When they had arrived at the hotel, in the heart of the New Orleans' French Quarter, the party was in full swing. Zebadiah came around to pass his car keys off to the valet and help Lucy out of the car, and as she stepped out on to the pavement there were a few flashes from photographers. She hadn't thought about publicity. Zebadiah gave her little time to worry about it as he put his arm around her waist and she forgot about everything but his touch.

They entered the hotel and he instantly had people approach him who wanted to introduce people and be introduced. He turned to Lucy and she gave a quick shake of her head as he tried to pull her forward to introduce her.

"Don't you want to be introduced?" he asked softly in her ear so that only she could hear.

"No, I would rather remain a mystery, please." Her silver eyes meet his dark ones, and he considered her request for a moment before giving a nod of agreement.

Lucy did her best to avoid eye contact as she looked over at the dancers on the floor and then at the décor. It was a beautiful setting and if there hadn't been so many people there she probably would have enjoyed herself, but as it stood now, all she could see was a mass of people threating her peace of mind.

She should have said no, she shouldn't have come.

As if sensing her unease, Zebadiah pulled her close and wrapped his arm around her, resting his hand on her hip once more as her entire body rested against his. In that moment, she once again forgot about everything but him, she could feel his strong and steady heartbeat and she concentrated on that, letting his conversations wash over her as they moved around the room, oblivious to the impact she was making on the room, but she wasn't oblivious to the envious looks she was getting from the women.

********

Zebadiah wasn't oblivious to the attention Lucy was getting, he had been right, she was a perfect distraction. Her silver hair and eyes were captivating, and no one could take their eyes off her, least of all him. He couldn't help but think that she fit perfectly against him as he continued to hold her close as he worked the room, enjoying the way the silk of her dress felt as it slid across her skin.

When they sat down to dinner she only spoke when spoken to and kept her head down, as if she was afraid to talk to anyone, she hadn't struck him as someone who lacked confidence.

Eventually, he had to leave her for a moment to handle some business that he knew would need to be dealt, with and he watched as she nodded and walked away from him towards the bar. For some reason he wanted to chase after her, pull her back, and protect her, but he wasn't sure what he needed to protect her from.

*******

Lucy walked towards the bar, keeping her head down and not meeting anyone's eyes, although she swore everyone's eyes were on her. When she reached the bar, she recognized the man behind it, he was from Belfort. Todd Rivers had never had much to say to her when they had gone to school together, so she wasn't sure what kind of reception she was going to get.

He paused when he saw her, looking around as if there would be more people from Belfort with her. The man he was serving at the other end of the bar said something and caught his attention once more, and Todd turned to him and finished serving him before he approached Lucy.

"Well Well, if it isn't little Lucy Monroe, the witch. How did you get an invite to this shindig?" He looked her over and she couldn't help but note the appreciation in his gaze "You clean up well, I'll give you that."

"May I have a white wine please?" she asked, as a man came to stand next to her at the bar. She moved a little away from him, immediately sensing something off about him.

"May I see your invitation?" he asked. It had been clear that the man he had just served hadn't provided an invitation, so she was confused as to why she needed to, and she said as much.

"I know him," he shrugged.

"You know me," she insisted.

"Yes, I do. Tell me what, or should I say who, are you doing to get into this party?"

The man next to her reached out and brushed an arm against hers as he reached for a piece of fruit on the bar. Lucy felt herself choke on the evil that rolled off him. She had only ever felt that kind of evil once, and it had been when her mother had brought home a boyfriend who had tried to hurt both her and her mother.

Lucy knew what was coming and she closed her eyes as a wave of nausea filled her. She saw him putting something in a drink, then lifting a body and walking into the darkness. She forced herself to look at him and follow his gaze, noting that it had landed on one of the waitresses.

Lucy moved to the other end of the bar and motioned for Todd to follow her, she knew it was hopeless, but she had to try. "That man, keep an eye on him, and don't let your waitresses leave on their own this evening," she begged.

"Why, is he your date?" Todd looked back over at the man. "Really Lucy, in that getup you could do better."

"Please Todd, he's not a nice man," she whispered, reaching for his arm.

"Don't touch me," he hissed, pulling his arm away as if she was diseased, then he motioned for one of the security men who then approached the bar.

"This woman doesn't have an invitation, would you please escort her off of the premises, she's harassing the guests," he insisted.

But Todd wasn't in Belfort any longer, not everyone here hated her, and some people were aware of what was going on around them. It also didn't hurt that she was a personal guest of Zebadiah's

"Miss Monroe is there a problem?" the security guard asked her, as he said something softly into his walkie-talkie.

Lucy didn't know what to do, she wished Zebadiah was here. She had the feeling that if she told him he would believe her. "I would like a white wine please," she requested softly.

"Please get Miss Monroe a white wine?" The security guard turned back to Todd, his face a blank mask.

Todd looked back and forth between the two, about to object, when Zebadiah joined them, placing his arm around Lucy in a protective manner.

"Is everything alright Lucy?" he asked. When her eyes met his he must have noted something in them because he pulled her aside. "What is it?"

"That man at the bar..."

"The bartender?" he asked, then waited patiently for her to respond as she tried to gain control of herself.

"No, the man sitting at the bar. He's evil, he is going to drug someone," she choked out between dry lips.

"Your wine," the guard said as he handed it to her.

She must have looked like she needed it, and she gave him a weak smile in response as Zebadiah looked over his shoulder at the man they were talking about.

"Did you see the drugs?"

"Not exactly, but he keeps looking at the waitresses as they pass by and I'm afraid..."

Zebadiah looked at her, his face a mask. "And the bartender?"

"Someone from Belfort," she shook her head as if he didn't matter, and he didn't, but the man at the bar did. "Please Zeb, I know it sounds strange, but please believe me. Can you just have someone keep an eye on him?" She hadn't realized she had called him Zeb as her eyes met his.

Zebadiah motioned for the security guard to join them and he was by their side in an instant.

"What happened with the bartender?" he asked.

"Please Zeb, it's not important."

"He called her a witch, refused to serve her, and asked who she was doing to get an invite to the party. Miss Monroe attempted to get him to keep an eye on the gentleman at the end of the bar, he refused, she reached out to stop him from leaving, and then he asked me to remove her from the party." The guard listed the whole sordid thing as if it was a grocery list, and Lucy wanted the floor to open and swallow her.

Zebadiah never took is eyes off Lucy, watching her color rise as the guard spoke.

"We'll deal with bartender another time, but keep an eye on the man at the end of the bar. I trust Lucy's instincts."

Lucy sagged with relief. "The waitresses," she insisted.

"Eyes will be on his every move for the rest of the evening Lucy, you have my word. Can you make it a little bit longer? The auction is about to start, and I'm expected to bid on something."

Lucy nodded as she took another sip of her wine.

"Good girl, nothing like a little Dutch courage." He took the sting out of his words with a kiss to the top of her head. "Let's go take a peek at what is on offer for the auction, you can tell me if anything is worth buying." He nodded to the security guard and totally ignored Todd, who had looked like he had swallowed a lemon.

Zebadiah led her over to the auction section and they took their time walking around the tables, looking at everything. "What do you think, is there anything worth buying?"

Lucy's eyes landed on a beautiful grey pearl necklace. It was lovely, but she only shook her head. "It's all wonderful. Who donates these things?"

"Businesses, private individuals, sometimes we buy them at deeply discounted rates in hopes that they do well, and we'll recoup our losses. Most of these items have minimums and if they don't make their prices they don't get sold." The band stopped playing and Zebadiah led the way back to their table, waiting for her to sit before he did.

The MC for the evening was full of energy and made everyone laugh including Lucy, although Zebadiah didn't actually laugh, but he did crack a smile.

When the pearl necklace came up on the block Lucy couldn't help it as she leaned forward, eager to see who would win it. The bidding started high and went higher, and her eyes grew wide at the sum of money that was flying around the room. When Zebadiah's voice rang out, joining the bidding, she jumped. The sum that he bid was outrageous, she and her grandmother could live on it for years. She wanted to tell him to stop but she knew it wasn't her place, and as the sum grew she felt her heart start to beat faster.

When the gavel came down on an astronomical sum, Lucy felt like fainting and her heart was racing.

As the applause filled the room, Zebadiah made a motion with his hand, and the MC walked the pearls down to him. He stood and took the pearls, placing them around Lucy's neck, and she jumped at the surprise of it. He fastened them then reached down and adjusted them around her neck, placing his hand against the pearls and her skin, feeling her heartbeat.

She looked up at him as he smiled down at her. "You have a terrible poker face Lucy." He took her chin in his hand and dropped a light kiss on her lips and her world exploded.