NARRATOR

Frederick walked, oblivious to the danger, along a path lined with twisted, ugly trees.

This was his inner world, a kind of enchanted, macabre forest, just like him.

At the end of the path a table, a chair, some papers, and, most important, another box holding his prized relic were waiting.

But the moment he lifted the lid and stretched out his fingers, a different scent tipped him off.

Footsteps halted nearby; someone was behind him.

How had he not sensed it before?!

Without losing a second, he grabbed that horrible face whose eyes opened, full of agony, and pressed it over his own.

He spun around, feeling pain ripple through him as it sucked his blood.

It was awful, every sensation he experienced, but if someone had found him this fast, then she was powerful.

“Who are you, and how did you get where you weren’t invited?!” Frederick tried to make his voice sound commanding, though it came out as a mix of feminine tones.

He looked, half panicked, at the beautiful woman with sh