Present Day

"Nova come dance with me!" Abby commanded as she pulled on my hand. Abby was a kid that we had picked up on one of our many journeys over the last five years. She was a beautiful red head with a feisty personality. We found her on one of our missions. We had accepted a task to scout out a location for rouge goblins. Of course we had managed to get ourselves ambushed. Out numbered and out skilled, we thought we where done for. That was until she appeared. She had snuck out of the village to follow us, wanting a taste of adventure for herself. So she unleashed arrow after arrow, hiding her self away in a tree, until every goblin had been slain.

When she popped out from the trees, we had honestly been so stunned. She wasn't even nervous as she approached us, fists pounding the air in excitement. I was taken aback by her at first, she was a child after all, maybe a year or two younger than I was at the time. I had asked her about her family, and then her excitement faded. She was a roaming orphan. Her duty was to hunt down animals and bring them to nearby markets for coin so she could survive. I felt for the child and offered her along with us. We where both orphans after all anyway. Another skilled person would be helpful as well, and even maybe would be easy on my mana. As the years strolled by, she proved herself, her cunning skills and ferocious attitude more than once saving our hide.

"Oh Abby, I don't know. I am still so tired after our last battle." I tried to reason with her as she continued to drag me into the middle of the tavern. Music thumped upbeat and wild, patron danced in circles and shouted with glee at the top of their lungs. The whole Tavern was bursting with life, many people dressed in different colored clothes. It was hot and warm, which furthered my fatigue. All I wanted to do was sit down and recover.

"Ah come on! You are always so quiet. Come dance!" She spun me in a tight circle as she led us to the beat of the current song. At first I felt tight and stiff, feeling uncomfortable with how close the bodies sat together. But as I continued to get comfortable with the floor, I was starting to melt with the music. My feet fell gracefully upon the floor as Abby and I danced, giggling with amusement. Although I could still feel my fatigue, I was quite honestly enjoying myself now. Even Michael offered his hand to Sheria, a newer recruit amongst us, and pulled her out to the dance floor. Sheria was a beautiful blonde with a deadly secret. Her blue eyes might look dull and innocent, but she was probably the deadliest amongst us.

Sheria was an ex- assassin. She came from a long line of Assassins and it was just forced upon her. Me met her when our bounties interlocked. She was cold and distant to start. Always glaring or snapping at us as our paths continued to cross. But when she found herself dying from multiple wounds, I had come in and healed her. She had been alone, no one would come and save her regardless if she had family or not. I didn't think that was a life worth living, so I told her to join us. Michael was not on board at first, and it took some time for them to open up to each other. But now we where all really good friends. Inseparable even.

"Dante come and join us!" I called over to the brown leathered man sitting at the bar. He was mute so he couldn't speak. We mostly figured out what he was saying by body language and hand gestures. His black hair tied loosely to his back. His gray eyes where dead set on us as he watched. His face stoic and impassive as ever. I reached my hand out to him, his eyes warily watching me. I rolled my eyes playfully and snagged his arm. He stumbled behind me as I pulled him to the dance floor and grabbed his hands with mine. Irritation passed his face as he sat stiffly before me.

"Oh come now Dante, if I have to be out here so don't you." I gave him my best smile and he rolled his eyes. With a pout he slipped a loose hand around my waist and led the next song. It was more mellow and calm compared to the one that was playing before. Our feet graciously slid across the floor as he turned me in circles. He tipped me to the floor once and surprised me. When the song ended, he folded his arms across his chest and stared. I couldn't help but giggle at the displeasure on his face. Before either of us could react, Abby snagged him by the arm.

"Dante that was beautiful! Can you dance with me like that? I want to feel like a Princess too!" Dante hissed under his breath as Abby dragged him away. I giggled as I watched them. Abby was a little too gung ho at first and stepped on his feet multiple times. But thanks to Dante's patience she managed to find her footing and they where across the floor spinning and turning like a royal couple. Dante's past was always a mystery to me. He couldn't speak, or chose not to, so we couldn't ask him about his past. All the the haunted look he get in his eyes sometimes, tells me that his past was really no better than ours.

"You seem to be without a partner now Miss. Do you think I could have this next dance with you?" A deep throat made me jump as I turned to meet the stranger. I was taken aback by his stunning beauty. Dark deep blue eyes, full set of lips, short jet black hair. He grinned with a full set of pearly white teeth that contrasted against his creamy tan skin. His gloved black hand was out stretched towards me, awaiting my reply. A stranger never asked me to dance or do anything before. Did I accept it? Sheria always told me to avoid men, because they where dangerous, but Michael never hurt me. What was one dance though? Hesitantly I placed my hand in his and he wrapped his fingers around my small hand.

Carefully he led me onto the floor, and followed the rhythm of the current song. It was slow, the tempo creating a feeling of peace with the beat. He placed an hand on my waist, and clasped the other one between us. I don't know why, but his gaze started to make my face feel hot as he led me in gentle circles. With the song and the tempo, the fatigue was vastly returning. Reminding me that I had used a lot of mana today. Maybe I could convince the others to leave after this, I really needed my rest if we where suppose to go on another bounty tomorrow.

"Did I snag you too late? You look tired miss." The man spoke, pulling me out of the lull of music. I faintly smiled at him. Of course it was showing. I was slowly becoming a zombie.

"It's alright. It's been a rather long day for me." The man pulled me tighter against him, his arm wrapping around my waist more securely. My face turned a bright red and he chuckled in response. Who was this man and why was he doing this to me?

"I haven't seen you around here before. Are you just passing through?" I eyed him suspiciously and he chucked. "I am a resident here, there isn't a lot that doesn't go unseen." Was his response. I pursed my lips and searched his face, looking for any signs of malicious intent. But I came across none.

"My friends and I are here on business. We should be gone by tomorrow night." I wouldn't give him details. It wouldn't matter if he knew why we where here or not because tomorrow I was going to be far away from here and away from this prying man.

"How tragic. I was really hoping you would be around for longer. You seem like an interesting person." I raised an eyebrow at him, a smile sneaking up on me as I eyed him.

"Do tell. Its not very often that strangers approach me." He spun me in circle before clasping hand with me again, the distance between us had closed and we where practically chest to chest. Mystery man had a smirk upon his face.

"So you don't get compliments. Sad to hear that no one sees how beautiful you are." I burst into laughter, may it be from lack of sleep, or maybe because I found it funny I wasn't sure. But this man spewed nonsense and it was quite honestly hysterical.

"Well sir, as I do appreciate your honesty, don't bother. I will be long gone after tomorrow." His hand reached up to my back as he bowed me towards the floor, his breath just on my neck. I could feel my head getting dizzy with just how close he was. When he lifted me back on to my feet, his face was close to mine. His dark blue eyes, where even darker than they where before. I couldn't help be captivated by him as his lips slowly inched to mine.

"Nova! Come on we are heading to the Inn! I wanna rest up before we go and slay monsters!" I pulled myself away from my mystery man and turned to Abby. I couldn't help giggle as she enthusiastically fist bumped the air. Michael rolled his eyes face palmed his head.

"It looks like I am being whisked away good sir. Please have yourself a good night." I gave him a small curtsy before walking towards my group that had gathered at the tavern door. Sheria passed me a wink and a wicked smile. I glared at her in response, but was interrupted when a hand grabbed my arm. I turned in surprise to find that my mystery man had grabbed me, gently.

"Will you come visit again before you leave?" His voice was hushed, barely loud enough to be heard over the loud music in the background. I couldn't help but pass him a pitiful smile. No I wouldn't make time to see you. There was no point since I would never see him again. Even if I did it would only be in passing.

"Good sir, I will have to decline. This will be the last time you see me. I am a very busy woman after all. Please, have a good night." His grip released from my wrist and he nodded. If he was hurt he hid it well. I wasn't sure if I liked the attention I received tonight, but something about him made me curious. This was, after all, my first encounter with a genuinely nice stranger.