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Love is a lie and lust is brief but true. Love leaves scars and lust leaves pleasure. Love makes you sad whereas lust makes you happy. Love is a mess that takes forever to clean; lust is a mess with quick clean up. Love is a waste. Lust is too but it is a waste worth having. Everyone lusts and think they need love to survive. Always lust, never love.

I walked out of the butcher shop and down the street thinking of those words. Those sad, lonely words were the only thing my father said to anyone as he lay in his bed dying from a dieses that no man or doctor knew the cure of.

My father, a sorry excuse of a viscount nay a man, was the sole reason my eldest brother dismissed his fiancé and ran off to the priesthood. That was a year ago yet the shame it brought to our cursed family could still be felt today. Luckily I had raised our younger brothers and sisters different. My mother ran off with Uncle Benjamin after the Sweeney Todd incident and left the only sensible one to take care of our entire family.

I remembered the blood thirsty look in Mr. Todd's eyes when my father went in for a shave. I thank the heavens he brought mother, some of the littler ones and me with him that day. That was two years ago but London still hangs her head in bloody shame. Poor Toby, Ms. Lovett's waiter, was never heard from again.

"Ms. Aleigha, I was just about to call upon you. What brings you out?" I was wrapped up in memories. I didn't see her walk up to me until she was right next to my ear.

"What? I'm sorry could you repeat that."

"Are you ok?" Her face twisted into a mask of worry.

"Yes I'm fine."

"Ok what I asked was what brings you out and about today?" She had replaced the worry with a smile.

"Well I must get a few things for tonight's dinner. Andrew thinks himself head of the house and is throwing a dinner party. Did our servant get you your invitation?"

"Oh, yes it arrived the day before. I was just about to come and see you and ask who else was invited." The worried look creped across her delicate features once again.

"Well, when you come you shall see." I said patting her arm.

"Just tell me Andrew didn't invite Scarlet. I will not come and see her practically throw herself at him just because I like Andrew. That shrew-"

"Just come Tiffany okay? Promise me you will."

"For you I will." Tiffany than gave me an unexpected hug. "I'll see you at dinner Ms. Aleigha."

"Same to you Ms. Tiffany." Then we parted ways. Tiffany Creighton was a tall, blonde with eyes the color of Lapis Lazuli and she had full red lips. It was a wonder to me why Andrew didn't like her. She was just right for him. I wanted Andrew to like her so I secretly sent her the invitation. After all as a sister it was my job to torment my brothers and when they got older sisters were to try and find them a good wife, which also torments brothers. A plus to the sisterly job.

A pretty blonde came walking down the street. She seemed to be looking for somebody.

"Hello Ms. Johanna, did you lose somebody?"

"Oh, no not lose, just my husba-"

"Oh yes the sailor, Anthony was it."

"It has been two years since that loatheful judge was killed has it not been?"

"Yes Ms. Johanna it has been, but-"

"You people need to understand that I was a prisoner in that dreadful man's house and Anthony saved me. He and Mr. Todd had plotted my escape and I will forever be grateful for that. I have fallen in love with the man who has been my savior so I married him. He has not been the first to ask but Anthony is the one I said yes to." She looked as if she were about to cry then quickly regained her composer. "He has said he would meet me here have you seen him?"

"No I have not but Ms. Johanna we people do understand what had happened. We just think that a month after the murder was far too soon to marry him. It's almost like you too had planned the murder with Mr. Todd."

Anthony chose that moment to show up. "We certainly did not plan anything with anyone."

"I know Ms. Johanna. You know the old saying don't shoot the messenger. I'm just telling you what everyone else has been whispering behind your back for two long years."

"Thank you Ma'am, but Johanna and I have a previous engagement to attend to."

"Yes it was good seeing you again Anthony."

"Glad to have seen you also Ms. Aleigha." I sighed as I watched the happy couple walk away. My gaze never left their backside until the rounded a corner and walked out of my eye sight.

"That was a bit rude wasn't it Ms." came from behind. It scared me but I didn't show any sign of that.

"Maybe a little bit but I had my reasons for saying such things to her." I smiled. My voice came out even and smooth despite the fear lodged in my throat.

"Could it be that she is much happier than you and you couldn't handle it?"

I turned around to face the man who was stating such lies. I gasped at the beauty of his eyes. They were the same color as the topaz gem on the necklace I wore, a honey-yellow. My eyes roamed the rest of him, blonde hair in a ponytail. He had at least four inches on me and he seemed rather muscular. Plus he reeked of sailor scum, but didn't look the part.

I could see him give me a once over. I dreaded to think what he thought of me. His smile just broadened. This made him look a whole lot creeper.

'Maybe he's been at sea way to long.' I thought. Just the mere thought must have triggered something within this dangerous man. He pulled a dirty cloth from his pocket and placed it over my mouth. He then pulled me toward him as if he were hugging me.

I tried to scream, but the stench of the rag was making me weak. I had never smelled such a vile smell before.

"Just relax Miss. I'm not going to harm you. I have a question that only you can seem to answer." He whispered into my ear. I grew still. I barely comprehended what he had said but nodded all the same.

"Don't scream and I will remove my handkerchief." I nodded once again. He removed it and I stood there trying to regain breath I had lost. "Now for the question that you need to answer."

"What is it?"

"Where are you headed?"

"That's your question. You could ask me any question in the world and that's the bloody question you chose to ask. Oiy," I sighed then replied, "I'm headed to the grocer."

"No, your not. You're headed home and I'm to accompany you there."

"What?" He quickly turned me around and I felt something hard against the small of my back.

"T'is my pistol misses. Wouldn't want me using her would ye?" I could here the grin in his voice. I shuddered. He took a step back, close enough to conceal the gun but far enough to be acceptable to unwed people.

We had barely started walking when a short, stout woman came up to us. Her long blonde hair, that was graying, was pulled into a tight, braided bun. Her once smooth face was now riddled with wrinkles and her once vibrant, happy grey eyes seemed dull and sad. "Good afternoon Ms. Donavan." I said with a curtsy.

"Hello Ms. Aleigha. How is your family doing?" I tried to say something but she prattled on. "I hear little Andrew is about ready to go off to college soon. He was always the smartest one in his class. The most cocky too if you wouldn't mind me saying." I opened my mouth but had to shut it. She didn't seem to notice. "But what am I saying you know your brother better than the rest of us. Well I'm sorry for taking up so much of your time."

"Your -" I was quickly silenced when the pistol pressed hard into my back.

"I hope all is well with you. I shall take my leave by you." Then Mrs. Donavan walked away oblivious to the dangerous man I was with. I was about to call her back but the pistol pressed harder into my back and kept me from calling after her.

We walked until I saw my driver. "Jenkins. Will you be a dear and get the carriage."

"Yes Ms. Aleigha. Will your gentleman friend be accompanying you home?"

I wanted to say no but the pistol made me nod. "Yes the gentleman will be coming with. This is one of Andrews's friends from school. Andrew will be pleased to see him once again." Jenkins nodded and went to get the carriage.

The man just smiled. He had noticed this woman after she had walked out of the butcher shop. He knew he made the right choice when he talked to her and she didn't look afraid. She would be soon enough. She had no idea just how dangerous he was. He ran his tongue over his teeth and felt the sharp pointy canines. His grin just broadened.

Jenkins came around the corner with the carriage. He had a small smile on his lips. I couldn't help but smile myself. This was Jenkins last week as the chauffeur for my family. I knew Jenkins had mixed feelings about leaving but knew he wouldn't truly leave. He would stay at the guest house out back for he was apart of our family. After my father died Jenkins stepped up and helped me raise my siblings. He was the loving father I had wished my father had been. I was glad most of my family was too young to remember their horrible father.

The carriage stopped in front of the man and I. He stepped around me and opened the door and helped me in. 'At least he has some manners.' I thought. The creepy man jumped in and sat on the seat next to mine. I felt my body stiffen when he placed his pistol on my lap never taking his hand off it.

"You're in my carriage on the way to my house. I would like if you put your dirty pistol away. You will have no need for it."

"Wont I Ms.? How do I know you are actually taking me to your house? You could have planned something with the driver."

"I assure you sir that I didn't plan anything with him. I stood next to you the whole time and you would have heard if I said anything to him."

The man chuckled at her. "I suppose you're right." His gun still remained on my lap. Soon the brick wall surrounding my house could be seen in the distance. I sighed. I hadn't got to pick up anything on the long list of things for the party. This was going to cause a little bit of a problem. Not to mention the surprise visitor sitting right next to me.

The carriage stopped and Jenkins opened the door. He pocked his head in and saw the pistol. His eyes widened. Then anger took over. He looked up at me with shock in his eyes. He knew that this man was no friend of Andrews.

"Miss Read forgive me." Then Jenkins jumped in the carriage and punched the man. He was a little surprised but it didn't take him long to retaliate. Jenkins punched the man again then lunged for his pistol. The man moved it and punched Jenkins. Jenkins went flying out of the carriage.

"Jenkins!" I yelled. I turned towards the stranger. "Please stop don't hurt him." But the man didn't listen. He cocked and aimed his pistol. Jenkins slowly got up. He held a knife and lunged. There was a shot. The horses bucked.

Jenkins looked at me with a sad face. "Miss Aleigha, I'm sorry I failed." He fell to his knees. I jumped out and went to the horses. I couldn't watch Jenkins die. I settled the horses down and turned. Jenkins' eyes were gazing towards the sky never to truly see it again.

I didn't cry when my mum or brother ran off. I didn't cry when my grandparents died. I didn't shed a single tear for my retched father when he passed. Today I couldn't hold them back. They flowed like little streams from my eyes. I stood there crying for what seemed like hours but I learned was only a few minuets.

Andrew heard the shot and came running out of the house to see what had happened. He had never seen me cry before and was outraged at the sight. He ran towards me gun in hand. The stranger looked up.

I fell to my knees and crawled over to Jenkins' body and held him in my arms. Servants walked out of the house wondering what was going on. I felt helpless holding on to his lifeless body. My world turned a little black but I refused to faint because of this.

Another shot rang out but I didn't move. I refused to watch people die. More shots were fired and soon I was jerked up from where I sat. Blood stained my dress but I couldn't seem to care. Another shot rang out from my left and I saw my brother fall. My tears stopped. I stood transfixed to where I was standing. The screaming seemed to come from somewhere far off.

My world was turning blacker and blacker but I willed myself not to faint. My will witch was usually so strong failed me. I felt myself fall. The last thing I saw before the darkness consumed me was little Annebelle. 'Run Annebelle, please run.'