I was running, running faster and faster. I had to run if I wanted to save my life. The creditors had been chasing me for several minutes now, I was beginning to run out of breath, tripping or falling were things I could not afford. I clutched the heavy skirt in my hands to ease my movements but it did little good. Those men caught up with me, and just when I thought it was over for me, someone pulled me to one side hiding me.

The alleys of my neighborhood were narrow and dark, the hallways of the buildings were not closed by doors or gates and were certainly an excellent hiding place. Whoever had grabbed me knew how to hide, his dark clothes and dark door allowed us to blend in perfectly.

He put his hand over my mouth to silence me despite the fact that my gaze begged him not to hurt me. I couldn't risk being seen having those attitudes with a man who wasn't someone in my family, it was enough that our mother already had a bad reputation because of her work, I didn't need to be put in the middle of it.

The creditors passed by without noticing us and I could start breathing normally again, on instinct though and without saying anything I moved that mysterious man's hand and slapped him. How could he dare to touch me without my consent? He let go of my arm and I left the same way I had come. I had to go home, my brothers had been waiting for me for a long time now and they would be worried. They knew well that I was a strong person, but I was still a woman and in that society I still counted for less than nothing.

My mother worked as a sex worker. It was not the most glamorous job in the world, but it was the only one she could afford to do. She became a mother at a young age and her children were born in quick succession. Our father died during the war and we didn't have enough money to live on, so my brothers and I started doing any kind of job we could find.

Even though we worked as tailors and factory workers, we still didn't make enough money. Our father borrowed a lot of money from creditors, but he couldn't pay them back, so it was our turn. It was his fault alone that we were forced to live so miserably, our mother was never home and I, as the oldest, had to take care of all kinds of things.

Chores, rent, fixing up the house and even working all fell on my shoulders despite the fact that Jonathan, Micheal and Paul were always ready to help me. I would have liked to find a rich man for myself and settle down leaving that misery behind but an eighteen-year-old girl living in one of the poorest neighborhoods certainly could not afford to show up at one of the high society salons or the theater.

The only opportunities I had were when I had to deliver some freshly made clothes to some luxurious mansion and hope to win over the owner or his son with my charm. My blue eyes and raven hair were definitely a strong point for me, I knew I could charm anyone and was the reason we could still afford a roof over our heads.

In spite of my beauty, however, I had an absolutely insufferable temperament, having to fend for myself I had not become the classic little girl who wanted to be waited on hand and foot but, if I wanted something, I got it on my own through my own efforts.

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I went to the tailor shop where I worked to pick up a beautiful men's suit freshly made. Lady Bipot had been kind enough to let me handle that wonderful project. I was to deliver it to a wealthy gentleman who had just arrived in town, there was a rumor going around that he never went out and when he did, he hid his face under a hat. Did he not want to be recognized? Little did I care, the main issue was that I was heading to that mansion alone and had no idea what to expect.

I got out of the carriage with my perfectly wrapped package under my arm, walked down the small driveway and knocked. An elderly maid opened the door and asked me who I was.

«Forgive me, I am only here to deliver your lord's suit» I explained, showing her the package.

«Please have a seat, Mr. Sonil will be right with you» she invited, leading the way into the spacious abode. The entrance hall was spacious, finely decorated with vases and fresh flowers, the sitting room finely furnished, whoever owned that mansion must have invested a lot of money to make it like that. Yet something seemed to be missing, it was full and at the same time empty as if no one actually lived there.

I entered the room shyly, I had never seen so much wealth in one place. The maid motioned for me to take a seat but I preferred to stay where I was, it would be unprofessional of me and besides I was afraid of ruining something.

«Miss please take a seat, there is no problem » said a deep voice behind me.

I turned around with my heart in my throat, no one had ever seen the face of the owner of that house and I was terrified that I would be the first.

My gaze crossed his, two eyes as black as night were staring at me from behind a metal mask. It covered half his face but the thing I noticed right away was that one eye was actually black while the other seemed to be emerald green. At the moment I thought it was my mistake, the mask might have misled me because of the reflections with the lights in the room.

«It's no problem don't worry I'm fine like this, I'm just passing through, Lady Bipot sent me» I explained trying to avoid his gaze «I just have to deliver this package to you then I'll take it off» I said extending the wrapped dress.

«I see you are as elusive as last time, Miss?» the mysterious host asked me.

Had we met before? Impossible! I would surely have remembered him, eyes like his would have been impossible to forget.

«My name is Coral, Mr.?» I asked, sending the question back to him.

«You offend me Coral, I think if it wasn't for me you wouldn't be here now» revealed the mysterious man «Anyway the pleasure is mine. I am Mr. Sonil but you can call me Bastian» he said extending his hand toward mine. He was wearing black and red velvet gloves, it was a highly prized fabric and could be seen from a distance, not like mine in plain midnight blue cotton with lace embroidery on top.

He took my hand and gently rested his lips on it as any gentleman would do but without going to touch the glove, he stopped at an imperceptible distance. A gentleman surely though the energy he exuded had something strange and there I remembered. It was he who had taken me by the arm saving me from the creditors who were chasing me. He was right, I literally owed him my life.

The mask he was wearing now he didn't have it the previous night. Why was he wearing it right now? I didn't think there was anything wrong with his look but I could be wrong. I was totally captivated by his charm, so elegant and mysterious at the same time.

To avoid further talk and thus risk getting to know the man more thoroughly I decided to leave. I looked at the cuckoo clock in the room and said that it was getting late and I should have be back before sunset. I said a quick goodbye and left, not waiting for the carriage to arrive, I preferred to walk a bit to clear my head.