The Hunted

Chapter 11

Nicholas looked as elgent as the rest of the party's guests. He wore tan pants with a white undershirt, and a silk green vest. He smiled as he saw faith alone, in the coner of the room. Her long black hair trailed behind her  as her fingers danced along the wall from painting to painting. He found himself walking up to her, then curiously watched from behind her as she studied the painting. "beautiful isnt it?" He asked, looking at her. He saw her body tense at the sound of his voice before she turned around.

She held her breath. What could he possibly want? She was trying to stay under the radar. So much for that!
His blue eyes fell onto hers. He looked her over, his stare now sifting to her forehead where the now smaller then before gash lay. "I'm sorry." He spoke, as he remembered his father shoving her agenst the barn wall.  "My father misjudged you." He finished, the sentence sounding foreign on his tongue. She stood there speechless. The last thing she expected from her mortal enemy was a apology. What did he think he was going to gain by speaking with her? She thought. She remembered how her mother had warned her that the Dumas's were most likely up to no good tonight. Faith figured this was some part of there elaborate plan.

Her eyes rolled across the room looking for her mother or Clare. She wanted to be 'saved by the bell' but they were nowhere to be seen. He followed her movements, and a smile formed on his lips. "It's rude to avoid a man who is trying to apologize you know."

She looked back up at him in disbelief. She could care less about his efforts or apologys, not that she believed him anyways. Rude? Had he just called her rude? She thought. Rude was following her to the barn, pushing her head against a wall, then trying to get her burned at the stake. That was rude! She took a breath, composing herself.

He watched the anger flow through her with curiously. He thought that For such a small woman she sure had spirit. "I apologize." Faith said, but to Nicholas it sounded forced, fake even. "I did not mean to come across as rude, but I'm sure you can understand why I'm not in the best of moods." She finished. She hated playing the part that was layed before her. Sure her mother could lie smoothly, and frankly kiss there ass's from time to time, but she could hardly stomach it. She found herself tighting her hands into fists to hide her anger.

Nicholas again thought back to the night they had found her by the barn.  how helpless she looked on the ground in the pouring rain. He knew as he glanced down at the girl covered in mud that she couldnt be anything like the monsters he has faced in the past. Guilt snuck it's way into him before he shook it off. It was a mistake, he thought. they happen. he could see the anger behind her shaded face. He decided to make light of the mood.  "Dance with me." He requested as he placed his hand out in a motion for her to expect it.

Faith wanted to run away faster then she knew her feet would let her. Even though she were surrounded by a room full of people and in no immediate danger, without Clare or her mother she felt isolated and alone. She glanced down at his hand as if it were poisonous. "I don't dance." She blurted out. This was a lie. Before her mother disappeared she had placed Faith in dance class, and still to this day dabbled with it as a hobbie. She liked to dance, especially with a partner, but with Nicholas? She just couldn't fathom it.

He looked down at her strangely.  what girl does not like to dance? He would bet that over ten girls in this very room would drop dead with joy if he had asked them to dance, but her? She looked as if she would rather jump off a cliff. He took the challenge. "Nonsense, Everyone can dance if they have the right partner." He said, as he ignored her distaste. He reached by her side and grabbed her hand. She looked at his hand in hers in disbelief. She said no? Hadn't she? It was to late. He was now leading her through the crowd to the dance floor.  She felt the eyes off all the young village girls fall onto her with envy. "By all means, take him." She wanted to shout as they gave her dirty looks. Just then her eyes meet Clare's who's jaw dropped mid conversation with her friend. "What the hell are you doing?" Faith could imagine Clare thinking. Clare started her way. Faith was sure that Clare would rip his hand out of hers, and take her home but to Faiths suprise Clare stopped in her tracks. She shook her head displeased with Faith. "Your on your own." She mouthed from across the room. Faith swallowed. What had she gotten herself into?

"Your nervous." Nicholas spoke as he stopped mid dance floor, and turned towards her. A small smile curved his lips as he placed one hand on her waist and held the other. must to her discomfort her stepped closer, joining there bodys. 'Unbelievable' She thought. "I make it a rule not to be this close to people who have tired to kill me." She blurted, sarcasm lacing her voice. She mentally slapped herself. Woman of this time were not bold, or mouthy. She had to blend in and play the part.  It was however to late for that as the damage was already done. "That is a wise rule." He said amused as he slowly began to sway them both to the music. She hesitated at first, but soon began to follow his steps as embarrass herself, or couse anymore of a scene.  They danced with ease. Many years of lessons finally paying off. He twirled her around then brought her back to him. "I thought you said you didn't dance?" He asked, Suprised by her skill.

She finally managed to look him in the eyes for the first time while out on the floor. A familiar feeling came over her as she looked up into his mysterious blue eyes. "Just because I don't like to does not mean I can't." She retorted.

Ann watched them from across the room in disbelief. She couldn't believe that her own daughter would be so foolish. The point of tonight was to drawl the least attention as possible. But there Faith was, all eyes on her as she danced with Nicholas. She couldn't help but notice how excellent her daughter had become since the last time she saw her dance. It were  at a recital in a group on stage wearing the the cutest pigtails imaginable.

"Unexpected, isn't it?" Ann heard a voice from beside her. She turned her head to see that it was Hugo. 'Perfect' she thought. As if this night wasn't bad enough. She faked a smile as she turned her attention back to the dance floor. "Yes, indeed." She responded. She wondered if this was another of Hugo's plots. She hoped that Faith was being as silent as possible.  "They do look well together." Hugo admitted. Ann clenched her jaw. She hated the very sight of the Hunters hands on her daughter. "Yes, I suppose they do." She lied. Hugo smiled. "By the looks of it I think we will be seeing alot more of each other." He finished as he pointed at both of there children on the dance floor. She smiled sweetly. On the inside her blood boiled.

Nicholas found the Strange girl in his arms quite amusing. No one had ever talked to him as boldly, and bluntly as she did. It was very unrefined, but to him it were also referring. He wondered how she might have acted towards him had he and his father not have found her that night, and mistaked her for a witch. "What does a girl who doesn't like dancing actually like to do?" He asked as he watched her expression grow cunfused.

Had he just asked her about her hobbies? She thought.  Why is he interested in that? Shouldn't he be grilling her about her past? Trying to find some sort of dirt on her? Evidence that he and his father had been right about her all along?
She decided not to try to understand his motives just yet. "I like the outdoors." She answered truthfully.

He nodded, half expecting that to be the case. "I was practically a monkey  growing up myself." He said as he grinned.  Faith could only imagine the physical advantages of growing up as a hunter. She woundered what he truly was capable of.

The song had finally come to a end as Nicholas spun her once more before dipping her down beneath him.  Her weight on his knee.  His face came down closer to hers, so much so that she could feel his breath on her skin. She locked eyes with him. His blue eyes reflecting off of her ordinary brown ones. There was a split moment where she were clueless to what he were going to do next. She however was very thankful when he stood her back up and let go of her. He took her hand once More and placed a kiss on it. "It was a pleasure Miss Faith. I hope to see you around." He said, then blended into the crowd.

She let out a breath she hadn't been aware she was holding. She felt many  mixed emotions as she searched for her mother and Clare.

                                 ~~

I hoped you enjoyed. As you have probably guessed the Dumases as a large part of this book, and I am happy that you get to see more of them in this chapter. Please vote and comment. <3 Mariska98 <3