[color=f7941d]The gift of Rory's warm cloak warmed Bela's heart. Her offer to walk her home was sweet but unexpected. Isabella nodded her thanks to the other young woman and was soon scurrying out of the Keep, the tail of Rory's cloak fluttering behind her. The warmth that had blossomed within her, she knew, wasn't only because of the cloak. Something about Rory had seemed so genuine, and Bela found herself hoping more and more that they would meet again. 

By the time she got back to the Mage Quarter, Isabella had her new cloak draped over her arm. She would have to scale back up the drain and slip back into the window, but first she took a moment to catch her breath. She hadn't brought any books home, too excited by her new companion. So, she reasoned, she would have to go back tomorrow night. A smile spread across Bela's lips, she could feel a bit of excitement welling up just at the thought of spending time with Rory again.

With a soft sigh, Bela slipped the cloak around her neck and made her way silently back up the side of the rickety building. With four hours to spare before she would need to wake up, Isabella fell asleep with a contented feeling. It wasn't something that happened often, and Bela found she liked the way it made her feel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The sound of the bells tolling from the Cathedral woke Isabella with a start. She'd almost overslept. Quickly, she splashed her pale face with water and combed her fingers through her dark hair. It wasn't glamorous, but it was enough. With a new plain shift changed into, Bela made her way down into the workshop.

She was greeted with slurs and cursing. 

[color=9e0b0f]"Can you not wake up on time, [b]GIRL?[/b]"[/color] Georgio Bolero thundered as Bela shuffled to her workbench, her head hung. [color=9e0b0f]"The damn bells have been ringing for ten minutes. The dead would have risen before you!"[/color] He stepped closer and cuffed the young woman on the back of the head, hard.

Bela bit down on her lip to keep from crying out, only able to utter the words, [color=92278f]"Apologies, Sir."[/color]

She got to work right away, though it was harder with shaking hands. Her fingers were deft. In fact, the majority of Bolero's clientele had been earned through Bela's handiwork. Though she was never allowed to make anything for herself, she'd worked to make the most beautiful designs for the rich of Azeroth. And it had earned Georgio a pretty penny over the years. 

By lunch, Bela was back to normal, working on shirt after shirt, among other things. Her mind was a million miles away, thinking of what she could speak to Rory about tonight, assuming she was at the Library. She worked late into the night and when she was done, her bones and body ached.

All she wanted to do was lay down and sleep, but the prospect of seeing Rory again gave her a second wind. She would be there, as soon as everyone was asleep.[/color]