Carpathian 00 - The Scarletti Curse

spell. Nicoletta wanted to look away, terrified of drawing his attention but unable to tear herself out of the web he seemed to weave around her.
    "He is very handsome," Ketsia confided, tugging at Nicoletta's skirt.
    "You think every man is handsome," Nicoletta answered, keeping her voice low, although they were some distance from the main festivities.
    Ketsia giggled. "But he is old, Nicoletta. I am glad you are not with the other girls, or he would surely choose you."
    Nicoletta stiffened, but she did not dare let the don out of her sight even for an instant. She didn't altogether trust the situation. Her heart was pounding louder than ever.
    "Why would you say that, Ketsia?" Her mouth was so dry, she could barely speak.
    "I just know he would. Anyone would pick you, Nicoletta," Ketsia said confidently. "You are so beautiful and good." She studied the don. "I think he is not having a good time. He looks bored. Do you think he should look bored when he is choosing his bride?" She wrinkled her nose. "He is not even looking at the girls. He walked right past Rosia, and she is wearing her best dress."
    The strange shivering was becoming worse. Nicoletta's teeth were chattering so hard, she clenched them tightly, afraid the sound would attract the don's attention. Ketsia was right; Don Scarletti was giving the young women only the most cursory of inspections. He was barely avoiding being rude, but she could see it didn't matter to him what anyone thought. His face was darkening like a thundercloud. She saw him turn his head to examine the crowd, his glittering gaze sharp like that of a hawk. He was hunting prey, and Nicoletta instinctively knew that she was the prey he was seeking. Her hand went protectively to her throat, and she tried to make herself even smaller. He scanned the faces in the crowd with thoughtful eyes and then suddenly went very still.
    Nicoletta followed the direction of his eyes and gasped when she saw that his gaze had settled on Maria Pia. He leaned and spoke softly to the man nearest him. At once the man pushed his way through the crowd and went straight to the older woman. Head down, she obediently followed him back to the don.
    Nicoletta squeezed her eyes shut, wanting to shut out the inevitable. She could not allow Maria Pia to take the brunt of the powerful don's anger. Ketsia seemed to sense something was wrong, for she moved closer and clutched at Nicoletta's skirt. "Why is he asking Maria Pia questions?" Ketsia asked plaintively.
    "He looks scary."
    "Hush, bambina," Nicoletta pleaded, wanting to hear. Again Ketsia was right; the don looked very intimidating.
    His voice was softer than ever, but there was no mistaking that he had every intention of getting his way.
    "Where is the young woman who accompanied you to the palazzo? Make no mistake, old woman, I deal harshly with anyone who attempts to defy my orders. The Bridal Covenant was invoked, and all women were to be brought forward."
    Maria Pia nodded several times. "We understood, Don Scarletti, that you wanted to see only the young Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    women eligible for marriage."
    The don stiffened visibly. "Your apprentice was unmarried, was she not?" He made it a statement.
    "That is so, Don Scarletti, but she is quite young… in her way." Maria Pia's hands twitched with the effort to prevent herself from making the sign of the cross and clutching at her crucifix as she deliberately sought to mislead him.
    Don Scarletti's dark features went very still, his glittering eyes thoughtful as they rested on the older woman's face. He bowed slightly. "I wish to see the girl. Have her brought to me immediately."
    Involuntarily, several of the young women turned to look at Nicoletta with a mixture of fear and disappointment on their faces. At once the don alertly followed their telltale gestures, his probing gaze settling instantly, unerringly on her face like the point of a rapier.
    The breath went out of her, and for a moment she was frozen in place, unable to think or move. Her every instinct told her to run, yet she couldn't, her gaze locked with his. Her pulse pounded loudly, like a drum beating at her temples. She couldn't look away from him no matter how hard she tried. She felt as if she were falling forward into the fathomless black depths of his eyes.
    The don did not command that Nicoletta be brought to him but, instead, began moving toward her. The crowd parted