Her name was Ava. Her last name, she needn't give it to me. The name she spoke was enough to enchant even the coldest of hearts.

She was beautiful. Not even my paints could capture the beauty that radiated from her hazel golden eyes. Raven black hair framed a face that could only be dreamed of at night. Luscious ruby lips that Adam must have tasted when Eve first kissed him. Her grace was that of dancers, ladies in waiting, and the wind. She walked with confidence, but also with a delicate, fragile aura. Oh, how I wanted to wrap her into my arms and protect her from the cruelties of the world.

Yet, I knew deep down, she was strong enough to perhaps face the Devil and live through His Curses.

She came to me at night. How I had missed so many nights before baffled me, for she was more beautiful than even the young women I had taken in as mistresses. There was an alluring darkness about Ava that was hypnotic, but there was also a light about her...and a sadness.

I cannot forget the night she came to me. Or rather, had I come to her? It does not matter. From then on, I was hers.

Red. That seemed to be her color. Red and black. It was red that she wore the night I saw her. Red satin wrapped around her lithe body layer over layer. A red rose in bloom. Her raven hair was set in ringlets about her face. The candles of the room set off the golden flecks within her hazel eyes. Eyes I would soon learned that changed color with her mood. She reminded me of the Spanish aristocrats that I had seen while passing through Madrid. Yet, she held the Italian beauty, even if she was of mixed blood.

I can vaguely remember the exact details of that night, for as soon as my eyes fell upon her, she was all I saw, heard, smelled…sensed. Wanted.

What I do remember was that it had started as a dinner party.

A party set by one of the elder aristocratic women of Rome. They loved the Arts. Paintings. Opera. Oh, how they lived to hear and see the art created by others. Insisted by her, it was held within her elaborate home. Musicians, opera singers, and painters galore attended this extravaganza.

I was escorting the woman's young niece. Elizabetha had been the girl's name. A pretty girl of flaxen hair, porcelian skin, and ruby lips. Yet, she was not very bright, and quite flighty. She stayed at my side as if I were her betrothed. A slight irritation at my side, but this party was for me, and I could not disappoint the Signora Katania.

Dinner was lavish. After dinner, many of those attending went to watch the musicians and wander about to look at what paintings I had done.

Somehow I had managed to have a young gentleman capture Elizabetha's attention, and I slipped away to the gardens.

The moon had always been an inspiration to me. Her paleness and her strength combined as one. Many a night, I would sit and stare upon her ever changing form, and become inspired to paint something. Tonight, she captured my attention so thoroughly that I heard not the footsteps of another behind me.

"One would think the wind could sweep you away," came a soft voice of rich delights.

I turned slowly, for I was under a spell. Or surely, that is how I felt.

A woman of dark beauty dressed in red. Ah, as I said, she was a rose in bloom.

Quite embarrassed, I stammered something, and she only smiled, capturing my hand in hers. Her touch was so warm. A hint of rose touched her beautiful cheeks.

"I should not have snuck upon you like that, Senor Vardek," she stated with a tinge of her own embarrassment.

I could not keep my eyes from her. The mere sight of her demanded I only see, hear, and feel her. Those golden hazel eyes penetrated so deeply into my face that I felt she could read my soul.

I brought her knuckles to my lips.

She watched every move I made. I felt as though I could not escape her eyes.

A smile crept onto her lips.

"Has the cat got your tongue as well?" she questioned softly, removing her hand from mine and moving to stand beside me to look up at the moon.

I did not know what to say.

"Your name," I whispered softly as I moved behind her.

She smelled exotic and soft. I had to keep touching her. My hand was so pale against the darkness of her skin.

A soft, rich laugh that was music to me.

"Ava," she spoke softly, turning and capturing my hand before I could fully touch her neck.

"Ava," I repeated as I gazed into her eyes. "I am forever yours."

A sad smile cursed those beautiful lips as I spoke the last words. A cloud fell over her face as she suddenly whirled away from me. Again, she laughed softly.

"Careful what you proclaim, Senor," she chided softly as she turned again to look at me. "It may very well come true."

My heart beat so furiously I was sure she could hear it! I stood transfixed, staring at her. I knew not what to say to her now.

Suddenly, she was before me. A hand rested upon my chest as her head tilted back to gaze longingly into my face.