Chapter 17

"Because your question searches for deep meaning,

I shall explain in simple words"

-Dante Alighieri, Inferno

Her long, silky hair was wavy, the colour of chestnut. She wore a long, fitted silky green dress. Whoever she was, she couldn't have been part of the royal staff. I wondered if I had ever met her before, but my mind was totally blank. As far as I knew, she was a stranger.

"No, I'm fine. I'm heading to the kitchen," I said, kind of wanting to tell her to stay out of my business. "And you are?"

She lifted her lips in a smile, but there was something disturbing in a way she expressed her joy. Her eyes were sharp and focused. My own energy danced across my neck, as I was trying to read into her emotions. Every human was unique, and everyone reacted differently when I was close, but I was always able to read humans, without exception.