Wolven Master Prologue Pt 4

   Devious sat casually upon the window seat, a thick stack of papers resting in her lap, a stubby piece of charcoal pressing lightly against the top page as she swirled it around, shading the sketch of her own naked form.  She unknowingly was biting her lips repeatedly, making them a deep red, her jaden eyes steadily upon her drawing, but her mind far away.  The tears she'd been shedding throughout the day had left their distinct mark in gray trails from her eyes to her jawline.
   She stared blankly at the drawing, idly darkening her hair more than it should have been.  She was so lost in thought, so numb to all things around her that she didn't hear Argent come in and she nearly lept out of her own skin as he placed a cool, slender hand upon her bare shoulder.
   "What do you have there, Childe?" he oozed in languid, melodious tone.
   Whipping her head around, her long red hair swirling about her shoulders, she gasped.  "Argent!" she exclaimed, the piece of charcoal crumbling in the pressure of her closed fist.  She took a deep breath and smiled.  "You startled me."
   He lifted a brow and chuckled softly.  "I do apologize, Kitten.  I thought you heard me come in."
   She blinked and shyly grinned.  "No.  I suppose I wasn't paying attention."
   "Hmmm."  He cocked his head, seeing her tear-stained face and placed his hands upon each of her cheeks, his long thumbs softly caressing her flushed face.  He wanted to ask her why she had been crying, but he already knew.  He knew she loved him and that he'd been keeping himself at arm's length, keeping her from his secrets, preventing her from getting too close.  
   He stared deeply into her glassy, green pools, his own silvery-blue eyes gleaming as he felt that now-familiar tingle she granted him with each time he was near her.  He leaned down over her, kissing her forehead and tried to make light of the emotional vibrations beginning to stir all around them.  "Show me," he said, inclining his head toward the sketch on her lap.
   Devious kept her eyes fixed upon his as she lifted the paper to him, her blackened hands smudging the parchment with charcoal fingerprints.
   Argent smiled on one side of his mouth as he took the drawing and slowly turned, studying it as he strolled slowly across the parlor.  He cleared his throat lightly as he took in the detail of the naked body, marveling at the artistry and becoming a little warm on the back of his neck at realizing it was her naked body.  He turned back toward her, his breath catching in his throat as he suddenly saw her there at the window, but not as she was, beautifully-attired in a satin dress, but as he wanted to see her, as she was depicted in the sketch.
   "What?  Why do you look at me like that?"
   He shook his head, closing his open mouth, trying to quell the roaring fires of lust which felt like they may burn him from within.  "This is quite good, my Ginger Kitten."  He came toward her, extending his hand for her to take.  "I want to show you something."
   She gently placed her little hand inside of his, wiping at her face to remove the traces of sorrow and stood.  "All right.  Where are we going?"
   "Somewhere special.  I want to introduce you."  He held her hand firmly in his as he lead them out of the parlor, the drawing still in his other hand.  Upon reaching the foyer, Argent was handed his top hat, overcoat and cane.  He nodded to the the little maid and the girl blushed before scampering off.  Argent smirked then smiled as he retrieved a finely-woven, lace shawl from the coat rack.  In one smooth motion, he had wrapped it about her shoulders, and before she could even remark about his caring gesture, his mouth was pressing against hers, his hot tongue snaking along her lips before pushing past them.
   She moaned lowly at the sudden moment of passion, pressing her body against him, her flesh on fire as his hands crept along her back and up into her hair.  Her tongue swirled around his in a lover's tango, her heart pounding, her thoughts diminished... all but one: how she loved this man.  And, as she was thinking this, something quite remarkable happened.
   Argent groaned deeply, his hands both entangled in her silken tresses of crimson.  He grasped the thick of her hair firmly, pulling her head back, only bringing their mouths apart a little, their lips still touching as he whispered into her mouth, "I love you, too."
   Devious smiled and nipped at his lower lip, knowing she hadn't said she loved him out loud, but into his thoughts... and he had heard her.  She had been trying to speak to him this way for days, attempting to use her special skills in the paranormal, but had been uncertain as to its effectiveness until this very moment.  He had heard her at last.
   Argent released her hair and nearly stumbled backwards, blinking at her in wonder.  He had indeed heard her say she loved him and he was all too aware that she hadn't said it aloud.  A look of confusion and concern tainted his otherwise passion-flushed features.  He exhaled sharply and opened the front door, keeping his gaze steady upon her.  "You have bewitched me, Childe."  He shook his head as he took her hand again and pulled her with him outside.


   He had led her through town in silence, neither of them speaking.  Being a man of science and logical thinking, he could not accept what had just happened.  He was now trying to convince himself of its impossibility, having many arguments with himself inside his head.
   Devious wasn't really paying attention to his inner battle as she was too engrossed in taking in the sights of the city, her eyes darting from left to right and up and down.  She suddenly began to take notice that they had left the wealthier part of town as the scenery began to change.  The buildings began to look older and more dilapidated, the streets not nearly as clean, the clothing worn by passers by was increasingly more ragged and outdated.
   As they rounded a corner, Argent squeezed her hand and looked down at her, smiling.  "Almost there."
   She returned his smile but with a furrowed brow, wondering where he could be taking her.  She no longer felt like the slave she'd been, but still she trusted Argent as if he were her master.  She squeezed his hand also as her ears tuned in to the sounds coming from not too far away.  "I hear music," she said with a happy lilt in her voice.
   "Yes," he replied.
   As they came around another corner, the music grew louder and soon, Devious was feasting her eyes upon some of the most unusual yet beautiful things she had ever seen.  Although the architecture looked antique, the buildings were brightly-painted here and adorned with thousands of electric lights.  Strings of lights and flags and ribbons were draped from one side of the street to the other, from building to building.  There was a warm buzzing in the air here, a feeling she picked up on, an odd yet alluring vibration.  
   The music poured into the street like hot soup into a wooden bowl.  The faces of the people made her smile widely as they all appeared to be having the time of their lives.  She noticed the clothing of the people had transformed from just a few streets over.  These people didn't have the look of starvation or poverty although Argent's rich finery still stuck out like a red rose among thorns.  Ruffles, beads and feathers abounding, these people were dressed as if they were individual pieces of art.
   Everyone smiled at them as they crossed the street.  Men tipped their hats and ladies blushed and grinned as Argent glided along.  Devious' eyes were huge as she peered to her left, seeing a stage, some sort of risque-themed theatrical production being acted out upon it by rather animated players.
   "That is The Theatre des Chat Noir," Argent whispered into her ear as they were now in front of what looked to be a pub.
   "Black cat," she said under her breath, remembering the tiny bit of French she knew.  She smiled to a man sitting to their right, a bottle in one hand, his other hand wielding a paintbrush across an easeled canvas.  The man smiled widely back at her, lifting his bottle and winking.
   Argent placed his hand gently upon the small of her back and pulled her in closer to him.  "Pierre," he said.  "How are you, old chap?"  He extended his hand toward the man.
   The painter shakily stood, placing his brush between his teeth as he grabbed Argent's hand in a friendly handshake.  "Mr. Manx, so good to see you," replied Pierre.  His eyes fell upon Devious then, a twinkle of lust just beneath the exterior of his oh-so friendly gaze.  "Ah...  And, what is this, Manx?  What gem have you brought to old Pierre, uh?"  His French accent was more than prevalent, but some words barely recognizable as he was slurring quite a lot.
   Devious smiled and awaited Argent's introduction of her as his lady, his Kitten.  But, she frowned as he did no such thing.
   Holding the drawing out for Pierre to take, he said, "Take a look at this."
   Pierre set his bottle upon a little iron table and took the sketch from him, bringing his glasses from atop his head of thick, gray hair to rest upon the end of his long nose.  He smiled and looked up to Devious over the top of his glasses.  "Oh ho!  This is very nice.  My my... what a beautiful model you have, Manx."  His eyes trailed down her body slowly as he smiled broader, the paintbrush twirling between his teeth.
   "She drew it."   Argent looked down at her and lifted his chin proudly.
   "Oh, ho, ho!" Pierre thumped the paper and took the brush from his mouth, tossing it into a can of water beneath the easel.  "Very impressive, mademoiselle."
   "Thank you," she said quietly, looking down.
   Argent lifted her chin then with two fingers as if to remind her that her station no longer required submission.  "Yes.  She is quite impressive."
   Pierre lifted Devious' hand, kissing it repeatedly.  "Ho, ho, Mr. Manx... she is your premier rôle féminin, no?"
   Argent shifted a bit uncomfortably, not wishing to admit publicly of his feelings for her nor of her being his "leading lady".  He smiled slowly and placed a hand upon her shoulder, whispering into her ear, "I'll be back for you later."  He looked up to Pierre, backing away slowly.  "I leave her in your care, old chap.  Show her around.  I'm certain she will find our arts district to fit her like a glove."  And with that, he had turned and vanished into a crowd of street musicians as they strolled along the cobblestone street.
   Pierre shook his head at Argent and chuckled, taking Devious' hand and pulling her to the door of the pub.  "Come, Belle.  Let me show you some of the finer things in life."