Victoria was about to grab the man’s arm and twist it before she heard a familiar voice. A voice she’d never forget after last night. A hypnotic voice. She turned to see a man approach her and pretend to know her. Obviously, he had stepped in to come to her rescue. She then noticed his eyes were those same green eyes she stared into whilst dancing with him the eve before. Those entrancing eyes. She blinked as he scared the drunkard man off her. She looked him up and down, same figure and the way he held himself. A masquerade mask couldn’t hide his hair cut he wore either. It was definitely Vail Hygrace.

He then had the [i]audacity[/i] to tell her it was dangerous to be out here at this time of night and told her to consider going home before she got herself hurt. He didn’t know her, what she was capable of. He was certainly judgemental about the Lady. It was also condescending. He was no better than the other men who looked down upon women. Sure, she had a dagger she didn’t really know how to use properly but she wasn’t afraid of using it. He then turned to leave. He would hear the scraping of the bar stool as she pushed herself away from the counter and slid off. “I didn’t know you cared so much about what happened to me….Vail [i]Hygrace[/i]. That’s right. I recognise you.” How could she not forget this handsome man she felt so intoxicated around. She struggled to think clearly but she was still angry.

She stood tall and firm behind him and folded her arms. “Who the HELL do you think you are, telling [i]me[/i] what I should and should not do? You’re no better than a Wynter…you don’t know me so do not presume to!” She scolded him. She showed that she obviously knew of the two clan’s rivalry and so she knew it would get his back up. But he had annoyed her and so she responded in kind. It was her turn to leave him with her piece of her mind as she walked past him and gave him a cold glance and made a small ‘hmph’ at him as if to say she was going to disregard him. It was obvious Gerald wasn’t here, so on to the next tavern she would go. She practically smacked the tavern door open as she walked through it. It slammed against the wall outside and bounced back to slam shut again.

She felt the cold night air and exhaled, seeing a cloud of white steam escape her ruby lips. She huddled inside her cloak and looked up and down the street with a sigh. She headed not for the direction of her estate but toward a tavern she could barely make out down the street with its glowing lantern swinging in the wind.