I walked into the palace with the mysterious girl passed out in my arms. She was beautiful. She had long dark hair that slightly curled at the ends, her olive toned completion was dulled with the bruises that were splattered all over her. Anger bubbled in my stomach threatening to explode and unleash my fury on anyone around me. The girl began to shake in her sleep moaning in fright so I calmed down and she quit moving and settled back to sleep. I smiled at her my heart warming just gazing down at her.

Who was this girl? I did not know anything about her, yet here I was protecting her, and taking her not only to my families palace but to our private chambers. My father was going to be furious with me. No one but the Donato's and our personal servants were allowed here, having her here could jeopardize our whole lifestyle.

But I didn't care, I would do anything for this girl even go against my father. I carefully opened the door to the spare bedroom across from my own room, taking great whims to not joust the sleeping girl in my arms, and laid her gently on the bed lifting the covers over her cocooning her in warmth. Just before I left the room I kissed her forehead and whispered in her ear, "I will take care of you."

"Talan what is the meaning of this? You brought a girl here? To OUR private section. And not only that but a girl accused of practicing the Forbidden Arts? How could you, I raised you better than that. How could you be so stupid? You know practicing magick of any kind is illegal and punishable by death! Yet you help her? Why son why?"

My father practically assaulted me as soon as I exited the room. To say He was displeased would be an understatement. My father rarely rose his voice to anyone so when he did, we knew he was furious.

"Father, she is innocent. She was battered and bruised by those men so I took her in to help her." I tried to reason with him. I knew he would rule against me but I had to fight for this girl, I had to.

"Oh not guilty and how pray do you know?" My father scornfully spat. He was fumming you could pratically see the smoke sperting from his ears like billowing smoke stacks.

How did I know? I was not even sure. I just felt it in my heart, and my heart has never been wrong yet so why doubt it now?

"My heart father, I feel it in my heart that she is innocent. You always say follow my heart so I am. This is what my heart is saying." I stood my ground, my father may be known for being merciful and just but only to a point. There was one thing he did not tolerate and would not forgive, and that was the magickal practices and practicers. He hated them and swore to destroy them all, as his father before him and his before him. But even knowing this I did not back down. This girl was innocent and a victim, I had to protect her.

"Your heart?" My father sighed, "Talan what have I always taught you? You can never trust your emotions around these creatures. They will trick and deceive you. They are nothing but devils walking among us, destroying us all. You must see that Talan. You must not trust her. Care for her now if you must, but as soon as she is well send her off do you understand. Send her off. I will not have my son under a witch's curse."

My great-great grandfather dealt with one of the last witches in Italia, and as punishment for destroying her he died of a horrible disease. Luckily though he had my great grandfather so our line continued. But it was never the same. Witches were to be killed on sight. Punishment for not complying was banishment. Harsh but our family had a hard blow struck to them, so they were not taking any chances that one might curse us again.

Cowardly, in my opinion but it was law and law was life.

"Father.... yes father I understand." Submitting to his order. He was my father and the Duke, his word was to be obeyed always.

"Good now call the doctor and have him asses the girl then. The sooner she is gone the safer I will feel. And son, I hope your 'feeling' is right or we are all doomed. Good day."

With that he turned the opposite direction and headed to his own office, probably to rummage around for the girls past, paranoid old man. If this girl was a witch and powerful enough to be practicing the Forbidden Arts she would not be laying down passed out in the spare bedroom. No she was not a witch. She couldn't be.

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"Well Your Grace, the girl seems to be just fine." The doctor, told me putting all his equipment back into his bag on the bedside table.

As soon as my father left I immediately called the family doctor to see her. He arrived, very displeased. My father must have intercepted him before arriving and spoken to him. Neither the less he still treated her like any other patient with the upmost care, for that I was pleased.

"Are you sure doctor? She has been out for quite some time." I asked worriedly unsure of his prouncment.

"She is under a lot of stress Your Grace: emotional, physical, mentality. I have not a  doubt that when she is ready she will wake and be just fine." He assured me.

"Well if your sure, thank you doctor. Thank you."

"You are very welcome Talan, but, please do be careful. Women are tricky and cunning creatures, they will trick and deceive you while using pretty words to flatter you. Best be on guard at all times Your Grace." He warned exiting the room.

I had had enough of this. Everyone was so sure that she was evil. Well I was not buying it. I have seen evil, vile people and she was not one of them.

"Thank you doctor for the advice I will take it into effect. You are dismissed." He left the room with a bow.

Sighing I slumped in the chair next to the bed. "You are not a witch right? You know the law, if you are then you will die and I must order it. Please do not be a witch." I begged whispering to her taking her hand in mine. Hers was so small compared to mine, so small and delicate not like a witch's hand; grimy and callused with working with spells.

"If you are a witch I will do my best to protect you but my loyalty is to my people and sorcery is forbidden here in Venice and in Italia, so they will want your life for your crime. And I do not know how I will be able to stand against them as their ruler. Oh God in heaven I beg you not to let her be a sorceress, it will kill me to condemn her to die. Let her be innocent like I claim her to be. Please God." I prayed to God and his Son that I would be right. I would not be able to bare it if I had to send her to her death. I would not.

I got up to leave the room. Maybe father is right. Maybe once she is well I should send her away, it will be best for both of us. Yes that is what I will do I will send her away to be safe from any harm my people might cause her.

Two days passed and she still did not wake. I was beginning to worry that she might never will. My mother counseled me the best she could but in the end I spent much of my time in the private stacks of the library hidden away.

I was reading the work "The Republic" by Aristotle when I heard it.

A terrified scream echoed through the palace shacking many stacks of books bringing them to the floor with a crash.

Startled I leapt from my desk and flew through the door down the hall. A crowd of servants were gathered around a room collecting in the hall, blocking my path. I shoved through them and into the room.

She was a wake.

I stood transfixed just staring at her. Her wounds had healed and she was looking healthier, her skin less pale, with more color in it. And her eyes, those beautiful eyes. So green they put the trees to shame. Now they were filled with fear, as she was terrified. I slowly steeped forward toward her so as to not startle her any more than she already was.

"Hey it's okay no one will hurt you okay, calm down." I spoke gently to her to calm her down. I kept walking forward slowly hands out in front of me in surrender showing her I would not hurt her. She began to relax her shoulders dropping in submission.

"W-who are y you?" She stuttered backing up on the headboard of the bed. "Your t-the Duke's son. What am I doing here?"

She was frightened of the amount of people gathered in the room and hallway so with a wave of my hand I sent them away. Some seemed reluctant to to leave but after a pointed look they left shutting the door behind them. I turned to the girl my eyes softening instantaneously.

"I am Talan. And yes I am the Duke's son. I brought you here to take care of you. You don't have to be afraid." I promised.

She just gazed at me calculating and assessing if what I was saying was true or not. "Why? Why would you help me?" She asked.

I was aghast, I was the Duke-Regent it was my job to help my people I lived for my people. Everyone knew that for her to question my reasoning was outrageous. "Because you were in trouble and I wanted to help you." I honestly answered keeping my anger down.

"Why?" She pressed. "You are the Duke, why help me?"

"You are a citizen of my city,my country,  it is my responsibility to protect you." I said with finality. "Now please tell me your name."

She seemed to contemplate answering then after a few seconds she whispered, "Lana, my name is Lana Rosso."

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This is it. Thank you to every one who is reading and commenting you guys are awesome. I owe everything to y'all. To all my silent readers thanks too. I couldnt do this with out any of you!!