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ily's Plantation house.
My mother had just died and my Father was very ill, near death himself and as the only
male child I was the acting Master of our estate, right outside of Savannah, Georgia. I sat
there listening to the sounds of cicadas and the noises from the slaves in the field when I no-
ticed an extraordinarily pale blonde woman standing near the gate. She was leaning against
the post, watching me intently.
I called for Alyssa, the head housekeeper, to come outside. Go down there and see who
that is, I said leaning forward in my chair to get a good look at the woman. Alyssa grabbed up
her many skirts and walked down to The Blonde woman. I watched as she timidly walked
over to her. I could already tell something wasn't quite right with this woman. I rose from my
chair and began to go to the gate but Alyssa came back meeting me halfway.
Massa, she say she here to see you. Her brown eyes were wide and I realized she was
afraid of this visitor and that it took every ounce of her to keep from running screaming back
into the house. I frowned and waved her away. That'll be all. I said walking over to the wo-
man. She was breathtakingly beautiful with green eyes as clear as crystals. Ma'am. I greeted.
Call me Lila, Dresden. She grinned at me. I backed away from her. It will do you no good to
run. Lila reached out and grabbed my wrist in her hand. I tried my hardest to pull away from
her but it seemed like it took little effort on her behalf to keep me in her grip.
Will you behave? Or will I have to bribe you with the lives of your nieces and nephews in-
side? She tilted her head referring to my sleeping kin in the rooms upstairs. I shuddered at the
thought. What do you want from me? I said and I stopped trying to pull away from her. That's
better. It so much easier when you cooperate, my sire wants to see you. She has been watch-
ing you. She put her hands up to my face tracing the crease in my forehead caused by my
frown.
Watching me! I cried. Shh, be quiet. Tell that girl to go away and stay away or I will kill
her. She hissed pointing toward my house. I turned around to see Alyssa standing where I
had left her. Go back in the house! I yelled to her. When she still didn't budge I walked to-
wards her with Lila directly on my heels. Alyssa, do as I say. I pressed gently. Go inside and
do not come back out here.
With a moments hesitation Alyssa turned and ran back into the house. Now follow my
directions and don't think you can fool me or slip away. Go dress in your riding clothes, tell
your father you need to go into town, say something vague. Lila pushed me roughly down the
path to the house and finally through the door. I'll be waiting and watching so be quick! She
hissed slamming the screen behind me. I stood stock still in disbelief.
Dresden! My sister Robin cried, her baby on her hip, as she came toward me. Both my
sisters and their families were here on account of my mother's funeral. My heavens! You'll
wake the children. She said. Robin, I have... uh... to go into Savannah. I said as she handed
me Josette. But it'll be dark soon, Dresden. Can't you wait until tomorrow? She frowned. I re-
membered Lila's threat and handed Josette right back to her.
No I can not and don't worry father with it. It's an urgent matter. I mumbled turning
around to go up the stairs, I watched Lila lean over the second floor banister.
Faster! She mouthed before disappearing. I was terrified at this point. Not for myself, but
for my family if I kept this beast waiting a second longer. Virginia! Robin called coming up the
stairs behind me. I groaned. I would have not one but two sisters making it hard for me to
keep them safe from harm. They wouldn't even leave me alone to change. Robin and Virginia
kept up their tirade and little Josette stared at me in what I could only guess was sympathy. I
kissed Josette in her head of dark curls and pushed past Virginia as I made my way down the
stairs.
Dresden, have you been drinking? You are sweating buckets! Virginia shrieked out. I
looked past her and at Alyssa. We locked eyes and at that moment I knew she knew who was
waiting for me and her dark face went a shade of pale. There were things I wanted to say to
her but couldn't because my sisters were still there glaring at me.
Virginia, Robin I implore you both to please shut up. I kissed both of their cheeks as they
stood there fuming and made my way to the stables, mounted my favorite steed and took off.
I was barely off of the property before I was pulled off of my horse and roughly thrown
down on to the dirt road. Christ! I rolled over on all fours and struggled to rise to my feet. Was
that really necessary? I barked at Lila's laughing figure. She came beside me and pulled my
head back by my hair. Her gaze went soft as she stared down at me. Oh you're so lovely, so
beautiful. She murmured brushing the beads of sweat from my face and then she buried her
head into my neck, I felt two sharp pins sink into my skin before I passed out.
Dresden, Dresden Darling. Lila's musical voice came through clear as bells. I opened my
eyes and my head was in her lap. I sat up and immediately jumped away from her. We were
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