Disclaimer- I do not own Twilight and I am not S.M. Also, there's a bunch of 19th century slang here, so translations are marked in case you get confused. NTE
"Something wicked this way comes" - Ray Bradbury
July 8, 1875, London
The market place was packed, and a black-haired youth flitted around shoppers, fruit stands, and merchants. She knew what she wanted, and she knew how to get it. She had to get food. She didn't have any money, and she didn't need it.
She slowed as her target come into view. It was a potato stand, but meat hung from hooks off the cart. The vendor was a large man, around forty-forty-five. His hair line was receding, but he was still rather large and very red faced. He didn't scare her. She was Juliet! The fiendish pick pocket, the queen of thieves, she could do this.
She crept to towards the cart, staying behind passers-by as much as she could. This is going to be easy she thought. The vendor was haggling with what looked like a big bug (an important person). His face was being blocked by the old man's girth. But, she could tell by the way the leech spoke, a few less insults, and a few less swear words. She didn't care; she went to work, but as she reached for her third potato the vendor turned around.
"Let me show you my potatoes, the best in Londo-" He froze, mid boast.
The two were still for a moment- it almost would have been comedic, Juliet frozen, her hand inches away from the potato, the vendor frozen, looking at her. But it wasn't. The vendor snapped out of it a split-second before she. Grabbing her by the arm he yanked her off of the ground, and dangled her above it.
"What Sam Hill (Devil or hell) do you think you're doing g'hal(girl or gal)?" He asked, his face just inches away from hers. She choked on his rancid breath.
"Dash it all," she muttered, squirming.
"Hey, don't try to run away. What the 'ell do you think you're doing?"
"I wasn't doing anything!" She argued, struggling to escape.
"Really?" He asked, reaching into her coat and pulling out two rather large potatoes. "You got some grit to be stealing from me g'hal," he told her.
"Oh, hush you old coot! You'll raise snakes! (Cause a ruckus)" She protested, attempting to kick him.
"Now, stop that!" He ordered, raising his hand, ready to strike her. Juliet closed her eyes, braced for the blow. But there was none. Opening her eyes she saw the hand just inches away from her face, but it was being held back.
"What the do you think you are doing sir?" A voice asked the vendor, a voice that had an accent-French or maybe Italian. The man was taller than the vendor, but much younger. He could not have been over twenty. But he must have been blue blood. His clothes were foreign, Italian, and his manner was of one that had been trained for years. His colorless complexion made his bright blue eyes pop. His black hair fell carelessly over his eyes as he restrained the vendor.
"Nothing sir, just taking care off a street rat," the vendor defended, yanking his hand back and glaring at the nobleman. "I will be with you in a moment." His false air sophistication vanished when the young man stepped in front of him and the thief, and he turned even more red(If that was possible).
"No. Let her go."
"She stole from me!" the vendor shouted, brandishing the potatoes in his face. Juliet blushed as the young man looked at her. Without a word he took from his pocket the largest amount of money Juliet had ever seen in the market. The vendor's eyes bulged.
"How many potatoes will this buy?" He asked, a flicker of a smile flashing across his face as he looked at her.
--
"You didn't have to do that," Juliet sniffed, looking at her shoes as the two walked down the street. The cherub just smiled at her.
"It was nothing," he replied, readjusting the bags of potatoes he was carrying. (He had insisted on carrying them)
"That was a great deal of money."
"Don't worry about it; I think my funds will go unharmed." He assured her, smiling still.
"Oh, thank you very much sir." She was silent then.
"You do not have to be so formal, young lady. I am Nicolò, and I just arrived in London yesterday from Italy. What is your name?" He asked, his eyes pouring into hers.
"Um… my name is Juliet." She blushed madly as she answered. Holding all four sacks in one hand, he extended his other.
"It's nice to meet you Juliet." She shook his hand, but quickly drew away. He was cold to the touch; it almost hurt to touch him. It already hurt to look at him. He was even more handsome now that she had time to study him. He made light-hearted talk for the rest of the walk home. He mostly asked Juliet questions and talked of him home in Italy. He was a very easy person, funny, intelligent, and kind. He wore down Juliet's defenses, and he soon had her giggling and smiling despite herself. As the pair walked onto her street, her face fell and his brow furrowed.
"This is where you live, my dear?" The street was nothing more than an alley. Decrepit apartment buildings filled the street, a grocery stood on the other side of the block. An outstanding indication of what type of people lived there. Ashamed, Juliet nodded and went back to staring at her feet. When she dared a glance he was smiling.
"It's... quaint. I like it." He gave her an encouraging grin. "I really do. Which one of these is yours?" She led him to her apartment, but halfway up the stairs he froze.
"What will your father think if I just barged into his home with his beautiful daughter? What will he think we have done?" Juliet, who was at ease laughed at a private joke.
"Don't worry my dear Nicolò; my father is now drinking away his daughters at the local grocery." At that, she continued to climb the stairs. He was right behind her.
"So, you're alone?" he asked.
"No, my twin sister will undoubtedly be home, if she's not with her little friend."
"Little friend?"
"Oh, no one. Just a local boy who's been secretly courting her for the last month. It is so cute," she informed him, coming to a stop in front of a tall wooden door. She was about to knock when it swung open. A girl with Juliet's eyes and face stood in the doorframe with an angry expression on her face.
"Where were you Juliet?" She asked. "I was concer-" she stopped when she spotted Nicolò and his bags. "Please come in sir," she said meekly, moving out of the way of the door, letting Nicolò through. Then to her sister she added, "Who the Sam hill is that?!"
"Nicolò," Juliet whispered dazedly, following him into the house.
Hello everyone! Sorry I've taken so long I have been suffering from writers block lately, but I will update soon! Plus, my beta Nocturne Tigress is writing a new fic called we were sinners we were saints, please read that it should get good! Please review! All this lack of love is scaring me! Even a smiley will do! Hope you liked the chappie, I'll post soon! - Flustered Vampire!
C'mon guys, give my sissy some luv! I know it's awkward for betas to comment, but we know each other, so who cares! I'm gonna have to beat some people if they don't review! And before you ask, yes I am the one who comes in the night without warning to kill those who do not review.--Nocturne-ess