The carriage was ready, loaded with all of my worldly possessions, except for a small bag I had clutched in my hand that carried that damning leather book and a few other odd trinkets. Only there was a slight issue.

The woman. The one who was supposed to be waiting for me when I arrived at the docks of Silver Falls, was nowhere to be found. I had embarrassed myself more than once and gotten more than one nasty look from the people who were waiting on their loved ones or friends. A did get a few sympathetic looks from women, but still, none of them was the mysterious lady that Della said she arranged for me to meet up with. I started to wonder if there was even really a woman with a shop that Della knew. As far as I could recall the woman had never traveled extensively, so how would she know anyone here?

I had been that naïve. I snorted, shaking my head. I just swallowed down her story about some strange woman in a foreign land that was going to help me out of the kindness of her heart.

"Shit," I muttered, scanning the thinning crowd once again.

What was I supposed to do now? I didn't know a thing about this city. I surely wasn't going to advertise that I was lost and alone. We all know how that would end. So, what the bloody hell was I going to do?

"She's not here?" I heard a voice behind me ask, making me jump.

I whirled around, and once I saw who it was, I felt more relief in that moment than I ever had. "Lila! Thank gods!"

She smiled at me, the look of concern clear on her face.

"I don't even know what this woman is supposed to look like, or where her shop is!" I cried out, pacing in frustration. "I don't even know if this woman exists!"

Lila frowned, crossing her arms. "Why would they send you here and lie to you about a lady waiting to help you,Nova? That doesn't make any sense."

I sighed. I hadn't really told her my situation fully. I mean why would I? Tell a stranger the details of my sad story? She most definitely would have stopped talking to me on the ship for sure then.

"I'm an orphan, Lila. They took me in when I was little, but they are of no relation to me. I was a burden to them, and they didn't want to keep me in their home anymore. They couldn't very well tarnish their good family name by casting me out on to the street. This was just a really good cover story. One that I naively swallowed whole," I huffed, "Why would they tell me any different?"

I began to turn away from her, unsure of why I even told her any of that to begin with.

"No, Nova, I'm sorry," Lila said reaching out and grabbing my arm, "I didn't mean it like that. I wasn't trying to say you weren't being honest." She dropped her hand and brushed a strand of dark hair from her forehead, "I just don't understand why they would do that to you."

I turned again, facing the carriage. Staring at all of my things my chest began to tighten and my heart sped up. "I—I'm----" my voice wavered, and I took a deep breath in, trying to control my emotions. I felt a hand lightly on my shoulder.

"It's okay. You don't have to. Come on, we can go to my place. We will get this all figured out. I promise." Her voice was soft; as soft as the feel of her hand on my shoulder.

My head fell. What other choice did I have? I was fortunate that she was there still, and that she meant what she had said while we were on the ship.

"Okay, thank you," I whispered, feeling completely sheltered and unprepared for the real world.

At that moment I felt utterly alone. Orphaned. Completely abandoned, and my thoughts went to Him immediately.

          Lila's house was amazing. The outside was a two-story stone townhome, but the inside; I had never seen anything like it. If I hadn't been so morose, I would have been more in awe. Especially at the fact that it was all Lila's. We were around the same age, and here she was with all of this, and I had no home of my own to speak of.

We walked in and were greeted by an older gentleman. I could hear voices floating from the back of the house, what I assumed was the kitchen, and the smell of food hit me instantly.

I groaned inwardly. I was starving. At least my mood hadn't altered my appetite.

"Franklin," Lila said warmly, greeting the man who ushered us inside, "this is Nova. She is going to be staying with us. Will you and Annette please see to her things while I show her around?" Lila turned to me, "Come, Nova I'll let you pick a room."

Franklin nodded, looking at me curiously. I gave him a small smile before grabbing my bag and quickly following Lila up the stairs.

My head felt like it was spinning. As much as I wanted to explore my extravagant temporary housing, I needed desperately to lie down. Everything was a blur. I probably couldn't tell you the color of the walls right now.

Lila understood my need to be alone. Once I had a room picked, she told me that dinner would be soon, and she softly closed the door.

I set my bag down and made my way across the dark hardwood floors to the bed. I ran my hand across the soft rich cover. Taking a seat, and practically sinking into it, I laid on top of the oversized bed, stretching out and relaxing into the soft, inviting duvet. My eyes began to get heavy and I felt the familiar darkness surround me.

          I was still laying there when I heard his voice. This was different than the other times he spoke to me. This felt tangible. I was still surrounded by darkness, but it felt like we were together in a dark room. The other times it felt as if we were inside my mind; his voice just kind of echoing, like a thought. Now I felt like if I could just turn on a light, or open my eyes, I would be able to see him.

"You're writing about me." He said.

 It wasn't a question, but I answered him anyway."Yes."

He hummed, and I felt him run his hand along my arm. I tried to sit up and the pressure of his hand increased.

"Don't try and get up."

"Who---who are you?" I stammered. Oddly I didn't feel frightened. Him being that close to me just made me incredibly nervous.

He didn't answer but his hand continued to lay on my arm. He grabbed my hand, linking his fingers through mine, making me gasp. His touch was warm but sent chills throughout my body.

"Please," I said, squeezing his hand, "tell me who you are."

He squeezed my hand in return, a tingle shooting up my arm making me cry out.

"We are very close, my love," he whispered, and I felt his breath on my neck.

A soft knocking sound jerked me from the darkness; from Him, and I was once again in the room at Lila's home. Someone was knocking on the bedroom door. I sat up, groaning in frustration. My mind still very much on the tingling sensation that hadn't yet dissipated from where his breath had been on my neck. 

"I didn't mean to wake you." I heard Lila call out through the darkened room.

"Oh, no, it's fine. I wasn't trying to stay asleep all night, Lila."

"Well, I just came to let you know that dinner is ready. You can come down to the kitchen whenever you are ready."

I heard the soft click of the bedroom door and was once again plunged into darkness.