"b.i.t.c.h," Dirk muttered.

"That's one he does."

"He'll regret his rudeness. This little blossom is worth two of you, Dirk. Her mind is sharp as her tongue yet she gives respect where it is due. You would be wise to follow her example. You lack subtlety. One day it will get you into trouble and I will not be there to bail you out."

"She'd better show respect. She's nothing, a man's toy."

"If you truly believe so then you are are a fool." a fool."

"She's the fool letting us in here like this. We could drag her out to the car and he'd never know what became of her. Say you aren't tempted."

"He'd know exactly where to look. Such an act would invoke bloodshed. If rape has its charms for you practice it on mortals not on one of the blood."

Dirk laughed. "I'll make her squirm someday."

"Dirk is utterly without common sense. A little persuasion persuasion however works wonders with him." however works wonders with him."

Dirk cringed. Just what did Gaius do that frightened him so? Personally, I didn't care how severely he'd suffer. As far as Dirk was concerned, death was too good for him.

Gaius spied a piece of Etruscan pottery Ethan had picked up cheap from an impoverished aristocrat he met playing cards. He picked it up and rolled it back and forth in his hands with an expert's air. "Exquisite."

"You must have fascinating tales to tell Lord Gaius, of Rome... "

Gaius raised an eyebrow at my forwardness, but laughed and replied, "It was long ago. What I remember I may have read in books, or seen in the pictures. I could tell about battles and life in camp. I spent most of my mortal existence a soldier. I'm not sure if you'd find it interesting."

"How did people think then? That's what I'd really like to know."

"I'd rather talk about how you think. Now there's a riddle."

"You're being evasive, my Lord."

He set down the vase and turned back to me. "I'll tell you this. I knew fascinating women of power and education. We didn't shut our women away like other peoples, like the Greeks. I dined with Tiberius's mother Livia, and survived to tell the tale. She was the brains behind the empire and woe to any who stood in her way." He turned back to Dirk. "Mark me Dirk. Respect the fair s.e.x. They're capable of destroying fools like you. You're not so easily dismissed as Dirk believes."

"'What on earth is so special about me?"

"You're the Bird of Prey."

"Uh-huh, now tell me in words even Dirk can understand."

"c.u.n.t," Dirk said.

"There's another, thank you, Dirk."

Gaius threw back his head, laughing. "Ethan is the luckiest man I know to have uncovered you. Ah, when the Northman sees you he'll spit with rage."

My blood ran cold. Why? A car approached, large, sleek and formidable, just like Ethan. Gaius clammed up, taking a seat in a chair and striking a casual pose. Dirk glared at me, plotting my future ravishment behind yellow-green eyes.

Ethan opened the door and flashed a look at me that said that I'd better have a good explanation. Gaius sat back in his chair and waited for Ethan to do the dance.

Ethan bowed to him. "Lord Gaius, sorry I wasn't here to greet you, I had business in Naples."

"We've also business to discuss."

Ethan flinched. "We'll go to the terrace. Can he be trusted?"

Gaius looked to me, a smile softening his face. "I wouldn't worry about her. She'll outwit this dolt every time."

Ethan stared Dirk down. "If he touches her, I'll take his head."

Gaius replied casually as he paused at the door, "It's almost worth the trouble."

Nothing gave me the creeps more than being left alone with Dirk. There was no sense of control of the situation. He wasn't intellectually gifted but he was endowed with animal cunning, superior strength and a total disregard for anyone's rights.

"What I endure," Dirk muttered.

I opened the carved chest against the wall to put my materials away. "Doesn't think much of you, does he?"

He scowled, lurching to his feet. "Not as much as you think of yourself." He hovered over me, trying to intimidate by sheer size and bulk.

"You don't scare me."

Moving in closer he breathed down my neck, "Did you dream of me in your childhood bed?"

Nightmares actually, of human skeletons trampled by jackboots, grinning death's heads on black caps, skulls that came to life with yellow-green eyes. Dirk's ilk had been considered the elite of the Third Reich. Himmler himself had hand picked them from photographs, not one could stand less than five foot eight, they had to be proven racially pure as far back as eighteen hundred and they possessed the idealized Nordic physical attributes most of their leaders lacked. Except for the yellowish eyes, Dirk was the poster boy.

He tugged hard at my hair. "I'll teach you the meaning of pain."

"Let go of me, mindless butcher."

He crossed his arms over his chest and looked me over from head to toe. "You aren't that much to look at."

"Good enough, your distaste is showing all too prominently."

He grabbed my jaw. "Can this mouth do anything other than fling insults?"

"Not unless you want to lose something very dear to you. Let's test your powers of regeneration. I'm curious if you are." I twisted out of his grip, a move Ethan taught me.

"Gaius made an offer for you to Brovik when we saw him in Rome."

"Brovik? What kind of offer?"

"To buy you of course- for me."

I was flabbergasted. The door opened and Ethan and Gaius stepped inside. Ethan frowned, looking about the room curiously.

Gaius barked, "Dirk come."

After they left I was called upon to explain myself. Ethan paced back and forth in front of the fireplace. "Are you mad? Letting them in?"

"You told me to be polite to him."

"You can't be so incredibly naive. It's a good thing it was Gaius and not some other. He knows better than to try something."

"So, what did Brovik have to say? Dirk told me they'd seen him in Rome. He said Gaius made an offer for me."

"Don't be frightened. You're not going anywhere."

"Is he coming here?"

Ethan shook his head. "He wants us to go to Norway."

"Will we go?"

"No. You must be prepared when at last you meet him face to face."

"Why?"

"He'll reach inside and pluck your soul from within, without a blink of an eye- all the while with the most serene and beautiful of smiles on his fair countenance."

"What does he want?"

Ethan kissed my forehead. "Just business- nothing you need worry about, my dear. Now run upstairs and get ready for bed. I must make a call."

I obeyed as usual, but this patronizing treatment was really staring to irritate. He told me nothing, like I was a child. How bad could this Brovik be?

EIGHT.

If there were others in this house of ours, Ethan never told me about them, but Brovik apparently was curious about me, and sent his first emissary just a few months after our arrival.

We stood on the balcony, my head against Ethan's bare chest, his arms wrapped loosely about my body. Twilight is called Magic Hour Magic Hour in the movies and so it was, the closest we ever came to standing in the sun, a moment of connection for us, silently drinking the beauty of the surrounding hills and bay, purple streaked with orange, watching day winding down and night stirring. in the movies and so it was, the closest we ever came to standing in the sun, a moment of connection for us, silently drinking the beauty of the surrounding hills and bay, purple streaked with orange, watching day winding down and night stirring.

Suddenly Magic Hour Magic Hour was interrupted by the sound of a small sports car whining up the steep road. Ethan c.o.c.ked his head to the side. "Get my robe." was interrupted by the sound of a small sports car whining up the steep road. Ethan c.o.c.ked his head to the side. "Get my robe."

I went inside, grabbing his heavy silk robe and pulling on a simple dress before joining him again on the balcony. "Gaius?"

"No, come here," he whispered, smiling.

The car pulled into the drive in front of the villa and parked. I scented the newcomer now, male Immortyl mixed with nice cologne. His feet hit the ground lightly as he jumped from the car, gravel crunching under his feet as he stealthily crept up on us. Something sc.r.a.ped the tiles on the roof.

"Look up," Ethan instructed, tilting my head back to look up at the red tiled roof.

Sitting gracefully among the tiles was a tall figure brushing dust off of his leather jacket. A tumble of neglected dark curls framed a face br.i.m.m.i.n.g with malevolent mischief. "These tiles are loose. You ought to have them looked at," he said, in a British accent, sending one crashing down toward our heads.

Ethan ducked us out of the way, laughing.

The stranger landed beside us. "You're in a sad state, Byron."

"One can't remain a vagabond forever."

"Let's have a look at you then, love," our visitor said, moving about me in an exaggerated imitation of a horse trader. "Not quite your usual wine my friend, still an intoxicating libation. Local vintage?"

"American grown from old European stock."

"Intriguing blend of flavors. Is she mute?"

Ethan laughed. "I should be so fortunate."

I had to speak up. "To his unending delight, I have a tongue."

"Mia, this is Philip. It's all right, this one doesn't bite."

I offered my hand. He made a show of bowing and kissing it. "Your devoted slave, madam. Exactly what you need, Beatrice to your Bened.i.c.k- she'll keep you on your toes arrogant monster. And she hasn't been presented yet?'

"We'll discuss this later later."

"Keeping secrets? Not a wise idea, they develop a diabolical habit of listening at keyholes."

"Later, Philip."

"As you wish, there's an eternity for the dreary business I've been sent for, besides I want to know this fascinating creature better. Where did did he scare you up, wench?" he scare you up, wench?"

"The theater, I was an actress."

"At last!" he proclaimed. "Another in this deadly dull company who understands life! A tedious lot, Mia- except for our Kurt- he's an artiste artiste if of a silent disposition. I don't wonder Ethan keeps you far from him. You'd fall for his amazing, azure eyes." if of a silent disposition. I don't wonder Ethan keeps you far from him. You'd fall for his amazing, azure eyes."

"Philip," Ethan said.

"Don't be a bore, Ethan. We're going out to peruse the menu! There's a perfectly luscious bellboy at my hotel. Are they all so delicious?"

Ethan shook his head. "Show him around while I'll dress."

Philip offered his arm, leading me into the bedroom. "Pity we can't linger... "

"She's not your flavor," Ethan jibed.

Philip paused before the mirror to give a perfunctory run of fingers through his curls. "One enjoys a departure from the usual and Southern cuisine has a certain spice in either flavor."

"And the North?" Ethan challenged.

Philip struck a pose. "Substantial fare, but much too heavy on the palate."