Chapter XII.

"This is really pretty! It sings to your complexion and your hairs." Princess Nuala was contemplating a beautiful green and blue fabric that had some thin silver trims, and showed it to Selene. Then she turned to the seller of textiles, a small ogre very thin, and bargained about the price of cloth.

Selene was in her company, she was beside her and slid her fingers absently on these beautiful pieces. She rarely seen so worked fabrics. It was evident that they were woven by hand.

Suddenly she felt pervaded by a strange grip the stomach, a feeling that she knew and had warned her if there was an imminent danger.
She looked around, but all she saw were strange creatures, some hidden behind black clothes. This shouldn't frighten her, she had nothing to fear in the market now troll, but ...
There was a black figure, almost a shadow, who walked through the crowd so stealthy.

"Maybe it's just my paranoia," she thought. But the strange grip did not but amplify.

She walked away a few paces from the bench of the clothes, to better identify the strange presence, but it walked away. She followed it, hoping to see better. But as she approached, it became more difficult to follow, until she couldn't just to see it. The crowd had concealed that shadow. She looked around, and knew that wasn't yet safe, she turned to get back Nuala, when she was seized by a hand to her shoulder. Selene gave a stifled cry, then turned abruptly.

"Abe! Are you ..." she said with a huge relief.

"Yes, Selene. I'm sorry, I must have you scared."

"Oh ... no, no. It does not matter ..."

"Is the princess with you?" Abe had not noticed the pallor which was taken from the girl.

"... It is over there."

They returned to the counter, the princess looked Selene quizzically, then, seeing Abe, her face lit up into a radiant smile.

"Abraham, you do not know what a joy to see you!" What brings you here? ".

"You!".

In the amazed eyes of two women, Abe nodded obsequiously, "Pardon me, Ladies... sometimes I do not know what I say ... I meant that I tried to visit you, and to make sure that all is well.."

"It 's very kind of you." agreed almost the princess, amused by that access of sincerity on the part of her beloved.

Abe and Nuala looked into eyes for a moment. Selene turned to discretion. Immediately she regretted having done: the shadow was still there. This time, however, it was only a few feet in front of her. There was someone who, not being recognized, was completely covered with clothes. Other customers of the market were dressed like that, but Selene was sure that guy was staring her. Although concealed by cloth, felt his eyes on her. She was terrified, and tried to retreat. The mysterious figure had probably guessed the move, because took out a gun, pointed it at her.

"Selene!" The man-fish parried in front of her before that stranger could shoot. When he fired the shot, in fact, Abe slumped on the ground. Now the royal guards arrived, trying to catch the criminal, who fled away. Nuala and Selene rushed up to Abe, checking where he had been hit.

To the surprise of both, what struck the mutant was not a bullet, but a kind of small syringe. It was an anesthetic bullet.

"It must be a somniferous!" Said Selene.

"Are you sure?" asked the princess with concern.

"If they wanted to kill us, they would use real bullets." Replied the girl.

Nuala, satisfied that Abe was just stunned by a sleeping bullett, finally looked around.

"Can you do something, Selene?" asked the princess.

"Unfortunately I can heal the wounds by injuries, not by somniferous ...".

Abe was taken by two royal guards that carried him off, while two others reached the two girls and led them at the old train depot where they were received by the court chamberlain.

" Prince Nuada has ordered us to keep an eye on, my lady.." He said

"My brother sent you control us?" Asked the princess slightly annoyed.

"Yes, Highness. But it was only to protect you. I have personally organized the entire process so do not be too ... uh ... pushy ".

The expression of Princess softened: "I am grateful. What happened to Abraham?".

" He was conducted at the best doctors in court, they say that he'll recover within a few hours.".

"And what about the aggressor?"

After a moment's pause, the chamberlain said, "He's been captured. At this time the guards led him into a cell, and soon they'll examine him.."

"Is he human?" Selene intervened.

"... Yes ..." replied the dignitary, undecided that he could whether or not release information.

"What is his name?" Have you at least discovered his name? ".

"No, madam. But anyway, I would still not allowed to tell you more. All I know of this criminal will be at the discretion of his Highness the Prince.". Once the speech, Chamberlain invited the two women to follow in their own apartments.

When she was carried to his room, Selene sat on the bed. She was a bit in shock, not knowing what to do. The thoughts that were swirling in her head were thousands, and many emotions that were struck. Now she felt anger, now fear, now anxiety, sadness, resignation.

She took a bath, but it didn't soothe her anxieties.

She dressed quickly, then took back her old stock exchange, while also ensuring that her little bottle of orange liquid was still there: she was now determined to leave the building as soon as possible. She regretted that she had got rid of her old clothes, but she promised herself that as soon as possible, she would have returned the dress that the Princess had given her and that she was still wearing. Trying to evade the guards, she moved stealthily across the hall, moving briskly. While passing in front of the library, she was surprised by a very familiar voice.

"Where are you going?" Prince Nuada asked sternly, while leaving the library, walked toward her.

She stopped, It was better to face him and tell: "I go away, highness. I've created enough problems.."

"You don't move from here." His figure was advancing more and more powerful, frightening.

She took a bit of courage and replied: "I can not continue to be here. I have endangered the life of the princess and Abe."

"Both my sister that Abraham are safe now!" Back in your room! "

"You do not understand, highness! Anyone who has tried to help me have a bad end, or have been put in serious danger ... I do not want that happen to you, too! If they find you..."

"Enough!" Prince roared with anger.

Now the voice of Selene became shaky, but she tried to have a decent attitude: "My mother died for your people. I will not let her sacrifice to be thwarted by me..."

She started to leave, but Prince grabbed her by the wrist, making her turn, then he stood before her, and held her against the wall.

"If only you dare to run away, I'll kill you by myself." Prince hissed with fury. The girl, frightened, tried to squirm, "Let ... me ... you hurt me."

In reply he grabbed her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. With the other hand, however, continued to keep the wrist. Selene, inevitably, saw his eyes suffused with anger, and she was terrified.

"I' ll find you wherever you'll go. And when it will happen, your prayers will not do anything to."

"Higness ... please ..." Selene sobbed. Her face was now veiled with tears.

The girl seriously feared for her life. It seemed that the prince was looking her at a murderous rampage. She no longer dared to speak, was limited to plead with her eyes.

He slowly left her wrist, while Selene was now paralyzed. He continued to hold her with his body, and to the surprise of her, he leave the trap from her chin to catch her head.

With the same fury with which he had threatened her, he joined his lips to hers, kissing and biting them until almost hurt. Then he opened his mouth, trying to step up the passion with which he was kissing her. She was petrified at first for the unexpected kiss, then seized by a progressive whirlwind of emotions, she closed her eyes, and she answered opening her mouth. Prince Nuada didn't wait any longer. Immediately slipped his tongue in her mouth, provoking a wave of her feelings unknown. Selene had kissed two guys before, but none of them had caused in her that transport, that passion that now the Prince had unleashed in her. Not even noticed that him grabbed her shoulders while he encircled the sides and back with both arms.

"I'll not let you go away ... I will not ..." the prince whispered in her ear, then went to kiss her lips, face, eyes, neck. At one point seemed to notice the tears that she had paid. He kissed them one by one, repenting for having put so much fear. Then he patted her face with both hands, thumbs and wiped what was left of her tears.

The contemplated for a moment, smiled and full of joy at seeing her pleasantly surprised by his kiss. Shooting to kiss her, but this time with more sweetness. They spent several minutes looking into eyes and kissing. Selene's face was radiant, decorated with a nice flush of the cheeks, which made her wonderful. He raised her eyes: the look of the prince had lost all the anger felt earlier, was now full of passion and tenderness. His face was relaxed and peaceful, like an angel. She had never seen him so. He was always dark and sullen, but not this time. Almost moved by the obvious manifestation of affection, but laid her head on the chest of Nuada, while he continued to embrace her with one hand, and with the other stroked her hair.

They remained so for a long moment. Without speaking.

Prince Nuada wanted to drag that creature in his room, in his bed, to make her own. But when he saw two royal guards, he parted reluctantly from that wonderful hug.

They will control your room, so no one can hurt you. " Reassured her holding both of her hands. Then he continued: "You're free to go wherever you want, but you will always have an escort with you.."

Selene gave up and said in a whisper: "All right, highness.."

Accompanied by guards, she walked away, but the prince did not stop to contemplate her from afar. When she turned to give him a last look, before entering in her room, he wanted to join her. But he braked.

On second thought, it was too impetuous to kiss her in that way, without even asking if she was willing or not. He had been seized by a strange frenzy, as if he was afraid of losing it ... No! It was not possible! He was just afraid that she could put additional danger on its people, free to wander the streets of New York, where it would be an asy prey for some of the members of HDC. That kiss was just a fit of passion, a weakness in the face of a woman.

It was a long time that the political commitments for his people did not allow him to think about love, so it was normal that he had succumbed so easily, just with her, who was not particularly fascinating. He promised himself that he would try in future to control themselves, and not to involve his feelings.

When Selene closed the door of her room, felt pleasantly confused. She touched her lips still swollen from provocative kisses of the prince. She had no idea how he was passionate. Now that she thought, she had also felt the excitement of Nuada against her hips, when he held her prisoner against the wall. Blushed at the thought, stifling a giggle. She felt shame, but at the same time excited at the idea of being possessed by him.

Then she tried to drive away those sinful thoughts from her mind:

"He's a prince, I am a kitchen maid. He's an elf, and I am an half human. I have to give up, before things get worse."

With these thoughts she went to bed, trying in vain to sleep.