Hiya folks! Thank you to those who stuck around and who are reviewing. And welcome to you newcomers! I appreciate you all :) So this is another story I started but didn't get a chance to finish. You may see some old but also new things so pay close attention. This is completely different from what I usually write, aka all vamp, so bear with me here. I'm in the market for a beta or two. PM if interested. Come join me on fb! Search reader4lyfe and you should find me. I'll be doing teasers and discussions and just having fun writing again. This story should update every Wednesday, but that's tentative. I'm hoping my momentum keeps up with all the plot bunnies. As usual, I don't own, but I do own my docs were said plot bunnies live and multiply. Any mistakes are mine.

Prologue

Bella

Early 1700s

Paris, France

I knew someone was out there. I knew it. I could feel them behind me. It made chills run down my spine. I hurried down the deserted street. It was dark, the evenly placed street lamps providing some light, but not enough to give me any sense of reassurance or safety.

This is what I get for working late and not accepting my father's offer to escort me home. I was the last to leave the small boutique shop, having to clean and lock up for the evening. It took me longer than I thought.

I sighed and crossed the street after looking both ways. The streets were quiet and empty, which was not unexpected as it was after 8pm.

Something broke behind me; a branch. Merde.

The chills in my spine intensified.

I hurried faster, grabbing a fistful of my dress so I wouldn't fall, as I was wont to do whether on cobblestone or thin air, it didn't matter.

Three more blocks and I would be home.

My breaths came faster, my skin had goose bumps, and my eyes couldn't focus on just one thing. They kept shifting all around whether to catch a glimpse of something or look for obstructions in my path, I wasn't sure. I just wanted to get home. Whoever was out there was following me.

I probably could've gone to the police but the station was on the other side of town and besides, what would I tell them? 'I have a feeling someone is following me because branches are breaking and chills are running up and down my spine.' They'd laugh and wonder why I was out alone at night and without an escort at that. That's how scandals are started. It was considered unladylike and disrespectful to my family.

I hurried faster.

Two more blocks.

Zut, why did these streets have to be so damn long? Swearing was also considered unladylike. I smirked to myself because I didn't really care. I didn't care what people thought of me but my father would kill me so I kept up the facade for him.

One more block.

Did I just hear footsteps? My hands started to shake. My heart beat faster. The something was closer now.

Oh God.

I could see my house, just a few more feet. There was a candle lit in the main window, which meant my father was waiting up for me. This would be one time I was grateful for him being overprotective.

I barely had time to scream before a hand came down over my mouth and an extremely hard and cold arm banded across my waist, jerking me back into what felt like a wall, knocking the wind out of me. Hard, cold lips pressed against my left ear and whispered roughly.

"Try anything and your life will end."

So I didn't.

My shawl fell from my shoulders and a shoe slipped off as he dragged me to the woods behind my house. When we hit the trees, we seemed to be flying because I could not make out my surroundings or feel the ground beneath my feet. My hair was whipping around me. Everything was dark and I was scared, no, terrified. I was hoping he wouldn't hurt me, or worse, kill me.

But that was impossible.

Because when the wind stopped whipping by me, time seemed to slow down and all I knew was pain.

No one could hear my screams.

No one came to help me.

And after he was done he whispered three words in my ear.

"Feel the burn."

And so I did.

And I wanted to die.