"Something doesn't seem right," he murmured.

I glanced at Alois noticing the boyish way he had about him. His arms were in his lap as he sat in an open leg spread; completely indecent for any woman of the time.

"Cross your legs at the ankle. Sit up straight. Annddd…. Hmm. Fan yourself."

"Why?" He said raising an eyebrow and giving me way too much attitude.

"Just do it," I harped.

He groaned but did what I asked.

I chuckled, "Again, something else different about you."

He pouted, "What is it about you suddenly "knowing" who I am." He became quickly solemn, "I never know anything about anyone."

I felt a moment of compassion "would you like to know?"

"Yes," he sat up in excitement and eagerness.

"Hmm… I have learned. You might not like it. Are you sure you want to hear?"

He rolled his eyes, "YES! Now tell me."

"Fine! You are quick to anger but even quicker to forgive. You don't like being alone but you don't want just any company. You love and feel passion terribly but you really don't know what love is… Only lust. You are a child, but too in touch with adult matters. You are a contradiction. You love that about yourself, but it makes you dizzy and others as well."

He narrowed his eyes, "you pig! How dare you say that to me!"

I shrugged, unfazed because this was inevitable, "you wanted to know. Would you have preferred that I lie like that butler you are so fond of?"

He hissed at me, "well I don't care what you say. If anyone is the liar it is you. Not Claude."

I surrendered, "fine Alois! I am lying. Can we drop this then?"

He nodded though he still seemed angry.

For a while we were quiet.

A couple passed us and I immediately saw Alois' attention focus on them. The woman was young (not too much older than I). She was pretty and quiet just content with listening to her dashing escort talk. He seemed so deeply in love you; could tell by how hard he tried to make her laugh. They were perfect.

Alois sighed.

"What?" I inquired.

"I have always been so envious of couples…"

I scoffed, "why? You have plenty of time for yourself to meet someone."

He turned to me, "not really."

I felt stupid for forgetting that his days were numbered. According to Claude, Alois had a mysterious illness that was fatal. I knew the truth though. I'd just wait for Alois to tell me that he was food for demons later.

"sorry."

"It is fine. I just never knew my parents, but I feel like they loved each other. I want to be loved like that. That person doesn't have to love you, but they do. They don't have to even say it. All it takes is for them to move a little closer *Alois scooted closer.* Gently squeeze your hand *His hand gripped mine.* Or even a soft kiss on the cheek *He leaned in to kiss my cheek.*

I pushed away and stood up from the bench, "What are you doing?"

Alois smirked, stood up as well and ran. I chased after, following him into an ally. With incredible force I pushed him against the wall,

"what is wrong with you?"

He grabbed my shoulder and spun me around so that I was pinned to the wall.

"You know, you were right about one thing, I do enjoy lust. It is like I said when I first met you about your lips. You are a girl after all. Do you honestly believe that I am so naïve as to not bring that into this? I am handsome, but I am sure that you noticed. And of course you are interested."

That little jerk has been playing innocent all this time.

"Well I am not interested," I growled at him.

He raised both eyebrows in disbelief, "Really? How does this make you feel?"

He ran his fingers down the side of my neck and every curve to my lower torso.

I tightened and froze, gritting my teeth to say "no."

"How about this?"

He came close and I felt his hot breath touch my ear as he bit it.

I felt warm but still I was nowhere close to giving in, "nope."

"Hmm… how about this then?"

He lowered his lips to my neck and began to leave hot steamy kisses. I squirmed and pulled away from him but he put his arms around my waist holding me tight.

"STOP!" I screamed and pushed him away.

He laughed, "hah! You are blushing. I am right!"

I stormed off in embarrassment and anger.

But I wasn't far before I could hear Alois screaming. I turned around to yell at him, when I saw five men crowd around him.

Sprinting back towards him I could hear one yell:

"Hey, it's a girl!"

Alois tried to pull the wig off in panic, "no, no I am not! I swear I am not!"

The wig wouldn't come loose and the men came closer to him. I pushed them away from him. One grabbed me and held me tight. Holding onto to his wrist I bit his hand. He pulled away, dropping me, yelping in pain. Others charged at me. I flipped one. Hitting another so hard in the face it fell back against another. One grabbed me from behind wrapping his arms around my stomach. Using all the force I could, I flipped him, and it was over.

I glanced at the men around me rubbing any soreness out, "2 minutes. I say that is a personal best."

Alois stared in amazement.

Oh no! He shouldn't have seen that.

I paced out of the alley, my strides gaining tremendous speed.

"What was that?" He gasped.

"Nothing," I responded quickly.

'No, it was not nothing! Tell me?"

I kept walking.

"I demand that you tell me!" He ordered in a harsh brat-like tone.

I slowed done, "fine. I can do things with my body that required special training. Like those people we see at the carnival."

He furrowed his brows, "Why didn't you-"

"I do it to you? Because I didn't want to hurt you. You- you…"

"Adella?"

I staggered, feeling a sharp pain in my stomach. I cupped both hands noticing the blood seeping through the shirt. I fell into Alois' arms. He struggled to hold me up.

"I must have been stabbed by one of those guys."

Everything became fuzzy and I could feel my head fall back as I lost control.

Alois became frantic and hysterical,

"Don't die! Please. Don't leave me. HELP! HELP! SOMEONE."

Everything went black after that.