Although she had said she wanted to sleep, sleep just did not want her as much.
She turned and turned, the events of the day replaying in her mind—from when Milcah left the house till when she returned that night. Even after Milcah turned in for the night, Damaris still could not sleep.
Around midnight, tired of trying to force sleep, Damaris arose. She pulled a wooden box from underneath her bed and quietly took out the ankle bells and beads that lay inside.
And as silently as she could, she stepped out.
She looked up at the sky and thought, Finally, the moon is full.
With practised steps she entered the woods and took the path that led her to a quiet side of the lake.
There was something about water…
Especially a large body of water gently flowing by—it had a way of calming the mind.
Perhaps it was the coolness, or the sight of water slowly rippling—water soothed her soul. That was why she loved dancing near the lake.
The full moon added to its appeal.
Reaching the lake, she tied the bells around her ankles and slipped the beads onto her wrists.
Straightening, Damaris took in a deep breath as her lashes fell over her eyes.
Slowly, she exhaled.
The calm wind swept through her hair, lifting and dropping her dress.
She waited.
She listened…
To the music that only nature could play.
And only in the quiet, still night could it be heard.
The water continued to flow, and the wind still brushed through the trees.
Her legs parted and her hips settled into place.
The crickets' cries and the owls' hooting she could hear clearly.
It was all coming together.
The sacred opus.
With practiced ease, her hands rose above her head like a delicate butterfly rising from a flower.
A clap!
It echoed.
Two claps.
Again. It echoed.
Her feet tapped and her silver bells jingled.
A satisfied smile touched her lips.
And with her eyes still closed, Damaris began another dance beneath the radiance of the full moon.
She had set out to rid her mind of the red-haired man who tormented her, yet the more she twirled, the more she saw those wicked gray eyes.
The faster her hips swayed, the more vivid his gaze upon her became.
Disgust.
Annoyance.
Irritation…
Every time she caught him staring at her, he had either of those expressions upon his face.
Why?
What was her offense?
The more she danced, the more the question weighed upon her mind.
It had not been up to a week since he stepped into Wisteria—so how had he become so deeply embedded in her mind?
Why did his gaze suffocate her so?
Why did it leave her frustrated each time?
Why?
Why!
Why!!
Because he reminds you so much of a past you dread.
Huh!
The moment those words rang through her mind, she lost her balance, twisted her ankle, and crashed to the ground.
Her breath was hurried and heavy. Her hands clenched into the earth as memories of a past she had fled came flooding back.
But then…
THUD!
The sound of something striking the ground dragged her from the misery she had nearly sunk into.
Her eyes lifted—and she saw him standing there.
Where had he suddenly descended from, only the gods knew, but he straightened—and Damaris froze.
The beautiful music of the night to which she had danced had faded, and all she could hear was the sound of dried leaves and twigs crushed beneath his boot.
He walked slowly toward her, eyes like a predator's, and she was reminded of why she had fled from him the day before. She had sensed it then—that this man was dangerous—and instinctively she had run as fast as her legs could carry her.
What to do? Her leg could not carry her anywhere in her current state.
The closer he came, the faster her heart raced with fear. Fear of what he would do to her.
Of what would become of her.
He was a dangerous man, truly. He made her feel everything she had tried to run from when she had crashed into Wisteria five years ago.
He made her feel it all.
Anxiety.
Anger.
Fear.
Hate.
And… what else was there?
She had to run away.
But it was too late. He was already upon her.