“Please Miss! I need help!” There was two figures out there. With the lightening out there her focus on the first missed the second. But her mind did not think that his anatomy seemed quite right. He was a young man dressed in black. His clothing seemed placed h some sort of Victorian setting maybe. The clothes stuck out as not being modern with everyone she had seen thus far but his seemed to be a step up from the others, or maybe they just seemed to compliment him well.

The second figure was dressed in black as well. He hat a hat and an arm slung over the shoulder of the first. Was that blood? Her eyes rested on the dagger still plunged in the left side of his chest just beneath the rib cage at an upward angle as if someone was trying to stab under the ribs rather then through them. How effective they would have been may have something to do with the length of the blade. For now that blade served as a cork containing the blood from gushing out she assumed.

So one of them must have been a physician that had such medical knowledge.

“Please Miss … I need to get him to lay down ...”

He looked at the peep hole while the other coughed and sagged a little causing the first to exert more effort to support him by holding him in place.

She was skeptical at first. The timing being so perfect for a trap and the knowledge that there was more than one killer looking for her. She would never have dreamed of letting these strangers into her parlor at night under these circumstances. The knife wound was deciding factor though. She could see the blood and the hilt of the blade sticking out of the one man's side. Now suddenly all the arguments for not letting them in were reversed. It was the middle of the time and there were murderers about, maybe that was who had stabbed this man. She couldn't leave him out there to possible bleed to death.

"Just a moment!" She shorted, tightening the sash of her robe and involving the door. She opened the portal and stood back to let the men in. "The parlor is through there just set him down on the sofa while I go fetch some towels." She turned to do just that. So long as the strangers didn't waylay her she would do just that and come back with clean towels for the man's injury.

“Thank you Miss.” The man brought his companion in moving to the living room. The second had been laid out on the sofa though she rushed off to fetch clean towels.

When she returned though the first man was gone. The man with the knife wound had been laying there on the sofa. His hat laid over his face, he did not appear to be breathing now though she had clearly heard him before she let the pair in. Had he passed?

Suddenly aware of the first man as he set a hand upon her shoulder. He was so quiet that she had not even heard his approach and a second ago she could have sworn that there was no one present. Apparently she had just missed him. “I'm afraid the towels will do no good now ...”

His grip remained in place, nice and firm. The second sat up quiet suddenly. A hand holding the hat in place he adjusted it as he swung his legs so he was in a sitting position. When he adjusted his hat to rest on the crown of his head he grinned. The comely features had been those that had been familiar to her. It was one of the killers …

He gripped the handle of the knife, drawing it out without a sound though it was drenched in blood it had not rushed out of that wound.

“Aren't you going to offer us something to drink as a good hostess?” He grinned deeper though his eyes seemed malignant as he regarded her from across the room.

When she returned with the towels to find the injured man lying lifelessly on her sofa she thought she had been too late. Her suspicions seemed to be confirmed by what the second man said once he'd appeared behind her. She looked over her shoulder at him and vaguely wondered where he'd been just now. Why had he left the patient's side? Had he died that quickly? Surely he wouldn't have left the man to bleed out while he snooped about in her rooms. She hadn't even been gone that long...

She thoughts were interrupted by the sound of movement coming from her parlor. She looked back to see the injured man sitting up suddenly. So, he hadn't been dead after all. He adjusted his hand atop his head and she was immediately taken aback. "It's you!!" She recognized his face instantly as the killer she'd crossed paths with earlier. She retreated a step only to bump into the other man. He must be the other killer Rikter had mentioned. He held onto her shoulder quite firmly, she wasn't going to be able to get away very easily.

That didn't stop her from trying. She spun around to break his grip and tossed the bundle of towels in his face. Maybe not the most effective impromptu weapon but she didn't need to hurt him. She just needed to distract him while she dashed down the hall towards the back door.

His grip was firm, he had expected her to flee or attempt to though he had not expected the towels to the face. It was instinct more or less. Throw just about anything at someone's face and they tried to shield it or close their eyes if it were a liquid.

Instinct kicked in and he swatted at the towels with an arm to deflect them while at the same time he closed his eyes. Not the most effective weapon for sure. Logically he could have assumed towels but that was the thing with instinct it was just a hair quicker then thought.

Thus she as able to wrench free and make that dash towards the backdoor. The injured man stood slowly, looked at the bloody knife and discarded it. It clicked in her mind that he didn't need it, at least that's what her mind reasoned. She heard a chuckle at the scene.

“No need to be rude ...” He called after her. Though her head start was brief as the other started towards her. She did not hear him though but had the sense he was running, it was an odd sensation where she dreaded each second. Her hand fell upon the door knob when she was wrenched back by arms wrapped about her waist as she had been hauled back against the chest of the first man as if she weighed nothing at all.

“Now now, don't make any additional trouble for us.” She heard the injured one state as he drew near. She was turned in the grasp of the other man to see him walking towards her. He had covered about half the distance already at such a leisurely pace that it hardly seemed possible.

She screamed as the uninjured man suddenly seized her around the middle and lifted her off her feet. She kicked out with all her might, not aiming for any part of her assailant but rather for the door or wall. She tried to knock him off balance by pushing against something sturdy. The heard the other man chiding her as he stood and strolled into the hall after them.

"Go to hell!" She retorted, not up for pretense at the moment. Lying, though, was another matter. "If you don't want trouble then you should leave now. My friend Rikter will be back soon. He only left to alert the night watch that there were murderers on the loose. They will be here any minute."

The man was knocked off balance a bit but not enough to fall or loosen his hold at all. The other chuckled amused at the trouble she was causing for his partner.

“Leave, so soon? But you invited us in.” He neared showing no signs of pain if she did kick him. Knuckles traced against her cheek and he didn't seem too concerned about Rikter returning or the watch for that matter.

“I had myself stabbed so we could get admittance. Do you think I would be concerned about some men? Is she the one?” He directed his attention to the other man.

At first it didn't make much sense since this was the guy that saw her but then she remembered that the other had been gone for a brief stint.

“Regretfully.”

The familiar one had a sour look for a moment. “Such a waste. But all that means is we cannot kill you. Breaking bones is another matter. Same goes for killing others. Your call. You can get dressed and we can go for a little walk or we have fun fitting you inside a case and taking you out of here the hard way … well hard for you at least. What will it be?”

Her attempts to struggle died down once it became clear that the man holding her wasn't going to fall over or let her go. The other man was talking again, still pretending to be an offended guest. She was about to chide him on the lunacy of stabbing himself to get in here but he suddenly turned his attention to the man holding her.

They had a cryptic conversation about her. She narrowed her eyes when they called her "the one". She had no clue what that meant but it seemed that it at least meant that they wouldn't kill her. She frowned at the injured man's threat of what they would do to her if she failed to cooperated. She had no desire for them to hurt her or others to force her into compliance but the idea of stepping out with them and following them into new untold dangerous seemed just was fatal. They weren't really giving her a choice though.

"Fine, let go of me and I'll go get dressed." She said through her teeth. It rankled to capitulate to their demands but it was the best option for now. If she went along with them willingly then they were less likely to restrain her. If she was patient an opportunity to escape might yet present itself.

The wounded man nodded and made a head motion to the door. The one holding her let her go and left them while the other followed to her bedroom. He remain outside of it at least so she had a shut door between her and him. While the other probably went to someplace near her room on the outside in the event she tried to leave through the window.

But she did have a few options seeing that she was in relative privacy. She could dress and go with them of course the situation could get worse but an opportunity might arise for her to escape.

Another would be fighting back somehow. Her room contained that violin. But the only real weapon was a silver letter opener. Even if she did not use it now it would be easy to conceal. Her clothes were all in the same style and appeared old enough to fit in here. There were some simple clothes though most had been elegant for balls or formal dinners, maybe even concerts if she truly was good.

Some of the material looked complicated in getting into. She would have more time to get dressed but the decision was unclear … simple clothes and she probably would go unnoticed. Elegant and she would draw attention meaning it would be easier to track her down but her “guests” may want her in simple garments and might get angry if she tried to dress up if they cared at all as neither seemed to worried about Rikter or others for that matter.

She didn't like her options. She wished she'd been a professional fencer rather than a violinist right now. Then she might have a useful weapon in her room. She doubted the letter opener would be much help. She did still tuck it away into her boot once she had them on and tied. She then put on her undergarments but was stumped again by the question of what to wear over them. She borrowed it down to a plain, navy walking dress and a silken gown of rose gold.

The walking dress was easier to put on and less likely to stand out while they were walking through the city at night. The ball gown was better for helping her get noticed and hopefully rescued but buttoned all the way up her back she couldn't fasten them all by herself. Normally she'd hire a ladies maid for the night on occasion where she was required to dress that fancy. If she chose this dress she would need to ask her kidnap to help button her up in back. Which meant he would know she was choosing the flashier dress.

She frowned and decided that the best course of action was to simply ask. It was a legitimate excuse to attempt pumping her captive for more information. She moved to the door and opened it a crack so the man outside it could hear her. "It's a little difficult to pick out an appropriate outfit when I don't know where we are going. Would you at least give me a hint? I have two dresses here and I can't decide which one to pick."

“Can't decide? How typical of a woman.” It seemed as if he had been inclined for her to just pick one, anyone but didn't. He gave her question a bit of thought. “Whichever you think will make the best impression.”

So he did end up shrugging off the matter without explaining the situation any. It made her decide on it, there were many ways to interpret a good impression since she could be going to a party or just meeting an individual. In any case it didn't seem to matter to him what she selected.

He waited outside though, patient at least or secure in the fact that she was going nowhere. He didn't really pay much attention to what she wore regardless and he escorted her out.

At first he walked with her until they rounded the corner of her home where a carriage pulled up. She didn't recognize the driver but inside was the second man. Seated between the two they had departed the scene at a leisurely pace. They did not make conversation with her unless she started it though they were rather cryptic about where they were going should she ask.

To meet with the Baron had been all she could deduce.

They came to an estate. The driver had to open a gate before they advanced onward closing it after he moved the carriage through. The driver had not joined them though the two brought her to the estate. At once she could hear the music of a piano.

Let inside by a servant the place was dark yet impressive. There were enough lit gas fixture to see by but mot of the estate had been dark. Driver … butler … when the piano music ended she heard applause. A short time later she had been escorted into a lit room. Several occupants, male and female had been hear dressed in black or other dark colors she noted. There sitting at a piano was a man who looked similar to Rikter. There was an unmistakable resemblance. Eyes gazed in her direction as she entered and the man stood up seizing up his wine glass from the piano it rested on.

“The one with the unusual name. Nell. I have heard you play, such an exquisite sound. Clearly you must play for us. Oh, my, my manners. I am Baron Adalstan Hueber and this is my court.”

Nell frowned at his unhelpful advice. The rose gold dress would have been the most impressive but she loathed to wear it knowing it was desired. "If your master wanted me to look impressive then he or she should have sent a lady's maid instead of a murderer." She replied courtly and shut the door firmly between them. She then proceeded to don the more serviceable navy dress out of spite. She put her hair up in a simple, easy to do bun as well. It was pedestrian, she knew, but it really was the best she could do on her own and it was better than the more lurid look of having her hair down and tusseled as though she just gotten out of bed.

Once that was done she let the formerly injured man lead her to the street where she was surprised to find a carriage waiting. It seemed that they did not intend to make her traverse the city on foot after all. More reason to be happy she didn't waste the gold dress. She eyed the carriage attendants suspiciously as she was handed up into the vehicle. Who had sent them? This was no pauper's cart someone with money was backing these monsters and had hired them to kidnap her. Why?

Her captors settled into the seat on either size of her, limiting her chances of escape and the carriage set off. They told her very little on the way. All she managed to learn was that she was going to meet some Baron. Was he an actual peer of the realm or was that some kind of nickname? Why would an actual Baron have need to kidnap someone like her?

The carriage stop some ways outside the city, before a fine house. So, an actual Baron then? She still had so many questions and they only multiplied as she was led inside. They seemed to be a party going on. Piano music drifted from the main salon and for a moment she was arrested by the lovely melody. It was the tail end of a song though and ended before she could really enjoy it. She heard applauds but it abruptly stopped when she was led into the room. She halted in the doorway, taking in the guests in their sombre attire and the man seated at the piano. She was alarmed by how much he looked like Rikter. It couldn't be a coincidence. Had the whole night been a set up?

She frowned as the man stood an addressed her casually with a wine glass in hand. She suddenly wanted to slap him. Was this some rich boy's idea of a joke? She had witnessed a murder, if that had even been real, and then kidnapped by the murderers to be the hired entertainment for some Coleman's weekend party. Except she hadn't been hired. Damn the man! If he'd wanted a violinist he could have just hired one. She was not playing this ridiculous game. "Forgive me, my Lord," she said with vitriol in her voice. "I am sorry to have to disappoint you. I was not aware I was being engaged for the evening and thus did not bring my instrument."

“Not a problem,” Adalstan nodded toward a servant and she went off. Several eyes had been focused upon her as if inspecting her, trying to determine who she had been. Adalstan didn't seem to react to her mood at all though, he had sent killers to gather her and from the looks of things she was undressed. Even in her best attire it was clear that those present had a good deal of money.

Whether they were trying to make sense out of her wealth or status too had been another thing though the Baron neared within arm's length. His eyes seemed strange, befuddling when she looked into them as if she lost track of her thoughts or had been confused. They were wonderful eyes though, easily the sort you got lost in.

She saw that he took in the features of her face, her neck, down to her breasts then back up in reverse order. The servant returned with a bow and violin handing it to the Master who had to set down his glass again before presenting them to her.

“You will play for us? Won't you?” He grinned, his words soothing and encouraging at the same time, nearly compelling her to take the objects he held out to her.

"It is a problem!" She said when he sent his servant away, clearly to fetch a violin for her to play. It was the last straw. She had been kidnapped, damn it! She wasn't going to let him just brush that fact under the rug and act as though he'd brought her here under reasonable terms. "I can't just pick up any instrument and play on command. I have nothing prepared and I am not dressed to entertain." She felt the indifferent eyes of the party goers on her and somehow felt as though they all knew how he'd lured her here and didn't care. They watched her like a pack of hungry predators eyeing a gazelle they had isolate from its herd.

She shivered and turn back to the Baron. He had closed the distance between them and caught her with his eyes. They were beautiful and entrancing and so long as he held her with them she couldn't think. He raked her with a lurid gaze that made her feel naked and desirable and, in spite of herself, she blushed. She wasn't sure how long her held her with his gaze but suddenly the servant was there again. She gave her master the violin and bow she'd been sent to fetch. He set down his wine to take the instrument before turning and offering it to her. “You will play for us? Won't you?”

Her earlier objection died in her throat and she found herself lifting her hand to accept the offered instrument. She blinked the instrument in her hand. She stroked the rich red wood lovingly. It really was a beautiful instrument. Before she realized what she was doing she had taken her place before the room of party goers and held the bow poised to coax a sorrowful wail from the instrument as she started playing the violin solo from Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade. She played the short piece as though in a dream. She couldn't remember playing it more perfectly. When she finished she stood stunned and handed the violin back to Adalstan. "Forgive me, I think your instrument has been bewitched... Or maybe I have. I don't rightly know where that came from."

((Link for song reference))

There had been a sea of applause and Adalstan had been grinning as she had approached him. The guests seemed to still be evaluating her though now it had been more out of a curiosity as to who she was exactly rather than wondering why this commoner had been here in the first place.

He took the instrument from her then gave it to a servant to take care of. “No, it is you that is bewitching.”

He took her hand bringing it to his lips and kissing the back of it. His eyes cast upward into the features of her face as he did so. It all seemed surreal, murderers, kidnappers but now she had been faced with those enchanting eyes on the features of a familiar face.

“Clearly you wish to attire yourself better,” as soon as he finished speaking he gave a slight nod and another female servant was there at her side taking her lightly by the arm.

“Come, Miss,” provided that there was no fuss the servant would lead her away. The signs of wealth had been here all around though it seemed as if everyone was at the gathering. There were various paintings of Adalstan along the way and others that had to be from his family.

One got her attention. Rikter. Not Adalstan though the pair had similar features neither had been identical and it was more the similarity of siblings or close relations then identical twins making it easier to tell them apart.

“come, Miss,” the servant called when she had paused. She was lead to a lavish bedroom with a walk in closet with rather elegant clothing of all sorts. The servant had remained on hand to assist her though. That confusion was lifting a bit more by then as if she was sobering up after being intoxicated or finally realizing the insanity behind all this.