PROLOGUE
(*Goncolszeker means the Big Dipper in Hungarian, after a figure in Hungarian mythology; a taltos who carried medicines in his cart that could cure any disease.
*Anya means mother in Hungarian
*Apa means father in Hungarian.)
Szentendre, Hungary, 1635
I wait for him, as I try my hardest to do each night. But with each passing minute, I grow more and more anxious of his arrival. For a split second, I wonder if he has forgotten me; if he has moved onto another young woman, one whom his parents approve of. I reach for the hem of my skirt as I watch, and wait. The sun has just set, left in it's place, a sea of orange swirls and strawberry milk, the dark of night soon approaching. If my mother knew where I was, I fear I would never see the light of day again, and yet, I still wait for him, my love greater than my fear of her chagrin.
My thoughts are interrupted as I hear footsteps, and a rustling in the grass; someone is approaching me, and although I am almost certain of who it is, there is still a part of me that is ready to run at a moment's notice; the cold day's of the past have left me with many scars, some too deep to see, some that have found their way to the surface of my porcelin skin.
I turn around to see a head poke through the bushes, and am relieved, though more delighted, to see Gabriel appear. I can make out the features of his face in the moonlight that has fast approached us; it washes over him like a cream blanket. He is as stunning as ever. It takes me a moment to regain my breath, and I quickly walk over to him. We speak in low voices, barely louder than a whisper.
"What took you so long, Gabriel? You know how scared I get during the night , especially when I must stand outside all alone, waiting for you."
"But you're not alone anymore, are you?" He laughs and pulls me into his familiar and forgiving embrace." Anasztazia, you must learn to have an open mind."
"I must remind you; I am not you, Gabriel, am I?" He pulls me in closer to kiss me ever so gently on the lips, causing a chain reaction of warm tingliness that starts on my neck and travels all the way down to the tips of my toes. I have longed to feel his touch. I wish for nothing more than to be able to just hold his hand, in the daylight hours, without having to worry about wandering and judging eyes. I would give anything for his parents approval, but it seems that there is nothing I can do to change their views on my family and I; they made up their minds about the Kovac's a long time ago.
"I've missed you, my sweet Anasztazia. It has been too long since I saw your face last." On usual occaisons, Gabriel and I would meet every night in the valley above the town; it is the only way for us to see each other. But to my dismay, he had to leave on a trip with his father, to a nearby town; he had been gone for eight days, each of which felt like a lifetime. I missed his voice, his touch, even the way his chocolate brown hair curled, coming down in little tousles just above his eyebrows. So after not seeing him for what felt like an eternity, I did not want to let go of his hands.
"I missed you, too, Gabriel. How was your trip?"
"It was long, to say the least." Gabriel's father was a very strong and well-regarded man, and knew almost everyone in Szentendre, as well as some nearby towns. Usually his father would make monthly trips alone, or with a few other men, but for some reason he had wanted Gabriel with him on this particular trip. I had never asked what they exactly did on these trips; I didn't want to pry in business that was not mine to pry in. I was perfectly content with listening to Gabriel talk to me, about what ever he wanted, because all that mattered was that he was with me again; I had my Gabriel back, safe and sound.
