Banner by Vampkiss
Banner by Vampkiss
January 1999
Alric stared down at the glass case before him and mentally sighed. He couldn’t even say why he was there. Unlike Esme, he was no jewelry expert, though he could tell that the items displayed to advantage were of the finest quality. No, he was more like Angelina in that regard – put him in front of a Katanakaji’s creations and he was much more… comfortable.
He should just point to one of the baubles and be done with it, especially since he really didn’t think this latest idea of his would work.
But, he had to try something. Anything to break through the invisible wall the girl had erected around herself to escape the pain. He was desperate to see some hint of emotion in her gray eyes, instead of the blank stare he’d been privy to thus far. Witness some sign that she’d not been permanently scarred by the atrocities to which she’d been subjected.
With a growl, he turned and made to leave the shop, but his eye caught on another case – this one holding crystalline figurines.
“They’re Swarovski,” the sales clerk spoke hesitantly at his side.
“The wolf,” he said without preamble, already reaching for his money clip.
“Yes, sir.” She hurried to the case, fumbling with her keys to get the correct one to open the latch.
Though her discerning eye could easily see that the man was from a wealthy background – the clothes on his back were definitely not store bought – there was something about him that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Maybe it was the way he stood – battle ready, if she had to give it a name – that propelled her to make haste with the sale and get him out of the store; only then would she breathe easier.
Which was strange, because he appeared so young; barely out of college, if she had to hazard a guess. Hardly the stuff of nightmares.
Even so, when the door finally closed behind him, she couldn’t help expelling a relieved sigh.