The lions were lying peacefully in their cage. Violet could smell their breaths and knew the reason for their calm was their full stomachs. Irrationally, she wished for one of them to take exception to her presence so close to their wagon and growl.

She wanted to growl. And scream and maybe moan at her misfortune.

"Why?" The question burst from her lips. One of the lions snorted in distaste.

Ismail. She had found him at last. No, she didn't find him, he had sought her out! For twelve years she had imagined what she would do when she found her father's killer. Her hand lowered to her skirts, feeling for the knife she strapped to her leg every morning, just in case she found the bastard.  And yet she had done nothing....

Patrick's friend! How could he be the friend of the only man she had ever had feelings for. And yes, she did have feelings for him, she understood that now. It wasn't just attraction because the thought of his hatred being directed at her was painful.   

Angelica, Mikhail, Patrick...they were all going to hate her, but she had to take revenge. She had to! 

The world began to spin and the darkness she was usually comfortable in began to close in around her.  Her chest heaving with the effort to breath, Violet lowered herself to the ground.  Cold English wind tossed her hair about her face and all smells collided into one another. Soil, leaves, stones, smoke, pelts, meat, hay, canvas... the scents of the Circus performers sleeping in their caravans in the distance threatened to overwhelm her.

Calm! She had to be calm!

Violet reached down and pulled up her skirt until her hand settled over the hilt of her hidden weapon. The heavy weight of the knife as she pulled it out of its sheath grounded her. She twisted the blade this way and that, then stabbed it into the soft ground beside her.

This life, the eternal darkness, years of pain, fear and loneliness...it was all Ismail's fault. Patrick's friend or not, she would not let him get away with it. She would kill him, but to do so, she needed the element of surprise, he was a blood drinker after all.

Blood drinkers had quicker reflexes, were stronger and faster to heal. She had to catch him unawares and stab him in the heart and now that she knew where to find him, she needed a plan.

"Violet?"

Violet lifted her head in disbelief. No please, couldn't the man stay away for a little while? She was not ready to face him.

"Leave me alone."

Patrick was beside her before she could think to get up.

"I don't think so sweetheart." Patrick grabbed her under her arms and lifted her clear off the ground before setting her on her feet. "You are going to tell me what kind of trouble you are in Violet, and you are going to tell me now."

What? Violet's mind scrambled to keep up. Patrick thought she was in some kind of trouble? 

"I don't know what you mean, Lord Bruce. But we have no show tonight, so you should leave." Lifting her front skirts she turned in the direction of her caravan, intent on shaking him off. He didn't try to stop her, but he followed in silence which made her all the more nervous. 

Reaching the small portable sleeping quarter, Violet stopped to gather her resolve."Goodnight Patrick," she said the words as firmly as she could and lifted the latch of the wooden door. He took a step forward. "Damn it," she turned about, ready to push him away if she had to, but she never got a chance. Patrick lifted her off the ground for the second time that night and climbed into the cart with her.

Violet scrambled backwards as he let go of her to shut the door. The area was far too small, his scent far too overwhelming. Her hand reached down over her skirt...her knife! She had left it in the ground!

"Looking for this sweetheart?" Metal, soil and a familiar leather smell invaded her senses. She had wrapped that leather around the hilt of her knife to keep it from slipping out of her hands. "I thought I heard a thud the night I undressed you in my room. This is what fell together with your dress, isn't it? Do you always carry this on you?" Patrick's voice was angry and for a second Violet was gripped with the fear that he might suspect the truth.

No, that was impossible, he couldn't possibly know. But he was a blood drinker; he could try to read her mind! Even though she knew the signs and might be able to stop thinking about Ismail long enough to avoid giving herself away, there was no guarantee that she could hide her goal from him!

"I want to be alone, please just leave!"

"No." 

"Why damn it?"

"Tell me what kind of trouble you are in. Is someone after you?" Patrick was almost shouting now. After her? He thought someone was after her? That was the reason for his anger?

"No one is after me!" Violet kept her tone level so that he would have no reason to doubt her.

"Then what is the knife for?" He sounded calmer but unconvinced. 

Violet pushed her legs out from her kneeling position and sat. "For protection." It was not a lie. "It's quite effective against brutes who think they can take advantage of me." 

Patrick was silent for a long moment, then he was pulling her into his arm. "You won't be needing a knife anymore." 

He kissed her, and her mind stopped working. Resisting was no option when her body turned into him, seeking the pleasure he provided. 

"Patrick." She said his name, trying to pull herself out of her daze.

"No Violet, no more excuses."

"But..." he was kissing her again, making it impossible to think. Violet reached her hands up and ran her fingers over his evening coat. He was so hot, warming her cold skin making her feel... more wanted than she had ever felt in her life.

What did it matter if she gave in to the feelings? Just one more time. 

Her hands began to pull at his clothes. There was too much between them, she wanted to feel his skin on hers. A moan escaped her lips.

Patrick slowed his movements. "Come home with me."

Violet felt torn. Her body craved this man, wanted him more than anything. That in itself was a dangerous thing. But then, wasn't he the answer to her problems? What better way to gain Ismail's trust than be Patrick's woman? If the two men were as good friends as she thought, they would spend time together and if she was there during that time... It was perfect, but then why did it feel so very wrong?

"Alright."

He stopped, and she could imagine him staring at her. "When?"

Now that she had made her decision, Violet's body relaxed and her mind cleared. She had found Ismail and she would need to plan her next step carefully. But first, there was a detective to call off and a bag to pack.

"Tomorrow, after the show."

"Alright." He kissed her once more before he moved away. "Till tomorrow, Lady Violin."

The sensual promise in his voice sent a shiver down Violet's spine. Oh she was definitely treading dangerous ground.

"Till tomorrow."