Zeke studied the emptiness of the cool, dark study. The fire in the grate burned low, casting shadows over the room. Though dawn, the black drapes across the lone window blocked the morning sunlight. The hulking mass of mahogany in the center of the room demanded respect for those who would claim its seat.

Zeke took a deep, satisfied breath. Other than the lack of carpeting, he loved this room. The darkness made the large room look like a tight, enclosed tomb. He'd always felt more comfortable in tombs than modern buildings, and he considered modern to be anything younger than two hundred years old.

Maybe that's why I can't find a decent woman? They're all too young! He thought, remembering the women of his acquaintance with disgust. Most young, attractive women didn't have a thought in their head for history, ancient cultures, or mythology. Older women, while sometimes knowledgeable, weren't attractive physically. Well, Zeke didn't find them attractive, but they made good conversationalists.

Erza is nearly four hundred years old and still looks to be in her twenties.

Zeke's mind spun excitedly at the realization. He summoned her image to mind: small, curvaceous body, raven hair flying, and sunglasses giving her a mysterious air. And her eyes! He'd expected the blue, but the effect of her mismatched gaze devastated the chain reining his libido. His blood performed a strange sizzling sensation in his veins. He rubbed a spot on his chest as something zapped his heart. He quickly jerked his hand down as the study door opened. He thanked God for the shrill cry of the hinges that had warned him of Erza's arrival.

"I apologize for my tardiness. Vladimir was updating me on last night's events," she said, her honey voice sending more jolts of electricity through his heart. He refused to react like an idiot in her presence, however, and remained still.

Strange. I didn't react to her physically during her episode last night. I'm certainly making up for it now, though. He thought, fighting the urgent need to rub his prickling heart.

"No apology needed. This is your home; I'm just intruding," he said, unable to stop himself from watching her delectable, leather covered ass saunter across the room to the desk. He hid his disappointment when she sat down, taking away his new favorite view.

"About last night..." Erza hesitated.

Seeing where she was going with their meeting, Zeke jumped in.

"Where did you live as a child? I'm assuming somewhere in Europe, but I could be wrong," he asked, eager to see if his theories about her were correct.

She frowned, "We lived in England from the time I was born till I was sixteen. My father was an Earl. I still hold the title there, posing as my own descendants every few decades. From the age of sixteen onward, we traveled extensively, never really settling down. Now, then, Vladimir told me about what you witnessed..."

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Did you know any conquerors? What did you think of Cromwell?" he interrupted, eager to know the details of history he couldn't glean from books and ruins.

Her frown became a scowl, "Cromwell treated the Catholics almost as badly as Hitler treated the Jews. He deserved having his bones dug up and displayed by the Royalists." Her voice became fierce, "He was one of the few that discovered our existence. He tried to eradicate us. He claimed that since we lived for centuries and never aged we must be demons sent from hell to taint the Earth. I'm not fond of my memories of the Middle Ages."

"Wait, Cromwell was during the Reformation, not the Middle Ages." Zeke argued. Talking shop with her caused excitement to bubble in his veins, almost overshadowing the sizzle caused by Erza herself.

"Yeah, well, you weren't there. People think the Dark Ages were bad? Let me tell you, what you lot call the Reformation was a freaking nightmare on steroids." She growled, annoyance sharp in her tone.

She took a slow, deep breath. Zeke tried not to stare at her expanding chest as she breathed. It didn't work, but he got credit for effort...right?

"Look, I know you saw me..."

"What about Napoleon? Did you know him?" he asked, interrupting her again.

"Stop. Just stop. I know what you're doing, and it's not going to work, Dr. Miller," she said, slapping her hands on the desk and vaulting to her feet.

Oops. I was little too obvious, wasn't I? Time to pay the piper, I guess, Zeke thought as he prepared for the conversation neither of them actually wanted to have.

*****

Erza snarled quietly in frustration. Every time she tried to direct the conversation, he railroaded right over her and asked a damn history question.

"Why are you avoiding this conversation? You know we're going to have it one way or another," she queried. I just want to get it over with already! She thought.

"Why do we have to talk about it? I don't understand what I saw, but you're embarrassed about it. That's all I need to know. You're embarrassed, so I won't bring it up, and I won't talk about it. It's none of my business, unless you want it to be, of course. Your secrets are your own; they're not mine to spread," he said; his rumbling bass shivering down her spine. Deep voices were definitely the sexiest things in the world.

Erza shook the strange thought away.

"So, you're not going to discuss it with me, because I'm uncomfortable with it? And you won't gossip with the others about it, because I'd be shamed? Is that what you're telling me, Dr. Miller?" she asked, unsure if she trusted him with her darkest secret.

"Yep, that sums it up nicely," he said, resting his fists on his hips.

Erza scowled. In her experience, human nature demanded that Zeke run out of the office with every detail pouring from his lips.

"Look," he said, obviously seeing her dour expression, "I like the Warriors, and--and you. I grew up hearing stories of the Warriors' might, bravery, and honor. I always admired the people in my father's stories. Not my father, mind you. As a child, the Warriors are who I lauded; who I strove to grow into as a man. You are a Warrior, Lady Lioness, and a Warrior you shall remain; in my eyes and in the eyes of everyone you meet. If you will excuse me, Lady, I have a mission to complete for my Regina," he said, a slight smile upon his face as he bowed low.

Erza watched as he turned on his heel and left the shadowed study. She rubbed her zinging heart and wondered just who she'd allowed into her world.